The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), heard from Julie Florian, program director with Health Promotion Strategies from Dow City, on “Making the decision to go Tobacco/Nicotine-Free” campus. The County already has a tobacco free policy pertaining to the courthouse grounds and inside the building, as well as several other properties. The policy however, doesn’t exclude other nicotine products, such as electronic-vapor cigarettes, or “Vaping”, nicotine pills, gum or other such means of ingesting nicotine.

Among the other forms of nicotine available on the market, according to Florian, is nicotine water, and “Cig-a-fizz,” which is kind of like the old fashioned “Pop Rock” candy many people grew up with, except it contains three milligrams of nicotine.

Florian says the Supervisors can set an example for other businesses in the County by coming up with an expanded policy on prohibiting or limiting nicotine use by the public and County employees. She says currently, only Scott and Lee Counties have both tobacco free and nicotine free policies in place. Samples of their policies were provided to the Board, along with information pertaining to free signage indicating the policy changes. The original, Smoke-Free Air Act signs can remain in-place if the new signs are erected.

The Board took her information under advisement. In other business, the Supervisors agreed to allow the County Recorder and Treasurer to continue with the process of hiring a person who would work in both offices as an assistant. The person being considered, following an interview process that has already taken place, would work half of the time in the Treasurer’s Office – where they will scan documents related to vehicle registration and other matters – and half-time in the Recorder’s Office.

A lengthy discussion took place with regard to the candidates’ rate of pay, and whether they would also receive an insurance and benefits package. In the end, it was determined those details would be worked out when it comes time to appoint the individual being considered.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Monday of an Audubon County man. 23-year old TJ Taylor Anderson, of Exira, was taken into custody on a charge of Driving While Barred. Anderson was brought to the Cass County Jail and released Tuesday on his own recognizance.

The Mills County Attorney’s Office today (Wednesday), reports a Pacific Junction man was arrested Tuesday on a felony charge of Going Armed with Intent, and an aggravated misdemeanor charge of Carrying Weapons, in connection with social media statement he made seeking vigilante justice. 20-year old Liam Russell Whitehouse allegedly made statements on Facebook at around 9-p.m. Sunday, seeking justice in connection with a shooting that occurred earlier that evening in Glenwood, near the home of High School Principal Richard Hutchinson.

Liam Whitehouse

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop in the 800 block of E. Sharp Street, in Glenwood, with the assistance of Glenwood Police. During a search of Whitehouses’ vehicle, authorities located a gun under the driver’s seat, and a samurai sword in the trunk.

Whitehouse has since bonded out of jail and is awaiting an initial appearance before the magistrate. If convicted on both charges, he faces up to seven-years in prison and fines amounting to a maximum of nearly $14,000.

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

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The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold a work session this (Wednesday) evening. During their 5:30-p.m. session in the High School Media Center, the Board will hold an overview and discussion, with regard to: Technology; Teacher Leadership Compensation; the Middle School/Link Center; High School/Educational Opportunity Center (EOC); and, the budget, along with monthly reports.

A traffic stop Tuesday evening in Montgomery County resulted in the arrest of two men on Public Intoxication charges. The Sheriff’s Office says deputies arrested 21-year old Jacob William Avery and 21-year old Gillian Ray James Bourn, both of Red Oak, at around 7:15-p.m., at the intersection of 180th Street and Highway 48. The men were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond, each.

Two women from Red Oak face 5th Degree Theft charges, after allegedly stealing a package from a residence over the weekend. Red Oak Police said Tuesday, 39-year old Rachilla Ann Davis was a passenger in a van driven and owned by 26-year old Amber Nicole Gonzalez. When Gonzalez stopped the vehicle Saturday in the 1600 block of N. 8th Street, Davis got out and allegedly took a package valued at $140 from a home. They were taken into custody at around 3:30-p.m. Tuesday and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where the women were held on $300 cash bond, each.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Oil industry economists say a link between ending a 40-year oil export ban and lower prices at the gas pump is not as direct as Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush would have voters believe in his new energy proposal. Bush’s overall premise that lifting the ban would expand economic growth holds up to independent scrutiny. However, environmentalists say the negative impact on the planet would be too great.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A judge has granted a delay until at least mid-January for the trial of a 22-year-old man accused of killing his 3-week-old son in southeast Iowa. Randall Payne’s attorney, James Beres, asked a Des Moines County judge yesterday to postpone Payne’s trial, which had been scheduled to begin Oct. 13. He said he needs more time to prepare a defense. Payne has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and child endangerment.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge is upholding an Iowa law that requires the boards of corporations and labor unions to approve any money they spend to influence elections. U.S. District Judge Robert Pratt ruled yesterday that the board-approval requirement does not violate the right to free association or illegally restrain speech. He says the requirement lets the public know such spending is backed by the group and not “just an individual with access” to its bank account.

SERGEANT BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — More than 3,600 workers are helping construct a $2 billion fertilizer plant being built near Sioux City, and hundreds more workers will be hired soon. The Sioux City Journal reports that the workforce at the sprawling CF Industries plant is more than double what the company originally had planned. Project director Nick DeRoos says the construction peak will be in late October or early November, when more than 4,000 workers will be employed.