(Radio Iowa) — The long-delayed new flyover ramp at the intersection of Interstate 35 and Highway 30 on the edge of Ames finally opened today (Thursday). The D-O-T’s Jesse Tibodeau says construction started on the 23-million dollar project in December of 2016 and it was supposed to be done in two years. “In 2018 the contractor had some issues with the anchor bolt sleeves on the tops of the piers that connect the piers to the steel girders,” Tibodeau says. “But that’s all been addressed and the bridge is in great shape right now.”

The contractor had to pay to repair the mistakes made on the piers and the project completion was set back. The flyover replaces a clover leaf interchange that had traffic merging and exiting in the same area on I-35. Tibodeau says the new bridge will be safer. “The clover leaf loop there was built 55 years ago or so — and it work well for a long time — but traffic is just too high in this area. So the flyover bridge will handle traffic for another 55 years here,” according to Tibodeau.

The interchange sees some seven thousand cars a day and that increases when there are special events like football games in Ames. The bridge rises up and over the interstate. “The bridge itself is two lanes, the exit is two lanes, so that will be kind of intuitive movement,” Tibodeau says. “The thing we would like folks to look our for — the merge instead of happening on I-35 will happen down on westbound 30 — so you’ll have traffic coming from Nevada and merging from the north with this new flyover ramp.”

Wet weather this week threatened to delay the opening again — but workers were able to get it ready and open to traffic.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a Cass County man being held in the Pott. County Jail on drug and other charges, was served Wednesday afternoon with a Pott. County warrant for Violation of Parole. 32-year old Jessie Bruce Fitzwater, of Lewis, was presented with the warrant and then returned to the custody of Corrections staff. His bond on the other charges was set at $1,300.

Wednesday morning, 26-year old Cody Michael Doss, of Council Bluffs, was served at the Pott. County Jail, with a Fugitive from Justice warrant, out of Douglas County, Nebraska.

And, 36-year old Joshua R. Knappert was arrested at Old Town Park in Macedonia, Wednesday morning, after a deputy was called to investigate a suspicious vehicle. Knappert was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 39-year old Bryan Scott Casey, of Clarinda, was arrested Wednesday, in Clarinda, on a Page County Warrant for Violation of Probation. The probation stems from sentencing on an original charge of Domestic Abuse Assault – 2nd Offense. Casey was transported to the Page County Jail, where he was being held on a $2,000 bond.

And, 32-year old Frank B. Cates, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Wednesday on a Page County Warrant for Felony, Probation violation. Cates was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail. He was transported to the Page County Jail and was being held on a $10,000 bond, while awaiting a Revocation of Probation hearing.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa’s newest craft brewery, located in Le Mars, will have a grand opening Friday, with the distinction of being the 100th craft brewery in Iowa. Ben Sitzman, co-owner of the “Wise I” (eye) brewery in Le Mars, says “Having 100 breweries in the state of Iowa is a tremendous leap from five or 10 years ago. The craft brewery scene has exploded, for the better.” He says it’s a “happy accident” that Wise I is brewery is crossing the century mark. “We didn’t plan to be the 100th. We didn’t even know about it until three or four weeks ago, that we were in contention between two or three other breweries to be the 100th to open,” Sitzman says. He said “I’m excited. It actually gives me goosebumps.”

Sitzman says the brewery’s name is linked to an Iowan who helped draft the 18th Amendment.  “My wife, Kristin, who is also another owner…was doing some research on Prohibition and she came across an article about a lady named Ida B. Wise and she was from Hamburg, Iowa — the president of both Iowa and national president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union,” Sitzman says. “She was very much an advocate for prohibition, obviously the opposite side of the spectrum from what we are.”

Sitzmann’s other partner, Matt Lancaster, says they hope to educate customers about the craft beer industry. “It’s a very collaborative industry, so it’s really cool to see it really pop up here in northwest Iowa with Brioux City, Jackson Street, Marto, us,” Lancaster says. “We know a lot of those guys and we brew with them. It’s just cool. It helps everybody.”

At 7 p.m. on Friday, the Iowa Brewers Guild is organizing a toast in all the craft breweries in Iowa to the mark the milestone of the 100th opening.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City woman has taken a plea deal on a charge stemming from a bank robbery in Le Mars. Records say 36-year-old Karen Merrick pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to being an accessory after the fact. Prosecutors had charged her with bank robbery.

Prosecutors say Merrick drove Phillip White away from Iowa State Bank in Le Mars after he robbed it on Dec. 12. Officers managed to flatten the vehicle’s tires during a chase and arrest the pair. More than $16,000 of the bank’s money was recovered.

White pleaded guilty in June and awaits sentencing.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests took place Wednesday, with three of those persons taken into custody on Mills County warrants. 46-year old Daniel Dean Douglass, of Shenandoah, was arrested at the Otoe County, Nebraska Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear, and OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $2,000. 46-year old Renee Jean Hilligas, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. And, 36-year old Joseph Daniel McNeal, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear. His bond was set at $300.

33-year old Keegan Bolton Timson, of Glenwood, was arrested at around 11:20-p.m. Wednesday, following a traffic stop on Highway 34. Timson was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of fatally stabbing his roommate in Sioux City has been convicted. Woodbury County District Court records show 39-year-old Elmi Said was found guilty Wednesday of a lesser charge: voluntary manslaughter. He’s also known as Abdiqadar Sharif. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 1.

He’d been charged with second-degree murder for the Oct. 28 slaying of 40-year-old Guled Nur. Prosecutors say Said stabbed and kicked Nur after an altercation broke out at their apartment.

The Cass County Health System’s Cardiac Rehab department will be closed from Friday, September 13th through Monday, Sept. 16th, while new flooring is installed. CCHS officials say the department will continue to provide care to patients needing monitors during this time, and stress tests will still be performed on the 13th.

Cardiac Rehab anticipates being open to all patients on Tuesday, September 17. Patients with questions or concerns are asked to call 712-250-8210.