The Griswold School Board held its annual organizational meeting Monday evening. Superintendent Dana Kunze told KJAN News the Board elected to continue with Doug Lembke as President for the 2014-2015 School Year, and the elected Tom Moore as Vice President, to succeed Scott Peterson. Moore also served as Vice President of the Board a few years ago.

Kunze said things have begun to “Simmer down,” with regard to their construction projects, most of which were wrapped-up over the summer. He said projects for next summer will focus on safety issues and concerns. Kunze said “safety” covers a variety of categories the board will look at and prioritizing the list of projects. That might include controlled access entries, video cameras, and even new lights at a sports facility.

Safety was one of the topics included in the “Board Learning Opportunities” portion of their agenda, Monday evening. Kunze said it’s one of the goals the Board has set for itself this year. Last month they indicated Student Academics was one of their goals. This month it’s safety. Another goal for the Board is financial. They set a target for the Central Office to try and maintain a Solvency Ration of 20-percent. Kunze said the district has been above that rate for the past few years, so the Board wants to see it pulled back.

Kunze said he’s glad he and the Board could come to an agreement on a target rate, so everyone is working “Off the same page.”

The Iowa Department of Transportation is providing public notice of the renewal of corridor preservation for the Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvements Project that includes Interstate 80 from the Missouri River east-northeast to U.S. 6 (Kanesville Boulevard) in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County. It also includes I-29 between 25th Avenue on the north to just south of U.S. 275, and I-480 from the Missouri River bridge on the Iowa side to the I-29 interchange.

The Iowa DOT implemented corridor preservation for the project Sept. 20, 2005, which was renewed on Sept. 18, 2008, and again on Sept. 16, 2011. It is the intent of the Iowa DOT to continue to utilize corridor preservation for this project. The Iowa DOT may need to acquire additional right of way or property rights within this designated area.

The notice is valid for a period of three years from the date of publication of the notification (Sept. 12, 2014) and may be refiled by the Iowa DOT every three years. The notice includes a depiction of the corridor preservation area on a map, which is available at www.iowadot.gov/ole/otherprojectinfo.html. Width of the corridor preservation zone varies depending upon the location within the corridor.

Per Iowa Code, each city and county within the designated preservation corridor is required to provide written notification to the Iowa DOT of: (1) an application for a building permit for construction valued at $25,000 or more; (2) submission of a subdivision plat; or (3) proposed zoning change within the area. Notification must be provided to the Iowa DOT at least 30 days prior to granting the proposed building permit, approving the subdivision plat, or changing the zoning. Written notification shall include all pertinent information regarding the proposed permit, plat, or zoning change.

If the Iowa DOT, within the 30-day period, notifies the city or county in writing that the Iowa DOT is proceeding to acquire all or part of the property or property rights affecting the area, the city or county shall not issue the building permit, approve the subdivision plat, or change the zoning. The Iowa DOT may apply to the city or county for an extension of the 30-day period. After a public hearing on the matter, the city or county may grant an additional 60-day extension of the period.

The Iowa DOT will begin the process of acquiring property or property rights from affected persons within 10 days of the Iowa DOT’s written notification of intent to the city or county.

For information regarding the corridor preservation, contact Scott Suhr, District 4 Planner, Iowa Department of Transportation, 2210 E. Seventh St., Atlantic, Iowa 50022, by phone at 712-243-3355 or 800-289-4368 or email scott.suhr@dot.iowa.gov.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – A new study by a sociologist at Iowa State University found three rural Iowa counties were among the top 10 in the nation in growth of income equality over more than a decade.
The gap is less obvious because showy displays of wealth are typically frowned upon in places where agriculture is the main economic driver, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, sociologist David Peters told The Des Moines Register. Emmet County was fifth on the list, O’Brien was seventh and Worth was ninth in the growth of inequality between 2000 and 2012.

