The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent accidents. At around 3:27-a.m. Monday (April 20), a single-vehicle rollover accident took place off Interstate 80 near mile marker 62. Officials say a 2004 Chevy Express van driven by 20-year old Tearra Marie Guevara, of Lincoln, NE, was westbound on I-80 when the woman lost control of the vehicle, which then flipped then onto its passenger side. There were no injuries were reported. Damage to the van was estimated at $4,500.

And, on April 15th, Cass County Deputies responded to a report of a motor-vehicle accident on 610th Street. A 2007 Jeep Commander driven by 25-year old Kyle Lynn Wilson, of Atlantic, was northbound on 610th Street when the vehicle left the roadway and entered the west ditch. It rolled over and eventually caught fire. Wilson and his passenger, 40-year-old Laurie Kay Parrott, suffered minor injuries, and were transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. The vehicle was estimated to be a total loss. The incident remains under investigation.

The Harlan Police Department has released a report on arrests and citations from April 9th through the 19th.

• On Sunday (4/19), 51-year old John Anthony Wyatt, of Harlan, was cited for Driving While Suspended.
• On April 17th, 59-year old Patrick Alan Cooper, of Irwin, was cited for Driving While Suspended.
• April 16th, 25-year old Kylie Sierra Kleffman, of Harlan, was cited for Driving While Suspended following an investigation into a property damage accident at 12th and Durant Streets.
• On April 14th, Harlan Police cited Austin Lee Thomas Dusenberry, for Driving While Suspended & Carrying Weapons.
• April 12th, 36-year old Brett Edward Lee Howard, of Harlan, was arrested for Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree.
• And, on April 9th, 24-year old Austin Michael Parker, of Harlan, was cited for Driving While Barred, Improper rear lamp, no proof of insurance, and improper registration plate lamp.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold an electronically conducted meeting 9-a.m., Wednesday.  On their agenda is a response to Wind Turbine complaints, and appointments for Grand River Township Trustees. The Board will hear from Midwest Partnership Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Sarah Gomez, with regard to potential grant opportunities for County businesses.

The Board will then hold a Public Hearing on the authorizing of a Loan Agreement and the Issuance of General Obligation Capital Loan Notes “Not to Exceed $4.5-million,” and a Resolution to take additional action. They’ll also hold a Public Hearing on the issuance of G.O. Urban Renewal Bonds, followed by a Resolution to take additional action.

Toward the end of their meeting, the Adair County Supervisors will receive updates on, and discuss COVID-19, along with COVID-19 Sick Leave. The meeting can be accessed by calling 605-313-6157, and using Access Code 526272#.

The Griswold School Board met Monday evening and spent some time talking about Prom and Graduation. Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN News the Board Directed MS/HS Principal Katie Elwood to work with the Junior Class and those parents to find a date and time to reschedule Prom for June. If circumstances continue to prohibit the event from being held in June, Henrichs says it will be cancelled for this year. As for graduation, there are a couple of different options being explored. The first is a “Virtual graduation,” whereby different sections could be videotaped individually, have “Pomp and Circumstances” playing on the video and schedule times for each Senior to pick-up their diploma, which would also be on the video for the graduate and their family. The final product would also be distributed on social media, including YouTube and Facebook.

The virtual graduation would take place on the original, May 17^th Graduation date. The other option…like Prom….is to wait and see what happens with the COVID-19 restrictions and if they will be allowed do, hold a real – live- graduation in June. Henrichs said they’ll do the best they can to make the event memorable. In other business, the Griswold School Board approved resignations and contracts. Henrichs said Jeri Orstad was hired as a full-time school nurse for the 2020-21 School Year. Orstad is the school nurse, but was on a one-year leave of absence. Brooke Palmer was hired as Dance Instructor. Alex Wulfekuhle resigned as Elementary Teacher. Teresa Engler resigned as MS/HS Paraeducator/Head Cross Country Coach and Assistant5 HS Girl’s Track Coach.

Both resignations are effective a the end of the current school year. The Griswold School Board also approved Master Contracts for a School-Based Interventionist, Technology Coordinator, and Non-Certified Staff, and contract renewals for other individuals. The Board has previously agreed to a 2.5% total package increase for those persons.

The Atlantic City Council will hold a special electronic meeting 5:30-p.m Wednesday (April 22nd). The session will be conducted via ZOOM (at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86252926528?pwd=RFo1aVNQQlN0ZDJlbEk1SUR1QXJtdz09), and will begin with a Public Hearing on a proposal to “Enter into a General Obligation Refunding Loan Agreement and to borrow money thereunder in a principal amount not to exceed $200,000.”

The Hearing will be followed by action on passing a Resolution “Taking additional action on Proposal to Enter into a General Obligation Refunding Loan Agreement, Combining Loan Agreements, Providing for the Issuance of $3,685,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2020, and Providing for the Levy of Taxes to Pay the same.”

Over the course of next eight-years, the move (if approved) is expected to save the City almost $93,194 in interest.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds’ daily press briefing on COVID-19. We plan to have live audio of the presser on KJAN as well. The press conference is set to begin at approximately 11:00 a.m.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A state audit has found a former Southeast Iowa sheriff’s deputy made more than $7,400 in improper purchases with county money including buying bullets for a personal gun, computers and drones. Iowa Auditor Rob Sand says former Des Moines County Chief Deputy Jeff White returned about $3,100 worth of items he bought but more $4,200 worth of items could not be located. Some of the items that remain unaccounted for include an Apple computer and ammunition. White retired from the sheriff’s office in December 2018 after some of the purchases were challenged.

(Updated 10-a.m.) – The Griswold FFA Greenhouse will soon be open three days each week beginning Thursday, April 23rd. Superintendent Dave Henrichs said there will be many beautiful flowers, 157 hanging baskets and veggies, including tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. For the safety of everyone involved, there will be a limit as to the number of customers in the greenhouse to two people at a time. Persons entering the greenhouse must use hand sanitizer provided outside, before they enter. Customers will go through the greenhouse in a clockwise direction. The checkout stand will be set-up outside.

Henrichs said “It’s certainly not all about the money by any means, but just for perspective purposes, we have about $3,500 in product right now as far as the school’s cost. We’re hoping to recoup at least some of that anyway, and have a bigger and better greenhouse even, next year.”

More information is available on Facebook at Griswold CSD.

Contrary to some rumors circulating recently, the Cass County Fair in Atlantic is still set to take place July 22nd through the 28th. According to officials with ISU Extension in Cass County, nothing has been decided yet. Concerns over whether the Fair would go on were raised by some, over the uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the highlights of this year’s Fair include:

July 23rd – The Little Miss & Little Mister Contest; King & Queen Contest; Senior Recognition.

July 24th – Mutton Busting for the kids, and Bull Riding.

July 25th – The County Fair Church Service.

July 27th – Grand Champion Beef Selection

July 28th – The Livestock sale.

Learn more by following The Cass County Fair (IA) on Facebook.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS