The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests on Friday (May 2nd). Officials say 28-year old Trel Curtis Peterson, of Massena, was arrested on two Cass County warrants for Burglary in the 3rd degree and Criminal Mischief 4th degree, along with and Burglary 3rd and Harassment 1st Degree. Peterson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is being held on $10,000 bond.

On May 2, 2014, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Robert Lee Atkinson, 36, of Anita,  on a charge of Driving Under Suspension. Atkinson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released on $300 bond.

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce say that effective May 19th, 2014 Rhonda Larsen will take over the position of Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Larsen succeeds Megan Roberts, who announced last month she was leaving to pursue employment in the insurance industry. Roberts has served as the Chamber Director since August, 2012.

Chamber President Amy Jordahl said “On behalf of the Chamber Board, we are confident that Rhonda is going to be a perfect fit for the Chamber team. She has an excellent background in marketing and promotions and strong relationships in the Atlantic area to help us accomplish our goals.”

Jordhal said also “We have a strong team of board members, volunteers, businesses and staff. Rhonda is a great addition to our leadership team, and we are thankful for a community that will help her transition into this new role.”

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will visit three communities in southwest Iowa this coming week.  The pair will be in Greenfield, Creston and Corning, on Tuesday, May 6th. Their first stop at 10-a.m. will include a tour of Cardinal Glass in Greenfield.

From there, Branstad and Reynolds travel to Creston for an 11:30-a.m. tour of CHS Oilseed Processing. Their day ends in Corning, where a town hall meeting on the Governor’s STEM (Science Engineering, Technology and Math) initiative will be held beginning at 1:30-p.m., in the Southwest Valley High School gymnasium.

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert reports  the  landline 9-1-1 Lines in the Portsmouth and Panama areas of Shelby County are not working. If you have an emergency please use your cellphone to dial 911.

Crews are assessing the situation and we will update you with information as the nature and duration of the outage become known.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials say the state has taken custody of a newborn baby under Iowa’s safe haven law. The Department of Human Services announced Friday a woman who gave birth on April 15 at an Iowa hospital had immediately asked that the infant be declared a safe haven baby. Under state law, parents can give up custody of babies age 14 days and younger with no questions asked.

The agency has taken custody of the baby and a court hearing to terminate parental rights will be held within a month. It’s the 18th time the state has taken a child under the safe haven law, which was approved in 2001 after an eastern Iowa teenage mother killed her home-delivered newborn.

The state didn’t release details, including where the baby was born.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported and no citations were issued following a two-vehicle accident this (Friday) morning. The crash occurred at around 8-a.m near 1186 210th Street, southeast of Emerson.

Officials say a 1978 Ford pickup driven by Matthew Stacy, was traveling east on 210th Street and cresting a hill. At about the same time, Sarah Smith was pulling out of a driveway in her 2009 Nissan Murano onto westbound 210th.  Because of the obstruction created by the hill, Smith didn’t see Stacy’s pickup approaching, and Stacy couldn’t stop in time once he came over the hill.

The vehicles collided at the driveway entrance, with Stacy’s pickup coming to rest in the north ditch. Neither driver reported any injurues, and both refused treatment from rescue crews. Damage from the collision amounted to $9,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton School District will burn down its nearly century-old elementary school building to save money this weekend. District officials say Sunday’s controlled burn, which was delayed by one -week due to the previously dry and windy conditions, will save up to $60,000 in demolition costs.

The unique event will also serve as a training exercise for firefighters. About 100 of them from a dozen or so departments are expected to turn up for the burn, which will be aided by wooden pallets donated by residents. Superintendent Dean Schnoes says the district, like others, is always seeking ways to save money.

Fire training consultant Cliff McFarland says controlled burns like the one Sunday will help volunteer departments better coordinate large-scale fire scenarios.

Governor Terry Branstad today (Friday) announced his appointments to Iowa’s boards and commissions. Among the individuals in southwest Iowa whose appointments went into effect on May 1st, and are not subject to Iowa Senate confirmation, is:

Tom Ling, of Glenwood – Interoperable Communications System Board, and Jolene Caldwell, of Council Bluffs – Organic Advisory Council.