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Voters in Montgomery County will head to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in a Special Red Oak School District Election. On the ballot, is Public Measure “A,” a renewal of the 10-year Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL), and a PPEL income surtax. If approved, the 10-year Levy would authorize a tax of not more than $1.34 per $1,000 of taxable property valuation within the Red Oak School District, beginning June 30^th 2021, and a tax on personal income starting December 31^st for each calendar year, and commencing with the 2020 calendar year.

Friday (tomorrow), Feb. 3^rd, at 5-p.m., is the last date/time to request an Absentee ballot from the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office. Voters may vote absentee in-person on Election Day (Tuesday, Feb. 7^th), at the Auditor’s Office, from 8-a.m. until 11-a.m. The polls will open at Noon, Tuesday, and close at 8-p.m.

The polling site is the Montgomery County Gold Fair Building for those Red Oak residents residing in City of Red Oak Wards 1,2 and 3; Coburg City; Garfield, West, Red Oak, Grant, Frankfort, Lincoln, Sherman, and Pilot Grove Townships in Montgomery County, Fremont Township in Page County, and Grove Township in Pottawattamie County.

If you have any questions about the Red Oak School District Special Election, call the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office at 712-623-5127, 8-a.m. until 4:30-p.m., Monday through Friday’s.

A traffic stop Wednesday night in Adams County resulted in one person being arrested on a drug charge. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports 18-year old Cheyenne Goodnight, of Corning, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, 1st offense.

She was taken into custody at around 11:50-p.m., after being pulled-over near the intersection of Corning-Carl Road and Nodaway River Road. Goodnight was being held in the Adams County Jail on $1,000 bond.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – Operators of a northwest Iowa nursing home that authorities ordered to close have agreed to pay $100,000 to settle allegations that they provided worthless care. Federal prosecutors said in a news release Wednesday that The Abbey of Le Mars Inc. violated the federal False Claims Act by submitting Medicaid claims when the care provided residents was “grossly substandard.”

The facility’s Iowa license has been revoked. Prosecutors say the facility’s staff let skin conditions go untreated, used unnecessary physical restraints and medications and provided inadequate nourishment and bathing and toileting care. The allegations relate to care provided for 16 residents between January 2009 and February 2015.

The City Council in Walnut will meet this evening at their City Hall Council Chambers. During the 5-p.m. session, the Council will receive information concerning the installation of Fiber to the Home (FTTH), from Janell Hansen and Leanne McCarthy, with Walnut Communications.

The Council will also discuss the Streetscape Enhancement Project, streetscape and building facade improvements. Other discussion will revolve around operation of the Walnut Welcome Center, School Property, and the Well Project, as well as a possible amendment to the Urban Renewal Plan. They’ll also hold a preliminary review the FY 2017-18 City of Walnut Budget, and consider the adoption of a Resolution scheduling the time and place for a Public Hearing, to solicit written and oral comments on the proposed FY 2017-18 Budget.

The Atlantic City Council received the preliminary Fiscal Year 2018 City Budget from City Administrator John Lund. Lund says the proposed budget amounts to slightly more than $12.493-million, which is a decrease over the FY 2017 budget of 14.78%, or more than $1.847-million. He said the budget is lower this year because the City won’t be borrowing so money much for Capital Projects, such as finishing the street improvements. (Click on the left side of the audio bars to listen)

(This year, the City will only have to borrow $360,000, as opposed to the millions of dollars that has been borrowed in past years.)

He says the Budget calls for a property tax increase of 1.48-percent due to actions by the Iowa Legislature.

Lund says cities in Iowa can’t rely on the Governor to protect them from future losses in tax revenue when the Legislature enacts tax reform that benefits commercial property owners and results in a loss of property tax backfill and funds from the State.

The City will see notable losses in collections from tax revenue, amounting to a combined $126,718 to the General, Employee Benefit and Debt Service Funds. On the bright side, the City’s Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Fund posted 2.33% growth in FY 2017 over 2016, and Lund predicts an even more robust growth in FY 2018. And, the City expects to resume minimal debt in FY 2018.

The Council also heard a presentation from SWIPCO’s John McCurdy, with regard to a Comprehensive City Plan, which is required by the State, and was last adopted in 2002. The process to undertake and devise a new or updated plan will take about nine months, at a cost to the City of $19,500, the funds for which will come from the LOST Progress Fund for FY 2018. The also acted on approving an updated retainer agreement with the Otto, Lorence and Wiederstein law firm, which mentions Mark Bosworth is the Primary Attorney, but the position of City Attorney is still managed by the firm. Compensation will increase from $20,000 to $24,000.

Police in Red Oak arrested a man Wednesday afternoon on a charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. 28-year old Andrew Dean West, of Malvern, was taken into custody at around 3:30-p.m. in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street. West was transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $300.

Police in Shenandoah, Wednesday night, arrested a woman who allegedly took a vehicle without permission. Officers received a stolen vehicle report at around 10:50-p.m. The vehicle was later located near the Valley View Apartments. A suspect in the theft, 50-year old Shelly Graham, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody and charged with Operating Without Owner’s Consent, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana), and two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

During the booking process, it was discovered that Graham also had a valid Page County warrant for her arrest for Theft in the 5th Degree. Graham was transported to Page County Jail, where she was being held on $2,000 bond.