The Cass, Sac, and Carroll County Conservation Boards have teamed up to host a fun birding trip to northeast Minnesota and the world famous Sax-Zim Bog and Duluth area. Officials say they’re excited about this opportunity and look forward to showing folks lots of amazing birds, as well as enjoying some of northeast Minnesota’s culture and charm. The trip will be held Jan. 16th through the 19th, 2015. The registration deadline is Dec. 31st.

The cost is $480 for a single person, or $645 for double occupancy ($322.50 per person). Your registration fee covers transportation, three nights of hotel rooms, guides, one lunch, and snacks/refreshments on the bus.

Informational sessions about the trip will be held in Cass County:

• December 1st Lewis Public Library 5 PM
• December 8th Anita Public Library 6 PM
• December 9th Atlantic Public Library 5 PM

For more information regarding a full itinerary and registration information, please contact Lora at lkanning@casscoia.us or 712-769-2372

Among the birds participants should expect to see is: Great Gray Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Snowy Owl, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Grosbeak, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Ruffed Grouse, Boreal Chickadee, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Bohemian Waxwing, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Northern Goshawk,  Black-billed Magpie, Common Redpoll, and possibly Hoary Redpoll and Boreal Owl. Also, numerous loons, gulls, and scoters are hoped to be seen on Lake Superior near Two Harbors and Duluth. Other sea ducks, including Long-tailed Duck and Harlequin Duck are sometimes seen, too.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – University of Iowa President Sally Mason says she would have concerns about extending a tuition freeze to cover nonresident and graduate students. The Iowa Board of Regents is expected to set tuition rates for next school year Dec. 3.

Key members have indicated support for a third straight freeze for resident undergraduate students, but have been considering what to do with others’ rates. The board is planning a media availability later Tuesday. Mason told reporters that she supports the resident undergraduate freeze but would be “less enthusiastic” about extending it to other students.

She says the state has always required nonresidents to pay the full cost of their education, and should continue that policy. She says graduate education is “very expensive” to deliver, given the faculty support and equipment required.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Congressman Steve King will host several potential 2016 presidential candidates at a political summit in January. King on Tuesday announced he will hold the Iowa Freedom Summit on Jan. 24 in Des Moines. Conservative group Citizens United will co-host the event.

Confirmed guests include Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Utah Sen. Mike Lee. All are considered possible 2016 Republican presidential candidates.

In a news release, King says this is the right time to bring leaders to Iowa in advance of the state’s leadoff caucuses in early 2016. He says the event will “energize conservatives.”

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Casey was arrested last Friday on a charge of Child Endangerment. 45-year old Michael George Dennis was also arrested for OWI 1st Offense. The man was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

Last Thursday (11/13), deputies in Cass County arrested 23-year old Haylee Marie Thompson, of Exira,  on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. Thompson was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released later that day on her own recognizance.

And on November 10th, 20-year old Sunnie Jo Marie Peck, of Walnut, was arrested in Cass County on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Peck was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $10,000 bond.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a woman who was “bumped” by a train in Sioux City has been hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Sioux City police Lt. Rex Mueller says the woman stepped onto tracks Monday as a train was approaching. The engineer was able to slow down the train, and Mueller says it “bumped her.”

The Sioux City Journal reports the woman was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Additional information about her condition is not available. Mueller says the woman appeared to be emotionally distressed prior as she walked on the tracks. No other information was released about the circumstances of the incident.

The Atlantic Police Department today (Tuesday) reports two arrests over the past few days and two accidents. On Sunday, 21-year old Curtis McCoy, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and on Friday, 30-year old Gwen Vanderhoof, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of Public Intoxication. Both subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

An accident Sunday morning at 7th and Chestnut Streets in Atlantic caused $13,500, but no one was injured. Officials say vehicles driven by Peter Smith and Nancy Reynolds, both of Atlantic, collided at around 10:30-a.m., when Reynolds failed to obey a stop light. She was subsequently cited for the infraction.

And on Saturday, vehicles driven by Jessica Mack and Joseph Fredericksen, both of Atlantic, collided at 7th and Linn Streets, at around 1:15-p.m. The P-D says Fredericksen was cited for having no proof of insurance, after his vehicle rear-ended the Mack vehicle after she lost control on the icy road as she applied her brakes. Her vehicle’s rear end spun around and was hit by Fredericksen’s vehicle on the right side. Damage from the collision amounted to $7,100.

Shelby County will host a Pest Control Operators Continuing Instructional Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. The program will be shown at locations across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pest Management and the Environment (PME) program.

The local site for the Dec.3 CIC is 906 6th Street, Harlan. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by sessions from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The registration fee is $60 on or before Nov. 26 and $70 after Nov. 26. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Shelby County by phoning 712-755-3104.

The 2014 course will provide continuing instructional credit for commercial pesticide applicators certified in categories 7A, 7B, 8, and 10. The course will cover topics such as effects of pesticides on groundwater and other non-target sites; effective bed bug and termite treatments, new and efficient cockroach and rodent control, and pesticide application techniques that limit human exposure.

Additional information and registration forms for this and other courses offered through the PME Program can be accessed at www.extension.iastate.edu/PME.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Inmates at the Woodbury County Jail in northwest Iowa will have to survive without cable television. Sheriff Dave Drew says Cable One had provided free cable service to the jail for 24 years. But he says the company has decided to soon start charging the jail $68 a month. The cable was turned off on Friday.

Drew told county supervisors on Monday that he’ll have an antenna bought and installed so the jail’s television can pick up free channels. He says a federal court ruling requires that jails provide inmates with television entertainment.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet in a regular session, Wednesday. During their 8:30-a.m. meeting at the Courthouse in Atlantic, the Board will act on approving the appointment of a Deputy County Recorder.

Other action items include: Allowing or disallowing military exemptions and homestead credit applications (including Disabled Veteran’s Homestead Tax Credits) for taxes collectible in Fiscal year 2015-16; Setting the date for a hearing on an amendment of the FY 2015 County Budget; and, possible action following discussion, with regard to Medical Insurance, for FY 2016.

The Board is also expected to receive a demonstration of the Avaya VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocal) telephone system.

With Ric Hanson.

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