The Cass County Board of Supervisors received an update on a bridge project near the Griswold Golf Course during their meeting this (Wednesday) morning. Rich Hansen, Assistant to County Engineer Charles Marker, said bid letting on the Baughman Creek Bridge on 560th Street is tentatively set for April 21st. In the interim, there are plans to purchase the Rights-of-Way on either side of the bridge, which will be 138-feet long and 30-feet wide. Survey plats are also being drawn-up.

The bridge will cost about $600,000, with 80-percent coming from the Bridge Replacement funds, and 20-percent a local match. It’s not clear when work on the bridge will begin. That will be determined after the bid letting is complete. Right now, the bridge is only capable of handling single-lane traffic weighing no more than 3-tons.

In other business, the Board kicked-off the 5-year Hazard Mitigation Planning (HMP) process, upon hearing from Community Development Specialist Jason Ehrig Paige, who is in charge of writing the plan for Cass County. Hazard Mitigation is defined as any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to life and property from hazard events, especially those related to weather. It’s an on-going process that occurs before, during, and after disasters and serves to break the cycle of damage and repair in hazardous areas.

Paige said a series of initial public meetings have taken place or will be held throughout Cass County, with the last meeting set to take place in Griswold, next month. The next step will be to develop strategies, goals and actions for each jurisdiction to include in their plan, such as the construction of safe rooms, purchase generators, or to take other action to reduce risks to their communities.

It will be up to the communities then, to implement those strategies. A HMP is required in order to obtain funding from FEMA following a disaster, in addition to a local match, which usually consists of volunteer hours in attending meetings and services. The current HMP was created in 2010. The plans expire every 5-years.

An official with the USDA’s office in Greenfield says Iowa producers and landowners who sign up for voluntary conservation planning assistance at the Greenfield Field office by Feb. 2nd will receive priority planning service from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) field staff.  District Conservationist Alan Lange says “Developing a conservation plan is the first step towards realizing the economic and stewardship benefits of managing the natural resources on your farm.

Lange said “The extent of the plan is guided by the producer’s individual goals and objectives. Our role is to assist farmers learn more about their land’s potential, and how conservation management and stewardship practices can improve their sustainable bottom line. Conservation plans are tailored to each individual situation. It truly is your farm and your plan.”

Producers can call or visit the Greenfield NRCS office to participate in the signup. Staff will schedule a time to make farm visits and start the planning process. State Conservationist Jay Mar says “The signup is part of Iowa NRCS’ multi-faceted effort to emphasize the benefits and importance of conservation planning.”  Mar says the idea “Is to help landowners accelerate good conservation management through quality conservation planning. This signup is an excellent way to begin working relationships between conservation planners and Iowa producers.”

The conservation planning process often helps producers and planners discover different, more effective solutions to previously identified problems. Mar said “Our conservation planners offer to work together with producers to provide another set of eyes. Sometimes a different perspective is needed to make sure a producer’s goals and objectives are met with the best tools available.”

The completed individualized conservation plan guides future land management decisions and helps streamline conservation implementation. For more information about NRCS conservation planning assistance please go to www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov or visit your local NRCS field office.

An investigation into an alleged assault that took place January 1st in rural Page County resulted in a warrant for, and the arrest of, a Clarinda man. The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 32-year old Donald Ernest Runyon turned himself in Tuesday afternoon. Runyon was arrested for Assault and later posted a $300 bond.

The incident which resulted in his arrest allegedly took place at around 2-a.m. Jan. 1st, at 2692 220th Street,  in rural Page County (about one-half west of Clarinda). The investigation showed that Runyon assaulted 20-year old Skylur William Shane, of Clarinda, while they were at the residence.

Police in Glenwood report the arrest on Tuesday of a Glenwood man. 19-year old Cody Hunter was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Child Endangerment. No other details were provided. Hunter’s bond was set at $10,000.

with Ric Hanson.

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Police in Creston have received two more reports of vandalism at local businesses. Late Tuesday night, Per Mar Security reported a commercial burglar alarm activation at Quik Pawn, located at 101 east Taylor Street. Officers investigating advised a brick had been thrown through the front door. No entry appeared to have been gained. Damage was estimated at $800. And late Monday night, a security company reported a burglar alarm was activated at the Creston Check-N-Go at 509 west Taylor Street. A brick was thrown through the window, but again, no entry was gained. Damage was estimated at $800.

Two other Creston businesses were damaged recently as well, via similar means. One incident took place last Friday night, the other sometime overnight Dec. 28th-29th.

In other news, Creston Police say 36-year old Jason A. Ford, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday, on a Ringgold County warrant for Probation Violation. He was subsequently released to the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office. And, 27-year old Logan Davis, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday on a Decatur County warrant for Failure to Appear – Child Support related. Davis was later released on $2,000 bond.

The 7:06-a.m. report with KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s chief justice is expected to address the Legislature in the annual “state of the judiciary” address. Chief Justice Mark Cady of the Iowa Supreme Court is scheduled to speak Wednesday morning before a joint session at the Capitol.

Gov. Terry Branstad’s proposed budget shows the judicial branch is requesting more than $182 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1. That’s an increase of more than $8 million over the current year. In past speeches, Cady has emphasized the importance of securing the money. He has said it helps the state’s court system improve efficiency and attract the best employees.

DES MOINES, Iowa – It’s been a steadily changing trend in Iowa – and more often, there’s a focus on the future and quality of life in residential construction and renovations. According to Siobhan Spain, program director for the Best Development Awards, at 1000 Friends of Iowa, the state has one of the largest housing stocks in need of attention in the nation. The group now is honoring those communities and residents addressing the issue with an eye on social, economic and environmental sustainability.

“These ‘smart growth’ principles that we acknowledge in the winners this year really understand the connection between residential and the community,” she said. “And they really inspire the community that they can really make a change for the better.”

Among the winners of this year’s Best Development Awards is Madison Flats in Des Moines, an apartment building on a formerly contaminated site that’s hoped to spark further development in that neighborhood.

Other awards for commercial, civic and mixed-use developments went to projects in Slater, Stanton, West Union and Woodbine. Spain noted that this was the first year of recognizing stormwater management, which can be key in flood mitigation. “That went to the Green Alley program up in Dubuque,” she said. “So, that’s exciting and that’s really great to be able to acknowledge wonderful projects that are happening in Iowa that focus on flood management and wastewater.”

Spain said Dubuque’s 12-phase, 20-year project retrofits alley infrastructure within the Bee Branch Watershed with what is known as “pervious” pavement. It allows stormwater to soak into the ground, reducing runoff by up to 80 percent. Award information is online at new.1000friendsofiowa.org.

(Iowa News Service)

A Villisca woman who was arrested early Tuesday morning for a drug-related OWI, was arrested again late Tuesday afternoon, on a charge of Theft in the 4th Degree. Red Oak Police say 21-year old Amanda Lee Smith was taken into custody just before 5-p.m. at 106 W. CoolBaugh Street. Smith was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.