The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests took place over the past week. Last Friday afternoon, 36-year old Adam Lee Thompson, of Altoona, was arrested by Stuart Police, for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and Possession of Burglary Tools. His arrest stems from an incident at a motel in Stuart, where a man was reported to have been trespassing. The hotel manager said also, the previous night, a storage room had been burglarized. He gave a description of the suspect to police. That same day, hotel staff cleaning rooms noticed one of the rooms was occupied, and not supposed to be. A man in the room matching the description of the burglary suspect, identified himself as Adam Thompson, and refused to leave. Later, hotel staff saw Thompson attempting to leave.

When questioned, he admitted he had not paid for the room, that he was homeless, and trying to stay out of the rain. After giving consent for the officer to search Thompson’s backpack, a small blue pry bar and two metal door locks were found. The locks matched the shape, size and packaging as locks stored in the burglarized storage room. Thompson admitted to breaking into the storage room the night before. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

On Oct. 10th, 58-year old Dennis Jay Wentland, of Altoona, was picked up by Adair County Deputies at the Polk County Jail, and transported to Greenfield, where he was held on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Wentland was released the following day for time served. On Oct. 7th, Adair Police arrested 20-year old Drew Darin Steckelberg, of Adair. He was taken into custody on an Adair County warrant for a Controlled Substance Violation. Steckelberg was being held on a $25,000 cash or surety bond.

Also arrested Oct. 7th, was 25-year old Jagwinder Singh, of Clovis, CA. He was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol, following a traffic stop on I-80 in Adair County. Singh was arrested for Motor Carrier Safety Rules Violation(s) and Operating without the Required Authority. His bond was set at slightly more than $161.

A man from West Monroe, Louisiana was injured early Monday morning in rural Union County, when the 2003 Cadillac CTS he was driving, struck a cow on County Road P-27 (known as the “High and Dry Road”). The Union County Sheriff’s Office says 27-year old Donovan Wayne Bedingfield was transported by private vehicle to the Greater Regional Medical Center, for treatment of suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries. The accident, which took place at around 1:12-a.m., Monday, resulted in $5,000 damage to the car, and the death of a cow owned by Walt Glynn, of Creston. The animal was valued at $2,000.

Bedingfield was cited for Failure to Provide Proof of Insurance – Accident related, and for having No Valid Driver’s License.

Three people were arrested on warrants Monday, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Department say 34-year old Brandon Heath Smith, of Glenwood, was arrested at around 11:35-p.m. on a warrant for two counts of Probation Violation. His bond was set at $40,000. 39-year old Daniel Lee Walling, and 26-year old Shelli Leigh Wilson, both of Glenwood, were also arrested on Probation Violation warrants. Walling was taken into custody at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. His bond was set at $5,000. Bond for Wilson was set at $2,500.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says an Afton man reported Monday, that sometime between last Friday and this past Monday, someone had stolen 19 front tractor weights off a tractor located southwest of Lorimor. Also taken was a hydraulic cylinder from the rear of the tractor. The items were valued at $2,775. Another Afton man reported that sometime between Sunday and Monday, someone had stolen 16 tractor weights off a tractor located East of Lorimor. About 85 gallons of diesel fuel was also taken. The loss was estimated at $2,694.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), passed a motion to proceed with an economic development proposal that could bring upwards of 30 jobs paying $18-to 22-dollars per hour. Supervisor’s Board Chair Steve Baier said he met with Allen Williams, Advanced Manufacturing, Foreign Direct Investment Coordinator with the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), who explained that the as yet, unnamed East Coast Light Industrial manufacturer, is looking to move into a rural area similar to that found near the Atlantic Industrial Park, off Glacier/Echo Road.

Other details of IEDA project AW2247 include the need for:

• At least a 4 acre site;
• A 40,000 sq ft facility, with a peak height minimum 30 feet, and sidewall minimum 26- feet;
• Paved parking
• 480 volt, 3 phase electricity, 5000 amp transformer
• 1,000 gallons of water/ day primarily for cooling as well as water and sanitary sewer for staff needs.

The company, as mentioned, would like to locate in a rural county with a population center of about 7,000. They also want to be within 10 miles of four lane highway system, within 60 miles of major airport, and a local airport that could have a private jet. Rail access would be also be a plus. Baier said unlike other prospective employers, the company is NOT SEEKING TIF (Tax Increment Financing) or standard financial incentives, but they do expect some commitment from the Cass County or agencies to make the project happen.

He said it’s not known if the company is looking at other sites in Iowa. Supervisor Mark O’Brien said “I don’t think so, but I’d have to assume so.” The reason there are so few other details available, is because the County is working with IEDA, and not the prospective employer. The County will submit its proposal on Wednesday, stating its ability to meet the requirements of the project to Allen Williams at IEDA. Baier said that gets us into the “pool” of prospective communities and the possibility of meeting and discussing the details of the project with company executives. He said the project would fit in nicely with the RISE (Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy) requirement. Supervisor John Hartkopf said it means a potential increase in our tax base, if the project comes to fruition.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 43-year old Michael Lee Butcher, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Monday afternoon at the Pott. County Courthouse. Butcher was arrested on a valid State of Iowa warrant for Probation Violation. He was turned over to Pott. County Corrections staff, at the jail. 19-year old Jeremy Zuehlke, of Underwood, turned himself-in to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office, Monday afternoon. Zuehlke was wanted on a warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. He was booked into the jail and held on a $300 bond. And, 33-year old Kristine Nicole Freeman was transported from the Pottawattamie County Courthouse to the Pott. County Jail, Monday. Freeman was wanted on a warrant for Burglary in the 3rd Degree-Motor vehicle/1st offense.

(A-P) — A stretch of Interstate 680 in western Iowa will be renamed Interstate 880 to end confusion that officials say often occurs during flooding. There are two stretches of I-680: a 3-mile portion that runs east to Interstate 29 from Mormon Bridge connecting Iowa to Nebraska on the north end of Omaha. That low-lying portion has been closed by Missouri River flooding several times this year and before.

The other stretch of I-680 is 10 miles north. It runs east for 16 miles to connect with Interstate 80. It will be renamed Interstate 880. Iowa Transportation Department spokesman Scott Suhr says the confusion arises when people read or hear that I-680 has been closed by flooding. They assume both sections are closed when actually only the low-lying, 3-mile stretch is affected.
Roadway signage will be changing in coming weeks, as will changes to online navigation and mapping systems.