The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), approved a recommendation from the County Zoning Commission, for a change in classification for a parcel of land near Lyman from General Agricultural to Light Industrial. Zoning Administrator Rich Hansen explained the request to have the 1.3-acres rezoned came from Corey Sindt, for the expansion of his business. Sindt already has an auto repair business, and wants to expand his growing family business to include used car sales.

Supervisor Chuck Rieken recommended the Board approve the request because the family has been a long-time contributor to the Cass County economy. Rieken said Sindt has more, long-term plans for his property and business as well, which will make for additional economic assets to the County.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors approved a construction contract with Carlson–West-Povandra Architects in Omaha, for the renovation of a building the County purchased across the street from the courthouse. The facility will be used as a new 9-1-1 Center. With the Board’s approval, C-W-P can begin to solicit bids for the project. The bid date was tentatively set for May 22nd.

The Board also received a Quarterly report from Cass County Veterans Affairs Director Mitch Holmes. Holmes reported V-A Commissioner Terry Rutherford, who has served two six-year terms on the Commission, is stepping down, effective June 30th. Holmes requested and approved the Board’s permission to place advertisements in the local paper asking for Veterans to apply for a position on the Commission. In order to be considered for an appointment to the V-A Commission, the applicant must have been honorably discharged from the military and be a war-time veteran.

There are currently two men and one woman on the Commission, which meets during the third Monday of the each month. In making a selection for appointment to the position, the County must keep in mind the need to maintain a gender balance.

In his report, Holmes said there were 15 claims for General Assistance through his office during the past Quarter. The claims amounted to $2,365, the bulk of which was in the form of utility assistance. There were also 125 forms completed and filed for Federal V-A Benefits, the majority of which were for Disability Compensation. The claims ranged from $129 to as much as $1,500. And, Holmes’ office made 1,862 contacts during the past Quarter, including e-mails, phone calls and visits in and out of the office, or a little more than 30 contacts per day. His efforts drew the praise of Supervisor Chuck Rieken, who said Holmes is doing a “Good job.”

The Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse is launching a one-of-a-kind Facebook page. The new Facebook page will be used to publicize high-profile missing person cases, child safety education and prevention information, frequently asked questions, missing person related news and statistics. This new page will serve as another way for law enforcement and the general public to report tips and submit questions to the Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse. To “like” the page, simply search for “Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse,” on Facebook.

The Missing Person Information Clearinghouse was established July 1, 1985, within the Department of Public Safety, providing a program for compiling, coordinating and disseminating information in relation to missing and unidentified persons. Housed within the Division of Criminal Investigation, the clearinghouse assists in helping to locate missing persons through public awareness and cooperation as well as in educating law enforcement officers and the general public about the missing persons.

Anyone with information about a missing person or persons can call the 24 hour, toll-free hotline at 1-800-346-5507 or email at mpicinfo@dps.state.ia.us.

A landmark in Stanton that has stood the test of time for about 100 years, is coming down later this year. The Omaha World-Herald reports a tower fashioned to look like a Swedish coffee pot will be removed by a crane and placed on the grounds of the nearby Swedish Heritage and Cultural Center. The water tower is being removed because repairs would be too costly.

Instead, it will be refurbished and put on display at the cultural center. It will sit on the south side of the Cultural Center, about a half-block from the childhood home of Victoria Christine, an actress and Stanton native who appeared on American televisions as “Mrs. Olson” in Folgers Coffee commercials, teaching newlyweds how to brew a good cup of coffee. It is not known when the coffee pot will be fully restored.

The City of Stanton will pay $30,000 to remove the coffee pot, move it, and dismantling the legs that hold it about 125 feet above the ground. The Stanton Historical Society, which operates the center, will need to raise $73,000 to repaint and refurbish the coffee pot, which was built to function as a water tower, while also serving as  a tribute to the city’s Swedish heritage and a nod to Virginia Christine.

Over 200 delegates of the Democratic Party from 16 counties will meet this Saturday (April 26th) at the Kirn Middle School in Council Bluffs, for the Third Congressional District Convention. Cass County Democrat Party Chair Sherry Toelle says the convention consists of delegates from sixteen county conventions, meeting to help create the State Democratic Platform, send delegates on to the State Convention, and select candidates for the State Central Committee.

Cass County residents who were elected as delegates at the Cass County Democratic Convention in March include Sherry Toelle and Dale Whittaker, both of Atlantic, and Karen Thomsen of Cumberland. Alternates are Armando Rosales, Rusia Salapa, and Helen Stillian, all from Atlantic.

The delegates from the convention will meet with those of the other Iowa districts in June in Des Moines to set up the leadership of the party and hammer out a final platform to inform the public where the Iowa Democratic Party stands on issues. Toelle says Democrats consider this to be an important middle step in setting out the direction of the party and the leadership going into the 2014 campaigns.

The keynote speaker will be Staci Appel, the Third District Democratic Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. Many other candidates are expected to appear and to speak about the issues that confront Iowa and the nation.