Home sales and prices are on the rise across the state. Over the first nine months of this year, the number of homes sold in Iowa rose 4.3 percent compared to the same period last year. The Iowa Association of Realtors also reports 3,853 homes were sold last month — a 7.5 percent increase over September 2015. The median sale price for a home in Iowa last month was $149,645. That compares to $139,900 one year ago.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, met Tuesday evening, to discuss the prospects and costs for improvements and/or possible additions to the District’s facilities. Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein said Jerry Purdy, with the Design Alliance Architect firm, was on-hand to go over the current status of the District’s buildings, with regard to space needs, and went over a scenario for construction in all of the buildings to address those needs. He also went over the cost projection for the options the Board is considering. (Click on the left side of the audio bars to listen)

Amstein says the Board needed the information to prioritize and put together a Capital Improvements Plan for the Districts. He says if the renovation option was selected, there would be several improvements made to the District’s buildings.

Snyder and Associates Engineers, who conducted the Athletic Facilities study for the District, were also at Tuesday’s meeting. They provided an overview of the various options and costs associated with the baseball/softball complex, the Trojan Bowl, the possibility of another gymnasium at the high school that would provide training rooms, additional lockers and storage space

At their next regular meeting, the Atlantic School Board will examine all the information available and try to put together a feasible plan to address the need for space, as well as how to pay for the projects.

A woman from Audubon County was arrested early this (Wednesday) morning on an outstanding warrant for Violation of Probation. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says 29-year old Ashlie Renee Kluver, of Gray, was taken into custody at around midnight, and brought to the Audubon County Jail, where she was being held on $2,000 bond.

Kluver had been placed on probation following her plea of guilty in Oct. 2015, to charges of Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense, and Child Endangerment. She’s scheduled to appear in District Court on Thursday, Nov. 10th.

A Carroll County man died, following an ATV accident Monday evening, west of Gray, in northwestern Audubon County. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says 75-year old Merlin Borkowski, of rural Manning, was transported to the Manning Hospital by Manning Rescue, where he later died from his injuries. Authorities say Borkowski was traveling west on 110th Street at around 5:20-p.m., west of Eagle Avenue, when for reasons unknown, he abruptly swerved into the north ditch. He was ejected from the 4-wheeler as it rolled over.

(Updated w/additional details 1-p.m.)

Two Creston Police Department vehicles were damaged during a pursuit late Tuesday night. The Union County Sheriff’s Office says 28-year old Creston Police Officer Samuel Abell, of Johnston, activated his SUV’s lights and sirens in an attempt to initiate a traffic stop at around 11:17-p.m., Tuesday, after the driver of a 1999 Chevy Blazer failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of Jefferson and Sumner Streets, in Creston. The driver of the Blazer, 24-year old Casey Ray Welcher, of Creston, attempted to elude the officer by taking off at a high rate of speed. The pursuit went through the southwest side of Creston before eventually heading south on High and Dry road. Officers continued to pursue the SUV, which was traveling in excess of 95-miles per hour.

The SUV turned west onto 205th Street. By that time, a Police car driven 44-year old Creston Police Officer Eric Shawler, of Creston, was also in pursuit of the Blazer.

Casey Welcher (Photo courtesy Creston P-D)

The Blazer went out of control due to Welcher’s erratic driving and high speed. The vehicle partially entered the south ditch, where Welcher over-corrected, causing the SUV to shoot across 205th Street and enter the north ditch.

When the Blazer came out of the ditch and onto the shoulder, it traveled east on 205th, in the direction of both officers’ vehicles. Officer Abell swerved to miss the Blazer, but was unable to avoid a collision. The 2017 Ford Explorer he was driving was struck on the right rear, causing the Explorer to lose control and skid into the path of the 2013 Dodge Charger being driven by Officer Shawler, who was attempting to stop to also avoid a collision with the Blazer.

The Blazer hit the Explorer again and entered the north ditch, where it came to rest. Welcher tried to flee on foot, but was apprehended minutes later. No injuries were reported. The Police Department Explorer sustained $2,500 damage. The Charger sustained $8,000 damage, while the Blazer sustained disabling damage that amunted to $500.

Welcher was arrested for: Attempted Murder; Eluding; Criminal Mischief in the 1st degree; Driving While Barred, and OWI 3rd offense. He was also cited for Failure to provide proof of insurance, failure to obey stop and yield right right of way, signs, as well as for speeding. Welcher was being held on $100,000 cash bond only, in the Union County Jail.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Pottawattamie County recently arrested three area residents on separate charges. At around 5:45-a.m., Tuesday, 19-year old Michael Christopher Edwards, of Oakland, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following an investigation into a vehicle squealing its tires near the Casey’s store. Deputies located Edwards and the vehicle, about two-miles west of Oakland. Edwards’ sister, the registered owner of the car, told authorities she did not give Edwards permission to drive the vehicle. In addition to the OWI charge, Edwards was charged with Theft in the 2nd degree and Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree.

At around 5-p.m. Tuesday, Pott. County Deputies arrested 52-year old Robert Herman Boeck, of Neola, for Aggravated Domestic Assault with injury, following an altercation with his girlfriend, in Neola. The victim suffered minor injuries during the incident.

And, at around 1:30-a.m. today (Wednesday), 26-year old Michael James Berg, of Neola, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, after a Pott. County Deputy saw the vehicle Berg was driving swerve from the shoulder to the middle of the road on Old Lincoln Highway. The Deputy tried to stop the vehicle, but Berg continued traveling north from Lime Kiln and Old Lincoln Highway, at around 40-miles per hour. Once stopped, and after questioning, Berg was taken into custody and later booked into the Pott. County Jail on the OWI charge. A preliminary breath test indicated Berg was nearly three-times over the limit for intoxication. He was also cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

U-S Senator Joni Ernst’s office reports the regional directors for the Republican from Red Oak, will be in all of Iowa’s 99 counties in the coming months to assist Iowans with problems or questions they may have about eligibility involving issues such as Social Security, Veterans’ benefits, immigration issues and other federal programs. The Senator herself will NOT be participating in the traveling office hours.

Locally, Ernst regional directors will be in the following communities:

Adair County – Wed., Nov. 16^th from 1-until 2-p.m. at the Greenfield Public Library

Adams County – Thu., Dec. 1^st, from 12:30-to 1:30-p.m. at the Corning Public Library

Audubon County – Tue., Dec. 6^th, from 10-until 11-am at the Audubon Public Library

Cass County – Thu., Dec. 1^st, from 2:30-to 3:30-p.m. at the Atlantic Public Library, Meeting Room A.

Guthrie County – Wed., Nov. 16^th, from 2:30-3:30-pm at the Guthrie County Courthouse

Montgomery County – Tue., Nov. 15^th, from 12:30-to 1:30-p.m. at the Montgomery County Extension Office, Suite 2.

Pottawattamie County – Thu., Nov. 17^th, from 3-until 4-p.m., at the Eckels Memorial Library, in Oakland.

Shelby County – Tue., Dec. 6^th, from 1-until 2-p.m. at the Harlan Public Library.

For other places, dates and times, go to: http://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/traveling-office-hours