GREEN MOUNTAIN, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters in east-central Iowa say a rural church was destroyed in a fire sparked by an attempt to smoke out a wild animal that had gotten inside. Station WHO-TV reports that the Monday afternoon fire burned down the Chapel United Methodist Church near Green Mountain. Investigators say someone tried to get rid of an animal that had gotten inside the church using a smoke bomb, which started the fire.

Officials did not indicate what kind of animal had gotten inside. Fire officials say it took seven fire crews and several hours to fully extinguish the blaze. The church was first established in 1867,

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are using this week’s hearings to suggest Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett doesn’t care about access to health care. “Democrats are painting the judge as heartless and on a mission to scrap the health care law,” Grassley says. “Frankly, that’s absurd.” Grassley made his comments this (Tuesday) morning during his half-hour turn in the committee to ask Barrett questions. “Have you committed to the president or anyone else that you will vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act if confirmed to the court?” Grassley asked and Barrett responded: ‘Absolutely not. I was never asked and, if had have been, that would have been a short conversation.”

Grassley urged Barrett to consider legislative history when ruling on cases, but Barrett says legislative history cannot substitute for the actual text of a law. “That’s a matter of interpretive philosophy,” Barrett said. Grassley replied: “My position has always been that legislative history can be instructive to the intent of the statute, so judges should not completely disregard it.”

Grassley says congress can be more careful about drafting laws, but when there’s a dispute about the law, judges should pay attention to how congress drafted, debated and passed the law. Early this (Tuesday) morning during a conference call with Iowa reporters, Grassley accused Democrats of trying to stoke real fear that confirming Barrett to the Supreme Court will lead to the demise of the Affordable Care Act. “There’s no evidence ot suggest anything of the kind,” Grassley said. “In fact, legal scholars have expressed doubt that the court would strike down ObamaCare, with or without Barrett.”

The Republican-led Senate is heading toward confirming Barrett to the Supreme Court by the end of October. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear an appeal related to the Affordable Care Act on November 10th.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met in-person and electronically Tuesday morning. The Board continued discussion with regard to the proposed closing of a County roadway at 570^th Street (The I-80 underpass). County Engineer Trent Wolken said he’ll be in a meeting this Friday along with others affiliated with the Iowa County Engineers Association Executive Board.

The State has offered an incentive to Cass County in the amount of about $1.5-million dollars to close the road.

The Board, Tuesday (today) passed a Resolution to accept completion of, and make payment for, a paving project at Cold Springs State Park. The Resolution states the funds ($113,751.10) will come 50% from the Conservation Special Resource Enhancement Fund and 50% from the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) fund.

The Board heard a quarterly report from Cass County Conservation Director Micah Lee, and a regular report from Engineer Trent Wolken, who said the Secondary Roads Department is trying to get ready for Winter. He also gave an update on current projects.

He said also they hope to accomplish surfacing and repatching on Glendale Road before Winter hits, and Speed limit signs on 620^th and Lansing, and Jasper, were installed Oct. 6^th, along with the stop sign at Lansing and 525^th Street.

The Board also heard from CADCO’s Jennifer McEntaffer, with regard to two-minute video being created to highlight the County and City of Atlantic, in hopes of drawing more young professionals and businesses. Similar information was presented during last Wednesday’s City Council meeting, in Atlantic.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County report a man from Lorimor informed authorities on Oct. 9th, that sometime over the previous few days, someone cut a lock off of his garage door in Lorimor, and took a 5-HP red, 30-gallon belt drive air compressor. The loss was estimated at $50.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday (today), said 48-year old Eugene Bredberg, of Council Bluffs, was arrested early Monday morning on warrants out of Mills and Montgomery Counties. he faces charges that include two counts possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, No Valid Driver’s license; Warrant for Failure to Appear on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, and on a Montgomery County warrant for two counts of a Controlled Substance Violation. His total bond was set at $28,800.