The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, voted 4-to 3 to move forward with ways to address the City’s housing needs, by means of using the City EDR (Economic Development Revolving) loan Fund as part of an Infill Housing Initiative. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee has already endorsed the further exploration of ways to identify a potential buyer or buyers of a home to be built on land owned by the City north of 7th Street or 14th Street.

Mayor Dave Jones was asked by Councilman Dick Casady if City money would be involved. Jones said there would be some to start with, if needed, but it would be paid back. He said “It’s something to get started, no matter what happens.” Jones said they’re looking at a company out of Missouri Valley to construct a modular house.

The buyer — who Jones said would preferably be a working couple — would have to be pre-approved by a lender. The City would supply a vacant lot where a home was previously demolished and the land cleared. The idea is to get the property back on the tax base. Councilman Chris Jimerson, who voted in favor of moving forward, was initially opposed to using City money for a construction zone to a pre-qualified buyer. Councilman Casady expressed similar concerns.

Casady, Councilpersons Hayes and Hartkopf voted against the move. Hayes said not enough has been done to promote the vacant lots the City owns that are available to build on. She said she would prefer if the City stay out of the business of building homes, and give adjacent property owners a chance to purchase the lots if they so desire.

Jones said he’s working on the finer details of the program, but the bottom line is that expensive homes aren’t likely to be built on those lots, so it’s better to offer an alternative, such as the in-fill program.  In other business, the Council, by a vote of 6-to 1, decided to move forward with keeping the speed limit on the northern section of Sunnyside lane at 25 miles per hour, and the southern-most 1,600+ feet 35-mph. The next step is for the City Attorney to review a draft ordinance on the matter, and for a vote on the final draft.

A female passenger on a motorcycle suffered what were described by Police as apparent, non-life threatening injuries, following an accident at around 7:18-p.m., Wednesday, in Atlantic.

The damaged motorcycle after it was removed from the roadway.

Atlantic Police Lt. Devin Hogue said the accident happened as Can-Am Spyder (3 wheel cycle) was traveling west on 7th Street and slowing to turn north onto Laurel Street. When a Buick traveling westbound behind the Spyder slowed down, a black Honda motorcycle ran into the rear of the car.

The unidentified passenger was transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. The driver of the Honda was not injured. Additional information is expected to be released Thursday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The cases are strikingly similar: Two talented young women were stabbed to death by male strangers while doing athletic activities alone in normally safe parts of Iowa. But politicians who quickly expressed outrage about the immigrant suspect charged with killing runner Mollie Tibbetts have been silent or more restrained about the white homeless man accused in the death of a college golf star from Spain.

Hours after Cristhian Bahena Rivera was arrested last month in Tibbetts’ death, President Donald Trump declared that the farmhand had killed the “beautiful” young woman because of the nation’s “disgraceful” immigration laws. The president recorded a video citing Tibbetts’ slaying in his case for building a wall on the border with Mexico and adopting other policies intended to keep immigrants from entering illegally.

So far, Trump and many others who followed his lead have not weighed in on the death of Celia Barquin Arozamena, who was attacked Monday while golfing on a course near Iowa State University. The White House press office did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday on Barquin, who was the Big 12 women’s golf champion this year and a 22-year-old engineering student.

Neither has Rep. Steve King, an Iowa Republican who tweeted that Tibbetts would be alive if immigration laws were enforced and added: “Leftists sacrificed thousands, including their own, on the altar of Political Correctness.”

King represents Ames, which includes the university, and a part of western Iowa where the suspect accused in Barquin’s death lived as a teenager and young adult in small towns. Court records show that 22-year-old Collin Richards repeatedly received chances to turn his life around but instead kept committing crimes and violated probation again and again.

Richards once threatened to “shoot up” a convenience store where he was caught shoplifting. He dragged his ex-girlfriend out of a home in a headlock, allegedly cutting off her airway and leaving her injured. He got high and stole a pickup truck after wrecking his own car. He burglarized a gas station to steal tobacco and beer and stole from his own grandparents’ home. He was found with an illegally long knife during a traffic stop, and he injured a police officer during a scuffle.

None of that earned Richards prison time or a felony conviction, in part because prosecutors agreed to plea deals that reduced charges to misdemeanors and judges imposed sentences of probation. Richards was sent to prison last year only after he tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana, failed to complete an anger-management course he started four times and didn’t pay court-ordered fees to a halfway house, court records show.

