The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two accidents occurred during Monday’s snow storm (Other than the fatal accident covered by the Iowa State Patrol). At around 11:30-a.m., a single-vehicle accident occurred on westbound Interstate 80. Officials say a 2008 Toyota Highlander owned and driven by 49-year old Long Ngoc Nguyen, of Des Moines, was westbound on I-80 when the driver lost control of the vehicle on the snow, entering the north ditch and striking a tree. Nguyen was transported to CCMH via Medivac. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $8,000.

And, just before Noon, Monday, a two-vehicle accident happened on eastbound I-80. A 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 22-year old Johnnie M. Wilson, of Omaha, was eastbound on I-80 when the driver braked for slowing traffic in front of him. A 2011 Chevy Impala owned and driven by 23-year old Charles Scott Rettey, of Des Moines, attempted to pass Wilson’s vehicle and came into contact with the rear driver’s side of Wilson’s vehicle. Both vehicles began to spin on the slick road and ended up in the median. No injuries were reported. Damage to Wilson’s vehicle is estimated at $4,500; damage to Rettey’s vehicle is estimated at $5,000.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on February 1st, of 34-year old Christopher Leon Bomer, of Atlantic, on a Felony charge of Possession of Marjiuana 3^rd or Subsequent Offense, and a serious misdemeanor OWI 1^st Offense charge. Bomer was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released later that day on $5,000 bond. On February 2nd, Deputies arrested 31-year old Ashley Chantelle Nicole Hetterich, of Denison, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Hetterich was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $15,000 bond.

On February 6th, Cass County Deputies arrested 18-year old Colin Edward Peterson, of Atlantic, on an Atlantic Police Department Felony warrant for Theft 2^nd Degree. Peterson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond. That same day, 53-year old Randall Joe Conry, of Atlantic, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Conry was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $50,000 bond.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports a Page County Sheriff’s Deputy was injured during an assault at the jail, Tuesday. The Deputy suffered a fracture in the nasal cavity area of his face, and was treated at the Clarinda Regional Health Center’s Emergency Department. The Deputy was released from the hospital and has since returned to duty. The incident began a little after 1-a.m. Tuesday, when Clarinda Police Officers & Page County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to investigate an assault that had occurred at 506 E. Tarkio St.

After responding, officers and deputies arrested 26-year old Michael Ryan Weeden, of Clarinda for assault resulting in bodily injury to a seventeen-year-old male juvenile at the residence. The juvenile did not require medical treatment. While being booked into the Page County Jail, Weeden struck a Page County Sheriff’s Deputy in the face with a closed fist. Weeden has additionally been charged with assault on a peace officer resulting in bodily injury and resisting arrest resulting in bodily injury. Weeden is currently being held at the Page County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Police reports concerning these incidents have been submitted to the offices of Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen for review regarding the filing of formal charges.

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Voters in the Glenwood Community School District, Tuesday, approved passage of a 10-year Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) that will generate about $3.7-million for a long list of renovations to the complex, including a new track surface, a press box, bleachers, locker rooms, concession stands, ADA compliant restrooms and a parking lot. Unofficial results from the Mills County Auditor’s Office show the physical plant and equipment levy referendum passed 969-to-838 (or, 53.62 percent-to-46.38 percent).

The levy amounts to 85-cents per thousand dollars property valuation. Voters rejected the first referendum on the issue last April by a super majority. Tuesday’s PPEL referendum passed on a simple majority.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Voters in two Des Moines suburbs have approved bond measures to build new schools. The Des Moines Register says Ankeny voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved an $18 million bond referendum to build a new elementary school. It will be built north of the Des Moines Area Community College campus in the Prairie Trail development. Construction is planned to begin in the fall and is set to open in 2020. Officials say the bond will not affect property tax rates.

Urbandale voters approved a $59 million plan to build two new elementary schools to replace four 50-plus-year-old school buildings set to be closed. The bond will also cover construction of the district’s first fitness center. Urbandale school officials say the consolidation will save the district $1.8 million annually. Construction won’t begin for another 18 months.

