Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The first of what could be several trials in claims brought by black employees and job applicants who allege racial discrimination cost them jobs in Iowa’s executive branch is set to begin with jury selection Tuesday. The cases stem from a class-action lawsuit in which up to 6,000 blacks passed over for state jobs alleged a pattern of discrimination. A judge dismissed the lawsuit last year and the Iowa Supreme Court is considering whether to reinstate it.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A mountain lion sighting has been confirmed in Madison County. The Des Moines Register reports a farmer’s game camera caught an image of the mountain lion Oct. 13, about 10 miles north of Winterset. Department of Natural Resources spokesman Kevin Baskins says the animal appears to be a 2- to 3-year-old male. The DNR says there have been 16 confirmed mountain lion sightings since 1994.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Registration for a Nov. 4 bullying prevention summit in Des Moines has been extended through Wednesday. Gov. Terry Branstad says additional demand for tickets is driving the extension. The original deadline for registration was Friday. The theme for this year’s Governor’s Bullying Prevention Summit is “Mission Possible: Stepping Up the Response,” and is a follow-up to last year’s summit which drew about 1,100 people.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa City will hold its annual Halloween Parade and Carnival on Friday. People of all ages are invited to the event, which starts at 6 p.m. Friday at the Weatherdance Fountain in the Pedestrian Mall. Children who attend must be accompanied by an adult. The parade won’t be held if the weather turns scary, but the carnival will go on regardless.

Cass County E-911 Director Rob Koppert told the Public Safety Commission during their meeting Monday evening, recent discussion and media coverage of the County’s decision to pursue the privatization of 911 dispatch services, has damaged his credibility with his peers. Koppert said he’s had several 911 Supervisors from Nebraska who are his counterparts, ask him “What are doing wrong over there, what have you mismanaged?” He says a lot of people have questioned his ability to run a 911 Center. Koppert said his professional reputation “Is on the line because of this,” and he’s not really very happy.

Commissioner Steve Livengood went on record as saying he does not believe the County’s exploration of 911 Center privatization is in anyway a reflection of Koppert’s job performance. Commission Chair Shawn Shouse said reason the issue came up, was because the Commission has failed to find a suitable solution to the space needs, and Supervisor Mark Wedemeyer offered the broader option of privatization.

Livengood said the option seemed logical, and Commissioner Gaylord Schelling reiterated it had nothing to do with Koppert’s job performance. But Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman said a letter Wedemeyer received from officials with Cranston, New Jersey-based iXP indicated the company would perform more of an administrative than operational function. He said it seemed strange to him the letter referred to “Managed Services,” which Sunderman says sounds like the County provides the facilities and iXP will fill the Administrative need, which the Commission says is not what they are looking for, and still doesn’t solve the space problem.

A conference call meeting of various law enforcement, local government officials and others will take place sometime in the near future. The call will include officials with iXP, and likely will answer the question once and for all, whether the County should continue to pursue privatization of 911 dispatch services.

The Cass County Public Safety Commission, Monday, passed a motion by Commissioner Julie Adams to request a quote from the Cambridge Law Firm, with regard to the purchase price of the building at 707 Poplar Street.

Cass County Public Safety Commission. (Clockwise, L-R: Shawn Shouse, Chair; Gaylord Schelling; Rob Koppert; Tom Harris; Julie Adams;Steve Livengood.)

Once a quote is obtained and passed on to the Board of Supervisors, the Commission will recommend the County move forward with presenting an offer for the building, which could potentially serve as the site for the Cass County Communications Center. Adams acknowledged there is no guarantee the Supervisors will agree with the recommendation. Commissioner Steve Livengood said the recommendation could be approved, but it may not have the outcome the Commission intended.

Adams said if the Supervisors vote it down, the Commission could go back to the table. Livengood asked what would happen if the Board decided to purchase the building, but instead of moving the Comm. Center to the alternate location, instead moved the County Assessor and Engineers offices to the site. Adams said there’s nothing the Commission can do about that.

If that were the case, moving the Assessor and Engineer’s offices to the Cambridge Building would open up the additional needed space in the Courthouse for the 911 Center, Emergency Management Director and 9-1-1 Director need. But Commissioner Gaylord Schelling said that would mean a reassessment of those spaces.
Schelling said the cost is a big factor to him, and revamping the lower floors to accommodate the Comm. Center would be costly. E-911 Director Rob Koppert said it would cost more money to reconstruct the lower level of the courthouse – once the Assessor and Engineer’s offices are moved – than it would to make the Cambridge Building fit the needs of the 911 Center. Schelling said if that’s the case, the Carlson, West and Povondra Architectural firm in Omaha could reassess the feasibility of using those spaces, and if it isn’t workable, that option would be tossed out.

In his report to the Board of Supervisors this past April, Al Povandra said any changes to the courthouse would cost “Big Bucks,” and it’s something that is not easily done. The options he gave included moving the Cass County Communications Center to the 3rd floor of the courthouse, expanding and making Security upgrades to the County Attorney’s Offices on the 3rd floor of the courthouse, or expanding the courthouse to the north to make room for the Communications Center. Depending on the option selected, it would cost anywhere from $800,000 to as much as $3-million dollars to make the necessary improvements.

Discussions on how to handle the space needs of the Cass County 911 Center, along with new equipment necessary for Next Generation 911 services, has been ongoing for more than two-years.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a mountain lion sighting in Madison County. The Des Moines Register reports a farmer’s game camera caught an image of the mountain lion Oct. 13, about 10 miles north of Winterset. DNR spokesman Kevin Baskins says the animal appears to be a 2- to 3-year-old male.

It’s the first confirmed sighting of a mountain lion in Iowa since last October, when Des Moines police killed one in a city neighborhood. The DNR says there have been 16 confirmed mountain lion sightings since 1994. Those sightings will likely become even less common in the future because South Dakota, where many mountain lions apparently originate, is issuing more hunting permits to reduce the population of the animals.

The Cass County Memorial Hospital Foundation will be hosting a Simon Estes “Roots to Wings” concert on Sunday, October 27, at 3:00 p.m. in the Atlantic High School Auditorium. Tickets are $20 each and seating is limited, so get yours today at one of the following Cass County businesses:

Atlantic: Gade Insurance, Meyer & Gross Real Estate Company, Rex Pharmacy, and the CCMH Switchboard; Anita: Mailander Law Office, Rusty Razor, and Vicki’s Cut and Curl; Cumberland:  Houghton State Bank; Griswold: Gade Insurance; Massena: First National Bank and Massena Public Library; Lewis:  Public Library.

The Foundation says tickets are going fast. Tickets may also be purchased by calling Dawn Marnin, Foundation Director at 712-243-7409 or contacting any CCMH Foundation Board member.

The concert will feature Simon Estes performing familiar selections from Broadway, gospel, folk, spiritual and patriotic songs.  The concert will also include performances by the Atlantic, CAM & Griswold choirs.  The program will be followed by an informal meet and greet, where guests will have the opportunity to purchase CDs and books by Mr. Estes and have them personally signed by the artist.

On Monday, October 28, 2013, Mr. Estes will present an informal program to Cass County High School students, sharing his own unique story, the obstacles he overcame, and what qualities and characteristics are needed to become successful.

A Lewis man was arrested Saturday on a charge of Interference with Official Acts. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says 47-year old Philip Reed Thompson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty and was released the following day.