COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad will consider two finalists to fill a vacant district judgeship serving southwest Iowa. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that a state judicial nominating commission selected Craig Dreismeier, of Council Bluffs, and Susan Christensen, of Harlan, from a pool of 10 applicants to replace outgoing Fourth District Judge Timothy O’Grady. O’Grady announced his retirement Aug. 28th.

Both Dreismeier and Christensen currently serve as associate judges. Branstad has 30 days to make an appointment. He will interview both before making a decision. The Fourth District is comprised Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties.

w/ Chris Parks

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A Belmond restaurant that’s been under current ownership for less than a year is the 2015 winner of the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin contest. Joe and Jewel McFarland opened the Belmond Drive-in on Oct. 22, 2014, after both worked as cooks in various establishments for more than 20 years.

Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin in IA 2015 winner: Belmond Drive In.

The winning tenderloin is a center cut pork loin that Joe sources from a local meat locker. He hand trims and cuts the loins fresh daily. The tenderloin is dipped in an egg wash and then hand breaded with a medium size breadcrumb. The McFarlands currently sell 20 to 30 breaded pork tenderloins a day. The drive-in is open each day, except Tuesday.

The IPPA Restaurant and Foodservice Committee is presenting the McFarlands with a check for $500, a plaque and a large banner in ceremonies at the restaurant today. The Belmond Drive-in also will receive statewide publicity for winning IPPA’s 13th annual contest.

Three C’s Diner in Corning placed second in this year’s contest and will receive $250 and a plaque. Rounding out the top five finalists was the Recovery Room in Ottumwa, the Peru Bar & Grill in Peru and The Office in Lenox. Those restaurants will receive a plaque to display in their restaurant.

Tenderloin lovers submitted 1,161 nominations and nearly 40 tenderloin sandwiches were judged this summer on the quality of the pork, taste, physical characteristics and eating experience. The contest recognizes Iowa dining establishments that support the swine industry by putting pork on their menu. All restaurants, cafes and taverns that serve breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches year round and list them on their daily menu can be nominated for the award.

(IPPA Press Release)

Police in Glenwood report the arrest on Thursday of 55-year old Michael Harrod, of Glenwood. Harrod was taken into custody for Possession of a controlled substance and possession of Drug paraphernalia. He was being held in the Mills County Jail on a $1,300 cash bond.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Council Bluffs educator and cheerleader coach has been ordered to stand trial in the September traffic death of a bicyclist. The Daily Nonpareil reports that an attorney for 28-year-old Stephanie Kenealy said Thursday she will plead not guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of a fatal crash. The attorney, Thomas Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska, says he’ll enter her written plea around Kenealy’s Nov. 2 arraignment date. Trial has been set for Dec. 15.

Authorities say 54-year-old David Ryder was riding his bike in the same direction as Kenealy’s SUV when she hit the bicyclist during a heavy downpour. Ryder, who was not wearing a helmet, was declared dead at the scene. Authorities say Kenealy left the scene and returned nearly an hour later.

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – A judge says he’ll rule soon on whether a lawsuit filed by three landowners in the path of a proposed oil pipeline can proceed against the Iowa Utilities Board. The Sioux City Journal reports the judge heard arguments from both sides Thursday in Cherokee, and will make a ruling within two weeks.

The landowners are challenging the board’s authority to give the power of eminent domain to an out-of-state developer. The pipeline would carry crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois, and would cut diagonally through Iowa from the northwest to the southeast corner.

Motions to dismiss the lawsuit have been filed by the developer and Iowa Utilities Board. The developer has said it would only resort to going through eminent domain when agreements can’t be reached with landowners.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A judge says he’ll decide within 30 days whether Gov. Terry Branstad violated the law by using a line-item veto to close two state mental health hospitals. A bipartisan plan that Branstad vetoed this summer would have reversed his closing of one mental health institution and temporarily kept open another. Democratic lawmakers and the main state workers’ union sued the governor, arguing that his veto broke a state law requiring Iowa to operate four mental hospitals.

The Des Moines Register reports lawyers for both sides argued in court Thursday. Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Thompson, representing Branstad, said the spending bill was the type the governor has the authority to veto. The losing side of the judge’s coming decision would be able to appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court.

A fundraising, open house will be held today (Friday) in Atlantic, for the American Legion Memorial Building, located at 201 Poplar Street. The former Armory is owned by ARISE (The Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise), which also owns the Rock Island Depot on Chestnut Street, that’s occupied by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. The Legion Building Open House takes place from Noon until 6-pm today, and features a tour of the building along with some refreshments.

The building, which is being restored in phases, has already seen a number of recent improvements, including new bathrooms and air conditioning, a Military Museum and Military Library. A future, complete restoration of the area adjacent to the Military Museum and Library will a Memorial Hall, restrooms, and a kitchen to help with private events such as wedding receptions, graduation parties and more. The improvements, which tally close to $200,000, have been made possible through grants, donations and other fundraising events.

American Legion Memorial Bldg. in Atlantic, IA.

During today’s tour, you can shop a fundraiser flea market, for your free-will donation. Some items up for sale include: Kitchen appliances; Books; Office chairs; cabinets and furniture; toys; large Christmas trees and décor; a JennAire downdraft range, and much more. All funds raised will be used for restoration of the American Legion Memorial Building.

For more information, look for the Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise on Facebook, or e-mail atlanticrockislandsociety@gmail.com. To book a separate, private tour, or learn more about the Atlantic American Legion Memorial Building by contacting Steve Livengood at 712-243-5445, Bob Boots at 712-243-2694, or the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday) released the name of the person who died during a house fire at 74566 Boone Road, in Anita. Officials have confirmed the victim was 67-year old Linda M. Barber, of Anita.  Her 73-year old husband Larry, suffered smoke inhalation during the incident and was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The State Fire Marshal determined the cause of the blaze as an electrical issue. The fire was reported at around 12:45-a.m. today.

THURMAN, Iowa (AP) – Operations at the Thurman Post Office in the southwest corner of Iowa have been suspended over concerns about the structural stability of the building. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that all operations at the Thurman Post Office were moved temporarily to the Sidney Post Office on Sept. 29.

The U.S. Postal Service will use temporary centralized mailboxes outside the Thurman Post Office. Until the mailboxes are installed, Thurman Post Office box customers will need to pick up their mail at the Sidney Post Office. The blue collection box outside of the Thurman Post Office will continue to be picked up as scheduled.

Post Office Operations Manager Wes Gronemyer says the post office will reopen once repairs to the building are made.