The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 31-year old Autumn Virginia Bolser, of Creston, was arrested March 2nd, on a Department of Corrections (DOC) warrant, for Parole Violation. Bolser was transported to the Mitchellville Correctional Facility.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 31-year old Autumn Virginia Bolser, of Creston, was arrested March 2nd, on a Department of Corrections (DOC) warrant, for Parole Violation. Bolser was transported to the Mitchellville Correctional Facility.
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A jury is weighing the case against one of three men charged in an eastern Iowa homicide. Eric Campbell Jr. is charged with murder and robbery in the slaying of Collin Brown on April 2, 2016, in the Dubuque County community of Key West. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the state’s case was given to the jury after final arguments Monday in Black Hawk County District Court in Waterloo. The trial was moved to Black Hawk County District Court because of pretrial publicity in the Dubuque area.
A mistrial was declared Dec. 7 in Campbell’s first trial when a witness who didn’t know Campbell at the time of the crime and previously couldn’t identify him mentioned his name during testimony.
Two other men already have been imprisoned.
The Atlantic City Council has a full agenda for their meeting 5:30-p.m., Wednesday, at City Hall. The meeting includes public hearings on various matters, followed by resolutions on those issues. The first hearing is with regard to Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2019 Budget for the City of Atlantic. The budget amounts to nearly $12.5-million, which is a reduction of a little more than $1.8-million over last year. It also calls for an increase in the tax levy of 2.87%, to $16.86 per $1,000 assessed valuation. The levy will then be frozen for the FY 2020 and 2021 tax years. Following the hearing, the Council will act on approving a resolution adopting the FY 2019 Budget.
A Public Hearing is also scheduled with regard to Adopting the Proposed FY 2019 Ten-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). City Administrator John Lund said City Department Heads began in 2016 with a five-year plan. This past Fall, they increased their planning horizon to 10-years, which Lund says is essential as the City reviews its long-term debt issuance, debt capacity and tax rate. The public hearing will also be followed by a Resolution adopting the 10-year plan. Another Resolution before the Council is with regard to setting salaries for City of Atlantic appointed officers and employees, for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2018, through June 30th, 2019. City Administrator John Lund says the City will begin negotiations with both of its Unions this fall, but the Council will need to meet to discuss future wage growth for all personnel, because it has a multi-year implication on the city’s budgets.
Action is also expected on a Resolution “Designating Distribution of Sales Tax Revenues to various funds for specific purposes.” Lund says last year, the City made changes to the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) allocation formula, for the first time in decades. Since then, the State’s sales tax receipts have come in short of forecasts, a situation that occurred in Atlantic, as well. He said in order top keep the budgets whole, an additional change for FY 2018 is required to ensure minimum fund balances are maintained. “FY 2019,” according to Lund, “will see major investment into the Schildberg Recreation Area. Further changes are needed to make this possible. However, this resolution,” he says, “states that we are returning to the original allocation formula with the FY 2020 budget.”
The Atlantic City Council will also act on a Resolution “In support of a Workforce Housing Tax Credit Benefit Application to be submitted to the Iowa Economic Development Authority by Ash Land Development, LLC, for the Atlantic Boose Affordable Housing Project.” Local developer Marty Boose is pursuing the housing tax credit program, the application for which requires a resolution of support from the City, and a small contribution of $1,000 per unit. Boose anticipates two or three houses will be applied on the credit. The City will be able to absorb $2,000 -to $3,000, according to Lund. The Council will also act on a Resolution setting the date for a public hearing on a proposal to enter into a General Obligation General Purpose Loan Agreement, and to Borrow money thereunder. The City is issuing $2.68-million in debt, and assuming $304, 181 in general corporate purpose debt. The FY 2018 Bond portion of the CIP would be used for Fire Station improvements, beautification projects, phase 2 of the Library remodel, and an incinerator for the Atlantic Animal Shelter.
The Council is also expected to act on approving an Engineering Agreement with Snyder and Associates, for the Beautification Project. The agreement would be paid for out of budgeted sales tax dollars in the LOST Progress Fund.
LaVon Eblen visits with Loretta Olson of Larry’s Painting Service about their plan to provide two home owners with free exterior painting services as a “Thank You” to the community.
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A reminder to residents of Adair County, that a Special Election is being held today (Tuesday, March 6th),with regard to passing an additional bond for the courthouse elevator project. The Special Election will ask voters of Adair County “Shall the Board of Supervisors bond for an amount not to exceed $650,000 for the purpose of installing an elevator?” Polling places include the Adair Community Center, Stuart Recreational Center, Fontanelle Community Building, Orient United Methodist Church, and the Adair County Health and Fitness Center. You may also still return absentee ballots to the Adair County Auditor’s office before the polls close at 8:00 p.m.
