Photos of Columbus Junction

Columbus Junction City has collected many pictures of flooding there. this is one of them:




Find more photos documenting Columbus Junctions flood and flood fighting efforts:
http://www.cscolumbus.org/Flood%20photos.htm

Baptist Church needs help

The Red Cross Shelter set up in the Wapello Baptist Church --Solid Rock, 14014 Locust Street needs volunteers to assist people with registering for FEMA online or by telephone. 11:30 to 2 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m....Also people are needed to help serve meals and clean up....Other people are needed at Solid Rock at the information desk or to help organize and stock supply rooms, register new shelter residents. Just answer general questions people might have.

Call and set up a time at 319-523-5320

This information from Kathy Vance at Louisa County ISU Extension

Variety of Columbus Junction info from Kathy Vance

Kathy Vance from the Louisa County Extension Office has this update on Columbus Junction:

>Dr. Wever, Integrity Dental, will be working from Dr. Helscher’s office in Washington for the next 3-4 weeks.

>Dr. Englert has temporarily relocated to the former City Hall in Columbus City.

>Hy-Vee Drug Store is operating out of their Wapello location.

>Columbus Medical Clinic will set up a temporary location at Roundy Elementary starting June 20th.

>The Community Health Center does not yet have a temporary location.


>The sale of prepared foods and beverages is suspended in Columbus Junction until the State Government approves the water system for commercial food preparation. But 92 Roadhouse is open.

News for farmers

Washington County farmers will be eligible to apply for low-interest Emergency Loans.

Producers in Washington and other counties contiguous to the presidential disaster designated counties are eligible for these low-interest Emergency Loans.

SEE DETAILS

FSA Emergency loan funds may be used to:

* Restore or replace essential property;

* Pay all or part of production costs associated with the disaster year;

* Pay essential family living expenses;

* Reorganize the farming operation; and

* Refinance certain debts.

Those in other presidential disaster declared counties may be eligible for the Emergency Conservation Program or ECP.

Help needed for Oakville residents

Robin Dietrich of Winfield is hoping to help out those displaced from Oakville.

Twenty Oakville families she says are staying at trailer court in Wapello, and they need household items:

-cleaning supplies
-toilet paper
-toiletries
-paper towels
-bath towels

Also, they could use two more refrigerators.

Call her at 319-257-6856, or bring items to 405 South Locust in Winfield, and Robin will deliver them.

Donations to National Guard

If donations of food and other supplies made to the National Guard unit stationed at the Washington Armory remain after they finish their duties, it will be given to flood victims . Ann Moore from the 134th family readiness group says that they don't know when that will be, but eventually if there are things left over, they will in turn make that donation to local people affected.

Water in Columbus Junction

Columbus Junction City Clerk Julie Heindel says that drinking water will be passed out again to residents today from 3 to 5 p.m. at Columbus School; they may be on the other side of the school today. Heindel says that residents are also able to bring in their own large containers to be filled.

Eating food from flooded gardens

Below is from Patrick O’Malley, ISU Extension Horticulturist:

If the flooding is from primarily pooled rainwater they should be alright following previously sent precautions. However if it is from river, creek, or other source that may be contain raw sewage such as untreated release from city wastewater plants, septic systems, or livestock facilities, the general recommendation is to avoid using those garden areas for 90 days.

More roads open

Washington County Secondary Roads announces these roads are now open to traffic:

* Locust Street in the city of Coppock
* Nutmeg Ave and Poplar Blvd southeast of Kalona

Want the full list of county roads closed and other road information? County roads website

Blood drive moved due to flooding

Jenny Vinzant, Associate Donor Resource Consultant from Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center has this related announcement:

Columbus Junction is scheduled to host a drive from 1:30 - 6:30 p.m. tomorrow (June 18th) at the Legion Hall. However, the flooding has caused the Legion to be utilized as a sandbagging station and we were left to find an alternate location. The Columbus City Masonic Lodge has graciously allowed MVRBC to use the building in order to continue blood collections.

Drive Specifics:

- Date: Wednesday, June 18th

- Hours: 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

- Location: Columbus City Masonic Lodge - Corner of Columbus and Market Streets - Columbus City, IA 52737

- Goal: 40 units of blood

*As the flood waters have challenged our coordination and planning of this drive, we are relying on walk-in donors to fill our time slots and meet our goal; no need to call to schedule an appointment.

Thanks,

Jenny Vinzant

Associate Donor Resource Consultant

Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center

Solicitation for photos

KCII would like to see your photos from local flooding, especially Louisa, Keokuk, and Washington Counties. E-mail them to news@kciiradio.com; please include the photographer's name, the location, and the date it was taken.

Flooding footage

Video shot of a wide Iowa River Sunday morning east of the Riverside Casino



(Ben Stanton/KCII)

Methodist Church in Washington taking donations

New Creation Church in Cedar Rapids is housing people displaced due to flooding. The Washington United Methodist Church is collecting donations for them.

Here is a message from Pastor Julie Poulsen

I-80 open

Iowa DOT shows I-80 Between Iowa City and the Quad Cities is now open again.

Boat ban lifted

Washington County Sheriff Jerry Dunbar reports the previously enacted "boat ban" on rivers has now been lifted.

State resources

A special website is setup for information from the state about flooding.

http://www.flood2008.iowa.gov/

Message from Mayor Cicalo

This is a portion of a message is from Mayor of Washington, Rick Cicalo.

(Cicalo will also talk about the effort to move Colonial Manor residents to Washington on KCII's Washington Page at 7:30 a.m. and 12:55 p.m. on KCII AM 1380 FM 106.1)


The tragedy of flooding that affects nearby Columbus Junction and Riverside, Coralville, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids if foremost on our minds. Many Washington Citizens have responded by lending assistance. The city of Washington provides potable water. The city’s fire department has connected a hose to nearby Tyson Foods as the facility has water treatment ability to aide Columbus Junction residents and we lent assistance evacuate nursing home residents to a Washington facility by mobilizing Washington County Minibus.

There is much to say about this last weekend, we were working hard, but how do you compare our efforts to those who lose their homes and livelihoods? We do it by working just as hard the next day and the next, to assist, rebuild to see our neighboring communities thriving once again. In that, I wish to thank all of you who have volunteered your time. Mayor Wilson, of Columbus Junction also wanted you to know how much he appreciated your effort. I wish to also note and thank the drivers and staff of W.C. Minibus who were eager to answer the call for assistance.

Mayor Rick Cicalo