The new helipad at Cass County Memorial Hospital will be set for use Friday afternoon.

The helipad had to be moved due to the expansion project currently underway at the hospital. The new helipad is located just east of the hospital parking area, and is used for emergency patient transport to facilities in Omaha and Des Moines.It opens for use at 5:00 PM Friday.

Air ambulance helicopters had been landing at the Atlantic Municipal Airport since the end of March. Medivac Ambulance Service had loaned an ambulance to the hospital to transport the helicopter crew to the hospital, and then the patient and crew back to the helicopter for transport.

CCMH Administrator Pat Markham says that while they only use the helicopter transport about 50 times a year, they’re very pleased to have the new helipad open.

The Massena City Council will hold their regularly scheduled meeting this evening..

On the agenda for tonight is an update on a DNR plan to reduce inflow and infiltration.

The council will then hold a second reading of an ordinance regarding engine brakes, followed by a hearing on an ordinance regarding building permits.

The council will then discuss an agreement between Railroad Management LLC and the City of Massena.

The meeting begins at 7:00 this evening at Massena City Hall.

The Atlantic City Council had their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night.

The Council approved an order to set a date for a public hearing regarding new boundaries for the City of Atlantic. The hearing is scheduled to take place on Wednesday August 3^rd at 5:30 at City Hall and is open to the public.

Re-districting must take place due to shifts in the 2010 census data. That’s because the population in Ward 3 decreased and Ward 5 increased significantly when compared to Atlantic’s other wards.

State code requires the City to adopt an ordinance describing the new ward map by September 1. Two more public readings on the adoption will occur on August 16.

In other business the Council also set a date and time for a public hearing regarding a sewer line easement for Andrew J. Knuth.

He had requested a ten foot easement on the north side of the city lot that abuts his law office at 306 Walnut to replace his sewer line.

The hearing will take pace August 3^rd at 5:30 and is open to the public.

The Audubon County Sheriff Office reports the arrests of two men.

Forty-year-old Skeet Weston Miller of Stuart was arrested on Wednesday. He has been charged with burglary 3^rd degree, conspiracy to commit burglary and interference with official acts.

The charges stem from an investigation into an incident that occurred at a Kimballton business on April 3^rd. Miller was being held in the Audubon County jail.

Sixty seven-year-old Robert Daniel Lowe of Hamlin was arrested Wednesday at around 6:30. He was arrested for public intoxication.

The charges stem from an incident at an Audubon business.

Lowe was transported to the Audubon County jail and held. He was released following an appearance before the magistrate. A preliminary hearing will be set.

There’s a time correction for when Governor Terry Branstad will appear Corning.

Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds will conduct an education town hall meeting Friday at 10 a.m. at the Corning Elementary School Gym at 1012 10th Street. A press release had incorrectly listed the meeting’s time as 12:00.

The Chair of the Audubon County Community Foundation would like to remind non-profits that the fall grant program is set to begin.

Currently $31,700 is available for this grant cycle.

Only organizations providing services in Cass County are eligible. They must be able to demonstrate broad county support and supply a copy of their 501 IRS determination letter. Requests for general operational funds will not be considered. The CCCF’s mission is to provide funds to those nonprofit and governmental agencies that are involved in community betterment through their organizations.

Overall the Audubon County Community Foundation will make about $131,650 available in grants and scholarships.

Please contact Dennis Nissen at 800-794-3458 or dennis@omahafoundation.org with grant application specific questions.

w/ Brett Johnson

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The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrests of two people Wednesday.

38-year-old Katina Wilson of Atlantic was arrested for assault without intent of causing serious injury. She was transported to the Cass County jail where she was booked.

And 24-year-old Jeffrey Knight of Atlantic was arrested for public intoxication. He was transported to the Cass County jail where he was booked.

An unnamed individual has died in a traffic accident in Council Bluffs this morning.

At about 2:00 Thursday morning police were called to the 1400 block of South 35^th street for a motorcycle accident.

Police say a motorcycle with a single rider was southbound on 35^th street when the rider lost control. The cycle fell over and the rider fell off, striking their head on the pavement.

The individual suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The special operations unit in Council Bluffs is conducting the investigation.

Alliant Energy customers in Iowa set a new peak for energy use. The electricity demand of 3,701 megawatts at 6 p.m. Monday tops a peak level that was set in 2003.

The president of Interstate Power and Light Company Tom Aller says there have been very few power outages reported so far this week.