Page Counties Sheriff’s Deputies who responded to a dispute Sunday at 406 Spruce in College Springs, arrested 26-year old Nicholas Ryan Pruett, of Clarinda, for Possession of a controlled Substance and Domestic Abuse Assault.  Pruett was being held without bond, pending an appearance before a magistrate.

A call about a suspicious vehicle located north and east of Clarinda, Sunday, prompted an investigation that resulted in the arrest on drug charges, of 33-year old Andrew Jacob Harrison, of Clarinda. During a traffic stop, Page County Sheriff’s Office K-9, Lucas, was deployed and alerted on the odor of narcotics in the vehicle.

During the investigation illegal controlled substances were seized.  Harrison was arrested on charges of Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of a controlled Substance, and illegal possession of prescription drugs.  Harrison posted a $1,000 bond and was released pending further court proceedings.

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) – Auburn University is hiring Iowa State president Steven Leath as its new president. Auburn trustees voted Monday to name Leath as the replacement for Jay Gogue, who plans to retire this summer. Leath has recently been under fire for his use of university aircraft at Iowa State.

Last month, officials decided against filing criminal charges against Leath following an investigation into whether he broke the law with his use of school aircraft. That review began after an audit found Leath used university planes for medical appointments in Minnesota, personal flight lessons and trips home to North Carolina. He has now reimbursed the university for the flights.

Auburn picked Leath after a search that didn’t include an announcement of finalists. Some say the selection process should have been more transparent.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports an Underwood woman was arrested Friday afternoon for Harassment in the 1st degree and Disorderly conduct, following a disturbance between two women at a residence in Underwood. 36-year old Joni Lee Sands was taken into custody at around 4:20-p.m. Two juveniles at the scene were placed into protective custody and then transported to Children’s Square.

Three southwest Iowa restaurants have been nominated for the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattleman’s Association “Iowa’s Best Burger” 2017 contest. Last year’s nominees, Vaughn’s Cafe and Bakery, and Down Right Delicious, both in Clarinda, and The Elm’s Club, in Creston, have been nominated again this year.

Iowans submitted more than 9200 Best Burger nominations between February 13 – March 13. Nominations were submitted by website, texting and paper ballots. The number of votes each restaurant received determined the 2017 Top Ten restaurants and their burgers.

Other restaurants making the Top Ten list include:

• The Ankeny Diner, Ankeny
• Beer Burger, in North Liberty
• BW’s Burgers, West Des Moines
• Doc’s Stadium Bar & Grill, Jefferson
• Saucy Focaccia, Cedar Rapids
• Smokin’ Hereford, Storm Lake
• The Irish Shanti, Elgin

Nearly 500 Iowa restaurants were represented in the total nominations, which is a new record for the contest. Brooke German, Director of Marketing for the Iowa Beef Industry Council, said “The previous record for the number of restaurants nominated was set in 2014, so we are thrilled that we were able to break that record this year with 487 restaurants represented. This proves that there are a lot of great tasting burgers all across the state of Iowa.”

Last year’s winner of the contest, The Chuckwagon Restaurant, in Adair, was not on the Top 10 list this year. The quest for the winner of the Iowa’s Best Burger will now begin. All Top Ten restaurants will be visited by a panel of anonymous judges who will evaluate the burgers based on taste, appearance, and proper doneness (160 degrees). The judges’ scores and comments will be accumulated and the winner will be crowned on May 1st.

To learn more about the Top Ten restaurants and the contest, visit www.iabeef.org.

A Pottawattamie County man is dead, and passenger on his motorcycle was injured, during a collision Sunday afternoon in Mills County. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says Patrick Serrano, Sr., of Council Bluffs, died after being flown by helicopter to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. His passenger, Shannon Nibbe, of Council Bluffs, was transported by Glenwood Rescue to UNMC. A report on her condition was not available.

Authorities say the accident happened at around 1:50-p.m. Sunday, at the intersection of 221st Street and Elrod Avenue, north of Glenwood. A 2015 Dodge Ram pickup driven by David Lawrence, Jr., of Council Bluffs, was traveling south on 221st Street and came to a stop behind a vehicle that was also stopped, and waiting to turn left onto Elrod Avenue.

A 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Patrick Serrano, Sr., was also southbound on 221st, when it collided with the rear of the pickup. The investigation was handled by the Mills County Sheriff’s Office.

Police in Red Oak arrested a Cass County woman on a drug charge early this (Monday) morning. 22-year-old Tara Lynn Waters, of Griswold, was taken into custody following a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 48 and Ratliff Road around 12:25 a.m.

Waters faces a Possession of a controlled substance/Marijuana, charge and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.

A reminder from the Young Professionals organization of Atlantic (YPA): nominations are due by 5-p.m. Tuesday, March 21^st, for the YPA’s 4th Annual Awards Luncheon and Dessert Gala on April 28th, 2017. The awards are designed to recognize the achievements of young professionals who demonstrate a commitment to excellence and innovation in their profession and within the community.

YPA logo

The awards are open to any Young Professional that meets the following criteria: the professional is between the age of 21-41 years old as of January 1, 2017, and the professional either works or resides within Cass County.

Young Professionals may be nominated for their excellence in four different categories: Newcomer, Entrepreneur, Business Leader and Public Servant. There will also be one YP Choice Workplace Award given. The Choice Workplace Award recognizes a company who effectively attracts, retains and develops young professionals. Individuals can either nominate their company or another company. Companies must be Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce members.

To submit a nomination, go to www.atlanticiowa.com for a nomination form or pick one up at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Office (102 Chestnut, Atlantic, IA 50022). The YPA nominations will be reviewed by a selection committee including: a YPA Representative, an Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Board Representative, a member of CADCO, an Atlantic City Official and an out of town guest.

The Young Professionals of Atlantic is a social group with no membership dues or required meetings. Their mission is to connect, engage and attract young leaders into the community while promoting the greater Atlantic area.  Members are young professionals between the ages of 21-41. Any interested individuals can contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 for information.

The YPA Dessert Gala & Awards is sponsored by Megan Roberts, State Farm.