The Cass County Board of Supervisors this week approved contracts with the six public libraries that provide services to the County, including Anita, Atlantic, Cumberland, Griswold, Lewis and Massena. Board Secretary/County Auditor Dale Sunderman explained the increase, as approved, would give those libraries $600 more each in the coming fiscal year, than in the past year. He said Anita will receive $12,500, Atlantic $14,600, Cumberland $10,300, Griswold $12,000, Lewis $10,300 and Massena $10,500.

In other business, Cass County Engineer Charles Marker updated the Board on various bridge projects that were in the State bid-letting process. He said they had received bids for Bridge #347, located near the Cass-Audubon County line – or, the “Tree in the Road,” and Bridge #20 located near south County Roads K and N-28. Marker did not disclose the amount of those bids though, because they official paperwork has not yet been received. That being the case, he could not recommend the Board accept or reject either bid.

Marker said they had received only one bid on Bridge #20. There were two bidders on the other project, but those bids have to be compared to the Engineers’ estimates to make sure they meet the financial constraints. He said also, they have taken four bids on two new rock hauling/snow removal trucks, but he’s not prepared a recommendation at this time, because of the options that are being considered, as far as chassis and box specifications.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors spent over an hour today (Friday) discussing an amendment to a policy pertaining to the disposition of indigent persons’ remains. The Board tabled action on amending a Resolution on the topic and on how much the County should pay, until the wording is changed in the draft resolution presented before the Board. The current Draft version is entitled “Resolution to adopt Indigent Disposition (Cremation) Policy.” There are other clauses included in the resolution the Board wanted removed or reworded, especially with regard to cremations.

In attendance at the meeting were the owners and/or directors of the Hockenberry and Roland Funeral Homes, in Atlantic, along with Cass County Veterans Affairs Director Mitch Holmes, Cass County General Relief/Mental Health Coordinator Debbie Schuler, and Cass County Attorney Dave Wiederstein.

At issue, was whether the Supervisors have the authority to determine whether the remains of an indigent person should be cremated or buried? Dave Wiederstein said the policy should offer a choice for the survivors of the deceased, if there are any. He said his only concern is that if there is a religious objection to being cremated, the policy should offer the option of burial.

The County currently has the option of providing assistance for disposition of deceased, indigent persons remains, but it is NOT required to do so. Wiederstein said if the County offers cremations it should also offer burial. Currently, the County pays funeral homes a maximum flat rate of $2,000 for burials and $1,500 for cremations, plus the Medical Examiner’s fee, as well as “Reasonable and customary cemetery expenses not to exceed $500, or for burial of cremains $200.”

Mitch Holmes and Deb Schuler both acknowledged there has been a marked increase in the number of indigent burials over the past few years. The funeral directors said several younger persons who’ve passed away did not have life insurance, that would have covered at least some of the costs of disposition.

The County spent around $5,842 in 2013 from General Assistance for indigent burials. In 2014 that figure increased to $13,500, and last year it was $21,750. Those amounts do not include the cost of Veterans’ dispositions. Mitch Holmes said his budget is for three dispositions per year. The Board will take up the matter again during their meeting next week.

The U-S-D-A is revising its response to avian influenza outbreaks and it will use a flat reimbursement rate for all depopulation and virus elimination efforts. Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Poultry Association, says they’re good moves. “We’re happy the USDA is continuing to make modifications to its response,” Olson says. “Our members are examining the proposed rules on reimbursement rates and we hope to know more about their reaction in the coming weeks.”

The biggest part of the revision, he says, is the flat reimbursement rate when an entire flock has to be euthanized. “What we’ve learned during 2015 was the time and energy it takes to clean and disinfect these barns was beyond what the USDA had anticipated,” Olson says. “USDA is making an effort to streamline that process.” Olson says there are a variety of depopulation methods producers can use and ventilation shutdown has proven effective.

He says despite activist concerns, it’s a humane method in that it accomplishes effective depopulation as quickly as possible, while ensuring any remaining birds remain healthy by being protected from the flu. Olson says, “The key takeaway is that within 24 hours, these barns need to be depopulated to stem the spread of further disease to prohibit otherwise healthy birds from getting sick.” Under the revision, turkeys will be reimbursed at a rate of $3.55 per bird, layers at $6.45 per bird and broilers at $1.15 per bird.

(Radio Iowa)

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

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The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Pheasants Forever, are hosting a series of workshops early next month, for landowners who would like to learn more about the importance of wildlife habitat in the agricultural landscape of Iowa. Jason Andersen, with Pheasants Forever, says the workshops, one each, will be held in Audubon, Cass and Shelby Counties.

He says one workshop will take place Tue., Feb. 2nd from 1-until 3-pm at the Audubon County Conservation Club, 3 miles N. of Exira off Highway 71. Another will be held Wed., Feb. 3rd from 11:30-am until 1-p.m. in the meeting room at the Pizza Ranch, in Atlantic. The final workshop is from 11:30-a.m. until 1-p.m. Thu., Feb. 4th in the meeting room at the Pizza Ranch, in Harlan.

Coffee and cookies will be available at the Exira site. Lunch will be available at the two Pizza Ranch sites, but that will be at your own cost. Andersen says the workshops are free and open to the public. He says with Iowa’s rural landscape becoming dominated by farm ground, over the years, that has been devastating to wildlife habit. The workshops will focus on how to restore wildlife habitats so they can co-exist with agriculture.

