A Republican has thrown his hat into the ring in a Cass County Primary race. Bernard Pettinger will run against Democrat Russell Joyce for the District 5 seat on the Cass County Board of Supervisors.

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns said Wednesday afternoon, that Pettinger had filed his nomination papers for the June 2nd Primary Election.

The Walnut City Council will hold a Public Hearing 5-p.m. Thursday, on the FY 2020-21 Budget. Following the hearing and related discussion, the Council will act on a Resolution to Adopt the Budget as presented. Other (continued) discussion will be held, with regard to the Walnut Community and Fitness Center, including the possible purchase of a scissor lift, and the consideration of reduced rates for Class Reunions.

The Walnut City Council will also discuss and act on matters pertaining to a Housing Rehabilitation Grant through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Other discussion concerns: Summer Mowing (Opening of bids and possible approval of a Service Agreement & Mowing Contract); and the Walnut Antique Show (including permission to park one trailer on Wed. during the show, and permission to use City Streets for the 2021 show).

And, the Council will hear from Shelly Thompson, with regard to a possible Brick Street Market.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has announced the appointment of several southwest and western Iowa residents to various State Boards and Commissions. They include:

• Alexis Fleener, of Atlantic, to the Iowa Great Places Advisory Board.
• Dale Behrends, of Panora, and Lori Goetzinger of Carroll, to the Iowa Grain Indemnity Board.
• Daryl Olsen, of Audubon, to the Racing and Gaming Commission.
• Janet DeMott, of Bedford, to the Real Estate Commission.
• Quentin Stanerson, of Audubon, to the State Judicial Nominating Commission.
• S. James Smith, of Earlham, to the Accountancy Examining Board.
• Ryan Crawford, of Stuart, to the Board of Massage Therapy.
• Tami Kloewer, of Harlan, to the Board of Cosmetology.
• Jillian Travis, of Sidney, to the Board of Dentistry.
• Marty Rieken, of Oakland, and Mollie Pawlosky, of Earlham, to the Board of Mortuary Science.
• Lane Plugge, of Council Bluffs, to the Board of Social Work.
• Ann Werner, of Diagonal, to the Board of Veterinary Medicine.
• And Geneva Jacobsen, of Avoca, to the Commission for the Blind.

Each of the appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a prisoner serving a life sentence for murder died Wednesday morning at a southeast Iowa hospital. 71-year old Everett Lyon was pronounced dead due to natural causes at 3:58 a.m. at Great River Medical Center in West Burlington. He’d been sent there for a suspected heart attack.

Lyon was convicted of first-degree murder in Marshall County. Prison records say Lyon had been serving his time at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. His incarceration began on April 10, 1979.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A third defendant has been convicted in the kidnapping and beating death of a man at a Burlington apartment complex. Des Moines County court records say a jury found Stanley Baldwin guilty Tuesday of willful injury. The two other defendants were convicted in August. The records say Majestic Malone and Markell Price forced Edward Breuer inside an apartment on March 17 last year after Baldwin accused Breuer of breaking into it.

The documents say Malone and Price carried Breuer back outside several minutes later and laid him in the dirt before Price poured a can of soda over Breuer’s head.

IA Governor Kim Reynolds & Lt. Governor Adam Gregg will hold “Invest in Iowa” Town Hall meetings next week, in Harlan & Council Bluffs. The Harlan meeting takes place Friday, March 6th, beginning at Noon, in the C.G. Therkildsen Activity Center (706 Victoria St.).  The Council Bluffs Town Hall takes place later that day. It will be held at the Hoff Family Arts and Culture Center (1001 S. 6th St., in Council Bluffs), beginning at 2:30-p.m.