The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday) held a hearing on the disposal of County-owned real property on the west side of Cumberland (Lot 3, Bakers Addition). Following the hearing, the Board approved disposal of the Lot and held an auction to sell the land. There was only one bid: Darrin Hardisty purchased the property for the sum of $100. The bid was accepted unanimously. In other business, the Board approved a Resolution to enter into a 28-E (Cost sharing) agreement for the Iowa Precinct Atlas Consortium (use of Precinct Atlas computer software programs, related software and hardware components). The County’s share of the agreement is an annual fee of $3,500, plus 3-cents per voter in the county, or $3,791.18.

County Auditor Dale Sunderman explained the State of Iowa decided to do away with their version of “Poll Book,” which they switched to in 2018 because it was free. The County had previously used Precinct Atlas. The new system will be in place as of January 1st. The School/City Elections on Nov. 5th will still use Poll Books as the system software. The Board of Supervisors also approved the assignment of a Tax Sale Certificate to the City of Atlantic, for that part of Lot 1 Block 120, north and east of Bull Creek, an area Sunderman said was a “bad area.” The City intends to clean it up.

The Supervisors heard from Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdas, who reported on recent a sexual abuse sentence involving Kelly Simonton, that was successfully prosecuted for Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree, with the sentences running consecutively. She said also, Tyler Mills was sentenced to 5-years probation for his criminal activities, a term she said was much longer than normal, and would “hopefully put an end to his little reign of terror,” and if not, they’re holding prison time over his head. Two other sexual abuses cases are on the docket. One for September 29th, the other expected to come to the courtroom in December. There were also charges filed in connection with an accidental shooting that took place last July, in Lyman.

In his report to the Board, Cass County Conservation Director Micah Lee said they have keptg busy mowing, especially with the loss of their college student helpers, who have returned to school. He said also, with regard to Cold Springs State Park, camping sites 1 through 8, which are tightly grouped and not used as much, were split-up. Three sites were pulled out and moved to the northwest corner of the campground in preparation for use next year.

County Assistant Engineer Rich Hansen discussed changes that will be coming to some of the wind turbines located in the County. He said Mid-American Energy will be swapping out of the internal nacell components and installing longer, more energy efficient blades. A process called “re-powering.” The new blades will be 48-feet longer than the current blades. The new “nucleus” components in the turbine nacells, will still put out the same amount of power, but more days per year when they will generate maximum power on the days when winds are lighter. The changes affect some of the turbines in the northeast and southeast parts of Cass County. Hansen said it will take about three-weeks per turbine for the switch-out to take place.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests took place Monday. At around 2-p.m., 25-year old Scott Anthony Kissel, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a Pott. County warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance/marijuana – 1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. At around 3:30-p.m., 34-year old Nicholas Paul Riesland, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense, Theft in the 4th Degree, and Violation of a No Contact or Protective Order. He was being held on a $1,000 bond with regard to the Theft charge.

And, at around 7:50-p.m., 31-year old Cody Nathaniel Peterson-Johnston was arrested following a report of a possibly suicidal subject traveling east on I-80 from mile marker 23. He was located at a truck stop at mile marker 34, and placed under arrest for OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000.

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

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SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — Forecasters say a wintry storm system could drop up to 10 inches of snow on northwest Nebraska later this week. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for the northern half of the Panhandle. The service says ice could form on wet pavement late Wednesday night or early Thursday as the system arrives, followed by snow and winds gusting to 35 mph. Travel could be extremely hazardous. Overnight low temperatures could dip below 20 degrees.

The system is expected to move east, leaving less snow across much of northern and northeast Nebraska, with low temperatures well below freezing. The weather service says the system also could drop some snow on northwestern and northern Iowa on Friday or early Saturday.

(Radio Iowa) — A singer and storyteller who’s done extensive research on the vital work of the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s is touring Iowa this month. Bill Jamerson (JAY-mer-son) will make 19 appearances in 14 Iowa cities, performing mostly in high schools, libraries and nursing homes. Jamerson says he’ll be re-telling stories he’s gathered over the decades, like this one from an elderly Iowa man. “His dad had plenty of work, he was a blacksmith, but nobody could pay him,” Jamerson says. “These were young men on relief, very poor farm families and it paid them $1 a day. That’s $30 a month and $25 was sent home to the families. This was during the Great Depression and $25 a month was a lot of money.”

