Three people were arrested recently in Audubon County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 26-year old Joseph Dean White, of Atlantic, was arrested Dec. 16th following an investigation into an incident which occurred Dec. 12th, in Exira. White was charged with Violation of a No Contact Order. He was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later released after appearing before a magistrate.

Also arrested Dec. 16th, was 28-year old Nikki Lorene Elizabeth Johnson, of Hamlin. She was charged with Violation of a No Contact Order following an investigation into an incident that took place Dec. 9th, in Hamlin. Johnson was also released from custody after appearing before a magistrate. The incident remains under investigation.

And, on Sunday (Dec. 20th), deputies in Audubon County arrested 37-year old Sheila Elizabeth Wurr, of Glidden, for OWI/1st offense. Her arrest followed a traffic stop at around 12:15-a.m. on Highway 71 and Broadway Street, in Audubon. Wurr posted bond and was released from the Audubon County Jail, with orders to appear in court on Dec. 28th.

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate today (Monday), announced that his office is now accepting applications for people interested in participating in the Safe at Home program. Safe at Home is an address confidentiality program for survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, trafficking and stalking.

Pate says “This program is about helping victims of violence become survivors. My office has worked diligently to institute the Safe at Home program in Iowa and we are prepared for the full launch on January 1. I urge anyone who is looking for a way out of an abusive situation, so that they can move forward with their lives, to consider the Safe at Home program.”

Secretary Pate estimates around 150 applicants will sign up for the Safe at Home program within the first six months, and that number will grow to around 500 within the first two years. Pate’s office will work closely with the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault to institute and promote the program.

Iowa joins 33 other states across the country in adopting an address confidentiality program. The Safe at Home bill received unanimous support in both chambers of the Iowa Legislature, and was signed into law by Governor Terry Branstad in May.

To learn more about the Safe at Home program or to register, visit www.SafeatHome.iowa.gov. Applications are also available through state agencies across Iowa, victims’ advocacy groups across the state, and at law enforcement centers.

Governor Terry Branstad has issued an executive order that calls on state agencies to draft a “cyber security” strategy. In addition, the governor is asking his Homeland Security agency to update its emergency response plan to “deal with the physical consequences of a cyber attack on critical infrastructure” like the electrical grid, water supplies or transportation networks.

“It’s hard to predict what it could be or where it could come from,” Brasntad says. “But this is something that being prepared and being vigilant and trying to put in place as many safeguards as possible hopefully avoids these kind of things happening in our state.” Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds says a year ago the governor assembled a working group to discuss ways for state government and the private sector in Iowa to “prevent, detect, respond and recover” from a cyber attack.

“Every day we hear about new threats and successful and high-profile attacks and the serious consequences of those attacks,” Reynolds says. “It is a rapidly growing threat and we all know that we must be prepared to respond.” State officials say there is no “credible threat” they know of today, but they’re mum about whether previous threats have been thwarted.

In 2012, a hacker in another country tapped into South Carolina’s computer servers and got access to more than three-and-a-half million Society Security numbers belonging to South Carolina taxpayers. In the past few years there have been data breaches at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa, but the governor’s executive order on cyber security does not apply to the three Regents universities.

Branstad’s order only applies to executive branch agencies. Branstad’s chief information officer will work with administrators from the Iowa National Guard, the Iowa Department of Public Safety, the Iowa Communications Network and the state’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department to come up with a cyber security report by July 1st.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will act Wednesday morning on three resolutions to come before them. According to their agenda, the Board will act on approving a Resolution for Livestock Facility Construction Evaluation (otherwise known as the “Master Matrix”), a Resolution supporting the U-S Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), and a Resolution approving sponsorship of and a local match application to, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) High Quality Jobs Program for Farmers Energy Cardinal, LLC.

The meeting begins at 8:30-a.m. in the Supervisors’ Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse, in Atlantic.

