The Cass County Board of Supervisors have approved a contribution/donation and a loan, for the purchase of a building for Southwest Iowa Mental Health Center/Zion Recovery Services. Their action came Tuesday, and amounts to $50,000 altogether ($25,000 donation/$25,000 loan), with the money coming from the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) fund. Supervisor John Hartkopf explained Crossroads Mental Health has accepted an offer from Zion to purchase a building, which will further help to serve persons with mental health issues.

Hartkopf says the purchasing a building has a number of benefits.

Hartkopf says they are getting great support for the Heart of Iowa Region, and they’re helping financially.

(Part of the Resolution calls for the County’s backing of the loan for seven-years, until the equity is built-up, which allows the down-payment to be reasonable.)

SWIMHC affects 17 counties. It has 34 employees in the County, about $1.6-million in payroll, excluding taxes and benefits.

Their new facilities will be located in the Crossroads Building (formerly Lutheran Family Service), on the west side of South Olive Street. Closing on the building is set to take place this week.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests.At around 4-p.m. Tuesday, 42-year old Earl Fletcher Edds, of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphenalia, Driving Under Suspension and Operating a vehicle without the Interlock Device. Bond was set at $900.

At around 12:15-a.m. Tuesday, 23-year old Alexis Grace Elizabeth Beck, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. Her bond was set at $300. On Monday, 34-year old Linze Elaine Camarillo, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Violation of Probation, the bond for which was set at $1,000, and Fugitive from Justice (No Bond). And, 39-year old Penny Marie Griggs, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant fore Failure to Appear. Her bond was set at $300.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Two students have been taken to a hospital for treatment after a welding accident at a community college facility in Davenport. An Eastern Iowa Community Colleges spokesman says one student was injured Tuesday at the Blong Technology Center when a spark flew into her clothing and burned her. The second student was burned when he tried to help her. Their names and the extent of their injuries have not been released.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man who ran a tax return preparation business in north-central Iowa has pleaded guilty to helping file false returns. Prosecutors also say 52-year-old David Miller, of Gilmore City, pleaded guilty to receiving stolen government money or property. His sentencing hasn’t been scheduled yet. Miller admits in his plea agreement to preparing fraudulent returns for clients and himself over several years. Prosecutors said Tuesday in a news release that he’s agreed to pay restitution of nearly $157,000 to the Internal Revenue Service.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Senate has approved legislation designed to address difficult and violent student behavior in Iowa schools. Senator Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton, says the problem is more widespread than many imagine. “This bill is truly about creating a safe learning space for all students and all teachers,” Sinclair said. Senator Julian Garrett, a Republican from Indianola, says disruptive students are causing big problems in Iowa schools. “We heard about teachers who were really having problems,” Garrett says, “….some even thinking about quitting….because of the stress of these situations.”

All 50 senators voted for the bill. However, Democrats like Senator Liz Mathis of Cedar Rapids complained more money is needed to address mental health and other needs to students now, before they wind up in the criminal justice system. “The clock is ticking,” Mathis said. “We need to get serious about this.” Senator Jackie Smith, a Democrat from Sioux City, says it’s become clear some of Iowa’s youngest students lack the social and emotional skills necessary to function in a classroom. “The largest percentage of removals for behaviors has occurred in grades K-through-2,” Smith said. “It’s gone up 82 percent.”

Parents have complained teachers trying to calm a disruptive student have had to resort to clearing classrooms of all the OTHER students. The bill makes it clear that is not the option schools should be choosing on a regular basis. The legislation would set up a new state grant program for schools to establish “therapeutic” classrooms for disruptive students. The bill also includes new liability protections for teachers who have to use “reasonable force” to restrain a student.