The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, will continue discussion with regard to the bid process for the courthouse HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) replacement project. The meeting begins at 8:30-a.m.

During their meeting last week, the consensus of board was to move forward with replacement of the courthouse HVAC system. Auditor Dale Sunderman says since the cost will exceed $135,000, the competitive bid process under IOWA CODE chapter 26 must be followed.

In other business, the Board may take action on the appointment of a Cass Township Trustee. A vacancy term is available through 2016, with a four-year term to follow.

During their meeting last week, the Supervisors moved to appoint Kenneth Harrison, of Anita, to the Cass County Commission of Veteran Affairs for the 3 year term beginning July 1st, 2015.  They also approved the bond and contract with A.M. Cohron & Son, Inc. for a bridge replacement project near the Griswold Golf Course.

And, the Board held discussion with regard to the avian bird flu and what proactive and preventive measures Cass County could take. It should be noted there has been NO reported case of the H5N1 outbreak in Cass County. Officials say if there is an outbreak, the economic impact would be significant, not only in the loss of animals, but the loss of jobs. The Supervisors stressed local media will help increase public awareness, and the County asks for the public’s cooperation. Cass County will continue to work closely with emergency management and other local, state and federal agencies.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says two people were injured during separate accidents, Friday. A collision at around 12:30-p.m. in the 2900 block of Highway 34 resulted in a passenger in one of the vehicles, Tasha Strange, of Omaha, being transported by Malvern Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital, in Council Bluffs. Officials say the accident occurred when a westbound vehicle driven by Brandon Reed, of Council Bluffs, crossed the center line of Highway 34 and struck the trailer of an eastbound semi driven by Leonard Eakes, of Lamoni.

Earlier in the day, a single vehicle accident happened near 190th Street and Jesup Avenue, when the driver, Thomas Howell, of Plattsmouth, NE., swerved to miss a deer on the road. His 2001 Honda entered a ditch which was full of water. Four-inches of water ended-up on the floor board of the car and both the front and rear bumpers were damaged. Howell was transported to Jennie Ed by Pacific Junction Rescue.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports seven people were arrested on a variety of charges over the past week. On May 12th, 26-year old Marcus Allen Armstrong, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. On May 13th, 53-year old Thomas Michael Horan, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Violation of Probation, and 36-year old Rusty Ervin Meinke, of Emerson, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault.

On May 14th, 55-year old Alfred Charles Barrett, of Glenwood, was arrested for Parole Violation. Last Saturday, 27-year old Letta Marie Stogdill, of Red Oak, was arrested for Probation Violation. On Monday (May 18th), 25-year old Christopher Lee McDaniel, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. And today (Tuesday, May 19th), 34-year old Kale Garrett Hardman, of Red Oak, was arrested for Violating a No Contact Order.

Each of those individuals, with the exception of Rusty Meinke and Kale Hardman, were being held in the Mills County Jail on bond. Meinke and Hardman were being held in the jail without bond.

Authorities in Montgomery County two Pottawattamie County men were arrested early this (Tuesday) morning in Red Oak, following an investigation into suspicious persons near the Kum-and-Go Store at 710 N. Broadway Street, in Red Oak. When police officers arrived on the scene a little after 4:15-a.m., they made contact with 22-year old Jacob Michael Good and 23-year old Michael Wayne Wilson, both of Council Bluffs, who were in a car.

Officers requested assistance from the Montgomery County K9 Unit, and through the help of the drug dog located drug paraphernalia and marijuana. A search of the vehicle also resulted in the recovery of a .45-caliber revolver, which had been reported as stolen through the Carter Lake Police Dept.

Good was subsequently arrested on a felony charge of Possession of Stolen Firearms, and various degrees of misdemeanor charges that include Going Armed, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Good was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Wilson was arrested for Possession of Marijuana. His bond was set at $300. An investigation into the incident by Red Oak and Carter Lake Police, continues.

(9-a.m. News)

The Atlantic City Council will meet during a regular session Wednesday evening, beginning at 5:30. During the meeting at City Hall, the Council will act on entering into an Engineering Agreement with Snyder and Associates Engineers, with regard to the Schildberg Rec Area Connector Trail and Pedestrian Bridge, project. The City will act as the fiscal agent for the Nishna Valley Trails project, and the agreement will allow the City to begin the engineering and design phase of the $600,000 project.

The Council will also act on passing a Resolution “Accepting the easement for Ash Street Storm Water Project: Phase 1.” The first phase of the project, which will include a catch basin that leads water out to 14th Street, was approved for the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget. Since the basin will be located on private property, an easement is necessary to gain access. The second phase of the project will address past, current and future drainage issues to the west, with the Community Development Committee reviewing the options.

In addition, a Public Hearing will be held during Wednesday’s City Council meeting, with regard to an amendment to the FY 2015 Budget, as required by State Law. The amendment amounts to more than 1.99-million dollars, and is more related to issues of timing, rather than new spending or overspending, according to City Administrator, John Lund. He says it basically boils down to moving monies designated for the next fiscal year to the current fiscal year, in accordance with State Law.

The Council will also hold the third and final reading of an Ordinance amending the City Code of Ordinances, by adding a section pertaining to “Prohibited Parking within Designated Construction Zones,” especially in light of construction work on Highway 6/7th Street, which is slated to begin next week. On a related note, the Council will act on passing a Resolution “Allowing signage along public roadways during Highway 6 Reconstruction.”  The signs will direct traffic to various businesses located along the Highway, by means of detours off of other City streets.

And, City Administrator John Lund will provide the Council with the City’s Annual Debt Report, Wednesday. In the report, Lund says Atlantic is currently at 66.45-percent of its total debt limit, or 10.3-million dollars. The City may issue debt up to 15.5-million dollars. If no other debts are issued, Lund says the City would be debt-free by July 2028, given any changes in property assessments and debt due paid.

A public hearing will be held Wednesday morning in Greenfield, with regard to a Fiscal year 2015 Adair County Budget Amendment. The hearing, followed by action on a Resolution approving the amendment, and an Appropriations Resolution, will take place during the Adair County Board of Supervisor’s meeting that begins at 9-a.m.

In other business, Custodian Rich Wallace will talk with the Supervisors about the Courthouse roof, and the Board will act on various administrative matters, including a 28-E agreement, Grove Township mowing, and, election equipment contracts.

Police in Creston say two people were arrested Monday night on separate charges. 21-year old Tyler Wayne Kimball, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a charge of Driving While Suspended. Kimball was later released on a $300 bond. And, 32-year old Heather Marie Davis, of Lenox, was arrested at the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office on a Union County warrant, for Failure to Appear in court on Child Support matters. Davis was being held on a $2,000 bond.

The 8-a.m. Newscast w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Police in Creston say no injuries were reported following a collision Monday morning. Officials say 20-year old Brett Cheers, of Orient, was cited for Failure to Yield, after the car he was driving changed lanes and collided with a vehicle driven by 17-year old Ashley Bargstadt, of Creston. The accident happened at around 9:45-a.m. on westbound Townline Road, near the intersection with Highway 25.

The collision caused a total of $2,500 damage.

The 7:07-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS