(Atlantic, Iowa) – UPDATED: In a meeting that lasted just under an hour, Thursday, the Cass County Conference Board, made up of representatives from County Schools, Mayors and Supervisors, approved the appointment of an Assessor to fill a vacancy, and the restructuring of the Assessor’s Office. Board Chair Steve Baier said with regard to restructuring the Assessors Office, there are other services that are better suited to conducting field appraisals.

That includes Eagleview Pictometry, and a contract with Vanguard appraisals. The County has used Vanguard appraisals several times.

The Board voted in a majority, to restructure the Assessor’s Office, by releasing two Field Appraisers (Tom Williams and Rich Tupper), from their contract, and contract with the aforementioned Vanguard to perform those services. And, Baier said the Conference Board had two highly qualified candidates to chose from, with regard to the hiring of an Assessor.

The Board unanimously voted to appoint former Deputy Assessor Mary Anstey to fill the remainder of a six-year term created by the resignation of Brenda Nelson, last May.  Anstey, who works as a Deputy Auditor for the Cass County Auditor’s Office, had previously served as Deputy Assessor from Oct. 1999 to April 2013.

Conference Board Chair Steve Baier said Anstey has agreed to be paid – on a pro-rated basis for the 10 months remaining in the fiscal year – the salary of her predecessor. She will also help to train whomever takes over her position in the Auditor’s Office. And that she would volunteer to help the Auditor’s Office through the next election cycle. She takes over her new title/position on Sept. 1st.

Anstey was given the authority to hire a Deputy Assessor with the approval of the Conference Board.

A spokesman for the Kimballton Fire Department, Thursday evening, said the Power Outage issue in Kimballton has been resolved. The situation began Wednesday morning, leaving some areas of town in a “Brown Out.” According to Public Information Officer Vernon Schwarte, “With a ton of hard work and dedication, and countless hours from City of Kimballton staff, Fire Chief, volunteers, and too many to name, the power issue has been fixed.  In the process we had assistance from Audubon County Emergency Management, NIPCO, MRES, City of Atlantic Utilities, and many more.

“What the issue was in the end was a blown fuse in a transformer that could not be seen, found, and was very difficult to track down due to not acting like a normal fuse issue.” Schwarte said “Basically, pieces of the blown fuse fell into the lower parts of the cabinet and on normal visual and test means, could not be seen.  This  remedy in the end is considered awesome news for the City, as we were  fearing a main transformer issue that would have been weeks or months to get fully taken care of and back up and running.  The result, we are  good to go. ”

He added, “Thank you for your patience and understanding while the process of elimination was taking place.”

(Radio Iowa) – One of two inmates charged with killing two Anamosa prison employees in March has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. Thomas Woodard had pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of a prison guard and a nurse, along with kidnapping another prison employee and attempting to kill another inmate.

Sara McFarland, the wife of correctional officer Robert McFarland, was first to deliver a victim impact statement before the sentencing. “On March 23, you took my world, my heart from me…I miss him holding my hand so much,” she said. McFarland says her husband was able to call for help as he was being attacked and died a hero.

“‘The fact that you hit him with a hammer like you could have cared less about him makes me more angry than I have ever been in my life,” she said. “I have never hated anyone like I hate you and, to be quite honest, I hope you rot in hell for what you took from us all.” Cathie McFarland, the slain officer’s mother, says she’s going through the worst nightmare a parent can go through.

“When I wake up, the reality hits me,” she said. “…My baby boy is gone forever because you chose to take his life.” Stephanie Schulte, the mother of prison nurse Lorena Schulte, faced the judge as she read a statement rather than face the man who had killed her daughter. Gretchen Price, one of Schulte’s sister’s, says her baby boy was only 17 days old when Lorena was killed, but her three daughters often spent time with their aunt and every day Price wonders who in the family will be triggered by a memory.

“Weeks of crying on and off all day, nightmares, screaming in the night while they grieve her loss,” she said. “This is our current reality.” The prison employee who was held hostage during the break-out attempt submitted a written statement to the court. Woodard declined to make a statement before his sentencing. He’s scheduled for transfer to a Nebraska prison.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 47-year-old Heath Allen McClarnon, of rural Clarinda, was arrested Thursday (8/26) in Clarinda, on a Page County Warrant for Theft 2nd Degree and Conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony. Clarinda Police Department assisted in his arrest.

McClarnon was transported to the Page County Jail where he is being held on $5000 bond, pending further court proceedings. McClarnon’s charges stem from a complaint filed by United Electric Cooperative in regards to theft of services at McClarnon’s residence in rural Page County.

McClarnon

The investigation was conducted by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports three candidates filed their nomination papers for the Nov. 2nd Cumberland City Elections, Thursday. Incumbents Mike Hill and Darrin Hardisty, of Cumberland, are running for the City Council in Cumberland, where there are three seats on the ballot. And, Nancy Virginia Coughlin is running for re-election as Mayor, in Cumberland. She has served as Mayor since 2010.

As of Thursday, the following candidates have filed to run for other offices in Cass County:

Mayor of Atlantic:

Current Councilpersons Pat McCurdy, Grace Garrett and Kathy Somers.

Atlantic City Council, 5th Ward:

Dick Casady (Incumbent)

Mayor of Anita (to fill a vacancy):

John Knutson.

City of Atlantic Parks and Recreation Board:

Shirley Jensen.

Nomination papers may be filed with the Cass County Auditors Office until 5-p.m., Sept. 16th.

The Mayor of Audubon, Thursday, said a Water Emergency that was set to expire September 1st, has instead been extended until October 1st. At that time, the situation will be reevaluated.

The City reminds its citizens that these actions involving the use of water, are not allowed during the Water Emergency:

• Watering Yards. The sprinkling, watering or irrigating of shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, ground cover, plants, vines, gardens, vegetables, flowers, or any other vegetation.
• Washing Mobile Equipment. The washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers, trailer-houses, railroad cars, or any other type of mobile equipment.
• Outdoor Cleaning Services. The washing of sidewalks, driveways, filling station aprons, porches, and other outdoor services.
• The Cleaning of Buildings. The washing of the outside of the dwellings; the washing of the inside and outside of office buildings.
• Cleaning Equipment and Machinery. The washing and cleaning of any business or industrial equipment and machinery.
• Ornamental Fountains. The operation of any ornamental fountain or other structure making a similar use of water.
• Swimming Pools. The filling of swimming and wading pools not employing a filter and recirculating system.
• Fire Hydrants. The use of water from fire hydrants for any purpose other than fire suppression or other public emergency.
• Escape through Defective Plumbing. The escape of water through defective plumbing, which shall mean the knowing permission for defective plumbing to remain out of repair.
• Restaurants. The serving of drinking water in restaurants, cafeterias, or other food establishments unless requested by the individual.

Penalties for violations will be $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense, and $300 for third and subsequent offenses.