(Atlantic) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Friday, received a report on the status of child care facilities in the county. Discussion lasted about 35-minutes. The Board heard from Massena City Councilman and member of the Childcare Board, Jack Bissell, along with Jared Wyman, who is with the City of Griswold, and Dan Haynes, Director of the Nishna Valley YMCA, in Atlantic. Bissell started the discussion by telling the Supervisors that Massena doesn’t have as many child care providers as they used to have.

He said the City started working with the school board after a survey was sent out.

He said the school district is working on their child care facility plans.

Bissell said child care is not an “overly large money making business” for a City, but it’s something that needs to provided, “To keep the town going.” The CAM School District is expected to hold a bond vote in November. If the measure passes, construction could begin next summer, and a facility could be ready to go by the end of 2022. Board Chair Steve Baier made it clear to all three men, that American Rescue Plan funds cannot be used for Operational Expenses. They can be used for infrastructure and renovation. The County has already received the first-half payment of funds designated through ARP, for more than $1.2-million. The other half is expected in 2022.

Jared Wyman told the Supervisors they have been looking at some contracts to get a piece of ground to build a new structure and they have been raising funds for a new daycare, because the school is full, and there’ no room to run a daycare. Their goal is to somehow raise about $2-million.

He said they hope to have a budget figure done by the end of the year and they hope to start building next spring. Dan Haynes said the Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center in Atlantic is pretty much full. The Nishna Valley Family YMCA has been in charge of running the facility for the past 11-years. He said they’re making accommodations at the Y to convert some areas to child development areas for about 21-children.

Haynes told the Supervisors that if any of the American Rescue Plan funds are able to be used for any of the childcare projects, it would be greatly appreciated. Local governments must appropriate the money by the end of 2024 and spend it by the end of 2026. The Cass County Supervisors will continue meanwhile, with discussions on possible uses for the money.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says there were six arrests over the past week and one, minor-injury accident investigated. Those arrested include:

On Thursday, July 29th –

• 25-year-old Tyler Ray Osborn, of Council Bluffs, on a Cass County warrant for violation of probation. Osborn was transported to Cass County Jail where he is currently being held.
• 19-year-old Dante James Watkins, of Atlantic, on a Cass County warrant for violation of probation.  Watkins was transported to Cass County Jail where he is currently being held.
• And, 29-year-old Anthony Rey Asay, of Atlantic, for possession of a controlled substance.  Asay was transported to Cass County Jail and later released on bond.

On Monday, July 26th –

• Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 28-year-old Robert Paul Joens, of Exira, on three Cass County warrants for violation of probation.  Joens was transported to Cass County Jail where he is currently being held on bond. And,
• 31-year-old Jeffrey Scott Rowland, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for ongoing criminal conduct, theft 2nd, and unauthorized use of credit cards.  Rowland was transported to Cass County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

On July 25th, 42-year-old Anthony Ryan Karns, of Wiota, was arrested for violation of a no contact order.  Karns was transported to Cass County Jail and was later released on his own recognizance.  Karns violated the no contact order that same day after his release and was arrested again by Cass County Sheriff’s Office.  Karns posted bond the following day and was released.  Karns was arrested again on July 27 for violation of a no contact order.  Karns was later released after posting bond.

Cass County Sheriff’s officials report one person suffered minor injuries during an accident at around 2-p.m. on July 24th. Mitchell William Benes, of West Des Moines, was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries that happened during a collision at the intersection of Olive Street and Boston Road.  Authorities say Kevin Ray Anderson of Sanford, MI, was driving a 2016 Freightliner semi-tractor trailer westbound on Boston Road, and came to a stop at the intersection.

Benes was driving a 2020 Chevy Blazer was also traveling westbound on Boston Road. His vehicle failed to stop at the intersection, and struck the rear of semi.

(Radio Iowa) – COVID-19 hospitalizations in Iowa hit a record low of 46 in late June — but they have been increasing in the past month — and were reported at 158 this week. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics epidemiologist, Melanie Wellington, says she’s concerned Iowa is headed towards a surge in hospitalizations like the one in Missouri. “Community transmission is definitely on the rapid rise, and vaccination in the state remains relatively low,” according to Wellington. “And that is a recipe for a lot of people getting infected — and those who are not vaccinated at high risk for being hospitalized.”

Wellington says she’s more worried about those who are not vaccinated than she is of the threat of COVID variants.  “The vaccines are still very effective at preventing most diseases, most infections, and certainly almost all severe diseases and hospitalizations. The vaccine is still really more important than ever,” Wellington says.

