Officials say it will take some time to gather the data necessary to seek federal assistance for parts of Iowa hit by spring and early summer storms. Governor Kim Reynolds says the plan is to combine assessments of storm damage that happened from June 6th through the 13th with the flood damage that happened from June 14th through June 30th.

“If we can tie the two together, that will increase our abilities to get a federal disaster proclamation issued that will help with some funding and additional resources,” Reynolds says.

On Monday afternoon Reynolds toured parts of central Iowa that were damaged after flash flooding this past weekend. Reynolds posted a photo and note on Twitter, saying it was “absolutely heartbreaking” to witness a Des Moines woman’s return to her flooded out home. The governor says water damage “over the last couple of weeks” has hit other parts of Iowa, too.

“Tremendous collaboration, coordination — Iowans doing what Iowans always do and that’s step up and really help in times of disaster,” Reynolds says, “and it is definitely obvious.”

Yesterday (Monday) afternoon, hundreds of flood victims lined up at a center in Des Moines designed as a “one stop shop” for assistance. It will reopen today (Tuesday). It’s the distribution site for Red Cross flood clean-up kits. Legal Aid will be there to provide help to renters and homeowners filing flood insurance claims.

Polk County officials are offering vaccinations for people who’ve been in filthy flood water. MidAmerican representatives will be there to schedule restoration of electric and gas service to flooded properties.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Residents in the Des Moines area are cleaning up after deadly floods destroyed homes and submerged cars, and more damage could be revealed as the floodwaters recede. Heavy rains over the weekend forced the evacuation of numerous homes and businesses in Des Moines and surrounding suburbs. Drake University broadcaster Larry Cotlar was killed when he was swept away by floods on Saturday. Des Moines resident Ellen James says she lost everything and had to stay in a shelter Sunday night.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s second medical cannabis oil manufacturer will be in Cedar Rapids. The Iowa Department of Public Health said Monday that Iowa Relief LLC, a subsidiary of New Jersey-based medical marijuana operator Acreage Holding, was awarded the state’s second license to manufacturer cannabis oil in Cedar Rapids. Iowa Relief will begin selling products July 1, 2019.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Rapids police have arrested a man in connection with the June death of a man found injured at a downtown park. Officers were called June 5 to an altercation at Greene Square and found 38-year-old Scott Dexter, of Cedar Rapids. He had sustained severe injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he died several days later. On Monday, investigators arrested 47-year-old Troy Lee Wilson at the police department. He was charged with second-degree murder.

WASHBURN, Iowa (AP) — The Black Hawk County sheriff’s office says a bicyclist has died after being hit by a car. The sheriff’s office says 54-year-old Connie Inks, of Waterloo, was riding Monday morning along Highway 218 just north of the community of Washburn when she was hit. Emergency crews performed CPR on Inks, who was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead. The car was driven by 39-year-old Joshua Summerhays, of Waterloo. The sheriff’s office says the crash is under investigation.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s second medical cannabis oil manufacturer will be in Cedar Rapids. The Iowa Department of Public Health said Monday that Iowa Relief LLC, a subsidiary of New York-based cannabis company Acreage Holdings, was awarded the state’s second license to manufacturer cannabis oil in Cedar Rapids.

Iowa Relief will begin selling products July 1, 2019, at five medical marijuana dispensaries planned for Council Bluffs, Davenport, Sioux City, Waterloo and the Des Moines suburb of Windsor Heights. MedPharm Iowa, the state’s first manufacturer, will begin sales Dec. 1.

Patients will be able to obtain cannabis oil with a state permit for conditions such as epilepsy and cancer. Three other companies sought the manufacturing license. Only two Iowa manufacturers are planned. Acreage Holdings’ board of advisers includes former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner.

The Atlantic City Council, minus Mayor Dave Jones and Councilperson Ashley Hayes, met Monday evening during a session that lasted less than three-minutes. That’s because there was only one action item and one update to discuss.

The Council approved a cigarette permit for the “Fog Zone,” in Atlantic. And, they were provided with a Beautification Committee update from Mayor Pro-Tem Kathy Somers.

Way-finding signs

Posts for mounting Way-finding signs (Click on any image to enlarge)

Somers said the committee met last Thursday and voted to move forward with “Way finding” signs mounted on black cast aluminum fluted posts with ball finials,  in and around the City, at cost of about $82,000. That amount, she said, has already been budgeted for. Snyder and Associates Engineers are working with the Iowa Dept. of Transportation, with regard to where the signs can be posted, and so far, nearly 18 sites have been chosen. The committee, Somers said, is looking for input from the Council with regard to the most important things being on the signs.

Proposed designs for vinyl banners (Not a final design) – Click on any image to enlarge.

Somers said the Committee also approved the use of vinyl banners around town, where the Christmas decorations would normally hang. The theme of each banner would be “Discover Atlantic,” with a variety of images on each individual banner, such as the Rock Island Depot,the Trojan logo, the Lady Liberty statue in the City Park, and others. In all, a proposed 28 banners are in the works. They will be full-color, two-sided, printed on 18-ounce matte vinyl and complete with all the hardware and brackets, at a cost of $3,920 delivered.

A collision between a motorcycle and a deer early Saturday morning in Webster County, has claimed the life of an Audubon County man. The Webster County Sheriff’s Office reports 29-year old Casey Bolick, of Gray, was riding a motorcycle southbound in the 3400 block of Highway 169 at around 3-a.m., when his cycle struck a deer. Bolick died at the scene. A small dog riding with him was not injured and was reunited with Casey’s family.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Two former members of the Winnebago Tribe’s governing council have pleaded guilty to misusing federal money to pay themselves bonuses.
The Sioux City Journal reports that Tillie Aldrich and Jessica Webster pleaded guilty Friday.

As part of agreements that both signed with prosecutors, Aldrich and Webster are both expected to be sentenced to five years of probation on Sept. 21. Webster must repay $89,000 and Aldrich must repay $13,404.

The two are part of a group of nine former council members charged with giving themselves bonuses out of $388,972 in federal money intended to provide health care to tribal members.

WASHBURN, Iowa (AP) — The Black Hawk County sheriff’s office says a bicyclist has died after being hit by a car. Sheriff Tony Thompson told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier the woman was riding Monday morning along Highway 218 just north of the community of Washburn when she was hit.

Emergency crews performed CPR on the woman. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The sheriff’s office didn’t immediately release the name of the woman or car driver.