An Adair County man was arrested today (Thursday) on drug charges, following a traffic stop. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says deputies arrested 48-year old Jason Shane Steckelberg, of Fontanelle, on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, and Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp. Steckelberg also faces varying degrees of misdemeanor charges for Prohibited Acts, OWI 1^st Offense,  and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and held on $100,000 bond.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday) said no injuries were reported following a moped accident last Friday. Authorities say 53-year old Deborah Lambrecht, of Atlantic, was riding a 2005 Yamaha Zuma westbound on the Airport Road at around 5:17-p.m., when the moped lost traction on the sand-covered road, and slid onto its side. Damage to the moped was estimated at $400. Officials say Lambrecht was cited for Failure to have a Valid License.

(12-p.m. News)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State Auditor David Vaudt says he is resigning his elected position to become chairman of a national nonprofit accounting board. Vaudt, a Republican who has served as auditor since January 2003, announced Thursday he would leave the position to become chairman of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.  His new position will begin July 1.

Gov. Terry Branstad will appoint a replacement, who will serve until Vaudt’s term expires. The next election for auditor will be in November 2014.

The Shelby County Emergency Management agency says because vegetation in the county is very dry, and fires that start can spread quickly, the Fire Danger Index is being upgraded to the “Moderate” category.

Emergency Management Director Bob Seivert says several weather systems will be passing through the area over the weekend. The resulting, shifting winds, will created problems with controlled burns . Seivert advises residents and land owners to develop a burn plan, and check the weather prior to lighting any controlled burns, as well as your local fire chief.

The next, scheduled update on the Fire Danger in Shelby County will be on Monday, April 8th.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A 10-member panel of legislators could be assembled as soon as this afternoon (Thursday) to begin work on a compromise education reform plan. On Wednesday afternoon Democratic Senator Herman Quirmbach, of Ames, urged his colleagues to quickly vote to advance the legislation. “See how fast we can get the ping-pong ball bouncing so that we can get it to conference committee,” Quirmbach said.

Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, suggests it won’t be easy to strike a deal. “Although the House and Senate plans share many components that we all agree upon, there are numerous differences,” Ernst said. Aside from the policy debate, there’s a more than 100-million dollar difference in the spending levels Democrats and Republicans have proposed.

w/ Ric Hanson

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FREMONT, Neb. (AP) – Midland University in Fremont, NE, has announced it will acquire the former Dana College campus in Blair, NE, just across the Missouri River, not far from Missouri Valley.  Midland announced the plan today (Thursday), saying in a news release that its growing enrollment in the last four years has necessitated expansion of its campus.

Dana and Midland had shared Lutheran affiliations – and served as athletic rivals – in eastern Nebraska for decades before the Blair school closed its doors in 2010 following years of financial struggles and the loss of its accreditation.

More than half of Dana’s 600 students transferred to Midland, sending the Fremont school’s 2010 enrollment from 643 to 962. Midland has continued to see enrollment growth, and currently has more than 1,000 students.  Midland officials did not disclose how much it plans to bid for the Dana campus.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 3:15-a.m. today (Thursday), of a Villisca man. 74-year old Carter Levi Bennett was charged with Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree. The charge is the result of an investigation into allegations Bennett had inappropriate contact with children on different occasions. Bennett was taken into custody at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, without incident.

An investigation into his alleged activities is ongoing. Authorities say additional charges are anticipated. Bennett remained in the Montgomery County Jail early this (Thursday) morning, on $25,000 bond.