BLENCOE, Iowa (AP) – A missing financial report with the Iowa state auditor means Blencoe has no legal authority to collect property taxes this fiscal year. The slip-up is shaving the western Iowa town’s $200,000 operating budget by about a-third. The missing form is a report from the 2010 fiscal year. All Iowa cities produce a report wrapping up the previous fiscal year. Then they draw up budgets, identifying tax rates for the coming year estimating how much revenue they plan to collect. While Blencoe filed its budget on time, it lacked the previous year’s financial report.  State officials say without a financial report, there’s no budget.  And, without a budget, Blencoe can’t collect taxes.  Blencoe is considering a loan and using future taxes to pay it off.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a Shenandoah man and an unidentified passenger in his vehicle were transported to the Shenandoah Hospital, following a rollover accident last week, east of Imogene. Officials say Christopher Dyer, of Shenandoah, was traveling east on 120th Street, just west of Highway 59 last Wednesday, when the 1999 Toyota Tacoma he was driving went out of control due to icy road conditions. The pickup went into the north ditch and rolled onto its top.

That same day, a semi traveling on northbound Interstate 29 near mile marker 14, jack-knifed due to slick road conditions. The rig was driven by Lassine Bamba, of Stone Mountain, GA. No injuries were reported. And, a pickup driven by Aslan Golant, of Lexena, KS, rolled into the median of I-29 southbound, just two-miles north of the state line, Wednesday. That accident was also a result of slick road conditions, and no injuries were reported. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office said also, that on Thursday, a vehicle driven by Terry Owens, of Shenandoah, went out of control due to slick road conditions on Waubonsie Avenue, in Fremont County. The 2007 Hyundai Elantra rolled into a ditch, but Owens was able to drive the vehicle out of the ditch and make his way to Tabor, where he reported the accident to the police department. There were no injuries reported.

Sheriff’s officials in Harrison County say one person died during a large grass fire in rural Harrison County, Sunday. Magnolia and Logan Fire Departments were called to the scene of the fire in rural Harrison County just after 6-p.m.  Officials say 83-year old Miles James Barnhart, of rural Magnolia, was found dead at his residence on Minot Place. Barnhart was apparently attempting to put out the fire, when he fell down and was overcome by the smoke and flames. Authorities say the fire started in a burn barrel, but spread to dry grass. The two fire departments were able to put out the grass fire with no damage to any structures.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

After lengthy discussion regarding concerns over the amount of time it would take to file land survey information with the various county departments, the Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Monday), approved a Resolution for the Division of Land Process, with regard to the recording of documents which are either a plat, or division of land. The Resolution says the Division of Land Process will need to be approved by the County Assessor, Auditor, Engineer – for rural division-, Treasurer, County Zoning and/or City Zoning – as applicable -, and the Cass County Recorder, prior to filing any transfer document. The resolution is designed so as not to clutter up the County’s Geographic Information System – GIS – and to streamline the recording system and related processes. The Board agreed that those offices should work to assure the survey’s and related paperwork is processed within two business days.

w/ Ric Hanson

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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Flood Center has doubled the number of its flood sensors across the state.  Center engineer Dan Ceynar says the online database fed by the 100 sensors provides real-time monitoring of water levels in Iowa’s rivers and streams.  Using an internal cell modem, the sensors update the database every 15 minutes. The sensors use sonar to determine how fast water levels are rising. Ceynar says the sensors don’t compete with the U.S. Geological Survey’s 170 gauges that provide a similar service across Iowa.
 
Lori McDaniel is Iowa Department of Natural Resources supervisor of flood plain management and dam safety. McDaniel says there is a potential for a mixture of the two sensor arrays.

Police in Red Oak say two people were arrested early Sunday afternoon on drug and other charges, following an investigation into a domestic incident. Officials say 33-year-old Johnathon Wade Ray, of Red Oak, was arrested on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance 3rd offense, and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. And, 35-year-old Mandy Jo Perry, of Red Oak, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failing to pay child support. The arrests occurred after Red Oak police officers were sent to an apartment complex following a call about a woman being threatened with a pistol. When officers arrived, they found Ray and Perry allegedly arguing. Upon further investigation, authorities obtained a search warrant to search their apartment. 

During the search, officers discovered numerous items of drug paraphernalia, items suspected in the manufacturing of controlled substances, approximately 10 grams of suspected marijuana, several types of prescription pills not legally possessed, and around $2,800 in cash, but no weapons were found. Ray was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $50,000 bond. Perry was also being held in the Red Oak Jail, awaiting transport to Audubon County. The investigation continues, with additional charges pending. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office assisted Red Oak Police in making the arrests.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Funeral services will be held tomorrow (Tuesday), for a Harlan woman who died in a crash Friday afternoon on Interstate 80, in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol says 22-year old Nicollette “Nikki” Johnston died when her car crossed the median near Avoca, and was struck broadside by a semi.

The accident happened about two-miles west of the Avoca exit, at around 1-p.m., Friday. Officials says Johnston’s 2006 Saturn was traveling west on I-80, when, for reasons unknown, the car went out of control, entered the median, spun counterclockwise and came to rest on the eastbound lanes of I-80, where it was struck broadside by a semi. The truck impacted the car on the driver’s side, causing it to enter the median, where it came to rest.

The semi, driven 45-year old Bret Roberts, of Estherville, crossed the median and came to rest on the westbound lanes of I-80. The accident, which remains under investigation, closed the interstate in both directions, for nearly 4 hours. A Mass of Christian Burial service for Nikki Johnston will be held 11-a.m. Tuesday, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, in Harlan.

The CAM and Elk Horn-Kimballton Boards of Education will hold meetings Monday night in Anita and Elk Horn, respectively. Both meetings begin at 7-p.m.

On the agenda for the CAM School Board, is discussion and possible action on: Snyder & Associates’ preliminary drawings and project cost estimates, and an agreement for the final project design; Resolutions to open a free, K-thru 12 online school and to approval of an agreement with Connections Education for the online school. In addition, the Board will receive a bleacher project update, act on any resignations, and, open enrollment applications.

The Elk Horn-Kimballton School Board will discuss the election of Board members and Board policies, followed by discussion and/or action on the approval of a bid proposal for roof repairs, as well as Special Education Delivery Plan Committee members.