(Update 12:45-p.m.) Atlantic Fire and Rescue and other emergency personnel were dispatched to a reported rollover accident this (Wednesday) afternoon. The single-vehicle accident, which took place on Highway 71 just south of Interstate 80, was reported a little after 12-p.m. Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren told KJAN the driver/occupant of the vehicle complained of rib pain, but their injuries did not appear to be life threatening. The Iowa State Patrol is handling the accident investigation.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports that on March 2nd, Ben Reece was extradited from Armenia back to the US (to the Taylor County Jail). Reece was charged and arrested on 3 counts of Sexual Abuse 2nd degree in December of 2016. In April of 2017 Reece was able to post bond and placed on pretrial release supervision. In October of 2017 Reece violated the terms of his release and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Reece

Reece absconded and fled the country and was later arrested in Armenia on Dec. 11th, 2017. Several agencies worked together on returning Reece to the US thru an international extradition. The Department of Justice transported Reece from Armenia back to the Iowa on March 2nd. His cash bond was set at $1-million.

Agencies assisting in locating, arrest and extradition were US Dept. of Justice, Dept. of State, US Marshalls, US Embassy in Armenia, Iowa Dept. of Public Safety Division of Intelligence, Interpol, Armenian Government and The Taylor County Attorney’s office.

Cass County 4H’ers are hosting their annual Pancake Supper and Mardi Gras Carnival events in the next few days. The Pancake Supper is on Thursday, March 8^th, from 5-7:30 P.M. at the Cass County Community Center. The cost for all you can eat pancakes, sausage, juice, and coffee, cooked by The Pancake Man is $6 for adults, and $4 for youth ages 5 and under. There will also be a silent auction featuring some items donated by local businesses, including KJAN. Shelby Van Horn is the Cass County 4-H Youth Coordinator.

The Pancake supper is used to raise money for the 4H program so that they are able to offer Scholarships for their youth participants, it keeps 4H free for their participants, and for any other expenses that they may have throughout the year to support their members.

The Mardi Gras Carnival event is on Sunday March 11^th, from 2-4 p.m. at the Cass County Community Center.

Admission is 50 cents per person, and tickets for the carnival are 10 cents each. Money from this event will contribute to fair projects, workshops, and other 4H events throughout the year. It is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to come and support your local 4H members.

The Harlan Police Department reports 52-year old Amy Jo Ross, of Harlan, was arrested Tuesday, after authorities received a call about a possible theft in the 1100 block of Willow Street. Ross was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Prohibited Acts penalties, and Possession of Drug paraphernalia. And, 26-year old Kelsey Lee Brewer, of Earling, was cited Saturday in Harlan, for Driving While Suspended, and speeding. Brewer was released at the scene.

The H-PD said also, no injuries were reported following a collision Tuesday at Highway 44 and 7th Street. Officials say a semi tractor-trailer driven by Matthew Head, of Denison, was making a right-hand turn off Highway 44 onto 7th Street from the far left lane, when the semi struck a 2016 Mazda CX 5, driven by Kari Nordby, of Harlan. The Mazda was dragged off the Highway onto 7th Street. It sustained two broken windows and damage along the entire driver’s side, as well as the rear hatch back door.

The Griswold School Board has two Special meetings planned for Thursday night. The first, a joint meeting between the Griswold and Lenox Community School District Boards of Education, begins at 8-p.m.  During their meeting, the Directors will consider entering into a closed session under Iowa Code, “For the purpose of evaluating the professional competency of a individuals whose appointment, hiring, performance or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session.” Afterward, the Boards will discuss, and possibly approve a Sharing Agreement and Individual Contract.

The second meeting begins at 10-p.m. Thursday, and is expected to be a closed session for the purpose of conducting a hearing to suspend or expel a student. The Board will consider the enrollment status of the student when they return from the closed session.

Both meetings take place in the Griswold Middle School/High School Library.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A city in southeast Iowa has won a $17 million federal grant that officials say will fund dramatic changes to its riverfront and downtown. Lawmakers announced Tuesday that Burlington was awarded the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant. The Hawk Eye reports that the grant money will fund a significant re-imagining of Burlington’s riverfront, including large boat docks, trees, planters, seating, green spaces and parking lot improvements. It’ll also upgrade two streets with bike racks, resurfacing, sidewalk expansion, planters, storm improvements and new street lights.

Burlington will use flood wall and sewer separation work as a large part of the required local match for the grant. The exact matching amount needed is unclear. The U.S. Department of Transportation has $500 million to allocate through the grant program this year.

The Certified Public Accounting firm of Gronewold, Bell, Kyhnn & Co., P.C., in Atlantic, report an audit of the financial statements for the City of Atlantic, has been completed. The Audit Covered the year that ended June 30, 2017. Copies of the Audit Report are available for inspection at the offices of the City Clerk, and the State Auditor.The report noted:

A deficiency in internal control exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent or detect and correct misstatements on a timely basis.  The City Council is aware of this lack of segregation of duties, but says it is not economically feasible for the City to employ additional personnel for this reason. The City Council will continue to act as an oversight group. The City’s response was accepted.

