Two Nebraska men were apprehended early this (Friday) morning after they wrecked their vehicle near Crescent, Iowa after allegedly robbing a motel in northern Cass County. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports that at 11:40-pm Thursday, the America’s Best Value Inn located at intersection of Interstate 80 and U-S Highway 71 was robbed by a lone black male who displayed a firearm and demanded money. The suspect left with an undisclosed amount of money. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Atlantic Police Department responded to the scene.

Based upon information from the initial investigation, the Cass County 911 Center was able to alert area law enforcement officers in southwest Iowa of the description of the vehicle and suspects. At approximately 12:05-am, an Iowa State Patrol trooper located the suspect vehicle near the Minden exit on Interstate 80 and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle fled, continuing west onto Interstate 680 at speeds near 130mph. The suspect vehicle then proceeded south on Interstate 29.

A Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy was able to successfully deploy stop-sticks at the 62 mile marker of Interstate 29, partially disabling the vehicle. The suspects then attempted to enter Nebraska but failed to negotiate the Interstate 29 and 680 interchange and driver lost control and the suspect vehicle rolled several times in the median. The two occupants of the vehicle required extrication from the vehicle and were transported to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries.  Troopers said the passenger was partially ejected from the vehicle and suffered critical injuries.  The driver is expected to be OK. Charges are currently pending on the two occupants of the vehicle, who are from Omaha. The driver of the vehicle had several felony warrants out for his arrest.

The same suspects were allegedly involved in an incident which occurred in Stuart, prior to the Cass County robbery. Information on the incident in Adair County is currently not available.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in its investigation, by the Atlantic Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol, Audubon County Sheriff’s Office, Council Bluffs Police Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri Valley Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Omaha Police Department Gang Unit, Omaha Police Helicopter Able One, Council Bluffs Fire Department and the Crescent Fire Department.

(updated post 8:50-a.m.)

Unless the Atlantic City Council decides otherwise, the Cass County Fair Board will be required to pay a nearly $3,100 building permit fee for the construction of a new Cattle Barn on the Cass County Fairgrounds. The Board had requested the fee be waived, and the City Council, during its meeting this past Wednesday, voted to turn the matter over to the City’s Personnel and Finance Committee.

Clockwise, from left to right: Kathy Somers, Committee Chair; Councilman Steve Livengood; City Administrator Doug Harris; Councilman Shawn Shouse.

That Committee Thursday evening took no action on a recommendation to approve the request, citing no way to fairly and equitably apply the current Ordinance to the Fair Board’s request, and the unprecedented nature of the request.

Committee member and City Councilman Shawn Shouse asked if perhaps the Board of Adjustment could possibly waive a building permit fee. City Administrator Doug Harris said that board can only waive what they are authorized to waive, such as variances. Harris said the Board has discretion to make mittimus changes in requirements and there is nothing in the ordinance that spells out the exact fees, but the City Council has the power to make “mittimus adjustments.”  He said if it’s done hap-hazard and at will, however, it opens the door to all ordinances being open to interpretation.

Shawn Shouse said, and the Committee agreed, that regardless of which non-profit agency asks a building permit fee to be waived, there is no way or logical justification for it, unless the ordinance is re-written to better define how fees are to be assessed. The Committee tabled discussion on reworking the current building permit fee until a separate, Ad Hoc committee can be formed to gather input on how best to improve the ordinance, which has not been revised in about 10-years and the fees for which building permits were issued, was based on 30-cents per square foot.

In other business, the Personnel and Finance Committee discussed, but voted against a proposal to move parts of City Hall and/or the Police Department into the former Sitel building on Southwest 7th Street. The discussion focused on the fact a great deal of money has already been spent on renovating the current City Hall, and it would be more cost effective to make the building more handicapped accessible, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Committee Chair Kathy Somers said the current building has the potential to serve the needs of the City, if some changes are made, such as moving the current Council Chambers to the upper floor auditorium and using the additional space created for offices and/or much needed storage space. Other issues, such as garage and parking space, are factors that can also be addressed by making less costly modifications to City Hall instead of purchasing the Sitel building, according to the Committee. The only advantages to moving into the building, it was noted, was full-accessibility, and better parking.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports ballots for the Sept. 10, 2013 SCHOOL ELECTION for local school board directors and community college public measures are now available at the Cass County Auditor’s office. If you will be unable to go to the voting center on election day, you may vote by mail by sending a request for an absentee ballot to the Cass County Auditor’s office. Alternatively, you may stop and vote at the County Auditor’s office during office hours: 8 a.m. thru 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday.

