(Radio Iowa) – A Humboldt teenager has been arrested after making a threat to bring a gun to school. The Humboldt Police Department reports that on Monday evening, a 14-year-old student at Humboldt Middle School made a social media post that told students not to come to school on Tuesday because he was going to bring a gun to school. Police identified the student and after searching his residence, arrested the student on a charge of threat of terrorism.

Police did not find any guns at the student’s home, and he remains in juvenile court custody pending court proceedings.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), held a public hearing on an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2022 Cass County Budget. There were no comments, therefore the Board closed the hearing and adopted the budget and related appropriations, as amended. County Engineer Trent Wolken gave the Board an update on Secondary Roads activities. He said they’re still clearing and stacking brush, stockpiling rock. Wolken also presented the plans for a bridge rehabilitation project (L-289-73-15) with the City of Atlantic, on West 6^th Street, near the airport.

Once the project is sent out for bids and the contractor is lined-up, Wolken said the repair work will take about two months for the larger segments of construction, with traffick likely being reduced to one lane once the major bridge rehabilitation is complete, and finishing work is underway. The project will cost $400,000, and is being split between the City and County.

In other business, after consulting by phone with Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman, the Board voted to set the pay rate for the remainder of FY 2022 at $20 per hour, for Auditor’s Assistant Doreen South. She was hired in Oct. 2021 and has ended the probationary requirement for her employment. Sunderman had originally proposed an increase of $1.29 per hour (to $19.29), but Supervisor Steve Green suggested her pay be more in-line with other County Office employees.

The Board also approved a Cass County Tax Rebate Program for new, non-residential construction Cass County, beginning with the 2023-24 and 2024-25 Tax Years. Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns…

And, they approved Rocky Anderson, of Griswold, as Pleasant Township Clerk.

(Radio Iowa) – Marshalltown police have arrested a man in connection with a fatal stabbing incident that occurred earlier this month. Kalalizi Jean Baptiste Madogo, 48, of Marshalltown, was arrested by police Monday in connection with the stabbing death of 30-year-old Yannick Mangubu on January 2nd. Baptiste Madogo was booked into the Marshall County Jail while awaiting an initial court appearance.

According to Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper, the stabbing occurred at a private residence. The incident remains under investigation and police say there is no ongoing threat to the public.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – Officials with the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) have announced a residential lead paint abatement program. The three-year endeavor will allow for lead-based paint removal in homes across the 7-county area served by the Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund, which SWIPCO administers.

Lead Hazard Reduction Program Coordinator, Nicole Rhodes, says the newly created program will allow for lead hazard reduction in approximately 35 housing units and build a more skilled workforce in the region. “This is really a great opportunity for us to get some of those lead hazards out of the way and make southwest Iowa a safer and healthier place to live for everyone, especially kids who are particularly vulnerable,” said Rhodes. “The other side of it is that we’re helping to get contractors certified to do the work, so that outlasts this program and will continue to benefit the community in the years to come.” Rhodes says that to qualify, homes must be built before 1978 and homeowners must meet certain income guidelines specific to the county where they live.

Nicole Rhodes

Scholarships are available for Iowa contractors to take a 40-hour lead hazard reduction certification training and offer an accompanying 24-hour lead hazard reduction training for an employee of their firm. Training offered will take place in Des Moines February 14-18, 2022. The scholarships, which cover the cost of certification, will include a per diem for hotel, meals, and lost work time for contractors who complete the training.

To apply, contractors must be licensed in Iowa and willing to submit bids for lead abatement in the counties covered by the program. Interested contractors can request and complete an application by emailing matthew.lee@swipco.org, visiting www.swipco.org, or calling SWIPCO at 712-243-4196.