A report of a stolen vehicle in Red Oak Tuesday afternoon resulted in a pursuit and arrest. According to Red Oak Police, 25-year old Eric Vannausdle, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 3:15-p.m., and charged with felony eluding and Theft in the 2nd Degree. His bond was set at $5,000.

His arrest followed a report by Tracy Vannausdle, of Red Oak, indicating her 1991 Jeep Wrangler had been stolen. A Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy saw the SUV operated by Eric Vannausdle, as it entered the City of Stanton, from the north. The deputy attempted to stop the Jeep, which then continued south through Stanton on O Avenue, and into Page County, where the vehicle was cornered by law enforcement in the area of O Avenue and 190th Street.

Montgomery County deputies were assisted by deputies with the Page County Sheriff’s Office, Red Oak Police, and the Iowa State Patrol.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday evening, is expected to continue with discussion pertaining to a special election for a voted Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) and PPEL Income Surtax. The talks are part of the Board’s regular monthly meeting that begins at 5:30-p.m in the Atlantic High School Media Center.

A Resolution of Election has been prepared calling for a vote on the combination PPEL and PPEL Income Surtax  which, if approved on Sept. 13th, would cause the regular, 1o-year PPEL to begin December 31st for each calendar year, commencing with the 2017 calendar year, and the PPEL Income Surtax to begin July 1st, 2017.

One Resolution calls for the regular PPEL Public Measure to be levied at a rate of 85-cents per thousand dollars assessed valuation, beginning July 1, 2017. A second Public Measure, which combines the PPEL and PPEL Income surtax, says the percentage of Income Surtax will not exceed 20-percent (to be determined by the Board each year), with the total taxation not to exceed $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed property value in any one tax year. If the measure fails, it would still not “Terminate or restrict authority previously granted by the voters to levy a special tax for any one or more of the purposes permitted by Iowa law.”  A similar Measure placed before the voters last fall, failed. School Board members hope to have the matter explained in more detail at future, public meetings.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act on recommendations by Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein, for a 3% salary increase beginning with the 2016-17 School Year, for School District Administrators and Supervisors, and a 3% salary increase for Central Office clerical staff. In his request, Amstein says the cost of the salary increase for Administrators and Supervisors amounts to $29,108, which includes IPERS and FICA. He notes that during the 2015-16 school year, the Administrators and Supervisors did not receive a raise, but were given five additional vacation leave days that they were allowed to exchange for cash at the end of the school year. The same offer does not apply to the coming school year, but Amstein requests those individuals be able to retain the option to be paid for up to 5 days unused vacation leave at the end of the 2016-17 school year.

With regard to the Central Office clerical staff, Amstein says the cost of their salary increase would amount to $9,377, which again, includes IPERS and FICA. It affects four clerical positions, two tech support and one grounds maintenance positions. The 3% increase is less than the total package agreement negotiated with the non-certified employees association for the 2016-17 year.

And finally, the Atlantic School Board, Wednesday, will act on approving Contracts or Letters of Assignment for: Rebecca Vandevanter – Schuler Elem. Secretary; Ryan Henderson – High School P.E./Weight Training Teacher; Kelly Northwick – Washington Elem. Special Ed. Teacher, and Lenzi Jones – 3rd Grade Teacher.

The Harlan Police Department reports a man from Harlan was arrested last Friday on a Cass County warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. 35-year old Daniel Pash plead guilty Tuesday (6/7) and was sentenced to one-day in jail and ordered to make restitution.

Also last Friday, a complaint was filed with the Shelby County Clerk of Court, charging 23-year old Elmer Marroquin Chavez, of Omaha, with violation of a no contact order.

On Saturday, 41-year old Jeremano Mock, of Harlan, was arrested when officers were called to investigate a possibly intoxicated male in the 2000 block of 23rd Street. Mock was given a ride to his residence at 12th and Willow Streets. Approximately 3 hours later officers were called to a possible intoxicated male in the 1400 block of Pine Street. At that time, Mock was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with intoxication in public.

That same day, 18-year old Brenden Ballantyne, of Harlan, was taken into custody on an active Shelby County warrant for harassment. Ballantyne was transported to the Shelby County Jail on the harassment warrant. He was also charged with possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, possession of contraband and prohibited acts penalties.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency reports the Fir Road Bridge over Mosquito Creek is closed for construction, from now through the end of October. The bridge is located just north of the intersection of Fir Road and Highway 191, between Washington Township Sections 11 and 12. Emergency responders and residents in the area should plan to take alternate routes.

