The Cass County Board of Supervisors has passed a resolution for the enforcement of posted weight limits on county bridges. Cass County Engineer Charles Bechtold, today (Friday), said the move will make the resolution an annual occurrence. Bechtold said the signs have always been posted, but there was never a resolution adopted. He said enforcement however, has been an issue. He cited an incident in Audubon County where an overloaded grain cart caused a bridge collapse in the fall of 2008. The accident prompted a legal issue where the weight limit was posted, but no resolution was passed that would have enforced the limit through stiff penalties.)

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors passed a resolution to enter into a 28-E agreement with 58 other counties in Iowa, known as the Iowa Precinct Atlas Consortium. Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman explained the computer software program and hardware will help with voter identity confirmation through the use of a scanner for ID’s or voter registration cards. The County will pay a fee of $1,500 per year to remain in the consortium, which was started in 2008.

Sunderman said there are only two such systems in existence. The State uses a separate system, but it never really caught on like the Atlas system has. The Supervisors today (Friday), also heard reports from County Conservation Director Micah Lee, who said they’ve been cleaning up a lot of storm damage at parks in the county, as far as downed tree limbs are concerned. They’re also continuing with general maintenance and repairs.

And, Cass County Veterans Affairs Director Mitch Holmes provided the Board with a Quarterly and Annual Report. In his annual report, Holmes said his office assisted 606 veterans and their families, with a total of 4,586 contacts having been made. A total of 429 federal VA documents were processed during that time, as well.

Holmes said recent statistics shows Cass County veterans and their families received a little more than $7.825-million dollars in federal VA Benefits during FY 2016, which is an increase of just under $100,000 from last year. That includes $3.55-million for compensation and pensions, $3.7-million for medical expenditures, and $413,000 for education and vocational rehab.

Holmes said if federal VA assistance was not available, many of the County’s veterans and their families would have to seek assistance from state and County sources, such as the general assistance fund, which would reduce the amount of assistance available to non-veteran residents.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa woman has pleaded guilty to duping dozens of people into buying nonexistent tickets to the Super Bowl and other big events. Federal court records say Ranae Van Roekel, of Boyden, entered her pleas Thursday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City. Her charges: mail and income tax fraud.

Prosecutors say Van Roekel was a self-employed ticket broker who ran the business Get ’em Now Tickets from January 2008 to June 2012. Victims say she falsely claimed to have personal relationships and ties to events that gave her an inside track for deeply discounted tickets, hotel rooms and VIP passes.

Her sentencing date hasn’t been set. Prosecutors say she faces up to 20 years on the mail fraud conviction and up to eight years on the tax conviction.

Officials with the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO), report SWIPCO is seeking two more applicants for a housing rehabilitation program in the City of Elk Horn. Up to $24,999 in home repairs per home, with additional money for lead abatement, is available for the five year forgivable loan.

Applicants must live in the target area, be income qualified, be the homeowner of record, and live in the residence. SWIPCO staff is available to help all homeowners through the application, income qualification, and rehabilitation process.

Community Development Director Amber Carcel says “This program allows us (SWIPCO) to do so much for homeowners. With the large amount of funds available per home we can help repair a leaking roof, replace windows, put on new siding, or whatever the most pressing need is for that particular home.”

The funds are made possible by a Community Development Block Grant the City of Elk Horn received from the Iowa Economic Development Authority in 2015. Elk Horn was awarded $304,000 for the repair of eight homes. Six homes have been approved and are in the rehabilitation process.

Interested applicants should contact SWIPCO at 712-243-4196 for more information.

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

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COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – An Avoca woman has been accused of injuring a little boy. The Daily Nonpareil reports 23-year-old Tanisha Pallaya has been charged with felony child endangerment causing injury. Her attorney, Bill McGinn, said Friday that Pallaya would be pleading not guilty.

A court record says the child, who was born in 2012, was taken to an Omaha hospital in May. Doctors say the child’s bruises and abrasions on his back, abdomen, head, arms and elsewhere on his body appeared to have been caused by blunt force and didn’t appear To have been the results of an accident or accidents. Pallaya’s next court date is set for Aug. 5th.

DAYTON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say one of the founders of the Dayton Rodeo has died during a fire at his Dayton home. The Webster County medical examiner pronounced 98-year-old Allen Porter dead at the scene Thursday. Dr. Dan Cole told The Messenger that Porter’s body was found in a hallway. An autopsy has been ordered.  Fire officials say Porter’s caretaker escaped through a window. The fire cause is being investigated.

A Dayton Wranglers Saddle Club account of the rodeo’s history says Porter helped started the event in 1937 with Duane Vegors and Vern Danielson. They began with rope trucks in the city park. Porter will be honored during an empty saddle ceremony at the rodeo. It’s scheduled for Sept. 5 at 1:30 p.m.

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

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MARION, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say the chemical that rained down on a northeast Marion neighborhood was a fungicide. Several people called 911 Tuesday night after noticing a white substance on vehicles and houses. The Marion Fire Department said in a news release Thursday that tests show the substance has components commonly found in a field treatment used by farmers.

Iowa public health officials say that after 12 hours, lawns or vegetation exposed to the fungicide weren’t expected to pose health risks to people. Officials say exposed hard surfaces should be cleaned with soapy water, and all clothes and bare skin that were covered by the substance should be washed. The incident is still being investigated.

Red Oak Police report three arrests took place, Thursday. At around 11:35-p.m., officers with the Red Oak P-D arrested 52-year old Robert Wade Abraham, of Red Oak, for Interference with Official Acts. Abraham was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

And, at around 3:45-p.m., Red Oak Police arrested 20-year old Ridge Allen Casteel, of Creston, and 20-year old Ashley Kate Lewis, of Red Oak. Casteel was charged with Assault and Trespass, while Lewis faces a Domestic Abuse Assault, charge. Both were transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where Casteel was being held on $300 bond, and Lewis was being held without bond until appearing before a magistrate.

Dozens of hot air balloons will be flying over south-central Iowa over the next 9 days and nights. Indianola has hosted the National Balloon Classic, billed as “one of the largest and longest hot air balloon events in the Midwest,” for over 40 years. Jim Fromm, who serves on the National Balloon Classic board, says spectators will watch nearly 100 balloons decorate the sky.

“We had 86 registered pilots, so around 90 or so balloons will be here,” Fromm said. This year’s event launches tonight (Friday) and runs through August 6. There are evening flights combined with live music each night beginning at 6 p.m. The morning launches are scheduled each day at 6:30 a.m., but balloons will also fill the sky even earlier in the morning on both Saturdays and next Wednesday morning.

“There’s ‘Dawn Patrol,’ which is an unusual happening with balloons. Typically, we don’t fly with any aircraft lights on, but for (dawn patrol) we do hang lights on…and launch before sunrise, in the dark,” Fromm said. “We launch and fly for an hour or two, until the sun comes up. Everytime we hit the burner, the whole balloon lights up and that is very impressive.”

Similarly, “Nite Glow” events are scheduled after sunset this Sunday, next Wednesday (8/3), and next Friday (8/5). Learn more at: nationalballoonclassic.com.

(Radio Iowa)