Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson today (Tuesday), released details about an accident involving one of his deputies, that took place last Friday night. The Sheriff says Deputy Shawn Young and his K-9 partner “Harry” were on patrol in a 2012 Chevy Tahoe south of Exira on Lark Avenue, when he heard a broadcast from Cass County about a fight occurring on Interstate 80 near mile marker 67. Since he wasn’t too far away, Young proceeded toward the incident in case Cass County Deputies needed assistance.

K9 “Harry”

The Deputy contacted the Audubon County dispatch center by radio, asking the dispatcher to contact Cass County Communications to advise if deputies needed assistance and if he needed to continue. Three minutes later, Young called dispatch on his cell phone to advise he just had an accident and that he needed immediate assistance because his K-9 was possibly deceased. Later, the Deputy advised, after radioing dispatch, that he had been attempting to hang up his mic, when the distraction caused him to miss the 20-mile per hour curve sign. Even though he was not traveling at a high rate of speed, Young was unable to negotiate the curve. The SUV went off the road an hit a field drive embankment.

When Exira Rescue personnel arrived on scene, Young refused medical attention, and insisted they help his K-9 partner. At about that same time, a Cass County Deputy arrived and seeing the condition of Harry, loaded the 6-year old Belgian Tervuren on his patrol vehicle for transport to the Audubon Veterinary Clinic, where their staff was waiting. Young was then transported by Exira Rescue to the Audubon County Memorial Hospital for treatment of possible leg, torso and neck injuries. He was later released after tests were performed.

The Audubon Vet Clinic staff meanwhile worked tirelessly to stabilize Harry, and by Saturday morning he was stable enough for them to begin an examination to determine the extent of his injuries. It was determined at that time that his injuries were insurmountable and euthanasia was the only humane choice to stop his suffering.

The Sheriff’s Office will hold a Memorial Service for K-9 Harry at 5-pm on Thursday, April 9th, at the Audubon City Park band shelter stage. All are welcome to attend. Sheriff Johnson says at one point or another, Harry has been cared for and lived with almost all the deputies who serve Audubon County. He says Harry “Was not only a co-worker, but became family with our law enforcement family. Harry has been responsible for recovering more than one-half pound of crystal meth (ice), four-pounds of cocaine, 10-pounds of methamphetamine, a large amount of marijuana and over $270,000 in drug money, as well as numerous drug arrests and convictions.”

Johnson says the Sheriff’s Office plans to continue with its K-9 program at a later date. The accident remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol and then review by the Audubon County Safety Committee.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa schools will be able to start the upcoming academic year no earlier than Aug. 23rd, under a compromise bill that is now headed to Gov. Terry Branstad for approval.  Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal on Tuesday lifted a procedural hold he placed on the bill last week. The state House and Senate both approved the legislation, but Gronstal stalled, citing concerns that high schools would be excluded from setting year-round calendars.

Gronstal says it was time to move on. Branstad promised to sign the bill into law. The state announced plans late last year to stop issuing automatic waivers to allow districts to bypass current start date rules. Many lawmakers wanted districts to have control over their calendars, but Branstad argued that early start dates hurt tourism.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley held his first fundraiser last (Monday) night in West Des Moines to kick off his 2016 re-election campaign. Grassley, a Republican, is seeking a seventh term. One reason Grassley says he’d like to remain in Washington D-C is the fact his party now has a majority of seats in the U-S Senate. “We anticipated that would happen,” Grassley says, “and being chairman of a committee, I’m in a position to show more leadership, not just through the Judiciary Committee but being fourth in seniority of 100 senators, I think, gives me some opportunity to push.”

Grassley first took office in 1959 when he was elected to the Iowa House and has served in public office ever since. He was elected to the U-S House in 1975 and was first elected to the U-S Senate in 1980. Grassley is now 81 years old and if elected to another term, he would be 89 when that term is up. He’s currently the second-oldest member of the Senate.  “I don’t have a right to serve a seventh term,” Grassley says. “I hold a public trust and from time to time, every six years, you have to renew that trust. If the people continue to have trust in me, I will serve a seventh term and if they don’t, then obviously, I’ll retire.”

