(Council Bluffs, Iowa [KETV]) — If your travels take you to Council Bluffs, frequently, you may have noticed the wear on the South Expressway bridge in the city. Bluffs Public Works Director Matt Cox, says there’s no safety threat, because while part of the reinforcing steel is exposed, the bridge is still performing as designed.

And whatever concrete that’s fallen off, he says, has no impact on the structural integrity. Cox said public works inspects these bridges regularly, and people do not need to be concerned with driving over the bridge.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Clarinda was arrested Wednesday evening on an assault charge, in Red Oak. Police say 36-year-old Bryce Michael McKinnon was taken into custody at around 6:34-p.m. in the 2300 block of Eastern Avenue, in Red Oak. He was charged with Assault on a person engaged in certain professions, causing bodily injury. McKinnon was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The historic Harlan-Lincoln House in Mount Pleasant is changing hands. The two-story yellow and white house is now a stand-alone Iowa non-profit corporation, Harlan-Lincoln House, Inc. The now-closed Iowa Wesleyan University transferred ownership of the house, which was built by former Iowa U-S Senator James Harlan in 1876.

He was a friend and political ally of President Abe Lincoln – and Harlan’s daughter, Mary, married Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln. More than 20 volunteers will give guided tours of the house – and care for the structure and grounds. A public re-opening event is planned for October 21st.

Federal agencies sent out a message to all radios, T-Vs and cellular phones Wednesday afternoon, as a test of the nation’s emergency alert systems. Tracey Bearden, 9-1-1 coordinator for the Polk County Emergency Management Agency, says at 1:20 P-M, all devices were sent the alert as a test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System by the F-C-C and FEMA.

Bearden says the key takeaway should be that it’s a good drill to make sure that this nationwide system works and to practice for an actual incident. While some of us may have been annoyed by the distraction, Bearden hopes they consider the virtues of this unprecedented test as a way to be prepared.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue appeared before the City Council during their meeting this (Wednesday) evening, to update the Council on his department’s plans to address junk vehicle violations. The Chief said at the request of the Council, the P-D has been working on a process of dealing with personal vehicles being park on personal properties, in violation of the City’s Code of Ordinances.

He says two officers each are assigned to one of five zones in the City. The goal is for those officers to look for violations in their zones as time allows, and find the best way to address those violations.

Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue speaks w/the City Council (10/4/23; Ric Hanson photo)

Right now, the officers have a letter they can submit to violators, in an attempt to resolve the matter without having to issue a citation.

The project is in the beginning stages of its implementation, but Chief Hogue says they’ve already seen positive results from their efforts to alert vehicle owners to issues with the Code.

He said “We don’t wish to cite or fine the citizens into compliance.”

In other business, the Council passed Resolution “Approving the dedication of [the] Redwood Subdivision to the City of Atlantic.” During their meeting in April, 2022, the Council approved the preliminary plat for the subdivision, with the final plat having been approved in June of 2022. Both plats created nine new lots for low-density residential, single-family homes, and extended a cul-de-sac (East 20th St.) with utility service and right-of-way (ROW), west of Redwood Drive. A stipulation of the preliminary plat states “The public infrastructure improvements (streets, sewer, storm water & water main) shall be dedicated to the City of Atlantic.” The Resolution completes the transfer of the ROW and improvements within, to the City.

The Atlantic City Council approved the Transfer of Funds for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2023-24. City Administrator John Lund says is a routine transfer of money for the City’s 63 separate funds, and is a critical component of making the City’s budget work effectively. It also reconciles accurate cost-accounting with the desire to create transparency on what is being spent in each line item in each fund. The transfers, Lund says, are always in accordance with State Law. In the past, Lund notes, the City simply followed the budget on the transfers as sufficient documentation of activity, but the auditors are now requiring that a separate resolution be passed as the transfers occur.

Mayor Grace Garrett reminded citizens of Atlantic and the surrounding area of Atlantic, that if they wish to serve on the Parks and Rec Advisory Board, letters of your intent are due in to City Hall no later than 4:30-p.m. this Friday, Oct. 6th. Any late letters will not be considered.

She said to date, they have received about a half-dozen letters of intent.