In an update to our earlier reports, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources today (Monday),  released the names of a father and son who were rescued from icy water Sunday while deer hunting in Mills County. Officials say 49-year old Terry Garvey,  and his 13-year old son Montana, of Macedonia, were wading across Willow Slough one mile east of Hastings while deer hunting, breaking through thin ice as they walked. The water became progressively deeper until it was about waist deep causing the two to experience cramping and to call for help shortly before 9-a.m.

The father and son were pulled to shore by ropes and transported to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs where they were treated and released. DNR Conservation Officer Richard Price said “With the weather we have had, certainly ice cannot be trusted anywhere to support the weight of people.”  Even though the temperatures so far this winter have been much warmer than normal, Price said people need to be prepared for cold conditions.

Emergency rescue personnel from Hastings, Glenwood, Red Oak, Malvern, Emerson and the Mills County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the scene. Price said “We also had a lot of local volunteers show up to help assist with the rescue.”

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following a collision Saturday afternoon, southeast of Wiota. Officials say the crash happened at around 1:50-p.m., at the intersection of 690th Street and Hamburg Road.

Authorities say a 2015 Toyota Prius driven by 21-year old Nicholas Wayne Renner, of Huxley, attempted to turn north on Hamburg Road and was struck by a northbound 2016 Chevy Silverado owned and driven by 68-year old Joseph Lee Clinton, of Massena. Renner was cited for Failure to Yield, and for having an Expired Registration.

Damage from the crash amounted to $8,000.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Pottawattamie County was arrested last Friday on sex abuse charges. 21-year old Shawn Michael Williams, of Council Bluffs, was arrested as the result of an ongoing criminal investigation. Williams faces two charges of felony Sex Abuse 3rd Degree. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and released Saturday on $20,000 bond.

Also arrested Friday, was 38-year old Carrie Ann McKray, of Hancock. McKray was taken into custody on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Theft 4th Degree. She was later released on $1000 bond.

And on Saturday, Cass County deputies arrested 27-year old Andrew Gaston Nickum, of Atlantic, on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. Nickum was later released on $2000 bond.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports ballots for the February 2nd, 2016 SPECIAL SCHOOL ELECTION for the CAM Community School District public measure are now available at the Cass County Auditor’s office. If you are a resident of the CAM Community School District and are unable to go to the voting center on February 2nd, 2016, you may vote by mail by sending a request for an absentee ballot to the Cass County Auditor’s office. Or, you may stop and vote at the County Auditor’s office during office hours: 8 a.m. thru 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday.

CAM School District Public Measure included on the ballot:

PUBLIC MEASURE A

” Shall the Board of Directors of the CAM Community School District in the Counties of Cass, Adair, Adams and Audubon, State of Iowa, be authorized for a period of ten (10) years, to levy annually, as determined by the Board, a voter-approved physical plant and equipment property tax not to exceed One Dollar and Thirty-four cents ($1.34) per One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) of the assessed valuation of the taxable property within the school district, to be used for the purchase and improvement of grounds; the construction of schoolhouses or buildings and opening roads to schoolhouses or buildings; the purchase, lease, or lease-purchase of a single unit of equipment or technology exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) in value per purchase, lease, or lease-purchase transaction; the payment of debts contracted for the erection or construction of schoolhouses or buildings, not including interest on bonds; procuring or acquisition of library facilities; repairing, remodeling, reconstructing, improving, or expanding the schoolhouses or buildings and additions to existing schoolhouses; expenditures for energy conservation; the rental of facilities under Chapter 28E; purchase of transportation equipment for transporting students; the purchase of buildings or lease-purchase option agreements for school buildings; equipment purchases for recreational purposes; payments to a municipality or other entity as required under section 403.19, subsection 2; demolition, cleanup, and other costs if such costs are necessitated by, and incurred within two years of a disaster as defined in section 29C.2, subsection 4 or any other purpose approved hereafter by law? ”

The CAM COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT consists of Cass, Adams, Adair and Audubon counties. The polls will open at NOON Feb. 2nd and close at 8:00 P.M. The election is “AT LARGE,” meaning that all residents of the entire school district may vote for all school offices and public measures.

