Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers, Wednesday, issued a reminder to residents of the community about the City’s Snow Ordinance. Brothers says with significant snowfall appearing likely with each passing hour Thursday, residents need to be prepared to move their vehicles and other objects off of City streets that may obstruct the process of snow removal by City crews.

The snow ordinance in Clarinda states that when snow has accumulated two-inches or more, vehicles must be moved off City streets until the snow stops and the street has been cleared. Any vehicle left parked on a street in violation of the ordinance is subject to being impounded, and the registered owner fined $15.00 plus towing and storage costs.

Persons with questions about the ordinance may call the Clarinda P-D at 712-542-2194.

Another Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) will be located within the walls of the Cass County Courthouse, in Atlantic.

Board Chairman Mark Wedemeyer (left) and Auditor Dale Sunderman look on, as Cass Co. Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon talks about the new AED (Center). – Ric Hanson photo

Cass County Emergency Management Director Mike Kennon told the Board of Supervisors during their meeting today (Wednesday), that the device, which is designed to shock a person’s heart back into normal rhythm during a heart attack, was received last Friday as a prize from ICAP, the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool. Kennon says he won the device after filling out a survey, which automatically entered the County into a raffle.

While courthouse staff will be trained in its use, the AED is designed to be administered by anyone, to someone suffering from a heart attack, because it comes with spoken instructions as soon as the case is opened and diagnostics are quickly run. It instructs the operator where to place the shock pads on the victim and automatically administers the proper voltage to restart the heart.

The only question that remained, is where the AED should be located. An AED is already located in the basement of the courthouse. Supervisor Chuck Rieken said since the majority of the foot traffic in the courthouse is on the second floor, where the Auditor and Treasurer’s offices are, it should be located in one of those offices.

Mike Kennon demonstrates how the AED is used.

The final determination as to its location will be left up to Kennon.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors have adopted upon the second reading, an amendment to the County Zoning Ordinance, that would allow an indoor shooting range and/or gun sales & service business to locate within the County. The move followed a second public hearing on the matter, during which there were no objections, but a Massena area resident, Rod Anderson, did question what impact the business would have on the septic leach field in the area, and how potential water and sewer usage would affect the City’s sewer system, and the money it receives from the wind turbines.

Supervisor Chuck Rieken reminded Anderson that the zoning ordinance they were acting on doesn’t have anything to do with leach fields and sewers, or wind turbines for that matter. He said there are rules that the County Sanitarian has to follow that are dictated by the State that will determine if the business actually is able to operate within the scope of the law.

Massena resident Kevin McCunn plans to open an indoor shooting range and gun sales shop on his property located northwest of the intersection of Highways 92 and 148. The Board’s approval of the amended ordinance today (Wednesday) allows that process to move forward.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced Tuesday, that the agency is asking for the public’s assistance in obtaining information that may help identify two unknown individuals who may be able to provide valuable details regarding the identity of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation.The southwest Iowa town of New Market, in Taylor County, is one of nearly a dozen communities or schools with the name across “New Market Basketball” across a T-shirt that is part of the investigation.

T-Shirt which sparked the FBI Investigation

Officials say initial images of a child being photographed in sexually explicit positions were first recorded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in February 2003 and are still being circulated in numerous child pornography forums across the Internet. Clues gathered from images relevant to the case, including a yellow T-shirt containing the outline of a basketball along with the written text “New Market Basketball,” have led to the belief that the individuals with whom the FBI would like to speak might possibly have a connection to one of the communities or agencies with the name “New Market.”

Also visible in some of the images is a home with what appears to be yellow siding and an above-ground swimming pool.

Above ground swimming pool & home with yellow siding

If recognized, these items could also assist in providing valuable information leading to the geographic location of the abused child. The individuals’ identities and whereabouts are currently unknown.

John Doe 23

The first individual is described as a white male, likely between the ages of 25 and 35, with dark hair and glasses.The second individual is described as a white male, likely between the ages of 35 and 45, with dark hair. The individuals are being sought as part of the FBI’s Operation Rescue Me and Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) initiatives, both of which represent strategic partnerships between the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

The FBI is seeking to find them because it appears they have been in contact with the victim and can assist the FBI with identification efforts. No charges have been filed in the case, and the individuals wanted for questioning are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Anyone with information to provide should contact their local FBI office, submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov/ , or call the FBI’s toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

(Please note: The meeting will be held at the Atlantic Senior Citizen’s Center, NOT in the Council’s Chambers)

The Atlantic City Council will gather during a regular session today (Wednesday), at the Senior Citizens Center in Atlantic, instead of in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, due to renovation work.

