The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), reviewed the County Compensation Board’s recommendations for salary increases for elected officials (Attorney, Auditor, Recorder, Treasurer, Sheriff and Board of Supervisors), but voted unanimously to adopt a Resolution cutting the amount of proposed increases in half. The increases will amount instead to: $1,500 for the Attorney, Auditor, Recorder and Treasurer; $2,500 for the Sheriff, and $600 for the Supervisors.

The Board also approved the Fiscal Year 2016-17 County Budget, which amounts to $18.35-million, or an increase of $2.15-million. The tax asking for the upcoming Fiscal Year is $5.32 per $1,000 valuation Countywide (a decrease of about 2-cents per thousand dollars from the last fiscal year) and $9.76 for the unincorporated areas that receive gas and electric utility service (a decrease of nearly 3.5-cents per thousand from last year). The Supervisors also approved the Cass County Secondary Roads Department Budget amounting to $5.63-million, and the purchase of two rolling  dump truck chassis with Allison transmissions. The low bid from Freightliner (with trade-ins) amounted to $149,754.

In other business, the Supervisors approved the appointment of two County Medical Examiner Investigators to assist Dr. Elaine Berry. The investigators, Allison Bruckner and Darci Young, both Registered Nurses at the Cass County Hospital, are in the process of being fully trained for the job, and will be paid $200 per call, effective immediately, an increase of $100 from last year. Their terms expire in two-years. Auditor Dale Sunderman pointed out M.E. Investigator fees in other counties can amount to as much as $500 per hour.

And, the Board acted on approving a Cass County Child Abuse Prevention Council request to proclaim April as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Cass County, which entails the placing of a sign and blue/silver pinwheels, in the flower garden areas on the south side of the Cass County Courthouse.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a bill into law that will keep most juvenile delinquency records confidential in Iowa. Branstad signed the legislation Wednesday at the Iowa Capitol, following overwhelming support in the Republican-majority House and the Democratic-controlled Senate. It also has the support of several advocacy groups. The measure is part of Branstad’s efforts to address criminal justice reform in Iowa.

The law will keep juvenile court records confidential unless otherwise ordered by a judge. The local NAACP says it will help youth who may struggle in the future to find work or educational opportunities because an old court record is disclosed. The law will apply to juvenile court proceedings that are pending or arise after July 1, when the measure goes into effect.

A stand-off that began Tuesday evening in Glenwood ended nearly an hour later, with the suspect being taken into custody after a brief struggle. According to Glenwood Police, officers responded to a domestic situation involving an armed subject, at 914 Green Street, at around 6:25-p.m. The alleged victim was able to leave the residence, and advised law enforcement the suspect, 61-year old Thomas Sawyer, had numerous firearms inside, and was in possession of a loaded weapon.

Deputies with the Mills, Montgomery, and Fremont County Sheriff’s Offices, along with Tabor Police, and members of the Iowa State Patrol, all assisted with the incident. Officers were able to get Sawyer to leave his residence, and after a brief struggle, he was taken into custody at around 7:20-p.m.

Sawyer was brought to the Mills County Jail and charged with Domestic Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, (felony) Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, and Interference with Official Acts.

An investigation into a car “All over the road” in Adams County, resulted in the arrest of a Nebraska man on drug charges. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office says 21-year old Garrett Bazzell, of LaVista, NE, was arrested just before 7-a.m. today (Wednesday), for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, after his vehicle was pulled over on Highway 34 at the 66 mile marker. Bazzell’s bond was set at $1,000.

The Denison Police Department is asking for your help in locating a missing teenager. 16-year-old Madilyne Janelle Bishop was last seen, on Monday, at Denison High School. The white female is about 5-feet 2-inches tall with brown eyes, long and straight brown hair. The teen is believed to be with a man, in his mid-20s, that she knows and may have met online. He may be driving a green, two-door vehicle.

Authorities say an Amber Alert was not issued because the teen apparently left voluntarily, she was not abducted. If you have any information about Bishop’s whereabouts, call Denison police at (712) 263-3195, or Crawford County CrimeStoppers at (712) 263-4050.