Adair County Auditor Mindy Schaefer told KJAN News back in November, the Board of Supervisors passed a Resolution calling for the Special Election. She said the need for a new elevator to replace one that was installed back in the 1980’s, became clear when officials with the State said the elevator does not meet current standards. The State says it will no longer approve the elevator for inspection. Schaefer said when it was installed in the 1980’s it was never intended for commercial use. Some of the current wheelchairs and motor scooters are difficult to maneuver into the elevator. A Public Hearing was held last May to go out for a bond sale. $600,000 of that bond was designated for a new elevator. Schaefer said the initial feasibility studies placed the price tag for the project at $550,000. She says the County has a statutory limit of $600,000 that it cannot exceed without a special election.
The County went ahead and bonded for the $600,000. The bids for the project came in shockingly higher than expected. The lowest bid was $749,000. The highest was $1-million, $25,000. There were five bids in between. Mindy said the $600,000 limit was for the entire project, and did not take into account architects, soil surveys and other factors. The Board stripped everything possible to reduce costs, but the final answer was to ask the public for a bond to help pay for the rest.
The Cass County Board of Supervisors won’t meet until March 14th, but their counterparts in Adair County have a regular meeting set for tomorrow (Wednesday). On the agenda for their 9-a.m. meeting at the courthouse in Greenfield, is a Year of Service Awards and Coffee before the start of business at 9:30-a.m., during which there will be a Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2019 Adair County Budget. The Board will also act on a FY2019 Compensation Resolution, a Resolution to approve the FY 2019 budget, and a SICOG (Southern Iowa Council of Governments) resolution.
In other business, County Treasurer Brenda Wallace will present a Tax Sale Deed, and County Engineer Nick Kauffmann will present RCB (concrete box) Culvert replacement project contracts for signing. The Adair County Supervisors will then adjourn into a closed session to discuss the purchase of two parcels of real estate.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The City Council in Sioux City has voted to support those who want to open a medical marijuana oil dispensary in the northwest Iowa city. The council voted 4-1 Monday to send a letter of support to the Iowa Public Health Department, which intends to award licenses for up to five such dispensaries across the state.
The company MedPharm has been approved to sell medical marijuana in Iowa and had requested the Sioux City letter of support. The council instead decided to include support for any entity willing to do business with the city for a dispensary. Patients and primary caregivers with valid medical cannabidiol registration cards would be obtain the oil at the dispensaries.
Class 2A Quarterfinals
Cascade, Western Dubuque 60, Van Meter 47
Class 3A Quarterfinals
Xavier, Cedar Rapids 67, Marion 60
Glenwood 67, Norwalk 58
Waverly-Shell Rock 59, Mount Pleasant 51
Oskaloosa 63, Sergeant Bluff-Luton 47
Class 4A Quarterfinals
Iowa City, West 62, Muscatine 50
Waukee 60, Johnston 58
(From IHSAA)
DES MOINES – Using a quick start and a powerful post presence, Sheldon (22-3) topped Kuemper Catholic, Carroll in the final Class 2A quarterfinal of Monday’s slate at Wells Fargo Arena. The second-seeded Orabs finished the first quarter up 19-5 and the margin was rarely in single digits again as the Siouxland Conference contender advanced to the semifinals for the third time.
Jaden Kleinhesselink led three Sheldon (22-3) scorers in double figures, pouring in 17 points on just eight field goal attempts. Forwards Ryan Van Marel and Kyle Boerhave combined for 27 points and 21 rebounds, also contributing to the Orabs outscoring Kuemper in the paint, 32-12.
Kuemper (15-9) made its best rally in the second quarter, when senior Sam Auen made four 3-pointers in the span of five possessions. Auen finished with 18 points and classmate Parker Badding had a game-high 21. Kuemper’s previous season-low in scoring was 59 points in the substate final upset over two-time defending champion Western Christian, Hull.
Sheldon won the 2A title in its last trip to state in 2013. The Orabs shot 69 percent from the field after halftime on Monday and will await the winner of Tuesday morning’s quarterfinal between Van Meter and Cascade, Western Dubuque.
(From IHSAA)
DES MOINES – Behind 28 points from senior Dillon Faubel and clutch play down the stretch, top seed Treynor won Class 2A’s quarterfinal opener against a tough Wapello squad, 59-53.
The Indians (23-2) led at halftime of their first tournament game since 1994, but couldn’t hold off the 2015 champs. Treynor shot 58 percent after halftime and responded every time Wapello tried to regain its advantage, including a Luke Clausen 3-pointer with 1:40 left to take a 52-50 lead to 55-50, and again as Faubel made all four of his free throws inside the final 40 seconds. Faubel finished with 28 on 10-of-17 shooting, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Clausen had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Wapello had three starters in double figures, paced by post Keaton Mitchell’s 15 points and 11 rebounds that included a pair of dunks. Top scorer Trenton Massner and Gage Witte finished with 12 points each. Massner was held in check by Treynor’s tight defense and made just three field goals on the afternoon.
Treynor’s first half buzzer-beaters also matched its margin of victory on Monday. Jerry Jorgenson rolled in a 3-pointer to end the first quarter, and Clausen hit one before halftime to cut Wapello’s lead to 28-27. The win was Treynor’s fifth straight at Wells Fargo Arena.