“That’s shocking. It’s really a phenomenal jump,” Peters said. “It’s strongly affected by farm income.” The growth of biofuels and increase in farm commodity prices drove up incomes for some households. Because rural counties have low populations, the wealth gap can grow quickly when a relatively small number of households increase their incomes. There are fewer farmers now and some middle-skill jobs in manufacturing have disappeared, leaving people who don’t farm with fewer options.

Eight of the 10 Iowa counties with the biggest wealth gaps were rural. The other two are home to major universities and low-income students. In Emmet County, the poorest households saw their share of income decrease nearly 27 percent, while the richest saw theirs grow by 17 percent. “Iowa has never had a wealthy class and a poverty class, but we are getting more like the rest of the nation,” Peters said.

Police in Clarinda arrested a local man Monday afternoon on a warrant associated with a fraud investigation. 19-year old Caleb Jordan Ennen, of Clarinda, was taken into custody on a warrant for credit card fraud issued by the Page County Magistrate.

At the time of his arrest Ennen was found in possession of a controlled substance believed to be marijuana and drug paraphernalia related items. Ennen was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Page County Jail in lieu of bail, pending initial appearances before the Page County Magistrate.

The matter has been referred to the Page County Attorney’s Office for review and determination regarding the filing of formal charges.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to meet 8:30-a.m. Wednesday in Atlantic, at their Board Room in the Cass County Courthouse. On their agenda, is action on determining the number of deputies and assistants in the County Recorder’s Office, and the certifying of an annual base salary of the Deputy Recorder, to the Auditor.

The Board will also act on approving a Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Urban Renewal Report. Regularly scheduled reports will be heard as well, from the County Attorney, Engineer and Mental Health/General Assistance Departments.

With Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department report the arrest Monday morning of 48-year old Kelley Sue Malone, of Creston. Malone was arrested at the Creston YMCA at around 10:45-a.m., for Theft in the 5th degree. The woman was subsequently released on a promise to appear later, in court.

And, 19-year old Steven Dennis Richardson, of Creston, was arrested Monday evening at a local fast food establishment, on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear in court. Richardson was being held on $2,000 bond in the Union County Jail.

Authorities in Creston said also, a resident in the 1200 block of Jaguar Avenue reported Monday morning, that her wallet and $100 were stolen from her vehicle while it was parked at the Creston YMCA, between 10:15-and 10:30-a.m. The total loss was estimated at $130.

Officials with the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic said Monday, Dr. Ojash Raval will begin his medical practice Cass County Health System on Tuesday, September 23rd. Dr. Raval will provide comprehensive family medicine services, including obstetrics. He will care for patients at Atlantic Medical Center and Cass County Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Raval (Photo supplied)

Dr. Raval grew up in Fort Dodge, and earned his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University with a double major in Biology and Psychology. He graduated from the Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center in 2011. After completing a one-year internship at St. Petersburg General Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, he returned to Des Moines to complete his family medicine residency at Mercy Hospital Family Medicine Residency program in Des Moines.

Dr. Raval moved to Atlantic earlier this summer. To schedule an appointment, contact Atlantic Medical Center at 712-243-2850.

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt is coming to Cass County. State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is gearing up for his fall publication in hopes of returning lost money to its rightful owner.  Fitzgerald says the State is holding more than $628,800 for Cass County residents in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt.

“Throughout the years, (he says), we have had tremendous success returning unclaimed property in Cass County. We have returned (just over $299,200) for people in Cass County, but we are always looking for more individuals. The fall publication signifies the names of people that had funds turned over to the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt within the last year.”

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt program has returned over $182 million in unclaimed property to more than 438,000 individuals since Fitzgerald started it in 1983. Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions or companies that have lost contact with the property’s owner for a specific period of time.

State law requires these institutions and companies to annually report and deliver unclaimed property to the state treasurer’s office, where it is held until the owner or heir of the property is found. Common forms of unclaimed property include savings or checking accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility security deposits, and safe deposit box contents.

Check the unclaimed property database to see if the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt has property belonging to you. Simply visit greatiowatreasurehunt.com to begin your search. Be sure to like Great Iowa Treasure Hunt on Facebook and follow the program on Twitter @GreatIATreasure.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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