(Radio Iowa) — Residents of the eastern Iowa town of Waukon are now without a popular restaurant after fire destroyed it Monday.  Gus and Tony’s Pizza and Steakhouse burned throughout the day. Waukon resident and former city council member Rod Peterson told K-C-R-G T-V, it’s not easy to see. “It hurts, because in every small town, it’s just hard on everything,” Peterson said.

Fire Chief Dave Martin said that two children, their mother, and one pet were rescued by an onlooker from the apartment next door to the restaurant. Peterson said this has happened before in the downtown area. “We had a big fire years ago — down here there used to be a big mill,” Peterson says. “Everything burned down in another fire, but it’s just part of what happens. It’s never easy.”

Gus and Tony’s has been a family restaurant in town for 39 years. So while this particular loss is a shock for Waukon, Peterson tells K-C-R-G T-V the tiny town is strong enough to handle it. “We’ll survive. We always do. That’s what Iowans do,” Peterson says.  The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Cass County Republican Supervisor Frank Waters announced prior to the start of today’s (Tuesday’s) Board of Supervisor’s meeting, that he would not seek re-election to the 5^th District seat on the Board. Waters said “It’s time for someone else to take over.” Waters, who has served on the Board for 11-years, to date, said he wanted to get the word out now, so someone who may be interested in circulating their nomination papers, can do so.

When the Board convened their regular session, they approved the plans, specifications, cost estimations and form of contract, for the Cold Springs Park Paving Project. Their action followed a public hearing on the matter, and discussion with Cass County Conservation Director Micah Lee.

The project will cost $129,270.50. It will go through the standard bid letting process before work begins later this Spring or Summer. The Cass County Supervisors also approved the renewal of the County Wellness Plan, which last year, Wellness Committee representative Deb Schuler said, saved the County a good chunk of money.

(She said implementing the policy saved the County more than $66,350 in costs, thanks to a 5-percent insurance discount. Schuler said “Over the past two years, there has been 100% participation” from County Employees.)

The only change in the policy ISAC 2020 employee Health Insurance/Wellness Program, is the date of effectiveness, from 2019 to 2020. Auditor Dale Sunderman said there are additional incentives for employees to participate and complete 100% of the Wellness Programs Offered by July 31, 2020.

In other business, the Supervisors accepted the bids and contract for Stock, and Project pipe, to be used by the Cass County Secondary Roads Department. The Board tabled action on setting set the dates for public hearings on a re-compilation of the Cass County Code of Ordinances. The Board wanted to go through the Ordinances and mark those that need to be repealed because they are no longer necessary. Before the Ordinances can then be re-codified, as required at least every five-years under the Code of Iowa, they must set the date for public hearings.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Department of Public Health says two Iowans who were tested for the coronavirus following recent travel to China have been cleared. The two unidentified individuals had agreed to voluntary home confinement while the state waited for the test results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The department also says there are 26 other individuals who are not showing any symptoms — but have recently traveled to China and are being monitored for the coronavirus. The Health Department’s medical director says everyone should continue to use proper hygiene techniques to avoid any kind of illness.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – The Waterloo City Council has voted to close the shortest of the local airport’s three runways — a proposal that had drawn opposition from some pilots. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported that the council voted Monday for the airport director to work with federal authorities on the decommissioning. The director had recommended closing the runway because of safety and liability concerns. Several pilots told the council at an earlier meeting that the runway is a safe alternative when high winds and other issues make it harder to access the two primary runways.

HATTIESBURG, MS (AP) – The U.S. Marshals Service says a sex offender who left Iowa without notifying authorities has been apprehended in Mississippi. A criminal complaint this month says Antonio Earl Satcher was required to register as a sex offender after his conviction in Black Hawk County, Iowa, of lascivious acts with a child – solicitation. During a months-long search for Satcher, authorities received tips that he was staying with relatives in Jasper County, Mississippi. He was eventually apprehended in Clarke County, Mississippi, last week. Court records list no lawyer for Satcher who could be reached for comment.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – Another defendant has been convicted in the slaying of a 26-year-old man in southeast Iowa. A Des Moines County jury found Emmanuel Spann guilty Monday of first-degree murder and conspiracy. He’ll be sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. Spann was one of five men charged with killing Demarcus “Peanut” Chew on Sept. 10, 2017, outside his mother’s apartment in Burlington. The last of the five is a Chicago man, Caesar Davison. Jury selection for his trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday.

(Radio Iowa) — Senate Republican have unveiled their proposed limitations if Iowa voters approve a constitutional amendment to automatically restore felon voting rights. The plan would still force those convicted of murder manslaughter or certain sex crimes to apply to the governor to get their voting rights restored and it would force paroled felons to pay ALL their restitution before they’d get the right to vote. Senator Dan Dawson is a Republican from Council Bluffs. “This is not a poll tax. It’s a murder tax. It’s a sexual assault tax. It’s a robbery tax,” he says. “…We’re not talking about people who randomly just got charged with felonies. We’re talking about persons who made an affirmative decision to go out and commit a serious crime.”

Opponents say linking voting rights to income is wrong. Currently, felons applying to the governor just have to show they’re keeping up with a payment plan to get their voting rights back. Heather Strachan with the National Alliance on Mental Illness Iowa says she’s survived abuse and disagrees with the approach Senate Republicans are proposing. Strachan says she feels safer if her abuser is participating in society and getting the treatment he needs. “As a survivor, I urge you not to exclude people from voting based on ideas of repayment and protection in my name,” she says.

Iowa is now the only state in the country that does not automatically give felons the right to vote once they’ve completed their sentences. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has been pushing the Senate since last year to pass her proposed constitutional amendment to automatically restore felon voting rights.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katarina Sostaric)

Creston Police report the arrest on drug charges, of 19-year old Haley Zeigler, of Creston. Zeigler was taken into custody at her home a little before 9-a.m. Monday, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was released from the Union County Jail, on a $1,300 bond. And, just before 4-p.m. Monday, 29-year old Trevor Kinkade, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear, on an original charge of Assault causing bodily injury or mental illness. Kinkade was being held in the Union County Jail, while awaiting a Bond Hearing.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:05-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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