The Page County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a burglary and theft that took place at a rural property between Clarinda and Braddyville. The property owners told authorities that sometime between January 19, 2018 and January 23, 2018 unknown person(s) broke into a building at their property and stole the following items:

• 2016 Black Hull 14k 14 foot bumper hitch dump trailer
• 2016 Purple / white Yamaha 700cc Raptor ATV with nerf bars
• A Stihl MS 180C chainsaw
• Dewalt 18 volt drills (2), impact driver, and grinder

A Crimestopper’s reward is being offered for information leading to the indictment of person(s) responsible for the burglary and theft. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193 or their local Law Enforcement agency.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors held discussion for about an hour today (Wednesday), with a full crowd in attendance, with regard to a proposed ATV/UTV Ordinance. The purpose of the ordinance is to set the regulations regarding the operation of all-terrain vehicles and/or off-road utility vehicles on county roadways designated by the Cass County Board of Supervisors. It would not change the current Agricultural Exemption. Those in attendance at the meeting this (Wednesday) morning, were in favor of the Ordinance, which would allow persons not strictly in the business of farming, to use county roads and access those roads by crossing a State Highway, as necessary. It is still illegal to drive ATV’s and UTV’s on a State highway as a main route of transportation.

The Ordinance does not cover use of the machines within a city, unless allowed by local ordinances. And, there are still two more public hearings set on the matter. The next takes place Jan. 31^st at 8:35-a.m. The final vote happens after the third reading on Feb. 7^th. The Supervisors each urged the constituents in their respective districts, to call them, and voice their opinions on the issue.

Supervisors Steve Green and Frank Waters expressed some concerns that their constituents have made known to them. Those are generally with regard to safety. Green said it’s the rural residents who are mainly concerned with the small machines being seen when the farmers are operating their large combines and other big machines, during the planting and harvest seasons. 

Amendments to the existing/draft Ordinance that were made following the first public hearing, was striking the wording in Section 3 with regard to “Operation on Roadways.” The amendment would allow ATV’s and UTV’s to operate on county road “At a rate of speed greater than reasonable or proper.” The current version sets a 35-miles per hour speed limit. Another amendment would stipulate an ATV/UTV operator must be 16-years of age or greater and has a valid safety certificate.

A copy of the proposed ordinance to be established is available for inspection in the office of the Cass County Auditor and on the Cass County website, or here:Cass Co-Proposed-ATV Ord-Form1-withwatermark[5996]

If you didn’t get all the money put into your child’s College Savings Iowa plan you wanted to in the last year, you can still make donation and benefit on this year’s state tax return. The College Savings Iowa contributions used to be cut off on December 31st, but State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald says that’s no longer the case. He says the law has been changed so the deductions are handled just like an I-R-A.

Fitzgerald says you have several more weeks to make your contribution and still be able to deduct it on the 2017 tax return. “You have in Iowa until April 30th to put money in for last year’s college savings plan to get your deduction for 2017,” Fitzgerald says. All College Savings Iowa account earnings are exempt from Iowa state income tax and Iowa taxpayers can deduct up to three-thousand-329 dollars ($3,239) in contributions per student account from their adjusted gross income for 2017.

(Radio Iowa)

A traffic stop on pickup with a headlight out Tuesday evening, resulted a man’s arrest on drug charges. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says 52-year old Russell Delbert Root, of Crescent, was taken into custody at 15th and Big Lake Road, for Driving While Barred, Possession of a Controlled Substance -Meth/1st offense and Possession of Drug paraphernalia. Two grams of meth were found on Root, along with a meth pipe. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail, and booked-in.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Judges in central Iowa are using a new pretrial risk assessment tool to reduce bias and inequality when releasing individuals or setting bonds after an arrest. The Des Moines Register reports that Polk County officials began using the new assessment system last week to try decreasing the number of individuals awaiting trial in jail. The tool scores each person based on factors that help determine whether they’re likely to commit another crime or appear at their court date.

Advocates say the assessment reduces bias by not considering factors like race or gender. Advocates also argue that it will treat low-income people more fairly in a cash bail system where many are stuck in jail because they can’t afford to pay. Three other Iowa counties are piloting the program, which may expand to a statewide initiative.

The Audubon State Bank is warning businesses in the area to be on the lookout for fake U-S currency that has some distinctive features that will indicate the cash is fake. The bills have been appearing more frequently recently, in the Midwest.  The counterfeit large denomination bills may have Chinese and/or Cyrillic writing printed on the front of the note. The Counterfeit also has no watermark or security thread when held up to the light. Another type of fake bill may have the words “For motion picture use only,” stamped on the front and back of the bill.

A sample is available for viewing here: Chinese Writing on Notes – SFO[6145]

If anyone attempts to pass one of the counterfeit notes, please obtain as much information as possible about the individual(s) and contact your local Police and the U.S. Secret Service’s San Francisco Field Office (415) 576-1210.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports, that on Jan. 18th, 45-year old Patrick James Jensen, of Audubon, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree. Jensen appeared before a magistrate on Monday, and pled guilty to the charges. He was assessed a fine of slightly more than $272.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests and one accident. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says that at around 1-a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23rd, Deputies with the Page County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on Highway 71 near the intersection of 290^th Street, where a Pontiac Grand Prix was pulled over for a traffic violation. The scene is approximately three-miles north of Braddyville. During the investigation it was discovered that 20-year old Aaron Craig Whitehill, of Clarinda, was driving the vehicle with a suspended / revoked driver’s license. Whitehill brought to the Page County Jail and later released on $566.25 bond, pending future court proceedings. And, at around 3-p.m., Tuesday, Page County Deputies arrested 18-year old Melissa Jean Wiechman, of Villisca. She was taken into custody at the Pottawattamie Iowa County Jail on a Page County Warrant for Probation Violation. Wiechman was transported to the Page County Jail where she was being held on a $1,000 cash only bond.

Jonathan L. Gray

Melissa Wiechman

Aaron C. Whitehill

And, at around 7-p.m. Monday, Deputies from the Page County arrested at his residence, 36-year old Jonathan Lynn Gray, of Shenandoah, Gray was taken into custody on a Page County Warrant for Failure to appear for arraignment on original charges of Gathering where controlled substances are used and Possession of a controlled substance 2^nd offense. He was transported to the Page County Jail where he was being held on $5,000 bond.

Sheriff Palmer says an accident that occurred at around 4:20-p.m., Sunday, about six-miles west of Clarinda on Highway 2, near K Avenue. An investigation determined 20-year old Tyler William Wilson, of Clarinda, was driving a 2012 Chevy Impala eastbound on Highway 2 and approaching a bridge, when for an unknown reason, the vehicle drifted to the south side of the road and struck the guard rail of the bridge approach. The damage to the vehicle is estimated at $6,500.00. Damage to the guardrail was estimated at $4,500. Neither Wilson nor his passenger, 18-year old Selena Marie Lopez, Clarinda, were injured in the accident. Wilson was issued citations for No valid insurance (accident related), No driver’s license, and Failure to maintain control.