Authorities in Audubon County are reminding citizens in the county and elsewhere, about ongoing scams which primarily target the elderly. Sheriff Todd Johnson and Audubon Police Chief David Simonsen say first and foremost, residents should be alert to red flags indicating someone is trying to defraud you or steal your identity. Those warning signs include asking you to wire money to claim a prize or to bail a relative out of jail, or revealing your personal and/or banking information over the phone.

The reason for the reminder: The “Grandparent Scam” has resurfaced. That’s where a person (usually someone who is elderly), receives a call from a person claiming to be a grandchild, who is in trouble….usually with the law. Other scams include those associated with so-called sweepstakes and lotteries. And, residents have been getting calls from people asking them for social security or banking information. The caller claims the information is needed for Medicare purposes. Scams can also be perpetrated over the internet or mail.

Johnson and Simonsen say most of these scams originate from overseas, in other countries. That makes it impossible to track the culprits or prosecute them. If you or your loves one may have been the target of any scam, contact your local law enforcement agency.

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert reports Redwood Road, between 900th Street and Highway 44, has re-opened to traffic. The road was closed in mid-January, for bridge repair work.

Police in Red Oak have arrested a local woman who was wanted on a warrant for the burglary of an unoccupied vehicle, and 4^th degree theft. 18-year-old Kaylie Louise Hudson, of Red Oak, was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon. The incidents which led to her arrest allegedly took place on January 27^th.  Hudson was taken to the Montgomery County Law Center and held on a $2,000 bond.

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The Atlantic City Council Wednesday evening, passed the first reading of an amendment to the City’s Zoning Ordinance, which would allow changing the Zoning classification of some lots in the Southern Heights 2nd Addition, from R-2 (Low Density/Single Family) to R-4 (Multi-family). The vote followed a public hearing, during which there were comments from Don Sonntag, the local developer who proposes the construction of multi-family homes, with half of them being upscale rental units, running about $750 to $800 per month.  Sonntag says there are still numerous steps remaining before construction could begin, even if the Council does approve the Zoning change.

One of those steps would be his application to the City for a TIF – Tax Increment Financing- District, to make the project “Cash Flow.” The second, and next step, is an “Official” approval of the site plan. The City’s Planning and Zoning Commission has provided a verbal approval of the plan, but Sonntag said he needs to invest $7,500 to nail down the grade, elevation, sewer and water, and other such details.

Sonntag, who spoke in the third person when referring to concerns about what would happen if his health deteriorated and he wasn’t able to follow-through with plans to construct in an R-4 zone, or, if there is enough objection to the rezoning.  He said he would be willing to stipulate in the agreement, that it could be rezoned back to R-2. And, if he wasn’t able to move forward, the ground could still be used for someone who wishes to construct a 24 or 30-unit apartment house. Properties to the east and west of the proposed development are already zoned R-4.

Earlier in the meeting, the Council discussed traffic flow concerns on 19th Street, west of Redwood Drive, as it pertains to the rezoning of the parcel. Mayor Dave Jones says the concerns were addressed at a couple of recent meetings of the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission. He says prior to word getting out about the proposed zoning change, there were no known problems with 19th Street, and that includes issues affecting police, and/or fire and rescue.

Jones said he wants the Community Development Committee to review the recommendations from the Police and Fire Chief, along with Medivac Ambulance and others, before any decision is made on the future of 19th Street, including whether it should be made a thoroughfare, and connected to Olive Street to alleviate any real or perceived traffic problems.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was arrested early this (Wednesday) morning, on an assault charge. 19-year old Samantha Christine Malloy, of Audubon, was taken into custody at around 1-a.m., following an investigation into an incident which allegedly occurred in the 200 block of south Fairview, in Exira. Malloy was charged with Assault, and brought to the Audubon County Jail where she was later released on a signature bond. She’s scheduled to appear in court Thursday at 9-a.m.

The Shelby County Board of Supervisors is exploring options for use of the Hotel/Motel Tax Money. During their regular meeting on Tuesday, Supervisor Roger Schmitz reported that the new Hotel/Motel Tax Fiscal Agent, the Shelby County Auditor, has not received the funding from the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce. Back in January 8th, the Supervisors and Harlan City Council agreed to a resolution to make the Shelby County Auditor the fiscal agent of the Hotel/Motel Tax Money. According to Schmitz, the Chamber was supposed to transfer the money on January 9th. However, during the meeting, Schmitz said that has not happened.

He said “According to their rules, they have to have a Chamber meeting to transfer the money. They had the meeting on the 28th. And what I get out of it, [is that Shelby County Chamber Director Dawn Cundiff] did not have the necessary paper work to do that so they did not transfer the money.” Schmitz asked Shelby County Attorney Marcus Gross if the chamber could write out a check from the tax money. Gross said “We’ve notified their bank that the fiscal agent has changed and that they honor any checks made out by the Chamber at their peril. We don’t know whether there have been any. I guess we will see. I think from an audit standpoint…hey couldn’t write a check out. From a legal standpoint…because they are still the signatory of the account, they probably could. That is why we sent the letter to their bank.”

Gross says that is not the only letter he wrote out as he sent one directly to the Chamber. He said “I also wrote a letter to them to give them a short time to transfer those funds to the Auditor. You’ve previously indicated that you were not going to collect any monies owned to the fund by the chamber: That would be something you could reconsider if you do not receive the current funds in the account. There are other legal options as well that you could consider.”

If the money has not been transferred by Friday, the Shelby County Supervisors will be taking action on the Hotel/Motel Tax money at their next meeting on Tuesday, February 12th.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)