MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — A handful of Iowa lawmakers have reiterated their support for keeping open a state mental health facility in Mount Pleasant. Democratic Sen. Rich Taylor and Republican Rep. Dave Heaton made remarks Tuesday at the Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute in support of keeping the facility open with state dollars. The lawmakers, both of Mount Pleasant, were joined by Democratic Sen. Amanda Ragan, of Mason City, and local leaders.

The facility’s future became uncertain this year after Gov. Terry Branstad’s budget proposal removed funding for it and the state mental health facility in Clarinda. Lawmakers eventually approved legislation that would keep Mount Pleasant open and would seek a private provider to run Clarinda.

Lawmakers Tuesday urged Branstad to approve the legislation. Branstad’s spokesman says the governor will make a decision soon.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Monday afternoon, of 23-year old Keaton Ray Osthoff, of Clarinda. The man was taken into custody in Clarinda, on a Page County warrant for Serious Assault. Osthoff was being held at the jail in Clarinda without bond, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

The warrant for his arrest was the result of a Page County Sheriff’s Office investigation where Osthoff allegedly assaulted 21-year old Lucas T. Jensen, of Kansas City, Mo., at a residence located about one-half mile west of Clarinda, at around 12:30-a.m., on May 10th.

Deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report this (Tuesday) morning of a nine-year old child bitten by a dog, in Anita. The call came in at around 10:50-a.m. Officials say an investigation determined the child was bitten at the residence of the owner of the dog, and suffered injuries requiring medical attention. The animal was on a leash on its property at the time of incident.

And, there were two arrests in Cass County last Saturday. Authorities say 24-year old Shane Michael Suhr, of Anita, was arrested on charges of Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct. Suhr was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled not guilty later that day and was released. And, 27-year old Joseph Donald Fredericksen, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday, on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Fredericksen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $1,000 bond.

A traffic stop late Monday night in Audubon County resulted in the arrest of a woman on a Driving While Suspended charge. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 46-year old Connie Jae Emgarten, of Casey, was pulled over on Littlefield Drive near 350th Street at around 11:50-p.m., and subsequently taken into custody. She was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later posted a cash bond. Emgarten is set to appear before the magistrate on July 2nd.