Officials with Mid-American Energy have reported their semi-annual property tax payments to Iowa counties, schools and cities for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. All together, the company has paid more than $45.7-million, which they say makes them the largest property tax-paying entity in the state.

In this area: nearly $299,520 was paid to Cass County on September 30^th; Adair County received more than $419,335; Adams County $66,220; Audubon County $155,758;Guthrie County, $14,269; and Montgomery County, $343,182.

Pottawattamie County received the biggest chunk in property tax payments from Mid-American, at slightly more than $4.2-million dollars. Shelby County has received a nearly $119,000 payment. The same amounts will also be distributed to each of those counties on March 31^st, 2012.

The single largest tax bill installment of more than $12.1-million was paid to Polk County. Mid-American Energy, which is headquartered in Des Moines, and is Iowa’s largest energy company, provides electric service to 729,000 customers, and natural gas service to 709,000 customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County say two local teenagers have been arrested following an investigation into the theft of a pickup which was burned in the 2900 block of Falcon Avenue, and an ATV that was stolen and burned in the 1500 block of 260th Street, during the evening hours on August 5th and early morning hours on August 6th.

Officials say 16-year old Dustin Joseph Hunter, of Audubon, was taken into custody at around 4-p.m. Monday. He was charged with Arson in the second-degree (aiding and abetting), Theft in the second-degree (aiding and abetting), and burglary.

17-year old James Rathmann, of Audubon, was also arrested in connection with the same incidents. Rathman faces charges which include Burglary in the third-degree, Theft in the second-degree, Arson in the second-degree (Accessory After the Fact), and Theft in the second-degree (Aiding and Abetting). Hunter was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs. Rathman was released to the custody of his parents and his case referred to Juvenile Court Services.

Last month, 20-year old Mackenzie Jacob Belnap, of Ottumwa, was also charged in connection with the crimes. He faces 1st- and 2nd-degree Arson charges, along with two counts of burglary in the 3rd degree and two-counts of theft in the 2nd degree. He’s entered a written plea of not guilty to the charges. A jury trial in his case will take place November 29^th. Belnap remains in the Audubon County Jail on $25,000 bond.

The Adair and Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet Wednesday, in Greenfield and Atlantic, respectively. In Adair County, the Board will hear from Sheriff Brad Newton, with regard to the Public Safety Center, which is currently under construction. And, they hear from County Custodian Rich Wallace, with regard to correspondence from the City of Greenfield, pertaining to sidewalk issues.

In Atlantic, the Cass County Supervisors will receive a 1934 lithograph of the U-S Constitution, which the board approved at a meeting in mid-August. The framed and matted lithograph will be presented by Gary Stephenson, of Fort Dodge, and local sponsors, for display on the second floor of the courthouse. Stephenson is traveling through each of Iowa’s 99 Counties in hopes local officials will express an interest in having the lithographs displayed in the various 100 county courthouses in the state.

The Board will also act on awarding a bid and contract to Gus Construction for full-depth Portland Cement Concrete patching work on County Road G-61, east of Highway 148, as well as approval of plans for a Hot Melt Asphalt resurfacing project on Route M-56, from Marne to the Shelby County line. And, they’ll hear from a representative with the CAM Community School District, with regard to tax changes resulting from the construction of wind turbines in the district.

Both Board of Supervisor’s meetings begin at 9-a.m.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Staying true to their promise to the Cass County Board of Supervisors, a local organization, Monday evening was hard at work maintaining a flower bed near the Veteran’s Memorial in the Atlantic City Park. Volunteers with the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund spruced up the area, which had been neglected over the years, for a variety of reasons.

Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund spokesperson Melanie Petty says the group “Will be doing a lot more planting in the spring,” but for now, they simply wanted to give the flower bed “Some fall color.” Petty says a lot of people will be visiting Atlantic this weekend for HarvestFest and the Atlantic Firemen’s Parade, and the group hopes their efforts will help welcome those visitors to the city.

During their meeting on September 21^st, the Cass County Board of Supervisors were informed by Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Roger Herring, that volunteers with Trevor Fredericksen Foundation would provide for the planting and care of the flower beds, if the Supervisors would agree not to remove them entirely, as part of a sidewalk rehabilitation project in the City Park, a portion of which is owned by the County.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A southwest Iowa man was arrested Monday on drug charges, following a traffic stop in Shenandoah. According to Shenandoah Police, 38-year-old Victor Ingrim, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody on Possession of Controlled substances (marijuana and Methamphetamine), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charges.

Ingrim was booked into the jail and later released after posting $5,000 bond.

Two arrests were reported Monday, in Audubon County. The Sheriff’s Department said 51-year old Jeffrey Dennis Spencer, of Hamlin, was taken into custody at around 8:30-a.m., on a charge of Failure to Appear for Sentencing related to Public Intoxication. Spencer was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later released after making a court appearance.

And, 34-year old Scarlet Michele Stewart, of Tekamah, NE, was arrested Monday, at a residence in Kimballton. Stewart was wanted on an outstanding Audubon County warrant associated with the Revocation of her Probation. The woman was brought to the Audubon County Jail and held on $2,500 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa farmers are being urged to be careful as the harvest kicks into high gear. Dry and windy weather has increased the fire risk. Some law enforcement officials have asked farmers to stop harvesting until conditions improve. The weekly crop report on Monday shows 91 percent of the corn crop is now mature with 12 percent harvested for grain or seeds. Both are behind last year but ahead of the average. Fifty-eight percent of the corn is in good to excellent shape. Twenty-one percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, which is behind last year and the average. Sixty-five percent of the soybeans are in good or excellent condition. State climatologist Harry Hillaker says last week was the ninth week of the past ten with below normal precipitation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former Adair city clerk and her son, who worked for the street department, have pleaded guilty to stealing city funds. The attorney general’s office says 63-year-old Linda Nichols and 41-year-old Terry Nichols, both of Adair, pleaded guilty on Monday to first-degree theft. A charge of felonious misconduct in office was dropped. Each faces up to 10 years in prison. Sentencing is Nov. 14 in Adair County District Court. A state audit in May found $119,000 in questionable spending from 2007 through 2010. The attorney general’s office says the audit included amounts that can’t be proven to be stolen or weren’t stolen. Under a plea deal, the Nichols will pay over $83,000 in restitution plus another $5,000 for the audit.