During their meeting, their Council will hold public hearings on the 7th Street Traffic Signal Improvement – and, Sunnyside Tennis Court Reconstruction – Projects. The hearings will be followed by action on resolutions approving the awarding of a contract for those projects. City Administrator Doug Harris, who spoke with the traffic engineer associated with the project, will ask the Council  approve a resolution awarding the contract for the traffic signal improvements, to KWS, Incorporated, whose bid of $139,900 was the lowest out of the three received. All three bids were under the Engineer’s projected cost estimate for the project.

The Council will also hold the second reading of an ordinance amending the current ordinance, with regard to a change in the zoning classification of some lots in the Southern Heights 2nd Addition. The change proposes rezoning from R-2  (Single family) to R-4 (multi-family) housing. While the City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved developer Don Sonntags’ stipulation that he not be required to provide any street connections which were envisioned in the Comprehensive Plan and shown on the original plat, City Attorney Dave Wiederstein is researching the matter and will advise the Council on their options, during Wednesday’s meeting.

Following a public hearing, the Council will also act on approving a “General Corporate Purposes Loan Agreement” not to exceed $90,000, for financing improvements and repairs to the City Hall. The improvements are part of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan. The Council will also hold a public hearing on an “Essential Corporate Purposes Loan Agreement” not to exceed $2.63-million, for the financing of construction and improvements to the streets and storm sewers, and the purchase of traffic control devices as well as police and street department equipment. A vote on the loan agreement will follow the public hearing. They’re also expected to act on approving a resolution expressing the intent to enter into a loan agreement and bond purchase agreement with Ruan Securities, that provides for the Debt Service Levy for Fiscal Year 2013-2014.

The Atlantic City Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m.

The Iowa Department of Transportation has a wide network of dynamic message boards on state highways. During emergency situations like the impending winter storm, the boards will show safety messages to assist motorists. Prior to the winter storm, the Iowa DOT is using the boards to gain additional eyes on the roadway by encouraging drivers to follow the Iowa DOT’s twitter feed at @iowadot. By following the twitter account, followers will also have access to information on the @statewide511 twitter feed.

Other ways to connect to the Iowa DOT via social media include:

•Geotag photos and video: All smartphones have a global position system because of enhanced 911 service. If you are a social media user who likes to share photos and video during winter storms, be sure your geotagging is enabled on your mobile device. Then the location of where your photo or video was taken will be tagged. Geotagging helps the Iowa DOT and travelers stay informed about traffic incidents and road conditions based on citizen observations.

•Use the traffic hashtag: The Iowa DOT will be using the hashtag #iatraffic during this event and recommends that other Twitter users do the same to find relevant tweets using that key phrase.

•Tell the DOT what you are seeing: Your information could be invaluable to others who are considering travel. You can also be another set of eyes for the Iowa DOT. When posting to Twitter reference @iowadot in your post. Tag them in your posts and photos on Facebook.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday, released its most recent report on arrests and incidents. Authorities say two people were arrested Monday. 30-year old Justin Joseph McConnell, of Humphreys, MO., was arrested on a Woodbury County warrant for OWI/2nd offense, following a traffic stop on Interstate 29 at around 12:10-a.m.  McConnell’s bond was set at $1,000. And, 20-year old Jessica Kay Scott, of Malvern, was arrested in Malvern at around 7:30-p.m., on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug charge. Her bond was set at $5,000.

On Sunday, deputies in Mills County arrested 36-year old Matthew Mark Blue, of Council Bluffs, on a charge of OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. The arrest took place on I-29 at around 2:25-a.m.  And, there were two arrests last Saturday in Mills County.

Officials say 21-year old Kristina Mae Reeve, of  Silver City, was arrested Saturday night, for Driving Under Suspension. Bond was set at $566. Earlier that same day, 18-year old Dylan Ray McKeown, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Glenwood on a charge of  Possession With Intent to Deliver Controlled Substance. Ray’s bond was set at $50,000.