The Harlan Community School Board of Educators, Monday, approved a bid for a new air handler system for the high school gymnasium. Superintendent Justin Wagner said the district set aside $390,000 in PPEL funding for the project. However Wagner said the four bids were surprisingly lower. “Well one of the bids was over $300,000 but the others were under. In speaking with our folks and trying to prognosticate on it, they said what happened was a little bit of a bidding war which worked well for us.”

Ray Martin out of Omaha was the lowest bid at $220,000 and Wagner says it was great news. “They’re a big company so they are reputable and they do this work. Obviously there was a lot of savings and that money will go back to our contingence funds in case something happens. A couple of years ago our roof collapsed, that’s what that money is for so we try to be conservative with that.”

The work on the High School Gymnasium air handler will begin following graduation. Wagner mentioned the HEA and the Board continues to work on an agreement and expects that will be approved at the next school board meeting on Monday, March 24^th.  

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman, Tuesday, provided an updated list of candidates who have submitted their papers for nomination to County offices in advance of the June 3rd Primary election. Each of the candidates are Republicans.

As previously mentioned, incumbent Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall is seeking re-election, and is currently unopposed. Atlantic residents Mary Ward and Jess Ehrman are running for the Recorder’s position made open by the retirement of Joyce Jensen, and David Wiederstein is running for County Attorney, a position currently held by Dan Feistner. Feistner has not yet filed for re-election. The last day to file nomination papers is March 26th.

Sunderman reports District 2 Supervisor Gaylord W. Schelling and District 3 Supervisor Mark A. Wedemeyer filed their papers for re-election, today (on Tuesday).

Authorities in Harlan report a Harlan man was arrested Saturday after an incident involving a female subject. The Harlan Police Department says 33 year old Wayne Vohs was arrested when officers were called to 2004 23rd Street by a female who reported Vohs allegedly took her phone preventing her from calling 911 when she felt threatened.

Vohs was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with obstruction of emergency communications. The Harlan PD states when Vohs was released, he was observed making a phone call to a person protected by a no contact order per his release. Vohs was arrested again near the same location and taken back to jail where he was charged with violation of a no contact order.

The H-PD reports also, 48 year old George Hadfield of Harlan was cited for failure to have a valid driver’s license and operating a non-registered vehicle on Friday. Hadfield was cited and released. And last Thursday, 29 year old Keith Wyatt of Harlan was cited for allowing a dog to run at large when the dog was reportedly seen running in the 1100 block of Hill Street.