Greenfield artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II and officials with the Iowa Lottery are set to announce a new project to raise money for the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund (IVTF). Sorensen and the lottery will unveil the “Ride to Riches” lottery game 11-a.m. Mon., January 6th, in the Capital Square Atrium (400 Locust St.) in downtown Des Moines.

The first 200 people attending the event will receive a personally autographed poster featuring new artwork from Sorensen, who is well known for his “Freedom Rock” paintings in Adair and many other counties. The Lottery will also provide many IVTF-related items available for give-away.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant in eastern Nebraska is back in operation after nearly three years of being shut down under the heavy scrutiny of federal regulators.  Omaha Public Power District spokesman Jeff Hanson said Thursday that the 478-megawatt plant reached 98 percent power on Christmas Day and was expected to hit 100 percent later Thursday.

Hanson says nothing out of the ordinary arose during restart, which began last week. On Dec. 17th, OPPD received permission from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to restart the plant across the river from Iowa.

Fort Calhoun initially shut down for routine maintenance in April 2011, but significant flooding that summer, a small fire and a series of safety violations forced it to remain closed. With NRC oversight, OPPD addressed more than 450 concerns at the plant.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The details might seem familiar when a prosecutor reviews an Iowa trooper’s decision to shoot a suspect.  Pottawattamie County Attorney Matthew Wilber is expected to decide in coming weeks whether Trooper Tim Sieleman was justified in the Dec. 1 shooting of 28-year-old Michael B. Lee of Carter Lake.  Five years ago, Wilber concluded that Sieleman’s shooting of Matthew Loth was a reasonable use of force.

In both cases, Sieleman opened fire at a suspect who was driving a stolen car at him during a pursuit. Both suspects were wounded and transported to the Nebraska Medical Center for treatment. And both occurred in similar locations in Council Bluffs.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is expected to give its investigative report on the shooting of Lee to Wilber in January.

Authorities in Mills County report three accidents occurred over the past week, only one of which resulted in injuries. Officials say Cindy Hunt, of Glenwood, was transported by Glenwood Rescue to the Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs Monday evening, after the 2008 Pontiac she was driving left 221st Street for unknown reasons, and struck a tree in a ditch.

The other accidents occurred Tuesday evening in Glenwood, and last Friday afternoon in Malvern. Drivers involved in those collisions included Susanne Plummer and Jenee Zeski, both of Glenwood, and John Benton and Grace Hatfield, both of Malvern.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report an Oakland man was arrested Tuesday for Violation of a Protection Order. 50-year old Christopher Scott Donaldson was arrested on 192nd Street at the Mills/Pottawattamie County line at around 11:45-p.m., Tuesday. Donaldson was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

Arrested on Christmas Day in Mills County, was: 30-year old Drema Lynn Burson, of Glenwood, who was charged with OWI/1st offense. Burson was being held on $300 bond. And, 47-year old Michael Scott Holtz, a homeless man, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,300.

Cass County Recorder Joyce Jensen has announced she will be retiring at the end of her 2014 term in office. Jensen has served as the County’s recorder since 1991. She was elected to the Iowa State Association of Counties’ (ISAC) Board of Directors in 1998 and served as the organization’s President in 2001. Among her other accomplishments, is being elected to the Iowa County Recorders Association Board, and serving as its President in 2007. She also serves on the Atlantic Municipal Utilities’ Board and is Chair of the 1st United Methodist Church Council.

Jensen says “Serving the citizens of Cass County has been a privilege. It has always been my hope that we continue to keep services local, and that government is accessible to all.”