Firefighters from Avoca, Hancock, Harlan and Shelby were called to the AHST Elementary School in Avoca, at 768 S. Maple Street, Friday afternoon. The departments were dispatched at around 3:45-p.m., after automatic fire detection equipment alerted authorities, and smoke or haze was seen in a classroom.

Firefighters detected the smell of burning wiring, but were unable to locate a source. NO flames were ever seen, and no damage or injuries was reported. An electrical contractor was asked to inspect the electric system at the school.

The Red Oak Police Department arrested a Red Oak woman on Friday at 12:48pm.  Officers arrested 24-year-old Danielle Lynette Archer at 2400 N 8th Street in Red Oak on an active Montgomery County Warrant for Violation of Probation.  Archer was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Research from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that southern mosquitoes could travel to Iowa this summer, but state experts don’t expect them to be a major carrier of the Zika virus.

The Des Moines Register reports that recently released maps from the federal agency show Iowa in the range of one of two mosquito species believed to carry the virus, which can cause severe birth defects. The maps show the Aedes aegypti species petering out in Missouri, but the Aedes albopictus mosquito could extend through Iowa and into southern Minnesota.

Iowa Department of Public Health’s medical director Patricia Quinlisk says the albopictus are believed to be much less likely to carry the virus. She doesn’t expect to see a major threat of transmission from mosquitoes in Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers say they’ve reached an agreement on the budget that will keep state funding for Planned Parenthood, and the tentative deal is expected to be a breakthrough leading to adjournment.

A woman from Des Moines wanted on Page County warrants for Trespassing and Conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony, turned herself-in this (Friday) morning. 30-year old Charlene Lynn Chaney, appeared at the sheriff’s office at around 8:30-a.m., was processed and booked, then later released on $5,000 bond, pending further court proceedings.

Charlene Chaney

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A divided Iowa Supreme Court has overturned the robbery conviction of an Iowa City man establishing that police can’t search someone’s personal belongings without a warrant even when the items are in the home of another person who consents to a search. The case involves a backpack owned by Marvis Latrell Jackson located in an Iowa City apartment housing men police suspected of robbing a pizza restaurant on Dec. 31, 2012.

One of the apartment’s occupants consented to a search but police did not ask Jackson if they could search his backpack where they found a gun and cash. Justices in a 4-3 opinion say officers should’ve gotten a warrant or Jackson’s permission to search the backpack. They threw out Jackson’s conviction and ordered a new trial.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Friday), set May 11^th as the date and time for a public hearing on a construction permit application for Southwest Iowa Egg. Supervisor Duane McFadden explained the facility near Massena intends to renovate the plant buildings in phases, over a period of years. Two buildings will be removed, and replaced with one, larger building with increased capacity for both the laying hens and manure management.

Supervisor Frank Waters said the people who he’s spoken with – some of whom were originally opposed to the facility when it was first proposed a dozen years ago – said they didn’t object to plans, and so far, there have been no written objections. Steve Baier, of Griswold, is a Southwest Iowa Egg stockholder, who says the facility will be modern, efficient and, better for the birds. It will feature larger cages, and a better manure storage.

The new facility will keep the manure drier, and provide less “out-gassing” of odors. In other business, the Board approved a request from the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund, for the creation of an avenue of flags and plaza area, in the County’s portion of the downtown, Atlantic City Park. Trevor’s mom, and fund spokesperson Melanie Petty explained the project to the Board.

Conceptual sketch of the proposed City Park plaza improvements.

She said the Atlantic Parks and Rec Dept. and members of the TFMF will install 8, 16-foot flagpoles purchased from the Kiwanis Club. The flags will be lit by solar lights installed on the flagpoles. A new, 3-foot by 58-foot sidewalk will be installed next to the current sidewalk on both sides, to act as a surface for the poles and plaza for memorial benches.

The memorial benches will lock into the concrete, so they aren’t stolen. The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund will take care of all costs associated with the project, and  will continue to maintain the flowerbed in the plaza area. The project has the blessing of the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Rec Department, and Kiwanis Club, and the Supervisors were in unanimous support of it. The project will likely be completed sometime late this fall.

And, the Cass County Supervisors tabled action until May 11^th, on authorizing the County Recorder to purchase specialized equipment to take passport photos. The equipment would cost about $1,695. The current driver’s license camera and equipment cannot be used for passport purposes. Supervisor Mark Wedemeyer wanted the request be tabled because a local businessman wanted the chance to object. That person was not able to attend today’s (Friday’s) meeting.