(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Friday morning, voted unanimously to adopt an Ordinance establishing the election precincts in Cass County. Their action followed a public hearing, during which there were no comments, and the first reading of the Ordinance. The Board waived the second and third hearings before moving to adopt the Ordinance. The Board also discussed, but took no action on implementing a policy with regard to the Federal Vaccine Mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees. They held-off until the U-S Supreme Court rules on a couple of cases before them, contesting the validity of the Biden Administration’s requirement, and guidance from legal counsel.

Board Chair Steve Baier said for one thing, it’s not clear the county has 100 employees, especially considering the various paid and unpaid Boards and Commissions.

Legal counsel, Baier said, has suggested the County make a “good-faith effort to comply with the mandate, if it is upheld by the Supreme Court. Baier added, “We have a responsibility to the taxpayers not to ignore this blatantly, and set ourselves up for fines of up to $14,000 for each employee [who] is not in compliance.” Baier said there needs to be some type of exemption form for exemptions based on medical or religious reasons, and he is of the opinion exceptions should be made in those cases.

If the employee claims they are exempt due to medical reasons, Baier said, the County should refrain from asking what the condition is, because it would be in violation of HIPPA rules.

Everything comes down to what the nation’s highest court decides.

(Radio Iowa) – The wintry weather is forcing most Iowans to spend more time indoors — and with furnaces, fireplaces and space heaters running, there’s a serious risk from an odorless, colorless gas. Le Mars Fire and Rescue Chief Dave Schipper strongly recommends carbon monoxide detectors in all houses, apartments and mobile homes.  “We want everybody to have a carbon monoxide alarm or carbon monoxide detector just like a smoke detector,” Schipper says. “We want those to be placed where you can hear them. A lot of people tend to buy carbon monoxide alarms and put them in the basement, which is fine — if you can hear them. Otherwise, we want them in the sleeping area so they can awake you if there’s a problem.”

When people close up their houses because of the cold and there is little ventilation, Schipper says that’s when carbon monoxide calls to his department become common. “This time of year, we see all kinds of problems with carbon monoxide as far as furnaces that aren’t running properly, fireplaces that may be plugged or have creosote built up in them,” he says. “We have a lot of people that tend to run their cars in their garage to warm them up in the wintertime. Even if the garage door is open, that carbon monoxide is staying in the garage or pushing into the house.”

Schipper says it’s critical to take precautions since carbon monoxide is invisible and has no scent, and without a detector, there’s no way to know if it’s seeping into your house.  “That causes headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting,” the chief says. “A lot of people think they’re just getting a cold or the flu or getting sick, but really they could be having a carbon monoxide problem.”

A good C-O detector can cost as little as $15 and it could save your life.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Mills County, Friday (today), said two men were arrested Thursday on separate charges. 32-year-old Scott David Wilson, of Oakland, was arrested at the Lancaster County, NE, Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $5,000. And, 40-year-old Joseph Allen Schoeman, of Harlan, was arrested for Violation of a Custodial Order, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, Harassment in the 3rd Degree, and Driving Under Suspension.

Schoeman was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

(Griswold, Iowa) – Rather than face a possible $136,000 penalty for a potentially willful, blatant violation of the Federal Government’s Mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirement for businesses with more than 100 employees, the Griswold School Board, like many others in our area, have enacted a policy for its staff, effective Monday, January 10th. Griswold Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN News the board voted Thursday night to adopt a policy presented by the School Board Association.

He said some of the vaccination cards were collected before Christmas.

If any employee is not vaccinated as of Monday, they will be required to wear a face mask while at school, in the building and in district vehicles.

Henrichs says a District employee may request a medical or religious exemption for any or all of the three requirements (Vaccine, mask and tests) if they provide proof from their physician and/or clergy why they should be exempt. As of this writing, the case is currently before the Supreme Court. If the high court places a stay on the mandate, District Administration will re-evaluate the policy. On another note, the Griswold School Board will hold their Regular monthly meeting January 17th, which includes a public hearing that follows a presentation on the 2022-23 School Calendar.

Henrichs says the calendar is very similar to the 2021-22 school year.

ALTOONA, Iowa (Via KCCI) — Authorities in central Iowa are investigating a phone-in threat against the Southeast Polk School Board. The incident happened during Thursday night’s Board meeting in Altoon. Altoona police evacuated and searched the district office after the threat was called in. Specifics regarding the nature of the threat were not revealed.

School board member Whitney Smith-McIntosh posted on Facebook that the board members were escorted out of the meeting about an hour into it. Authorities report nothing was found, and that they believe they have identified the caller.

(Waterloo, Iowa/KCCI)— An 18-year-old in eastern Iowa got a new set of wheels and a speeding ticket to match, according to the Iowa State Patrol. Authorities say a state trooper pulled the young man over on Highway 218 a little after 5-p.m. for traveling as fast as 133 miles per hour, in a 60 mile per hour zone.

The incident happened Thursday afternoon on Highway 218 near Waterloo. The unnamed driver now faces a $515 fine and a reckless driving charge. In its social media post, the Patrol said “It’s a New Year folks, please slow down!”