DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Woodbury County officials in northwest Iowa have decided to settle lawsuits filed over strip searches at the county jail.   The Sioux City Journal reports that Woodbury County Board Chairman Larry Clausen says the board settled rather than risk trial and possibly pay more to complainants and their attorneys. Three women arrested on misdemeanor charges say they were forced to take off their clothes in view of male jailers during incidents in 2006 and 2007.

In the settlement, Maureen Rattray, of South Sioux City, Neb., was paid $335,000. Lori Mathes received $40,000 and Lisa Lambert $10,000. Dismissal papers were filed Tuesday.  In 2011 a U.S. District Court jury awarded Rattray more than $250,000, but that verdict was overturned and a retrial ordered because of inconsistencies in the verdict form.

The Atlantic City Council held a special session Wednesday evening at the Senior Citizen Center. During the meeting, the Council, after receiving no written or oral objections, adopted the Fiscal year 2014 Municipal Budget, and they passed a resolution awarding a contract for the reconstruction of the Sunnyside Tennis Courts, to Dostals Construction Company, in Gretna, NE.

During previous meetings of the Council, concerns were raised over how to pay for the $259,000 reconstruction project, but City Administrator Doug Harris said he recently came to realize that the costs could be included under “Essential Purpose” funding. He said he assumed Park projects were “Corporate Purposes,” but he learned only things like City Hall renovation can come under that type of funding. Knowing that they can come under Essential Purpose frees up some money for that and other park projects.

Parks and Recreation Department Director Roger Herring said it is essential to get the tennis courts done as soon as possible, so Atlantic can “Get back on the tournament trail.” With the tennis courts currently torn up in preparation for reconstruction, Herring said the Atlantic Trojan’s Tennis Tournament will take place in Harlan this year. He says Atlantic was also asked to host a District Tennis Tournament, but that couldn’t happen because of the condition of the courts prior to reconstruction. Herring says by finalizing the contract, the City will be eligible for a U-S Tennis Association grant and Missouri Valley USTA funds.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Carroll County Attorney’s Office has filed felony charges against three teens, who allegedly took part an incident which occurred March 2nd, during which a gun was fired at a vehicle occupied by several people. According to court records, a 16-year old boy was charged with committing the delinquent act of intimidation with a dangerous weapon. The other boys, ages 14 and 16, were charged with committing the delinquent act of intimidation with a dangerous weapon and charged with aiding and abetting the shooting of a dangerous weapon at a vehicle occupied by several people. One of the teens lives in Carroll County, the other two are from Crawford County. The teens, who were identified as Tanner Bald, Keaton Otto and Colton Otto, were charged in Carroll County District Court’s Juvenile Division.

No one was hurt during the incident, but the charges allege  the shooting did put the occupants of the vehicle at risk to suffer an injury.  The Superintendent of the IKM-Manning Community Schools told KCCI TV in Des Moines, that none of the district’s students have been expelled or suspended due to the incident. The boys have since returned to school.

The Vision Iowa Board Wednesday, awarded over one-point-two-five million dollars ($1.25 million) in grants to six projects across the state. Vision Iowa spokesperson Jessica O’Riley says the town of Hancock is receiving an award of $175,000. The grant will help with improvements at the popular Botna Bend Park. The project includes construction of a new restroom, plus enhancements to a water trail and campgrounds.

O’Riley says the largest award of $404,068 is going to the Des Moines Social Club.The organization is acquiring and renovating an old fire station in downtown Des Moines. The $3.3 million project involves the creation of a theater space, classrooms, an art gallery and more. An award of just over 250-thousand dollars ($250,000) will help finance a $1.3 million project in Marion — the construction of a large amphitheater in Lowe Park.

“The Lowe Park project is really impressive,” O’Riley said. “It has a humongous burr oak leaf that forms the canopy to the amphitheater, so it’s an outdoor performing stage. The drawings the board has seen are quite stunning.” The Vision Iowa Board also awarded grant to a library expansion in Waukon and various community projects in Van Horne. O’Riley said both projects have tremendous community support.

“For the town of Waukon, which has just about 4,000 people, they raised $656,000 in private fundraising,” O’Riley said. “In Van Horne, which has (a population of) under 700, they are near $500,000 raised locally.” A project that involves improvements to a riverfront park in Charles City was awarded a grant of just over $36,000.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

No injuries were reported following a house fire in Griswold Wednesday evening.

Photo courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator

According to Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon, the fire at 201 Harrison Street was reported at around 5:35-p.m. Griswold Fire Chief Jim Wyman told KJAN News  the damage was primarily contained to the second story bedroom in the 100-year old home, owned by Ryan and Sarah Askeland, the owner’s of Dusty’s Place in Griswold. The family was not home when the fire started.

Wyman said the fire is believed to be related to an electrical problem, but he could not pin-down an exact cause. Damage to the home was said to be minimal.

(Update: Radford was acquitted of the charges during his trial in July of 2013. His case was summarily dismissed.)

Authorities in Mills County reports that two former Glenwood firefighters have been arrested on pandering, pimping and/or sexual abuse charges, in connection with an incident that reportedly occurred on September 9th, 2012 in rural Pacific Junction. According to a complaint filed by the Mills County Attorney’s Office, 23-year old Colton David Radford and 31-year old Brandt David Hopp allegedly solicited an intoxicated female friend to have sex for money with another person.

According to the complaint, after an agreement was made, a third person arrived and allegedly attempted to have sex with the victim. Due to her intoxication, the victim lost consciousness at which point Hopp then allegedly engaged in sexual acts with her. The victim regained consciousness, pushed Hopp away and left with the money paid to her by Hopp and Radford.

Hopp faces felony charges of Sex Abuse in the Third Degree, and Pandering. If convicted, he faces up to 15-years in prison and fines totaling $17,500.  He was being held in the Mills County jail on $15,000 bond. Radford is facing felony charges of Pandering and Pimping. If convicted, he could be held up to 10-years in jail and face fines of up to $15,000. His bond was set at $5,000.

Both men hare scheduled to appear in court for their preliminary hearings, on March 27th. The case against them was investigated by the Glenwood Police Department, Mills County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a former Page County man was sentenced to four-years in prison for possessing child pornography. 49-year old John R. Clark, of Clarinda, will serve the 48 month term consecutively with a sentence Clark is currently serving in Florida, for Lewd and Lascivious Act on a Child. The 48 month sentence was imposed by United States District Judge John Jarvey, who also ordered Clark to serve a ten year term of supervised release following incarceration.