The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Friday, said two Council Bluffs men were arrested Thursday afternoon on warrants. 34-year-old Clayton Shane Clark was arrested in Sarpy County, NE, on two warrants for Domestic Abuse Assault (No Bond), and Violation of Probation ($10,000 bond). And, 25-year-old Devin Brandon Jackson was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on two warrants for Violation of Probation, with bond set at $40,000. Both men were taken into custody at around 4:30-p.m.

(Radio Iowa – There’s been a nearly six percent increase in state tax receipts in the past five months compared to the same period a year ago. Jeff Robinson of the Legislative Services Agency provides a monthly report to lawmakers. “Gains in sales and use tax as well as corporate income tax remain significant,” Robinson says, “while individual income tax growth for the year has been flat.” Corporate income tax payments to the state rose more than 19 percent from July 1st through the end of November. State sales tax collections were up two-and-a-half percent during the period.

“Federal economic stimulus and direct payments continue to support consumer spending,” Robinson says, “while Iowa and national employment levels remain well below pre-pandemic levels.” The Legislative Services Agency estimates nine-point-three BILLION dollars additional federal funding flowed into Iowa through enhanced unemployment benefits, loans and other pandemic-related spending approved during the Trump and Biden Administrations. A three-member panel of financial experts will meet on December 13th to review state tax receipts and give Iowa lawmakers a new estimate of total state tax revenue.

(Radio Iowa) The National Climate Prediction Center is issuing a La Nina advisory, indicating Iowa’s winter weather -will- be influenced by the cooling surface of the southern Pacific Ocean. Doug Kluck, the Central Region’s climate service director at the National Weather Service, says this La Nina pattern is predicted to be fairly weak.There is the potential for it to edge up into the strong category,” Kluck says. “One of the things that’s different about this year as opposed to last year is that the atmosphere and the ocean, in the equatorial Pacific, are interacting together — as you would think they should — very well in a La Nina year.” Kluck, who’s based in Kansas City, says forecasters are hoping the La Nina follows its predicted path.

“From a prediction point of view, that’s good because you rely more on that than influencing North America at some point in the future,” he says. While there are some indications the La Nina may gain strength during the approaching winter, Kluck says it’s still unclear how strong it may get.

“We try to put labels, we try to quantify strength of La Nina and El Nino all the time,” Kluck says. “If we could put 100% of prediction into La Nina, that’s the way it would look, more or less, across the U.S.” The winter prediction calls for near-normal temperatures and precipitation across the northern plains, with a chance of colder conditions and more snow in February and March.

(Radio Iowa) – The two southeast Iowa teenagers charged with killing an educator likely will not be released on bail before trial. Judge Joel Yates has denied the request of two Fairfield teens accused in the November 2nd murder of Nohema Graber, the Fairfield High Spanish teacher. Willard Miller and Jeremy Goodale, both 16, asked that their $1 million bond be reduced due to their age and lack of criminal history.

The two teens remain in the Jefferson County Jail. A trial date of April 19th has been set in the case.

(Pacific Junction) — Authorities in Mills County report two people suffered minor injuries and were transported to the hospital following the derailment of a freight train this (Friday) morning, near Pacific Junction. According to reports, emergency responders received a call around 7:05 a.m., about a train derailment just south of Pacific Junction near Keg Creek/Interstate-29. An official with the railway says an empty coal train rear-ended a mixed freight train.

At least 16 cars derailed, along with both locomotives. Railcars believed to be carrying ethanol, remained on the tracks. The accident remains under investigation by Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

Mills County EMA Drone pictures via the Mills County EMA Facebook page

Emergency personnel from Oak Township, Silver City, Pacific Junction, Glenwood, Mills County Deputies, the Iowa State Patrol, and railway security assisted at the scene.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Community 1st Credit Union on Thursday, December 2nd, 2021, for a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Nishna Valley Credit Union in Atlantic merged with Community 1st of Ottumwa early this fall, and the merge was brought on when both simultaneously reached out to one another about the idea. Nishna Valley Credit Union was looking to advance their services and technology but were finding that due to their size they were not able to fund these changes. Tim Marcsisak and the Nishna Valley Credit Union Board of Directors began to research other credit unions to partner with and found Community 1st would align with their mission and goals.

Community 1st Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution that prides themselves in helping people and reach their financial goals by offering the lowest interest & borrowing rates while also providing the highest saves rates. Greg Hanshaw, President and CEO or Community First, shared that the organization is passionate about rooting themselves in small communities such as Atlantic and providing a personalized services to their customers while also giving back to the community.

To learn more about Community 1st Credit Union and the services they provide, please contact 712-243-6645 or visit that their website at https://www.c1stcreditunion.com/locations/atlantic-/

Community 1st Credit Union is located at 200 Maple Street in Atlantic.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Iowa Western Community College on Thursday, December 1st, 2021. Ambassadors were introduced to Cindy Wetterlind as the new Center Director, along with other new staff. The Ambassadors also learned about a project in which students partnered with Akin Building Center.

Cindy has worked with IWCC for 15 years in a case management program in which she would visit business officials as a company was going out of business. Cindy would offer the staff scholarships and continuing education opportunities through Iowa Western that would allow the staff to acquire new skills to get new jobs. After the program ended, Cindy spent a few months in another position, but applied for the Director position here after learning former Director Ann Pross retired in the summer of this year.

Among the new staff are two part time secretaries, Nancy Gilleland and Grace Kopp, and a new English Comprehension professor Dianna Blake, and Ray McCalla, Psychology and Religion & Ethics professor, also started working full time at the center this summer. The Ambassadors learned about a project led by Brian Church and his students in the Design Technology Department. With the pandemic in 2020 many students were unable to obtain an internship.

The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors visited the IWCC Cass County Center on Wednesday to welcome new staff and learn about a project to build new tables for the student center.

Brian tasked the students with a design project and the group decided to create wooden tables for the Student Center. The students approached Akin Building Center about partnering on the project, in which Akins donated many of the items used in the project.

Iowa Western has multiple locations throughout southwest Iowa, and the Cass County location has seen a great increase in enrollment which has allowed for more growth and opportunities at the center.

To learn more about Iowa Western, please contact 712-325-3200 or visit that their website at https://www.iwcc.edu/cass/

Iowa Western-Cass County is located at 705 Walnut Street in Atlantic.