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Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Monday, announced that they will travel to Southwest Iowa to promote their plan for permanent property tax relief for all classes of property. The events, which take place in Clarinda and in Red Oak, will be held on Friday, April 13th.

Branstad and Reynolds will hold a Page County town hall meeting at the Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum – Community Room, 122 West Clark Street in Clarinda, beginning at 1:30 p.m., Friday.  The Montgomery County town hall meeting is at the Fountain Perk Coffee Shop, 322 East Coolbaugh Streetin Red Oak,beginning at 3:15-p.m.

For more information, please visit www.governor.iowa.gov<http://www.governor.iowa.gov>. To view their plan on permanent tax relief, follow this link: https://governor.iowa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Property-Tax-handout-2.20.12.pdf

The Nishna Valley Trails association is inviting the public to a “Bike/Trails Expo” to be held at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic on Monday, April 30^th, beginning at 7 p.m.  Mark Wyatt, the president of the Iowa Bicycling Coalition will be the speaker for the evening, talking about trends in bicycling as recreation and transportation, and about Iowa as the “Bike Trails Capitol of the World”.  There will be informational displays, a bicycle show, and refreshments will be served.  By registering at the door, participants can enter a drawing for door prizes, including bicycles and biking accessories.  For more information contact Ed Kail at 243-4265.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will take action on several matters during their meeting Tuesday evening at the High School. Among the action items is: Approval of Driver’s Education fees for this Summer; An agreement with the City of Atlantic to share the resurfacing costs of the tennis courts at Sunnyside Park and the Washington Elementary School; Approve a two-year collective bargaining agreement with the Atlantic Education Association, and a substitute teacher/substitute support staff rate.

The Board will also act on approving teacher recommendations for the 2012 Summer School, and, discuss a 5-year Capital Needs Plan. The meeting begins in the Atlantic High School Media Center, at 7:30-p.m.

The City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning Commission will meet Tuesday evening at City Hall. New business on their agenda for the 5:30-p.m. session includes: A review of the site plans for Custom Body and Sound; A ruling on retail gun sales (as applied to Ordinance Article 19: Home Occupations); and a review of the site plans for Atlantic Municipal Utilities’ proposed communications building.

The Commission will also discuss progress being made on updating the Zoning Ordinance.

Officials with Monsanto say Mike Noll, of Griswold, has been selected as a winner in the America’s Farmers Grow Communities contest, which gives farmers the opportunity to win $2,500 for their favorite local nonprofit organizations. The donations are available through the Monsanto Fund. Noll has designated the Griswold Fire Department to receive the award in Cass County.

Griswold Fire Chief Jim Wyman, farmer Mike Noll and a Monsanto representative will participate in a check presentation ceremony Thursday, April 12th, 6:30 pm at the Griswold Fire Station (405 Main St. in Griswold).

In 1,245 eligible counties in 39 states, farmers could win $2,500 for their favorite community nonprofit.  The Monsanto Fund expects to invest more than $3.1 million in local communities. Nearly 60,000 farmers participated in the second annual Grow Communities program, which is designed to benefit nonprofit groups such as ag youth, schools and other civic organizations.

For more information and to see a full list of winners, visit www.growcommunities.com.

Everyone knows that 9-1-1 is a universal number that should be called in the event of an emergency…or do they? 9-1-1 Centers all over the United States have encountered hurdles when educating the public when it comes to the 9-1-1 and its uses. That’s why the Cass County 911 Center is urging all educational organizations, parents, and caregivers to assist with the “9-1-1 Education Challenge” during the month of April as part of National 9-1-1 Education Month.

The goal is to educate as many people on 9-1-1, its uses, its challenges, and the future capabilities during the month. Cass County 911 Director Rob Koppert said “With all the advances in technology, 9-1-1 has become much more complex. What started out as a simple concept has grown into an amazing infrastructure that needs crucial attention. 

Koppert says nationwide, 9-1-1 has not kept up with advances, especially in wireless technology and we are just now getting the infrastructure in place to handle 9-1-1 calls in the form of text messages and to be able to receive pictures and videos on 9-1-1.” 

He says “In 2011, the Cass County 911 Center received approximately 6,000 9-1-1 calls, of which 80-percent were from wireless phones. This is on top of the 26,000-plus administrative calls answered by the Cass County 911 Center. Koppert says children and adults should have a good understanding of 9-1-1 and how it works in their area. 

Some general guidelines for 9-1-1 are: 

• 9-1-1 is for police, fire and medical emergencies. If the nature of the call is an immediate threat to life or property, call 9-1-1. In non-emergencies, call the Cass County 911 Center at 712-243-2204.  
• Know the location of the incident. Providing an accurate address is critically important especially when making a wireless 9-1-1 call. Not all wireless calls provide accurate location information, especially if the caller is indoors.
• If you call 9-1-1, don’t hang up. 9-1-1 operators are going to assume that something has gone very wrong and will either call you back, or send a police car if the location is known.
• Don’t call 9-1-1 for jokes or prank calls. These calls waste resources and ties up the lines at the 9-1-1 center. Not to mention that making harassing or prank 9-1-1 calls is a crime in Iowa.
• When you call 9-1-1, pay attention to the questions that you are being asked.
• Stay on the line with the 9-1-1 call taker and answer all questions. The more information they have, the better they are able to help you.
• Stay calm and speak clearly. If you are crying or yelling, it can be very hard for the 9-1-1 Operator to understand you.

In addition to April being National 9-1-1 Education Month, the week of April 8th through 14th in National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in the United States.