(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa bridge destroyed by flooding in June has been replaced and, after five months of detours, the new bridge opened to traffic last (Tuesday) night. In August, the flood damaged remnants of the bridge on U-S Highway 18 over Stoney Creek in Clay County, near the town of Everly, were removed. Construction crews were able to complete work on the new bridge about a month earlier than scheduled. Next spring, crews will plant grass around the bridge site and do some stabilization work on the riverbank and around the bridge.

Iowa D-O-T officials say all the bridges and roads damaged by the historic flooding in northwest Iowa this past June are now open to traffic.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday), approved – by a vote of 4-to-1 – an agreement with Windstream for internet service. Auditor Mandy Berg said it’s not clear when it will be installed. The Board received a report from Adair County Attorney Melissa Larson with regard to personnel, and the status of the County Attorney position. She asked for and received permission to post, a job opening for a vacant Paralegal, and Legal Assistant position. She also asked the Board to consider a resolution designating her office as being full-time.

She said it’s been something she’s been mulling over for more than a year.

As a full-time County Attorney, Larson would be prohibited under Iowa law, from having a private practice. She said the County Attorney’s position won’t be up for election until the General Election in 2026, so there won’t be any interference with that process. There are both full-time and part-time County Attorneys in Iowa. Roughly two-thirds of County Attorneys are part-time and may handle private legal work in addition to their official duties. Larson said she would not be asking for a huge pay increase as County Attorney.

The Supervisors agreed to move forward with the request, a draft for which is already prepared. Larson was instructed to give the document to Mandy Berg with the budget numbers and pertinent information, so it can be acted upon during a Board meeting in December.

Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman presented various documents for Board approval and signing, including the awarding of a contract to Herberger Construction in Indianola, for the N7 Eureka (Township) bridge project, in the amount of $760,838.00

along with right-of-way contracts for the W-12 Harrison Culvert Project, and plans for the IN6 Summerset Bridge plans. Kauffman also gave a report on Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities.

County Auditor Mandy Berg presented for Board approval, separate Transfer and Internal Advance Resolutions for the Capital Progress Fund, a TIF Indebtedness Certification, Urban Renewal Report, and an Information Technology (IT) assessment. The Board approved those items.

And, the Adair County Supervisors approved a Child Abuse Prevention Grant draw-down for Berg to sign, in the amount of $1,196.01.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department report two pickup trucks collided Tuesday evening, but no one was injured. Authorities say a 2012 Chevy Silverado driven by 60-year-old Therese Fief-Hopkins, of Creston, was turning east from Sumner Avenue onto Adams Street, while a 2017 Chevy Silverado driven by 17-year-old Jerney Dorsett, of Diagonal, was traveling north on Sumner. Both drivers had a yellow traffic light.

Hopkins proceeded into the intersection to complete her turn, and Dorsett continued traveling north on Sumner through the intersection. Her pickup hit Hopkin’s truck on the rear passenger side, causing the Hopkins pickup to spin around and come to rest facing west. The airbags on Dorsett’s pickup deployed during the collision, Her pickup came to rest on the side of Sumner Avenue.

Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and were towed from the scene. Damages amounted to $15,000 altogether, according to police. No citations were issued.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A reminder from the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce: Get a kick start to your holiday shopping by purchasing discount AtlantiCash, presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust, this Saturday only (Nov. 30th), at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Executive Director Bailey Smith says last year they sold $40,000 in 45 minutes. The goal is to sell another $40,000 this year.

From 9-a.m. until Noon Saturday, November 30th only, AtlantiCash will be available in packs of $100 for $80, a 20% discount. Shoppers can purchase up to three packs. Payment must be made at time of purchase in the form of cash or check only. There is a first-come, first-purchased basis with only a limited amount of AtlantiCash available. Purchase will not be allowed before Saturday and bundles cannot be reserved for later pickup. To sweeten the deal of discount AtlantiCash, the Atlantic Area Chamber’s latest custom Christmas items will be available at a discount when you purchase AtlantiCash. On Saturday only, you can purchase an ornament one for $12 or all three ornaments for $35, the ‘Merry Atlantic’ mug for $15, or the whole Christmas in Atlantic bundle (three ornaments & mug) for $50.

Small Business Saturday will also be taking place on Saturday, beginning when retailers open. Businesses will be offering discounts, deals and special promotions. For a list of participating retailers, visit www.atlanticiowa.com. Discount AtlantiCash and Small Business Saturday are brought to you by First Whitney Bank & Trust, Cappel’s Ace Hardware, Rush CPA & Associates and Property Connection Real Estate.

Pick up your Christmas brochure from area retail businesses, ‘like’ the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Instagram to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities and a printable version of the brochure at www.atlanticiowa.com.

Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712-243-3017. Christmas in Atlantic is presented by Gregg Young of Atlantic.

[UPDATED] (Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports five arrests:

Late Tuesday morning, 44-year-old Melinda Ann Foland, of Afton, was arrested following a traffic stop in Creston. Foland was charged with Operating While Under the Influence (OWI) 1st Offense, and Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st Offense. She was later released on a $2,000 bond. Tuesday afternoon, 47-year-old Toby Annette Crawford, of Creston, was also arrested following a traffic stop. Crawford was charged with OWI/1st Offense. Crawford was released from the Union County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Tuesday night, Creston Police arrested 22-year-old Rhodey Lucky Charles Fechter, of Creston. Fechter was arrested at his residence and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/Strangulation. He was being held without bond in the Union County Jail until seen by a magistrate.

At around 12:20-a.m. today (Wednesday), 20-year-old Tyson Scott Nall, of Murray, was arrested in Creston for Possession of Controlled Substance-Marijuana/1st Offense, and Person Ineligible to Carry a Dangerous Weapons. Nall was later released on a $2,000 bond.

