The Guthrie County Auditor’s Office has released the Unofficial results of Tuesday’s Special Election. Guthrie County Public Measure A, an $8.7-mllion dollar bond referendum for a Law Enforcement Center Addition project, passed by a vote of 1,666 Yes to 401 No (80.60% vs. 19.40%). The results will be made official in a canvass by the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors next Tuesday.

The 14,800 square foot addition will serve as the Guthrie County Law Enforcement Center (LEC). The facility is designed to include five classification units and four intake holding cells and includes a jail with 28 beds (with second bunk – 32 beds), jail services, jail administration, Sheriff’s administration, patrol, and investigations.

The Coon Rapids-Bayard Community School District Public Measure B, a proposed $3 million bond referendum for a new building and improvements at their campus in Coon Rapids, FAILED by a vote of 99 No to 76 Yes (56.57% to 43.43%). A 60% Super Majority was needed in order for the measure to pass.

The Audubon Community School District Public Measure C, in Guthrie County, received a split vote, with one ballot cast for yes and one for no.

Council Bluffs Police say the operator of a motorcycle suffered serious injuries during a collision at around 5:07-p.m. Tuesday, at S. 6th Street and 16th Avenue. Authorities say an investigation determined a 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee was driving south on South 6th Street and stopped at the stop sign. It proceeded into the intersection and collided with a 2014 Honda motorcycle, which was driving east on 16th Ave.

The motorcycle did not have a stop sign. The driver of the motorcycle was taken by ambulance to the Nebraska Medical Center. The driver of the Jeep was given a citation for Entering Unsafe Roadway. No names were released.

The incident is under investigation by the Council Bluffs Traffic Unit.

(Radio Iowa) — A greater amount of Iowa income tax refunds to individuals have been issued so far this tax season when compared to this time last year. According to the Legislative Services Agency, the total amount through the end of February is 52 MILLION dollars MORE than the amount of individual income tax refunds the state issued in the first two months of 2019.

Jeff Robinson is senior fiscal analyst for the Legislative Services Agency. “As the filing of tax returns for tax year 2019 has just begun, it is not possible yet to determine if the jump in tax refunds will be sustained or if it’s just that the process of issuing individual income tax refunds began a little sooner this year,” Robinson says.

Over the past eight months, total state tax revenue was five-point-seven percent HIGHER. “But it is early in the tax year 2019 processing season, with the vast majority of tax returns yet to be filed and processed,” Robinson says. The deadline for filing STATE income tax returns is April 30th.

Adair County Elections Deputy Josh Nelson reminds voters in his county, that the voter registration deadlines for the June 2nd Primary Election are as follows:

Monday, May 18th – Worry Free postmark date: Registrations postmarked on or before this date are considered on-time to pre-register, even if they are received after 5-p.m. on May 22nd.

Friday, May 22nd – Last day to pre-register to vote in-person in the Auditor’s Office. Iowa law now permits Election Day Registration.

Saturday, May 30th – Adair County Auditor’s Office is open from 8-a.m to 4-p.m.

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reported Tuesday, that two current members of the Board of Supervisors have filed nomination papers for re-election, prior to the June 2nd Primary. Republican incumbents Steve Baier and Steve Green submitted the required number of signatures, Tuesday. Baier is the Board Chair and District 4 Supervisor. Green is the Supervisor for District 1.

They join Republican incumbents Dale Sunderman – Auditor, and Darby McLaren – Sheriff, on the ballot in June, along with Democrat Russell Joyce, who is running for the District 5 Supervisor’s seat. Also on the ballot in a No Party Affiliation post, is Leanne Pellett – candidate for the Hospital Board.

Atlantic, IA – Officials with SHIFT ATL (Shift A-T-L) say they recently received a big boost in their fundraising efforts, thanks to former Atlantic resident, Roger Underwood. SHIFT ATL was formed in June of 2019 with a broad but straightforward vision for the place they have made home: to shift the direction of Atlantic’s social and economic development opportunities by leveraging partnerships and strengthening social bonds within the community. They intend to revitalize Atlantic through projects, services and programs that will enhance the community and foster a sense of growth.

Holding true to their vision and mission, the organization is starting to make noticeable moves in Atlantic. After an initial meeting between Underwood and SHIFT, organized by Dave Chase, Underwood announced that he would like to pass along his Atlantic Community Development stock to SHIFT ATL as well as donate $25,000 to help support the organization’s vision.

