(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Tuesday) morning, unanimously agreed to adopt/pass Resolutions awarding ARPA (Covid recovery) funds in the amount of $50,000 for specified improvements to the Anita Child Care Center, and $120,000 for the Cass County Fire Association. Both requests had previously been discussed at length with the respective organization representatives.

Cumberland Fire Chief Jason Rouse appeared before the Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Tuesday) morning, to request ARPA funds for the purchase of new firefighter air packs and possible an air compressor, at an estimated total cost of $92,000. Rouse said currently, only nine out of the 11 airpacks they have, are fully functional. The age of their airpacks has also exceeded the industry norm.

The oldest airpack tank is dated 1988, while the newest is 2004. The other issue they have with the packs, aside from aging air bottles, is the pressure regulators. He brought one of the devices in for a demonstration…

He said the bottles would have to be replaced if they replaced the regulators with higher capacity pressure system. Rouse said they would like to replace their metal tanks with newer, lighter weight and extremely durable, carbon-fiber bottles. He said they only have one fundraiser per year (The Pork Chop Super), which, if they used all the funds from, would only allow for the purchase of one airpack.

Due to COVID, they couldn’t hold the supper in 2020, and in 2021 it was on a drive-thru pickup basis,which fortunately, “went very well.” Rather than fund all 11airpacks at once through the ARPA funds, the Supervisors favored staggering the purchases and allocation of funds over the course of three-years. The Board requested Rouse come back later with more details on cost and a plan to acquire.

In other business, the Board agreed to table any action on the hiring of a new employee or employees for the Treasurer’s Office, until the publication standards are met. It’s expected the Supervisors will be able to take action on the matter during their meeting on June 7^th.

The Board also agreed to enter into a joint participation agreement with SWIPCO, with regard to the Rural Transit System, but they tabled entering into a Business Service agreement with Mediacom for a DHS phone line, pending more detailed information and clarification.

Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken reported to the Board, an asphalt resurfacing project is underway on County Road M-56, southwest of Atlantic. A total of six-miles will be completed between today and tomorrow. Other projects, such as roadway pipe, are waiting on the ground to dry out a bit before work can continue or in some cases, begin.

(Radio Iowa) – Storm damage is scattered from one end of Iowa to the other after severe weather rolled through late Monday night and early this (Tuesday) morning. National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Krull says at least a dozen counties are reporting damage to trees, roofs and farm outbuildings, with some of the worst of it being found in Hamilton County. “We had some strong winds, anywhere between 60 and 70 miles per hour, that resulted in some downed power lines as well as grain bin damage,” Krull says. “We’re also looking at the potential for other tree damage that may have occurred in the county. We had some isolated reports of hail up to about quarter size with some of the initial storms that went up in northern Iowa.”

While it is tornado season in Iowa, Krull says it appears all of the damage from this storm was caused by straight-line winds. “We’ve not had any reports of tornadoes or suspect any of the damage was caused by a tornado, therefore we do not anticipate doing any surveys,” Krull says. “We will be calling emergency managers and other core partners to get more damage reports. If we do suspect that there is anything that may have been tornadic, then that would require sending crews out.”

Hamilton County Sheriff Doug Timmons says it was a rough night and clean-up is well underway. “We had a lot of tree damage, some structural damage to machine sheds, a little bit of roof damage to residential, some grain bins destroyed, a lot of power lines laying on the roads and power poles knocked over,” Timmons says, “but the biggest thing is that we’ve had no injuries reported.”

While some Iowa cities had high temperatures Monday in the 80s and low 90s, cooler weather is coming behind the storms that should mean highs by Wednesday only in the 60s and 70s.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Stephanie Burke reports, “In early May, the Montgomery County Courthouse sustained roof damage to the center most cupola as a result of strong significant wind. On Monday May 30th, several additional pieces of the cupola fell as a result of continued strong winds, damaging a nearby parked car.

“The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors have been working with a contractor as well as the county insurance carrier to remedy the issue as quick as possible. Due to the location of damage, height and complexity of the issue, an immediate fix is not possible but every effort is being made to mitigate it from being a further problem.”

Photos via the Montgomery County EMA Facebook page

Burke says “Once a complete plan is made, it will be released to the public as well as any necessary building or road closures should they be needed.” The County is also aware of the condition of the American flag at the top of the clock tower. Much like the cupola, due to the height of the flagpole and the amount of it that is torn and wrapped around the base, it will most likely require the service of the roofing company and crane service.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests from May 19th through the 30th.

