Police in Lenox are warning area residents about a fundraising scam. Authorities say they have been notified a local resident recently received a phone call from someone claiming to be raising funds for the Lenox Fire Department. Officials stress “The Lenox Fire Department IS NOT soliciting donations via the telephone.”

The Police Department say if you receive or have received a call like that, you should  contact Lenox Police. If you have caller ID, and the number appears, write that information down so authorities can get to the bottom of this scam.

The Lenox P-D wants to make clear that the local Fire Department IS currently conducting a door to door fund raising campaign. It involves current members of the fire department ONLY. If you have any doubts as to the validity of someone claiming to be from the fire department, please ask for identification or contact the Lenox City Hall.

Above all, remember, NEVER give out credit card or bank account information over the phone to someone who has called you, claiming to need that information for any purpose.

The American Red Cross urges eligible blood donors to roll up a sleeve and give to help prevent a summer blood shortage. The Red Cross is seeing fewer appointments at its blood donation centers and blood drives this summer than what is needed to ensure blood and platelets continue to be available for patients.

During the summer months of June, July and August, on average, about two fewer donors make an appointment to give blood at each Red Cross blood drive than what patients need. Today (Tuesday), the American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive in Elk Horn.

The drive takes place from 11:30am-5:30pm at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. If you are able, make sure you donate blood today because you never know whose life you may save tomorrow. The need is constant. The gratification is instant. Give blood.

The Shelby County Supervisors approved a new telephone system for the Shelby County Courthouse. In a meeting this (Tuesday) morning, Shelby County Assessor Tony Buman explained that a committee made up of himself, Treasurer Carolyn Blum and Recorder Linda Fahn, worked on going out for bids for the new telephone system. He called the current courthouse telephone system is outdated and most of the parts can not be ordered if something goes wrong. The committee received bids from Farmer’s Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company (FMCTC), Mytel and Off Kilter Media.

Buman said “We looked at all three of them. We looked at some of the systems provided by them. We looked at the costing and so on. And our recommendation is unanimous to go with Farmer’s Mutual. Not only are they are current provider, they offer a product that does not upgrading to a network system which would be a little bit more complex in running. It was also the least pricing of all three proposals as well.”

Buman added, the bids were not exactly alike which is why there was a discrepancy in the amount per company. The bid from FMCTC was for $15,080.37. The Supervisors approved the bid with a vote of 2-0 with board member Roger Schmitz having to abstain due to being a member of the FMCTC board. One talking point was an emergency button service in every room of the courthouse which would tie into the new phone system.

The Supervisors agreed they needed more information on what would need to be installed at the courthouse before making a decision on the matter. In other business, the Shelby County Board of Supervisors approved a disaster declaration for the county presented by Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Iowa Secretary of State’s office has provided county auditors information from the Social Security Death Index regarding possible deceased voters. Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz said “It’s important that our voter lists are accurate and this routine check of information in the Social Security Death Index will help county auditors determine which voters are deceased and should no longer be on the voting rolls.”

Prior to removing any names from the voting rolls, county auditors will analyze the information to determine whether the deceased individuals are matches to voters currently registered to vote. A total of 1234 individuals were initially matched as currently being on Iowa’s voting lists and listed in the Social Security Death Index. County auditors also previously reviewed Social Security Death Index information to improve the voter lists in 2012.

In the immediate KJAN listening area, the Secretary of State’s Office has sent the following records to County Auditors: 6 each in Adair and Montgomery Counties; 1 in Adams County; 2 each in Audubon  and Cass Counties; 8 in Guthrie County; 13 in Pottawattamie County, and 16 in Shelby County.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has agreed to appoint a selection committee tasked with re-opening the interview process for the Executive Director’s position. Earlier this month, Rhonda Larsen resigned from the post after serving for less than two months. In a press release today (Tuesday), Past Chamber President Chip Hansen said “Due to the nature of the personnel issues, the Board cannot comment on the specifics of the resignation of Rhonda Larsen. We wish her the best in her future endeavors and thank her for her time.”
Hansen said “The Board hopes to have the position filled in the coming weeks. The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce intends to update the public as we move forward. We wish to thank our membership and the public for continued support.”

The Adair County Board of Supervisors are set to act on the Master Matrix Scoring for the proposed expansion of hog confinement operations near Orient. The Geidel family wants to double each of their three farming operations from 2,500 head to 5,000. After a review of the correspondence, the Board will make their recommendation to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  In May, the Adair County Supervisors voted 4-1 against the family’s plan to expand their hog operations. Wednesday’s action is set to take place at 9:45-a.m.

In other business, the Adair County Board of Supervisors will act on: a Fiscal Year 2015 Emergency Preparedness Grant Contract; Case Management Services Amended and Restated 28-E agreement; A Speer Financial Supplemental Financial Services Agreement; and the awarding of a contract for  Reinforced Concrete Box (RCB) Culvert projects.

The meeting begins at 9-a.m.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, will act on approving a Resolution to enter into an agreement (28-E or intergovernmental) with Montgomery County. The agreement is with regard to the joint responsibilities for a bridge replacement project on the county line road on South Line of section 32, Noble Township.

The Board will also hear regularly scheduled reports. Their meeting begins at 8:30-a.m.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest on Monday, of 18-year old Austin Van Aernam. The Atlantic man was taken into custody on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault, causing injury. He was booked into the Cass County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Republican David Young has less than $90,000 in the bank for his run in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. Young’s campaign spokesman said Monday night that Young had raised just over $110,000 during the most recent reporting period, which ended June 30. He has nearly $90,000 in cash. That’s far less than his Democratic opponent Staci Appel, who said last week that she had more than $725,000 on hand.

Young, a former chief of staff for Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, and Appel, a former state lawmaker, are vying to replace retiring Republican congressman Tom Latham. Campaign finance reports are due Tuesday to the Federal Election Commission. The 3rd District covers much of southwest Iowa, stretching from Des Moines to Council Bluffs.

July 15, 2014 (Des Moines) — Tourism-related entities in Iowa have until August 4 to apply for grants available through the Iowa Tourism Grant program. Administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Iowa Tourism Office, the grants provide financial assistance with marketing initiatives, meetings, events and professional development efforts. Complete details about the program, including its administrative rules, can be found in the Industry Information section of traveliowa.com.

Eligible applicants are tourism-related entities based in Iowa. Applicants must demonstrate a 25% cash match of the grant amount. The project must be completed in fiscal year 2015 (July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015). The minimum grant amount is $500 and the maximum grant amount is $5,000 per application.

Of the approximately $250,000 in funds available, $100,000 will be dedicated to marketing Vision Iowa projects. All Vision Iowa, Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) and River Enhancement Community Attraction and Tourism (RECAT) recipients are eligible to apply for funds to support marketing activities.

For more information about Iowa tourism, visit www.traveliowa.com, call 800.345.IOWA or stop at any Iowa Welcome Center.