(Radio Iowa) – There’s now a timeline for the closing of the old Mississippi River bridge from Lansing to Wisconsin, and the opening of the new bridge. D-O-T Highway Division Administrator Tony Gustafson says the old bridge will close October 15th. “When the bridge is closed on October 15th, they’ll begin demolition immediately on the existing bridge…removing the deck panels manually, but also using dynamite to demo the bridge,” he says. Gustafson says work on the new bridge will require work that has caused the old bridge to move in the past and they need to proceed with that work. He told the Transportation Commission they have an updated schedule for opening the new bridge.

“Trying to open up the bridge to a one-lane of traffic in March of 2027…it’s a steel truss bridge, so the steel truss members have to be painted with a special paint, twice, not only once but twice, so that’s why they have to look at opening the bridge to one lane of traffic when they work on one side of the bridge painting the steel members and they’ll switch traffic to the other side to paint the other side steel members,” Gustafson says. He says they’ve been able to make good progress on the new bridge. “The construction is still progressing very well…in a couple weeks they’ll have all the substructure work complete which are all the piers and abutments, and they’re looking at starting the steel erection from the Iowa side east,” he says.

Gustafson says they are working on some things to help motorists until the new bridge is open. One option is to bring the Cassville ferry to the area. “Hoping to get them to the site, to Lansing, during that October to April timeframe when they are not working,” Gustafson says. “They would go back to Cassville in April. We’re looking at a couple of the different ferry options for permanent service while the bridge is out of service.” Gustafson says they are working on environmental clearance to build the dock walls to service the ferry. “One dock wall on the Iowa side will be at the Lansing marina and then the other dock wall will be at the Cops of Engineers beneficial use site on the Wisconsin side which is right next to where the contractor is staging their work,” he says. “We may have to do some mussel relocations and some other environmental clearances before we can start building those dock walls.”

He says they hope to complete the entire project by the end of 2027.

AMES, Iowa – Aug. 12, 2025 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is asking for public input, with regard to the proposed replacement of a bridge on Iowa 37 over the Boyer River, just west of U.S. 30 in Harrison County. Construction will take place starting in the spring of 2028 and be completed by the fall of 2028. Traffic will be detoured during construction. The proposed detour would follow U.S. 30 to Denison, Iowa 141 to Ute, and Iowa 183 to Soldier. Accelerated bridge construction techniques are planned to reduce the duration of the required detour. Access to properties will be maintained at all times.

Share your feedback by August 25th, at https://pima.iowadotpi.com/public/event-registration/search?project_id=19810&pe_guid=9ac1ddcb-9e1c-4452-8725-9ca12be2e43b

(Atlantic, Iowa) – In an update to their previous report, the Iowa State Patrol, today (Tuesday) said a juvenile from Atlantic who was struck by a vehicle late Monday evening, died from their injuries after being flown by LifeNet to Methodist Children’s Hospital in Des Moines. The crash remains under investigation.

The collision happened at around 7:50-p.m., Monday, as a 1999 Chevy Suburban driven by 22-year-old Todd Schwab, of Atlantic, was traveling west on West 6th Street near the intersection with Birch Street. An -as yet unidentified- 8-year-old child ran out onto the road from 401 West 6^th and was struck by the vehicle.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by Atlantic Police and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

(Atlantic, Iowa)  – The August session of Healthy U will be presented at Cass Health in Atlantic, by Cass Health Pharmacist Sara Arnold. The session takes place at Noon on Thursday, August 21st, in Conference Room 2 at the hospital. Arnold will be presenting on over the counter medications and supplements. Her main points will include what to look for when buying over the counter as well as what medications and supplements work best for treating certain conditions.

Space is limited! A free boxed lunch is provided for all attendees, so reservations are required. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat. For more information about Healthy U, visit casshealth.org/healthyu.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County held a brief meeting this (Tuesday) morning. The Board received comments from West Township resident Jan Norris, with regard to recent developments in the proposed Summit Carbon Pipeline project.

Norris said also…

Jan Norris speaks to the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, 8-12-25

She added, “The conditional permit the ICU granted for Phase 1 is being appealed. Response briefs were filed last week asking the permit be thrown out. One concern is that landowners are left in limbo for what could be years until the company finds a viable path forward. As you know, there is no way for them to meet the condition of getting a permit in South Dakota. In fact, Summit has no application pending – they never filed a new one after being denied by the South Dakota PUC – twice.”

