(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has sided with the State Auditor in a subpoena request from the University of Iowa. State Auditor Rob Sand sought information from the U-I on its plan to lease out its utility system for the next 50 years for lease payment of more than one BILLION dollars. The University and Board of Regents fought the subpoena request, saying the auditor was not engaged in a legally authorized audit.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled it does not need to decide the exact moment the request for information turned into an audit. It says the State Auditor has wide latitude to audit state agencies — and had the right in this case to subpoena the information.

(Radio Iowa) – A southern Minnesota restaurant owner who was wanted by authorities for pandemic-related violations has been arrested after hiding out in Clear Lake. Melissa Hanson is the owner of The Interchange Wine & Coffee Bistro in Albert Lea and was wanted by Minnesota authorities on outstanding warrants for failing to appear for a court hearing . Hanson is facing criminal charges in Freeborn County for allegedly opening up her business in violation of Minnesota coronavirus restrictions.

The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Department says they were working with the Albert Lea Police Department in monitoring an Airbnb location in Clear Lake, with Clear Lake police arresting her on Thursday after being seen leaving the rental property.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Five Q on Thursday April 29th, 2021. Ambassadors were introduced to new staff members and learned about the company’s services and expansions. Chad Williams, owner of Five Q introduced the two newest members of Five Q, starting with Alex Tarr, an Atlantic native that came on board two months ago and took on the role of Office Manager. He also introduced Rachel Czaja who started as an intern while attending Wheaten College in Chicago. Rachel moved to Atlantic in May 2020 and took on the role of Marketing Coordinator.

Photo courtesy the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce.

Five Q started in 2004 with the mission to help their customers multiply their digital impact through website building, design, mobile app design, Amazon Alexa skills, and 501c3 ad grant management. Five Q specializes in helping nonprofit organizations market and fundraisers. And, with their new personalization platform called “Journity,” the customer can create a digital marketing campaign in a short amount of time and get their message out on to the web faster.

Atlantic, IA — Officials with Cass County Public Health (CCPH) report the agency, and local pharmacies, still have COVID-19 vaccine appointments available for anyone age 16 and older.

·         HyVee has Pfizer vaccine for those 16 and older at their pharmacy. To sign up, go to hyvee.com/covidvaccine.

·         For residents 18 and older interested in receiving the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, please call Cass County Public Health at 712-250-8008.

More information about coronavirus in Iowa can be found at coronavirus.iowa.gov.

Police in Glenwood report the arrest today (Friday), of a Glenwood man. Authorities say 22-year-old Travis Barrett was arrested for serious Assault, and Interference with official acts. Barrett was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, until seen by magistrate judge.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors held their regular weekly meeting, Friday (today), during which the Board awarded a bid for a bridge replacement project. 

(the Bridge is #208 on Indian Creek St., over a tributary to Indian Creek, from White Pole Road, north .4 miles on the west line of S5-T75-R37.)

That’s Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken, who said the project was let through the DOT on April 20^th. There were three bids, the lowest of which ($621,942) came from A.M. Cohron, of Atlantic, and was within three percent of the Engineer’s estimate of $600,000. The other bids included: Gus Construction, Inc. (In Casey), $674,162; and Jenco Construction, Inc. (of Des Moines), $887,286).

In his report to the Board, Wolken said the Secondary Roads is still hauling contract rock in the county. There are about 140 miles worth of road to be covered this Spring. About 90-miles of Schildberg rock is hauled down, and they’re almost done applying that, and some other source of road rock.

Wolken said the Hunt Bridge had wood pilings and abutments that had deteriorated, and did not pass their rate capacity. A.M. Cohron handed the repairs and shoring-up of the deck and pilings. The work done will enable the load rating to be increased past the previous limit. The $60,000 cost of repairs was preferable he said, to a new $1-million bridge, and should be good for at least 20-to 25-years.

In other business, the Cass County Board of Supervisors approved the assignment of tax sales certificates in Section 7 of Grove Township (essentially an area adjacent to Frederickson Iron Recycling).