“I am deeply impressed by the commitment of the SHIFT ATL leadership as they seek new and different ways to add value to the future of Atlantic by thinking innovatively about what Atlantic can be tomorrow,” said Underwood. “These young leaders don’t want to enrich themselves, but rather volunteer their time, their thinking and themselves to create a new and different Atlantic for tomorrow. SHIFT ATL realizes that what got Atlantic to where it is today is not necessarily what will get Atlantic to where it needs to be tomorrow , and I hope this gesture from a grateful Atlantic high school graduate helps to inspire the young leaders of this proud community to step up and lead Atlantic into the future.”

“Roger’s generosity through the donation and the gift of Atlantic Community Development stock has blown us away. Every donation we receive, no matter the dollar amount or type of in-kind donated goods, still puts a little more wind beneath our sails,” said SHIFT ATL board member, Jessie Shiels. “Then for community members like Roger Underwood and Dave Chase to show just how much they believe in what we’re doing and where we’re headed by organizing these amazing gifts, it really solidified for us that we’re moving in the right direction.”

Underwood continued by saying, “I describe Atlantic to my friends as a warm and welcome community full of innovators, mentors and solid citizens. When asked to help support Atlantic’s future by investing in the Atlantic Community Development group several years ago, I quickly said yes. Investing in Atlantic has always been an easy decision – I am only ever giving back to this community what so many gave to me as I grew up here,” added
Underwood.

“Lastly, I want to include a special thank you to Dave Chase who helped organize this gift and to the SHIFT ATL team of young leaders, who are just one example of the value that can be created when thinking out of the box.” For the past nine months, the organization has been busy at work in the community with clear vision. They hosted a successful block party last October, showcasing their first project and providing an evening of fun and
entertainment, which they heard was a need.

After the block party, SHIFT ATL quickly responded to several resident’s requests for a “fun run” opportunity during Thanksgiving. Within three weeks, the group hosted another
successful event, while fundraising for their cause. Most recently, they launched the SHIFT Network in early 2020. This serves as the group’s planned giving avenue and allows for community members to have a platform to voice their ideas and band together to create change, aka a positive shift forward.

The 501c3 is currently in the thick of fundraising efforts with a newly launched capital campaign as they work toward completing a grant application to the State of Iowa’s Catalyst Grant, due April 2020. This grant, if awarded, would give the group $100,000 of funds to use toward their current project at 14 E. 4 th St. To learn more about the capital campaign, to donate or to get involved, contact shiftatlantic@gmail.com, visit the website shiftatl.org or facebook page, @shiftatl.

Atlantic, IA – The March session of Healthy U will be held Thursday, March 19, 2020, at Cass County Health System. The program, Five Things Your OB/GYN Wants You to Know will be presented by Emily Chang, DO, OB/GYN. Dr. Chang provides comprehensive obstetrics and gynecological care for women of all ages in the Atlantic Medical Center.

Dr. Emily Chang

She is certified through the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and received her medical degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2003.

Healthy U will be offered at noon on Thursday, March 19th. Healthy U is a free educational series at Cass County Health System held monthly in Conference Room 2. The public is invited and welcome to attend, but reservations are required as a meal is provided for all attendees. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat.

COUNCIL BLUFFS – Pottawattamie County Public Health and their partners have launched a  new website to communicate information regarding COVID‐19 (Coronavirus) with residents,  schools, and other allied partners.   Pottawattamie County Public Health is working with the Iowa Department of Public Health, Pottawattamie County Emergency Management, and other partners to monitor the situation  with COVID‐19.

Maria Sieck, Pottawattamie County Public  Health Administrator, said “We will keep the public informed of safety measures and needed public response efforts  through this website and the local media.” The website will host information such as: current state and local status; preparedness  information for the public, businesses, schools, healthcare facilities; and response actions being  taken by local officials.

Officials want to reiterate that, at this time, the risk to the general public remains low.  However, it is highly encouraged that residents take proactive steps to prepare themselves and  their families for the possible spread of the coronavirus. To help prevent the spread of  respiratory diseases such as the coronavirus or influenza, continue to use every day  preventative actions such as avoiding close contact with people who are sick, covering your  cough or sneeze with a tissue, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and staying home  when you are sick.

For updated coronavirus information, residents are encouraged to visit pcema‐ia.org and click  on the COVID‐19 icon.