A Council Bluffs man originally charged with two felony counts of Attempted Murder and one count of 1st-degree Arson, has instead plead guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree arson in connection with a Nov. 21st, 2013 fire at his home. 21-year old Jacob Rolfe admitted to setting the blaze while his mother and 12-year-old brother still inside the home. According to the Daily NonPareil, Rolfe’s plea Monday in Council Bluffs District Court comes with a deferred judgment and supervised probation. The 21-year-old is currently serving a 60-day sentence for two counts of assault related to the incident, with his release set for mid-March.

In court, Jacob Rolfe’s attorney, Eric Nelson, in asking for the deferred judgement on the arson charge, noted his client had no prior brushes with the law, not even a traffic ticket. Judge Kathleen Kilnoski told Jacob Rolfe he must undergo substance abuse and mental health evaluations as part of a plea deal and must adhere to any recommendations for treatment that come from those evaluations. The judge told Rolfe he must spend a total of 40 hours engaged in a combination of time at work, at school (he attends Iowa Western Community College), or treatment. If the man doesn’t meet the terms of his probation, he will be sent to prison on the arson charge.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Ames police are investigating a series of reports in which a man randomly punched people in the face and ran to a waiting getaway car. KCCI TV says two assaults were reported on February 16th and another Saturday night.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Frontier Airlines says it will resume flights into the Sioux City airport beginning this summer. The Sioux City Journal reports Frontier in June will begin flights three days a week between Sioux City and Denver. Frontier will become the second carrier at Sioux Gateway Airport, joining American Airlines. The new flights will use 138-seat Airbus 319 jets.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The cat room at the Iowa City animal shelter is open again for visitors looking to adopt and for new cats needing a home. The Iowa City Press Citizen reports the cat area of the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center has been closed for two weeks after an outbreak of a virus that can be fatal to cats was discovered.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa coach Fran McCaffery has instructed the Hawkeyes to shut down their Twitter accounts for the rest of the season after senior Zach McCabe exchanged barbs with detractors on the social media service. McCabe air-balled a 3-pointer that could have tied the game with 16 seconds left against Wisconsin on Saturday. The 20th-ranked Hawkeyes went on to lose 79-74.

For the second year members of the private sector (business & industry) in Adair & Guthrie Counties are joining with the public sector (city and county governments) to support the budget needs of the Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management Programs.

Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator, Robert Kempf states, “Emergency Preparedness is not just the responsibility of our local governments. Emergency Management and Preparedness are a team sport; everyone has a part to play. The participation by the private sector is critical to accomplishing our planning and response goals and objectives.”

“We have large areas in our counties that are not covered by storm sirens, our emergency notification system provide timely and address specific weather warning information to residents that have signed up” said Kempf. Officials can also send out emergency information based on geographical location about evacuations & shelter in place incidents, drinking water issues and resource needs during a major disaster. Individuals and Businesses can sign up landline phones, cell phones, text messaging and email addresses as ways to receive emergency information.

The agencies maintain a Hazardous Materials Response Contract to help provide response information and assistance to emergency responders and industry in the case of a chemical spill or leak. “Our emergency services cannot afford the equipment and training required to maintain a local hazardous materials team. Our contract with the Council Bluffs Fire Department allows our first responders 24/7 access to the information and expertise that might be needed for this type of incident’ said Kempf

These four contracts account for just part, about twenty percent, of the preparedness and response costs of the two agencies. These contract programs not only benefit our citizens but also our governments and the private sector. Monies from the sponsor program and taxation monies from the towns in and counties of Adair & Guthrie are used to fund the budgets of the two agencies.

The Sponsorship Program includes four support levels: Bronze up to $100.00, Silver $101.00 to $250.00, Gold $251.00 to $500.00 and Platinum $501.00 and over.

As of January 20th the 2014 Sponsors included Adair Feed & Grain of Adair, 21st Century Coop of Fontanelle & Greenfield, Guthrie County State Bank of Guthrie Center & Panora and Union State Bank of Bridgewater & Greenfield as Bronze Sponsors; West Central Coop of Adair, Casey & Guthrie Center as a Silver Sponsor; First National Bank of Fontanelle & Greenfield as a Gold Sponsor and Lake Panorama Association of Panora as a Platinum Sponsor.

Any businesses, industry or groups in Adair & Guthrie Counties that would like to learn more about the program or become a sponsor can contact Kempf at 641-332-3030 or gcema@hotmail.com.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Pets would be better protected in domestic abuse cases under a bill approved by the Iowa Senate. The Senate unanimously voted Monday to approve the measure that would allow the inclusion of pets in domestic abuse protective orders. By including pets in such orders, the hope is that victims would be more likely to escape an abusive situation without the fear that a family pet would be abused as a result. The legislation now goes to the House.

Democratic Sen. Janet Petersen, who sponsored the bill, says the bill would protect pets while also encouraging domestic abuse victims to leave dangerous situations more quickly.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports the first day for Democratic and Republican candidates for county offices to file nomination papers in the office of the Cass County Auditor is Monday, March 3, 2014. Last day to file is Wednesday, March 26, 2014.

Nomination papers may be circulated prior to first date for filing as well as during the filing period. Nomination papers and candidate information are available at the office of the county auditor and from the IOWA Secretary of State: www.sos.state.ia.us.

The county positions to appear on the Cass County ballot for the 2014 PRIMARY ELECTION are: District 2 County Supervisor; District 3 County Supervisor; County Attorney; County Recorder; County Treasurer

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale Sunderman, Cass Co. Auditor, Courthouse 5 W 7th St, Atlantic, IA 50022; Phone: 712-243-4570 and Fax: 712-243-4572. Email:auditor@casscoia.us

List of person currently serving in those positions: Treasurer (incumbent: Tracey Marshall, Republican); Recorder (incumbent: Joyce Jensen, Republican); Attorney (incumbent: Daniel Feistner, Republican); *District 2 Supervisor (incumbent: Gaylord Schelling, Republican); **District 3 Supervisor (incumbent: Mark Wedemeyer, Republican).

SUPERVISOR DISTRICTS OF CASS COUNTY

Supervisors in Cass County are nominated from and elected by the residents of the specific supervisor district. Supervisor District 2 is comprised of Atlantic Second Ward and Atlantic Third Ward. Supervisor District 3 is comprised of Atlantic Fourth Ward and Atlantic Fifth Ward. Ward maps are available at the office of the county auditor and at the office of the Atlantic city clerk.

In an update to a story we first told you about Friday evening on kjan.com., Police in Harlan report one-person was injured and transported to Myrtue Medical Center, after crashing their vehicle into the Harlan Fire Department’s building. 61-year old Randall Lee Musich, of Harlan, was traveling eastbound on Cyclone Avenue in Harlan on Friday around 11:10-a.m., when his 2003 Ford Ranger crossed the centerline of the roadway.

The truck continued across the road past the sidewalk on the north side of Cyclone and continued along the tennis courts and ran over a stop sign. The Ranger then crossed an intersection and through the fire hall parking lot before striking a concrete pillar beside a door. The vehicle rolled and came to stop a in the Harlan Fire Department’s driveway.

Musich was transported by Medivac to the hospital for treatment. The Harlan Police Department was assisted by the Harlan Fire Department and Medivac Ambulance. No citations were issued in the accident.