The Harlan Police Department reports the arrest of 32-year old Ian Leib of Harlan on July 30th. Officers were called to the 300 block of Market Street for an intoxicated person that would not leave an open garage. Leib was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with Trespassing and Intoxication in public, which were enhanced due to four prior convictions.

Also on July 30th, the Harlan P-D took a report of a Troy Built weed eater that had been stolen from Renee Parrot of Harlan in the 1800 block of 7th Street. Police are following leads and the case remains under investigation.

On August 4th, Dillon Wells of Harlan reported that his 16 GB iPod had been stolen from Burger King, his place of employment. This case remains under investigation.

Police in Atlantic report the arrest on Monday of 42-year old Scott Haupert. The Atlantic man was taken into custody on a Cass County warrant for a Controlled Substance Violation. Haupert was booked into the Cass County Jail.

It’s still summer, but the Shelby County Board of Supervisors took action this (Tuesday) morning, to ensure the City of Harlan is bright and festive this winter. The Supervisors approved a $5,000 contribution from the building and grants fund, to go towards the Christmas Light Project. Officials with Shelby County, City of Harlan and Harlan Municipal Utilities are working together on the new project. The Hotel/Motel Tax Committee is also contributing as they approved a grant of $10,000 to the project.

Shelby County Auditor Marsha Carter told the board the plan is for the lights to be in tune with music. She said “There is a company out of Kansas City called Animated Lighting and actually does Christmas Lights for Disney. They go all over the nation and is working with a Council Bluffs Casino for one of their signs. They will do the Christmas lights with music. I think we have all seen that where the lights go with Christmas carols.”

The main lighting will go on the courtyard lawn on the east side of the square but Carter said lights will be over all over the square. The reason for the project is because Harlan was once known as Christmas city. Carter said “Everyone is working hard to get that name back. I remember as a kid Channel 7 would come up and film the downtown square.” The Christmas Light Project isn’t over with the one motion from the Supervisors. Carter said it will be an ongoing project with the plan to purchase an electronic tree down the road. This year and next year, the Harlan square will feature a real tree.

In other business, the Shelby County Engineer Dan Ahart discussed the recent closure of the bridge located on 1800^th Street and Highway 191. The bridge has been closed because of damage and will not be repaired. Ahart said he is working with residence in the area to figure out a new entrance for all parties involved.  According to Ahart, “Typically what we like to do is make sure the landowners and people affected are in harmony. Worst thing to do is have a public hearing where you have two separate groups, one for and another against. So what we try to do is get the harmony before the paper work. Then go through the Iowa Code to hold the meeting to hear the comments and then actions taken by the Supervisors to do that.”

So far the engineer said he hasn’t had any problems with the residents. The county will come in and obliterate the road and use the good materials from the bridge in other projects. Ahart said the project will start later this year and hopes to have the entrance created for the landowners along with the land that was county land, to be used for farm ground next year. No action was taken by the Shelby County Supervisors.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, are expected to act on a couple of matters pertaining to the Cities of Anita and Massena. During the 9-a.m. meeting at the courthouse in Atlantic, the Board will act on approving an abatement of taxes on property belonging to the City of Anita, at 501 Maple Street, and Iowa Dept. of Transportation, for three parcels in the Right of Way.

The Supervisors will also act on approving a Resolution allowing the City of Massena to exercise Urban Renewal powers, pursuant to the Code of Iowa. During the past two Board of Supervisors’ meetings, Massena Mayor Linda Reineke presented information about the City’s Capital Improvements Plan (CIP), which illustrates that it is only the approximate $3.83-million for a Sanitary Sewer Collection System Relining Project that Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) could potentially finance in six-years. The other, approximately $8.17-million worth of projects are not included.

During last week’s meeting, Auditor Dale Sunderman recommended the Board consult legal counsel before proceeding, and that a public hearing be conducted before taking action. The Board took the recommendation under advisement.

At 11-a.m., the Board will receive an Iowa Counties Information Technologies’ evaluation of the Cass County Information Technology System.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has announced plans to hold constituent meetings in 15 Iowa communities during the month of August. In the KJAN listening area, meetings will be held in Onawa, Denison, Carroll and Sac City.

On Monday, August 26th Grassley will be: In Onawa at the the Community Center, from 2:15-to 3:15-p.m.; In Denison, in the Community Room at Denison Municipal Utilities, from 4:30-to 5:30-p.m.; and in Carroll, from 6:30-to 7:30-p.m., at Charlie’s Steakhouse on U-S Highway 71 north.  And on Tuesday, August 27th, the Senator will be in Sac City, from 7:30-until 8:30-a.m., at the Law Enforcement Center (100 NE State Street).

With the scheduled meetings, Grassley will have been to every one of the state’s 99 counties this year, for meetings with Iowans. He’s held meetings in every county, every year since 1980, when he was first elected to the U-S Senate. All of the meetings are open to the public.