For the second time in about three months, someone has released horses from an animal rescue facility near Glenwood. According to Omaha television station WOWT, someone opened the gates at the Hooves and Paws Rescue Shelter, letting loose the horses, endangering not only the animals’ lives, but those of motorists traveling on a nearby highway. All of the horses were returned to the corral, but Hooves and Paws owners Bill and Gina Stoops aren’t so sure they will stay put.

The couple got a frantic call Tuesday morning warning them that the horses were out, and dangerously close to the highway. Fortunately, the recovering horses couldn’t travel very far. Bill Stoops told the TV station all he had to do was shoo them into the corral and shut the gate. Three people also stopped by to lend a hand.

Stoops said the next time someone tries set the horses free, he will be ready for them. He says heavier chains and locks have already been added, and security cameras are being installed. The Mills County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident, along with the reported theft of at least two cameras stolen from their mounts on a nearby recreational trail.

w/ Ric Hanson

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NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a vehicle has hit the Nebraska boyhood home of Johnny Carson. Police say an SUV plowed into the front of the two-story home Tuesday afternoon in Norfolk. The vehicle caused extensive damage to the porch, which collapsed. The vehicle ended up in the entryway. Norfolk Police Chief Bill Mizner says the driver was taken by ambulance to Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk. His identity and condition weren’t immediately released.

Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson says an Exira man just released from the Cass County Jail on Monday, was arrested again on an outstanding warrant out of Audubon County. 44-year old Mark Wayne Rydl was taken into custody on a charge of Failure to Appear on a Driving While Barred charge. Rydl was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $2,500 bond. He’s scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 26th.

The Sheriff also said no injuries were reported following two separate accidents Monday morning, in Audubon County. The first occurred at around 7:30-a.m., on Highway 44 near Heron Avenue. Johnson says 51-year old Sandy Jean Andersen, of Audubon, was traveling west on Highway 44 when she lost control of her vehicle on the icy curve. The 2005 Subaru slid sideways into the north ditch, went over a field drive and rolled several times. Damage to the car was estimated at $10,000.

The second accident happened about a half an-hour later, on Highway 173, near 280th Street. Sheriff Johnson says 64-year old Marcia Louise Nelson, of Kimballton, was traveling south on Highway 173 when she lost control of her 2001 Chrysler on an icy curve. The vehicle rolled over after entering the east ditch, sustaining $5,000 damage in the process.

Wednesday’s City Council meeting in Atlantic will mark the last time two members of the Council will serve the City in their current capacity. Mayor Dave Jones will make proclamations recognizing 3rd Ward Councilperson Pat Simmons and 1st Ward Councilman Kern Miller, for their many years of dedicated service to the City, and present them with placques in appreciation of their work. Simmons and Miller opted not to seek re-election last month. Ashley Hayes and Chris Jimmerson were unopposed during the election to fill Simmons’ and Millers’ seats on the Council. Simmons has served a total of 16-years on the City Council while Miller has served three consecutive terms.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, will hear a semi-annual report from Street Department Superintendent Derald Andersen, and, a request from Atlantic Police Steve Green, for a supplemental appropriation to his budget, amounting to a little more than $15,200, for unbudgeted expenditures. One request covers new service boards and upgrades for the City’s sirens, so that they will be in compliance with the new Narrow Banding requirements. The other covers a new computer server for the police camcorder units, since the old server is not compatible for use with the new camcorders used in the squad cars.

The Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m.

The Adair and Cass County Boards of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meetings, Wednesday morning in Greenfield and Atlantic. The Supervisor’s meeting in Greenfield begins one-hour earlier than normal, however, at 8-a.m.  During their session, the Board will hear from Cass-Adair County Engineer Charles Marker, will who provide a review of the County’s Road and Snow Ordinances, and facilitate discussion on his Fiscal Year 2012 Budget. The budget is expected to take into consideration the hiring of a Full-time Engineer.

The Adair County Board will also hear from Central Point Coordinator (CPC) Lori Nosekable, with regard to Mental Health changes, and they’ll receive a quarterly Case Management report from Judy Schwartz. In other business, the Board will hear from Todd Spencer, with Iowa Workforce Development, with regard to Public Access Points, and Sheriff Brad Newton, about the hiring of a new deputy.

In Atlantic, the Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet at 9-a.m. Wednesday. The board will receive the Cass County Soil and Water Conservation District’s report and discuss their 2012-2013 budget. They’re also expected to discuss and possibly act on a revision to the County’s Indigent Burial Policy. The topic has been discussed at the past couple of Supervisor’s meetings, with a recommendation made last week on a revision in costs for burial/cremation services, taken under advisement.

Audubon Police Chief Dave Simonsen said today (Tuesday), his officers arrested two people last week. On Thursday, 53-year old Patricia Ann Richter, of Audubon, was arrested for Theft in the 3rd Degree. And, on Friday, 19-year old Tyler Everett Williamson, of Audubon, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving Under Suspension, and Operating a Motor Vehicle without Registration.

Richter and Williamson were booked into the Audubon County Jail and held until making an appearance before the magistrate.

The Atlantic Police Department reports three people were arrested recently on separate charges. On Monday, 29-year old Jason Prescott, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of 5th Degree Theft (shoplifting). And, 20-year old Alex Buresh, of Atlantic, was arrested for Simple Assault. Both men were cited for the offenses and released, with orders to appear in court at a later date.

The A-P.D. says 20-year old Jesse Luft, of Villisca, was arrested today (Tuesday), for Public Intoxication. His arrest came just two days after Luft was arrested in Atlantic on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. Luft was being held in the Cass County Jail, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

Members of the Griswold Board of Education Monday, voted to enter into an agreement with Estes Construction to manage a roofing project slated for the High School/Middle School Building. Superintendent Dana Kunze said the board had been exploring fixing the roof for “some time,” and it’s at the top of their priority list to get it taken care of before they take on other projects. Kunze said an early estimate puts the cost of the project at $1.2-million dollars. He says it will be funded by bonding against their penny sales tax. A Revenue Purposing Statement allows the District to go after the bonds now, and into the future. 

Kunze said also, the Griswold School Board discussed the transferring of a deed to about 5 acres of school property on the north edge of Elliott, to the City of Elliott, for a wetland project. The marshy land is an ideal, natural means of filtering nitrates out of the City’s drinking water. Action on approving the deed transfer is expected to take place during the Board’s meeting in January. The land has been owned by the School District for more than 100-years. 

In other business, the Griswold School Board, Monday, agreed to have Red Oak Awning and Glass handle the replacement of glass at the district’s buildings in Elliott and in Lewis. One of the projects is another entranceway to the Elliott building on the northeast side, and the finishing of what’s called the “Storefront” on the Lewis building, with new replacement glass. The new glass will solve some problems with water leaking into the buildings, and is energy efficient.