A listing of the candidates, public measures and polling centers:

CAM Community School District

NORTH District Chuck Kinzie (Incumbent)

1 to be elected

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

SOUTH District Gary Dinkla (Incumbent)

1 to be elected

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

AT LARGE District Nick Kauffman (Incumbent)

1 to be elected

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

ATLANTIC Community School District

District AT LARGE Kristy Pellett (Incumbent)

2 to be elected Josh E. McLaren (Incumbent)

Bob Reilly

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Griswold Community School District*

District # 3 Scott C. Peterson (Incumbent)

1 to be elected

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

District # 4 Thomas Jay Moore (Incumbent)

1 to be elected

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

District AT LARGE Steve Baier (Incumbent)

2 to be elected Denise L. Bridges

Robert Peterson (Incumbent)

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

*The Griswold School Director District Plan has changed from seven local director districts to four local director districts and three directors elected at large. Four of those seven positions are on the ballot this year: One District 3 local director: the director must live in the district and is nominated and elected by the individual district. One District 4 local director: the director must live in the district and is nominated and elected by the individual district. Two At Large local directors: the directors are nominated and elected at large.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

AN IOWA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DIRECTOR will be elected.

Director District #4 Scott D. Robinson (Incumbent)

1 to be elected

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

PUBLIC MEASURE B: “Shall the Board of Directors of Iowa Western Community College (Merged Area XIII) in the Counties of Adair, Adams, Audubon, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby, State of Iowa, be authorized to continue to levy a tax not to exceed twenty and one-fourth (20 1/4) cents per thousand dollars of assessed value in any one year for a period of ten (10) consecutive fiscal years beginning with the tax levy to be made for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, for any one or more of the following purposes: for purchase of grounds; construction of buildings; payment of debts contracted for the construction of buildings, purchase of buildings and equipment for buildings, and the acquisition of libraries; for the purpose of paying costs of utilities; and for the purpose of maintaining, remodeling, improving or expanding the Community College of the Merged Area XIII; or for such other purposes as authorized by law, as provided in Chapter 260C, Section 22 of the Code of Iowa.”

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

PUBLIC MEASURE C: “Shall the Board of Directors of Iowa Western Community College (Merged Area XIII) in the Counties of Adair, Adams, Audubon, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby, State of Iowa, be authorized to continue to levy a tax not to exceed six (6) cents per thousand dollars of assessed value in any one year for a period of ten (10) consecutive fiscal years beginning with the tax levy to be made for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017, for either of the following purposes: program sharing between community colleges or for the purchase of instructional equipment; or for such other purposes as authorized by law, as provided in Chapter 260C, Section 28 of the Code of Iowa.”

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VOTING CENTERS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION

ATLANTIC COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT of Cass, Audubon and Pottawattamie counties. The polls will open at 12 NOON and close at 8:00 P.M. Election is “AT LARGE” meaning that all residents of the entire school district may vote for all school offices and public measures. If you are not sure where you vote in the SCHOOL ELECTION (which may differ from that of other elections), please call the office of the Cass County Election Commissioner (County Auditor): 243-4570.

NOTE: ONLY TWO VOTING CENTERS WILL BE USED FOR THIS ELECTION:

VOTING CENTER 1: Voters living in Wards 1, 4 and 5 of the City of Atlantic will vote at HERITAGE HOUSE, 1200 Brook Ridge Circle in Atlantic.