The C-C-C hired young men between the ages of 17 and 25 and put them up in work camps. Some worked on farms while others planted trees, built roads and dams, or carved out state parks from practically-untouched land. Most of those who were in the C-C-C are no longer living and Jamerson says it’s important that their stories continue to be heard. “Wherever I go, people come and say, ‘Oh, I always wanted to know about my dad’s experience in the CCCs,'” Jamerson says. “They’re so grateful to hear these stories. A lot of them are moving stories, they’re very heartwarming stories of fellas who couldn’t catch a break.” The young men are largely responsible for the foundation of Iowa’s state park system. “Backbone, Beed’s Lake, Lake Keomah, Clear Lake, all of these beautiful parks came into being because of the supply of CCC boy labor,” Jamerson says. “These fellas built the shelters. They built the hiking trails. They built the lookouts. It was hard work.”

The C-C-C has long fascinated Jamerson and he produced a documentary, recorded a C-D of songs, and wrote a historical novel about it. Jamerson, who’s 64 and lives in Michigan, puts on his “Dollar-A-Day Boys” performances while wearing a corps uniform. More than two-and-a-half million young men enlisted in the corps during the Depression era and they faced significant challenges from the weather — and the work. “Amazing stories, but they endured the hardships because the money was going home to help their families,” Jamerson says. “That $25 a month was a lifeline. It was feeding their brothers and sisters. These guys, 60 years later, say, ‘Man, when your brothers and sisters are starving, you’ll do anything to help them.”

Jamerson has appearances planned in Iowa starting October 15th in Decorah, with more dates in: New Hampton, Hampton, Marion, Iowa City, Coralville, Pella, Indianola, Winterset, West Des Moines, Des Moines, Carroll, Lake View and Eldora.
www.billjamerson.com

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Officials in Waterloo have approved a measure banning the city and many businesses from asking about applicants’ criminal records in early stages of the hiring process. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the City Council on Monday night approved a so-called “ban-the-box” ordinance. It doesn’t let employers ask about an applicant’s criminal history until after making a conditional job offer. The measure is intended to ensure people with criminal convictions get a fair chance of getting jobs.

Similar measures have been passed around the country, but Waterloo is the first city in Iowa to approve such an ordinance. The measure applies to business with at least 15 employees and the city government. It will be several weeks before the measure takes effect, and the council is scheduled to discuss minor changes later this month.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska judge has imprisoned a western Iowa man who authorities say was driving drunk when his pickup truck rammed into a sports car in north Omaha, fatally injuring two other Iowa men. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 29-year-old Tony Kenkel, of Earling, Iowa, was sentenced Monday in Omaha to 19 years. He’d pleaded no contest in June to two counts of manslaughter. Prosecutors dropped two related counts in exchange.

Police say the collision occurred Oct. 13 last year on Nebraska Highway 36 near Glenn Cunningham Lake, when Kenkel’s eastbound pickup crossed the center line and struck the oncoming car. Authorities say 21-year-old Joseph Daniels and 21-year-old Thomas Greise were fatally injured. They lived in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The Creston Police Department reports the arrest at around 2-p.m. Monday, of 33-year old Michael Baker, from Creston. Baker was arrested on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear on original charges of OWI, and Possession or carrying of dangerous weapons while under the influence. He was additionally charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense, Possession of paraphernalia, and Possession of Contraband in a Corrections facility. Baker was being held in the Union County Jail on an $8,300 bond.

36-year old Luke Mullen, of Orient, was arrested Monday morning in Creston, for Driving Under Suspension. He was later released on $300 bond. And, Monday evening, 40-year old Sheri Watters, of Creston, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct, and interference with official acts. She was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $600 bond.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of fatally shooting two 18-year-olds in a vehicle in a business parking lot wants his trial moved out of Cedar Rapids. Linn County District Court records say an Oct. 25 hearing is scheduled to hear the request from 26-year-old Andre Richardson. He’s pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the May 18 slayings of Matrell Johnson and Royal Abram. Police say two others also were hit by bullets in the parked vehicle at the Iowa Smoke Shop in Cedar Rapids.

Richardson’s lawyer says extensive media reports of the slayings and subsequent investigation have made it impossible for Richardson to get a fair trial before an impartial jury in Linn County.
Richardson’s trial is scheduled to begin May 4.