A Pottawattamie County man was arrested and then released on a citation late Monday morning, for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office reports 55-year old Roger Duane Arbuckle, Jr., of Walnut, was arrested and then released, following a disturbance at 215 Antique City Drive. The incident was reported at around 10:10-a.m., when a caller to Pott. County Communications said that her father in law was following her husband on the interstate, and was now at a business and causing a verbal disturbance.

A man from Nebraska was arrested late Monday evening after he came to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office to turn himself in on a warrant.  43-year old Steven D. Carroll, of Omaha, was wanted on a warrant for Violation of a Protective Order/Contempt of Court. The bond on that offense was set at $2,500. Carroll was also taken into custody on an outstanding warrant out of Sanders County, NE., for being a Fugitive from Justice. He was being held without bond on the NE warrant, in the Pott. County Jail.

A woman from Council Bluffs was cited for Criminal Trespass and then released, Monday night, after she entered a Hy-Vee Store in Council Bluffs where she was banned from the property. After receiving her citation, 38-year old Laura L. Lemus left the property as ordered.  And, 23-year old Justin Michael Kinart, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following an investigation into an injury accident that took place at around 2:35-a.m. today (Tuesday), in the 16-thousand block of State Orchard Road, in Pott. County. Kinart was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail.

The Atlantic City Council will hear a presentation during their meeting Wednesday evening from representatives with CADCO (The Cass-Atlantic Development Corp.), with regard to a likely decision by the Iowa DOT to move the District 4 Construction Office from Atlantic, to Council Bluffs. The letter from CADCO to State leaders and DOT Committee members, says any such move “Will be wasteful,” and any commute between the two offices would create a hardship among the employees. The City Council’s meeting begins 5:30-p.m., in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

Many area governmental organizations have already sent letters of support to keep the offices here in Atlantic, because of it’s centralized location to the 13 county district. The letter says the possible move “Was not mandated nor even reviewed by the Department of Transporation’s Commission, the Governor’s Office nor the State Legislature,” and that the only benefit, “has been to reduce the district engineer’s commute from his home in Nebraska, to his office in Iowa.”

In other business, the Council will act on the third and final reading of ordinances pertaining to zoning regulations with regard to fencing in Light Industrial and Commercial Zones, and the first reading of an amended ordinance with regard to Speed Regulations on Sunnyside Lane from 10th to 22nd Streets. The current version stipulates a speed limit of 25-miles per hour from 10th Street south, two-thousand feet, before it becomes 35-mph for the remaining 1,650-feet to 22nd Street.

The Council will also hold the first reading of an amended ordinance that repeals and replaces a Chapter pertaining to trees and responsibilities within the Right-of-Way. The changes include, among other things: Shifting the position of City Forester from the Parks & Rec Director to the Street Superintendent; Clarifying the authority of the Forester when it extends to trees on private property; States “decision making on all tree removals are the sole authority of the forester and not subject to appeals; and adds the requirement to remove tree stumps following the removal of trees.

There’s also a resolution on an amended ordinance with regard to changes to the City’s Personnel Policy, as proposed by the Personnel and Finance Committee. The changes deal with areas that include: accrual language for part-time employees; mileage reimbursement claims; language with regard to CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) reimbursement; Accrual on Administrative Leave; and clarification on Sick leave policy, among others. The final order of business is the first reading of an amended ordinance with regard to Urban Deer Population control. The change reflects the Police Chief’s sole authority to determine the limits on the number of deer harvested within the City Limits of Atlantic, and the number of hunters authorized to hunt, during specified dates and times.

The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will meet 8-a.m. Wednesday at the courthouse in Greenfield. The meeting kicks-off with a possible closed session with regard to discussion with legal counsel, about matters where litigation is imminent. Later during their session, the Board will hear from Dennis Kellenberg with regard to a VA Office lease, and they’ll discuss the hiring of outside counsel for Open Records matters, with possible action on the subject.

And, the Adair County Supervisors will hold a Public Hearing at around 9:30-a.m. Wednesday, along with the third reading of Ordinance 31A – An amendement to Ordinance 31 – pertaining to Wind Energy Conversion Property. That will be followed by discussion and possible action of approving Ordinance 31A. The amended ordinance sets a 2,000-foot setback from non-participating residences near Wind Turbines, and an 800-foot setback for participating property owners associated with two Mid-American Energy wind farms.

Construction on nearly 500 wind turbines at two separate sites in the County began last summer, but they’ve been with a public backlash over noise, visual pollution and bird safety concerns.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a Union County woman was arrested on drug charges, Sept. 23rd. 40-year old Brandie Sue Whitney, of Creston, was pulled over at around 12:43-a.m. in Stuart, because she had a suspended driver’s license. During his investigation, the deputy noticed Whitney was “acting very nervous,” and that she had made some quick movements toward the vehicles’ floorboard. After some questioning, and a consent search of her vehicle, the deputy located a baggy of pills identified as Focalin, 20-milligram doseage. Focalin is a schedule II controlled substance.