In addition, 200th Street, in Shelby County, is closed for work for about a week, weather permitting. The affected section is between 1524 and 1537 200th Street. Between Fairview Township sections 36 and 2534. And as with Fir Road, emergency responders and residents should plan to take alternate routes while the construction project is underway.

If you have any questions, contact the Shelby County Engineer at 712-755-5954.

Officials with the Audubon County Emergency Management Agency, Tuesday (Today), report Littlefield Drive from the Audubon/Cass County line north to 300th Street, is now closed to through traffic, for the duration of a road resurfacing project. The 6.5-mile stretch of road was closed May 16th, except for local residents and emergency vehicles, but the contractor, Monday, informed authorities that closing the road is in the best interest of safety, until the project is completed.

If you have any questions, contact the Audubon County Engineer’s Office at 712-563-4286.

A member of the Shenandoah High School Cross Country team died after being struck by a car Tuesday morning, as she ran during practice. The Iowa State Patrol says 14-year old Kinsee Rooker, of Shenandoah, who would have been a freshman this fall, died at the scene of accident that took place at around 7:15-a.m.

According to reports, Rooker was running southbound on Avenue A at the intersection of Highway 2 and crossing the road, when she was hit by an eastbound 2002 Mercury Sable, driven by 27-year old Brent McKinnon, of Clarinda. No charges have been filed.

A Memorial Fund for the family of Kinsee Rooker has been established. Donations can be dropped off at the Bank Iowa locations in Red Oak and Shenandoah.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Three groups say a proclamation signed by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad that encourages people to participate in a statewide Bible-reading marathon is illegal. The Des Moines Register reports two of the groups, the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, say they are considering litigation. They claim the proclamation violates the U.S. Constitution by promoting Christianity.

The Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers also opposed the governor’s action. The prayer events are organized by Christian-based groups and are planned at courthouses in all 99 counties in Iowa from June 30 until July 3. Branstad signed the proclamation in April, calling it a historic event.

Governor Terry Branstad is in California today (Tuesday), at the BIO International Convention. He’s touting a new state tax credit for companies that develop new uses for the byproducts left behind when ethanol and biodiesel are made. “I went to Montreal last year to tell them that we were proposing it. It passed the House,” Branstad says. “This year it passed both the House and the Senate. It’s now law, or I guess January 1st it takes effect, but we’ve already got a number of companies that are looking at it.”

Starches, sugars and oils are the left-overs from “biofuel” production. Iowa’s new “biochemical tax credit” will provide up to 10-million dollars a year to companies that develop new products from those left-overs. “I just think this is the next generation of quality jobs that are going to be able to be created because we have this biochemical tax credit,” Branstad says. “I want the world to know it and this is a great forum to be able to talk about that.”

More than 15-thousand executives from companies in the world’s biotech and pharmaceutical industries are gathered in San Francisco for the week-long “BIO” convention Branstad’s attending. As Branstad meets with executives considering Iowa because of his new biochemical tax credit, he will pitch the idea of setting up operations on or near existing biofuels plants.

“You know, already you’ve got the complex at Eddyville where they’re making all kinds of products,” Branstad says. Experts say about 30 chemicals left over from biofuel production hold the greatest potential for development.Branstad will be in California ’til Thursday. Branstad will visit the San Francisco headquarters of McKesson while he’s there. Last year, McKesson picked Clear Lake as the site for a new warehouse in its pharmaceutical distribution network. Branstad also plans to make “prospecting” calls on California-based businesses that are considering expansion plans in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to meet Wednesday in their Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse. During their regular weekly session, which begins at 8:30-a.m., the Board will act on approving a Resolution calling for changes in expense appropriations (budgetary spending authority) in the General Fund, by:

Decreasing expense appropriation for non-departmental uses, and increase expense appropriation for the juvenile probation/detention department, and increasing the maximum allowable operating transfers: from the Amaizing Energy TIF Fund, to the Amaizing Energy Debt Service Fund, and from the Local Option Tax Fund to Secondary Roads Fund, as well as changing the function classification for County provided mental health and disability services.

The Supervisors will also act on approving fireworks display permits, and on the appointment of a Cass County Veterans Affairs Commissioner to a three-year term beginning July 1st, 2016 and running through June 30th, 2019.

Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports a traffic stop Monday night resulted in the arrest of a man on drug and other charges. 21-year old Jesse James Svoboda, of Audubon, was arrested at around 8:30-p.m. near 200th Street and Kingbird Avenue. Svoboda faces charges that include Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving While Suspended. He was also cited for having no insurance, and speeding. Svoboda has posted a cash bond, and was released from custody.

(9-a.m. News)