The Atlantic City Council is expected to act this (Wednesday) evening, on setting the date for Public Hearings on entering into General Obligation Loan agreements with regard to bonds for Capital Improvement and Solid Waste Management. One Resolution calls for a bond not to exceed $2.54-million for building, vehicle, equipment, street, bridge and alley projects for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 calendar years. The bond is set to bring in $2.69-million, although the principal amount borrowed will be less, according to City Administrator John Lund, because the City will receive a premium from its creditors, which incentivizes an amortization schedule agreeable to them. The premium covers the cost of the bond council and broker fees, but some money will remain to offset the City’s borrowing. The second Resolution pertains to a Solid Waste Management Loan Agreement and the borrowing of money not to exceed $90,000. Together, the bonds amount to slightly more than $3-million.

The Council will also discuss the proposed FY 2019 Budget and 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and act on passing a resolution authorizing bids for 2018 Street and Alley improvements. Speaking of streets, the Atlantic City Council is expected to approve tonight, an Order closing certain streets on August 5th from 8-a.m. to 5-p.m., for the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, in honor of their 125th Anniversary Celebration. If approved, the following streets will be closed during the requested date and times:

• West 6th, between Locust and Poplar
• West 5th, between Locust and Poplar
• Locust, between 5th and 6th Streets
• West 6th, between Locust & the alley between Locust & Cedar.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on an Order approving an Engineering Agreement with Snyder & Associates, for the AMU Connector Trail Project. The City has agreed to cover the cost of the engineering work necessary to complete the project. And, the Council will act on an Order approving a Subscription Agreement with 5Q in Atlantic, for a new web service called “Journity,” which is designed to customize the experience of persons visiting the City’s website, by identifying their location. It will also collect statistical information on the visitors, including their zip code, frequency of visiting the site, and what features visitors are looking at on the site. 5Q owner Chad Williams will make a presentation to the Council, prior to their vote on the Agreement.

The Atlantic City Council meeting begins at 5:30-p.m. in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst, from Red Oak, wants your input on the upcoming Farm Bill, which is in the process of being written. Officials with her office said Ernst didn’t receive any questions about the bill during a recent visit to Red Oak.  Ernst serves on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. The Farm Bill, a comprehensive food and agriculture legislation, is typically enacted every four or five years.

Last month, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Bill and Legislative Principles for 2018. (You can download a pdf copy of those legislative principals here: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2018-farm-bill-and-legislative-principles.pdf

Persons with input and concerns about the bill being drafted are strongly urged to contact Ernst’s office in Council Bluffs, by phone, letter, or fax, or her office in Washington, D.C.

Contact info.:

Senator Joni Ernst

221 Federal Building
8 South Sixth Street
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Phone: (712) 352-1167
Fax: (712) 352-0087

111 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3254
Fax: (202) 224-9369

Senate Republicans are crafting a “fix” that would ensure future Iowa governors have the constitutional authority to appoint a lieutenant governor who could also become the state’s chief executive. After an attorney general’s ruling in May, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds appointed an “acting” lieutenant governor replacement when Terry Branstad resigned and she became governor. A proposed constitutional amendment would make it clear any future lieutenant governor who takes over in the middle of a governor’s term may appoint a lieutenant governor.

Republican Senator Roby Smith, of Davenport, says “The constitution is there for the people to tell us what we are to do in these situations.” Senator Tony Bisignano, a Democrat from Des Moines, says it was a “unique situation” when Branstad resigned in the middle of his term. “But it doesn’t mean that it can’t happen again and it could happen very soon,” Bisignano says. “If Senator Grassley did not complete his term, Governor Reynolds could appoint herself and if she did that, we would have a lieutenant governor who can’t assume the position of governor at this time.”

In that scenario, Senate President Jack Whitver would be next in what’s called the “line of succession” and HE would become governor. The proposed constitutional amendment has cleared a senate SUBcommittee. It has at least four more hurdles to clear THIS year. The proposal would have to win approval from the House and Senate AGAIN in 2019 or 2020 before Iowans would be able to vote on the proposed change to the state constitution.

(Radio Iowa)