The Creston Police Department reports four arrests over the weekend.

On Friday at 10:43 a.m. Creston Police arrested 31-year-old Steven Behlers of Creston at his residence on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault by Strangulation. He was being held in the Union County Jail awaiting transport to Polk County for a warrant for Violation of Parole.

Also on Friday morning at 8:29 a.m. Creston Police arrested 47-year-old Shawn Connelly of Creston on a charge of Driving While Barred. She was released at the scene on a summons to appear.

On Saturday at 3:21 p.m. Officers arrested 48-year-old Brock Barrett of Creston at his residence on the charge of Domestic Abuse Assault Impeding Blood/Air flow. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Also on Saturday at 8:55 p.m. Creston Police arrested Elizabeth Clayton of Lenox at the Law Enforcement Center on a Union County warrant for Violation of Pre-Trial Release. She was held in the Adams County Jail on $10,000 bond.

The Red Oak Police Department responded to a single vehicle accident on Sunday evening. At 5:30 p.m. Officers were called to the intersection of North 4th Street and Joy Street. After investigation it was determined that a 2007 Jeep Compass driven by 26-year-old Alexander Warren Wiechmann of Council Bluffs was traveling northbound on N 4th Street and became distracted and drove off the roadway. The Jeep struck a utility pole owned by Mid-American Energy. Wiechmann was uninjured in the crash.

The Jeep sustained an estimated $5,000 damage and the utility pole sustained $500 damage. Wiechmann was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. More charges could follow pending further investigation.

Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Red Oak Fire Department.

Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst, from Red Oak, paid a visit to Rex Pharmacy, in Atlantic, Saturday afternoon, as part of her 99 County Tour for 2020. Earlier in the day, she stopped in Carroll for a Main Street Tour, and in Onawa.

In Atlantic, Ernst said she learned about how Rex Pharmacy has adapted to serve the community and area in the age of COVID.

Ric Hanson/photos

Cass County Supervisor Mark O’Brien, who owns a construction company, stopped-by during Ernst’s visit and asked what the odds are of the new $600 per week Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), being extended in the next COVID-19 stimulus package. Ernst said “We don’t want it to go on the next one, because what we see here in Iowa…is that we have employers that are opening-up and they can’t get their people to come back to work.” O’Brien says he has seen that happen with his own business.

He says if the PPP continues, he’s “In trouble.” The deadline to qualify for forgiveness and funds is June 30th. If approved, the funds could be used to cover costs over the next 24 weeks or until December 31, whichever is earlier. Previously, the program covered 8 weeks. (Learn more at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program)

Ernst says the economy would be damaged if the plan is continued, and she will be a “No” vote.”

Ernst said the next package she and Senator Grassley will focus on is specific COVID-19 areas, not bailing out large cities, etc. That process is expected to begin in mid-July, or early August. When asked if State officials around the country relaxed restrictions too soon, in light of a resurgance in the virus in some area, Ernst said the increase in case-positives is not necessarily due to an upsurge in cases.

She said the country can make it through pandemic if everyone does their part to stay safe.

A trio of local school boards will hold their respective, separate meetings, Monday. The Griswold School Board meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. in the Elementary School Library. The Exira-EHK Board meeting is at 6-p.m. in the Conference Room at the Elk Horn Building, and the CAM School Board will meet 6:30-p.m., Monday, in the CAM High School Superintendent’s Office.

Among the agenda items for the Griswold School Board, is a Public Hearing on the proposed issuance of approximately $1,800,000 (1.8-million dollars) School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Refunding Bonds. Action of approving the issuance will be taken later on in the meeting. Other, new business, includes: Approval of the aforementioned bonds; approval of a STEM Matching grant application and funding; approval of fuel bids, and Tech Support bids. The Griswold School Board will also act on approving a continued School Resource Officer (SRO) contract.

The Exira-EHK School Board will hold a Public Hearing on a Resolution for continued participation in the ISL (Instructional Support Levy). Discussion and/or Action items include: Return to Learn Plans; approval of a Transportation Director Sharing Agreement with the Harlan CSD; Approval of continued participation in the ISL; the appointment of Kyle Wagner as Treasurer (effective July 1st); Approval of an RTI Chromebook bid, and, approval of personnel matters.

And, finally, the CAM School Board will: Act on personnel matters (Resignations/contracts); Consider/approve and agreement with Casey Computing for the 2020-21 school year; approving a sharing agreement with the Atlantic CSD for a School Business Official (SBO) position for 2020-21. The Atlantic School District approved the agreement during their meeting last Wednesday. The CAM Board will also act on a Sharing Art agreement, and discuss the Facility Study.