Even then, the two-year sentence was reduced to about seven months after credit for good behavior and some jail time already served. After his release, Richards was arrested weeks later for public intoxication. Soon, he was living in a tent in a homeless encampment in the woods near the Coldwater Golf Links in Ames. He told an acquaintance that he had an urge to “rape and kill a woman,” police said. He allegedly stabbed Barquin and left her body in a pond near the ninth hole.

Rivera followed a different path, allegedly entering the country from Mexico illegally as a teenager and later getting hired at a dairy farm by providing false identification documents. He was described as a reliable worker. He had no prior criminal record in Iowa before, police say, he followed Tibbetts, a 20-year-old University of Iowa student, in a car while she was running on July 18 in the small town of Brooklyn. He’s accused of killing her and leaving her body in a cornfield. He pleaded not guilty Wednesday, and his trial is scheduled for April.

After Tibbetts’ death, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said residents were angry “that a broken immigration system allowed a predator like this to live in our community.” She also said she might be open to considering a plan to require Iowa employers to use the government’s E-Verify system to check their workers’ eligibility to be in the U.S., although it’s not clear whether that would have prevented the farm from hiring Rivera.

On Tuesday, Reynolds referred to Barquin’s death as “horrific” and “senseless” but said it was premature to determine whether any changes needed to be made to keep young women safe. “As we all learn more about what happened in this senseless tragedy again, we will look for opportunities and ways that we can do better,” she told reporters, according to the Des Moines Register.

On Wednesday, she urged Iowa State fans to wear yellow to Saturday’s football game to honor Barquin.

Officials with Cass County Health Systems in Atlantic report that their phone lines are back up and running, after having been down this morning. They thank you for your patience and understanding.

(Radio Iowa) – Officials with Green Plains Renewable Energy are rejecting a Reuters report this week claiming the company is shutting down a pair of Iowa ethanol plants in Kossuth and Dickinson counties. Jim Stark is Vice President of Media Relations for Green Plains. “We are not closing any ethanol plants,” Stark says. The Reuters report on Monday cited unidentified sources that two plants, in Lakota and Superior, would be closed due to low ethanol demand. Stark says production in Superior is on hold, but the plant’s 46 workers are still there.

“We flex our production capacity up and down depending on market conditions and right now market conditions are not favorable,” Stark says. The Lakota plant is still producing ethanol, according to Stark. Green Plains CEO Todd Becker says ethanol futures prices have dropped to a 13-year low. Becker places part of the blame on RFS waivers granted to oil refineries – cutting ethanol demand.

“Without a doubt, there was demand destruction from the refinery waivers,” Becker said. Becker also cited the trade dispute with China and a lack of federal action on allowing year-round use of E15 for the decline in ethanol demand. Green Plains owns 17 ethanol plants with a production capacity of about 1.5 billion gallons. The Omaha-based company ranks among the top five ethanol producers in the United States.

Relatives in Spain of a star collegiate golfer who was stabbed to death by a stranger on an Iowa golf course say they are distraught. Miriam Arozamena says it was terrible fate that her 22-year-old daughter, Celia Barquin, crossed paths with her killer on Tuesday morning. Collin Daniel Richards has been charged with murder in Barquin’s death.

Speaking from her residence near Torrelavega in northern Spain, Arozamena told broadcaster Tele 5 on Wednesday that her daughter had “such bad luck.” She says Richards “was just going out with the goal of killing.” Police have said the suspect told an acquaintance he wanted to rape and kill someone. Around 500 residents of Torrelavega held a minute of silence for Barquin Wednesday, including her brother Andres who said the family is “heart-broken.”

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation Wednesday for Union County in response to severe storms that took place beginning Aug. 28th. The governor’s proclamations allow state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program.

The Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level or a maximum annual income of $41,560 for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.

Disaster Case Management is a program to address serious needs to overcome a disaster-related hardship, injury or adverse condition. Disaster case managers work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice and referral to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Management Program, contact your local community action association or visit www.iowacommunityaction.org.

Residents of counties impacted by the recent severe weather are asked to report damage to help local and state officials better understand the damage sustained. Damage to property, roads, utilities and other storm-related information may be reported. This information will be collected by the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and shared with local emergency management agencies.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report a man and a woman from Pottawattamie County were arrested Tuesday night on drug charges. 51-year old Shad Lee McCurley, and 40-year old Carrie Annie Quinlan, both of Council Bluffs, were taken into custody in the vicinity of Deacon and Glover Roads between nine and 10-p.m.  Both were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. McCurley was also charged with OWI/1st offense, speeding and Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $4,600. Bond for Quinlan was set at $1,300.

