The Walnut City Council, Thursday evening, resumed discussion about the possible acquisition of the Walnut Community School Building. City Clerk Terri Abel said no decision was made, but the Council is moving forward with the matter. She says they will conduct a joint facility study with the school, to give an overview of the condition of the building and possible use of the building.

In February, the City was offered the chance by Walnut Superintendent Jesse Ulrich to acquire the building. At that time, a decision was then made to form a committee to decide what they want the facility to become. They also discussed the possibility of hiring a consultant or an architect to conduct a feasibility study and facility study on the building.

The Council, yesterday (Thursday) also heard about improvements being made to Veterans Memorial Park. Abel says Rick Blum was present to discuss ideas about tree planting, signage and other ways to improve the park. Abel says the Walnut City Council also approved the Fire Department’s recommendation of Justen Tooley to serve as Fire Chief for two-years, and they discussed amendments to the FY 2014-15 budgets by $1,000 in the program of Debt Service, and $10,000 in the Program of Culture and Recreation, with a Public Hearing being set for May 7th at 5-p.m. Abel says unanticipated repairs to the Library’s roof took up the majority of the amendments.

And with regard to the State Auditor’s report over concerns about Walnut’s documentation of financial reports, funds, debts so on, Abel says she has some questions about the report. She says the report was just received Thursday, so the Council had not seen it. There were comments on the report she says, that she doesn’t understand, and a call to clarify those statements is in order.

Terri reminds Walnut residents the annual Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by the Walnut Fire Department, takes place 10-a.m. Saturday in the Walnut City Park, for kids pre-school through elementary. The kids will be divided up by age group, so younger kids aren’t competing against older kids for the eggs.

A woman from Union County was arrested Thursday morning in Creston, on charges that include Public Intoxication, and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. 37-year old Crystal Huddleson, of Kent, was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $5,000 bond.

And, early this (Friday) morning, Creston Police arrested 43-year old Chad Dryden, of Creston, for OWI/1st offense, Dryden was later released on $1,000 bond.

The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A man from Union County was arrested this (Friday) morning, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say 35-year old Shane Allen Dewees, of Kent, was arrested for Driving While Suspended, with seven withdrawals in effect. He was also charged with providing False Identification information. Dewees was taken into custody at around 3:23-a.m. near mile-marker 51, on Highway 34. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

A traffic stop in Red Oak Thursday night resulted in the arrest of a passenger in the vehicle. Red Oak Police say 28-year old Lovelle Joseph Ward, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10-p.m., for Possession of drug Paraphernalia, after a K-9 detected the odor of narcotics coming from inside the vehicle. Ward was later released from the scene on a citation. The paraphernalia was seized into evidence.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A House committee has approved a bill that would keep two state mental health facilities open longer. The Appropriations Committee unanimously supported the bill Thursday. It would require the Department of Human Services to submit a transition plan to a new commission, which would have to give its approval before the facilities in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant could close.

The plan would include long-term care details for patients at the facilities. The House committee added language requiring DHS to submit the plan within 60 days of the bill becoming law. Governor Terry Branstad backs closing the facilities, saying they’re outdated. The facilities are scheduled to close within months. Some employees have already lost their jobs. The Senate approved the bill in March. It next heads to the full House.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A House committee has approved a bill that would keep two state mental health facilities open longer. The Appropriations Committee unanimously supported the bill yesterday. It would require the Department of Human Services to submit a transition plan to a new commission, which would have to give its approval before the facilities in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant could close.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former U.S. Representative Bruce Braley has left Iowa to join a law firm in Denver. Leventhal and Puga announced yesterday that Braley has moved to Colorado to work for the firm. Braley, who served four terms as a Democrat in Congress, lost a bid for Senate to Republican Joni Ernst in November. Levanthal and Puga plan to soon open an office in Iowa.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police say a shooting in Waterloo has left a young child wounded. The Waterloo Police Department responded to reports of the shooting a little before 2 p.m. yesterday. The 4-year-old boy was shot in the abdomen. He was transported to Allen Hospital in Waterloo, where he underwent surgery. The identity of the boy wasn’t immediately available.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A Davenport man has been sentenced to up to 50 years in prison for sexually abusing an 8-year-old girl in 2012 at a trailer park. The Quad-City Times reports 25-year-old Thomas E. Jenkins, a registered sex offender, was sentenced Thursday and ordered to serve at least 35 years before becoming eligible for parole.