The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), approved an Ordinance with regard to the operation of All-Terrain Vehicles and Utility-Terrain Vehicles (ATV’s & UTV’s), on designated County roads. The Ordinance goes into effect as soon as it’s published in the local paper, which is expected to take place Thursday. During the meeting, the issue of turn signals resurfaced, with Supervisor Steve Green mentioning the constituents in his District still expressed concerns over safety. Green said they were worried hand signals wouldn’t be as effective than turn signals in determining the ATV/UTV operator’s intentions, and wouldn’t be seen until it was took late.

Dennis Murphy, with Nishna Valley Cycle, said turn signals could be added to the machines, but it was also pointed out the cost of the signals and installation could run anywhere from $200-to $300 or higher. After the hearing was closed, the Supervisors approved the Ordinance as drafted, and then discussed a little more the issue of turn signals. In the end though, they declined to include the devices in the Ordinance. Supervisor Steve Green then had only final comment for those in attendance, and anyone riding an ATV or UTV…He implored them to “Please be careful out there, guys.”

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors approved a partial project payment of $153,424 to Crow River Construction, for work completed on the gray water transmission line to the ethanol plant under construction. Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm said the line is nearly complete, with just a 100-foot section to be installed. That will be done when there’s warmer weather.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Mason City man has been sentenced to up to 50 years in prison after his conviction of killing a woman who was hit by a bullet he fired through his apartment door. A judge Tuesday sentenced 61-year-old Larry Whaley, who was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Samantha Teeter.

Whaley has said he fired into the door Dec. 2, 2016, because he believed two people he knew were breaking into his apartment, including one who Whaley said he felt threatened by the week before the shooting. Whaley said Teeter was not one of those two people and that her death was an accident.

State law requires Whaley to serve at least 35 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State lawyers representing Gov. Kim Reynolds say lawmakers lack the legal standing to bring a lawsuit challenging her use of a reserve fund to plug a budget hole. Assistant attorneys general defending Reynolds and Department of Management Director David Roederer asked a judge Monday to dismiss the lawsuit, which alleges the two illegally transferred $13 million from the State Economic Emergency Fund in September. A hearing is set for next month.

Democratic representatives contend in the lawsuit that the fund is intended to cover unexpected drops in revenue and that the legal conditions weren’t met for the Republican governor to use it. Reynolds’ lawyers argued that lawmakers lack standing because they haven’t demonstrated “a personal interest at stake or an injury that is more than abstract.”

Lawmakers’ attorney Gary Dickey says it’s disappointing that Reynolds would “attempt to hide behind procedural technicalities” after her office called the lawsuit politically motivated.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two accidents occurred during Monday’s snow storm (Other than the fatal accident covered by the Iowa State Patrol). At around 11:30-a.m., a single-vehicle accident occurred on westbound Interstate 80. Officials say a 2008 Toyota Highlander owned and driven by 49-year old Long Ngoc Nguyen, of Des Moines, was westbound on I-80 when the driver lost control of the vehicle on the snow, entering the north ditch and striking a tree. Nguyen was transported to CCMH via Medivac. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $8,000.

And, just before Noon, Monday, a two-vehicle accident happened on eastbound I-80. A 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 22-year old Johnnie M. Wilson, of Omaha, was eastbound on I-80 when the driver braked for slowing traffic in front of him. A 2011 Chevy Impala owned and driven by 23-year old Charles Scott Rettey, of Des Moines, attempted to pass Wilson’s vehicle and came into contact with the rear driver’s side of Wilson’s vehicle. Both vehicles began to spin on the slick road and ended up in the median. No injuries were reported. Damage to Wilson’s vehicle is estimated at $4,500; damage to Rettey’s vehicle is estimated at $5,000.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on February 1st, of 34-year old Christopher Leon Bomer, of Atlantic, on a Felony charge of Possession of Marjiuana 3^rd or Subsequent Offense, and a serious misdemeanor OWI 1^st Offense charge. Bomer was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released later that day on $5,000 bond. On February 2nd, Deputies arrested 31-year old Ashley Chantelle Nicole Hetterich, of Denison, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Hetterich was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $15,000 bond.

On February 6th, Cass County Deputies arrested 18-year old Colin Edward Peterson, of Atlantic, on an Atlantic Police Department Felony warrant for Theft 2^nd Degree. Peterson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond. That same day, 53-year old Randall Joe Conry, of Atlantic, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Conry was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $50,000 bond.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports a Page County Sheriff’s Deputy was injured during an assault at the jail, Tuesday. The Deputy suffered a fracture in the nasal cavity area of his face, and was treated at the Clarinda Regional Health Center’s Emergency Department. The Deputy was released from the hospital and has since returned to duty. The incident began a little after 1-a.m. Tuesday, when Clarinda Police Officers & Page County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to investigate an assault that had occurred at 506 E. Tarkio St.

After responding, officers and deputies arrested 26-year old Michael Ryan Weeden, of Clarinda for assault resulting in bodily injury to a seventeen-year-old male juvenile at the residence. The juvenile did not require medical treatment. While being booked into the Page County Jail, Weeden struck a Page County Sheriff’s Deputy in the face with a closed fist. Weeden has additionally been charged with assault on a peace officer resulting in bodily injury and resisting arrest resulting in bodily injury. Weeden is currently being held at the Page County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Police reports concerning these incidents have been submitted to the offices of Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen for review regarding the filing of formal charges.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Voters in the Glenwood Community School District, Tuesday, approved passage of a 10-year Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) that will generate about $3.7-million for a long list of renovations to the complex, including a new track surface, a press box, bleachers, locker rooms, concession stands, ADA compliant restrooms and a parking lot. Unofficial results from the Mills County Auditor’s Office show the physical plant and equipment levy referendum passed 969-to-838 (or, 53.62 percent-to-46.38 percent).

The levy amounts to 85-cents per thousand dollars property valuation. Voters rejected the first referendum on the issue last April by a super majority. Tuesday’s PPEL referendum passed on a simple majority.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Voters in two Des Moines suburbs have approved bond measures to build new schools. The Des Moines Register says Ankeny voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved an $18 million bond referendum to build a new elementary school. It will be built north of the Des Moines Area Community College campus in the Prairie Trail development. Construction is planned to begin in the fall and is set to open in 2020. Officials say the bond will not affect property tax rates.

Urbandale voters approved a $59 million plan to build two new elementary schools to replace four 50-plus-year-old school buildings set to be closed. The bond will also cover construction of the district’s first fitness center. Urbandale school officials say the consolidation will save the district $1.8 million annually. Construction won’t begin for another 18 months.