DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two more deaths in Iowa have been attributed to the powerful storm that struck Iowa this week. Poweshiek County Sheriff Thomas Kriegel says a 42-year-old woman sitting on her porch in Malcom on Monday was struck by a large tree blown over as the storm moved through, and a 41-year-old electrician who worked for the city of Brooklyn died when he was electrocuted by a power line he was reconnecting.

Earlier in the week officials in Cedar Rapids confirmed a bicyclist had been hit by one of several large trees that fell on a bike path. An estimated 250,000 Iowans still have no power.

The Council Bluffs Police Department reports that at around 11:45-a.m. today (Thursday), Police, Iowa  Department of Transportation Officers and DOT roads, responded to Exit 49 of I-29 So Bound for a traffic problem closing the off ramp. A semi pulling a large section of a wind mill had gotten off its route and had to exit at So Expressway. The load was approximately 16 feet tall and 187 feet long. It was too large to go through the intersection and needed assistance to get turned around and back on its route.

The off ramp had to be shut down for approximately 1 ½ hours. The entire intersection of So Expressway and 30th Ave had to be shut down for approximately 30 minutes while the semi was turned around and sent back up onto the interstate.

Council Bluffs Police would like to remind motorists to pay extra attention to large / oversized loads and their escort vehicles. When around them be conscious of their lane positioning and give them a wide berth as they have limited mobility and can only be on designated routes. In this particular case the semi driver was forced into the wrong lane due to crowding by other motorists.

The Silver Cord Program is a graduation incentive program to promote volunteerism in the Atlantic Area. Atlantic High School seniors who volunteered a minimum of 200 hours throughout their high school career graduated this year with a silver cord and were eligible for a $500 scholarship provided by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. The program encourages volunteer opportunities with all Civic Organizations and benefits the entire community.

Pictured: Kelsey Beschorner, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Program Director; Cole Sampson (Photo submitted)

“The Silver Cord program was started as a way to educate students about the importance of community service. It gives students the opportunity to see firsthand how investing their time can enhance and grow their community,” Bailey Smith, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said.

The 2020 Silver Cord Scholarship recipient was Cole Sampson. Cole volunteered at the Red Cross community blood drives, RAGBRAI, AtlanticFest, Coca-Cola Days, Christmas in Atlantic Ice-Skating Rink and numerous other community activities.

“A big lesson I learned from these experiences was the importance of coordination and communication. I saw the many details and all the preparation that goes into events like these and how it can go smoothly if things are well planned and executed. I come from a family who believes in volunteering. My grandmother (Eleanor Hoover) was always ready to help in the community in any way she was able, whether it was with sporting competitions, YMCA events, or with anyone else who needed a hand,” Cole Sampson, Silver Cord Scholarship recipient stated.

Cole will be attending Iowa State University this fall to study Industrial Design.

If you are interested in learning more about the Silver Cord Program, please visit www.atlanticiowa.com. If you would like to volunteer, please visit www.atlanticiowa.com or call the Atlantic Area Chamber at 712.243.3017.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign has sued two Democratic-leaning Iowa counties that are making it easy to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, seeking to invalidate tens of thousands of voters’ absentee ballot applications. The Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and other GOP groups filed the lawsuits against elections officials in Linn and Johnson counties.

At issue are absentee ballot request forms that the counties are sending to registered voters with personal information already filled in. The GOP lawsuits argue that the auditors are violating a state directive by prepopulating the forms and that any ballots cast in response to the mailings may be subject to legal challenge.

Police in Shenandoah say a man who allegedly attempted to tamper with a SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) at the Shenandoah Fire Station, was arrested Wednesday night on a burglary charge.

Joshua Jorge Colwell

Authorities say Police responding to the Fire Department at around 8:45-p.m. found 42-year old Joshua Jorge Colwell, of Sioux City, in the garage area.

Colwell was arrested on a Class-D Felony charge of Burglary in Third-degree Burglary, Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Page County Jail on $5,600 bond.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Cedar Rapids man has been charged in the fatal beating of his mother earlier this summer over what police say was an effort to steal $50 from her. Police say 49-year-old George Alan Deason is charged with first-degree murder and other counts in the death of 71-year-old Elsie Mae Deason. Police believe George Deason attacked his mother in her home on June 30. She was found the next day with critical injuries.

Police said it appeared she had been severely beaten. She was taken to a hospital, where she died of her injuries on July 23. Police say George Deason was arrested shortly after his injured mother was found, and police confiscated a battering weapon called a slapjack from him.