The proposed Elite Octane, LLC Ethanol plant in Atlantic, is not going to happen. The Cass County Board of Supervisors were scheduled Wednesday morning, to act on approving a Development Agreement between the County and ethanol plant officials that would have authorized $8.5-million dollars in Tax Increment Payments. The agreement would have also Pledged Certain Tax Increment Revenues to the Payment of the Agreement, but Nick Bowdish, President of N Bowdish Companies, which represents the ethanol group investors, told KJAN News they reached an impasse over discussions about the amount the plant would pay for electricity, and have informed Board Chair Gaylord Schelling and Auditor Dale Sunderman, the deal is dead. (Click on the left side of the audio players below to hear comments)

Steve Tjepkes, Atlantic Municipal Utilities General Manager told KJAN News last week, that the AMU Board declined to approve a request from Elite Octane to reduce their electrical rate to 5.6-cents per kilowatt hour. Elite Octane officials told the Board that if they were unable to get that rate, AMU should transfer its service territory to Mid-American Energy, which likely can charge 5.5-cents per kwh. Tjepkes says the AMU Board voted against transferring the service territory to Mid-American because of a contractual obligation AMU has with its regional power provider.

Bowdish said since there’s no chance of getting a reduced rate, he’s “Out of ideas,” on how to make the project work.

Bowdish said the company could have explored “self-generation” of electrical power, but that would have been too costly.

He says from this point, he’s stepping back from involvement in the project.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A man from Lebanon has been arrested in connection with a scheme to smuggle guns purchased in Iowa to his country. Federal authorities arrested 42-year-old Fadi Yassine this week as he got off a flight in New York City. He made a court appearance Monday in Brooklyn, New York and will be transferred to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to face charges of conspiring to violate the Arms Export Control act.

Four Cedar Rapids residents with ties to Lebanon were sentenced to prison for their role in the conspiracy last year. Investigators say that Yassine purchased guns in Lebanon that the Iowa residents had shipped there, and told one of the conspirators which guns to purchase. Yassine is also accused of giving one of the conspirators $30,000 cash to buy more guns.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop Sunday resulted in the arrest of two Atlantic men. 26-year old Uriah Simeon Joiner, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/2nd Offense and Possession of Marijuana/1st Offense. And, 33-year old Mike Wayne Henson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of Possession of Marijuana/1st Offense. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail and released later in the day, Sunday, on their own recognizances.

Last Saturday, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 26-year old Zachary Michael Bagshaw, of Cumberland, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. Bagshaw was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

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

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Police in Creston today (Tuesday) released a delayed Theft report. Authorities say a man residing in the 1000 block of W. Montgomery Street reported that sometime during the month of October someone entered his garage at his residence and stole a large number of tools, hunting gear and other miscellaneous items.

The stolen items included: Several Snap-On brand socket sets, wrenches, ratchets and
extension sets; Under Armour Bibs and Jacket; a Nikon Monarch Laser 1200 range finder; Red Head Primal Bow/Rifle Rack; a Dewalt 6 tool 18 Volt Combo kit; Hunter Safety System Harness; and, a True Fire Edge Buckle fold back release. The property was valued at $8,500 altogether.

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

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A Council Bluffs man escaped injuries after his vehicle was struck this (Tuesday) morning during a police chase. Authorities identified the driver of the vehicle struck as Wayne Belt. Officials say the incident happened at around 1:40-a.m.

Pottawattamie County Deputies broadcast that they were in pursuit of a vehicle which was determined to have been stolen out of Mills County, and was heading Southbound on River Road heading towards the Council Bluffs City Limits. Council Bluffs Police Department Officers responded to the area to assist and were able to deploy tire deflation devices (Stop Sticks) to attempt to slow the vehicle. The suspect vehicle ran over the stop sticks causing 3 of its tires to slowly deflate. The vehicle slowed, but continued into the city. The Sheriff’s Deputy terminated the pursuit in the area of 25th and Ave G when his patrol vehicle became disabled.

The suspect vehicle meanwhile continued Southbound on South 25th with Officers no longer in pursuit. At 25th and Broadway the suspect vehicle ran the stoplight and collided with Belt’s vehicle, striking the rear passenger side of his vehicle. The suspect vehicle continued Southbound on 25th until 3rd Ave where the suspects abandoned the vehicle and ran from the area. Witnesses reported seeing a total of three suspects flee the vehicle. An Omaha Police K‐9 Officer responded to assist, however after a search of the area no suspects were located.

Anyone with information concerning the identity of the occupants of the suspect vehicle is requested to contact Crime Stoppers at 328‐STOP(7867) or the Council Bluffs Police Special Operations unit at 712‐328‐4948.

Voters in Montgomery County will head to the polls today (Tuesday), to cast their ballots in a Special Red Oak School District Election. On the ballot, is Public Measure “A,” a renewal of the 10-year Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL), and a PPEL income surtax. If approved, the 10-year Levy would authorize a tax of not more than $1.34 per $1,000 of taxable property valuation within the Red Oak School District, beginning June 30^th 2021, and a tax on personal income starting December 31^st for each calendar year, and commencing with the 2020 calendar year.

Proceeds from the levy would be used for building construction or repairs, plus equipment, technology and transportation purchases. The PPEL needs a simple majority in order to pass.

Voters may vote absentee in-person at the Auditor’s Office today from 8-a.m. until 11-a.m. The polls open at Noon, and close at 8-p.m.

The polling site is the Montgomery County Fairground’s Gold Building.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Authorities have rescued a man who jumped into the Missouri River from a pedestrian bridge that connects Omaha with Council Bluffs. He leaped from the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge at 6:15 p.m. Monday and spent 15 minutes in the frigid water before his rescue on the Nebraska side.

Omaha Police Officer Phillip Anson says an officer entered the water to try to reach the man but couldn’t get a good hold. Anson says two other officers reached out with a stick, and the man grabbed it so he could be pulled to shore. He was taken to Creighton University Medical Center. His name hasn’t been released.

BOONE, Iowa (AP) – Officials say they won’t erect warning signs near an Iowa park overlook where a man fell 60 feet to his death on New Year’s Day. Sixty-three-year-old Dan Carlile, of Ames, fell after losing his footing near Lost Lake Trail at Ledges State Park south of Boone.

The Des Moines Register reports that his widow, Cheryl Carlile, says excess signage and railings would ruin the spot’s beauty. But she says a single sign would make people think twice about getting too close to the edge of what’s known as Solstice Rock, which overlooks the Des Moines River.

Iowa Natural Resources Department officials decided against any barriers or signs at the site. Park manager Andy Bartlett says, “It’s just too important of a cultural resource to do that.”