The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports several recent incidents.

On September 14, Jessica Appley of Red Oak reported 2nd degree arson near highway 275 and Rains Ave.

On September 15, Jean Curtis of Hastings reported 3rd degree burglary on 345th st in Hastings.

On September 17, Vanderhaag’s of Council Bluffs reported 3rd degree burglary and 3rd degree theft on 189th street in Council Bluffs.  Also on September 17, Farm Service of Pacific Junction reported a burglary incident at the Pacific Junction Depot.

On September 18, Carol Liles of Pacific Junction reported 3rd degree burglary on Elm Street in Pacific Junction.

If you have any information about these incidents, contact the Mills County Sheriff’s Office at 712-527-4337.

MidAmerican Energy has begun the process of studying potential locations to build a new nuclear power plant in the state. Company spokesperson, Tina Potthoff (Pot-off), says the study is focusing on Muscatine and Fremont counties in the southwest corner of the state.

“When evaluating sites to include in this study, we look at things like geography, environmental issues, proximity to transportation routes and proximity to existing transmission lines,” Potthoff explains. She says the study is in reaction to a law the legislature enacted a law in 2010 directing MidAmerican to look at and analyze the possible construction of nuclear power-generating facilities.

“We are in the process of beginning soil and environmental sample taking, that’s a part of the study process to asses land suitability in the event that a determination will be made to to develop the facility in the location,” Potthoff says. “And it is important to note that no decision has been made to build any generating facility in Iowa, this is simply part of the study process and those samples will be taken as several locations this fall. An overview of the study will be in 2013.” Crews moving around taking soil samples have drawn notice from residents.

“There’s definitely been an interest in this, as there should be. We want to make sure that we’re letting people know –especially in those sites where we might be on their land or their neighbor’s land — that they understand what is going on,” according Potthoff. “The sites under study also may be a good location for other generating facilities in the future, especially a natural gas plant, if a nuclear plant is not pursued.” Iowa currently has just one nuclear power plant located in Palo (Pay-low) in eastern Iowa.

Today is the 40^th day before election day, and the first day that absentee ballots may be voted in a county auditor’s office.  Any Iowa voter may request an absentee ballot if they expect they cannot go to the polls on election day.  Voting an absentee ballot may be done in different ways:

1. Voters may vote in-person in their county auditor’s office during the regular business hours.  The last day that a voter can vote an absentee ballot at the county auditor’s office is Monday, November 5^th.  In Cass County, the auditors office is located at Cass County Courthouse 5 West 7th Street Atlantic, IA 50022.  Regular business hours are from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.  The phone number is 712-243-4570
2. Voters may request an absentee ballot be mailed.  The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is Friday, November 2^nd at 5 PM.  If you request a ballot by mail, it must be returned to the county auditor’s office by the following deadlines:

• In-person delivery – Tuesday, November 6^th by 9:00 PM
• Mail delivery – postmarked no later than Monday, November 5^th and received no later than 12:00 PM on Tuesday, November 13^th.  Postmarks are not guaranteed.  Please mail your ballot early to make sure it is received on time.

1. Satellite voting stations may be offered.  Check with your local county auditor’s office to see if satellite voting is available.

A voter who chooses to vote an absentee ballot by one of these methods will be asked to fill out an official Iowa absentee ballot request form.

Persons soliciting absentee ballot request forms while acting as an agent for a political party or candidate must offer a receipt to the voter for the completed request form.

Track your absentee ballot at https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/absenteeballotstatus/search.aspx.