One of the most well-known and successful programs at producing habitat is the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a long-term, voluntary program that helps crop producers retire environmentally sensitive land into conservation cover that controls soil erosion and improves air and water quality. CRP also provides wildlife habitat. The current, general CRP sign-up runs through Feb. 26th.

The sessions, according to Andersen, will focus more on native grasslands [native grasses and wildflowers], because that what the landscape looked like before settlers came to the area. Andersen says there are other programs and sources, beside CRP, that will help you learn about and establish wildlife habitats.

For more information about the workshops being offered in Audubon, Cass and Shelby Counties, or to reserve your seat at one of those workshops, call Jason Andersen at (712)-563-4248, or e-mail jandersen@pheasantsforever.org.

The area’s top news at 7:07-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Police in Council Bluffs say two women and a man were arrested early this (Friday) morning, following an incident that took place at the Country Inn and Suites in Council Bluffs. An investigation into a robbery and kidnapping resulted in the arrest of 41-year old Kimberly Trotter, 25-year old Jennifer Trotter, and 23-year old Tyrell Jones, all of Council Bluffs. All three face Felony charges of Robbery in the 1st degree and Kidnapping in the 2nd degree. Jennifer Trotter was also arrested on an outstanding felony warrant for probation violation from a previous conviction of Theft in the 3rd degree.

Tyrell Jones

Jennifer Trotter

Kimberly Trotter

Their arrests occurred after officers were called to the motel at around 12:40-a.m. with regard to a robbery. The victim, 21-year old Aysia L. Whitmore, of Bellevue, NE., told police that as she was getting off an elevator at around 11:45-p.m. Thursday and walking to her motel room, she was confronted in the hallway by Kimberly Trotter. Trotter allegedly pushed Whitmore up against the wall and produced a handgun. She then allegedly went through Whitmore’s pockets and retrieved a key to the woman’s motel room.

As the women were walking down the hallway, Whitmore noticed Jennifer Trotter and Jones waiting by her motel room door. The three suspects led Whitmore into her room and then into the bathroom, where she was stripped of her clothing and forced to lay down in the bathtub. Kimberly Trotter is then alleged to have struck Whitmore several times in the face with the gun. Jones then came back into the bathroom and stuck a handgun in Whitmore’s face and allegedly threatened to kill her if she moved.

When Jones walked out of the bathroom, Whitmore attempted to take cover under the sink counter. Jennifer Trotter then came into the bathroom and allegedly began assaulting Whitmore by kicking her. Whitmore suffered visible facial injuries but later declined medical treatment.

All three suspects left the room after taking Whitmore’s cell phone and numerous personal belongings. Whitmore was able to provide police with a description of the suspect’s vehicle. Officers located the 2000 Chevy Tahoe with the suspects inside, at 1022 5th Avenue. They were brought to the Council Bluffs Criminal Investigation Division, interviewed by detectives and booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail. No additional arrests are expected in connection with the case.

The Mills County Attorney’s Office has reached a plea agreement in the case of the former City Clerk for Pacific Junction who had plead not guilty to several charges associated with City finances. The Omaha World-Herald reports sentencing for 43-year old Kari Williams was set for Feb. 8th. Details of her plea agreement were not immediately released.

Williams was charged with first-degree theft, felonious misconduct in office, tampering with records and failing to publish city expenditures.The theft and misconduct charges are felonies. The charges of tampering and failure to publish expenditures are misdemeanors.

PELLA, Iowa – After a seven-month long investigation, authorities have charged a day care provider with Involuntary Manslaughter in connection with the death of a 17-month old girl, in June 2015. 32-year old Valerie Wackerly, of Pella, plead guilty to the charge Thursday, and faces up to five-years in prison and fines amounting to as much as $7,500. The child in her care died two-days after she was improperly placed in a car seat and allowed to nap in a darkened room, unsupervised. The cause of death was determined to be mechanical/positional asphyxia.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad and House Republican leaders have different views this session on the impact of a tax bill that would cut available state revenue by more than $95 million. The House overwhelmingly voted 82-14 Thursday for legislation that would make retroactive tax changes to better mirror federal guidelines. The non-partisan Legislative Services Agency projects the bill would reduce available state revenue by more than $95 million. Branstad didn’t support the measure in his budget recommendations.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hundreds of people calling for a higher minimum wage marched several blocks through downtown Des Moines and gathered near the venue of a Republican presidential debate. At least 500 people joined Thursday night at a downtown square and then walked to an area to rally about a block from the Iowa Events Center, the site of the GOP debate. The march and rally were the latest actions taken by a group that earlier in the day included workers at fast food restaurants who walked off their jobs to demand $15-an-hour wages.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With just days to go until the Iowa caucuses, the state’s longtime Republican governor says that the federal government has failed to assure the American people that they are safe. Governor Terry Branstad, who is likely serving out his last term in office, is declining to publicly endorse anyone in this year’s crowded Republican field, but he applauds those who have made national security a central theme in their campaign platforms — anyone, that is, except Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Iowans are gearing up for the country’s leadoff vote on February 1st.

The Atlantic Police Department is reporting three recent arrests. On Wednesday, 28-year old Aaron Macias, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear in court on an original Controlled Substance violation charge. On Jan. 22nd, 21-year old Elizabeth Simmons, of Boone, was arrested on a warrant out of Boone County, for Failure to Appear. And,  28-year old Tanya Duranceau, of Atlantic, was arrested January 20th for Child Endangerment. Duranceau posted a $2,000 bond and has an arraignment hearing on Feb. 8th. Trial was set for March 29th.