(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), heard a weekly report from County Engineer Trent Wolken. He spoke about current/ongoing bridge and road projects,

Wolken said also they should be pouring concrete on the 730th Street project, this week. The goal was to pour the footing this week.

The Board concluded their brief meeting with the weekly committee reports.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A public hearing was held this (Tuesday) morning in Red Oak, with regard to a proposed FY23-24 Montgomery County Budget Amendment. The meeting took place as part of a regular meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors. Hearing no comments for or against the proposal, the Board passed a Resolution appropriating funds for the Budget Amendment. Supervisor Mark Peterson…

In other action, the Board approved an Iowa DOT agreement for a DOT-initiated Detour of Primary Highways onto local roads, for the widening and other improvements of Highway 34. Supervisor Donna Robinson talks about the detour itself…

Montgomery County BOS mtg., 10-10-23

County Zoning Commissioner Barry Byers updated the Board on Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities.

He also talked about current bridge and other projects.

And, the Board approved an agreement between the County and the City of Elliott, for the assignment of tax sale certificates for two parcels.

(Radio Iowa) – The Pentagon is moving an aircraft carrier strike group, as well as squadrons of fighter jets, closer to Israel following the weekend terrorist attacks, but Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley doubts the U-S will dispatch soldiers directly into Israel — and into harm’s way. “Israel does not want American troops on the ground,” Grassley says. “Israel has the capability of handling this situation, but I think if Israel would cry out to us that they need some help, they would get that help. I think it would be probably help other than troops on the ground.”

Saturday’s attacks by Hamas left a thousand “innocent civilians” dead, according to Grassley, along with at least 11 Americans. The Republican notes how one American media outlet had four sources linking the attacks to Iran, in addition to Hamas leaders thanking Iran for the backing, but Iran’s leaders deny any involvement. “I don’t believe what Iran is saying,” Grassley says, “and I believe the administration ought to be more candid with the people. Instead of saying they have no evidence of any Iranian connection with what happened, they at least could say, ‘We’re going to investigate and see what the sources are.'”

The attacks are a “sobering wake-up call to the world” and to America, Grassley says, as “state-sponsored terrorist groups want to wipe the Jewish people off the face of the earth.” “We in the United States stand strong with Israel, because Israel is our most trusted ally in the Middle East,” Grassley says. “We also stand with our Jewish American friends here at home. These atrocities will not be tolerated.”

He calls the attacks on Israel a threat to the entire Middle East. A group called the Party for Socialism and Liberation is organizing an event in downtown Des Moines at 6:30 tonight (Tuesday) which it’s calling a Rally for a Free Palestine. A statement from the group says, “The unrelenting oppression, murder, torture and occupation carried out by the Israeli apartheid regime has precipitated a counter-offensive by Palestinian resistance forces. Their actions are a morally and legally legitimate response to escalating Israeli oppression.”

AMES, Iowa – Oct. 10, 2023 – The Iowa Transportation Commission has approved $2.69 million in funding for two rail infrastructure and related rail development projects under the Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant (RRLG) Program. The projects are expected to support the creation and retention of 129 jobs within three years of project completion.

The Shenandoah Clean Sugar Plant Rail Spur project in Fremont County received a $424,000 loan and a $144,000 grant from the ITC. And, in Clinton County, the Commission awarded a $715,000 loan and a slightly more than $1.4-million grant for the New Horizons Switching Track project and additions. The total loans awarded amounts to $1.39-million, and the total grants amount to $1.548-million.

ARNOLDS PARK, Iowa – Oct. 10, 2023 – Today, the Iowa Transportation Commission approved $2,753,115 for seven State Recreational Trails Program projects. The State Recreational Trails Program was created in 1988 with the purpose of developing and maintaining recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both motorized and non-motorized trail users. This funding is available to cities, counties, state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations through an annual application-based program.

Among the projects and approved funding is $462, 868 for “Ballpark to Ballpark,” Shelby County Trail project, Phase 2, in Shelby County.

Other projects and funding amounts are include:

• Raccoon River Valley Trail to High Trestle Trail Connector Phase VI
  (Dallas County Conservation Board)                                                                  $ 675,000
• Red Rock Prairie Trail: Prairie City to Mitchellville
  (Jasper County Conservation Board)                                                                 $ 499,800
• Fontana Park Learning and Discovery Trail
  (Buchanan County Conservation Board)                                                            $ 238,534
• Hoover Trail Bridge #2 (Cedar County Conservation Board)                        $ 130,000
• Copper Creek Mountain Bike Park (Polk County Conservation Board)      $ 400,000
• Little River Scenic Pathway Phase 2
  (Decatur County Conservation Board)                                                                $ 346,913

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a rural Red Oak man was arrested early Monday afternoon. 55-year-old Roger Dean Cook was arrested on a Montgomery County Bench warrant for Violation of Probation, with bond set at $1,000. Cook was also arrested on an Adams County warrant for Harassment in the 3rd Degree, and was being held without bond on that charge.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Police in Atlantic report six people were arrested or cited over the past few days. Most recently, on Sunday (Oct. 8), 32-year-old Julie Peters, of Atlantic, was cited into court for Animal Neglect. She was subsequently released at the scene.

There were two arrests in Atlantic last Saturday (Oct. 7): 45-year-old Rachel Boggs, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. And, 31-year-old Anthony Asay, of Omaha, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Flight to Avoid Prosecution.

There were two arrests in Atlantic also, on Oct. 5th: 31-year-old Tiffany Rice, of Adair, was arrested for Simple Assault and Disorderly Conduct. And, 29-year-old Alex Pleis was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, and Harassment in the 2nd Degree.

On Oct. 3rd, 24-year-old Aubree Schwartz, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Violation of Probation.

With the exception of Julie Peters, each of the aforementioned subjects were transported to the Cass County Jail, and booked-in.