DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Under a compromise budget deal in the Legislature, the state will spend about $7.3 billion for the coming fiscal year, with some additional dollars coming to schools.

Lawmakers announced the terms of the tentative agreement Monday. The budget includes $7.17 billion in ongoing spending, plus another $125 million in one-time expenses. As it is structured, the Republican-led House maintains a pledge to limit ongoing spending, while the Democratic-controlled Senate gets some more money for key priorities like education.

Republicans say the one-time expenses will come out of the surplus dollars remaining at the end of the current budget year.

The plan includes new funding for state universities that lawmakers said should ensure a tuition freeze. And K-12 education will get new dollars through a combination of ongoing and one-time funds.

The Montgomery County Extension Services says a ServSafe™ Certification Exam is being offered on June 23rd at their office in Red Oak. This option is for anyone needing to take the food safety certification exam at the end of their five year certification. No book and no class room instruction will be offered. The exam meets the Iowa Certified Food Safety Manager certification.

The cost is $60 per person to cover the exam cost. ISU Extension and Outreach, Montgomery County is located at 400 Bridge Street in Red Oak. Exam is at 1:00 pm. Photo ID is required. The next class in Montgomery County will be August 10th, and registration is open for that class. For information contact Barb Fuller at 641 202 1843 or Jodie Smith at 712 623-2592.

Cass County Attorney David Wiederstein reports an Underwood man plead guilty this (Monday) morning in Cass County District Court, to one count of Sexual Abuse Assault, 2nd Degree. The crime committed by 56-year old Roger Allen Ericksen is a Class B Felony, that carries a term a maximum term of up to 25 years imprisonment. Wiederstein says at a minimum, Ericksen will be incarcerated for 17 and a half years before being eligible for parole.

Roger Allen Ericksen (booking photo courtesy Cass Co. Sheriff’s Dept.)

He will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life under the sex offender registry rules. There is also pending parole violation arising from his conviction in Cass County to Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree, on December 4th, 2012.

In exchange for his plea of guilty to Count I, the remaining nine counts will be dismissed. Sentencing is set for June 22nd, at 9:00 a.m.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Omaha, Nebraska, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, are separated by the Missouri River, but officials say a recent food festival suggests that the water isn’t a barrier to collaboration between them for events. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Council Bluffs parks director says the river “can pull us together.” The two cities are tied by a pedestrian bridge.

The Taste of Omaha this past weekend spilled over into Iowa for the first time, and an event organizer says attendance might have reached more than 125,000 during the three-day festival. The Loessfest last month in Council Bluffs had sponsorships from Omaha, enabling the festival to stage free concerts, movies and other entertainment.

A consulting team last year suggested cooperation on the riverfront could benefit both communities.

The Atlantic Police Department reports several arrests over the past week and a half. On May 23rd, 29-year old Jeremy Crecelius, of Atlantic, was arrested on two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, and four counts of Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug. That same day, 55-year old Kurt Crecelius, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of Meth. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

On May 31st, 45-year old Carl Kemp, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. That same day, 19-year old Tyler Osborn, and 18-year old Kayla Holste, both of Atlantic, were arrested for 5th degree Theft (Shoplifting). Osborn was booked into the Cass County Jail, while Holste was cited into court and released.

On May 22nd, 22-year old Naser Jamal, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 5th degree. He was booked into the Cass County Jail. On May 27th, 41-year old Williams Dunlap, of Stanton, was also arrested in Atlantic for 5th degree Theft. He was also booked into the jail.

(12:40-pm News)

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors recently paid a visit to Baxter Cycle, in Marne. Baxter is known world-wide for their British motorcycles, selling bikes to customers in several countries including France, New Zealand and Switzerland. Randy Baxter, owner of Baxter Cycle, shares his hobby that turned into a blooming business. Baxter Cycle feature’s new, vintage and pre-owned Triumph and Royal Enfield bikes, drawing customers to Marne from all over the world.

Pictured: Randy & Kenner Baxter, Jeremy Pendergast, Jennie Schwartz, Dolly Bergmann, Lana Westphalen, Ed Leistad, Carole Schuler, JoAnn Runyan, Sara Nelson, Sue Muri, Dianne Gipple, Debbie Leistad, Ouida Wymer, Arlene Drennan, Bill Saluk, Dan Rossell, Dan Mehmen, Donnie Drennan, Russ Joyce, Tyler Mosier, Nick Harris and Dr. Mitch Peerbolte.

Two people were arrested on drug charges over the weekend, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 21-year old Benjamin Lee McGhee, of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,300.  And, 46-year old Duncan Lee Evans, of Malvern, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. His bond was set at $3,000.

A record number of applicants were designated as recipients of the Iowa Registered Nurse and Nurse Educator Loan Forgiveness Program, according to numbers released today (Monday), by Iowa College Student Aid Commission. The program, started in 2007 to offer loan repayment assistance to registered nurses employed in Iowa and nurse educators teaching at eligible colleges and universities in Iowa, received 309 applicants in the 2014-15 school year, an increase of 18.8 percent from the 260 applications received for the 2013-14 award. The designated recipients could qualify for an average loan repayment award of $1,850 (based on full-time employment).

The number of nurse educators, who are given priority to the program’s fund, almost doubled in 2014-15, attracting 56 applicants to the program. To be eligible for the Iowa Registered Nurse and Nurse Educator Loan Forgiveness Program, applicants must be a licensed nurse educator employed in Iowa by eligible Iowa colleges or universities; or a licensed registered nurse employed as a nurse in Iowa.

Cumulatively, the 56 recipients of the Iowa Registered Nurse and Nurse Educator Loan Forgiveness Program have $2,275,261 in outstanding federal student loans with an average debt of $40,630 per person

For more information on the Iowa Registered Nurse and Nurse Educator Loan Forgiveness Program, visit https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/content/iowa-registered-nurse-nurse-educator-loan-forgiveness-program.

In an update to our story Sunday morning on KJAN, the Iowa State Patrol says a 16-year old male from Atlantic was taken into custody following a high-speed pursuit that began about 5-miles south of Atlantic during a traffic stop on northbound Highway 71, at Newport Road. The incident began at around 11:40-p.m. Saturday.
Sgt. Bryan Michelson, with the Patrol’s District 3 office in Council Bluffs, told KJAN News the pickup the unidentified teen was driving, was clocked at 95-miles per hour in a 55 zone.

The chase went through Atlantic at a high rate of speed. The teen ran multiple stop signs and one stop light. The pursuit continued onto a gravel road north of Atlantic. A couple of times during the chase, the suspect drove into and out of fields. When the vehicle became stuck, a Cass County Deputy relayed the vehicles’ locations to other officers, who together went out into the field on foot and approached the vehicle before taking the suspect into custody without incident.

The pursuit ended at around 12:45-a.m. Sgt. Michelson says initial reports indicated the suspect may have had a weapon in the vehicle, but no weapon was found. The teen faces numerous charges related to traffic offenses, with criminal charges being handled through the Juvenile Court system.