Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a man from Villisca was arrested Wednesday afternoon. 26-year old SeanCody Lee was arrested for Interference with Officials Acts, in connection with an incident that occurred in the 100 block of N. 2nd Avenue, in Villisca.  Lee was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

The Atlantic Police Department reports five arrests, two of which took place on Monday (2/15). Officials say 45-year old Bruce Birge, of Atlantic, was arrested for Operating under the influence. And, 18-year old Dante Watkins, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine. Watkins was cited into court and released. Birge was booked into the Cass County Jail.

Last Saturday, 26-year old Bryce Baker, of Atlantic, was arrested for Simple Assault. Baker was booked into the jail. On Feb. 10th, 41-year old Jason Cook, of Atlantic, was arrested for Harassment in the 2nd Degree. He was cited into court and released.

And, on Feb. 4th, 49-year old Binte Binios, of Atlantic, was arrested for Operating under the influence, Criminal Mischief and Driving while license suspended. He was booked into the Cass County Jail.

It’s that time of year once again, when the Iowa Beef Industry Council asks Iowans to help identify the best burger in the State. In this year’s quest, the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) are encouraging you to nominate your favorite burger, whether it’s gourmet or down-home style. Kylie Peterson, IBIC Director of Marketing and Communications, says COVID caused the 2020 contest to be delayed, with the winners announced in September, so it seems strange that it’s time to be doing it already.

This is the twelfth year the two groups are holding the annual Iowa’s Best Burger contest, which officially kicked off on February 15, 2021. The contest is more important than ever this year, because of how the restaurant industry was affected last year.

She suggests going out and trying a new restaurant by no later than March 15th, and then fill-out the online nomination form on the Iowa Beef Council’s Facebook page. You can also text your nomination by sending the word BEEF to (515)-220-2020. Complete rules for the contest are available on the web at www.iabeef.org.

Some of the rules state the burger must be 100% real beef, served in a patty form on a bun or bread product.

Restaurants can download a digital toolkit including promotional materials for the contest from IBIC’s website at www.iabeef.org to promote the contest to their customers. The promotional materials can be used in the restaurants, online, or on social media. Peterson says 10 restaurants with the most nominations will be visited by a secret panel of judges, who will determine the ultimate winner.

The 2020 winner of the contest was the Twisted Tail in BeeBeeTown. Their winning burger features a double patty, two slices of cheese and a fried egg on top. This year’s winner will be announced on May 3^rd.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department, Thursday (Today), said 22-year old Kane Allen Michael Farlow, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday afternoon. Farlow was taken into custody in the 300 block of N. Pine Street, on a Parole Violation charge. He was being held without bond in the Union County Jail.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:38 a.m. CST

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — Within days of abandoning a plan to hire a private company to establish a statewide call center to help residents arrange coronavirus vaccine appointments Iowa officials now say they have decided not to contract with Microsoft Corp. to develop a centralized online system. The surprise move was announced by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday just 10 days after she said Microsoft was chosen and would have system set up in a few weeks. Reynolds says the state is working on alternatives for a call center and online registration. As of Wednesday Iowa was in 27th place among states with about 11% of its residents having received one or more vaccine dose

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Republican-dominated Legislature is advancing a bill that would drastically rewrite state election law in a way that critics say would favor the party. The bill discussed in a Senate subcommittee hearing Wednesday would cut the mail and in-person early voting period from 29 to 18 days, after Republicans whittled it down from 40 days just four years ago. It would bar counties from mailing absentee ballot applications to voters, tightly regulate how absentee ballots can be returned and potentially cut many early voting locations. The Iowa State Association of County Auditors is warning the bill would take away local decision-making, threaten severe penalties against election workers who make mistakes and increase staffing needs.

EAGLE GROVE, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified a man killed and a suspect who was arrested in a stabbing at a northern Iowa pork processing plant. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said in a news release Wednesday that 50-year-old Wayne Smith, of Fort Dodge, was the man stabbed to death, and 26-year-old Lukouxs Brown, also of Fort Dodge, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the case. Officials say both men were employees at Prestage Foods near Eagle Grove, where the stabbing occurred early Tuesday morning. Authorities say Smith was found dead in a plant locker room. Officials say Smith and Brown knew each other, but did not have details about their relationship.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Police in Davenport say a man has been arrested on suspicion of killing his mother. The Quad-City Times reports that police were called to the PR Masonry Apartments in Davenport late Tuesday afternoon to check on the welfare of a person. Arriving officers found the body of 77-year-old Dianna Rupp inside one of the units. Police have not said how she died. Police on the scene arrested Rupp’s son, 53-year-old Andrew Rupp. He was initially charged with interference of official acts and drug possession. Police say he was later charged with first-degree murder.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday, said a man was arrested on drug charges, Tuesday. Authorities say 37-year old Jason Lee Badberg, was arrested after Deputies executed a search warrant at 707 North Chestnut Street in Avoca. Badberg was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance 3^rd Offense (Marijuana).

