The City Council in Atlantic will meet in a regular session Wednesday evening at City Hall. During the 5:30-p.m. meeting, the Council will review the proposed Fiscal Year 2017 Budget and 5-year Capital Improvement Plan. They’ll also act on passing a Resolution setting March 9th as the date for a Public Hearing on a proposal to enter into General Obligation Loan Agreements, and the borrowing of money for the agreements.

When it issued Bonds in 2011, the City reserved the right to call the portion of the 2011 Bonds maturing in years 2019 through 2026 for early redemption on any date on or after June 1st 2018. The Resolution (#4-16) proposes the City enter into a General Obligation (G.O) Loan Agreement (Or, “Essential Purpose Loan Agreement”) and to borrow money not to exceed $4.8-million, for the purpose of paying the costs to that extent, of:

• Constructing street and storm water drainage improvements
• Acquiring vehicles and equipment for the municipal fire and police departments
• And advance refunding the Callable 2011 bond.

The City also proposes entering into a G.O. Loan Agreement and to borrow money in a principal amount not to exceed $200,000, for the purpose of paying the costs of constructing improvements to the municipal library. The maximum rate of interest payable for the Loan Agreement is seven-percent.

In the City’s proposed 5-year Capital Improvement Program, City Administrator John Lund reports the City has $10.276-million in proposed improvements. The resources available between incoming cash and renewing existing debts, without raising taxes, is $8.679-million, which leaves the City with a balance of approximately $1.59-million. Lund says the City is currently at 73.66-percent of its bonding capacity, with only two bonds falling off in the next five-years.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Council Bluffs man on Tuesday.  At 3:00pm Deputies arrested 32-year-old Roger E. Madsen of Council Bluffs on a valid Montgomery County Warrant for Stalking.  Madsen was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $5,000 cash bond.

A bill to increase the interstate speed limit in Iowa to 75 miles an hour has cleared its first hurdle and will be considered in the House Transportation Committee tomorrow (Wednesday). Representative Gary Worthan of Storm Lake is a truck driver who is spearheading the effort to raise the speed limit on Interstates AND hike the limit on two-lane highways to 65. “People are driving those speeds now,” Worthan says.

Representative Rick Olson of Des Moines says when he learned how to drive, the speed limit was 75 on the interstate. “I’m told that cars are safer today,” Olson says. “I don’t have any problem with increasing the speed limit.” Steve Gent, the director of traffic and safety at the Iowa Department of Transportation, says his agency isn’t for or against the proposal, but he’s raising safety concerns about hiking the interstate speed limit.

“Ten years ago the State of Iowa increased rural speed limits from 65 to 70,” Gent says. “…Fatal crashes increased 29.5 percent (and) Total accidents in the four years after increased 25.2 percent.” The average speed on Iowa interstates today is 72 — two miles over the posted speed limit.

A bill to raise the interstate speed limit to 75 miles an hour was introduced in the Iowa Senate last year, but failed to clear committee.

(Radio Iowa)

A Judge in Taylor County today (Tuesday), sentenced a Bedford man to life in prison without the possibility of parole, in connection with a first-degree murder conviction. 26-year old Charles Emanuel Hall was also sentenced to ten years in prison for the charge of child endangerment resulting in serious injury. Hall was convicted last month by a jury in Taylor County district court. The charges stemmed from the investigation of the death of 3 year old Janiya King in May of 2015, in Bedford.
Hall is the father of the child.

Charles Hall

On May 22nd, 2015, authorities said they responded to a 911 call for a child not breathing at 806 Washington St. Deputies found Janiya King, unresponsive. She was pronounced dead by the medical examiner. Court documents indicate Janiya had severe burns on her face and right shoulder.
Hall’s girlfriend, 25-year-old April Clair, of Bedford, was also initially charged with child endangerment causing serious injury, a Class-C forcible Felony. Clair had told authorities that Janiya accidentally knocked over a pot of boiling hot dog water onto herself two weeks prior to her death. Clari told authorities she didn’t think it was necessary to seek medical attention.

Authorities however, said the burns were so bad that they caused permanent disfigurement. Clair also told investigators the girl fell down the stairs multiple times and became weaker, but still did not seek medical attention. The woman reached a plea deal and was found guilty by the court on Sept. 8th of Child Endangerment Causing Bodily Injury, a Class-D Felony, which carries a maximum prison term of 5-years.

Des Moines, Iowa (Feb. 16, 2016) – Elevate Advanced Manufacturing, a non-profit initiative spreading the word about career opportunities in manufacturing, is offering fifteen $500 scholarships to Iowa high school seniors interested in studying a manufacturing-related career at one of Iowa’s 15 Community Colleges. One award will be made per college region.