• On May 30th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 43-year-old Todd Glade, of Atlantic, on a Cass County Warrant for Failure to Appear.  Glade was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.
• On May 28th, 19-year-old Collin Clarken, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.  Clarken was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release. And, 20-year-old Gage Mundorf, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.  Mundorf was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release.
• On May 27th, 21-year-old Mikayla Waldron, of Atlantic, was arrested on warrants for Theft 2nd Degree and Unauthorized Use of Credit Card.  Waldron was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held. And, 19-year-old Dante Watkins, of Council Bluffs, on Warrants for Violation of Probation.  Watkins was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.
• On May 22nd, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 49-year-old Dwayne Rollins, of Atlantic, on charges of OWI 1st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Rollins was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous recent arrests:

• On Monday, May 30th, 49-year-old Thomas Luis Lux, of St. Joseph, MO., was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop on I-29 at around 11:48-p.m. His bond was set at $1,000.
• At around 3:40-a.m. Monday, 35-year-old Kyle Steve Johnson was arrested in the area of Railroad Highway & Kanesville Blvd., following a traffic stop. He was taken into custody for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender.
• Sunday morning, Pott. County Sheriff’s Deputies charged Pott. County Jail inmate, 62-year-old Becky Marie Stander, with Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, for allegedly damaging property in the jail.
• A little before 2-a.m. Sunday, 28-year-old Tyzania Laisis Marlen Williams was arrested following a traffic stop on I-80 near mile marker 40, after authorities received word a vehicle was observed following too closely and unable to maintain lanes, before nearly sideswiping multiple motorists on the interstate. Williams faces charges that include Failure to Maintain control of a motor vehicle, having no valid driver’s license, and OWI/1st offense.
• At around 5-a.m. Saturday, 30-year-old Alexandra Stroman was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop on I-80 eastbound near mile marker 34.
• Authorities say at around 1:45-a.m., Saturday, 20-year-old Skye Marie Kay Bentley was arrested for OWI/1st offense.
• Friday night, a Pott. County Deputy arrested 67-year-old Paul R. Waggener on charges that include Failure to Maintain Control of a motor vehicle, Failure to maintain minimum speed, and OWI/1st offense. His arrest occurred during a traffic stop on I-29 northbound at mile marker 59.
• Earlier that same evening, 36-year-old Saw Kaw Thaw was arrested in Avoca, for OWI/1st offense.
• Friday afternoon, 19-year-old Marcus McCoy Masoner, JR., was arrested in Neola, for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender.

(Audubon, Iowa) – City officials in Audubon are asking residents to please try to conserve their water usage. The request was being made due to some damage from high winds at the Audubon water plant. City Clerk Joseph Foran says the repairs should only take an estimated one or two days.

(Audubon, Iowa) – Severe thunderstorms with high winds caused damage to cattle barns Monday evening, in Audubon County. The National Weather Service says the damage happened about 2-miles east-southeast of Audubon, a little before 5-p.m.  No one was hurt, and no animals were harmed. Thunderstorms passing through the area were packing winds of 60-to 70-miles per hour.

The Weather Service says an automated weather observation device 2-miles east of Harlan, recorded a non-thunderstorm 58-mph gust of wind, at around 5:45-p.m.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa City is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its fire department with events throughout the summer. Lieutenant John Crane says there were some volunteers who fought fires way back in 1842. Things then started becoming more organized when the State Capitol was moved to Iowa City and the Old Capitol building was under construction. “And they figured they’d have some need some hose and some other equipment to kind of protect that. And then kind of for next 30 years, there were kind of some — I don’t want to call them ragtag — but some volunteer companies that kind of formed to provide some fire protection throughout the city of Iowa City,” Crane says. As the city continued to grow, the need for more permanent fire protection became evident.

“In March of 1872 there was a big fire downtown and destroyed the Clinton House Hotel. And there’s a lot of development in Iowa City at that time, a lot happening downtown,” he says. “They finally thought they had enough of fires destroying property in downtown Iowa City, so they, the city kind of decided they needed a fire department. So by city ordinance on May 20, 1872, they established what was called the Iowa City Fire Department.” The city provided 500 dollars of gear to a fire protection company made up of a group of volunteer firefighters. The fire company had to report back to the city on its activities. The volunteers provided fire protection until 1912 when three paid firefighters were hired — including a chief. That year also saw the department buy two white fire horses from a farm in Keota named Snowball and Highball — which became a big interest in the community.

“They weren’t the first horses in the Iowa City Fire Department, because there were some other horses before them,” he says, “but they were the first white pair of white horses. So, they became pretty photogenic and they also came around the time where photography came about. So a lot of pictures were taken of a Snowball and Highball.” The two white horses were originally housed at the Alert Hose Company station on the same block where the Hamburg Inn is now on North Main Street. Crane says the department also bought its first motorized fire truck in 1912. Crane isn’t sure how many calls firefighters got back then — but he does know things have picked up dramatically in the last 50 years.