The report also noted disbursements during the year ended June 30, 2017 exceeded the amounts budgeted in the general government and debt service functions. A chapter of the Iowa Code states, in part, “Public monies may not be expended or encumbered except under an annual or continuing appropriation.” This appears to be due to employee oversight. Recommendation: The budget should have been amended in accordance with the Code of Iowa, before disbursements were allowed to exceed the budget.  The City responded: The budget will be amended in the future, if applicable. The response was accepted.

And, during the audit, the Auditor did not note any disbursements that did not meet the requirements of public purpose as defined in an Attorney General’s opinion dated April 25, 1979.  Also, no expenditures of City money for travel expenses of spouses of City officials and/or employees were noted. A PDF of the report can be found here: https://auditor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/audit_reports/1720-0128-C00F.pdf

A traffic stop late Tuesday night in Pottawattamie County, resulted in the arrest of a woman on an OWI charge. The Sheriff’s Office reports a Deputy stopped a car for speeding (88mph  in a 55mph zone) near Highway 6 and 400th Street, at around 11:10-p.m.  The driver, 21-year old Allison Ray-Cramer Burleigh, of Oakland, was subsequently arrested for OWI/1st offense, and transported to the Pott. County Jail.

Get ready to welcome spring by attending the 20th Anniversary of the Cass County Master Gardeners’ Spring Garden Seminar. The event is celebrating a milestone in 2018 with a new format, new location and a prominent keynote presenter. This year’s seminar, “GROW-Weaving Plants Throughout Your Life” is truly a celebration with lots of exciting changes.  Even if you are not a gardener, this seminar will get you excited for spring and help you to learn how flowers can brighten your home and your life. The event will feature J. Schwanke, a true flower celebrity, author, award winning speaker, and the most trusted voice in the flower industry.  J.Schwanke is a 4th generation florist, host and creator of “Fun with Flowers and J”, and a frequent guest on P.Allen Smith’s Garden Home.  The seminar will also welcome local celebrity baker and owner of Miss Nini’s Fine Desserts, Janine Knop.  Miss Nini will share a demonstration of a dessert created especially for this year’s garden seminar.

A new addition this year will be 80 minutes of “lightning learning” where attendees will have the opportunity to rotate between five minute demonstrations on topics such as herb candles, preserving dried flowers, pollinator plantings, Glenwood’s Giving Garden, unusual container gardens, seed bombs and garden tapes. J will also be offering copies of his award-winning books for sale throughout the event, and will be on hand during the lightning learning sessions to sign them and visit with attendees.

“GROW-Weaving Plants Throughout Your Life” will be held on Saturday, March 17th at the Cass County Community Center. Registration begins at 8:30 AM and the seminar opens at 9 AM with the keynote “How to Create Your Own Life in Bloom” by J Schwanke.  The keynote will be followed by lightening learning sessions. A catered luncheon will be served while conference-goers enjoy a dessert demonstration by Janine Knop, attendees will enjoy one of the featured desserts with their meal. A second presentation by J Schwanke entitled “Fun with Flowers” will complete the day by 3 PM.

Cost for the day, including continental breakfast, lunch and all sessions, is $35. A schedule and registration form are available at the Cass County Extension office, or online at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.  Cass County Master Gardeners are encouraging those interested to register early, as space is limited. For more information, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or email xcass@iastate.edu. Register now and plan to join the Cass County Master Gardeners for the 20th Annual Spring Garden Seminar- GROW!

Bonus Event! Want to hear more of J? Join the Cass County Libraries for a fun and enjoyable evening event with J Schwanke, Saturday evening March 17th following the Garden Seminar. A separate event from the Garden Seminar; doors will re-open to the public at 6:30 PM, and J will present at 7 PM. He will entertain with helpful tips and stories while creating beautiful floral displays. A few lucky attendees will even take an arrangement home! Event admission is a free will donation; proceeds will be used for the purchase of online resources for all Cass County Libraries. Contact your local library for more information or view a flier on the Cass County Extension website. Cass County Master Gardeners are pleased to partner with the Cass County Library Association to help them raise funds to expand their services to the local community. Master Gardeners will be on hand during the evening event for book sales and signing as well.

Officials with the Cass County Health System (CCHS) in Atlantic, report several scholarships are available to area students through CCHS and its affiliate organizations:

• Cass County Health System offers a $1,000 scholarship to southwest Iowa students pursuing a four-year degree in a health-related career. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2018.
• Cass County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary provides Grant-in-Aid scholarships for students pursuing a health-related career. The deadline is March 31, 2018.
• Cass County Health System Foundation is offering $10,000 in scholarships to students who are enrolled and have been accepted into a nursing or medical doctor educational program. The scholarships were established by a bequest from Louie and Elsie Hansen. The application deadline is April 2, 2018.

Applications are available on the Cass County Health System website, www.casshealth.org, and can be turned in to the Human Resources Office at the Cass County Hospital, or Cass County High School guidance offices by the respective deadlines mentioned. For more information, contact Sara Nelson, Director of Public Relations, 712-243-7408.