Atlantic City Administrator John Lund, Wednesday evening, told the City Council he recently received a renewal notice for the City Employee’ Health Insurance. He said the rate of 8.74% was quoted. Lund said City Administration has been working their broker at Cottingham & Butler and received alternative quotes, including one from Iowa Community Trust, which would lower that rate 4%.  Lund said also, if they join the trust, they would become the 13^th employer to join the City/County pool in the non-binding agreement. He said the City’s renewal date is July 1^st. In the interim, they’ll explore the matter further and issue a report at a later date.

In other business, the Council voted 6-to 1, with Councilperson Kathy Somers the lone nay vote, to sell City-owned property at 602 Spruce Street to Thomas Gaines, for the assessed value of $5,350. They also set May 15^th as the date for a Public Hearing on amending the FY 2019 Budget. John Lund said they will be calculating that over the next couple of weeks, and that there are some “significant changes.”

In the Council Committee reports, Councilperson Somers said the Personnel and Finance Committee met Tuesday. One of the topics they discussed was options for the Atlantic Senior Center. She said there was a split decision on making a recommendation to the Council. Two members were in favor of selling the building, putting it up for bids and taking the highest offer, with a minimum bid of $40,000. One of the members was opposed to the idea. The matter is now up to the Council to decide at their next regular meeting on May 15th.

DES MOINES, Iowa —The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is warning of a scam targeting citizens by misrepresenting the staff of the Department.

The DCI has received reports from citizens that scammers are posing as employees of the “Iowa State Police”.  The callers are claiming there is a warrant issued out of state for the citizen.  They have further advised to clear the warrant they need to send money, via an online account such as Google Play account.

Citizens are reporting that they are receiving multiple calls from the same 712 area code phone number.  If the citizen does not answer or hangs up on the initial call, a secondary call is being reported as coming from “911” whereas the callers are verbally aggressive, claiming they are with the “Police” and that they have a warrant for the citizen’s arrest.

If you receive a phone call similar to the one mentioned above, you are asked to contact your local law enforcement and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office Hotline at (515) 281-5926 or (888) 777-4590.

Listed below are some helpful tips to prevent being targeted by fraudulent calls:

• If you get a call from someone who claims they are collecting money on behalf of the DPS—even if a caller ID device shows the DPS—hang up.
• The DPS does not demand immediate payment via prepaid debit cards or online accounts.
• Do not provide or confirm personal information or financial information to anyone who calls.

Atlantic’s newest Police Officer was sworn-in during Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting.

Officer Gelner (Left) is sworn-in by Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones.

Mayor Dave Jones administered the Oath of Office to Officer Dustin Gelner, who began working with the Atlantic Police Department on April 24th. Gelner said he looks forward to being a police officer.

Originally from Vinton, Louisiana, Gelner met his wife Michelle, an Atlantic native, while serving in the Army for five-years. Prior to becoming a Police Officer, Gelner worked as a Supervisor for a construction and welding company out of Walnut. Michelle Gelner is a nurse at CCMH. The family has lived in town for about three-years.

The Gelner family

The couple has a two-and one-half year old son, and recently welcomed a daughter, who is now three months old.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley says Congress won’t consider a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada until President Donald Trump lifts tariffs that have prompted other countries to take actions that have hurt U.S. farmers.

Speaking Wednesday on a call with reporters, Grassley said Trump must end steel and aluminum tariffs before Congress will ratify a United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Farmers in Iowa and across the country have been hurt by reciprocal tariffs placed on agricultural products, including pork and soybeans. Grassley says tariffs also could hinder efforts at a trade deal with China.

Grassley, who expects to meet Thursday with Trump to discuss trade, says tariffs are “keeping the president from being on the cusp of a big win” with Canada and Mexico and just weeks away from a victory in trade negotiations with China.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill that creates a system for children needing help with mental health issues. Speaking at a ceremony Wednesday, Reynolds said the new law requires core services for children, regional crisis stabilization, mobile response teams, 24-hour hotline access to services, and $1.2 million for home and community-based children’s mental health services. The goal is to eliminate the waiting list that currently exists.

The bill was one of Reynolds’ top priorities and while it passed with bipartisan votes, lawmakers did not provide the full funding she requested. Reynolds says her commitment is to develop long-term funding for mental health services to propose next year.

Standing in front of supporters and a family who lost a child to suicide, Reynolds said the new system is life-changing and replaces a stigma associated with mental illness with hope.

A Public Hearing will be held during a regular meeting of the Walnut City Council that begins at 5-p.m., Thursday. The hearing is with regard to a Budget Amendment for the FY 2018-19 Budget. Action on adopting a Resolution amending the current Budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2019. Other discussion will cover: the City of Walnut Housing Rehab Program; the Walnut Community Center; RAGBRAI, and Parks. Justen Tooley will report later in the meeting, on the quarterly inspection of City Property, and the Council will act on a request to temporarily close certain streets, in conjunction with the Walnut Antique Festival Sept. 14th and 15th, 2019.

In an update to our previous reports, the Council Bluffs Police Department said Detectives have located and spoken to a person of interest in the January, 2019 murder of Adam Angeroth, of Council Bluffs. Authorities said due to her being a considered a witness in this case, we will not release her name at this time. She had previously been referred to as having the nickname “Zee-Zee”. The woman was thought to have valuable information regarding the murder of Angeroth.

She is believed to be a known associate of Liam Stec, who is currently being held and charged with Murder 1st degree.

Council Bluffs Police are asking for help in locating a 15-year old, missing juvenile, Gabriela Gonzales. All known leads have been exhausted. Gabriela has been missing since Thursday March 28th, 2019 at 6:38 p.m.  She is believed to be in the metro area. Gabriela has been part of social media posts, so she is not believed to be endangered. She is described as a white female, 5’4”, 150lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. Gabriela may now have a tattoo on her right index finger.

Please call 9-1-1 if she is seen, or contact the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division (712-328-4728) with any information that will assist us in locating her.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa jury has acquitted a black political campaign worker who was arrested after refusing to identify himself to police in a Des Moines suburb. Keilon Hill was canvassing in West Des Moines for a Republican political action committee in support of congressman David Young last October when two officers tried to stop and talk to him. Police say a resident had called 911 to report a suspicious person. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, resident says he believes his skin color played a role.

Hill was found not guilty Tuesday of misdemeanor harassment of a public official or employee. The West Des Moines police department has declined to comment on the verdict. Young lost his bid for a third term to Democrat Cindy Axne.

Glenwood Police reports three arrests so far this week. On Monday, 48-year old Richard Tye, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. He later posted a $300 bond and was released. On Tuesday, 19-year old Logan Harding, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear (in court). He also posted a $300 bond and was released. And, 21-year old Korey Ehlers, of Silver City, was arrested Tuesday for OWI/1st offense. His cash or surety bond was set at $1,000.