Officials with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have chosen a route for a proposed passenger rail system that would link the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area with Chicago, and include stops at several cities in between. Among the cities, is Atlantic. The Daily NonPareil reports the option would utilize existing tracks owned by Burlington Northern-Santa Fe, Iowa Interstate Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad and Amtrak, according to an FRA Tier 1 Record of Decision released in July. The route, which would take trains through Moline, Ill., Iowa City, Des Moines and Atlantic, was referred to as the “preferred” option during a public meeting in Council Bluffs last December, according to Brian Goss of HDR Engineering, who served as a panelist.

The FRA decision was based on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement of October 2012 and the Final Environmental Impact Statement of May 2013 conducted by the Iowa Department of Transportation in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Transportation as part of Tier 1 of the Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study, the document stated. The FRA also considered comments from agencies, tribes and Native American groups and the public received during the public comment periods.

Goss says there could still be modifications, depending on what is uncovered during the Tier 2 study.  Amanda Martin, freight and passenger policy coordinator for the Iowa DOT and manager of the project, says the selected route would have the smallest impact on the environment of any options studied. The environmental portion of the Tier 1 study was completed well ahead of the usual two-year time frame, and now, the DOT is waiting for comments from the FRA needed for a Tier 1 Service Development Plan (SDP) and hopes to have the full study finished by October.

The Tier 2 study will proceed as funding becomes available. Specific aspects of the project likely to receive attention include track improvements, drainage, railroad crossings and train-control system improvements along the entire route. In addition, construction of stations in Iowa City, Grinnell, Des Moines, Atlantic, Council Bluffs and Omaha would be studied, along with possibilities for rail yards, layover and maintenance facilities, bridge construction or improvements and other factors. Once the Tier 2 study is finalized and approved, the next step would be design and engineering.

The proposed schedule developed for the SDP for these phases includes the following estimated time frames:
• Chicago to Moline (two round-trips) – construction 2014-2015; service begins Dec. 31, 2015
• Chicago to Iowa City (two round-trips) – construction 2015-2016; service begins 2017
• Chicago to Des Moines (two round-trips) – construction 2020-2021; service begins 2022
• Chicago to Des Moines (four round-trips) – equipment procurement 2024; service begins 2025
• Chicago to Council Bluffs (four round-trips) – construction 2028-2029; service begins 2030.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Council Bluffs is looking for a new fire chief for the first time in nearly two decades. The Daily Nonpareil reports that Alan Byers is retiring after 19 years as chief and 35 years as a firefighter. Byers says it’s time for someone else to have a chance to lead the department.

Longtime Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan praised Byers work as chief. Hanafan says Byers oversaw numerous improvements and growth in the department during his tenure.

The Council Bluffs Police Department issued a missing persons report on Saturday (8/24) for a mentally challenged Council Bluffs man.

Nikko Ruiz

Nikko Ruiz was last seen leaving his house on 4th street in Council Bluffs at 9:30 Saturday morning.  He is an 18-year-old white male whom is 5’11” and 120lbs.  He was last seen wearing a purple polo shirt with pink and blue stripes and has short hair and a goatee.

Ruiz’ family had just moved into the area from out of state on Friday and have no other family in the area aside from immediate family.

The Council Bluffs Police department is asking for the public’s help in trying to locate Ruiz.  If contact is made with him please call your local authorities immediately.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Creston man Saturday night. An off duty Deputy observed 32-year-old Raymond Scott Davis allegedly stealing firewood from the Hy-Vee store in Corning.  Deputies with the Adams County Sheriff’s Department stopped Davis at around 9:40-p.m., and arrested him for theft in the 5th degree, driving under the influence 2nd offense, open container and for driving while suspended.  He was being held in the Adams County Jail on just over $3,000 bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest early Sunday morning of a Red Oak resident, for driving while intoxicated. Officials say Kim Jording was taken into custody at around 1:20-a.m, following a traffic stop in the 1300 block of 210th Street, just west of Red Oak.  Jording was charged with OWI/1st offense, transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, and held on $1,000 bond.

CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-
TAYLOR-RINGGOLD

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM CDT TUESDAY...

MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT-

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT TUESDAY...


THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A HEAT
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7PM or 10 PM CDT
TUESDAY.

