(Radio Iowa) – A new study commissioned by the Iowa Environmental Council finds Iowa communities that are home to coal-fired power plants should be proactive about planning for those facilities to close. Iowa is home to nine utility-owned coal plants. The study says while the economic impact of the facilities can be significant, local communities can manage the loss. Eric Christianson is the study’s main author.

“These can be scary conversations but it’s important not to shy away from them,” Christianson says. “Communities that are proactive and plan ahead are going to be better positioned to face whatever the future brings. The goal of this study is to reduce some of that uncertainty, not in what the future of the plants will be, but understanding the economic landscape where they’re located.”

The share of Iowa’s energy that’s generated by coal has fallen significantly in recent years, as the cost of renewables has gone down and demand has gone up. The state’s utility-owned coal plants employ about 600 people. According to the study, the facilities support less than one percent of the total jobs in the counties where they’re located. The I-E-C’s Kerri Johannsen says having the facts on the economic impact can help communities prepare for plant closures. Johannsen says, “How many employees there are, how those employees’ salaries and the spending and the plants in the communities impact other jobs in the area and the region, so that we can all level-set and start from a place where we’re working from the same set of information.”

The study authors reason that communities which proactively plan for a closure will be better able to attract new economic development and fill in budgetary gaps.

(by Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies made seven arrests and responded to three accidents over the past couple of weeks. Last Friday, Deputies were dispatched to Main Street and Highway 148 in Anita, where a chain-reaction accident occurred. Officials say Shane Michael Suhr, of Anita, was driving a 2020 Ford F350 was westbound on Main St., and proceeded to spin the vehicle’s tires, leaving black marks on the roadway.  Suhr subsequently lost control of his pickup, which struck a 2013 Ford F150 owned by Joshua Alan Kitelinger, of Exira, which then struck another vehicle. The third vehicle was a 2011 Chevy Silverado owned by Zachary William Wahlert, of Anita.  Suhr fled the scene and was later arrested by Cass County Deputies for OWI 2nd offense and was also cited for failure to maintain control, reckless driving and striking an unattended vehicle.  He was transported to Cass County Jail and was later released on his own recognizance.

And, on October 1st, Deputies responded to an accident on Interstate 80 near mile marker 75. Authorities say Mohamed Abdi Ibrahim, of St. Cloud, MN, was driving a 2017 Freightliner semi-tractor trailer westbound, when he was side swiped by another semi-tractor trailer.  Paramjit Sing of Richmond Hill, NY, was driving a 2019 Peterbilt semi-tractor, and was attempting to pass the other semi-tractor, when the accident occurred.  Both semi-tractors sustained disabling damage.  No injuries were reported.

On September 30th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an accident at the intersection of 690th and Oxford Road, near Cumberland.  Mark Aupperle, of Atlantic, was travelling westbound on Oxford Road driving a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado pickup.  When Aupperle failed to see a stop sign, his pickup entered the intersection, where it was struck by a 2018 Honda Civic driven by Chris Shepperd of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, who was traveling southbound on 690th St.  Shepard and his passenger, Christina Shepperd, were flown to Nebraska Medicine for serious injuries.

The Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests on Oct. 6th: 33-year-old Randy Ray Frazier Jr., of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for compulsory education violation 2nd offense.  Frazier was taken to the Cass County Jail and was later released on his own recognizance. And, 55-year-old Thomas Leeroy Jackson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for driving under suspension, and possession of a controlled substance.  Jackson was transported to Cass County Jail where he was later released on his own recognizance.

There were three arrests in Cass County, on Oct. 4th:

• 42-year-old Daniel Richie Vais, of Exira, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for violation of probation.  Vais was transported to Cass County Jail and was released on his own recognizance.
• 19-year-old Blake Michael Zweck was arrested on a Cass County warrant for violation of probation.  Zweck was transported from Pottawattamie County Jail to Cass County Jail where he is currently being held on bond. And,
• 25-year-old Jaetecia Rickell Higgins, of Des Moines, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for OWI 1st offense.  Higgins was transported from Polk  County Jail to Cass County Jail where she was later released on her own recognizance.

On October 2nd, Cass County Deputies arrested 32-year-old Todd Everette Jenkins, of Osceola, for OWI 1st offense.   Jenkins was taken to Cass County Jail and later released after posting bond.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department is reporting four arrests and two incidents of theft. Authorities say two people were arrested early Sunday morning in the 900 block of N. Spruce Street. According to the report, 59-year-old Rodney Earl Bell, of Creston, was arrested at 915 N. Spruce Street at around 12:50-a.m., on charges that include Possession of a controlled Substance 2nd Offense/ Marijuana, and Possession of Controlled Substance 2nd Offense/Methamphetamine. Bell was taken to the Union County Jail where he posted $4,000 cash or surety bond.

At around 3:13-a.m. Sunday, 55-year-old Deborah Lynn Graham, of Creston, was arrested at 912 N. Spruce, and charged with Controlled Substance Violation Methamphetamine, Possession of Controlled Substance 3rd Marijuana, Failure to Affix Drug Stamp. Graham was being held in the Adams County Jail on $100,000 cash or surety bond. Both arrests were made possible through the help of the K9 “Baxo,” who was deployed and played a key role in the investigation. Baxo also assisted in recovering precursors used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Late Saturday night, 62-year-old James Eugene Street, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at 915 N Spruce and charged with Intent to deliver Marijuana. Street was taken to Union County Jail where he posted $5,000 cash or surety bond. Creston Police say at around 3-a.m., Saturday, 41-year-old Julie Anne Geer, of Corning, was arrested at Lincoln and Townline in Creston, for OWI 1st Offense. Geer was transported to the Adams County Jail where she posted bond and was released.

Police on Sunday, issued a press release saying Officers with the Creston Police Department, the Creston Police K9 Unit, Union County Sheriff’s Office and Afton Police Department executed a narcotics search warrant on Saturday, October 9th, 2021 in the city of Creston. Authorities said also a large amount of methamphetamine, marijuana, U.S. Currency and a loaded firearm were seized from a residence. At that time, no arrests had been reported while the investigation was underway, and no names had been released.

Creston Police said also, a man from Lorimor reported Friday afternoon, that his vehicle was broken into the overnight of the 7th while parked at 1111 W Adams St., in Creston. He told police  that a Glock .17 was stolen, as well as an extra magazine that was loaded, and the holster it was in. The loss was estimated at $700. Saturday afternoon, a man residing in the 300 block of W. Lucas Street in Creston, told authorities that his black and white Genesis bike was stolen from his residence. The loss was estimated at $180.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning Commission will meet 5:30-p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12th, in the Council’s Chambers, at City Hall. On their agenda is a Commercial Building Site Plan review for Elk Horn, Nebraska-based McDonald’s Real Estate Company’s restaurant in Atlantic. During the Council’s meeting last Wednesday, City Administrator/Zoning Administrator John Lund mentioned McDonald’s is interested in demolishing their old/current building, and replacing it with a more modern structure.

Casey Thompson, of Bishop Engineering has submitted a site plan for a 3,307 square foot, new commercial building for the property located at 1510 E. 7th Street. The area is zoned as C-1 or “Highway Commercial District.” As such, as sit-down and drive through would be considered permitted uses under the City’s Zoning Ordinance. Lund says the parking requirements are the only area the Commission may wish to review. The site plans shows there will be 19 parking stalls and two handicap stalls. The Ordinance as it is written, is vague on the total number of parking spaces required, according to John Lund.

In other business, the P&Z will discuss regulations for Civic and Institutional Signage in non-commercial zones. It seems the City has recently had issues with a local church in  a residential zone, and their desired signage. Currently, signs in residential zones have restrictive sign regulations, according to Lund. Public agencies, schools, churches and museums are all permitted uses in such zones. Lund notes most of the existing signage on such buildings are not in conformance with the Zoning Ordinance, but have not conflicted with the surrounding residential property.

The Commission’s final order of business is to discuss Grain Bin Clearance Guidelines. Lund says the City has received notice from AMU regarding grain bin regulations. Lund says he will review both the signage and GBC regulations before reporting back to the Commission with recommendations based on other Iowa zoning codes.