DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa crime victims can keep tabs on jail and prison inmates using a new mobile app.  The state Attorney General’s office says Thursday the free VINEMobile app will allow crime victims and the public to anonymously monitor inmates in Iowa correctional facilities and most county jails. They can also sign up for notifications when inmates’ custody status changes due to transfer or release.
 
Attorney General Tom Miller says in a statement that this tool will help crime victims because they can more easily get information about criminals.  The app was developed by Appriss Inc. and is available for Android and Apple devices. It is a mobile version of IowaVINE, a victim notification service.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors is set to meet Friday morning, here in Atlantic. During their 9-a.m. session at the courthouse, the Board will act on: Approving a bargaining unit agreement for Fiscal Year 2014 with the Secondary Roads Department; The abatement of property taxes for a property owned by the City of Anita; The assignment of a County held tax certificate of purchase to the City of Cumberland for property in the second addition, block 14 at 216 Adams Street; and on a Software Code Support agreement and FY 2014 Information Technology Services agreement, with Solutions, Inc.

Officials with the West Central Iowa Solid Waste Management Association are asking citizens in its service area to fill out a survey to help keep garbage costs lower. The surveys, they say, are a critical component of the Association’s effort to “Reinvigorate Recycling” in the area. The West Central Iowa Solid Waste Management Association works as a partnership with Carroll, Crawford, Guthrie,ShelbyandCalhoonCounties.

Shelby County Engineer Dan Ahart says the Association has seen a drop in recycling and looking to see why. Ahart says the drop in recycling has been so dramatic that garbage rates could see an increase if they fall even farther because the DNR requires 25 percent recycling. If it drops below 25 percent, consumers will pay an extra $1.20 per ton buried. Ahart said that’s around $70,000 for all customers.

He says one of the reasons for the drop in recycling from consumers is the amount of garbage generated since 1988. The Association has taken quite a bit out of the landfills, including tires and appliances because the cost to consumers.

The survey takes about three minutes to complete on-line. Residents can take the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FR5F6S9.  Businesses can fill out the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B89H7B6.