And, on November 26th at around 2:35-p.m., 41-year-old Damiel Lee Swank, of Saint Charles, was arrested at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center,  on a Union County warrant. He was also charged with Sex Abuse 3^rd, and Indecent Exposure.  Swank was later released on an $11,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Des Moines Police say two officers shot at and killed a 70 year old man, who pointed a pistol at the officers in downtown Des Moines, early Tuesday morning. The man died in the lobby of the apartment building where he lived. According to a news release, the officers were responding to a report that a man was threatening a woman with a gun. The man’s name was not immediately released.

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Thanksgiving travel is underway for thousands of people, The Omaha Airport Authority said Tuesday is the second-busiest day for Thanksgiving travel. This coming Sunday is expected to be the busiest. They added they’re expecting to see more than 185,000 travelers moving in and out of the airport, which they said is a 3 percent increase from last year. The Omaha Airport Authority said you won’t see any major changes from what you’re used to flying in and out of Eppley. They said the construction is not really affecting travel. But still, it doesn’t hurt to have some pointers. Chief strategy officer Steve McCoy recommends arriving no later than two hours before your flight.

If you’re picking someone up, help keep the lanes outside the terminal open by parking in one of the two free cell phone waiting lots until your traveler arrives. There is one cell phone waiting lot on the north side of the terminal, and one on the south.

McCoy says those picking-up an airline passenger can wait in one of those lots until your guest arrives. When they give you a call or a text message, you can pull-up and pick them up.

Be sure and keep an eye on any flight delays the weather may cause by checking your airline’s website or smart phone app.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Thanksgiving and the day before are the top two days in this country for the chance of a cooking fire to happen in someone’s home. Cooking causes an average of 158,400 home fires per year, which is 44% of all home fires in the United States. The American Red Cross offers safety steps everyone can follow if they will be preparing their family’s Thanksgiving feast.  Emily Holley, Regional Communications Manager for the Nebraska-Iowa Chapter of the Red Cross, says “Cooking is the leading cause of home fires, home fire injuries and the second leading cause of home fire deaths. Most happen because people leave cooking food unattended. We want everyone to have a safe, enjoyable holiday, so don’t leave the kitchen while you’re cooking.”

The Red Cross offers the following cooking safety tips:

• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• Use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
• Keep kids and pets at least three feet away from cooking areas.
• Keep anything that can catch on fire — potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains — away from your stove top and oven or any other appliance that generates heat.
• Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.
• Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen.
• Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving home to make sure all stoves, ovens and small appliances are turned off.

(Iowa DNR News) – Pheasant hunting has been as much a part of the Thanksgiving holiday for generations of Iowans, as cranberries and stuffing. And with a weather forecast that will likely put birds in cover, this would be a good year to continue that tradition and get back to the fields. Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), says “It’s a good opportunity for hunters to get out with less competition. Would also be a good time to invite someone new along and pass along that tradition.”

The Iowa DNR offers an apprentice license that allows someone to give hunting a try under the supervision of an adult mentor without completing hunter education. This license may be purchased twice in a lifetime before the individual is required to complete a hunter education course. Iowa’s pheasant population is down slightly from last year when hunters bagged the highest number of roosters since 2007. According to the August roadside survey, the regions with higher pheasant counts are north of Interstate 80. “The harvest is following what the roadside counts showed – better hunting in northern Iowa with lots of young birds out there,” Bogenschutz said. Last year, more than 83,000 hunters harvested over 590,000 roosters, providing an estimated economic impact of $180 million in Iowa.

Photo courtesy of the Iowa DNR.

The Iowa DNR and Pheasants Forever are celebrating 100 years of pheasant hunting in the Hawkeye State. The first season was held Oct. 20-22, 1925, when 13 counties in north central Iowa were opened to pheasant hunting. Hunters were allowed a three-rooster limit, for a half-day of hunting. An estimated 75,000 hunters participated.

Information on places to hunt, the August roadside survey results and more is available online by clicking the 100 Years of Pheasant Hunting graphic at www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey.

(Atlantic,Iowa) – You don’t have to go all-out for your Thanksgiving meal, Thursday, and you don’t even have to do the dishes, if you attend the FREE 3^rd Annual Community Thanksgiving meal Thursday, in Atlantic. The event – with all the traditional fixings, including turkey, ham, dressing and pie, takes place from 11-a.m. Until 4-p.m. At the Cass County Community Center (next to the Fairgrounds), at 805 W, 10^th Street.

Take-out meals and delivery are available in Atlantic, and there are drop locations in Wiota, Anita, Cumberland, Massena, Lewis, Griswold, Marne, Walnut, Elk Horn and Exira (By pre-order only). To order to go meals on Thanksgiving please call or text message 712-250-1599 by no later than 5-p.m. On Wednesday (Nov. 27). Last year over 500 meals were served. Kristen Holaday-Brooks with Holaday Baking Company is serving the meal, thanks to numerous sponsors. Kristin’s family has hosted the event since its inception.

The first family was served after consulting with the Atlantic School District to see who needed the most help on Thanksgiving. From there, the need grew to multiple families.

The first year, she said, they were just trying to figure out the logistics of serving numerous people. They ended-up served about 450 meals.

As of last week, there were at least 159 meals ordered for delivery and the drop locations. The meat for the meal is smoked by Troublesome Creek Cattle Company in Exira, the week before the meal. Every meal is homemade.

Their job is made easier thanks to the use of an industrial potato peeler. The Atlantic Bottling Company has donated all of the drinks for the event. That’s also included with deliveries. The deliveries are handled by volunteers. Again, deliveries are made by pre-order only. For more information, call or text Anna at 712-250-1599, or visit the holadaybakingcompany’s Facebook page.