The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 37-year old Dustin Ray Kilgore, of Creston, was arrested Monday for Driving While Barred. Kilgore was later released on $2,000 bond. And, a Lorimor woman reported to the Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, that sometime over the past month, someone entered her residence and took a trailer camera, Pampered Chef items, a mirror, clock, audible alarm and other household items. The loss was estimated at $850.

The groundbreaking ceremony for a new, full-service truck stop south of Audubon was held indoors this (Wednesday) morning, due to expected wet weather. The event was held inside the Audubon County Economic Development Building.

Members of the Handlos family and other local dignitaries.

The Lawrence Handlos family, along with City and County officials, and members of the Audubon County Economic Development Board were on-hand to talk about the $18-million construction project, which is expected to employ about 70 people.

Sarah Gomez, Executive Director of Midwest Partnership Development Corporation, said there are other economic aspects to the project. She says it will create a ripple effect of 12 other jobs, such as child care workers, stock and clerk file orderers, teachers and assistants. The payroll of which will likely amount to $300,000 per year.

Brian Handlos, General Manager/CEO for the property, said there are already two maintenance people hired while construction is underway. The project, he said, encompasses an area roughly the size of two football fields. He said there’s approximately 200,000 yards of dirt to move on the site, or about 11,000 scraper loads. There’s about 250 tons of rebar coming in, 6,850 feet of storm water pipes, 16,000 yards of cement, and 80,000 square feet of buildings under roof.

When complete, Waspy’s Truck Stop will include a convenience store, the Feed Mill Restaurant, a two-story 33-room hotel tentatively called “Bluegrass Inn and Suites,” (although that may change), a  truck & car wash, and a diesel repair shop.

The facility is owned by Lawrence and Doris Handlos, along with their children, Brian and Beth, who are assisting with project development. Work on the project is expected to be finished in less than 18-months.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports a search warrant executed Tuesday evening at 614 N. 11th Street, in Clarinda, resulted in the recovery of several firearms that were stolen during a Clarinda residential burglary that took place last month.

Officers also seized a small amount of personal use marijuana. Complaints alleging juvenile delinquency for felony theft by exercising control over stolen property and misdemeanor possession of marijuana are pending against a seventeen-year-old white male who resides at the residence.

All reports have been forwarded to Page County Juvenile Court Services and the juvenile division of the Page County Attorney’s Office.

The Council Bluffs Police Department is seeking assistance from the public in locating 29-year old Brandy Kay Grass, of Omaha, and her two daughters, 11-year old Jozalynn Moraine and 10-year old Savannah Deboer, both of whom are from Council Bluffs. Authorities say Grass no longer has legal custody of children and has concealed their whereabouts from a family member with legal custody over the children.

Grass has a valid warrant for her arrest charging her with two counts of Violation of a Custodial Order. Both children are valid missing persons and need to be reunited with their legal guardian. They are believed to be in the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro area and possibly are with a male party driving a white SUV with heavy front end damage.

Anyone having information concerning the possible whereabouts of Brandy Kay Grass and her two daughters is encouraged to contact the Council Bluffs Police Department at (712) 328-4728 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-7867.

Brandy Grass

Jozalynn Moraine

Savannah Deboer

Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County report a Hamburg teen missing since Monday has been located. No other details about where he was found or his condition were released. Authorities had said earlier today (Wednesday), that 17-year old River Jordan Studey, was last seen leaving his residence on Monday.

The Sheriff’s Office thanks the public for its assistance.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest of an Exira woman for OWI on Tuesday. Officers arrested 58-year-old Janet Bertelsen of Exira for OWI.  She was taken to the Cass County Jail and booked in.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Police in Creston have arrested a woman on drug charges. 31-year old Cassondra Arni, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a Clinton County, MO., warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana, and Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Arni was being held in the Ringgold County Jail while awaiting extradition to Missouri.

And, 24-year old Tyler McKay, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday evening in Creston on a Madison County warrant for Failure to Appear in court on an original, Driving While Revoked charge. McKay was released to Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet in a work session this (Wednesday) evening in the High School Media Center. The session begins at 5:30. On their agenda is approval of a recommendation from the administrative team for the hiring of a person to assume the newly created position of Director of Finance, which replaces the title of Business Manager.

That individual will succeed current Business Manager Mary Beth Fast, who had previously announced her resignation effective the end of the current year. Fast has accepted a similar position with the Urbandale School District.

The Atlantic School Board will also act on any resignations to come before them, and discuss 2016-17 Achievement with the District’s building Principals. The meeting will conclude with a closed session to deal with a student disciplinary matter.