ELECTION DAY VOTING CENTERS:

ANITA VOTING CENTER: Voters residing in that portion of the CAM Community School District residing in Grant, Benton, Franklin or Lincoln Township in Cass County or in Adair County or Audubon County will vote at the ANITA COMMUNITY CENTER (805 Main St., Anita).

CUMBERLAND VOTING CENTER: Voters residing in that portion of the CAM Community School District residing in Union, Bear Grove, Noble or Edna Township in Cass County or in Adams County will vote at the CUMBERLAND COMMUNITY BLDG (200 W 2nd, Cumberland).

MASSENA VOTING CENTER: Voters residing in that portion of the CAM Community School District residing in Massena or Victoria Township in Cass County or in Adams County will vote at the MASSENA PUBLIC LIBRARY in Massena (122 Main St., Massena).

And, the ABSENTEE Voting Center is the Cass County Auditor’s Office at the Cass County Courthouse, in Atlantic.

Nobody enjoys taking items back and doing so, at times, after the holidays can be especially burdensome. Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Nebraska, South Dakota, The Kansas Plains and Southwest Iowa has tips to reduce gift return distress.

Jim Hegarty, BBB President and CEO, says “Returning holiday gifts may not be your favorite activity, but knowing store policies and planning ahead can reduce the stress. You’ll help yourself and gift recipients if you find out how a store handles returns before you buy. It’s always better to ask about the policy than to assume you know.”

Remember: Stores aren’t legally required to accept items for refund, exchange, or credit unless goods were defective or misrepresented. Some stores provide refunds, while others only issue store credits. A few stores consider all sales to be final. Seasonal stores may have limited hours after the holidays, making it awkward to return unwanted items.

Additionally, while merchants are required to accept returns in only certain situations, some states have laws governing the disclosure of refund and return policies. State refund and return laws for the states in this BBB’s region are:

Nebraska: There’s no right to cancel contracts or purchase agreements. Whether you can receive a refund is dependent on the retailer’s return and refund policies.

Iowa: There’s no right to cancel contracts or purchase agreements. If retailers don’t accept returns they must disclose it.

BBB tips can help shoppers avoid post-holiday frustration:

– Ask the store about its return policy. Can a customer obtain a refund, a store credit, or exchange unwanted merchandise? How long is the period when returns are allowed? Some stores have extended return periods for gifts, while others limit returns to a week or less after the item is purchased.

– Ask for a gift receipt and enclose it with the gift. Don’t remove electronics or similar products from their boxes before wrapping. The original packaging may be required for a return. In some cases, such as DVDs or music CDs, the package must remain sealed.

– Don’t assume that regular return policies apply to sale or clearance items. Some merchants consider the sale of such items to be final, so ask before buying. If you are the gift recipient, do not assume you have the right to return or exchange an unwanted gift. Like the shopper, you are bound by the merchant’s return policy. Health regulations, which can prohibit the return of hats and intimate apparel, also may apply.

– Ask about restocking fees. Some merchants charge a restocking or “open box” fee for returns of electronic products or large-ticket items. A restocking fee can be as high as 25 percent of the purchase price.

– Look for a posted return policy when shopping online. If returns are permitted, ask what procedures and time frames need to be followed. Find out whether shipping fees are charged for returning items and whether shipping costs or restocking fees are deducted from the price of returned items.

– Save your receipt. Keep items in their original packaging and leave tags on clothing. If you remove the price or black it out on the tag, try to leave the item number or bar code visible as it will make it easier for a store to process the return.

– Time your returns to avoid hassles. Return lines can be lengthy the day after Christmas, but don’t wait too long to return items. Pick a time when the store is unlikely to be crowded, and be polite when talking to customer service clerks. If you are a regular customer or have a store credit account, mention that as you discuss return options. Merchants are usually willing to accommodate loyal customers.

Consumers can learn how to protect themselves or find BBB Business Reviews and BBB Charity Reviews by calling 800-649-6814 or by going online to www.bbbinc.org.

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

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