Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says the Clarinda P-D has received several calls  from local businesses stating that an individual identifying himself as a customer service agent with MidAmerican Energy, is telling the business that their utility bill is delinquent and that immediate arrangements must be made or the utility service will be shut off. The call does show up on caller id as being placed from MidAmerican Energy.

THIS IS A SCAM. Brothers reminds business owners “MidAmerican Energy does not deal with delinquent utility accounts in this manner. If you receive a similar call, immediately hang up and do not provide any personal or financial account information.”

The Atlantic School Board met during a regular session Wednesday evening. Superintendent Mike Amstein says the Board heard from Travis Squires from Piper Jaffray, with regard to sales tax bond refinancing. Amstein says Squires proposed two options for refinancing the District’s Revenue Bonds, which are basically paid through the sales tax. One was the standard type of refinancing, which would save the District about $175,000. The other option was through Private Sale.

Squires told the Board a lot more school districts are taking advantage of that option. Amstein said based on calculations of current market rates, the district could save more than $341,000, and cut a year off of the bond payments. Amstein says the Board also discussed an Early Retirement plan. He told the Board he wasn’t optimistic about any increase next year in State Supplemental Aid, and that one of the major ways to cuts costs, is by offering an early retirement incentive.

He says they’re considering offering the same package as last year: $25,000 over three-years, paid through a third-party vendor to alleviate the tax liability for those who participate. The offer would be limited to 10, or no more than 12 teachers. The matter will be discussed further at the Board’s Work Session, later this month. Amstein says several teachers have already contacted him expressing interest. The Board Attorney suggested they adopt a Resolution stating the option would not be considered again for another three-years, if they recommend the package this year.

And, the Atlantic School Board followed-up on a previous work session, whereby talks were held about a facilities study, as it relates to the District’s instructional and athletic facilities. During their meeting Wednesday evening, the Board determined it wanted to proceed with acquiring RFP’s (Requests for Proposals), specifically with regard to the athletic facilities. He says it doesn’t commit the Board to anything. It simply gives them an idea of what a proposed study might entail, as well as the costs.

The outdoor athletic facilities being considered in the study would include the Trojan Bowl, soccer field, track and baseball/softball fields, and possibly the practice facilities.

As winter weather approaches, one of the last things Iowa motorists want to hear is the whup-whup-whup of a flat tire on their vehicle. A new study finds more than a third of all new cars being sold don’t come equipped with spare tires. Gail Weinholzer, spokeswoman for Triple-A-Iowa, says if you’ve bought a new car in the past few years, you’d better pop the trunk and see what you have.

“The first thing drivers need to do is determine what type of situation they have with a new vehicle,” Weinholzer says. “Do they have a spare tire and if so, is it properly inflated? Do they have a run-flat tire which will allow them to drive up to 50 miles before they need to address the situation. Or, do they have a tire inflator kit which is very effective but is for very limited uses.”

In 2006, only five-percent of new cars did -not- come equipped with a spare tire, but in the 2015 models, 36-percent are now only equipped with run-flat tires or inflator kits — no spares. Automakers are likely trying to save on expenses, cut weight, add trunk space and boost fuel economy with the move, but Weinholzer says eliminating spare tires could leave Iowans stuck on the roadside.

“It’s important that drivers know the situation with their vehicle and understand that they may need a tow, and that they may not be able to change the tire, obviously, if they don’t have a spare,” Weinholzer says. “One other thing to keep in mind, some of these tire inflator kits can cost up to $300 per use and only have a shelf life of four to eight years.” A Triple-A survey finds many young people may have to call up a YouTube video on their smartphones if they end up with a flat.

“The older the driver, the more likely they are to know how to change a tire,” Weinholzer says. “Ninety percent of drivers between the ages of 35 and 54 know how to change a tire, however, only one in five of the millennials, people aged 18 to 34, actually know how to change the tire.” The study also found 97-percent of men claim they know how to do the job versus 68-percent of women.

(Radio Iowa)

A woman from Minden was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital Wednesday evening, following an accident just off Exit 57 from Interstate 80. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office was notified about a vehicle in the east ditch off the I-80 exit ramp, at around 6:25-p.m.  A 2008 Nissan Sentra owned and driven by 51-year old Mary Kathleen Waltz, of Minden,  was southbound on Olive Street when Waltz lost control of the car, which struck a sign and came to rest in the ditch.

Waltz was transported to CCMH by Medivac ambulance. Scanner reports at the time indicated a medical issue may have contributed to the accident. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,500.