(Atlantic, Iowa) – The St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Outreach Team recently donated $400 to Dolly Parton’s “Imagination Library,” which is locally supported by the Cass County Library Association.  Imagination Library is open to children from birth to age 5, with no income restrictions.  Enrolled children receive an age-appropriate, high-quality book in the mail every month from the time of enrollment until their 5th birthday.

Shown are Kirk Nelson, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and Michelle Andersen, Director of the Atlantic Public Library. (Photo submitted)

For just a $25 donation, a child will receive a year of books; a $425 donation sponsors the entire Cass County program for one month.  To register a child or make a donation, contact any of the Cass County libraries in Anita, Atlantic, Cumberland, Griswold, Lewis or Massena.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday), approved the appointment of Dorene South as an assistant to Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman. Sundermen told the Board there were nine applicants for the job. South will replace Mary Anstey, who now serves as the Cass County Assessor. The Board also discussed at length, a proposal to close 570^th Street, which runs underneath Interstate 80. Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken explained the DOT’s logic, and benefit to the County, in closing 570^th.

Landowners in the area have voiced their opposition to the plan, citing the need to get to their crops and/or animals living on either side of the bridge on their land. Scott Schram said Iowa Code states while those properties must be accessible, it does not say that does means “Convenient Access.” There is also some concern over high water in the area when there are periods of excessive rain that results in flooding.

Iowa Department of Transportation District of Engineer Scott Schram, in Ankeny, said the bridge over 570^th Street is due for maintenance activity or due for replacement.

(He said they are fully prepared to replace the bridge, but wanted to see first, if the County was interested in voluntarily vacate the road way instead.)

The reason they are interested in closing 570^th, is so that I-80 can eventually be turned into six lanes (3 each direction) across the State. Putting a culvert in-place instead of a bridge, would result in a substantial cost savings for the DOT, and reduce the level of maintenance necessary, as compared to installing a new bridge. But then there’s the matter of how soon is a six-lane I-80 in that area needed?

(I-80 traffic flow show the section of road in Cass County does not necessitate the creation of six-lanes at this time, but if the County wishes to vacate it, the DOT can include the section in their long-term program.)

Iowa DOT District 4 Planner Scott Suhr said studies on 570^th Street show the traffic flow runs about 12-to 15 vehicles per day. A Public Hearing on vacating the road will be held 9-a.m. Friday, October 29^th in the Supervisor’s Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse. In other business, the Board discussed at length, being part of ISICS (the Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System), cost and funding. A public hearing on securing essential purpose bonds for the project, was previously set for Oct. 12th.

The bond amount to be proposed is still being kicked around, and is dependent on several factors, including the use of grants, what equipment should be included in the bond, and maintenance contracts. At this point, the proposal is for at least $1.75-million. Timing on passing a bond referendum is a relevant matter, due to the proposal the County has received from Motorola.

(Radio Iowa) – The body of a missing Waterloo woman has been found in the Cedar River. Waterloo police say relatives of Juana Rubio found some personal items along the riverbank near a bridge over the river Monday around 11 a-m. Waterloo Fire Rescue searched the water and recovered a woman’s body, which was then identified as Rubio’s. Rubio was last seen late Saturday evening outside of her home, which is about three blocks from where her personal items were found.

Police say the cause of Rubio’s death is pending an autopsy. They do not suspect foul play.

(Radio Iowa) – A large group of protesters is at the Iowa Capitol today (Tuesday), urging the legislature to ban pandemic-related mandates masks and vaccinations.

Speakers of the Informed Choice Iowa group say businesses should be barred from requiring workers get Covid shots. The group also opposes school district masking requirements for students and staff.

Republican legislative leaders have indicated its unlikely anything other than the redistricting plan will be up for a vote today (Tuesday).

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, says he supports reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act — but without some of the gun restrictions that won House approval this spring. “I supported enactment of the original VAWA in 1994 and have voted to reauthorize and build the program many times,” he says.

Grassley says while he’s supported expanding rights for victims over the years, include gun restrictions for accused domestic abusers is a no go for him and other Republicans. The House-passed bill would bar people with temporary restraining orders and individuals convicted of stalking from owning or possessing a gun. “There’s no disagreement on the original Violence Against Women Act. It’s when you try to get guns involved and the Second Amendment issues involved,” Grassley says. “…There’s probably four or five things that people want to stick onto this that have some relation against the Violence Against Women Act, but it brings out a lot of partisanship.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on the Violence Against Women Act this (Tuesday) morning. Grassley is the top Republican on the committee.