The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Friday) scaled back their involvement in funding a Wellness Coordinator for the County, in so far as being involved in a 28-E agreement. The Board discussed the County’s role in funding the position, and came to the conclusion their $6,000 share of funding would come from the Local Option Sales Tax proceeds Cass County receives. The County does not want to be the employer for whomever is selected for the role.

Board members Mark Wedemeyer, Steve Green and Frank Waters were all opposed to the 28-E agreement between the County, Cass County ISU Extension, the Nishna Valley YMCA and Cass County Memorial Hospital. Waters and Wedemeyer explained why he they were opposed to the proposal. Waters said he’s against any kind of 28-E and partnership. He said also, he’s not against funding the position. Wedemeyer said the County is willing fork over $6,000 from LOST, but not holding any responsibility for a Wellness Coordinator.

The County is also willing to house the Wellness Coordinator office at the Courthouse Annex, for a fee of One-dollar per year. The other entities would also be expected to provide $6,000 for their share of the expense/salary. The County already has a Wellness Program, as does the YMCA, CCMH and Extension. Kate Olson, Cass County Extension Director, said the Wellness Coordinator would serve all the communities in the County, and they would be expected to actively seek out other forms of funds to cover extra expenses above and beyond what is provided by the entity partners. No official decision on funding the position will come from the County until after the new Board of Supervisors are in-place in January, and the Board begins work on he budget. In other business, the Cass County Supervisors approved a Resolution of Support for the Home Base Iowa Initiative. Board Secretary/Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman read from the Resolution before it was approved.

The Board also approved an Abatement of Taxes for a parcel owned by the City of Anita, and acceptance of work done by Manatt’s, Inc. on the Glacier-to-Buck Creek to Echo Road paving project.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests occurred Thursday afternoon. At around 4:40-p.m., 34-year old Kyle K. Kennedy, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop, in Underwood. Kennedy was taken into custody on a warrant for Violation/Contempt of Court, with regard to a No Contact/Protective order. He was being held without bond in the Pott. County Jail. And, at around 4-p.m. Thursday, a female inmate at the Pott. County Jail was served with a Sarpy County, NE. warrant, for being a Fugitive from Justice. 37-year old Carrie M. Guthiel, of Council Bluffs, who was being held on a Probation Violation and Theft in the 3rd Degree charges, was presented with the warrant and returned to the custody of Corrections Staff. She was being held on a $15,000 bond for the Probation Violation, and No bond on the Fugitive charge.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — An investigation has found that a former secretary at an Iowa soil and water conservation district embezzled roughly $20,000 by writing unauthorized checks to herself. Outgoing State Auditor Mary Mosiman said Friday the case marks her office’s fourth investigation into misspending at one of the state’s 100 water districts in the last five years. The latest focused on Jessica Rutter, who was an office assistant for Jasper County’s district until her June resignation. A report issued by Mosiman says Rutter acknowledged to investigators that she wrote checks to herself that would typically double her pay.

Auditors found 23 unauthorized checks were issued between 2015 and 2017 that amounted to nearly $20,000. The report found a couple thousand dollars more in spending for personal and other improper expenses. Rutter, 39, has not been charged but the findings were forwarded to law enforcement agencies. A listed number for her was disconnected.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — A January trial has been scheduled for the mother of a baby whose lifeless body was found in an infant swing in northeast Iowa. Chickasaw County court records say 21-year-old Cheyanne Harris has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. Authorities have said the body of 4-month-old Sterling Koehn was infested with maggots when found Aug. 30 last year in the swing by deputies and medics called to his parents’ Alta Vista apartment.

The child’s father, Zachary Koehn, was convicted Nov. 6 of first-degree murder and child endangerment. He is seeking a new trial. Harris’ trial is set to begin Jan. 29 in Le Mars. The trial is being moved to Plymouth County because of pretrial publicity.