Iowa union and school leaders are rushing to complete and sign contracts before collective bargaining legislation surging through the Statehouse becomes state law. The legislation’s mirror versions went from House and Senate committee hearings to floor debate in a week. Lengthy debate and amendments have slowed their advance, but passage and the governor’s signature seem certain.

Iowa teachers union president Tammy Wawro told The Des Moines Register that more than 140 districts settled contracts in the past week and seven of 40 districts with multiyear contracts extended them. The Des Moines school board is scheduled to vote in a special meeting Thursday on a temporary agreement before the legislation is signed into law.

The legislation would prohibit unions from bargaining over certain items, such as seniority, insurance, grievances, layoff procedures and additional pay.

The Creston Police Department reports the arrest Wednesday night on a Possession of Controlled Substance/1st offense, charge. 18-year old Isaiah Foster, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center at around 10-p.m. His bond was set at $1,000.

And, a Creston resident reported Monday evening, that sometime during the day, someone broke a window on his garage located in the 800 block of W. Adams Street. Damage from the incident amounted to about $100.

(7-a.m. News)

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst’s (R-IA) regional directors will hold traveling office hours throughout the month of March in all 99 counties in Iowa. Representatives from Senator Ernst’s office will be available in counties throughout the state to assist Iowans with problems or questions about eligibility involving issues like Social Security, veterans’ benefits, military affairs, passports, immigration issues, and other federal programs. Senator Ernst will not be at the traveling office hours.

If you are unable to attend the traveling office hours and are seeking assistance with federal agencies,  visit Ernst.Senate.Gov to contact one of her offices or submit a casework request.

Locally, Ernst’s traveling office hours include:

• Adair County: Tuesday, March 7, 2017 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM, Adair County Courthouse Jury Room 400 Public Square, Greenfield.
• Adams County: Thursday March 9, 2017 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Corning Public Library 603 9th Street, Corning.
• Audubon County: Tuesday March 21, 2017 10:00 AM -11:00 AM Audubon Public Library 401 North Park Place, Audubon.
• Cass County: Thursday, March 9, 2017 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Atlantic Public Library Meeting Room A 507 Poplar Street, Atlantic.
• Guthrie County: Wednesday, March 8, 2017 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Guthrie County Courthouse Public Meeting Room 200 N 5th Street, Guthrie Center.
• Montgomery County: Wednesday, March 15, 2017 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Montgomery County Extension Office Suite 2 400 Bridge Street, Red Oak.
• Pottawattamie County: Tuesday, March 7, 2017 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Avoca Public Library 213 North Elm Street, Avoca.

A complete list of all upcoming dates can be found at http://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/traveling-office-hours

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, set March 1st at 5:30-p.m., as the date and time for Public Hearings on two matters. The first is with regard to a General Obligation Equipment Acquisition Loan Agreement and to borrow not more than $360,000 for the purchase of equipment for the Street Department. The second hearing pertains to the proposed Fiscal Year 2018 City of Atlantic Budget.

The final budget must be submitted to the State of Iowa by March 15th. The proposed budget amounts to just under $12.5-million, which is a decrease over the FY 2017 budget of 14.78%, or more than $1.847-million.  It calls for a property tax increase of 1.48-percent.

In other business, the Council heard from Library Director Natalie Struecker, who mentioned a “Shred Day” will be held April 15th from 1-until 3-p.m., at the Library, where citizens may bring their documents and have them securely disposed of through the use of a mobile shredder that will be available in the parking lot. You can drive up and drop-off up to three containers of paper or documents to be shredded.

Two recent, separate traffic stops in Montgomery County resulted in arrests. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports at around 1:10-a.m. today (Thursday), 24-year old Michael Christopher Jensen, of Schaumberg, IL., was arrested north of Villisca at Highways 71 and 34, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Jensen was cited for the offense and then released at the scene.

And, just before 10-p.m. Wednesday, Montgomery County Deputies conducted a traffic stop just west of Elliott, that resulted in 27-year old Eduardo Monrreal-Robles, of Elliott, being taken into custody for Driving with a Suspended License with 13 withdrawals in effect. Monrreal-Robles  was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $435 bond.