On Monday, 31-year old Brenda Boyerman, and 28-year old Leighanna Ruth Walker, were arrested following a traffic stop near McPherson and Highway 6 in Pott. County. Boyerman was charged with Child Endangerment, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) 1^st Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Walker was charged with Child Endangerment.

A traffic stop Sunday, in Avoca, resulted in the arrest of 60-year old Lee Jung Hoon Hansen, from Avoca. He was charged with Driving While Barred- Habitual Offender. Bond was set at $2,000.

Last Friday, 36-year old Jose Orlando Maes Jr., of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was arrested following an attempt by Council Bluffs Police to stop a vehicle at Harrah’s Casino. The driver failed to yield, resulting in a pursuit. Maes, Jr. was taken into custody for Willful Failure to Stop for Law Enforcement, and for being Fugitive from Justice. His bond was set at $6,000.

On Feb. 11th, 31-year old Matthew Mark Kurth was arrested following a traffic stop in Hancock. He was taken into custody for Driving While Barred- Habitual Offender, and on a warrant from another Iowa agency.

A public hearing was held during Wednesday evening’s meeting of the Atlantic City Council, during which there was minimal input with regard to a proposed amendment to the City’s Zoning Ordinance. The amendment would may make certain real property change from C-1 (Highway Commercial) to I-1 (light industrial), and changing the zoning maps to reflect the change. It would essentially allow Ray Armstrong to rezone his property at 1007 W. 6th Street, so as to further develop the property and use the built real estate, while remaining in compliance with zoning regulations.

Following the hearing the Council took into consideration the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission’s conclusion, that  the rezoning changes were not in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan. The Commission prefers to see development occur at the location mentioned, but does not feel rezoning is the best way to see that happen. The P&Z will reconvene March 9th to fully review the relevant definitions and regulations for both C-1 and L1, to see if changes can be made to the Zoning Ordinance that reasonably accommodates development in the area, while also protecting the rights of abutting property owners.  The City Council, for its part, held the first reading of an Ordinance pertaining to the amendment, but the matter died for lack of a motion to approve.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council set their next regular meeting as the date for a Public Hearing on the FY 2022 Maximum Property Tax Dollars for Certain Levies. City Administrator John Lund says they proposed Budget for FY 2022 totals $14,638,261, or a decrease of 11.19% ($1,844,008) from the FY 2021 Revised Estimate of $16,482,269. And he said the budget will allow for work to proceed on an addition to the Atlantic Animal Shelter, along with other priority projects.

On property tax statements where no changes in assessed or taxable value have occurred, the City will show an increase of 2.59%, not the 2.87% shown on the public notice. Lund notes that “While 2.59% is the increase in dollars generated, it is not going to be reflective of the impact on the property taxes levied against individual properties.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, passed a Resolution they passed also set the date for a public hearing on a proposal to enter into a G.O. Solid Waste Management Loan Agreement and borrow money for the same, not to exceed $90,000. The City has, for the past two-years, entered into a 28-E cost sharing agreement with other cities in the County, to pay the Landfill costs, which will be paid for through the Debt Service Levy.

(Radio Iowa) Governor Kim Reynolds says it’s time for an ethanol mandate in Iowa, to boost an industry battered by the E-P-A’s resistance to the federal ethanol production mandate.

Bills introduced in the House and Senate would require Iowa gas pumps to offer at least a 10 percent ethanol blend by 2024. There’s also a requirement that all diesel fuel sold in the state include a percentage of soybean-based biodiesel.  The plan has the support of the biofuels industry and farm groups. Iowa Farm Bureau lobbyist Matt Steinfeldt testified during an online hearing.

Gas stations, truck stops and convenience stores oppose the bill. Matt McKinney, a lobbyist for Kum N Go, says expenses for retailers to comply with the mandate will be passed along to motorists.

Dave Scott, a lobbyist for the Iowa Motor Truck Association, says semis can travel hundreds of miles before refueling and the person who pays the bills rather than the state should decide what kind of fuel to buy.

Companies that operate the pipelines and terminals oppose the bill, too, and warn facilities have to spend millions to be able to handle higher blends of biodiesel. Drew Klein, state director of Americans for Prosperity, says the bill uses regulation to manipulate the market.

Brad Wilson, general manager of Western Iowa Energy in Wall Lake, suggests the governor’s plan corrects a market imbalance.

Nick Bowdish, C-E-O of Elite Octane — an ethanol plant in Atlantic, says many petroleum marketers prevent retailers from selling ethanol and biodiesel.

The bill has cleared initial review in House AND Senate subcommittees. One senator used the phrase “fast and furious” to describe the debate between supporters and opponents of the plan.