A Public Hearing is set to take place in Atlantic Wednesday morning, with regard to funds for a certain aspect of the ethanol plant infrastructure project. The hearing, which will be held in the Supervisor’s Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse, beginning at 8:30-a.m., is “To consider a proposal to incur non-current debt in the form of an internal advance from the general Capital Projects Fund in an amount not to exceed $300,000 for the purpose of paying economic development related costs for public infrastructure improvements to portions of Echo, Buck Creek and Glacier Roads and a graywater pipeline from the City of Atlantic to the Elite Octane site incurred prior to the issuance of general obligation bonds in the last half of 2017.”

Afterward, the Board will vote on approving a Resolution to Incur Noncurrent Debt. The Supervisors will also act on approving a Supplemental Agreement (Between Cass County and Snyder & Associates Engineers) for Additional Services pertaining to the “Elite Octane” Road Paving Project, to include turning lanes on North Olive Street (South of FSC) at the intersection with Echo Road.

The Board will also hear reports from Cass County Sanitarian Mike Stringham (Guthrie County Health Dept.), and Micha Lee, with Cass County Conservation.

The Harlan Police Department has issued a brief report on arrests. Last Friday (April 7th), 49-year old Patsy Ann Maria Nuzum, of Harlan, was arrested following a call about a disturbance in the 2100 block of Lincoln Avenue.  Nuzum was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with Public Intoxication, and Disorderly Conduct.

Last Thursday, 39-year old Kari Jean Elizabeth Nordby, of Harlan, was arrested following a call about a possible intoxicated person in the 1000 block of Chatburn Avenue.  Nordby was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with Public Intoxication.

And on Wednesday, April 5th, 47-year old Tammy J. Zuniga, of Villisca, was arrested for Theft in the 4th degree, following an investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Legislature has sent the governor a bill that would let police officers stop and ticket drivers who were texting while driving. The legislation approved Monday by the House would take effect July 1 if Gov. Terry Branstad were to sign it as expected. He’s already expressed support for tougher regulations. The Senate passed the measure last month.

The bill would allow officers to pull over drivers specifically for texting. It’s a secondary offense under current law, which means an officer must have another reason to make a traffic stop. Current law bars drivers from using cellphones or other hand-held communication devices to write, send or read text messages while driving. The bill would expand those rules to include use of social media, games and internet sites.

Police in Glenwood are asking for your help in finding a stolen vehicle. Authorities say a lavender 1996 Toyota Camry was taken from Glenwood Monday, sometime between 4-a.m. and 7:50-a.m.  The car has Iowa License plate DZX 531.  Anyone with information on the vehicle’s location, is asked to contact the Glenwood Police Dept. at 712-527-4844.

In other business, the Glenwood P-D reports 23-year old Rocky Runyon, of Glenwood, was arrested Monday on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear (in court) on a Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense, charge. His bond was set at $1,000.  And, on April 5th, 40-year old Travis Handley, of Glenwood, was arrested for possession of drug Paraphernalia, with bond set at $300 cash or surety.

Red Oak Police responding this (Tuesday) morning to a reported incident of assault and an intoxicated female, arrested 23-year old Ashley Nicole Woodman, of Red Oak. Woodman was taken into custody at around 7:15-a.m. after officers found she was very intoxicated and had allegedly assaulted a male at a residence in the 1000 block of Corning Street, in Red Oak.

As Woodman was being placed into custody, she allegedly resisted and began to fight with officers. She was brought to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault and Interference with Official Acts.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – An Omaha mortuary and its insurers have sued a Pennsylvania company, alleging that it didn’t properly rebuild a cremation machine blamed for a fire that injured four people. The Jan. 26, 2016, blaze heavily damaged the Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler funeral chapel. The lawsuit was filed last month by Heafey’s corporate entity and Cincinnati Casualty Co. and Cincinnati Indemnity Co. They seek a jury trial and at least $5.75 million from Matthews International Corp., which is based in Pittsburgh.

The bodies and cremains of deceased people that had been in the burning structure later were taken to other mortuaries owned by the company. Co-owner Bill Cutler said Tuesday that the rebuilding is expected to be completed in September.

The Iowa Transportation Commission meeting today (Tuesday) in Ames, has approved RISE Grants for Cass County and Sioux City. In Cass County, a Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) Grant of $2.119-million was approved from the county share of the RISE Fund, for a Local Development grant to assist in paving of approximately 2,022 feet of Glacier Road, 6,274 feet of Buck Creek Road, 5,431 feet of Echo Road, and turn lanes on Olive Street located north of Atlantic. The project is necessary to provide improved access to more than 205 acres for industrial purposes, or more specifically, the Elite Octane, LLC., ethanol plant project, and other ventures that may arise. The road projects are expected to be completed by July 2018.

The Transportation Commission also approved more than $3.77-million for Sioux City, from the city share of the RISE Fund, for a modified Immediate Opportunity grant. The funds will be used to assist in the construction of 7,050 feet of new roadway, turn lanes at Aviation Boulevard and Discovery Boulevard, intersection improvements on Expedition Court, and realignment of 500 feet of Gavin Street and 300 feet of Discovery Boulevard located on the southwest side of town.

Officials say the project is necessary to provide improved access to the proposed expansion of Seaboard Triumph Foods Inc., an integrated food company producing premium pork products for both domestic and international markets, to support the creation of 909 new full-time jobs and more than $322 million in associated capital investment. This project is anticipated to be completed by July 2018.

(9-a.m. News)