With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Iowa Public Information Board has been asked to review action conducted during a closed session of the City Council in Pacific Junction. The Daily NonPareil reports Councilman Earl Smith filed a complaint with the board alleging that the Pacific Junction City Council had violated the state’s opening meetings law by voting during closed session to acquire a $50,000 loan in November 2013. However, last month, Smith said the action never happened, according to a letter sent to the board.

Margaret Johnson, the deputy director of the IPIB, said Thursday that Smith essential withdrew some of the complaints he made against the council. Smith also sent his complaint to the Iowa State Auditor’s Office. In his letter, Smith said a loan for $40,000 – not $50,000 – was voted on and approved by the City Council at the beginning of the meeting. He continued that a closed session was held to discuss an “obligation debt” for federal, Social Security and Medicare back taxes in the amount of $50,000.

Smith said in his letter that Pacific Junction Mayor Andy Young told council members that the city clerk had already arranged payments with the Internal Revenue Service to pay back the debt, and “there is nothing to worry about.” Smith said there was confusion among the council’s decision because, according to a recording of the meeting, it was announced the city clerk made arrangements before knowing the amount owed to the IRS and before the plan could be approved by the City Council.

Johnson said it is likely the IPIB will hear Smith’s complaint during its October meeting – even though it falls outside the 60-day filing deadline called for in the Iowa code. Johnson said, in the future, it would benefit the City Council to make more concise agendas and take better notes during meetings.

An attempted traffic stop early this (Friday) morning in Red Oak resulted in a pursuit, crash and arrest. The Red Oak P-D reports officers attempted to stop a motorcycle driven by 25-year old Kyle Wayne Pack, of Red Oak, at around 1-a.m., for failure to obey a stop sign. Pack sped off on his 2003 Suzuki SV-650, and during a police pursuit, crashed the cycle into a house in the 600 block of east Joy Street.

Pack was arrested and charged with Felony Eluding, OWI/1st offense, Driving While Suspended, and Failure to Provide proof of insurance. He was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $5,000 cash bond.

Damage to the motorcycle amounted to $2,000. No other vehicles or property were damaged during the incident.

Interim City Administrator John Lund has announced a change in the operational hours of the Yard Waste site, in Atlantic. Effective Tuesday, Oct. 7th, the Yard Waste Site will be open on:

• Tuesday: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Thursday: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• Sunday: 1:00 pm. to 5:00 pm.

The City of Atlantic reminds the citizens to bring only trees, branches, grass, garden waste, and/or leaves to the Yard Waste site.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Some charities are fed up with people who donate items they say belong in a garbage dump. Goodwill of the Great Plains manages 21 thrift stores in four states including Iowa. Sonny Kellen with the charity tells the Sioux City Journal that all of its locations have had to address the issue by installing security cameras to prevent junk donations.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials say it’s too early to tell whether a degenerative neurological disease that affects deer is spreading in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship released statistics yesterday that show more than 280 quarantined deer in north-central Iowa tested positive for chronic wasting disease. Kevin Baskins, a spokesman for the state Department of Natural Resources, says there’s no indication the disease is spreading.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Davenport officials are considering whether to change the city’s hunting ordinance to let residents defend their properties against coyotes. The Quad-City Times reports the City Council met Wednesday and discussed the issue. One resident said he wants to use his 12-gauge shotgun to protect his family and livestock from a pack of coyotes.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Officials say 150,000 gallons of wastewater entered the Cedar River after a power failure at a treatment plant in Cedar Falls. The state Department of Natural Resources says the power failure was reported early this morning. A backup generator for a specific disinfection system failed to start following the power failure.

Authorities in Red Oak say brake failure apparently caused an accident late Thursday morning that resulted in $4,000 damage to the vehicles involved, but no injuries. Red Oak Police say the accident happened at around  11:40-a.m. in the 800 block of east Summit Street.

During their investigation, officers learned 20-year old Jacob Avery, of Emerson, was backing up in his driveway when the brakes failed on his 1999 Dodge Ram pickup. The vehicles  rolled backwards uncontrollably backwards into the street, where it hit a 1998 Ford Windstar van,  driven by 35-year old Jennifer Lillie, of Afton.

There were no citations were issued.

The Cass County Conservation Board is asking you…”When do you think the first Trumpeter Swan will arrive at the Schildberg Quarry?” You can call in your prediction (by November 11th) to the Conservation Board at 712-769-2372, leave a message and return phone number if the staff are not available.

Duplicate dates will not be allowed. For example, if a caller predicts November 25th, no one else will be allowed to predict that arrival date. Call anytime until November 11th to make your prediction. One prediction per family, please. The sponsors of this contest will determine the official arrival of the swans. The winner will receive a Trumpeter Swan 8×10 print from the Cass County Conservation Board.

The contest is only for residents of Cass County.

Trumpeter Swans have visited the Schildberg Quarry for, at least, sixteen out of the last Seventeen winters. Arrival and departure dates of the swans have been as follows:
1997/1998 December 18 – January 2
1998/1999 Nothing on record
1999/2000 December 25 – February 15
2000/2001 November 23 – March 6
2001/2002 December 25 – February 24
2002/2003 November 23 – March 15
2003/2004 November 26 – March 21
2004/2005 November 25 – March 18
2005/2006 November 17 – March 5
2006/2007 October 30 – March 9
2007/2008 November 22- February 14
2008/2009 November 18- March 12
2009-2010 November 19 – January 5
2010-2011 November 5 – February 10
2011/2012 November 17 – February 21
2012/2013 November 24– March 4
2013/2014 November 12- April 7

Police in Stuart are asking for the public’s help in finding the person responsible for shooting a dog with an arrow. The animal later died from its injuries. Officials say the incident happened at around 3:30-p.m, Thursday, when a family’s dog was shot around or near the 300 block of N. Division St.

If you have any information regarding this case please call the Stuart Police Department at 515-523-1896 or our Dispatch at 641-747-2214. If you see a loose dog in Stuart, contact the police department and they will attempt to catch the dog and/or notify the owners.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office would like the public to be aware of a possible problem that may be going on. A member of the public reported to the Sheriff’s Office that vacuum salespersons had come to her house, and she believed the two male subjects may have been casing the residence. This concern stems from a media release the complainant had seen wherein persons pretending to sell vacuum cleaners come to do a demonstration and later come back to homes to break in.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public to stay vigilant, and if there are any door-to-door salespersons (or anyone else) who seems suspicious, please contact law enforcement immediately.