A lifetime sex offender who failed to return to a work release facility last Friday, was apprehended by authorities, Wednesday afternoon. According to a press release from the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC), 26-year-old Ross Michael Clouse was found at a Des Moines residence. He was taken into custody by the Fifth Judicial District Fugitive Unit, with help from the United States Marshall’s Service, and was being held in the Polk County Jail.

Ross M. Clouse

The DOC had placed Clouse on escape status after he failed to return from his place of employment in Guthrie County to the Fort Des Moines Work Release Facility. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office had reported on its social media site that Clouse had removed his GPS tracking bracelet, and tossed it into a roadside ditch northeast of Guthrie Center last Friday.

Clouse was sentenced for third-degree sex abuse and indecent contact with a child on Sept. 30, 2009. His sentence was discharged Feb. 7th, 2014, and a lifetime special supervision sentence began.

After putting his campaign travels on hold following the death of a campaign staffer in an Iowa crash Tuesday on Interstate 80 in Cass County, Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson will resume his tour, with campaign stops today (Thursday) in Atlantic and Glenwood. Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, will hold “Trust in God” Townhall meetings at the Glenwood Community High School Auditorium from 3-until 4:30-p.m., Thursday, and in Atlantic, at the Cass County Community Center, from 7-until 8:30-p.m.

On Friday, Dr. Carson will make stops in Clarinda, Mt. Ayr and Creston, before heading to Des Moines. His visit to Clarinda is from 8-a.m. to 9-a.m. at the Garrison Coffee House (106 N. 16th St.). In Mt. Ayr, Carson will be at the Ringgold County Hospital, from 11-a.m. until 12:15-p.m., and finally, in Creston, at 213 W. Adams Street, from 1:30-until 2:30-p.m.

Each of the events are free and open to the public.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, approved a request from the Atlantic Archery Club, to use the second-floor of the City Hall building, for regular archery practice. Councilman Chris Jimerson said the Community Protection Committee met last week to review the proposal, and after City Administrator Lund conferred with the City’s insurance carrier, it was learned use of the facility for archery practice would not impact the City’s insurance rates.

Jimerson said the Club has its own insurance, and there are numerous safety procedures that had previously been established, including a Kevlar net to catch any errant arrows, which he said, is very rare. Issues regarding access and second-floor security, have also been addressed. Practices would take place from 5:30-to 8:30-p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday during the shooting seasons. During off-season months (July-to November), the team would essentially practice two nights per month.

In other business, the Council approved a Resolution “Setting Compensation for the Board of Trustees of Atlantic Municipal Utilities.” The rate of compensation for attending meetings was set at $40. The last time AMU adjusted its compensation was back in the 1990’s, according to Mayor Dave Jones. Jones said the increase comes directly from AMU’s budget, and has no impact on City finances.

The Council also discussed compensation for the City Administrator, as well as the over-all City Compensation Policy and Schedule. Councilperson Kathy Somers said when the City’s Personnel and Finance Committee met Jan. 8th, they discussed pending compensation levels for a number of positions, and two positions stood out: City Administrator and Parks and Recreation Director.

When Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring was hired in June 2011, Herring was paid less than the prior Director, because of the IPERS penalty. Herring was allowed to make only $29,900 per year. Anything more and he would have had to pay a 75-percent penalty on gross wages, to IPERS. The ruling remained in effect until Herring turned 65 in March, 2013. Since then, there has been no further action with regard to pay adjustments based on his labor value, and Herring has only had a Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) each year.

Somers and the Council also discussed John  Lund’s compensation package. Both matters have been referred back to the Personnel and Finance Committee, who will make their recommendations to the Council at the next meeting. For the moment though, the Mayor gave Lund permission to plug in “template” numbers so that the budgetary process can continue. The numbers however will not be final, and can be adjusted before the budget is set, but they cannot be raised after the budget is established.

The Council also discussed snow removal on sidewalks. It was suggested residents with complaints about unshoveled walks address those to City Hall for follow-up. Residents who fail to promptly address snow removal will be given a warning for now, and if the sidewalks are not taken care of, the snow will be removed by City personnel, and the property owner will be billed accordingly, just as they would be if grass is not mowed in the spring and summer.