The Cass County Board of Supervisors, during their meeting Friday morning, held a Public Hearing with regard to the FY2022 Maximum Property Tax Dollars. Following the hearing…during which there were no comments…the Board passed the Resolution which states “The maximum property tax dollars for General County Services and Rural County Services for FY2022 shall not exceed: $4,962,621 for General County Services, and $2,841,013 for Rural County Services. The requested dollars for FY22 represent an increase of 1.55% in General County Services, and 1.95% in Rural County Services from Maximum Property Tax Dollars requested for FY2021. On a related note, the Board set March 16th at 9-a.m. as the date and time for a Public Hearing on the FY2022 Cass County Budget.

In other business, the Supervisors approved the appointment of Preston Harter as Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy, to fill a vacancy.And, they approved an application from Barbara Baier for membership on the Cass County Local Foods Policy Council (CCLFPC). The fact she is the wife of Board Chair Steve Baier, did not go unnoticed.

The Board moved to appoint her to the Council, with her term ending 12/21/24. The Board also approved Property Tax Exemptions for impoundment structures, open prairies, etc., for January, 2021 assessments, as recommended by the Soil & Water Conservation District Commissioner and County Assessor, in accordance with the Code of Iowa.

The Creston Police Department reports four recent arrests. On Wednesday, 34-year old Michael Eugene Matherly, of Casey, and 39-year old Robin Lynn Matherly, of Creston, were both arrested for Violation of a Protection Order. Michael Matherly was taken to the Union County Jail and later posted bond. Robin Matherly was transported to the Adams County Jail.

Thursday morning, a homeless man, 24-year old Keegan Wayne Williams, was arrested on an outside agency warrant. He was transported to the Adams County Jail. And, Thursday afternoon, 41-year old Chastity Cari McFarland, of Creston, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree. She was cited, and released on a Summons to Appear in court.

(Radio Iowa) – The Boy Scouts of America isn’t just for boys anymore, and for the first time, two girls in the Mid-Iowa Council have attained the top rank of Eagle Scout. Sixteen-year-old Angelina Hemphill of Ankeny and 15-year-old Hannah Massey of Ottumwa are true trailblazers, according to Matt Hill, the council’s C-E-O. “They have taken it upon themselves to achieve the highest honor that Scouting has,” Hill says. “They have worked extremely hard within their troops and within their communities to achieve the rank of Eagle and we’re just excited to celebrate their success.”

Hannah Massey

Angelina Hemphill

Only about six percent of Scouts attain that highest rank. This year, 145 boys in the region made Eagle, while Hemphill and Massey represent the first-ever females to earn it in the council — which serves about 10-thousand young people in 27 counties. Reaching Eagle is a difficult challenge that requires mastery in subjects ranging from first aid and safety to civics, business and the environment.  “You have to earn a certain number of merit badges where you showcase different skills,” Hill says. “You also have to show leadership both within your unit and in your community, and then at the end of all that, you cap it off with a service project that gives back to your community as a whole.” The rules were changed to allow girls to join the Boy Scouts about two years ago.

The Mid-Iowa Council now has six all-girl troops and about 200 girls in Cub Scout packs, which are co-ed. Hill says the Scouting program teaches valuable lessons for all young people. “It has been a great experience so far,” Hill says. “Oftentimes, it’s a young lady who’s the sister of a current Scout or it’s someone like me, who’s also an Eagle Scout, who has a daughter who’s going to be in Cub Scouts because ‘that’s what Dad did’ and I want her to have that same experience.” The two Iowans join about a thousand young women from across the country in the national organization’s inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts. “Both young women joined Scouting to share the same once-in-a-lifetime adventures that boys have experienced for more than a century,” Hill says. “These two are paving the way for future generations. They’re our council’s first young women to join an elite group of young men.”

For more information on Scouting in Iowa, go to http://www.scoutingiowa.org/.

A woman from Shenandoah was arrested Thursday afternoon in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, 35-year old Colbie Jo Sue Hunter was taken into custody at around 1:25-p.m. at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, on a valid Red Oak P-D warrant charging her with three counts of Child Endangerment, and Gathering where marijuana is used. Hunter’s bond was set at $7,000.

(Radio Iowa) -U-S House Democrats have proposed an amendment that would remove a provision by Iowa 4th District Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra that provides money in the pandemic relief bill for victims of natural disasters. Areas of Iowa damaged by the August derecho would see some of that money and Fenstra says he will push to keep it in. “Unfortunately, it seems that the outcome is already predetermined. But I am not letting this stop me. I will continue to fight for Iowa farmers, families, and Main Street,” Feenstra says.

Feenstra says he will testify before the rules committee this (Friday) morning. Feenstra says his provision was one last hope for bipartisanship in the entire reconciliation process. “I even did my due diligence and reached out to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who I know have constituents who have suffered loses from natural disasters. I was able to find common ground- but it seems Speak Pelosi doesn’t care,” Feenstra says.

He says Iowa wouldn’t be the only state to benefit. “Many states in the south and west were also affected by wildfires, severe drought, and weather-related incidences, the further harmed producers and rural businesses that were already dealing with the economic fallout of the pandemic,” according to Feenstra.

He says House Democrats would rather use the bill to pay for abortions with taxpayer money and to fund their pet projects instead of helping natural disaster victims.