And, 21-year old Brandon Lee Mayberry Meston, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday evening for Driving Under Suspension and a financial responsibility violation. His bond was set at $1,300.  The Mills County Sheriff’s Office said also, 71-year old Jerry Ponow, of Hastings (IA), was transported by Malvern Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, following an accident at around 6:40-a.m. today (Wednesday). Authorities say 45-year old Shannon Gravett, of Emerson, was driving a 2007 Chevy westbound on Highway 34, when Ponow, who was driving a 2012 Ford, entered the roadway from 315th Street on the north side of Highway 34. He failed to see the westbound Chevy. His vehicle was hit by the Gravett vehicle. Gravett was not injured in the crash.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department have released a report on arrests. Authorities say last Saturday, 35-year old Amy Jean Marie Lesline, and 47-year old Timothy Thomas Sorensen, both of Harlan, were arrested after a search warrant was executed at a residence in the 800 block of 10th Street. Lesline and Sorensen were arrested on charges that include: Distribution of a Controlled Substance; Failure to affix a drug tax stamp; Prohibited Acts; Gathering where controlled substances are used; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Delivery/manufacture of a controlled substance, and Child Endangerment. They were booked into the Shelby County Jail.

On Sept. 12th, 31-year old Joey Lee Ranney, of Harlan, was arrested on active Shelby County warrants for Theft in the 5th Degree, and Trespassing. After being transported to the Shelby County Jail, Ranney was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. And, 26-year old Kayla Marie Strong, of Harlan, was arrested that same day, on an active warrant. She was also transported to the Shelby County Jail.

On Sept. 9th, 21-year old Devin M. Ramirez, of Harlan, was arrested for Willful Injury, following a call about a possible assault in the 1100 block of Durant Street, in Harlan. On Sept. 8th, 55-year old George Otis Brittain, and 57-year old Susan Kaye Boruff, both of Harlan, were arrested following the execution of a search warrant. They face charges that include: Possession with the intent to deliver; Possession of a Controlled Substance; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Prohibited Acts. That same day, 25-year old Adam Tyrone Scheffler, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop, and charged with; Delivery of a Controlled Substance; Possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance; Possession of drug paraphernalia; Possession of a Controlled Substance, Prohibited Acts penalties, ongoing criminal conduct, and failure to affix a drug tax stamp.

On Sept. 7th, 60-year old Jolene J. Rihner, of Harlan, was arrested for OWI and Failure to Maintain control, following an accident in the 2200 block of 8th Street, in Harlan. 37-year old Kristina Marie Namanny, of Harlan, was arrested Sept. 7th also, for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, and Assault. And, on Sept. 6th, 49-year old Todd Alan Horner, of Harlan, was arrested for OWI, following a call about a possible intoxicated person in the 2200 block of Chatburn Avenue, in Harlan.

Des Moines, Iowa – In the wake of widespread damage caused by Hurricane Florence, the Iowa Insurance Division is cautioning Iowans to watch out for opportunistic investment or charitable scams. “Iowans know that natural disasters can bring out the best in people as neighbors help neighbors through extremely tough times.  Unfortunately, natural disasters can also bring out the worst in scammers seeking to profit from the misfortune of others,” Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen said. “Unsolicited investment offers seeking to capitalize on the aftermath of Hurricane Florence should be approached with extreme caution.”

The Iowa Insurance Division is reminding Iowans to watch for red flags of hurricane-related investment scams, including unsolicited email, social media messages, crowdfunding pitches or telephone calls promoting investment pools or bonds to help storm victims. The Iowa Insurance Division also cautioned about fraudulent charitable solicitations that prey on the goodness of people seeking to help those in need.

“There will undoubtedly be fraudulent solicitations for charities in Florence’s wake so it’s important for Iowans to do their research,” Ommen said. “As with any charitable contribution, those who want to contribute to relief efforts should send contributions to charitable organizations with an established track record of getting donations to victims.” Iowans can find more tips and information to protect yourself from fundraising and charity abuses on the Iowa Attorney General’s website. (https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/general-consumer-information/charitable-giving)