Montgomery County Auditor Stephanie Burke, Wednesday, released the names of candidates who have submitted certified nomination papers to run for county offices during the June 7^th Primary election.  All current Republican incumbent candidates for office are running for re-election, including Auditor Stephanie Burke, Sheriff Joe Sampson, and Donna Robinson – Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, District 5.

The are two Republicans running for the Board of Supervisors District 3 seat in Montgomery County, including incumbent Bryant Amos, and challenger Mike McCunn.

Voters in Montgomery County are reminded that May 27^th is the Pre-Election Voter Registration Deadline. There is election day registration, but specific documentation must be provided. Auditor Stephanie Burke says, if possible, register BEFORE election day.

June 3^rd is the deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed to you. Those requesting ballots by mail should do send their requests as soon as possible. And, the Polls in Montgomery County will be open election day, Tuesday, June 7^th, from 7-a.m. until 9-p.m. Absentee ballots will be available after April 28^th at the Auditor’s Office, to be vottd through Monday, June 6^th.

Polling places in Montgomery County include: The Red Oak Gold Fair Building; Red Oak Fire Station; Red Oak 1^st Christian Church; Elliott Community Buildng; The Stanton Fire Department; Grant Fire Department, and Villisca Community Building.

The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office is open Monday through Friday, from 8-a.m. until 4:30-p.m.  If you have any questions about voter registration, absentee ballots, or voting, call the Auditor’s Office at 712-623-5127, or visit www.montgomerycountyiowa.com on the web,

The last day of filing for office in Cass County has come and gone, with three new candidates submitting their nomination papers by 5-p.m. Wednesday, for the June 7th Primary Election. The only Democrat to file in any of the contested races, Dana Kunze, from Griswold, filed his papers to be included on the ballot in the Cass County race for the District 4 seat on the Board of Supervisors.

As we mentioned during our newscasts Wednesday afternoon and overnight, two Republicans had also filed papers for the District 4 seat, Wednesday. Rocky Anderson and Ryan Askeland, both of Griswold, bring to six, the number of Republicans vying for the position being vacated by Chuck Rieken, of Griswold. The other candidates, as previously mentioned, include Steve Baier and Barry Moore, of Griswold, Todd Hansen, of Atlantic, and Nick Hensley, of Cumberland.

No other changes have been made to the list of Republican candidates filing for Cass County Supervisor District 1, District 5, Auditor and Sheriff. No Democrats have filed to run for any of those positions. On the ballot for the District 1 seat on the Board of Supervisors in Cass County, is Steve Green (Police Chief in Atlantic), Dave Jones (Mayor of Atlantic), and Dale Retallic. All three men are from Atlantic.

In the Cass County District 5 race for the Board of Supervisors, Republicans, J. Ford Lillard, of Wiota and Bernard Pettinger, of Anita, are challenging incumbent Republican Frank Waters, of Cumberland. Incumbent Cass County Republican Auditor Dale Sunderman will face off against his fellow Republican challenger Wendy Richter to try and retain his seat. And Cass County Republican incumbent Sheriff Darby McLaren, of Atlantic, is unopposed in his bid for re-election.

 DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a bill into law that will require law enforcement in Iowa to respond to a survey aimed at determining the number of untested rape kits around the state. Branstad signed the bill into law Wednesday. It passed with unanimous support in the House and Senate.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Sioux City Construction Office reports bridge removal work at the exit 134/Salix interchange in Woodbury County, will require the closures of south- and northbound lanes of Interstate 29 from 8-a.m. Monday, April 4th, until 5-p.m. Thursday, April 7th, weather permitting.

No injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon, in Page County. Sheriff’ Lyle Palmer says 20-year old Jennifer Leann Blackburn, of Clarinda, was traveling west on 230th near Juniper Avenue at around 1:30-p.m., when she lost control of her 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. The car slid off the road and into a ditch, where it hit a utility pole belonging to Atchison Holt Electric Company.

Damage from the crash amounted to $5,000. No charges have been filed at this time.

Authorities in Montgomery County have charged a man with Child Endangerment following an incident that took place in a vehicle late this (Wednesday) morning, near Red Oak. 21-year old Jacob W. Avery, of Imogene, was a passenger in a vehicle who was allegedly involved in an altercation in the vehicle, sometime after 11-a.m.

When deputies investigated the alleged altercation, they were told Avery had left the vehicle, but he was located a short distance away. During the investigation, it was determined that as a passenger in the vehicle, Avery allegedly rapidly applied the brakes, causing the vehicle to skid on the road, and children in the rear seat to be thrown against their restraints.

Avery was taken into custody at around 11:35-a.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail without incident. His bond was set at $2,000.

Police in Harlan report three arrests took place over the past week. On March 25th, 37-year old Daniel Grabill, of Harlan, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct after officers were called to a possible domestic situation in the 1700 block of 20^th Street.  On March 26th, 56-year old Galen Ayers, of Harlan, was arrested when officers were called to the 600 block of Spring Street for a domestic disturbance.  Ayers was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault. And, on March 29th, 20-year old Marcus Morgan was arrested when officers were called to the emergency department at Myrtue Medical Center for a female injured in a domestic dispute.  Morgan was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault.

Officials report also, a complaint was filed March 26th with the Shelby County Clerk of Court, charging Terri Davis, of Carter Lake, with violation of a No Contact Order. That same day, 32-year old Elizabeth Woodward was cited for supplying tobacco to a minor, when she sold tobacco products to a person under age. And, 29-year old Jeremy Carrier-Tischer, of Harlan, was cited for Driving Under Suspension, following a traffic stop.

In other activity, Harlan Police cited Kelsie Kleffman, of Harlan, for Failure to Obey a Stop or Yield sign. She was cited following an accident March 23rd at 5th and Victoria Streets, in Harlan. Damage from the collision with a vehicle driven by Curtis Schumacher, of Avoca, amounted to $1,400.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Supreme Court justices are struggling with legal questions in a case that asks them to restore voting rights for thousands of felons. During oral arguments Wednesday, justices seemed divided and puzzled over how to interpret an 1857 provision in the Iowa Constitution that disenfranchises those convicted of “infamous crimes.”

At stake is voting rights for 57,000 felons who’ve been disqualified from participating in Iowa elections or holding public office. The American Civil Liberties Union, NAACP and the elections commissioner of Iowa’s largest county asked the court to define infamous crimes as only those that are particularly serious and an “affront to democratic governance.” That definition would restore voting rights to most felons and potentially some inmates. But an attorney for the state argued all felonies should be considered infamous.

A traffic stop late Tuesday night in Mills County resulted in one person being arrested on a drug charge. Mills County Sheriff’s Officials say 23-year old Joshua William Bell, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody on Highway 34 at around 11:30-p.m., on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charge. His bond was set at $300.

And, at around 11:15-p.m., Tuesday, Mills County deputies arrested 39-year old Tangee Nicole Bennage, of Shenandoah,  on a Page County warrant for Theft in the 5^th degree. Bond was set at $300.