The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Monday, received certifications from county officers for base salaries of their deputies and certified the base salaries of deputies to the county auditor. The Board also determined the compensation of ‘other employees’ [other than those under bargaining unit or other employment contracts], and reviewed FY2014 budget expense appropriations and made amendments as necessary.

A motion to make a county budget appropriation adjustment was approved (change in spending authority for budgeting purposes) for Fiscal Year 2014. The adjustment to the General Basic Fund was for a decrease in the Non-departmental line item by $30,000; and increasing Data Processing by $30,000.

In accordance with Iowa Code, Sheriff Darby McLaren certified the annual base salaries of the exempt deputy sheriff. It was determined that the maximum limitation of 85% of the sheriff’s salary was not exceeded, therefore 1st Deputy John Westering salary of $58, 172 per year was approved by the Board. And, the Supervisors certified to the Auditor annual departmental deputies’ base salaries for Fiscal Year 2015.

For FY-2013 and FY-2014 the position of jail administrator was given to the first deputy sheriff. Rather than hire a jail administrator, the sheriff and Board of Supervisors determined it was most practical for Westering to perform jail administration duties and authorized supplement pay to the first deputy. The amount paid was an annual total of $5,000, including social security and IPERS. Sheriff McLaren has requested,  and the Board approved, FY-2015 supplemental pay for Westering amounting to $4,254 for performing jail administration duties.

And, in accordance with Iowa Code the Board agreed to set a compensation schedule for FY-2014-15. Detailed information about the compensation schedule and deputies’ base salary information is available at the Cass County Auditor’s Office, and will be posted in the minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting on the Cass County website at http://www.casscountyiowa.us

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests have taken place this week.

On Monday, 30-year old Nathan Patrick Kinzie, of Casey, was arrested  on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Kinzie was released from the Cass County Jail the following day on $10,000 bond.

On Tuesday, 28-year old Tyler Dean Gage, of Des Moines, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Gage was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $5000 bond. Also arrested Tuesday, was 21-year old Taylor Ann Short,  of Leon, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Short was taken to the Cass County Jail where she is being held on $25,000 bond.

On Wednesday, deputies in Cass County arrested 50-year old Brenda Jane Buboltz, of Atlantic, for allegedly Assaulting a Peace Officer, and Simple Assault. Buboltz had already been arrested by the Atlantic Police Department on charges of Public Intox 2nd Offense, Disorderly Conduct, and Simple Assault. Buboltz was released from the jail later that day on her own recognizance. Also arrested Wednesday, was 30-year old Matthew A. Fraser, of Omaha. He was taken into custody on Atlantic Police Department warrants for Forgery and Theft 5th Degree. Fraser was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance and held for Page County authorities on a Page County warrant.

And today (Thursday) deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 20-year old Brooklyn Rain Terry, of Adair, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Terry was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $3000 bond.

(Updated)

LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) – A single-engine plane crashed while landing at a northern New Mexico airport, injuring all four people aboard, including one critically. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford says the pilot was hospitalized in critical condition while the three passengers on the plane suffered less serious injuries in the Wednesday evening crash at the Las Vegas airport.

Las Vegas police on Thursday identified the pilot as James Fretham, 50, and said he was airlifted to a hospital in Santa Fe. FAA records say the plane was registered to Fretham and listed an address for him in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Police identified the passengers as 49-year-old Elizabeth Fretham, 15-year-old Grace Fretham and 21-year-old Caitrin Fretham.

Lunsford says the plane was flying to Las Vegas from Ames, Iowa.

A traffic stop in Dow City today (Thursday), resulted in the arrest of two people on drug charges. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office reports 39-year old Billie Jo Thompson, of Dow City, and 26-year old Paula Koester, of Harlan, were arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia (a Simple Misdemeanor)., Thompson and Koester  were booked into the Crawford County Jail and held on $300 bond.

The pair were arrested after the Crawford County K-9 “Bayou” alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle following the traffic stop, and a search was conducted. During the search, drug paraphernalia was seized.

While Iowa launched a campaign this week to aim for zero fatalities on the state’s roadways, accidents are inevitable and hospitals will need blood to save the injured. April Oppliger, with the American Red Cross, says donors are urgently needed in Iowa to give blood.  “During the summer, that’s already a challenge, but then we come to the 4th of July and the summer holidays and we find fewer donors giving and fewer blood drives being hosted.” Oppliger says. “We’re asking people to come out and to roll up a sleeve and prevent a summer shortage.”

The process of donating blood takes about an hour and that one pint could save as many as three lives. She has a simple message for Iowans — give blood. Oppliger says, “The need is constant and you can help make a difference and give someone else hope for another summer and another memory and another 4th of July.”

All blood types are needed, but demand is up for three types: O-negative, B-negative and A-negative. Find the Red Cross office nearest to you by calling: 800-Give-Life.

(Radio Iowa)