(Atlantic, Iowa) – One person was injured during an accident on W. 7th Street in Atlantic early this (Wednesday) morning. According to the Atlantic Police Department, the crash happened at around 3:43-a.m., in the 1000 block of S.W. 7th Street (US Hwy 6). Authorities say a vehicle driven by Myson Kovac, of Atlantic, was traveling southbound on SW 7th, when it entered the west ditch and continued until the vehicle jumped a gravel driveway, and came to rest after striking multiple combine corn/bean head carts owned by Lindeman Tractor. (UPDATE): Damage to the ag equipment was estimated at $12,500.

Kovac was transported to Cass Health in Atlantic, for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Police say the vehicle is suspected to have been stolen. It sustained damage amounting to an estimated $6,000. The accident remains under investigation.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors’ will hold a special meeting Thursday at 1-p.m., to set the date for a public hearing on a recommended zoning change. According to Auditor Kathy Somers, the Board will acknowledge receipt of the Zoning Commission’s recommendation to change a zoning classification from General Agricultural District to Business District, for Schmidt & Sons Properties, LLC, as allowed under the Cass County Zoning Ordinance.

The Board will then set the date of a Public Hearing on the Commission’s recommendation, as June 13, 2023 at 9-a.m. The Hearing will be held during the Supervisor’s regular meeting in their Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse.

Thursday’s special meeting is available via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2899195216?pwd=R0hSa2FOOTh0NUdra1ZSdVhVWHpMUT09. Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
Passcode: 012064
Call In:
312-626-6799, press *9 to indicate you wish to speak.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Lottery is asking everyone to double check old tickets as a Mega Millions ticket with a one million dollar prize sold in Ames is still unclaimed. Lottery spokesperson, Mary Neubauer says there are now just three months left before the ticket expires. “It is so unusual for a prize of this size to be sitting out there unclaimed this long,” she says. The ticket was sold at the Filling Station/Gateway Express. “It’s a combination, kitchen bakery convenience store. It’s on the south end of Ames. It’s right by where a lot of large hotels are in that area,” Neubauer says. “So, you know, it just becomes a question of was it someone from out of town who bought this ticket is someone local, who has just never checked it? So we’re doing our best to just say please, please, if you have a ticket at home, get it out and double check it.”

Neubauer says the date of the drawing was near a holiday and a football weekend.  “Tuesday, September 6, that was just after the long Labor Day holiday weekend in 2022. And that same weekend, Iowa State played its season opener at home against Southeast Missouri State,” Neubauer says. She says it’s possible a football fan from Missouri bought the ticket and forgot about it.”It is something that people talk about every day in the store. It’s you know, folks are aware that this prize was one with the ticket purchase at the store folks are talking about it there every day. So it would seem to indicate that if you’re local, you might already know about it,” she says.

Neubauer says there are a lot of different ideas about where the ticket may be. “Maybe it’s riding around on the sun visor in somebody’s car or it’s still in somebody’s wallet after all this time,” Neubauer says. “You never can tell.” The ticket could have gone through the wash in somebody’s pocket, or maybe got thrown away. Neubauer says anyone who may’ve been in Ames around that time should check any old tickets.

If the ticket is not brought in before it expires — the one million dollars would go back into the prize pool.

(Radio Iowa) – Two more Republicans are entering the presidential race today (Wednesday). Former Vice President Mike Pence released a video this (Wednesday) morning announcing his candidacy. Pence will hold an in-person campaign kick off in Ankeny over the noon hour. Pence explained why at Senator Joni Ernst’s weekend fundraiser. “Iowa’s the place that we shape principled conservative leadership. Iowa’s the place that’s shaped the standard bearer of this party,” Pence says.

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum announced his race for the G-O-P nomination on Twitter. He’s scheduled to campaign in Iowa tomorrow (Thursday). Burgum earned a fortune in the tech industry, selling his software company to Microsoft in 2002.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session at 9-a.m. Tuesday, in Harlan. Board Secretary/Auditor Mark Maxwell said in the meeting minutres, that the Supervisors briefed each other on current committee developments including; Steve Kenkel, who said he attended a national pipeline safety conference recently in Des Moines. Kenkel reported that specific guidelines are being added and considered, for carbon capture pipelines.

The planned spending for fiscal year 2024 includes a cost of living wage increase for all non-union employees was discussed. Supervisor Parkhurst made a motion to approve a 3% increase to the employees qualified to receive the increase. Schaben seconded the motion. The motion passed. The yearly Rural Transit Joint Participation agreement between the Southwest Iowa Planning Council and Shelby County was presented by Auditor Maxwell, and approved by the Board. The annual agreement details the services Shelby County receives for the rural transit system for the $6,000.00 a year contribution to SWIPCO for the services.

Austin Staley, Shelby County IT Director gave his first department head report as IT Director. Basic security and equipment familiarity and the transition from a third party IT administrator to an in house administrator, he said, has been the focus of his first three weeks of duty. Todd Valline of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry was present to inform the Supervisors of the many events around Shelby County promoted by the Chamber organization. The Supervisors then approved a Utility permit applied for by Aureon, upon recommendation by the County Engineer. The Board also considered and approved the County Engineer’s contract for the next three-years. Copies of the contract are available in the Auditors office.

A public hearing was held during Tuesday’s Shelby County Supervisor’s meeting, with regard to a right of way abandonment of north of the village known as Fiscus. The hearing was held jointly by Zoom, with Audubon County Supervisors. Having heard no public comment the hearing was closed and the joint conference ended. The Board subsequently voted to pass the resolution as presented.

A Public Hearing was also held in a proposed EMS Resolution, with a possible public measure to be placed on the ballot on November 7th, 2023. The resolution states it is necessary to always have first responders on duty in Shelby County to answer emergency calls for assistance. The ownership of the private ambulance service that currently serves Shelby County plans on retirement in the upcoming years and no private enterprise has stepped up to provide emergency medical services.

Tim Plumb EMS Advisory Council member, and Alex Londo EMA Coordinator, presented a hand out with frequently asked questions regarding the Resolution and plans to place the issue on the November ballot. Copies are available from the County Auditors office and on the Shelby County Website. Plumb and Londo also explained that meetings with fire departments and town hall meetings will be scheduled this fall.

Steve Barrett, a Kirkman City Council member asked what effects this may have on current 28E agreements between cities and private EMS and volunteer EMS organizations. The question was referred to the County Attorney. The Resolution, was passed as presented.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisor’s, this (Wednesday) morning, authorized Board Chair Jerry Walker to sign a right-of-way (ROW) contract with Ed and Gretchen Johnson. Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman explains the easement is for the

Kauffman also had Chairman Walker sign the front page of plans for the N29 Prussia Culvert Project, with the Board’s approval. Kauffman updated the Board on Adair County bridge contractor and other projects.

Culverts, which incorporate grade control, Kauffman said are eligible for 80 percent of the actual grading control portion of culvert project funding.

The Adair County Supervisors tabled action on a Resolution with regard to a speed limit sign on a joint road, as it pertains to the City of Casey.