VOTING CENTER 2: Voters living in the remainder of the Atlantic Community School District, being those voters residing in Audubon and Pottawattamie counties; Bear Grove, Benton, Brighton, Cass, Franklin, Grove, Pymosa and Washington townships of Cass County; the City of Marne; the City of Wiota; and Wards 2 and 3 of the City of Atlantic will vote at the ATLANTIC PUBLIC LIBRARY (507 Poplar), Atlantic, Iowa.

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 CAM COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT of Cass, Adams, Adair and Audubon counties. Election is “AT LARGE” meaning that all residents of the entire school district may vote for all school offices and public measures.

NOTE: THREE VOTING CENTERS WILL BE USED FOR THIS ELECTION:

ANITA VOTING CENTER: Voters residing in that portion of the CAM Community School District residing in Grant, Benton, Franklin or Lincoln Township in Cass County or in Adair County or Audubon County will vote at the ANITA COMMUNITY CENTER (805 Main St).

CUMBERLAND VOTING CENTER: Voters residing in that portion of the CAM Community School District residing in Union, Bear Grove, Noble or Edna Township in Cass County or in Adams County will vote at the CUMBERLAND COMMUNITY BLDG (200 W 2nd, Cumberland).

MASSENA VOTING CENTER: Voters residing in that portion of the CAM Community School District residing in Massena or Victoria Township in Cass County or in Adams County will vote at the MASSENA PUBLIC LIBRARY in Massena (122 Main St).

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 GRISWOLD COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT of Cass, Pottawattamie, Adams and Montgomery counties. Election is both “AT LARGE” and “BY DISTRICT” meaning that all residents of the entire school district may vote for the AT LARGE school offices and the public measures. However, only LOCAL SCHOOL DIRECTOR districts 3 and 4 will be voting for the respective district school office.

NOTE: THREE VOTING CENTERS WILL BE USED FOR THIS ELECTION.

ALL FOUR (4) LOCAL DISTRICTS will be voting for the AT LARGE seats public measures; HOWEVER the OFFICE OF LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT DIRECTOR FOR DISTRICT 3 (votes at Elliott Voting Center) and DISTRICT 4 (votes at Griswold Voting Center) WILL APPEAR ONLY ON THE BALLOT FOR THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICT:

LEWIS VOTING CENTER, Voters residing in Griswold Director District 1, will vote at the LEWIS LIBRARY (412 West Main St). ELLIOTT VOTING CENTER: Voters residing in Griswold Director District 3 will vote at the ELLIOTT COMMUNITY BUILDING (403 Main St, Elliott). GRISWOLD VOTING CENTER: Voters residing in Griswold Director District 2 and 4 will vote at the GRISWOLD COMMUNITY BUILDING (601 2nd St, Griswold). If you do not know in which district you reside, check your voter registration card or contact the Griswold School District school board secretary.

Authorities in Montgomery County say a teenager suffered minor head and arm injuries during an accident that took place just before 2-p.m., Thursday. The accident happened in the 100 block of North 5th Avenue. Officials say a 2000 Chevy Suburban driven by 38-year old Melynda Walker, of Villisca, was pulling out of a driveway and headed North. As the SUV left the driveway and continued north, 17-year old Gypsy Walker, also of Villisca, ran and jumped on the trailer hitch of the vehicle.

The teen fell and hit her head and arms on the road. The vehicle being driven by Melynda Walker left the scene. Gypsy Walker was taken by Villisca Rescue to the Montgomery County Hospital for treatment of her injuries, which officials said appeared to have been minor. Charges are pending completion of the accident investigation.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three people were arrested recently. Among them was 25-year old Scott Eugene Jacobsen, of Council Bluffs, who was arrested today (Thursday) at the Pottawattamie County Jail on a warrant for Burglary in the 3rd degree. His bond was $5,000. 18-year old Dominque James Schlup, of Hastings, was also arrested today (Thursday) at the Pott. County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear on a Driving While Revoked charge. His bond was set at $2,000.

And, 35-year old Maria T. Gudenra-Hurst, of Omaha, was arrested on a warrant for OWI 1st offense. Gudenra-Hurst was being held in the Mills County Jail on $1,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is shifting to a new high school equivalency diploma test. The state Department of Education announced Thursday it would replace the GED with a test developed by the nonprofit ETS. The agency says the nonprofit’s test, called HiSET, will be aligned with statewide standards for Iowa students and will be cheaper.

