Officials in Harlan said Friday Todd Valline, of Elko, NV, has been named the executive director of the newly merged Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Valline, an Iowa native who has strong family ties in the Nevada, Iowa, area, will begin his new position on Mon., Dec. 1. He replaces Jane Nielsen who has been the interim director since January 2014.

Todd Valline, new Exec. Dir. of the Shelby Co. Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber president, Kevin Campbell, Shelby County State Bank, said, “The Executive Com- mittee was delighted by the amount of interest we had in this role. Applicants from coast to coast were interested, but Todd stood out from the very beginning. His preparation and research was noticeably ahead of the other applicants.”

Valline has over 20 years of professional marketing, sales and administration experience in multiple areas across multiple industry and also has workforce development experience. He was one of four finalists among 18 candidates in the selection process which began in September.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three, recent arrests. On Thursday, 18-year old Johnathan Robert Sibbitt, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $10,000.

And on Wednesday, 20-year old Mitchell Stephen Waller, of Glenwood,  was arrested on a warrant for Theft in the 5th degree. His bond was set at $300. That same day, 30-year old Thomas Lee Roush, of Tabor, was arrested on a warrant for Driving Under Suspension. Bondwas set at $500.

Authorities in Atlantic were looking for the driver of a vehicle that was involved in collision late this (Friday) morning, at 9th and Poplar Streets. According to dispatch reports, the accident happened at around 11:20-a.m.

One of the vehicles involved in the crash, a pickup, was flipped on its top. The driver of one of the vehicles, who left the scene, later returned to speak with police. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Atlantic Police, Medivac Ambulance and Atlantic Fire and Rescue responded to the scene.

Additional information is currently not available.

(Update to our 7-a.m. post)

A fire in a mobile home this (Friday) morning in eastern Cass County, has claimed the life of a Massena resident. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says the victim is believed to be 53-year old Bruce Allen Neumann. The State Medical Examiner is performing an autopsy to confirm the positive identity of the victim.

Massena Fire Chief Drew Williams told KJAN News a call about the fire at 208 Pine Street came in just before 1-a.m. Williams said when firefighters arrived, the home was already fully engulfed in flames. The structure was a complete loss. Crews were on the scene until about 5:30-a.m. when the flames were brought under control, but a Massena Fire Dept. grass truck was dispatched again at around 8:50-a.m. to put out some remaining hot spots.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Massena Fire crews were assisted at the scene by Cumberland Fire, Medivac Ambulance, deputies with the Cass County Sheriff Office, and Cass County Emergency Management, as well as the Cass County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

A licensed mental health counselor from Omaha who has three offices in southwest Iowa is accused of having sex with a client. According to online documents, in 2012 Amy Jo Murphy began counseling a couple at her clinic in Corning. After the couple divorced, the counseling continued for one spouse and the Iowa Board of Behavioral Science accuses Murphy of starting a romantic relationship with that client.

State regulators accuse Murphy of engaging in unethical conduct, for having “improper sexual contact” with a client. The Iowa Board of Behavioral Science has scheduled a hearing in February on this case.

(Radio Iowa)