The Branstad Administration is not yet indicating whether the governor will accept or reject the legislature’s attempt to undo Branstad’s order to close the state-run Mental Health Institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant. A bill that cleared both the House and Senate yesterday (Wednesday) with bipartisan support calls for keeping the Mount Pleasant facility open for another year. The Clarinda M-H-I would remain open until mid-December, with hopes of finding a private company that would run the unit there that cares for elderly patients who are too frail or aggressive for other facilities. Clarinda Economic Development Director John Greenwood says that would be victory for his community.

“Like in anything, you’re hoping to get more, but you have to work with the powers that be on both sides,” Greenwood says. “And, you know, if you’ll remember back when Branstad brought out his budget, Clarinda would have been essentially closed right now, so for us it definitely is a positive thing.” A spokesman for the governor said this morning that Branstad “will carefully review the bill while also continuing to consider how the state provides the highest quality of care to individuals in need.” Clarinda’s economic development director says the legislature’s proposal gives employees at the M-H-I more time to figure out their next step and it his community a chance to try to find a private company that will come in and keep the facility operating.

“Probably, most importantly, it gives us another six months to continue to provide services for the folks out there that need them,” Greenwood says. Senator Rich Taylor, a Democrat from Mount Pleasant, is also hoping the governor accepts the legislature’s plan. “What the governor was trying to do in shutting down the Mental Health Institution was just wrong,” Taylor says. The M-H-I in Mount Pleasant would continue to offer inpatient treatment for those with the “dual diagnosis” of substance abuse and mental illness if the governor accepts the legislature’s proposal. Senator Taylor worked at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison for 27 years and Taylor says he saw many inmates who wound up behind prison walls because they hadn’t gotten mental health treatment.

“And to shut down even more of our state institutions was just totally unacceptable to me. It just broken my heart,” Taylor says. “It just is not the right place for these people. It’s not what we should do to these most vulnerable citizens.” State officials have said about a third of the inmates in Iowa prisons are “severely mentally ill” — hearing voices, seeing things and often unable to comprehend prison staff orders. The legislature’s vote on the future of the two Mental Health Institutes in southern Iowa is among the many decisions lawmakers are rushing to make this week, in hopes of concluding the 2015 legislative session — perhaps as soon as today (Thursday).

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says three people have been arrested so far this week. On Tuesday, 26-year old Andrew Dean West, of Malvern, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail on a Warrant for Violation of Probation. His cash bond was set at $10,000.

On Wednesday, Matthew Demorest, of Malvern, was cited for Driving Under Suspension. That same night, 33-year old Pamela Jean Demorest, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts. Her bond was set at $300.

Early this (Thursday) morning, 54-year old Ronald Evans McCombs, of Omaha, was arrested in Mills County, for Public Intoxication. His bond was also set at $300.

A single-vehicle accident in Mills County, Wednesday morning, resulted in the driver of the vehicle being transported to a hospital in Omaha. Sheriff’s officials say Dennis James, of Tabor, was driving a 2014 Chevy southbound on Highway 275 at around 7:10-a.m., when the vehicle crossed the center line of the road near Quigg Avenue.

The car went off the road to the left and hit an embankment before it struck a culvert and flew through the air and rolled into the east road ditch. The vehicle eventually came to rest on its passenger side, facing north. James was transported by ambulance to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday, asked local residents and motorists passing through the area during the Highway 6/7th Street construction project, to exercise caution and courtesy, when taking the detour routes through town and to area businesses located along the construction zone.

An area of special concern is the intersection of 10th and Olive, where some motorists are making “California”, or “rolling stops,” meaning they are not coming to a complete stop, as required by law. Jones reminds motorists that when you come to a 4-way stop that is not controlled with traffic lights, you must make a complete stop, and yield to the vehicle on your right, before proceeding cautiously into the intersection.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green says his officers issued 13 tickets for illegal stopping in one day alone. Green said motorists are also failing to stop along 8th Street, east of Olive, where there are stop signs located at every intersection. So far, at least three tickets were issued to motorists who failed to obey those signs.

Jones also asked motorists to respect those whose driveways are located along the detour route, by giving them a chance to exit their driveways, especially when traffic flow is heavy. Councilman Dana Halder echoed Jones’ comments about being courteous drivers.

Halder said “Courtesy goes a long ways, and, especially along 10th Street. If you’ve got a whole line of cars, and somebody is trying to turn left, it’d be nice if you’d stop for ‘em and let them turn left.” Jones said he understands the construction is an inconvenience, but it’s been a long time in coming, and when it’s finished, will be a great benefit to the community.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today (Thursday) announced that Farmers Market Nutrition Program applications are now available for eligible WIC recipients and low-income older Iowans.