Iowa officials begin considering moving to a new test after GED Testing Service shifted from a nonprofit to a for-profit organization in 2012. That move prompted other assessment vendors to being offering services. A selection committee comprised of officials at community colleges and the Iowa Department of Education chose the new test. The new test will cost $50 and can be taken in a paper or online format.

Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating the theft of solar-powered yard lights. A resident in Villisca called the Sheriff’s Office this (Thursday) morning to report 11 solar yard lights valued at $50 were stolen from a residence in the 600 block of east 4th Street. The theft occurred sometime between the hours of 10-p.m. Wednesday and 7-a.m. today (Thursday). Anyone having information about the crime is asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-423-1001.

Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Public Health report the agency has received an increase in the number of cases of Cryptosporidiosis, or ‘Crypto.’ Of the 358 cases of Crypto reported to IDPH so far this year, 272 cases have occurred since June 1st. An additional 138 cases are currently under investigation. Cases have been reported in nearly half of Iowa’s 99 counties. In 2012, a total of 328 Crypto cases were reported for the entire year.

In western Iowa, the following counties reported cases of “Crytpo occuring from June 1st through August 7th: Adair (3), Guthrie (1), Madison (2),  Monona (1),  Pottawattamie (2), Sac (2), Woodbury (3).

Crypto is a disease caused by a parasite that results in watery diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and low grade fever. Crypto can cause disease in both humans and animals. People get Crypto by coming in contact with persons or animals shedding the parasite, or by drinking water contaminated with the parasite.

Many of the people who have become ill with Crypto reported swimming in pools, and some in lakes or rivers. IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk says “The most effective way to keep swimming waters healthy is by keeping unhealthy people out of them.” Quinlisk adds, “If you or your child is or has recently been sick with diarrhea, don’t go swimming.”

A small number of people also reported being around animals. To protect against illness, be sure to wash hands after any contact with animals or their living areas, and after handling animal waste.

To keep swimming safe, remember:

• Protect others by not swimming if you are experiencing diarrhea (this is essential for children in diapers). If diagnosed with Crypto, do not swim for at least two weeks after diarrhea stops.
• Do not swallow water in your mouth.
• Thoroughly wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
• Shower yourself and your child before swimming.
• Change diapers in a bathroom, not at the poolside.
• Take your kids on bathroom breaks and check swim diapers often.

It is also important to:

• Wash hands before preparing or eating food; after using the toilet; after changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet; and before and after caring for someone who is ill with diarrhea.
• To reduce the risk of disease transmission, children with diarrhea should be excluded from child care settings until the diarrhea has stopped.

For more information on Crypto, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/IDPHChannelsService/file.ashx?file=66C275B0-3645-435E-AE6E-BBC18EE585AF.

A school leader in southwest Iowa says he made a “poor mistake” over the weekend when he was ticketed for having an open container of alcohol in the car he was driving. Lenox School Superintendent David Henrichs says he’s sorry for embarrassing the school district and his family and he takes full responsibility for the incident. “I did receive an open container ticket,” Henrichs says. “I informed the board as soon as I got back from being issued that ticket. I did not get arrested and there was no OWI. We will have a discussion about the situation in full detail at the August 19th board meeting.”

The incident happened Saturday night as there was a flurry of police activity in the Taylor County town, which included a serious domestic abuse situation, a drug bust and the discovery of a body in a corn field. There were rumors a school staff member might have been involved in the incidents, which was evidently not the case. Still, Henrichs says he agreed to drive that employee to the area where the body was found.

“I absolutely made a poor mistake, I have no excuses,” Henrichs says. “I was very concerned about all these other rumors going around. I have tried to be very proactive by contacting the board immediately, I’ve been telling staff members as soon as I’ve seen them at school. That’s where we are.”

Henrichs has served the Lenox School District, first as principal, then as superintendent, for the past 15 years.

(Chuck Morris/Radio Iowa)