The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to hold their regular weekly meeting 9-a.m. Tuesday, at the courthouse in Atlantic. The meeting may also be accessed through Zoom. On their agenda is:

• ISAC (Iowa State Association of Counties); Re: Group Health Insurance Renewal for FY 2022.
• Access Systems representatives, who will discuss its IT & Cybersecurity support/management system.
• A request for a contract budget amendment for additional funding for the COVID Mobile Food For All program.
• The Board will also act on approving an easement across Cass County property, for access to the Lewis Wastewater lagoon.

The Supervisors will also establish an allowance rate and list of those eligible for reimbursement, with regard to the use of a personal cell phone for County business.

(Radio Iowa) – The attack on the U.S. Capitol was on the minds of lawmakers at the Iowa Capitol as the 2021 legislative session began this (Monday) morning. Senator Ken Rozenboom, a Republican from Oskaloosa, delivered the opening prayer. Opening day speeches at the Iowa legislature are typically congenial, with bipartisan cooperation as a common theme. That was not the case today (Monday). House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard of Charles City says as a 25-year Army veteran he was outraged by what happened in the U.S. Capitol.

He spent 15 months in Iraq during one of his four deployments. Prichard says Iowa lawmakers cannot turn a blind eye to what caused last week’s attack on the U.S. Capitol.

And Prichard, in opening day remarks on the House floor, named names.

Prichard also criticized Republican Representative Dean Fisher of Montour for a now-deleted Facebook post suggesting Republicans would prevail because, in Fisher’s words, “our side has the guns and the other side doesn’t know which bathroom to use.” House Republican Leader Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley, a Marine Corps veteran, spoke seconds after Prichard.

Windschitl says our state and country are going through extremely unprecedented times.

Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls of Coralville accused President Trump of undermining confidence in American elections and inciting “insurrection” in the nation’s capitol.

Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver did not respond to Wahls’ comments today (Monday). Last Thursday, Whitver condemned the violence at the U.S. Capitol.

Wahls also used his opening day speech to call for creation of an independent commission to investigate the state’s response to the pandemic.

There was an increased presence of law enforcement officers inside and outside the statehouse today (Monday). A few hundred protesters gathered inside the Capitol this (Monday) to raise their objections to mask mandates and vaccines.

NASHUA, Iowa (AP) — An historic church in the northeastern Iowa town of Nashua is getting much-needed renovations. The Courier reports that it’s been decades since the Little Brown Church in the Vale has seen any significant renovation work. On Monday, work began on the building’s foyer. Later in the spring, the church’s roof will be replaced.

https://littlebrownchurch.org/

The Little Brown Church ranks as a top Midwestern wedding destination and is U.S. landmark and tourist site. Built between 1860 and 1864, more than 76,000 couples have been married at the church, immortalized in the song, “The Church in the Wildwood.”

The Glenwood Police Department reports four arrests. On Saturday, 23-year old Kayla Yale, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her Cash or surety bond was set at $1,300. And, 54-year old Patrick McDonald, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday for Serious Assault. His cash-only bond was set at $1,000.

Last Friday, 58-year old Joseph Hofler, of Plattsmouth, NE., was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His Cash/surety bond was set at $1,300. And, 67-year old Dana Evans of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, with the cash or surety bond set at $1,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers began their legislative session, Monday (today) with no mask requirements, and many members are opting not to wear face coverings even as rates of coronavirus infections rise in the Des Moines area and much of the state. Republicans, who hold majorities in both the House and Senate, chose not to mandate masks or even require that members disclose if they have been infected by the virus.

And during opening ceremonies Monday, most Republicans didn’t wear masks while all Democrats were protected by a mask or face shield. More than 200 unmasked people opposing mask mandates protested before lawmakers began the session. They chanted “freedom” and many held signs that said “coercion is not consent,” and “mandates belong in socialist countries.”

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office Monday (today), said four people were cited following an investigation into a reported Theft. Deputies responded at around 2:08-p.m. Sunday to 1075 Sycamore Avenue, following a call about a possible theft taking place. Upon further investigation, the following individuals were cited for Trespass:

• 38-year-old Travis Wollums, 45-year-old John Neely, and 46-year-old Alisha Peckham, all of Creston.
• and, 34-year old Trisha Moffitt, of Diagonal.

The case remains under investigation. And, at around 9:10-a.m. on January 4th, Adams County Deputies arrested 45-year old Sandra Shimer, of Prescott. Shimer was arrested on an Adams County warrant for Failure to Appear. Her cash-only bond at the Adams County Jail was set at $600.

PERRY, Iowa (AP) — Police in west-central Iowa say a 14-year-old girl stole a police car, then led officers on a chase that topped 110 mph at times. Television station KCCI reports that the incident began Sunday afternoon in Coon Rapids, when the girl jumped behind the wheel of a Coon Rapids Police Department car and took off. A chase ensued, involving officers from Coon Rapids, Perry, and Dallas, Guthrie and Greene counties.

The Iowa State Patrol says officers eventually used tire-puncturing strips to disable and stop the stolen police car on Highway 141 near Perry. The girl was arrested on suspicion of first-degree theft, theft of firearms, eluding and several traffic violations.