The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs provide eligible Iowans with checks that can be redeemed for fresh, locally grown produce at authorized farmers markets and farm stands from June 1 through October 31, 2015.

The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides eligible WIC recipients with nine checks valued at $3 each. Again this year, sets of WIC FMNP checks will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible individuals may pick up checks at arranged appointments or at regularly scheduled clinic appointments. The checks will be distributed on a statewide basis.

A combination of state and federal funds will be used to make benefits available to more than 23,900 eligible WIC recipients this year. Eligible individuals include children ages 1 through 4, and pregnant, breast-feeding, and post-partum women that participate in Iowa’s WIC Program.

The state’s twenty local WIC agencies have begun to distribute checks and nutritional education information. WIC recipients interested in obtaining the benefits are encouraged to contact their local WIC clinic or visit www.idph.state.ia.us/wic/ for more information.

The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides eligible seniors with ten checks for $3 each. Applicants throughout the state are offered the checks on a first-come first-served basis and the checks are available through Area Agency on Aging offices. A combination of state and federal funds will be used to make benefits available to more than 19,700 eligible seniors this year.

Eligible seniors must be sixty years of age or older with a household income less than $21,775 if single or $29,471 for a married couple. Iowa seniors will be asked to complete a one page application verifying their eligibility, by providing their birth dates and the last four digits of their social security numbers.

The Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) have begun to distribute checks and nutritional education information. To find an Area Agency on Aging near you, contact the Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging (i4a) toll free at 866-468-7887 or at www.i4a.org.

The Farmers Market Nutrition Programs are administered through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Department on Aging.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a Nebraska man was arrested Monday on a Harassment by Communication, charge. 54-year old Richard Stockton Bradshaw, of Omaha, was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $325 bond.

A water project and planned shutdown has prompted a boil order for Macedonia through next week. City Clerk Suzann Duede said that water was briefly shut off for the town on Wednesday afternoon as part of maintenance to the water infrastructure, which prompted a mandatory boil order.

Citizens are being advised to boil their water until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9th. For more information, contact Macedonia City Hall at (712) 486-2323.

More local, and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, set in motion the process to accept bids for the Troublesome Creek Connector Trail pedestrian bridge project.

This is what the pedestrian bridge over Troublesome Creek will look like when it is installed.

The Council set June 30th as the bid letting date, with a public hearing on July 1st. Their action followed an update on the plans and details for the project, by Snyder and Associates’ Engineer Dave Sturm, who also provided a timeline for the start and finish of bridge installation.

Sturm said the Late Start Date is Sept. 15th, with 40 working days allowed, meaning it should be completed by sometime in November. The contractor, he said, has the option to start sooner in September, if they wish. The schedule allows them some flexibility. Sturm said the cost estimate for the project two-years ago, was $570,000, but while the price tag has gone up, it’s still under $600,000.

The Atlantic City Council will also set July 1st at 5:30-p.m. as the date and time for a Public Hearing on an Urban Renewal Plan Amendment. In other business, City Administrator John Lund provided the Council with City’s first Annual Tax Report, which helped to explain the general nature of property taxes, and how Atlantic compares to other communities our size in the State, along with how the tax burden has changed, over time.

The report also compares how Atlantic fares against other cities in southwest Iowa, with regard to the tax burden and other factors. He said “In southwest Iowa, we’re doing pretty good. Across the State, not as strong, but there are good reasons our tax levy is where it’s at. One reason is Tax Valuation. If you have a lot of expensive property, you can levy at a much lower rate and collect the same amount of money.” He cited for example, Clear Lake and Carroll, which are about the same size of Atlantic, but who have over $400-million worth of property. Atlantic he says, has about half that valuation. He said also, Atlantic has a high debt service levy, but that was necessary for the streets.”

Councilman Chris Jimerson pointed out Atlantic also acquired a lower interest rate for the street projects at just the right time, which saved the City some money. Mayor Dave Jones agreed. Jones said the City’s philosophy when the interest rates were low, was “Borrow now, get your stuff fixed, and somewhere down the road the interest rates will go up.” He admitted that’s taken longer than he thought it would, but “We’re still in good shape, and at least we’ll be ahead in the ball game when things start happening.”

Atlantic’s tax asking is $8.10 per thousand-dollars taxable valuation, which is fourth lowest for city’s in Iowa of comparable size. Harlan, Denison, Clarinda, Council Bluffs, Audubon, and Missouri Valley all have higher tax rates.

A woman from Union County was arrested on drug and other charges on May 30th, following a traffic stop. The Creston Police Department today (Thursday) reports 38-year old Sara Exline, of Afton, was taken into custody on charges of Driving While Revoked, Possession of Marijuana and Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was later released from the Union County Jail on $5,000 bond.