SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — County officials in western Iowa have asked a judge to allow guns in some areas of the courthouse amid security questions and the likelihood of increased costs. The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors formally requested on Tuesday that Judge Duane Hoffmeyer permit weapons on the floors of the Woodbury County Courthouse without court functions. The Sioux City Journal reports that counties can seek to authorize guns in public areas of a courthouse that aren’t occupied by the court system under a supervisory order issued by the Iowa Supreme Court in December. Judges approve the requests.

The board’s request letter would change how security is handled in the courthouse. Some question whether it’ll be costly to keep the building secure, due to individuals with guns potentially moving on various floors.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska man has pleaded guilty to threatening Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa. Court records say Robert Simet, of Omaha, entered the plea Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Council Bluffs. The charge: violent threats to a federal official. His sentencing is scheduled for May 23.

An arrest affidavit says employees of a motorcycle shop in Pacific Junction, Iowa, told an FBI agent that Simet had been there July 5. During that visit, Simet made several statements about Ernst, including that he believes she is a member of the Islamic State group and that he “could kill” her during a July 10 event at the motorcycle shop.

The Montgomery County Extension Council and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach have announced the hiring of Celine Beggs as Montgomery County’s Youth Coordinator.  Beggs began work on December 19th. As the County Youth Coordinator, her primary duties are to strengthen youth development through research-based education and interactive learning opportunities. Beggs will coordinate the planning and implementation of 4-H development and youth outreach programs, such as summer day camps, babysitting clinics, afterschool programs, Family Fun Night and more. As an integral part of the 4-H program, she will focus on positive youth development by establishing community partnerships, supporting volunteers, county youth council, 4-H youth and committee and other project committees.

Celine Beggs is originally from Taylor County, Iowa where she was a member of the Bedford Downtowners 4-H Club and the Taylor County Senior Council. She is a Fall 2017 graduate of Kansas State University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in both Agricultural Communications and Journalism and Agricultural Economics, with an emphasis in leadership development. Beggs is enthusiastic about the 4-H program and brings in various experiences which will help her create sustainable programs for the county.

Celine Beggs

Beggs will work closely with Montgomery County’s 4-H program and coworkers, Rachel Bergren, Program Coordinator and office assistant Angela Silva, as well as other Field Specialists serving Montgomery County. Please stop by the Montgomery County Extension Office and welcome Celine to her new position! Feel free to contact her at cmbeggs@iastate.edu or 712-623-2592 regarding any questions you may have about Montgomery County’s 4-H program and other resources available through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Montgomery County. Extension resources are always available at www.extension.iastate.edu/montgomery.  Be sure to “Like” Montgomery County-IA Extension on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says three people were injured during two separate accidents Tuesday afternoon. The first accident happened at around 1:25-p.m. on 160th Street near the “12 mile parking lot,” when a 1996 Ford Taurus driven by 18-year old Evan James Skelton, of Corning, left the road at the bottom of a hill, and struck a tree. Authorities say he was driving too fast to make the turn in the road. Skelton was not injured, but two passengers in the car, 18-year old Nicole Bent, of Creston, and 23-year old James Cox, of Corning, were hurt. Bendt complained of pain, and was transported to her residence by a friend. Cox was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston for treatment of suspected minor injuries. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,000. Both passengers were wearing their seat belts.

And, at around 3:15-p.m. Tuesday, a 2015 Buick LaCrosse driven by 57-year old Michael Carroll White, of Rhodes, was traveling south on 130th Street in Union County, when his vehicle slid off the road on a curve and struck a tree. Authorities said he was driving too fast for road conditions. White, and his passenger, 66-year old Karen Cross, of Colfax, were transported to the hospital in Creston for observation and treatment of any injuries. Damage to the SUV was estimated at $6,000.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors heard a report this (Wednesday) morning from Guthrie County Executive Director of Health Services, Jotham Arber. After Sanitarian Steve Patterson passed away last March, Guthrie County officials decided to move all environment health services under the wing of the Guthrie County Health System, while retaining all the employees and services previously provided.

Arber explained they are updating some of the 28-E agreements for soil services, so all counties are on the same page. There are only minor changes in the way Cass County is charged for services, and the implementation of a Cost Report mechanism. The Cost Report, which will be presented once a year to the Supervisors, so they can see the costs broken down. It wraps the various elements of inspections and services into one hourly rate, such as postage, office supplies and so on. Mileage would be charged separately. Last year in Cass County, there were 35 Perc Tests, 34 Septic Systems Installed, 8 new wells, 46 water tests, 26 time of transfer inspections, 16 wells plugged and 2 well rehab’s conducted. The total number of hours of service amounted to 725, with a total of 17,632 miles driven by inspectors. After his report to the Board, Cass County Auditor/Board Secretary Dale Sunderman, read the Resolution for the 28-E agreement, which the available Board member approved unanimously, with Supervisor/Chair Gaylord Schelling and Supervisor Steve Green absent.

And, in his report to the Board, newly appointed Cass County Attorney Michael Hooper answered some Board member questions with regard to how bad checks are prosecuted in the County. Hooper said there are essentially two options that have been available for many years when a business comes in to his office with a bad check. The first is, it can be prosecuted as a Theft charge. The amount of the check determines the Degree of Theft charge.  The offender would be required to pay restitution at a rate of about $50 per month. There is also an informal way of handling such cases, a method Hooper says was in-place long before he was appointed.

He says the County Attorney’s Office collected money on the bad checks. They meet with the offender and let them know prosecution could move forward, but that they could also simply pay back the money, with the County Attorney’s Office receiving the payment and returning the funds to the affected business. In that scenario, there would be no prosecution.

A woman from Audubon County who was arrested and being held on a Pottawattamie County warrant, was picked-up by Pott. County Deputies, Tuesday afternoon, and transported to the Pott. County Jail. 27-year old Rebecca Lyn Matzen, of Exira, was wanted on a warrant for OWI/1st offense. Her bond was set at $2,000.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson today (Wednesday), reported two people were arrested recently. 29-year old Justin Cooley, of Atlantic, was arrested Tuesday for Theft in the 3rd Degree, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Contraband in a Correctional Institution (Jail). He was booked in the Cass County Jail. And, this (Wednesday) morning, 42-year old Samantha Clark, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for three-counts of Supplying Alcohol to a Person Under Legal Age. Clark was also booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of 30-year-old Shae Daniel Lewis of Red Oak on Wednesday morning. Lewis was arrested at 7:55am in the 1200 block of Summit Street on two warrants for a domestic assault incident on January 14th. The warrants were for Domestic Assault 1st Offense and Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 cash bond.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Tuesday afternoon, of 36-year old Justin Wayne Schomburg, of Malvern. Schomburg was taken into custody for Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $300.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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