BLAIR, Neb. (AP) – Federal regulators have appointed a new senior inspector at the Nebraska nuclear power plant that recently reopened after nearly three years offline. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Wednesday that Max Schneider will be the new senior resident inspector at Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant just across the Missouri River from Iowa.

Fort Calhoun resumed generating power in December after a prolonged outage to address regulators’ safety concerns and make sure flood damage was repaired. Fort Calhoun is owned by the Omaha Public Power District.

The NRC keeps at least two inspectors at every nuclear power plant. Schneider will join resident inspector Jacob Wingebach at Fort Calhoun.

No serious injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident between Red Oak and Stanton Wednesday evening. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Pamela A. Sandell was driving a 2001 Buick Park Avenue east on Highway 34 at around 5:45-p.m., when she suffered from an apparent medical issue and briefly lost consciousness.

Her car crossed the westbound lane of travel and entered the north ditch, where the vehicle hit a residential driveway at 2365 State Highway 34, before vaulting into the air over the driveway and crashed down into the east side of a drainage ditch. The impact caused the car’s airbags to deploy.

Sandell suffered only minor abrasions and bruises during the accident. Officials say she refused medical treatment at the scene. Her car sustained $7,000 damage, and was considered a total loss. No citations were issued.

No injuries were reported following a collision Wednesday morning between a semi and Ag equipment, southeast of Stanton. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says the driver of a tractor, James A. Herzberg, of Villisca, was cited for Driving Left of Center following the crash just east of Q Avenue on 250th Street, at around 9:15-a.m., Wednesday.

Authorities say Herzberg was operating a John Deere 4040 tractor pulling a Rhino 12 high capacity hay rake, and had observed a semi driven by Marvin G. Reents, of Clarinda, approaching from the rear. Herzberg moved the tractor and rake north, into the westbound lane in anticipation of an upcoming turn, and to allow the semi to pass him on the right because the road ahead was clear.

Herzberg noticed the semi was pulling into the left lane as if to pass tractor, so he tried to return to the eastbound lane, when the hay rack and tractor were struck by the right front side of the semi. The semi, owned by Reents, sustained $8,500 damage. The rake and tractor sustained a combined $16,000 damage.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report the overnight arrest of 23-year old Nicholas Allen Philby, of Red Oak. Philby was taken into custody for Driving While Revoked on an original charge of OWI. He was arrested following a traffic stop at 250th Street and L Avenue, southwest of Stanton. Philby was being held in the Montgomery County Jail Thursday morning in $1,000 bond.

One of the big draws for people who attend the Iowa State Fair each year is the food and fairgoers will get to sample several new item this year. Fair spokesperson Lori Chappel says five of the new foods will be involved in a contest. “They’re all quite decadent,” Chappel says. The contestants include the Three Buck Bowl, which features two crispy potato skins filled with scrambled eggs, salsa, and shredded cheddar cheese. Another offering is Funnel Cake Sticks, which are made with vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry funnel cake batter, served on-a-stick and topped with icing.

Another sweet treat in the contest is The Brownie Blitz. “It’s cream cheese brownie bites, with whipped cream, chocolate syrup and coconut. It comes in a bowl,” Chappel says. There’s also Smoked Brisket and Bacon Mac N Cheese. “It’s macaroni with smoked brisket chunks and apple wood smoked bacon in a creamy three cheese sauce,” Chappel says. The fifth entry is a healthier offering – Caprese Salad On-a-Stick. It’s a skewer of cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, mozzarella cheese and balsamic vinaigrette.

All five of the food items in the contest will be sold for $3. Fairgoers who sample the foods can vote for their favorite, with the winner to be announced on August 12. The 2014 Iowa State Fair runs from August 7-17 in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Ames say emergency responders have recovered the body of a man reported missing in the Skunk River. The body was recovered yesterday evening, about four hours after reports that a man became separated from an inner tube while floating on the river with a group near Carr Park.

SOLON, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man has been arrested on suspicion of placing audio and video recording devices inside a portable restroom. Donald Born of Solon faces two trespassing charges. Authorities say the devices were found June 3rd at a baseball field near a high school in Cascade.

DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) — The head of a group proposing to build an athletic complex at the Field of Dreams site is complaining that an opponent of the effort is making false claims about her. Denise Stillman addressed the Dyersville City Council earlier this week to criticize David Blanchard, who has created a Facebook page called Save the Field of Dreams.

WAPELLO, Iowa (AP) — Residents in southeast Iowa will have two years to raise money for a new bicycle trail along the Great River Road. A funding agreement between the Louisa County Board of Supervisors and state transportation department extends a $1.3 million federal grant awarded in 2012. The county will need to provide a 20 percent local match.

Sheriff’s officials in Cass County Wednesday evening confirmed a fatal farming accident occurred Wednesday afternoon, northeast of Massena. Authorities say a 40-year old man from Massena died as the result of an accident involving a baler. The man’s name was not released, pending notification of relatives. Sheriff’s officials say additional information will likely be released after 8-a.m. Thursday.

The incident was reported at around 2:38-p.m. The victim died at the scene, located off of 760th Street,  about three-quarters of a mile north of Highway 92.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority’s (IEDA) Downtown Resource Center assists communities around the state in revitalizing their downtowns and commercial districts. This summer, the Iowa Downtown Resource Center will offer several downtown forums to bring together community leaders interested in engaging in a discussion about their downtowns. One of the forums is planned for Tuesday, June 24th, in Atlantic.

Attendees will have the opportunity to network with other downtown leaders, learn about the host location and engage in great conversations about the challenges and opportunities that exist in Iowa’s beautiful downtowns. Jim Engle, the director of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center says “The exciting part about these forums, and being able to host them across the state, is that the community and attendees get to be the speakers. These forums will be a chance to learn from each other about what is working in Iowa’s downtowns.”

Downtown Forums will be held in four communities across the state in June and July and will be facilitated by Jim Engle, the director of the Iowa Downtown Resource Center. You can join the IEDA Downtown Resource Center at the session in Atlantic on June 24th at the historic Rock Island Depot (102 Chestnut Street). The session will follow this schedule:
· 9:30 -10:45 a.m. – Discussion Group: Improving your Downtown Appearance
· 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Listening Session: What are your Downtown Issues/Challenges?
· 12 – 12:30 p.m. – Tour of host downtown
· 12:30 – 2 p.m. – Lunch on your own, experiencing the host downtown
· 2 – 3:30 p.m. – Discussion Group: Creating a Great Downtown Business Environment

Individuals must register for the Downtown Forum by visiting https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/IADowntown. Registration is free for this event. The Iowa Downtown Forums are sponsored by the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center that also facilitates the Main Street Iowa Program.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Several northwestern Iowa cities are dealing with the worst flooding ever while others downstream brace for surges on the Rock, Big Sioux, and Missouri rivers. Rock Rapids, a town of 3,000, lost its water supply. Mayor Jason Chase says it’s back on but he’s awaiting tests results to show water is safe to drink. He says 60 homes have waist-deep water in them, and several families remain in a shelter. The Rock River is receding after cresting at a record 27 feet.