The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports a Guthrie County man was arrested on an outstanding warrant. 32-year old Patrick Lawrence Nolte, of Menlo, faces a Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Deliver, charge. The charge is the result of an investigation into an incident which occurred in the 2300 block of 210th Street in Audubon County, on June 25th, 2015. Stuart Police assisted with his arrest.

Nolte was transported to the Audubon County Jail and later released after appearing before a magistrate.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), adopted an amended Fiscal Year 2016 County Budget and FY 2016 Iowa DOT/Secondary Roads Budget. The amendment includes a revenue increase of $1.828-million dollars and expenditure increase of just over $1.016-million.

Cass County Engineer Charles Marker explained part of the revenue increases came from Road Use Tax Fund (Gas Tax) monies from the State. The funds came in during after the FY 2016 budget was prepared, and amounts to $500,000. Of that, Marker said $200,000 was used for the purchase of additional road rock, the rest was allocated for three, sub-standard bridges. Work on those bridges will be conducted this summer.

Marker said the extra dollars from the Road Use Tax Fund are “greatly appreciated.” Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman explained other changes include increases of $25,000 Public Safety and Legal Services. Capital Projects and Debt Service also figured into the amendment.

In other business, the Cass County Board of Supervisors approved a contract with Rasmussen Mechanical Services for the courthouse boiler and burner project.

Cass County Engineer Charles Marker reports a bridge located a couple of miles south of Interstate 80 in Pymosa Township was closed immediately today (Wednesday) following an inspection. The high truss bridge is located on Chicago Road near Buck Creek Road, not far from the Buck Creek Church. Marker said their inspection revealed a wooden “pile cap” on the northeast corner of the bridge has shattered, making it unsafe.

Their concern is that the northwest corner of the bridge, which will carry more of the weight, might soon be in a similar situation. Marker says the bridge was closed so crews can replace the pile caps.

Marker said also, the Atlantic quarry where road rock is obtained by the Secondary Roads Department, is now closed, so crews are getting rock from the Lewis Quarry and the Stennett Quarry south of Griswold.

The damaged pile cap on a high truss bridge on Chicago Rd. (Cass County Engineer’s photo)

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

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Police in Creston are investigating the theft of a rabbit. Authorities say a woman who resides in the 300 block of N. Oak Street, in Creston, reported that when she came home from work, Tuesday, one of her rabbits was missing. The loss was estimated at $35.

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

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Iowans are living much less physical lives now than they did a few decades ago and people are being encouraged to get outdoors for a brisk walk today (Wednesday) as part of National Walking Day. Kassi Wessing, spokeswoman for the American Heart Association of Iowa, says to start with just a half hour of hoofing it. “It’s a day for people to take charge of their heart health,” Wessing says. “It’s starting to get nice out, we’re enjoying warmer temperatures and people are ready to get outside and enjoy the spring weather. We would like everybody to get out and get at least a 30-minute walk today. So, lace up your sneakers and get moving.”

It’s recommended adults take part in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both, each week. “Walking is one of the easiest exercises you can take on,” Wessing says. “It’s low risk. All you need is a good pair of sneakers and a path to walk on, so it’s inexpensive. Pretty much anybody can do it and a lot of times, that can kind of be our gateway drug to more physical activity.”

She says everyone who walks can “donate” their minutes walked to the American Heart Association  by posting their minutes on social media. “We’d like anybody that walks to share that they’re participating in National Walking Day,” Wessing says. “Share how many minutes you walked. Use #AHALaceUp. We’re going to track all of that and work toward the goal of 100,000 minutes walked nationally today.”

Studies suggest moderate physical activity has many proven benefits for overall health, like lowering blood pressure, increasing H-D-L or “good” cholesterol and controlling weight. All these changes help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, Iowa’s number-1 and number-5 killers.

(Radio Iowa)

A new report shows it’s getting more expensive to live in Iowa and many families are struggling to earn enough money to cover their basic needs. The Iowa Policy Project’s 2016 “Cost of Living in Iowa” report outlines how much working families need to earn in order to pay for such things as food, housing, utilities, child care, and transportation. IPP research director Peter Brown says a couple areas of basic expenses have increased substantially in recent years. Rent, on average statewide, has risen seven-to-eight percent, while health insurance premiums have skyrocketed.

“Insurance, on the individual market at least, has gone up 17-to-23 percent,” Brown said. “These are actually premiums people are paying right now, in 2016, for health insurance.” Iowa’s current minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. The report states the average Iowa family of four would require each parent to earn at least $16.89 an hour to make ends meet.

“The median wage (in Iowa) is a little less than $16 (an hour). That means half of the jobs in this state pay less than that, yet…these families will need to earn $16 to $25 an hour — full-time, year-round — in order to get by,” Brown said.

The report identifies some of the lowest overall costs of living are found in the eastern Iowa metros of Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Davenport, Dubuque, and Cedar Rapids. The highest cost region of the state is in the southeast corner, including the cities of Fort Madison, Burlington, and Mount Pleasant.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and Megan Roberts State Farm have announced the nominee’s for this year’s Young Professionals of Atlantic (YPA) awards. The awards will be presented during the 3rd Annual Awards Luncheon and Dessert gala, beginning at Noon on April 29^th at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club. The awards are designed to recognize the achievements of young professionals who demonstrate a commitment to excellence and innovation in their profession and within the community.

YPA logo

Award categories and nominees include:  

Newcomer:

Brittany Burmeister, Nishna Valley YMCA

Nick Harris, Brocker, Karns and Karns Insurance

Dr. Kate Hoffman

Dan Mehmen, Principal Financial & Darryl D. Smith Company

Alexis Stensland, Southwest Iowa Planning Council

Business Leader:

Tim Cappel, Cappel’s Ace Hardware

Brad Henningsen, Henningsen Construction

Kevin Wieser, Brown’s Shoe Fit Company

Entrepreneur:

Amanda Graham, Picker’s Parlor

Megan Roberts, Megan Roberts State Farm

Public Servant:

Christina Bateman, Meyer & Gross Real Estate

Ashton Koehlmoos, Nishna Valley YMCA

Kelsey Smith, Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral

Seth Staashelm, Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department

Alexis Stensland, Southwest Iowa Planning Council

Natalie Struecker, Atlantic Public Library

Choice Workplace Award Nominees:

Dance Atlantic

Nishna Valley YMCA

Rolling Hills Bank & Trust

TS Bank

Firefighters from Atlantic were called to a reported vehicle on fire on Interstate 80 this morning. The call about a brake-line fire on a tractor trailer came in at around 6:05-a.m.  The vehicle was located on I-80 eastbound at the 56-mile marker.

A Cass County Deputy arriving on the scene at around 6:15 reported no fire, but the line was smoldering. No injuries have been reported.