The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Tuesday afternoon, of 55-year old James Anthony Piunti, of Red Oak. Piunti was taken into custody on a warrant for Violation of his Probation, on an original charge of Indecent Contact with a Child. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail awaiting transportation to Pottawattamie County.

An Adams County woman received a rude awakening after she fell asleep at the wheel of her car, which then entered a ditch and came to an abrupt stop against a concrete culvert. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office the accident happened at around 10:40-a.m. Tuesday, on Highway 34. Officials say 66-year old Carolyn Ann Fritz, of Corning,  was traveling west on the highway in a 1999 Dodge Neon, when she fell asleep. The car traveled about 120-yards while in the north ditch, before hitting a concrete culvert, and sustaining disabling damage. No citations were issued at the time of the crash.

The Atlantic City Council will discuss and vote on the first readings of two ordinances Wednesday evening. One of the ordinances pertains to Urban Deer Control. The Council tabled action on the ordinance last month, because the Community Protection Committee learned City Attorney Dave Weidersteen had included some language in the proposed ordinance that was not in their original draft. The committee has since reviewed the ordinance, and have worked with Weidersteen to make some modifications. The CPC recommends the Council approve the ordinance as amended.

The second ordinance is with regard to reducing the speed limit on East 22nd Street, from Whitney Street (Highway 71) to Olive Street, from 45- to 35-miles per hour. After receiving some negative feedback from the public last month, the Council voted down a proposal to lower the speed limit on both the east and west sections of 22nd Street from 45-to 35-mph.

Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm shared with the CPC at a recent meeting, the findings and recommendations of Snyder’s Traffic Engineer Todd Knox, who recommends, based on a study of actual speed of traffic on the road, to leave the speed limit where it is. Knox said “There could be some sight issues, both horizontal and vertical, that could justify changing the speed limits.”

City Administrator Doug Harris says the CPC discussed the findings with Police Chief Steve Green, and concurred with his findings, to lower the speed limit on the east section of 22nd Street, from 45- to 35-miles per hour. Factors figuring into that recommendation include driveways that are obscured from motorists’ view, the prospect of future development in the area, and the amount of pedestrian traffic on that stretch of road.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on setting May 16th as the date for a public hearing on any proposed amendments to the Fiscal Year 2012 budget. Wednesday’s meeting begins at 5:30-p.m., in the Council’s Chambers at the Atlantic City Hall.

A vague note found in a bathroom at the AHST High School in Avoca Tuesday morning, prompted the evacuation of students in all of the districts building for a little over an hour an a half. Superintendent Mark Hopkins issued a statement Tuesday on the District’s website saying: 

The A­‐H­‐S­‐T Community School buildings were evacuated late (Tuesday) morning (May 1st) due to a bomb threat. At that time, law enforcement was called to ensure that the building was safe. It was determined that the buildings were completely safe and that the incident was a hoax. At no time was any student in harm’s way, and any future incidents of this nature will be handled with consultation and advice from law enforcement.” Hopkins went on to say “Unfortunately, incidents of this nature do occur,” but he commended the A‐H-­S-­T staff and students “for handling the situation extremely well.” Hopkins said classes will resume Wednesday, as usual.  The Superindendent said that “The A-­H-­S-­T Community School thanks all the parents and community members for their cooperation and understanding.”

According to authorities, a note indicating bombs were placed in a lunch room was found in a bathroom at around 11:4o-a.m., but the note didn’t specify which lunchroom. As a precaution, authorities evacuated both the high school and elementary school. A bomb squad with the the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office searched the buildings, but nothing was found. Students were allowed to return to their classrooms at around 1:30 p.m. The incident remains under investigation, and authorities say while there are suspects, they declined to release any further information at this time. It’s the first reported bomb threat in the AHST District, in at least nine-years.