The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) announced Monday the government agency is proposing to add two environmentally contaminated sites in Region 7 – the PCE Former Dry Cleaner Site in Atlantic, Iowa, and the Iowa-Nebraska Light & Power Company Site in Norfolk, Neb. – to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL), potentially making both sites eligible for long-term cleanup funding. All told, the Agency today added five sites to the NPL, and proposed the addition of seven others.

The NPL, which is updated at least annually, contains the nation’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites, and serves as the basis for prioritizing both enforcement actions and long-term EPA Superfund cleanup funding. Only sites on the NPL are eligible for such funding.

The PCE Former Dry Cleaner Site, in Atlantic, is the former location of a dry cleaner operation (at 7th and Plum Streets) that was in business in the 1960s, and beginning in 1974, the building there was leased by the Iowa Department of Transportation for use as a materials testing laboratory. It was demolished sometime after 1982 and the land is now occupied by a bank. The site has groundwater contamination from chlorinated solvents, including tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE) and degradation products.

To date, the City of Atlantic has disconnected one municipal well from the municipal system. It is currently being pumped continuously to the city wastewater treatment plant to provide hydraulic control and protect the nine other municipal wells from PCE contamination. The owners of the business on the site have installed a vapor mitigation system. The City of Atlantic, and the Atlantic Municipal Utilities, have expressed support for placing the site on the NPL.

The EPA will accept public comments regarding these and other proposed NPL site listings during a 60-day comment period following the publication date of official notice in the Federal Register. Those notices and supporting documents for final and proposed NPL sites are available online.

Established by Congress in 1980, the Superfund program investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country and converts them into productive community resources by eliminating or reducing public health risks and environmental contamination.

The Audubon Police Department, Monday, released a report on recent arrests. On Sept. 20th, 54 year old Robert Charles Atkinson was arrested for Public Intoxication – 3rd or subsequent offense. Atkinson was transported to the Audubon County Jail and held pending an appearance before a magistrate.

On Sept. 19th, 48 year old Michele Ann Darrow was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. Darrow was transported to the Audubon County Jail and later released on bond.

And on Sept. 18th, Audubon Police arrested 30 year old Shawn Leroy Schmidt of Audubon for Violation of a No-Contact Order. Schmidt was transported to the Audubon County Jail where he appeared before a magistrate. That same day, 22 year old Samantha Christine Schmidt was arrested for Aiding and Abetting. She also was transported to the Audubon County Jail where she appeared before a magistrate.

A 92-year-old southwest Iowa woman has been featured on the Cooking Channel. Guelda Barker of Mount Ayr appeared on an episode of “My Grandmother’s Ravioli” that aired last Wednesday and again on Sunday. During the episode, Mo Rocca, the show’s host, answered Barker’s phone as Barker bustled about the kitchen.

Barker is a retired lunch lady and well-known in Mount Ayr for her cinnamon rolls. Her recipe for cinnamon rolls was featured on the show, but Barker also showed Rocca some of the greeting cards she paints. Barker told Rocca she took a correspondence course after her first husband died and learned to paint with watercolors.

“How come you didn’t pursue it as a career?” Rocca asked. Barker answered: “Well, I just felt like I couldn’t handle it and do chores and take care of children and can and all that.” Rocca followed up: “Do you regret not pursuing it as a career?” Barker said: Yes, I do, because I think I could have made a little money. I loved it.” She shared her recipe for canned meat, plus recipes for cinnamon rolls, “Addictive Cookies”, “7-Up Salad” and “Blue Ribbon Chocolate Cake”. (A link to the recipe can be found here: http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/cinnamon-rolls.html )

The episode is titled “Walking on Ayr” — a play on Barker’s hometown of Mount Ayr and it was filmed in mid-July during this year’s “Ayr Days” celebration in Mount Ayr.

(Radio Iowa)

An arrest was made Monday (Today) in connection with a fire at the Economy Inn motel, in Stuart. According to Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater. 31-year old Jason McGowan, of Stuart, was living in the room he allegedly set on fire at around 8:30-a.m., Monday. McGowen faces a charge of 1st Degree arson and was being held at the Adair County Jail in Greenfield.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests. Sunday night, 21-year old Martin Eduardo Vidales, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a felony Possession with Intent to Deliver, charge, and for Driving While Revoked. Vidales was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

And on Friday, deputies in Cass County arrested 38-year old Richard Dwaine Smith, of Atlantic, on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for OWI 2nd Offense. Smith was also cited for Driving Under Suspension. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on $2000 bond.