In an update to an earlier story, the fire alarm at the Griswold Care Center was in regards to a heater issue as no fire took place.

At about 8:40 this morning, police scanner traffic reported that there is a possible fire at the Griswold Care Center in Griswold.

Scanner traffic indicated a fire alarm went off at the Griswold Care Center. The person calling police suggested that there might be a fire.

Details are currently sketchy on the situation, as we will provide an update later this morning.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting Friday morning at the Cass County Courthouse.

On the agenda is a public hearing on the issuance of bonds for the Amaizing Energy Urban renewal Area consisting of the northwest sewer and water line extension project.

Anyone is welcome to speak on the matter and give their input. If you are not able to attend the meeting you can submit written comments.

After the public hearing the board vote on whether or not they will enter into the bond agreement.

The meeting begins at 9:00 AM at the Cass County Courthouse.

Officials with the Rolling Hills wind project say the project is still scheduled to wrap up by the end of the year.

On Wednesday, representatives with MidAmerican Energy, Mortensen Construction, and Siemens Energy held a press conference to showcase the project.

A wind turbine was displayed at the conference which allowed attendees to see the turbine up close. They were allowed to sign the blade to commemorate the day’s celebration. The blade is about half the length of a football field and weighs 12 tons.

Rolling Hills is one of three MidAmerican Energy Companies that are taking place this year. The other projects are in Calhoun, Marshall, and Pocahontas counties.

Jerry Grundtner, The Vice President of Project Development for Mortenson Construction, says the foundations are about fifty percent complete, and the turbines are about twenty percent complete.

When the project is complete, the 258 wind turbine expansion project will add 593.4 megawatts of renewable energy. MidAmerican says that is enough power for about 190,000 homes.

w/ Brett Johnson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (7.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

A Missouri man has been hospitalized after a crashing his tractor trailer into the banks of the Nishnabotna river during a rear-end accident on Highway 59 in Shelby County.

On Wednesday, 46-year-old Robert Anderson of St. Joseph, Missouri was transported to Myrtue Medical Center with unknown injuries after he had rear-ended a pick up truck.

At about 4:45 Wednesday afternoon, Anderson was driving a semi tractor and empty flatbed trailer south on Highway 59 in Shelby County near Route F58. He rear-ended a Ford F150 driven by Timothy Meyer of Harlan.

As a result of the incident, Anderson’s tractor trailer veered off the road and came to rest in the west bank of the Nishnabotna river. Meyer’s vehicle came to rest on the shoulder of the road.

After the crash, Anderson was transported by Medivac Ambulance to Myrtue Medical Center. The status of his injuries is unknown, and it is not known if any citations were issued.

As you may have heard on our newscasts Wednesday, the US Postal Service is considering closing several Iowa post offices, including locations in Brayton, Cumberland, Kimballton, and Lewis.

Western Iowa Congressman Steve King has released a statement on the possible closings, saying he will help develop an individualized plan to ensure that the feedback and concerns of each community are brought to the attention of the Postal Service. He says, “The USPS cannot be allowed to take advantage of this situation to shirk its responsibilities in western Iowa.”

Sentencing is scheduled for today in the case of a Crescent man accused of supplying alcohol that resulted in the death of a Harlan teenager last fall.

27-year-old Dustin Thomas pled guilty to supplying alcohol to an underage person resulting in death last week. He could face as much as five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Nine other people had been charged in the incident where minors had been drinking at a party.

Thomas was arrested in February on accusations that he provided alcohol that resulted in the death of 17-year-old Julio Caceres. On October 11 Caceres died as a result of injuries suffered in the alcohol incident the previous weekend

Thomas had admitted to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation that he bought a bottle of Black Velvet that Caceres drank at the party.

Charges were filed following an investigation by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation.

The Cass County Sheriff’s office reports the arrests of several people the past few days.

On Tuesday, 34-year-old Jason Glen Dukes of Anita was arrested on charges of OWI 2^nd Offense and Driving While Revoked. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released later the same day on his own recognizance.

Also on Tuesday, 18-year-old Austin Allen Schmitt was arrested on a warrant for Delivery of Marijuana, Distribution of Drugs to Persons Under 18, two counts of Use of Individual Under 18 in the Drug Trade, and two counts of Using a Juvenile to Commit and Offense. Schmitt was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was held on $45,000 bond. Two other unnamed juveniles were arrested in this case as well.

On Monday, 37-year-old David Daniel Good of Anita was arrested for Possession with Intent to Deliver and Driving While Barred. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was held on $7,500 bond.

Also on Monday three people were arrested on drug charges after a Cass County traffic stop.

Twenty-one-year-old Cam Christopher Jahnke was arrested on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and was held on held on $6,000 bond.

Twenty-one-year-old James Michael Howard of Atlantic was arrested on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and was held on held on $6,000 bond.

Also as part of that same traffic stop, 27-year-old Alanda Nevelle Starkey of Lawrence, Nebraska was arrested on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver and Possession of a Controlled Substance 3^rd Offense. She was taken to the Cass County Jail and held without bond

Last Friday, 42-year-old Shannon Sue Prall of Atlantic was arrested for Domestic Abuse Simple Assault. She was transported to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office where she was released Saturday on her own recognizance.

And last Thursday, 37-year-old Gregory James Storjohann of Walnut was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty and was released that day.

Authorities in Fremont County report a Shenandoah man was injured in a motorcycle crash in Shenandoah.

Twenty-seven-year-old Corey Whitehill of Shenandoah was driving a 2001 Honda Motorcycle on Highway 59 near Highway 2. Whitehill lost control of the bike after passing a vehicle and crashed into a ditch.

Shenandoah rescue transported Whitehill to the Shenadoah airport where he was flown to Creighton Medical Center.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office and Shenandoah Fire assisted at the scene. Further information on the accident is unavailable.