AMES, Iowa – Oct. 4, 2019 – Iowa Department of Transportation officials have reopened Interstate 29 between exit 61 (near Crescent) and exit 71 (near Loveland). At this time, I-29 is open in both directions throughout Iowa, however motorists may encounter occasional lane closures. Exit 66 at Honey Creek will remain closed due to flooding. The DOT says they will continue to monitor the situation closely, but roadways may close quickly in this area due to high waters. Travelers are urged to check www.511ia.org for the most recent closure information.

Flood-related closures remain on Iowa 275 and Iowa 333 near Hamburg.

(Radio Iowa) — The duck season is set to open this weekend and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports that access to several of their popular public wildlife management areas have been cut off by floodwater. D-N-R wildlife biologist Matt Dollison says parts of the Riverton area’s Jensen Tract south of County Road J-46 are blocked due to flooding. “The boat ramp there, and the walk-in parking lot that’s very popular — both of those have been cut off by floodwater,” Dollison says “The road is closed there due to water coming in through a previous levee blowout on the south end of that area. So, that’s kind of a new one.” Many other areas are also blocked by Missouri River flood water.

“Including the M.U. Payne Wildlife Management Area, the Auldon Bar Wildlife Management Area, Copeland Bend and Forney Lake and Noddleman Island,” he says. “Several of the roads that go to those are currently still underwater also. I guess people just need to be aware as they head out for the duck opener this Saturday there could be limited access. They might want to get out maybe beforehand and ensure they can get where they want to go.” Dollison anticipates a slight reduction in the number of hunters coming into the area. “The main area at Riverton north of the highway is our most popular area,” Dollison says, “and it’s currently still accessible–both by boats at the boat ramp, and by walk-in hunters. I’m sure we’re still have quite a few hunters going there. People can still walk in basically anywhere they can get on the other parts of the areas.”

Dollison says the flooding isn’t good for people — but it could be a boost for ducks and other waterfowl. “Waterfowl use water — so having a bunch more water around–especially these flooded, weedy crop fields that weren’t able to be planted and that sort of thing–those are going to be great areas for the waterfowl to use. There’s going to be a lot of migratory habitat for ducks and geese with all this water. So, they’ll be good that way,” Dollison says. “But, it will probably spread the birds out quite a bit more than usual.” Likewise, Dollison doesn’t believe the flooding will significantly impact the area’s deer population. He believes most of the deer herds along the Missouri River have relocated to other areas, such as the Loess Hills.

EARLING – The Iowa DNR reports that with one lift station pump out for repair, the city of Earling’s remaining pump failed, sending untreated wastewater from the pumping station into Mosquito Creek. The city has been bypassing about 100 gallons per minute since 6 p.m. Thursday night. City staff are working with a contractor to replace the failed pump and repair the other. They hope to stop the bypass Friday morning.

Residents should keep children, pets and livestock out of the creek until 24 or 48 hours after the discharge ends. DNR will be monitoring the response and cleanup.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County report 31-year old Cherrie Lee Palmer, of Afton, was arrested Thursday night. Palmer was taken into custody on two Union County warrants for failure to appear. She was being held without bond for Union County, in the Adams County Jail, until seen by a Judge.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday), said an Avoca man was arrested Thursday afternoon, on a Fugitive from Justice warrant. 35-year old Joshua Michael Blum was taken into custody at a motel in Avoca, and transported to the Pott. County Jail. At around 1:15-p.m. Thursday, 25-year old Jacob Dwayne Jens was arrested in Avoca, following a traffic stop. Jens was taken into custody for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender.

Two inmates at the Pott. County Jail were charged Thursday with Possessing Contraband in/or on the grounds of, a Correctional Facility. 50-year old David Duane Blan, of Omaha, was being held on a $10,000 bond for the offense. And, a baggie containing methamphetamine was found inside the wallet of 32-year old Raymond Edward Hindt, of Omaha, who was transferred to the Pott. County Jail from a jail in Nebraska. Hindt was being held on a $5,000 bond for the same offense.

A traffic stop near Highway 6 and College Road at around 10:45-p.m. Thursday, in Council Bluffs, resulted in the arrest of 20-year old Marcus Ryan Michael Calmer. He was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense-Marijuana.

(Radio Iowa) — Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne says if investigations find President Trump abused his power, she’ll support moving forward with impeachment even if it damages her bid for re-election in 2020. “If the facts point that the president did put our country in jeopardy and violated the constitution, then we need to move forward,” Axne says. Axne is a first-term representative for southwest Iowa and the Des Moines metro. She faces a rematch with former Republican Congressman David Young and the district is rated a toss-up for 2020. “I want to represent this district as well as I possibly can,” Axne says, “but my number one responsibility and that I swore an oath is to protect the country and the constitution.”

Axne made her comments after a town hall meeting last (Thursday) night in Creston. Gary Leffler of West Des Moines asked the only question about impeachment. “We have our country moving again economically. We’ve seen tremendous things,” he told Axne said. “Why in the world? How do you come up with the premise that we’re going to impeach the president of the United States? It’s ludicrous. It’s just absolutely ridiculous.”

Trump carried Iowa’s third congressional district in 2016 by four points.

(Radio Iowa) — With the cool, crisp weather of October comes the increased risk of hitting an animal with your car. Iowa drivers rank fifth in the U-S for the most animal collisions, according to the state’s largest auto insurer. Kelly Pargett, a spokeswoman for State Farm, says the company’s study finds 58-percent of the animals Iowans hit are deer. “The other animals that follow closely behind are dogs and cats,” Pargett says. “Farm animals for this part of the country were high, and then large rodents, including rats, were high in our claim count.”

Iowa drivers have a one-in-55 chance of colliding with an animal while driving, according to the report, and repairs can be very expensive. “They range a lot, depending on how large the animal is and how severe the collision is,” Pargett says, “but anything from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.”

The report says most animal-related crashes occur during October, November and December. The oft-repeated Iowa D-O-T motto is: “Don’t veer for deer,” as steering away from an animal could put you in the ditch or into oncoming traffic. Pargett says to watch your speed, buckle up and be vigilant, especially from dusk onward. “At night is most dangerous, and they’re swerving, so some of the tips are do not swerve,” Pargett says, “and be cautious when you’re driving through the areas where they do have the deer signs.”

The most dangerous state for animal collisions is West Virginia, followed by Montana, Pennsylvania and South Dakota. The state with the lowest risk? Hawaii.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A company has taken another step toward redeveloping the former Waterloo Greyhound Park. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the Waterloo planning and zoning commission voted Tuesday to endorse a special permit that would let Deer Creek Development fill 7 acres on the site to get it out of the 100-year flood plain. Deer Creek President Harold Youngblut says doing so will make the site more appealing to companies because they wouldn’t have to pay for costly flood insurance.

He bought the property in 2018 and demolished the dilapidated buildings. The track opened in 1986 but later fell into disrepair. The special permit to bring in an estimated 16,500 cubic yards of clean fill now heads to the city’s board of adjustment for final approval.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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