A public hearing will take place this evening in Atlantic, with regard to the disposal of property at 405 West 4th Street. The hearing is being held as part of the Atlantic City Council meeting that begins at 5:30-p.m. in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, and is with regard to a vacant lot tax acquired by the City. City Attorney Dave Wiederstein says the property is a half lot, and not buildable, so he was working with an abutting property owner who is interested in purchasing the property.

In other business, the Council will act on authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with SWIPCO (The Southwest Iowa Planning Council), with regard to the preparation of an Urban Revitalization Plan (URP) for the City. The cost of the service will not exceed $2,500. The Plan is required in order for the City to create and grant Tax Abatements. Once the Plan is created, a public hearing will be held, with property owners being notified by mail of the hearing date.

And, for the 18th year in a row, the Council will receive a “Tree City USA” award from Trees Forever in conjunction with the Arbor Day Foundation.  The City is being recognized for meeting certain requirements, including an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita. The award will be presented by Dolly Bergmann.

Authorities in Adams County report a Corning woman was arrested Tuesday morning on a couple of charges. 34-year old Dorothy Snyder was charged with Driving While Barred and Failure to file SR-22 Insurance. Snyder was taken into custody following a routine traffic stop at around 10:40-a.m, Tuesday, and brought to the Adams County Jail. Her bond amounted to slight more than $2,566.

Page County Employees are this year’s winners of the “Live Healthy Iowa 10 week Wellness Challenge,” in the 2014 Corporate Cup’s Small Company with a workforce of 50 to 250 division. The employees averaged 90-percent participation and 97.22-percent completion.

Communities, schools and businesses across the state participated in the Challenge, competing to take possession of the coveted traveling trophies for 2014. An awards ceremony was scheduled to take place today (Wednesday),  at the Iowa Wellness Summit Awards Ceremony in Des Moines, as part of a kick-off to the 2014 Iowa Wellness Summit.

The Cup Challenges take healthy competition outside the individual employers and raise the competition across the state. This year 278 companies, 46 communities and 18 schools competed for the coveted traveling trophy in their respective division. Cup Challenge winners were determined by the combination of participation among the eligible population and completion of the challenge.

Casey’s General Stores won the Mid-sized Company with a workforce of 251-1,000 division, with 53.25% participation and 84.04% completion. And, the Meredith Corporation won the Large Company with a workforce of 1,000 competition, with 97.82% participation and 80.35% completion.

The 2014 Community Cup Winner is Allamakee County, with 10.35% participation and 71.23% completion. And, the Mid-Prairie Community School District won the 2014 K-12 Cup division,  with 97.63% participation, 50% adult completion and 100% youth completion.

For a full list of Cup Challenge rankings, please visit www.livehealthyiowa.org. For more information about the Iowa Wellness Summit Awards Ceremony, please visit www.iowahealthieststate.com.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 46-year old Randy Lee Rudolph, of Audubon, was arrested Monday evening (4/14), on a charge of Animal Neglect causing death. The charge is the result of an investigation into animals found in cages in Brayton. The animals had no food or water. Rudolph turned himself-in to the Sheriff’s Office, was cited and released. He’s scheduled to appear in court Monday, April 21st.

And, an arrest has been made in connection with an incident that occurred last week in Hamlin. Sheriff’s officials say 54-year old Jeffrey Dennis Spencer, of Brayton, was arrested Friday evening, on a charge of Public Intoxication/3rd or subsequent offense. His arrest stems from an incident in the 4900 block of Highway 44 in Hamlin. Spencer was brought to the Audubon County Jail and released the following day. He’ s scheduled to appear in court Thursday (4/17).

Police in Red Oak report one person with a long history of arrests was taken into custody again, Tuesday night. 29-year old Kenton Jarvis Schooling, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at around 9:35-p.m. at a residence in the 200 block of North 2nd Street. Schooling was wanted on a Mills County warrant for OWI/1st Offense. Schooling was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $1,000 cash bond.

And, the Red Oak P-D reports 35-year old Helen Louise Malone, of Red Oak, was cited for Driving While Suspended, Tuesday. She was pulled over at around 11:45-p.m. in the 1800 block of North Broadway Street, issued the citation and released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa courthouses have a variety of security features, with about half banning guns and fewer providing secure areas for judges and staff to work outside courtrooms.     A gun incident in March at the Madison County Courthouse has sparked another push from the Iowa State Bar Association for upgraded security procedures at courthouses statewide. The group published a report on the issue in 2005.

The Des Moines Register reports a review show a majority of courthouses lack safety features recommended by the bar association. Those features include metal detectors or entryways that are monitored by deputies.

Guy Cook, a Des Moines attorney and president of the bar association, says a lack of basic security such as restricted entrances has the potential to create dangerous situations.

SIDNEY, Iowa (AP) – A southwest Iowa pastor has pleaded not guilty to charges he sexually abused a 5-year-old girl. The Omaha World-Herald reports 66-year-old Roger C. Kissel, of Sidney, pleaded not guilty to second-degree sexual abuse, lascivious acts and indecent exposure.

When he was arrested in February, Kissel was a pastor at the nondenominational Sidney Cowboy Church. Sidney Police Chief Austin Richardson says the allegations aren’t connected with the church. The crimes are alleged to have occurred over several months in 2013.

Kissel posted bond and has been released from the Fremont County Jail.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

MERRILL, Iowa (AP) – A company has purchased a former corn oil plant in northwest Iowa with the intention of starting it up again. Prairie Sun Foods LLC purchased the former Plymouth Oil plant for $3 million. The sale includes all the equipment in the plant and the acreage on which it sits. Company officials say the plant will produce food-grade corn oil and gluten-free corn germ flour. Up to 30 employees will be hired, including some former Plymouth Oil workers.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Public Radio is asking for additional funding from the state’s three public universities, a departure from a plan to become financially independent of them. Documents released Tuesday show IPR is asking the Board of Regents to approve $945,000 in funding for the budget year beginning July 1. The regents will consider the request next week.

SIDNEY, Iowa (AP) – A southwest Iowa pastor has pleaded not guilty to charges he sexually abused a 5-year-old girl. Sixty-six-year-old Roger C. Kissel of Sidney pleaded not guilty to second-degree sexual abuse, lascivious acts and indecent exposure. The crimes are alleged to have occurred over several months in 2013.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) – An Alliant Energy official says the utility has received the necessary permits for a power plant in Marshalltown and expects to begin construction this summer. Alliant, with Iowa operations based in Cedar Rapids, previously said its planned natural gas-powered plant will cost roughly $750 million and generate about 600 megawatts of electricity.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A bill meant to further relieve the financial stress of disabled veterans in the state has won the unanimous support of the Iowa Senate.  The Senate voted 50-0 Tuesday to expand a homestead tax credit already in place for disabled veterans. The legislation now goes to the House for consideration.

Under current law, eligibility for the credit is limited to disabled veterans who have an income of $35,000 or less and have acquired their home through certain federal programs. The proposal would make the tax credit available to disabled veterans regardless of income and how the home was purchased, and extend the credit to surviving spouses or children.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, says the bill is a small way to better help disabled veterans financially.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – More than 100 slot machines have been delivered for the new Hard Rock casino in Sioux City. General manager Todd Moyer told the Sioux City Journal that officials spent more than nine months researching machines and games and visiting other Iowa casinos to check the competition. Moyer says Hard Rock’s selections included “the best of the best” slot machines.

The slots will accept bets ranging from a penny to $25 per play.  Up to 850 machines should be installed for the opening of the $128.5 million project. The opening is expected to occur by late July or early August.