The City Council in Walnut will hold its first meeting of the year, Thursday evening. During the 5-p.m. session, the Council will discuss a possible Streetscape enhancement project, and the possible purchase of a Fire Department “Quick Attack” unit.

In other, Walnut Fire Department-related business, the Council will consider the possible adoption of a resolution extending for two-additional years, the agreement for Fire Protection Services between the City of Walnut, Layton Township, Lincoln Township, and Monroe Township. They’ll also review the Fire And Ambulance budgets.

Speaking of budgets, the Walnut City Council, Thursday, will hold its budget discussion, which includes a review of the library budget. They’ll also receive and possibly act on a recommendation for the replacement of a Zoning Commissioner, Committee Appointments, and other administrative matters.

In addition, the Council will discuss and possibly hold the first reading of an ordinance amending the City’s Code of Ordinances, by adding a section regarding the prohibiting of Compression, or “Jake” Brakes. That may be followed by the possible waving of the second- and third-readings of the ordinance.  The Walnut City Council meeting gets underway at 5-p.m. Thursday, in their chambers at City Hall.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met Wednesday morning in Atlantic, and took care of administrative matters heading into the new year. According to Auditor Dale Sunderman, the Board elected Mark Wedemeyer as Chairman for 2013, while Frank Waters was elected Vice-Chair for the current year. Oaths of Office were administered to Sunderman, Sheriff Darby McLaren, and the Supervisors, all of whom were re-elected to serve during the November 2012 General Election.

Karen Oathoudt and Sheri Karns were once again appointed Deputy Auditors. Sheriff’s Deputies, including Bill Ayers, Ben Bartholomew, Ryan Johnson, Corey Larsen, Josh McLaren and Kyle Quist were all approved for re-appointment to their posts, as well Chief Deputy Sheriff John Westering, and Sheriff’s assistants, Billie Taylor McLaren and Joni Knudsen. Stephanie Witzman was re-appointed as Civil Process Server.

In other business, County Recorder’s Administrative Assistant Mary Ward’s employment status was changed from part-time to full-time, retroactive to January 1st, 2013, and wage adjustments were granted by the Supervisors, for Mental Health/General Assistance Assistant Director Debbie Schuler, and Vickie Adams, VA/MH/GA Assistant.  The Board also elected to continue to hold their regular sessions on Wednesday, at 9-a.m., unless otherwise specified in the previous minutes of their meetings.

Many other committee and commission appointments were made during Wednesday’s meeting, including those for township trustees and clerks. And, the  Board voted to authorize county officials to destroy records in their possession, which have been on-file for 10-or more years, and are not required to be kept as permanent records, under the Code of Iowa. The Cass County Board of Supervisors’ next meeting is at 9-a.m. Wednesday, January 9th. During the session, they will hold the first of two public hearings, on an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance for change in the zoning district or districts permitted Principal uses.

Sheriff’s Officials in Mills County say three people were arrested for Operating a motor vehicle While Intoxicated, New Year’s Day, and one person was arrested for possessing drugs. Facing a charge of OWI/1st offense, is 19-year old Bradley Thomas Groepper and 33-year old Oscar Fernando Lopez, both of Council Bluffs, and 21-year old Clarise Mae Bristow, of Glenwood. All three were arrested following separate traffic  stops between midnight and 6-a.m., Tuesday. Bond for all three was set at $1,000 each.

Also arrested Tuesday morning in Mills County, was 18-year old Trevor Michael Brock, of Manilla. Brock was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia following a traffic stop on Interstate 29. His bond was set at $300. 40-year old Jason Shawn Allan, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Tuesday morning for Failure to Appear on a Driving While License Revoked charge. His bond was set at $5,000. 41-year old Jesse Eugene Sump, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Tuesday night, for Driving While Barred. Bond was set at $2,000. Officials said also, Tanner Douglas Kinkade, of Manning, was cited Tuesday for Possessing Drug Paraphernalia.

And, Monday morning, 30-year old Jesse Ray Salmons-Rice, of Malvern, was arrested in Mills County for Failure to Appear/Contempt of Court. His cash bond was set at $1,000. Also arrested Monday, was 20-year old Jessica Kay Scott, of Malvern, for Possession of an Unlawful Prescription. Her bond was also set at $1,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The bill Congress approved Tuesday night providing tax relief for most taxpayers also helps wind energy and ethanol producers by extending tax credits designed to encourage continued development.  States like Texas, the nation’s leading wind energy producer, and Iowa, the leading ethanol maker, should benefit from the incentives. Many of the credits had expired in 2012.

The bill extends to the end of the year a production tax credit for wind energy on any facility under construction before the end of 2013.  The bill also extends a $1.01-per-gallon tax credit for cellulosic ethanol made from corn plants, grasses, algae, and sources other than corn kernels. The bill allows ethanol makers to depreciate equipment for new plants placed in service in 2013 and extends biodiesel production tax incentives for two years.

