Officials with the City of Harlan say “If the current weather forecast holds of significant snow starting tonight into tomorrow, The City of Harlan is asking residents to move their vehicles to off-street parking. Please have cars off the city streets starting tonight through the entire snow event. This will assist crews in getting streets cleared as quickly and efficiently as possible. Your cooperation will help insure safe, passable streets in the interest of public safety and allow for fewer of your tax dollars to be spent on snow removal.”

After a couple of years of lowered property taxes in Atlantic, circumstances call for an increase for Fiscal Year 2019. City Administrator John Lund spoke of a .47-cent per thousand dollars taxable valuation (or, 2.87%) increase over FY 2018, when he presented the bound, one-inch thick Budget to the Atlantic City Council during their meeting, Wednesday night. He said Atlantic’s tax rate is still much lower than Denison, Harlan, Shenandoah and Red Oak, by comparison. The City ranked 11th among those of comparable size. Creston is lower, at $13.46/$1,000.

According to Lund, in 2015 Atlantic’s tax levy reached an all-time high of $18.00 per $1,000 taxable property valuation. The tax asking was lowered in each of the next two years (2016 $16.79, & 2017 $16.39). In 2018, the levy dropped to $16.39 per thousand. The 2019 proposed levy is $16.86/$1,000. The City’s FY2019 budget proposes an increase of $439,754 (or 3.06%) from the FY 2018 Budget, to $14,789,359.

Lund said he anticipates keeping the tax rate for FY2020 and 2021 unless taxable growth is really weak. He said also, Atlantic will see noticeable losses in collections based in-part on the legislature’s action on the mult-residential and residential property rollback declining, and the lack of a State backfill to offset the loss. Operating and labor costs are expected to increase over the next Fiscal Year and years to come.

An issue with the debt service also factored into the equation.

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

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The Creston Police Department reports 39-year old Demion Garrison, of Creston, was arrested today (Thursday) at around 3:45-a.m.  Garrison was taken into custody for Driving While Suspended and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $600 bond.

And, no injuries were reported after a pickup struck a concrete wall Wednesday afternoon on E. Mills Street, in Creston. Authorities say 15-year old Ayden John Filer, of Creston, was driving at 2006 GMC New Sierra C-150 pickup east on Mills Street at around 3:45-p.m., when he lost control of the vehicle, which went off the road and into the south ditch, before hitting a concrete wall. The teen was wearing his seat belt. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,000. No citations were issued.

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

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DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters in eastern Iowa say no one was hurt in an overnight fire that destroyed a Dubuque commercial building. Firefighters called to the Link Hydraulic building found the structure fully engulfed in flames when they arrived just after 4 a.m. Thursday. Firefighters called for backup from nearby fire departments to help control the blaze, as crews also battled sub-freezing temperatures and snow.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Firefighters warned motorists to use caution traveling on Highway 20 eastbound running past the business while crews were still on the scene.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Much of Iowa and Nebraska are bracing for another wintry blast overnight into the weekend, with parts of eastern Iowa already under a winter storm warning. The National Weather Service says a winter storm is expected to drop as much as 8 inches of snow in east-central Iowa, including the cities of Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Muscatine and Davenport. The weather service says snow will start falling by late Thursday afternoon, continuing throughout the day Friday. Most of Iowa is under a winter weather advisory, where 2 to 5 inches of snow is expected.

The weather service has placed most of Nebraska under a hazardous weather outlook for Thursday night into Friday, with 1 to 3 inches of snow expected, as the storm system moves southeast across the state.

A woman who apparently blacked out at the wheel, crashed her 2014 Honda Accord into the loading dock of the Creston Fareway Store, Wednesday morning. Creston Police say 74-year old Mary Jo Dorgan, of Creston, complained of pain following the crash that happened at around 11-a.m. She was transported by her husband to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston, to be checked out. Dorgan was westbound on Montgomery Street and began to turn left onto Walnut, when her car ran off the road and into the loading dock. She told police she didn’t remember what happened.

Damage to her vehicle amounted to $3,000. The report did not indicate the extent of damage, if any, to the loading dock. No citations were issued.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County arrested a couple from Corning at around 10:40-p.m., Wednesday, in connection with a case of Child Endangerment. Bradley William Herring, of Corning, was arrested on felony charges of Child Endangerment resulting in Serious Injury, and Willful Injury. Amanda Jo Herring, also of Corning, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts, and Compounding a Felony. Both charges are aggravated misdemeanors. The pair were being held in the Adams County Jail without bond, until seen by a Magistrate.

Early Wednesday morning, Adams County Deputies were dispatched to a reported vehicle in the ditch near 272nd and Highway 25. Upon further investigation, Clinton White, of Afton, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. White was also cited for Open Container, Failure to Maintain Control, and having No Insurance.

And, at around 10:20-a.m. Wednesday, a traffic stop in Adams County on Highway 25 near 272nd Street, resulted in the arrest of Christene Deason, of Mt. Ayr.  Deason was arrested for Driving Under Suspension.

Police in Red Oak, late Wednesday night, arrested a man wanted on a Felony warrant for Willful Injury causing Bodily Injury. Authorities say 24-year old Devon Ray Briggs, of Red Oak Oak, was arrested at around 10:40-p.m. in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street. Briggs was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond.