Today (Monday) marks the halfway point between the purchase of a valuable lottery ticket in eastern Iowa and it’s expiration date. Iowa Lottery spokesperson Mary Neubauer says the $2 million winning Powerball ticket was purchased at a convenience store in Cedar Rapids for the drawing on July 16. After six months, no one has come forward with the ticke “It’s not very often that a prize of this size goes unclaimed for this long,” Neubauer says.

It’s possible the ticket was lost or even thrown away, but Neubauer says it’s not uncommon for frequent players of lottery games to leave the tickets unchecked for long periods of time. “People have said ‘oh yeah, I let them pile up on my dresser’ or one woman who contacted us said she kept her lottery tickets in a cookie jar and she would check the tickets after she got a lot of them in her cookie jar,” Neubauer said.

The $2 million winning ticket will expire at the close of business on July 17, if it isn’t claimed by then. “There are still six months for this particular ticket to go, but with every day that passes, it becomes a little more likely that maybe that ticket isn’t out there anymore,” Neubauer said. “So, we’re just trying to do all we can to get the word out.”

The ticket was purchased at the Hawkeye Convenience Store, 2330 Wiley Blvd. SW in Cedar Rapids. The ticket initially matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball in the July 16 drawing to win a $1 million prize, but the person who bought the ticket also added the Power Play option to the purchase, which multiplied the prize to $2 million. The winning numbers in the July 16 Powerball drawing were: 11-17-40-50-62 and Powerball 26. The Power Play number was 2.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s governor has proposed cutting funding for needy kids as part of his plan to defund Planned Parenthood. It’s a rare step even as Republican-dominated states grapple with whether to sacrifice federal dollars to lessen the organization’s influence. Iowa receives more than $3 million in federal Medicaid funding that it must spend on family planning services, and some of that is tied to Planned Parenthood.

According to budget projections reviewed by The Associated Press, Republican Gov. Terry Branstad has recommended taking $2.8 million previously given to child and family services so it can be redirected to create a roughly $3.3 million program that distributes family planning money to organizations that do not perform abortions.

Branstad is expected to resign soon to become the U.S. ambassador to China.

Due to inclement weather, the City of Council Bluffs Government offices will be closed Monday, January 17th, 2017. Only essential city personnel should report to work.
Regular business hours are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, January 18th, 2017. Officials will evaluate the situation and notify the public if those plans change.

For closing updates, please watch the City’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/City-of-Council-Bluffs-Municipal-Government-211670489175832/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Students at two Council Bluffs elementary schools will have the chance to learn more about personal finance by working in bank branches at their schools. The Daily Nonpareil reports First National Bank and American National Bank both recently opened branches in elementary schools.

The Council Bluffs school district now has nine different bank branches open in its schools. The branches are part of a larger effort to teach students about money by giving them the chance to open a savings account and contribute to it.

Carter Lake Elementary Principal Doreen Knuth says opening an account early lets students to watch their savings grow and build good habits.

The Creston Police Department says no injuries were reported following a collision Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Wyoming and Taylor Streets. Officials say a a 2007 Dodge Caliber driven by 16-year old Tessi VanScoy, of Creston, was stopped at the controlled intersection on Wyoming Street and proceeded to cross Taylor Street, when her vehicle was hit on the passenger side door by a 2002 KIA, driven by 62-year old Michael Mason, of Creston. The accident happened at around 3:20-p.m., Saturday.

Damage from the collision amounted to $4,000. There were no citations issued.

BUFFALO COUNTY, Neb. (AP) — Officials believe icy conditions contributed to a fiery crash involving two semitrailer trucks on Interstate 80 in central Nebraska. The Nebraska Roads Department closed 15 miles of I-80 after the trucks crashed shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday. The crash happened about nine miles west of Kearney.

Pictures of the crash show the trucks on fire along the road, but it wasn’t immediately clear if anyone was injured. Authorities didn’t immediately release crash details. Highways in central Nebraska are already covered by ice as a major storm moves into the area. Most of the ice accumulation is expected in eastern Nebraska and Iowa later Sunday into Monday.

Ice accumulations of one-quarter to three-quarters of an inch appear likely, making driving dangerous and threatening to bring down tree limbs and power lines.

The Cass County Sheriff’s office is asks everyone to stay home and stay safe once the ice storm hits. Make sure you have essentials, and check on your family members/friends/neighbors who have limited mobility to see if they are in need of things before the storm begins.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce held it’s annual Dinner and Awards program Saturday evening at the Cass County Community Center, with the dinner provided by Hy-Vee. The evening focused on the spirit of volunteerism in the community, and how they make life better for the rest of us.

Among the awards handed out during the program, was one that is presented in partnership with Deter Motor Company, in Atlantic. The Athena Award is presented to one person for their efforts to create leadership opportunities for women, excellence in professional and community service and especially for assisting women in their attainment of excellence and leadership. The Athena Award went to Dr. Tressa Wilcox.

During the Community Awards portion of the program, Saturday, Outstanding Volunteers in 2017 were recognized. The highest honor…The Distinguished Service Award…was presented to LaVon Eblen.

LaVon Eblen with her Distinguished Service Award. (Ric Hanson/photo)

She was described by community members, business leaders and friends as enthusiastic, confident, passionate, caring and an entrepreneur. She supports the community using her hands and heart, according to past Chamber President Lori Reid, who said LaVon selflessly offers “Her time and often her resources to nurture local projects like Produce in the Park, Master Gardeners, Healthy Cass County, Cass County Food Policy Council, 4-H, the Armory and much more.”

Local businesses and groups were also recognized during the Chamber Banquet, Saturday. Among them was the Atlantic Area Ambassadors, who are made up of volunteers and business leaders who help celebrate business accomplishments, expansions and successes. Some of the businesses they helped to celebrate include: Salute Gymnastics; Olsen’s Fuel Supply; Farmer’s Insurance; Hanson’s Fine Jewelry; Griswold Rehab and Health Care Center, and others. It was also noted Cass, Incorporated and TS Banking Group were named Top Work Places in Iowa, by the Des Moines Register, and Cass County Health System was awarded a Top Work Place for the second consecutive year, by the Des Moines Register.

New Chamber President Rob Claussen spoke about adopting four new objectives for the Chamber’s Strategic Plan in 2017. They include: Community Development; Membership Engagement; Volunteer Engagement, and Business Development.

Police in Red Oak arrested a man Saturday night on a Trespassing charge. 57-year old Ronald Lee Hall, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 7:55-p.m. in the 100 block of W. Joy Street. Hall was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

Charges of OWI, Child Endangerment, multiple traffic citations and other charges, are pending completion of an investigation into a crash that injured a child from Indiana  Saturday night, in Adair County. Moments before the crash occurred at around 9:15-p.m., State Radio near Lewis put out a broadcast about a white SUV traveling at around 100-miles per hour eastbound on Interstate 80 near mile marker 83.

Pictures courtesy of Shellie Weed. Thank you, Shellie!!

The accident happened when the 2007 Honda CRV rear-ended a 2010 Dodge pickup, causing the pickup to leave the road and enter the south ditch. The driver of the SUV was identified as 30-year old Patrick Lester, of Ft. Wayne, IN.

Following the collision, the SUV swerved left and side-swiped a 2009 Saturn Outlook, causing both vehicles to enter the median, where they hit the cable barriers before coming to rest. A passenger in the SUV, 5-year old Logan Lester, of Ft. Wayne, IN., was not wearing a seat belt. He was injured and transported by Stuart Rescue to Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines.

None of the drivers were injured. The driver of the pickup was identified as 52-year old Corrie Ann Lambert, of Traverse City, MI, while the other driver of the Saturn was 59-year old Diane Rullestad, of Des Moines.