The Adair County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday morning in Greenfield, and elected Steve Shelley as their Board Chair. They also elected Jodie Hoadley as Vice-Chair.

In other business, the Board held a Public Hearing on a Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Amendment, during which Auditor Mindy Schaefer said there were no objections. One part of the amendment pertained to County Engineer Nick Kauffman and the Adair County Secondary Roads Department.

The Board approved a Resolution amending the budget as stated, along with a related Appropriations Resolution. And, Schaefer said the Board talked about salary increases for elected officials, but ended-up tabling action on the matter until later this week.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors passed the 2017 Master Matrix Resolution, as it pertains to the construction of new livestock confinement facilities.

Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst will visit parts of southwest Iowa Saturday, during her 99 County Tour of the State. Ernst, from Red Oak, will hold a Montgomery County Town Hall Meeting beginning at 9-a.m. Saturday, at the Montgomery County Family YMCA, in Red Oak.

Later that evening, beginning at 5:30, she’ll be in Page County visiting with students at the Clarinda Academy. Prior to her stop in Clarinda, though, Ernst will be in Winterset, for a “Coffee with Joni,” which takes place at the Northside Cafe (61 E. Jefferson St.), beginning at 2:30-p.m.

DURANGO, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the names of a man killed and another injured while repairing a tractor in Dubuque County. The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office identified the dead man as 84-year-old Cletus Klein, who lived in Durango, and the injured man as his 53-year-old son, Randy Klein, also of Durango.

The accident occurred at a farm around 2 p.m. Monday. The Sheriff’s Office says the tractor slipped into gear during the repairs and ran over the two men.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County says 52-year old Robbie Allen Dohrn, of Creston, was arrested Dec. 29th at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County Warrant for probation violation.  Dohrn was being held in the Union County Jail on $4,000 bond.

The Sheriff’s office says also, three residents reported incidents of theft and/or vandalism. On Monday, a Lorimor woman told authorities someone had taken jewelry and cash from her home. The theft, which had occurred sometime over the previous 24-hours, resulted in a loss of about $615.  On Saturday, a Creston woman reported that sometime that evening, someone someone broke out the windshield of her vehicle while it was parked at the Chicken Inn, and took her purse along with a purse that belonged to another woman from Creston. Each purse was valued at $50. Damage to the vehicle windshield was estimated at $100.

And, last Friday, a man from Lorimor reported to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, that sometime since Dec. 28th, someone had entered his garage and took a Black & Decker jig saw, Snap-On tool box, and a router.  The estimated value of the stolen items was $220.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says that with the amount of snowfall possible in the next 24 hours all parts of southwest Iowa ranging from a trace to as much as 4 inches,  citizens of Clarinda are being reminded that a two inch snowfall automatically triggers a SNOW EMERGENCY in the city.

No vehicles are allowed to park on any public streets or alley ways until the snow ceases to fall and the streets have been plowed from curb to curb. Violators are subject to having their vehicle impounded and being issued a parking citation.

Free tax preparation services will be available in Shelby County for low and moderate income taxpayers as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.  For more information or to make an appointment call on or after January 9th to 712-755-3104.  Call between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. After an appointment is scheduled the taxpayer will receive a confirmation letter explaining what to bring to the appointment.

The VITA program is open to Iowa residents with adjusted gross income below $57,000.  Tax preparation services will be provided by IRS trained and certified local volunteers who utilize the Tax Slayer software to complete returns.  Most returns will be electronically filed and to speed up the refund process participants are encouraged to have a savings or bank account, although it is not required.  Taxpayers can have refunds deposited into more than one account and also purchase Series I US Savings Bonds.

Only Basic Federal, Iowa and nearby state returns will be processed.  The program does not prepare Schedules or Forms related to Business profit/loss (except Schedule C-EZ or C with business expenses under $10,000), Capital gains/losses, Farm or rental income, Employee business expenses, or Moving expenses.   A professional tax preparer should be consulted for those services.

In Shelby County the VITA program is a joint effort of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and The Iowa Center for Economic Success. The program is financially supported by the Internal Revenue Service and the Iowa Department of Human Services.  For more information about the program contact the Shelby County Extension Office at 712-755-3104.

OMAHA, Neb. (Jan. 4, 2017) — The American Red Cross has a severe winter blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for blood donors to make a donation appointment now and help save patient lives.  Hectic holiday schedules for many regular blood donors contributed to about 37,000 fewer donations in November and December than what was needed. Snowstorms and severe weather have also impacted donations. Nearly 100 blood drives were forced to cancel in December, resulting in more than 3,100 blood donations going uncollected.

Nick Gehrig, communications director, Red Cross Blood Services, says “Blood and platelet donations are critically needed in the coming days so that patients can continue to receive the lifesaving treatments they are counting on. We encourage donors to invite a family member or friend to donate with them to help meet patient needs. Right now, blood and platelet donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they are coming in.”

How to help:

Find a blood donation opportunity and schedule an appointment to donate by using the free Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross is extending hours at many donation sites for more donors to give blood or platelets. Overall, the Red Cross has added nearly 200 hours to blood donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help speed up the donation process.

Some upcoming area blood donation opportunities….

 Adair County: Orient – 1/11/2017: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Orient-Macksburg High School, 201 School Street

Audubon County: Exira – 1/16/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center, 106 N Jefferson

Cass County:  Atlantic – 1/12/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Atlantic YMCA, 1100 Maple Street; 1/17/2017: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., MAHLE, 60428 Marne Rd….Griswold -1/10/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Griswold High School, 20 Madison.

Montgomery County:  Villisca – 1/18/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 201 S. 3rd Ave

Pottawattamie County:  Council Bluffs – 1/9/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Loess Hills Chapter Donation Center, 705 North 16 Street; 1/10/2017: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Loess Hills Chapter Donation Center, 705 North 16 Street; 1/12/2017: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., AmeriStar Casino, 2200 River Road; 1/15/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Community of Christ, 140 Kanesville Blvd; 1/16/2017: 12:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Loess Hills Chapter Donation Center, 705 North 16 Street; 1/17/2017: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Loess Hills Chapter Donation Center, 705 North 16 Street.

Shelby County:  Elk Horn – 1/10/2017: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Elk Horn Lutheran Church, 4313 Main Street; Harlan – 1/17/2017: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview; Westphalia – 1/19/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Boniface Parish Center, 305 Duren St.