“We do know that the 100th-anniversary celebration in 1972, the fire department ran less than one-thousand calls for emergency calls for service. In 2021, ran over eight-thousand, and I think we’re on pace now to run over nine-thousand.,” according to Crane. “So the call volume has increased dramatically. And that’s because we’ve become sort of an all hazards department, a lot of fire departments have, or what we call all hazard departments, which means you go on E-M-S calls, emergency medical calls, fire calls.” He says the number of staff hasn’t increased quite as much as the calls. They had 52 people in the department at the 100-year celebration in 1972, and now have 64 people. One other thing that has changed is the Clinton House which burned down in 1872 was only three stories. With the University of Iowa in Iowa City, there are buildings that are 20 stories.

“The one thing about those buildings where they do have really advanced fire protection systems, you know, early warning systems and sprinkler systems. So the chances of something I guess the chances of a big event happening are lower,” he says. “But if something does happen to where it requires a fire response, it’s a challenge, a challenge to have enough personnel on scene and the right equipment on the scene to handle that, getting all the equipment up to those top floors.” They will be celebrating the anniversary with open houses at the four fire stations throughout the coming weeks. They also have a display of historical pictures and items from the fire department at the Iowa City Public Library.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports six arrests from over the past few days. At around 8:18-p.m. Monday, Officers arrested 59-year-old Scott Richard Phipps, of Creston. He was taken into custody at the Creston Union County Law Enforcement Center on a charge of OWI 1^st offense. Phipps was taken to the Union County Jail where he later bonded out on $1000 cash or surety bond. That same day, 23-year-old Mariel Kaleen Jones, of Adel, was arrested in Creston, also for OWI/1st offense. She too was later released on a $1,000 bond.

At around 12:30-a.m. Sunday, Creston Police arrested 18-year-old Audrey Nicole Breanne Jennings, of Creston, for Possession of a Controlled Substance 1^st Offense-Marijuana. Jennings was released on Promise to Appear. 18-year-old Gunnar Lee Millslagle, of Cromwell, was arrested at the same place and time, on the same charge.  Millslagle was released on Promise to Appear.

Saturday evening, 25-year-old Aaron Christopher Ortiz, of Creston, was arrested at his residence for Harassment 3^rd Degree. Ortiz was later released on his own recognize. And, at around 11:50-p.m. Saturday, 36-year-old Douglas Edward Woodward III, of Creston, was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, 2^nd Offense-Methamphetamine and on a Union County Warrant for FTA original charge Driving while Barred. Woodward was taken to the Union County Jail where he was later released on a $4,000 cash or surety bond.

Creston Police report also, the following incidents:

• On April 1st, a man residing in the 300 block of N. Bureau Street reported that someone broke into his vehicle while parked at his residence. Taken was a Crescent Tool Box with tools inside. Total loss estimate $200
• On May 24th, a man residing in the 500 block of N. Cherry Street in Creston, reported that a window was broke out of his van while parked at his residence. Loss estimate $200
• And, on the 27th, Cook Video and Appliance, in Creston, reported to police that someone drilled a hole in the bottom of a gas tank on one of their trucks while parked in the parking lot. Loss estimate $1,500.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council will meet in a regular session Wednesday, their first for the month of June. Among the action items on their agenda, is

• An order to set the date of a Public Hearing for Amending the FY 2022 Budget, as June 15, 2022. City Administrator John Lund, in his agenda notes, said “Traditionally, Atlantic only needs one amendment to reconcile our finances. Unfortunately, spending has continued at a pace where a second amendment is going to be necessary.” Lund added, “This will be the first time since I became an employee of the City in March of 2011, that this has been necessary.” He warned that following a “post mortem on the FY 22 Budget, there will be “extensive discussion on revenues and spending this summer and fall, with our Department Heads.””
• The Council is also expected to hold a Public Hearing on an Ordinance “Adopting the proposed amendments to the City of Atlantic Zoning Code, 2018,” followed by the first reading of the Ordinance, which pertains to signs in residential zones. The Zoning Commission adjusted the language ordinance to allow for “One sign located on the building, and one monument sign, per each street frontage, with each sign not to exceed 24 square feet in surface area, displaying information for churches, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, clubs, offices, libraries or similar uses….such signs may be illuminated.”
• There will also be a Public Hearing on the sale of City-owned property at 611 Linn Street, as previously mentioned in our newscasts, and, action on a Resolution to sell the lot to Henningsen & Baragary, LLC, for the sum of One-dollar. The buyer has agreed to build a $300,000 home on the parcel, which exceeds the application minimum.

In other business, the Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett, with the Council’s approval, will proclaim June 13-17, 2022, as Ride Transit Week, in Atlantic. The City has previously agreed to budget $8,000 to help fund the Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA), which operates under SWIPCO. During FY 2021, SWITA provided more than 377,000 rides, and their buses traveled more than 1.8-million miles, combined.