Two new members of the Shelby County Board of Supervisors were sworn into office this (Wednesday) morning. Prior to the start of the Boards’ regular meeting, Charlie Parkhurst and Steve Kenkel, along with Auditor Marsha Carter and Shelby County Sheriff Mark Hervey, were officially sworn-in. Parkhurst and Kenkel were elected to the Board last November. They replace Supervisors James Burmeister and Delbert Hull.

In other business, the Shelby County Supervisors re-elected Roger Schmitz as the Board Chair, while Kenkel was nominated as vice-chair. Auditor Marsha Carter informed the board that she, along with Schmitz, recently attended the Ordinance Committee meeting to discuss the Hotel/Motel Tax. Carter said during that meeting, she volunteered to become the fiscal agent for the tax money. However, the Supervisors did not make an actual motion regarding the Hotel/Motel Tax Ordinance. They are likely to bring that to their next meeting next Tuesday.

Shelby County Treasurer Carolyn Blum was in attendance at the Supervisors meeting to give an update on their recent audit from Gronewold and Associates. Blum said following Gronewold’s audit, there were a few discrepancies and she wanted to clarify a few things. Blum said the errors stemmed from advance taxes not being subtracted from the audit.

She said after presenting all the reports, the Gronewold associate was satisfied that they were in balance. Since the audit, Gronewold and Associates sent an e-mail to County officials saying it was their error, and that the Shelby County Treasurer’s Office records were correct.

The Shelby County Supervisors meeting finished with a report from Shelby County Engineer Dan Ahart.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Harlan Police Department reports five people were arrested over the course of the past week or so. On Sunday, 17-year old Jenna McDaniel and 21-year old Michael Tremayne, both of Harlan, were charged with Domestic Abuse Assault. The pair were arrested after officers investigated a reported altercation. Tremayne was brought to the Shelby County Jail, while McDaniel was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs. That same day, 18-year old Cassidy Coenen, of Harlan, was arrested on a weapons charge, after she was found to be in possession of a switchblade knife, following a traffic stop.

On Saturday, officers with the Harlan P-D arrested 29-year old Gabriel Brown, of Harlan, for allegedly violating a No Contact Order. The order was issued after Brown was arrested last Friday, following an altercation between himself and his wife. Police had responded to the 800 block of Market Street after receiving a report of a man threatening suicide. During their investigation, Brown’s wife told police about the domestic incident. Brown was later taken into custody on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault.

And, 29-year old Bret VanPatten, of Harlan, was arrested Friday following a reported disturbance at the Westside Bar, in Harlan. VanPatten was charged with Public Intoxication.

Just two days into the New Year, and already two arrests have been reported in Audubon County. On Wednesday (today), 47-year old Lori Jean Handlos, of Carroll, turned herself-in to the Sheriff’s Department. Handlos was wanted on a warrant charging her with Revocation of her Probation. She is being held in the Audubon County Jail, and is scheduled to appear before the magistrate Thursday, Jan. 3rd.

And, at around 2:30-a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1st, 21-year old Jacob Lawrence Best, of Audubon, was arrested in connection with an incident which allegedly occurred at 120th and Goldfinch Avenue. Best was taken into custody on OWI/1st Offense and Failure to Maintain Control, charges. He later posted a cash bond and was released, with orders to appear before the magistrate on Thursday.

No injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident early Tuesday morning, in Lewis. According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the collision happened at around 12:30-a.m., at the intersection of 1^st and Minnesota Streets in Lewis. Officials say a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix owned and driven by 51-year old Lisa Swanson, of Marne, was northbound on First Street when Swanson lost control of the car, which then hit a parked 1995 Chevy 1500 pickup owned by Mary Mayo of Lewis. Damage from the mishap amounted to $4,000. Swanson was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

And, Sunday afternoon, December 30th, deputies in Cass County responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on Oxford Road, about one-quarter of a mile east of 660^th Street. Authorities say a 2002 Chevy Silverado owned and driven by 60-year old Galen Dean Becker, of Cumberland, was westbound on Oxford Road when the pickup entered a slushy stretch of roadway at around 2-p.m.. The road conditions caused the trailer the truck was pulling to jackknife. No injuries were reported. Damage occurred to Becker’s pickup, a power pole, fence and posts. The loss was estimated at $11,300 altogether.

A Griswold man was arrested Tuesday on an OWI charge. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports 47-year old Drue William Kirchhoff was taken into custody on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. He was released later than same day, on his own recognizance.

Last Thursday (Dec. 27th), deputies in Cass County arrested 33-year old Ryan Vincent Lee Richards, of Atlantic, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear, and an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Theft 2^nd Degree, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Richards was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was being held on $31,750 bond.