Police in Harlan arrested one person last week following an altercation involving a knife. Authorities say officers were called to the 1000 block of Park Street on Oct. 3rd, and upon their arrival, found 44-year old Clinton Scheffler outside the house with minor injuries and 66-year old David Peters, of Harlan, inside the residence. Peters was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with serious assault.  A complaint was also filed with the Shelby County Clerk of Court, charging Scheffler with serious assault.

That same day, Harlan resident David Meyers reported to police several tools had been taken from his garage at Westridge Acres lot #30. Also reported missing were several watermelons from his garden.  The incident case remains under investigation.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest on Monday of 30-year old Bryan Kirby, of Atlantic. Kirby was taken into custody on a Cass County warrant charging him with Theft in the 5th Degree. The man was booked into the Cass County Jail and held, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

Lenox Police Chief Jon Huggins reports the Lenox Police Department will be offering Women’s Self Defense Classes, beginning next week. The classes will take place Oct. 16th, 23rd and 30th, in the wrestling room at the Lenox High School . The classes will begin at 7:00 PM and last 1-1/2 hours each.

The classes are designed to give women of all ages basic defense skills. Participants must be at least 18 years of age. While the classes will involve physical activity, they are still being designed for a variety of physical skills and conditions. Participants will be required to sign a liability waiver prior to participating.

Participants should plan on attending all three nights of classes. In order to ensure we are able to maximize the effectiveness of these classes, group size will be limited. Contact Chief Jon Huggins at 641-333-2929 to reserve your spot now. There is no charge.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors return to business Wednesday morning in Atlantic, after having the previous week off for a statewide county convention. During their 9-a.m. meeting at the courthouse in Atlantic, the Board will act on approving a full-time jailer.

They’re also expected to act on appointing two members to the County Compensation Board (4-year terms, each), and the release of mortgages to satisfy homeowners’ five-year forgivable loans, withe Jumpstart Disaster Recovery Program. In addition, the Cass County Supervisors, Wednesday, will act on approving an Iowa DOT Federal-Aid agreement for a County Highway Bridge Program Project, with regard to the 83 bridge on 560th Street, the preliminary estimated cost for which is $360,000.

The government expects most households to pay more for heat this winter, although heating oil users will see their bills drop slightly.  Homes using natural gas for heat, about half of the nation, will see costs rise about 13 percent from a year ago to an average of $679. That’s still about $25 lower than the average for the winters of 2007 through 2012.

For heating oil customers, there is good news and bad news in the government’s annual outlook for heating costs. Their average bill should drop 2 percent, to $2.046. But that’s still the second highest average on record, behind last year’s $2,092.

Homes relying on electricity for heat, about 38 percent of the U.S., will likely pay about 2 percent more for heat, or about $18.