* TEMPERATURE...HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE MID TO
  UPPER 90S EACH DAY...WITH HEAT INDEX VALUES EXCEEDING 100
  DEGREES DURING THE AFTERNOONS AND EVENINGS.

* IMPACTS...THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF SEVERAL DAYS OF HEAT WILL
  TAKE ITS TOLL...PARTICULARLY ON THOSE WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING
  AND THOSE ENGAGING IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. SUCH ACTIVITIES SHOULD
  BE DELAYED TO A LATER DATE IF POSSIBLE...OR HELD IN THE MORNING
  TO MINIMIZE HEAT STRESS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS
EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY
WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE
POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED
ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND
NEIGHBORS.

   TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS...IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE.
WHEN POSSIBLE...RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING
OR EVENING.  KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND
HEAT STROKE.  WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN
POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.

   TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK...THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST
BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS.  ANYONE
OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION.
HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY...CALL 9 1 1.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Cass County Conservation Board is holding a “Movie in the Park” Campground Program. The title of the August 30th film is “Legend of the Guardians the Owls of GaHoole.” The free public program will be held at the Campground Shelter at Cold Springs Park in Lewis, on August 30^th 2013, at 9:00-pm!

If it rains the movie WILL BE cancelled. You DO NOT have to be a registered camper to attend the program.

The Cass County Conservation Board is 55 years old this year. Officials say they’ve decided to celebrate in a couple of different ways: a digital treasure hunt and a Birthday Celebration. The Board considers Cass County parks to be our treasures, and they would love for you to visit them. Follow clues established by the Board and take a picture. Two special clues involve using a GPS (The rules and clues are published below).

Geocashing

Prizes will be awarded, but you will have to wait until the Birthday Celebration on September 14th, when you can meet Conservation Department employees and board members. The event takes place at the Cold Springs Park– Campground Shelter, beginning at 7-PM.  Cake and refreshments will be served.
The Cass County Conservation Board was established in 1958 as the county resource agency with the authority to acquire lands specifically for recreation and conservation. Each member of our board is appointed by the Cass County Board of Supervisors and appointed five year terms.
****************
Treasure Hunt Rules:
1. All photos must include at least one member of the family or person. Self-portraits are allowed as long as we can verify your location by the picture.
2. Photos shall be submitted through the following email: lkanning@casscoia.us
3. Entrant will only receive an email back if their submission was Incorrect.
4. One entry per family.
5. Deadline for submission is Sept 3rd 2013 at 4:30 PM CST. Winners will be drawn and announced at the Birthday Celebration Sept. 14th 2013.
6. The CCCB reserves the right to display winners’ photos and other contest images.
7. Board members, staff and their families are ineligible for the drawing.
Prizes: all correct submissions will be entered into one drawing. There will be 3 additional drawings one for each of the correct GPS clues, and one for correct pictures for ALL of the picture clues.

Clues:
1. Over 70,000 Mormons traveled by on the Road to Zion. Take your picture with the sign describing these events.
2. Travel to this park on a “dry” day and take your picture with the park entrance sign!
3. Enjoy our “newest” Cass County park, take your picture in the “newest” structure on the shore.
4. Named after a pioneer town that had a saw mill and a hotel. Take your picture with the park entrance sign.
Get out your GPS unit for these special prizes:
Go to these coordinates (N 41˚ 18.200 W 095˚ 06.195) and leave your full name in the log to qualify for a special prize!
Go to these coordinates (N 41˚ 25.724 W 094˚ 58.955) and find a wildflower or tree sign. Email the correct name from the sign to the email above to qualify.
Reminder the deadline for submission is Sept 3rd 2013 at 4:30 PM CST. Winners will be drawn and announced at the Birthday Celebration Sept. 14th 2013.

The Cass County Conservation Board is holding a “Mysterious Monarchs” Program early next month. The free public program will be held at the Campground Shelter at Cold Springs Park in Lewis, on September 7^th, beginning at 4:00-pm, and at the Camblin Addition Shelter at Sunnyside Park in Atlantic, on September 14^th beginning at 2:00-pm.

During the sessions, you can discover the Monarch Butterflies before they begin their journey south. Conservationists will be tagging monarchs and show the public how to do so, as well.  If you would like a home tagging kit you must attend and pre-register for the Kit. Call 712-769-2372 to pre-register for your kit. You DO NOT have to be a registered camper to attend the program.