A man rescued from his stalled and flooded vehicle in western Iowa has been flown to a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. Omaha television station KETV reports the man called for help shortly before 7 a.m. Saturday and told emergency dispatchers he was stranded in a truck that was taking on water in Pacific Junction. Officials say it was almost an hour before rescue crews could reach him. He was flown to Nebraska Medicine around 8 a.m.

His name and medical condition have not been released. Authorities urged people to stay off the roads near rivers and creeks and warned motorists not to drive onto water-covered roads.

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Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in rural areas of Mills County in southwestern Iowa as the Missouri River overtopped levees there. Mills County Emergency Management officials issued the order Saturday, noting the river wasn’t done rising.

Residents in the evacuation area are required to leave as soon as possible but no later than 4 p.m. Saturday. An emergency shelter has been established north of the area at Salem United Methodist Church in Council Bluffs.

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Travel in western Iowa is still hampered by flooding, and officials there and in eastern Nebraska are urging people not to drive if they don’t need to. The Iowa Department of Transportation’s website says northbound Interstate 29 from the Missouri state line to about 40 miles north near the Pacific Junction exit remains closed due to flooding. Drivers on I-29 are being rerouted onto Interstate 35 in Kansas City, Missouri, north to Des Moines, Iowa, then over I-80 back to I-29 at Council Bluffs.

The detour takes drivers almost 140 miles out of the way.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests throughout the day on Friday.

At 12:39am Adams County Deputies arrested Keshav Kathikar of Wausu, WI for Violation of a No Contact Order.

At 9:55pm Deputies conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 148 and Hunter Trail for a vehicle’s failure to display license plates. It was then determined that the driver Janet Marie Scuturio was wanted in Douglas County, NE for Child Neglect. During the stop Deputies noticed an overwhelming marijuana smell coming from the vehicle. Scuturio admitted that she had marijuana in the truck that she had just purchased. Two children under the age of 18 were in the vehicle. Scuturio was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense and 2 Counts of Child Endangerment. She was being held awaiting extradition to Douglas County, NE.

An hour later at 10:55pm Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop near Highway 34 and Mulberry Avenue for a speeding vehicle that had no rear lights. The driver of the vehicle, Justin Horne of Plattsmouth, NE, did not have a valid driver’s license. K9 Baxo was deployed at the scene and alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Horne was found to be in possession of marijuana and a marijuana pipe. He admitted to Deputies that he was under the influence of marijuana and had also taken a few shots of alcohol. He was placed under arrest for Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and 6 Counts of Child Endangerment.

Then at 11:45pm Adams County Deputies arrested Joleeen Most on Adams County Warrants for Violation of a No Contact Order and Harassment 3rd Degree.

A Red Oak woman was injured following a two-vehicle accident on Friday night. Red Oak Police responded to the accident at 11:36pm at the intersection of Highway 34 and N. 4th Street. After investigation it was determined that a 2003 Ford Explorer driven by 17-year-old Bryan Johnathon Erp of Red Oak was traveling north on N. 4th Street and stopped at the intersection with Highway 34. Erp and his two passengers stated they stopped at the intersection and proceeded but did not see a 2008 Buick Enclave that was traveling westbound on Highway 34. The Explorer struck the Enclave in the front driver’s side causing the Explorer to spin around 180 degrees and eventually stop after being put into park. The Enclave was driven by 67-year-old Betty Jean Blackwell of Red Oak and her vehicle came to rest in the north lane side of the highway facing west.

Blackwell was trapped in her vehicle but Red Oak Fire was able to pry the door open and get her out of the vehicle. She was taken to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital with a suspected head injury. Erp and his two passengers said they were fine and were released to their parents.

Erp was issued citations for Failure to obey stop sign and yield right of way and Violation of a minor’s restricted license. Damage to the Ford was estimated at $5,000 and damage to the Buick was estimated at $8,500.

Red Oak Police were assisted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Red Oak Fire Department.

The Red Oak Police Department reports two arrests on Friday.

At 6:53pm Friday Red Oak Police arrested 20-year-old Michael Wade Hamilton of Red Oak for Simple Assault, a simple misdemeanor. Hamilton was arrested in the 700 block of N. Broadway Street in Red Oak and taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $300 bond.

At 10:35pm Friday Red Oak Police arrested 38-year-old Christopher Michael Lowrance of Red Oak for Simple Assault, a simple misdemeanor. He was arrested in the 300 block of N. 4th Street in Red Oak and taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $300 cash bond.

Flood Warnings remain in place Saturday for the Western and Southwestern Counties in the KJAN listening area. Here is a look at the warnings still in place.

…A FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT SATURDAY FOR
CARROLL…SAC…CRAWFORD COUNTIES…

At 427 AM CDT, emergency management reported flooding across the
warned area. Several roadways, especially secondary roadways,
remain closed.

* Flood Warning for…
Mills County in southwestern Iowa…
Shelby County in southwestern Iowa…
Monona County in west central Iowa…
Pottawattamie County in southwestern Iowa…
Montgomery County in southwestern Iowa…
Fremont County in southwestern Iowa…
Harrison County in southwestern Iowa…
Page County in southwestern Iowa…

* Until 945 AM CDT Saturday.

