A reminder to persons interested in the Mental Health and Disability Services, that the second of three public meetings with regard to the Regionalization of those services, will be held this afternoon, in Oakland. Counties formed Regions in response to State law affecting funding for the Mental Health and Disabilities Services in Iowa.

The Southwest Region includes nine counties (Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawatttamie and Shelby). Local advisory and Community input meetings have been scheduled to take place across the Southwest Region. Cass County Mental Health/General Relief Coordinator Teresa Kanning said the next meeting will be held this afternoon, at the Oakland Community Center [614 Dr. Van Zee Road, in Oakland]).

The meeting begins at 3-pm and runs until 5-p.m. In the event of a bad weather, it will be held January 7^th at the same location. The public is invited to attend the session to provide input into the current mental health service system, including what you feel works and doesn’t work. It’s also designed to: develop ideas for future service needs, including Crisis Response in rural areas; Build relationships and interest in participating in Local Advisory Councils, and to provide an overview of the developing region’s progress, administrative structure, future board and advisory structure, and current service systems.

Anyone who is a consumer of mental health services, family members of those using mental health and disability services, community mental health/developmentally disabled service providers and those interested in being a part of forming the Southwest Iowa MH/DS Region, is urged to attend. The meeting is being facilitated by Beth Morrissette, Executive Director of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Network.

If you miss today’s meeting in Oakland, there will be a final session in Harrison County, January 21^st,  at the Dunlap City Hall.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer isn’t saying if he’ll run for president in 2016. But if he does, he thinks he can connect with Iowa voters. Schweitzer, a Democrat who served as governor from 2005 through early 2013, visited Iowa yesterday. He spoke in front of about 100 people at an event hosted by a liberal advocacy group.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad has suspended rules limiting the work hour of truck drivers who haul propane. Branstad announce his action yesterday evening. It’s effective today and will continue through January 2nd. Branstad signed a proclamation saying the suspension of work rules is necessary because of a shortage of propane.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — A group of researchers have established a center for Arctic studies at the University of Northern Iowa. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the National Science Foundation awarded a $749,000 grant to Andrew Petrov, a UNI assistant professor of geography, to run the program over the next five years.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Trevor Berkeley drilled his only 3-pointer of the game as Drake scored six points in the final 16 seconds to rally past Western Michigan 71-68 last night. Jacob Enevold Jensen scored 16 points for Drake, which improved to 7 and 3. Jordan Daniels added 14 with seven assists, and Chris Caird had 10 points for the Bulldogs in Des Moines.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, approved the sale of City owned properties at 807 Elm and 203 Locust Streets. Mayor Dave Jones said there was only one bid for the property at 807 Elm Street. The Council approved the lone bid of $1,000 submitted by Janet Jordan. Jones said there were three bids for the property at 203 Locust Street. The Council accepted a bid of $2,050 from ROMAR Investments (Robert and Marlo Stamp). Other bidders included Janet Jordan, who submitted her bid of $1,000 and Chuck Templeman, whose bid of amounted to $2,000. All bidders had previously agreed to provide a performance guarantee to demolish the buildings on the properties and remove them from the site.

In other business, City Administrator Doug Harris and Mayor Dave Jones reminded residents of their obligation under City Ordinance, to shovel their sidewalks within 72 hours of the end of a snow event. Harris said the City received complaints after the last snowstorm from citizens, about some sidewalks not being shoveled. The Mayor says the City will follow-up on those complaints as they are received, and make the property owners aware of their responsibility to provide a safe walking environment.