Mike Ralston, President of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, says “Manufacturing firms supply more than 208,858 jobs to Iowans. These well-paying careers require education and training beyond high school, but don’t require the often burdensome cost of a bachelor’s degree. Recent studies have shown that two-year degree and technical certificate holders, especially in high-demand manufacturing occupations, can earn salaries that surpass those of four-year college graduates.”

Examples of training programs to which the scholarship can apply include Welding, Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machining, Industrial Automation, Industrial Maintenance, Robotics, Tool and Die and Transportation and Logistics.

Interested candidates should apply by completing the application found at www.elevateiowa.com (click on “About”). Applications are due April 1st, 2016. For more information about manufacturing careers, visit www.elevateiowa.com.

Elevate Iowa is a statewide, integrated marketing campaign to promote careers and educational pathways in advanced manufacturing. The initiative is directed by a coalition of all 15 Iowa Community Colleges represented by the Iowa-Advanced Manufacturing (I-AM) Consortium, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, the Iowa Department of Workforce Development, the Iowa Department of Education, the private manufacturing sector and the State of Iowa.

The initiative is funded in part by the I-AM Consortium, which is 100% financed through a grant from the Department of Labor’s Employment & Training Administration. Elevate Iowa offers resources to the public specifically targeting those eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for workers, unemployed/underemployed Iowans, U.S. veterans, along with K-12 students and their families.

(Press Release)

A southern Iowa man is accused of sexually assaulting an infant. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, deputies took a report about a two-month-old child being sexually assaulted on February 4th. The girl was taken to a local hospital by the mother and later transported to Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines.

Monroe County Sheriff Daniel Johnson said the girl is recovering. Deputies have arrested 30-year-old Justin Stickrod on charges of felony child endangerment and sexual abuse. Stickrod was being held in the Monroe County Jail on a $68,000 bond. According to Sheriff Johnson, Stickrod has only a minor arrest record and doesn’t have a prior history of sexual abuse arrests.

Justin Stickrod

Albia Police are assisting with the investigation.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Department reports one person was arrested on a drug charge, Monday. 29-year old Lovelle Joseph Ward, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 11:50-p.m. near Highway 34 and 360th Street, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $300.

And, the Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest last Friday, of 49-year old Sherry Harvey, from Glenwood. Harvey was taken into custody on a Mills County warrant for Theft in the 5th degree. She was also arrested that same day for possession of drug paraphernalia. Authorities said also, 23-year old Fred Oburur, of Omaha, was arrested Sunday, for OWI 3rd Offense.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released more information on an Interstate 80 traffic stop that resulted in an arrest and 14-pounds of marijuana being seized.

Kyle Krueger (Cass Co. S/O) booking photo

According to the report, on Sunday, Feb. 14th, Deputy Tyler Shiels stopped a vehicle driven by 23-year old Kyle James Kruger, of Ottawa, at the 56 mile marker on I-80 eastbound.

Tyler Shiels w/his K9 partner and the drugs seized. (photo courtesy the Cass Co. S/0)

During the stop approximately 14 pounds of marijuana was found inside the front fender well of the vehicle. Krueger was arrested on felony charges that include a Controlled Substance Violation and Drug Tax Stamp Violation. He was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was released Monday on $5,000 bond.

Two other arrests took place Sunday, in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Office says 18-year old Seth Alan Nelson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of Eluding. Nelson was also cited for Failure to Maintain Reasonable Speed, Reckless Driving, and he received three citations for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $2,000 bond.

And, 25-year old Timothy Alan Brown, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday on a charge of Driving While Suspended. Brown was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was also charged by the Atlantic Police Department with three Aggravated Misdemeanors. Brown remains held at the Cass County Jail on $6,300 bond.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop in Kimballton Monday night resulted in an arrest. 21-year old Dylan Michael Jager, of Elk Horn, faces charges that include OWI, Careless Driving, and Speeding. Jager was taken into custody at around 9-p.m. Monday and brought to the Audubon County Jail. He was later released after appearing before a magistrate. A preliminary hearing in Jager’s case was set for March 7th.

The Sac County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man wanted in connection with an allegedly intentional hit-and-run incident. Jeremy Allen Werneburg is wanted in Sac County for attempted murder. The charge steams from an incident on February 14, 2016 where Werneburg is alleged to have hit a Glidden man on purpose with his car.

Jeremy Werneburg

Werneburg has connections in Humbolt, Carroll and the Ida Grove area. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Werneburg is asked to call 911 or the Sac County Sheriff’s Office at 712-662-7127. Werneburg should NOT be approched by the public.