Along with the pills, the deputy located several unidentified pills, a pipe used for smoking meth, and two scales. Whitney was placed under arrest on the Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charges. She was released from the Adair County Jail Sept. 30th, after posting a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

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

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

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PERRY, Iowa (AP) — Investigators are trying to determine who spray painted the words “report illegals” on a sidewalk near where one Iowa town was holding its annual Latino festival. The Des Moines Register reports that the message was found near the high school in Perry, Iowa, on Sunday along with a stenciled phone number for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Police painted over the message shortly after it was found.

Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn says investigators are reviewing surveillance footage from the school to try and identify who painted the message. Immigration lawyer Tim Farmer says the vandalism is unfortunate. He says it’s important for people to get to know immigrants as human beings.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Business Council released its latest quarterly economic outlook survey Monday, and executive director Georgia Van Gundy, says the results find a lot of optimism. “Our member show that this is the strongest that the economy has been in the ten years that we’ve been doing the survey,” Van Gundy says. The survey was taken before the news of the new Canada and Mexico trade agreement — which she says won’t do anything but help that optimism. “Yeah, definitely I do believe it will be a positive for our members and for the economy in Iowa,” she says.

The survey uses an index for sales, capital spending and employment to gauge the business sentiment of many of the largest businesses in the state. While the optimism is abundant — Van Gundy says the biggest concern remains finding enough qualified employees. She says the I-B-C is doing what it can to try and help the situation and are targeting young people to let them know there are a variety of careers available.

“We’ve pledged 30-thousand internships, externships and apprenticeships so that we get students on site at our locations to help them understand what those jobs look like,” Van Gundy explains. “And then we get teachers spending their time with these businesses helping them understand the coursework and how it applies. So, starting out at an early age developing that pipeline.”

Iowa is now alone in second place in the country for unemployment rate after dropping to two-point-five percent in August. “Which sounds great — but if you want your economy to keep moving and to have growth within businesses — we do have to have the workforce here in order to do it,” according Van Gundy. “Our members a couple of weeks ago met, and some of the challenges they talked about is how do we attract more people to our state and how to retain more people. So we are looking at putting some campaigns together around just the different jobs and careers that are here, and the quality of life.”

She says Iowa has a lot to sell to draw new workers to the state. She says they have a new employee that just recently came back to Iowa to work the I-B-C because they were faced with a long commute and a higher cost of living where they worked. Van Gundy says they also plan to let perspective employees about a lot of unique things Iowa has to offer. She says the first in the nation Iowa Caucuses are something that will heat up after the November elections. “That’s another thing that Iowa’s know for that’s exciting that can attract people back to our state as well,” Van Gundy says.

To see the full I-B-C quarterly survey, go to their website at IowaBusinessCouncil.org.

(Radio Iowa) — Seven projects in Iowa are sharing just over $660,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to tackle the opioid crisis. The Wayne County Hospital in Corydon is using a $150,000 grant to buy an ambulance equipped with features specifically for opioid treatment. Darien Relph is the hospital’s CEO. “Our oldest model that we have is a 2006 model, and as we look at the reliability pieces of having an ambulance respond to the opioid crisis or any other ambulance emergency, it’s really important that we have up-to-date equipment,” Relph says.

In the past year, Relph says they’ve responded to 770 ambulance calls and 22 were solely for drug-related emergencies. Relph says in overdose emergencies, reversal drugs like naloxone need to be managed with care and by skilled hands. “We need to able to get those drugs to a scene and administer them efficiently and that will definitely be helped by having a grant for an ambulance,” Relph says.

Among the other projects receiving federal funds are those located in Cass, Lucas, Monroe, Harrison, and Buena Vista counties. In Cass County, a grant of $17,500 will be used to purchase a police vehicle with equipment for a K-9 officer. The K-9 vehicle will be used to deter the sale and misuse of illegal drugs, including opioids, and as a response vehicle on the scene of mental health or misuse situations. The K-9 vehicle will serve a population of 14,000.

In Harrison County, the City of Pisgah will receive a $41,000 grant to purchase a used ambulance for the volunteer fire department and first responders. The ambulance is equipped with medical supplies, including reversal medication for opioid misuse incidents. About 250 residents will be served.

Overall, the USDA is investing a little more than $10 million in 85 projects in 22 states to support opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery.

(Thanks to Julie Englander, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) — President Trump says he’s coming to Iowa soon to make an announcement. Sources tell Radio Iowa Trump will be in Council Bluffs on October 9th and he’s likely to announce the E-P-A will allow year-round sale of gasoline with a 15 percent ethanol blend. Trump mentioned his upcoming trip to Iowa as he announced some details of the new United States Mexico Canada Agreement.

He says the deal is “a very big deal” for farmers — and exports of wheat, poultry, eggs and dairy products — including ice cream — should increase to both neighboring countries. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst was among those who gathered today (Monday) in the White House Rose Garden for the president’s news conference and Trump mentioned Ernst twice during his remarks.