The Page County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday, that charges are pending against a Clarinda man, as an investigation in underway into the neglect of cattle in rural Page County. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says the investigation, which remains ongoing, began Saturday, following a report of animal neglect at 2773 X Avenue. During the course of the investigation over a period of several days, authorities consulted a veterinarian, who determined 17 cows, 1 bull and 15 calves, which were located on property owned by Kiel Martin Brittain, of Clarinda,  were severely malnourished.

The animals were seized. Additional information will be released by authorities when charges are filed.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reported Wednesday, that an Essex man wanted on a warrant out of Adair County, was arrested Tuesday at the Pierce Creek Campground. Officials say 36-year old Daniel Elmer Bright was wanted for Failure To Appear on a traffic charge. Bright was brought to the Page County Jail and was unable to post a $2,000 cash bond. He was held in the jail until deputies from Adair County could arrange for him to be transported to the jail in  Greenfield.

A public hearing will take place Friday afternoon in Atlantic, with regard to the approval of a “Contract for Private Development” agreement between Cass County and Fagen (Fay’gen) Farms, for their acquisition of property in the County, for the purpose of securing a developer to construct a second generation bio-fuels facility, renewable energy facility, or agricultural related facility on the site. The hearing takes place at 1:30-p.m., during a meeting of the Cass County Board of Supervisors, and will be followed by a vote on the matter a little bit later on during the afternoon session.

In other business, the Board is expected to discuss the Amendment of a Zoning Ordinance with regard to Permitted Uses within Districts, such as Light and Heavy Industrial , and an Amendment of the Division/Subdivision Zoning Ordinance.  They will also act on remove certain parcels from Amaizing Energy ‘Urban Renewal Area/TIF district’, and they discuss, as well as possibly take action on, the re-location of the Cass County 911 Center from the center of the jail to the third floor of the Cass County Courthouse.

If approved, the 911 Center would move into space currently occupied by the Cass County 911 Director and Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator. The move would result in the assignment of the former Cass County Conservation Board offices to the Cass County Public Safety Commission and Cass County Emergency Management Agency for use as administrative offices and the assignment of the two small offices currently used by Juvenile Probation and the Cass County Engineers Office, for renovation into one room, to be used as an equipment and server room for the Cass County 911 Center.

The Supervisors are also expected to vote on pooling funds with regard to the County’s role in the State’s Mental Health Regionalization process. They may also discuss an update of the Cass County Division/Subdivision Ordinance.

An SUV stalled on railroad tracks in Crawford County Tuesday night, was struck by a train, but no one was injured. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the 1998 Ford Explorer, driven by 57-year old Lonny Lee Kolln, of Dow City, was left on the railroad tracks after it stalled out. An eastbound Union Pacfic train hit the SUV broadside at around 10:35-p.m. Tuesday, but Kolln was able to jump to safety prior to the impact.

No injuries were reported after a semi hauling a load of lime rolled over this (Wednesday) morning, just west of Atlantic. According to reports, the rig was traveling west on the Marne Road (Highway 83), when it went out of control on the curve just east of Highway 173, and rolled onto its side. The driver of the semi was transported by a private vehicle to the Cass County Memorial Hospital to be checked for possible injuries.

Atlantic Fire and Rescue, Atlantic Police, deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa State Patrol Troopers assisted at the scene of the crash, which was reported a little after 10-a.m.  Additional details are currently not available.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will visit a business in Atlantic Friday afternoon. His noon stop at Plastic Professionals at 1501 Owner Avenue marks the completion of his 99 county Iowa tour that began January 4th in Des Moines. Afterward, Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds, will hold the Annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the West Terrace of the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. On Saturday, the Governor will address the 125th Anniversary of the Iowa Veterans Home Celebration at the Veterans Home in Marshalltown.

A former Council Bluffs/Lewis Central High School Spanish teacher received a 5-year suspended prison sentence and was ordered undergo a sex offender treatment program at a residential treatment center. According to Omaha television station KETV, 30-year old Daniel Pantoja was also ordered to serve a two-year term of unsupervised probation, for sending inappropriate text messages to a female student.

A female student told authorities that Pantoja sent her a picture of a nude man whose genitals were covered. She says he also asked the girl to send him a picture of her wearing shorts and a sports bra.  Pantoja resigned from his teaching job when confronted with the evidence. Authorities said the student eventually agreed to send Pantoja a photo of herself in exchange for a better grade in the class.

Pantoja turned himself in to authorities in February.

The Iowa DNR reports an informational public meeting on state and federal floodplain permit processes, as well as post-flood sediment disposal, will be held Dec. 10th, at the Waubonsie State Park lodge. The meeting, jointly hosted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will take place in the lodge’s meeting room from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The park is located at 2689 State Highway 2 near Hamburg.

A short informational presentation on how to gain appropriate state, federal and local approvals for projects along the river and in the floodplain will begin at 2 p.m. The presentation will provide details on the different types of approvals and the step-by-step application processes.

The Corps of Engineers and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will have staff available before and after the presentation to answer specific project questions and provide technical assistance as needed.

A Central Iowa man pulled over in Adams County for a traffic violation, ended up being arrested on drug charges, Tuesday. Sheriff’s officials say 25-year old Robert Gomes, of Newton, was arrested at around 4:40-p.m., on charges that include 2 counts of Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving While Suspended. Officials say additional charges are currently pending.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say heading into Iowa’s busiest outdoor “opening day,” shotgun deer season hunters should expect to see fewer deer. While that downturn is by design, the DNR says hunters should still fill plenty of tags, during the December 1st-through the 5th first shotgun season, or the December 8th-through 16th, second season. Tom Litchfield, DNR deer research biologist, says “Deer numbers are projected to be down at least ten percent from last year.” Litchfield says they “Have been working to decrease deer numbers since 2003. On a statewide basis, the herd is very close to objective,  which would be the levels seen in the mid to late 1990s.”

With a relatively short season (five or nine days), shotgun hunters often must adapt to the weather. Looking ahead to the next week, seasonal temperatures and a continued brown—not white—landscape lie ahead for hunters holding about 172,000 paid first season, paid second season and landowner tags. One strategy that remains constant is hunting with the wind. Deer rely primarily on their noses, to warn of danger. Hunters should keep that in mind, especially as they set up drives.

Somewhat of a ‘wild card’ this fall and winter in conducting the deer harvest, according to officials,  will be the impact of Epizootic Hemorrhaging Disease (EHD) across much of the state. Nearly 3,000 reports of suspected EHD have been received; with concentrations in central and southwest counties and several more western counties through the Loess Hills. In all, 63 counties have at least one suspected case. The hot weather, insect-carried disease has essentially run its course for this year; with heavy frost killing off the midge, which spreads it.

Still, hunters may find more dead deer, as they fan out across the landscape. With the emphasis on downsizing the herd, Litchfield sees about 60 of Iowa’s 99 counties ‘at objective.’ Another 20 should reach it after this season. The remainder likely would fall into place after 2013-14. He is concerned, however, that the EHD outbreak could change that dynamic—lowering hunter harvest and post-season counts—for some counties.