Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office say the Pott. County Courthouse received a call at around 8:45-a.m. today (Friday),with the caller indicating there was an explosive device within the building. The decision was made to evacuate the building. With the assistance of the Council Bluffs and Omaha Police Departments, the building was checked for suspicious items. Nothing was found. At approximately 10-a.m., employees were allowed to return to work. The courthouse was re-opened to the public 10-minutes later.

Currently, investigators are working to identify the subject that placed the call.

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — Some residents in northeastern Iowa are upset officials plan to stop flying a giant American flag because of the cost to frequently replace it. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the Independence City Council unanimously voted last month to take the flag down. Officials say high winds frequently damage the flag. Lighting problems and a broken electronic sign also add to costs.
Mayor Bonita Davis says she wants to try and keep the flag up through Memorial Day.

Members of the area’s Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts are among the residents upset about the decision to remove the most visible flag in the city. Individuals and veterans groups have offered to pay for the flag, but some say military families shouldn’t have to bear that cost.

SPENCER, Iowa (AP) — An auditor says her office mistakenly cancelled the voting rights of a northwest Iowa rancher who has the same name as a felon. Clay County Auditor Marge Pitts said Friday her office made the rancher, Christopher E. Wood, ineligible to vote last fall. She said that was an “unfortunate error” because he had done nothing wrong and remained eligible. She said her office had intended to cancel the voting rights of the actual felon, county resident Christopher R. Wood.

Pitts said she worked with the state to correct the mistake and restore Wood’s voting rights after he complained. She noted that there were no elections during the time when he was disqualified. The rancher said he was stunned when he got a letter from the county saying he was disenfranchised. He said locals have a long and unfortunate history of confusing him with the other Christopher Wood.

Glenwood Police report two men were arrested on separate charges, Thursday. 33-year old Jacob Jones, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for 1st Degree Harassment. His bond was set at $2,000. And, 60-year old Lloyd Thomas, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. Thomas was being held without bond pending an appearance before the magistrate.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 54-year old Pamela Jean Monthey, of Glenwood, was arrested Thursday afternoon, for making a False report to 9-1-1. Her bond was set at $300.

Atlantic Police report five arrests took place over the past week. 29-year old Justin Cooley, of Atlantic, was arrested Thursday for Theft in the 3rd Degree. Cooley was previously arrested Monday for Possession of a controlled Substance/3rd offense, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was being held in the Cass County Jail. Last Saturday, 40-year old Charles Mace, Jr., of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of Probation. That same day, 40-year old Robert Estes, of Chariton, was arrested on six warrants out of Lucas County. And, on May 18th, 19-year old Isiaha Lagasse, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense, two-counts of burglary from a motor vehicle, two-counts for Theft in the 5th Degree, and Public Intoxication. Lagasse, Mace, Jr. and Estes were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Charles Mace, Jr., of Atlantic, was also cited Saturday afternoon, following an accident at 10th and Oak Streets. Atlantic Police say the vehicle he was driving struck a legally parked vehicle and left the scene of the accident. Witnesses were able to provide information that helped officers locate the vehicle and driver. Mace was cited for Failure to provide proof of financial liability (Insurance), striking an unattended vehicle, Driving while license suspended or revoked, and Failure to Maintain Control. Damage to his vehicle was estimated at $4,000. Damage to the parked vehicle, owned by Shannon Gearhart, was estimated at $200.

A traffic stop Thursday morning in Pottawattamie County resulted in an arrest. The Pott. County Sheriff’s Department says a Deputy made the stop on a 2004 Chevy at 16th and Broadway, after a records check indicated the registered owner had a possible warrant issued by the Council Bluffs Police Department. The car also had a passenger side brake light out. A check of the driver’s information confirmed 26-year old Trey Allen Pallaya, of Council Bluffs, was wanted for Criminal Trespass/1st offense. Pallaya was arrested without incident. He was then transported to jail, where his bond was set at $750.

And, a traffic stop Thursday afternoon in Avoca, resulted in the arrest of 37-year old Michael Lawrence Powell, of Des Moines, on warrants from Dallas and Marion Counties. Powell was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A company that operates call centers intends to close its Omaha operations next week, costing the city nearly 100 jobs. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Cincinnati-based Convergys has filed notice with the Nebraska Labor Department of its intended closure. Company spokeswoman Brooke Beiting says 27 of the 123 people affected will work from their homes as call center agents. The rest are being offered outplacement assistance.

Beiting says the closure is “just a business decision made by Convergys” and wasn’t tied to any specific contract or piece of business. The company announced in January that it would close its call center in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, eliminating about 180 jobs. Convergys opened in Omaha in 1995 and had employed as many as 600 people in the city over the years.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have delayed legal proceedings because of competency concerns about an Iowa man accused of trying to kill a fellow state psychiatric hospital patient. Court records say 44-year-old Terrance Rooney Jr. has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and other charges. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that a judge ordered a trial delay so Rooney could be evaluated for his ability to participate in his defense.

Rooney has been a patient at the Mental Health Institute in Independence for years and was a patient there when he pleaded guilty in 1999 to making a threat to the life of President Bill Clinton. Authorities say in the latest case that Rooney tried to suffocate another patient in November and twisted the thumb of a staffer and threatened to kill her in February.