Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean your children can’t have fun at camp! Beth Irlbeck, Cass County Youth Coordinator with ISU Extension, says the kids can attend a fun, special Polar Bear Day Camp, which will be held indoors. The Polar Bear Day Camp is being sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board and Cass County ISU Extension. The camps take place Feb. 13th & 16th, are and intended for children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade.

The event on Feb 13th takes place from 9-a.m. until Noon, and on Feb. 16th, from 1-until 4-p.m. Both winter day camps will take place at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic. Irlbeck says participants will learn a lot about Polar Bears, and have fun with several activities. That includes Polar Bear Crafts, learning about the life of a polar bear, experiencing an outdoor adventure by going on a winter hike and coloring in the snow, and participating in games & activities about polar bears and other arctic animals.

The camps will be offered free of charge, and a snack will be provided. Pre-registration is required. Registration deadline for Polar Bear Camp is February 4th. Call the Cass County Extension office at 243-1132 or email xcass@iastate.edu to register your children. No registrations will be accepted after the registration deadline.

Parents should remember to dress their children to go outdoors for fun and a winter hike.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Friday, will hold a public hearing on a change of zoning classification for a three-acre section of land in Grant Township, for Alliant Energy. If approved following the public hearing, the land would change from General Agricultural to a Light Industrial designation.

The Board will also act on the appointment of an Administrative Assistant for Cass County Attorney Dave Wiederstein, as well as the abatement of property taxes for property located at 307 Michigan Street, owned by the City of Anita.

In other business, the Supervisors will receive a report on the Secondary Roads Department’s 5-year bridge construction program, and a quarterly report from the County Veterans Affairs Director. The meeting begins at 8:30-a.m., Friday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has named a longtime staffer as acting director of the Iowa Department of Corrections.  Branstad said Thursday that Jerry Bartruff will take over the job. He will replace retiring Director John Baldwin. Bartruff’s first day in the role will be Friday. He has worked in the department since 1982, most recently as deputy director for operations in the department’s eastern region.

Branstad called Bartruff a “capable professional” who could handle the transition.  Baldwin appeared before lawmakers earlier this week to discuss the long-delayed Iowa State Penitentiary. Baldwin said he still doesn’t know when the facility will open, noting that officials are studying a potential solution to a faulty smoke control system. The prison in Fort Madison was scheduled to open last March.

A man staying at a Creston motel was arrested Wednesday afternoon, on drug charges. The Creston P-D says 39-year old Robert Rix, of Shephardsglen Heath, TX, was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense. Rix was later released from custody on $300 bond.

And, a woman residing at a home on Pine Street in Creston reported Tuesday afternoon, that someone took a debit card and her purse from her car, which was parked behind her residence. The loss was estimated at $55. The incident took place sometime between 7-p.m. Monday and 7-a.m. Tuesday.

(8-a.m. News)