The Iowa Department of Public Health says 61 percent of adult Iowans are fully vaccinated.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors visited with Liz Denney about her work at the Cass County Fair Food Stand. Liz runs the Cass County Fair Food Stand and with the help of a team of volunteers, Liz provides food for the many people attending the Fair this year.

Liz has run the food stand for 24 years and is also a member of the Cass County Fair board. Even with all the work Liz does for the Fair, she also runs her own salon, called Simply Hair. Liz says her favorite part of working with the Fair is the people, getting to see everyone, and always putting the needs of the 4-H and FFA exhibitors first.

Anne Quist, Grace Garrett, Krysta Hanson, Marcus Daugherty, Mike Cook, Donnie Drennan, Dolly Bergmann, Dr.Keith Leonard, Liz Denny, Lucas Mosier, Kelsey Beschorner, Alden Harriman, Colt Doherty, Ruth Sears. (Photo submitted)

The food stand is always looking for food donations and volunteers. The food stand is open from 6:30 A.M to 10:00 P.M. There are many events that the Fair is putting on this year, including bull riding, a king and queen contest, tractor pulls, blindfolded golf cart race, and many different animals shows.

For more information about the Cass County Fair visit their Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/CassCoFairIA

(Council Bluffs) – The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday) reports three recent arrests.

• Authorities say 37-year-old Rudolph Jashawa Lucero, of Omaha, was arrested July 29^th on warrants out of Iowa and Nebraska. In addition to being a Fugitive from Justice, Lucero was believed to be in possession of a stolen robotic lawn mower. During the investigation, the mower was recovered and Lucero was charged with Theft 3^rd.
• 37-year-old Corey Thomas Hunt, of Council Bluffs, was arrested July 29^th for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order and Contempt of Court.
• And, 30-year-old Codey Dean Dwayne Schafer turned himself-in July 29^th . He was wanted on a warrant for Violation of Probation.

A reminder from the Iowa Department of Revenue: Iowa’s Annual Sales Tax Holiday is the first Friday and Saturday of August. The annual break from sales tax is the perfect time to save on clothes, shoes, or advanced shopping for the holiday season. In general, select clothing and footwear are tax exempt – meaning no state sales tax will be collected, but there are restrictions.

Not interested in leaving the couch? Internet sales are included if they are ordered and paid for during the exemption period. Visit the Sales Tax Holiday page for full details.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Friday, approved two agreements with the Iowa Department of Transportation, with regard to funding for bridge projects. The projects and funds include $700,000 for Bridge #380 on 730th Street, about two-tenths of a mile south of White Pole Road, which Wolken said has been maintained as much as possible, but is at the point now where it needs to be replaced. Due to deck and substructure issues. And, $500,000 for Bridge #182 on 610th Street, six-tenths of a mile north of Oxford Road. Wolken said the aging bridge is currently only able to handle 18 tons, which is less than it has handled in the past. The funds come from DOT SWAP monies, with no local cost to the County.

The Board also approved a Road Use Agreement with MidAmerican Energy Company, with regard to the development of the Rolling Hills Wind Farm, during and after re-power of each wind farm. The company will provide dust control and rock necessary for the service roads. And, the Supervisors approved the end of probationary employment status and a payrate increase of $.50/hour for three Secondary Roads employees hired in April.

In other business, the Board received a Quarterly report from Cass County Conservation Director Micah Lee. And, County Engineer Trent Wolken updated the Board of Secondary Roads Dept. activities and maintenance.

DES MOINES– Gov. Kim Reynolds, Thursday, announced her appointment of James Daane as a district court judge in Judicial Election District 3B.  Daane, of Sioux City, Iowa, currently practices law with Mayne, Hindman, Daane, Parry & Wingert in Sioux City. Daane received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Dakota.

James Daane

Daane fills the vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of District Court Judge Duane E. Hoffmeyer. Judicial Election District 3B includes Crawford, Ida, Monona, Plymouth, Sioux, and Woodbury counties.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Page County arrested a man from Shenandoah, Thursday. Authorities say 38-year-old Aaron Duwayne Childs was arrested on a Page County Warrant for Violation of Probation. The original charge for the probation stems from a conviction of Receipt, Transportation, or Possession of a Firearm by a felon. Childs was taken into custody about eight-miles northeast of Essex, in the 1300 block of K Avenue, rural Page County.

Aaron Duwayne Childs

He was transported to the Page County Jail, and was being held on a $5,000 cash-only bond, pending further court proceedings.