(Story Update) A teenager is accused of setting one of the famed Madison County covered bridges on fire this weekend. Madison County Sheriff Jason Barnes announced the arrest at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. Seventeen-year-old Alexander Hoff of West Des Moines is charged with first-degree arson. Barnes refused to discuss motive or what led them to Hoff.

“It was a target. That’s all I can say. There was a reason for it…but that’s all I’m going to say about why he did it,” Barnes said. Police and firefighters were sent to the Cedar Bridge near Winterset around 6 a.m. Saturday. The same bridge was destroyed in an arson fire back in 2002 and was rebuilt. No arrest was made in that previous fire. Barnes would not say how Hoff allegedly started the fire this weekend, but he apparently left behind plenty of evidence.

“The bridge wasn’t a total loss. It didn’t collapse into the river like the last bridge did That proved huge in the investigation. It really did. That gave us the evidence that we didn’t have the first time, that we had the second time,” Barnes said. Hoff is a senior at an alternative high school in the West Des Moines School District. It’s possible more people could be arrested in the case.

“There is an ongoing investigation and additional charges against additional people (could be filed) depending on the investigation’s findings,” Barnes said. The Madison County Historic Preservation Commission estimates that rebuilding the Cedar Bridge will cost 576-thousand dollars ($576,000). It was one of the bridges featured in the famous book and movie “The Bridges of Madison County.”

(Radio Iowa)

The administrator of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission says a hardware problem was the cause of a shutdown of the gaming floor this past weekend at the Hard Rock Casino in Sioux City. Administrator Brian Ohorilko says the problem Saturday afternoon shut down the casino’s surveillance system and the casino immediately informed the I-R-G-C.

“Administrative rules do require that alternative measures be set up and that the D-C-I be made aware of any issues. And unfortunately, those alternative measures were unable to be set up right away,” Ohorilko says. Customers were asked to leave the gaming floor once the issue was discovered. The slot machines and table games were put back into operation Sunday after being down for around 12 hours.

“We do not suspect that there was anything nefarious, and that it was simply a hardware malfunction,” Ohorilko says. “Obviously the facility will be looking into that.” Ohorilko says the Hard Rock staff did a good job of handling the problem, and it was unfortunate the shut down came during a busy time. The Hard Rock’s hotel and restaurants stayed open during the time the gambling was shut down.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Expect a few more pops and flashes this July Fourth thanks to a final vote on legislation allowing fireworks sales in Iowa. The bill approved Tuesday 52-40 would legalize consumer-grade fireworks, including bottle rockets, firecrackers and roman candles. The explosives could be sold from June 1 to July 8 and Dec. 10 to Jan. 3. Local governments could forbid firework use, but not the sale.

Gov. Terry Branstad has indicated support for the bill, noting at a press conference that few states remain so restrictive about fireworks. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency estimates sales tax revenue generated from the bill is estimated at $1.5 million for the 2018 fiscal year.

Emergency medical responders have expressed concern for the proposed change, noting the increased risk of injury with widespread firework use.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa’s decision to eliminate and then reinstate scholarships for thousands of children of alumni will cost the university more than bad public relations.

A judge ordered the school Monday to pay the legal costs of a student who filed a class-action lawsuit to challenge President Bruce Harreld’s decision to eliminate scholarships they’d been promised. The bill’s expected to amount to a couple hundred dollars.

The university had asked the court to dismiss the case without costs after Harreld reinstated scholarships for those students last month. But Judge Carl Baker of the Sixth Judicial District said he agreed with plaintiff’s attorney Jim Larew, who argued Harreld tried to use the students as “political pawns” in an ill-advised attempt to convince Republican leaders to reverse budget cuts. Larew argued that UI only reversed course after an “adverse public reaction” to the cuts.

The Griswold School Board, Monday evening, voted to terminate the 2017-18 Human Resources Sharing Agreement. Superintendent Dave Henrichs said it was a cost saving measure. He said schools are allowed to receive funding through Operational Sharing, but there is a maximum of weighted [point value] positions allowed. Last year the district tried to reach enter into as many sharing agreements as possible to get the financial benefit of additional sharing dollars.

When they reached out to the other districts, they assumed not all the arrangements would be “do able,” but it turns out they were. As far as the sharing dollars are concerned, they were “Oversharing,” because funding is available for only 21 of the point values. The Griswold District was at 26, so it cost them money. The HR position was therefore eliminated, because it wasn’t “Financially beneficial” to the District. It also got the district total sharing down to the maximum of 21.

The Griswold School Board Monday voted to renew a Transportation Sharing Agreement with the Atlantic School District and Transportation Director Dave Eckles. In other business, the Griswold School Board discussed snow make-up days.

He says there were four snow days. One was made up April 17^th. Another will be made up May 25^th. The Board elected to forego using May 26^th as a make-up day, therefore that will be the last day of classes.

Students will be dismissed four-hours early on May 26^th, with staff remaining until 3-p.m. to wrap up end-of-year activities.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports 26-year old Alicia Dellaca, of Avoca, turned herself-in to authorities Monday. Dellaca was wanted on a Cass County warrant for Probation Violation. She was booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Atlantic Public Library’s Memorial Reading Garden project has received a big boost in funding, thanks to a donation by the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund. Fund spokesperson Melanie Petty recently presented Library Director Natalie Struecker with a check for $2,500 for the garden they are working on installing this spring.

Melanie Petty (Left) and Atlantic Public Library Director Natalie Struecker.

The money has been designated for a game table. Robinson Landscaping will be starting construction on the garden in the very near future. There are still many ways for the community to donate and support this great cause. Contact Natalie at 712-243-5466, if you are interested in helping out with the project.