After acknowledging her comments, the Montgomery County Supervisors heard a regular, weekly update from County Engineer Karen Albert.

The Board’s next regular meeting is at 9-a.m., on Tuesday, August 19th.

(Creston, Iowa) – No injuries were reported following a collision Monday afternoon, in Creston. According to Creston Police, vehicles driven by 68-year-old Rodney Cottrell and 39-year-old Daisy Redd, both of Creston, collided at the uncontrolled intersection of Harsh and Vine Streets, at around 3-p.m., Monday. Authorities say both drivers’ view was blocked by an illegally parked SUV on Vine Street. When Redd slowed down, but then proceeded into the intersection, her vehicle was struck in the middle of the intersection by the vehicle being driven by Cottrell.

Police said damage to the vehicles amounted to $3,500 altogether, but were able to be driven from the scene. Daisy Redd was cited for Failure to provide proof of insurance (financial liability).

(Radio Iowa) – An expert on insects says it’s been a great summer in Iowa for mosquitoes, and a lousy summer for people who are getting nipped by the flying pests. Entomologist Lyric Bartholomay says mosquitoes are thriving in Iowa and all across the Midwest due to heavy rains and hot weather, which may also bring a rise in insect-borne diseases like West Nile virus. “In a situation like this year where we’re experiencing record rainfall and record high temperatures, it becomes kind of a perfect storm for mosquitoes to have ample places to lay their eggs and for their immatures to develop,” Bartholomay says. “I think we’re heading into what could be a serious West Nile virus year with a lot of cases.”

Mosquito-USDA-photo

She says climate changes could be leading to a rise in cases of various diseases carried by mosquitoes, as seasonal changes are impacting mosquito activity. “Maybe folks have noticed, too, that the last date of frost is coming later and maybe the threat of frost in the spring is wearing away sooner,” Bartholomay says, “and so in many parts of the country, mosquito season is just lasting longer.” Bartholomay says there are a variety of ways to try and control mosquito populations, including eliminating anything with standing water in your yard which might become a mosquito hatchery. Plus, there are several effective chemicals.

“For immature stages, we have an arsenal of controls that includes all kinds of microbials, things like hormone mimics that disrupt how they grow, and then more traditional insecticides,” she says. “For adults, we have a few kinds of insecticides that can be used either from a backpack fogger or a truck or an airplane.”

She notes, a community’s capacity to use those tools depends on its investment in controlling the insects. Bartholomay is an entomology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

CORNING, Iowa – Aug. 12, 2025 – The Iowa Transportation Commission today (Tuesday), approved $9.6 million for the Fiscal Year 2026 State Aviation Program, which includes several subprograms. The sub-programs include:

The Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which will fund $6.7 million for a variety of aviation safety initiatives, system planning, and air service development activities. It will also provide funding for airport development projects at 25 airports in Iowa. And, Aviation vertical infrastructure programs will provide $2.9 million for projects at four general aviation airports and eight commercial service airports throughout Iowa. These programs provide funding for the maintenance and development of airport facilities such as terminal buildings, maintenance facilities, and aircraft hangars.

In southwest Iowa, the following Airport Development Projects were approved:

• Atlantic Municipal Airport: $91,000 toward the $130,000 total cost of the East Taxilane Extension.
• Council Bluffs Municipal Airport: $82,500 toward the $130,00o total cost of Hangar Apron construction/
• Creston Municipal Airport, $158, 100 toward the $186,000 total cost of new General Aviation (GA) Terminal site improvements.

General Aviation Vertical Infrastructure project funding includes:

• Council Bluffs Municipal Airport, $300,000 toward the $1-million total cost to construct a Box Hangar.
• Creston Municipal Airport, $135,720 toward the $226,200 total cost of the new GA Terminal Bldg.

Additional information can be found HERE.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports 32-year-old Brent Monta Munger, of Glenwood, was arrested early this (Tuesday) morning at a location on N. Hazel Street, in Glenwood. According to the Glenwood Police Department, Munger faces charges that include Domestic Assault/Bodily Injury-1st offense, and Interference with Official Acts. He was being held in the Mills County Jail on a $300 bond.