Shortly after Senator Tom Harkin announced in 2013 that he would not run again, Grassley said he -would- seek re-election because he didn’t want to leave Iowa with two junior senators just two years apart. He says that remains as a primary reason he’s seeking re-election now. Grassley says, “Public service is an honorable thing and if I can be helpful to the people of Iowa, particularly in transition while Iowa has a new senator, then I think that’s helpful.”

Republican Joni Ernst of Red Oak was elected last year to fill the seat that had been held by Democrat Harkin. Grassley says Ernst has “really picked up the ball quickly,” adding, “she’s off to a very good start, but it still hasn’t changed my mind about running for re-election.”

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Atlantic Municipal Utilities are pleased to report Moody’s Investor Services has assigned an A1 rating to AMU’s’ proposed $7.3 million Revenue Bonds. Moody’s Investors Service assigned the A1 rating to AMU’s $4.8 million Electric Revenue Refunding Capital Loan Notes, Series 2015A and $2.5 million Electric Revenue Capital Loan Notes, Series 2015B.

Among the items cited in Moody’s report were AMU’s sound financial operations resulting in strong coverage levels, a modest debt burden and management’s conservative budgeting approach. AMU General Manager Steve Tjepkes says the positive assessment and rating will help ensure the lowest available interest costs for the upcoming debt issuance.  According to Tjepkes, “Industry wide, electric utility credit ratings have been declining for a number of years, so for AMU to be able to continue maintaining an A1 credit rating is something we should be proud of. Our relative small size and our concentration in coal-fired generation are the two characteristics that keep us from getting a higher credit rating.”

The proceeds from the Series 2015A Notes will advance refund AMU’s currently outstanding Series 2007 Notes for an expected savings of approximately $250,000. The Series 2007 Notes have interest rates of approximately 4% while the replacement 2015A Notes will have an average rate of less than 2%.

The proceeds from the Series 2015B Notes will finance current improvements and extensions to the electric system, including replacement of the control system on AMU’s local gas generator and AMU’s share of the costs of improvements at the Walter Scott, Jr. Energy Center Unit 3 facilities in Council Bluffs.

Moody’s Investors Service provides financial research on bonds issued by commercial and government entities and ranks the creditworthiness of borrowers using a standardized ratings scale.

(Press Release)

The American Public Power Association has released its latest report on electric rates charged by all of the electric utilities throughout the U.S.   Based on the report, of the 182 electric utilities operating in the state of Iowa, Atlantic Municipal Utilities (AMU) ranks as the eighth lowest cost provider when comparing the average cost of electricity charged to all of AMU’s consumers. In addition, when comparing the rates charged to residential consumers, there were only three electric utilities in Iowa with a lower residential rate than AMU.

Jennifer Saathoff, AMU Comptroller, says “We were very pleased to see the results of the latest rate comparisons among electric utilities. Iowa has among the lowest electric rates in the U.S. and for AMU to be among the lowest cost providers in the state is something that benefits all of us.”

AMU says increased costs to meet stricter environmental and regulatory requirements, especially at the coal-fired Walter Scott, Jr. Energy Center Unit 3 plant in Council Bluffs, has put upward pressure on the electric rates AMU charges local consumers. AMU is a 2.5% owner in the plant which provides approximately 70% of the energy needed to meet local consumer demand. Most of the remaining power to service our area is provided through purchase power contracts with Western Area Power Administration, for hydro-generated electricity, and Missouri River Energy Services, located in Sioux Falls, SD. Atlantic’s local generation includes a dual fuel, 4.5 MW, Nordberg diesel generator and a 10 MW, low-NOx dual fuel natural gas generator. The local generation is utilized primarily to meet capacity and energy reserve requirements, emergency generation, and occasional energy sales.

AMU provides electrical service to 3,953 residential and commercial consumers within the city of Atlantic and another 670 residential and commercial consumers in the surrounding rural area.

The American Public Power Association (APPA), based in Washington, D.C., is a national service organization representing the unified interests of the nation’s more than 2,000 community-owned municipal electric utilities. Collectively, municipal utilities serve more than 48 million Americans.

(Press Release)