The Cass County Auditor’s Office, Thursday afternoon, reported long-time businessman Gerald Brink, who serves in an At-Large capacity on the Atlantic City Council, has submitted nomination papers to retain his seat in the November 7th election, and will now be included on the ballot.

Brink was appointed last September by the Atlantic City Council, to fill a vacancy on the Council that was created by the departure of Bob Cord, who moved out the area. Also on the ballot for the City Elections in November, are previously announced candidates, Incumbent Mayor – Dave Jones, and Incumbent Parks and Rec Board Member – Jolene Smith.

Persons wishing to file nomination papers for the City elections may do so at the Auditor’s Office weekdays until 5-p.m., Sept. 21st.

The Labor Day weekend is typically one of the most dangerous holiday periods of the year on Iowa roads. Patrick Hoye, chief of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, says traffic crashes over this last holiday weekend of the summer often involve drunk drivers. “For example, in 2016 over the Labor Day holiday, we had three traffic fatalities and two of them involved alcohol-impaired drivers,” Hoye said.

Nationally, statistics show around 40-percent of crash fatalities over this holiday involve an impaired driver. Police across Iowa have pledged to step-up enforcement efforts through Monday.”You’ll see additional officers out,” Hoye said. “Through the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, we provide funding to make sure that there are additional officers out during this high travel, high crash time.”

Hoye says they’ll place an emphasis on impaired driving. He pleads with Iowans to plan ahead – and avoid getting behind the wheel after drinking. While there were just three fatalities on Iowa roadways over the Labor Day holiday last year, Hoye noted there were seven people killed in crashes in Iowa over the same period in 2015.

(Radio Iowa)

A car rear-ended a motorcycle Thursday night in central Iowa’s Warren County, leaving the operator of cycle dead. The Iowa State Patrol reports 56-year old James Dugan, of Indianola, died at the scene of the accident, which took place at around 8:30-p.m. on Highway 65, near the intersection with Nevada Street, in Indianola.

Officials say Dugan was southbound on Highway 65 and preparing to turn east onto Nevada Street, when the 1986 Harley Davidson FX-RT he was riding was hit from behind by a southbound 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The driver of the car, 18-year old Austin Beener, of New Virginia, was not injured.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Indianola Police and other emergency personnel.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s treasurer is warning that the state should borrow money to ensure it can pay its bills on time amid a potential budget shortfall, but Gov. Kim Reynolds argues the move is politically driven. Fitzgerald, a Democrat, announced Thursday that he had asked the Republican governor to authorize borrowing. He argues it would be a “sensible way” to manage “uncertainties.” Brenna Smith, Reynolds’ press secretary, says Fitzgerald is engaging in “headline-grabbing scare tactics.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is seeking federal approval to cut a key Medicaid health care benefit for the elderly and poor in an effort to save money. The state has asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to eliminate a provision that allows a person to get Medicaid coverage three months before he or she submits an application to join the program. DHS estimates $36.7 million would be saved, including $9.7 million for the state. The policy would impact new Medicaid patients.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A 51-year-old Clinton gun shop owner has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to federal firearms violations. The Quad-City Times reports that Brad Ries was sentenced Wednesday in Davenport to two six-month prison sentences _ to be served at the same time _ for knowingly transferring a firearm without a background check and making a false statement to an ATF agent.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northern Iowa hospital plans to construct a $9.78 million building that will be able to serve more behavioral health patients. The Globe Gazette reports that officials from Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason announced details about the 27,200 square-foot facility Wednesday. The project will be funded by donations from the Jan Again Foundation and through a reinvestment of the hospital’s funds and capital. The hospital is expected to be completed by 2019.

An accident Thursday morning involving a semi and a tractor northeast of Treynor resulted in three people being injured, one of them seriously.  According to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, 54-year old Brian Lockwood, of Oakland, was driving a 2011 Kenworth semi tractor-trailer westbound on Highway 6 at around 9:45-a.m., and was trying to pass a Kubota tractor, at about the same time the tractor was making a left-hand turn. The vehicles collided near the intersection with 330th Street.

During the collision, 51-year-old Craig Rath, of Treynor, who was driving the tractor, was ejected from the machine and landed on the roadway. The tractor was split in half and also came to rest in the roadway. Rath suffered serious injuries, and was flown from the scene to a trauma center. Lockwood, and a passenger in the semi cab, 85-year-old Ronald Lockwood, of Oakland, were treated at the scene and released.

The accident remains under investigation.