* At 943 AM CDT, residual extensive flooding continues today, as
rivers and streams expand to areas unaccustomed to flooding.
Travel is still hazardous, and is discouraged. Please do not drive
across flooded roadways.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small
creeks and streams, country roads, farmland, and other low lying
spots.

A Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring. All
interested parties should take necessary precautions immediately.

The Flood Warning continues for…

Missouri River At Decatur affecting Monona…Thurston and Burt Counties.
Missouri River Near Blair affecting Harrison and Washington Counties.
Missouri River At Omaha affecting Douglas…Pottawattamie and Sarpy Counties.
Missouri River At Nebraska City affecting Fremont and Otoe Counties.
Missouri River At Brownville affecting Nemaha and Atchison Counties.
Missouri River At Rulo affecting Holt and Richardson Counties.

The Flood Warning continues for
The West Nishnabotna River At Randolph.
* At 3:00 AM Saturday the stage was 23.8 feet…or 4.8 feet above
flood stage.
* Flood stage is 19.0 feet.
* Moderate flooding is occurring and Moderate flooding is forecast.
* Forecast…The river will continue to fall to below flood stage by
early tomorrow.
* Impact…at 23.0 feet…County road J18 (120th Street) west of
Randolph begins to flood.

The Flood Warning continues for
The Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg.
* At 2:45 AM Saturday the stage was 29.1 feet…or 4.1 feet above
flood stage.
* Flood stage is 25.0 feet.
* Moderate flooding is occurring and Moderate flooding is forecast.
* Forecast…The river will continue rising to near 29.4 feet by this
evening. The river will fall below flood stage Tuesday afternoon.
* Impact…at 27.5 feet…State Highway 275 south of the gage may be
threatened in several spots.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has met with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, legislators and advocates of private schools to promote a proposal that would provide grants to students to attend school anywhere they choose including private and religious schools.

The proposal DeVos outlined on Friday would provide up to $5 billion in federal tax credits to donors to a nonprofit organizations set up in participating states that would distribute the grant money.

DeVos called the Education Freedom Scholarships program introduced in Congress by Sen. Ted Cruz and others “a historic opportunity to expand education freedom.” She denied the proposal will take money away from public schools. Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price says Reynolds and DeVos are working together to “enact their secretive school voucher tax credit scheme.”

Reynolds spokesman Pat Garrett says Reynolds is open to looking at innovative ways to help public and non-public schools as well as homeschooling. Rep. RasTafari Smith, the top Democrat on the Iowa House Education Committee says he’s disappointed public education supporters were not invited to the closed-door invitation only discussion arranged by DeVos’ office.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man has testified in the murder trial of his son, who police say fatally shot his mother and staged the crime scene to look like a burglary. The Des Moines Register reports that 73-year-old Bill Carter’s testimony Thursday at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse in Council Bluffs helped establish a timeline for the killing of his wife, Shirley Carter.

The couple’s 46-year-old son, Jason Carter, is accused of fatally shooting Shirley Carter at her Marion County home in 2015. Bill Carter testified that investigators found many of his wife’s valuable belongings untouched, which prosecutors say proves that it wasn’t a burglary.

Marion County Attorney Ed Bull alleges that Jason Carter killed his mother for financial gain. Defense attorney Christine Branstad says investigators failed to follow up on significant pieces of evidence.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State budget experts say revenue for next year will be about $20 million less than they had anticipated in December but it’s not enough of a difference to cause lawmakers to adjust their budget plans. The state Revenue Estimating Conference, a panel of three budget experts, said Friday they expect revenue to be $7.84 billion, up 1.5 percent from the current year but about $20 million lower than December estimate.

A lower estimate in March usually means the Legislature must adjust its budget plan to consider the difference but lawmakers are discussing a budget of around $7.6 billion so it requires no adjustment. The panel expects current year revenue of $7.73 billion, an increase of 4.7 percent from the previous year. That’s about $5 million more than the group’s December estimate.

The last two years state officials have had to cut budgets after actual revenue came in less than the estimates. The group also made its first estimate for fiscal year 2021 expecting revenue to grow 2.6 percent to $8.05 billion.

COUNCIL BLUFFS – Pottawattamie County Officials continue to encourage residents in rural areas unprotected by levees along the Missouri River to voluntarily evacuate. Voluntary evacuations are based on expected inundation of flood waters later today and over the next week. Missouri waters are anticipated to reach 32’ later today which would cut off access to areas north of Council Bluffs to Harrison County and west of I-29. Additionally, some residents south of Council Bluffs along and west of I-29 south to Mills County could also be impacted by encroaching waters.

Flood waters impacting several roads in the areas described will be completely inaccessible making any essential and emergency services to those areas delayed and near impossible to reach. The American Red Cross continues to operate a shelter for displaced residents affected by the flood at Salem United Methodist Church at 14955 Somerset Avenue, in Council Bluffs.

Although most of the resident in the described areas have already self-evacuated, those remaining are encouraged to follow suit. The last sweeps of the identified areas are being conducted today as access allow.

Anyone evacuating to a shelter should bring essential items for each member of the family, including:
• Prescriptions and emergency medications
• Foods that meet unusual dietary requirements
• Identification to show residence is in affected area and important personal documents
• Extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies and other comfort items
• Supplies needed for children and infants, such as diapers, formula and toys
• Special items for family members who are elderly or disabled.