(UPDATE: This service is not yet available in the following counties: Franklin, Hancock, Henry, Jefferson, Johnson, Lee, Marion, Monona, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Scott, Van Buren, Washington, Webster and Winnebago.)

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg today (Tuesday) announced Text-to-911, a new public safety tool, is available to Iowans.  Text-to-911 is a statewide system that allows cell phone users to send text messages to 911 in an emergency. Right now, 94 of Iowa’s 113 emergency call centers are able to accept text messages from at least one cell phone carrier. The remaining call centers are expected to have the capability by the end of the year.

Gov. Reynolds said “Text-to-911 is a prime example of how we’re using technology to make Iowa a safer place for everyone. Iowans are able to send a text to 911 when a voice call would put them in danger or when a medical condition makes it impossible for them to speak.” Lt. Governor Gregg said “For those unable to make a call to 911, the ability to send a text in emergency or life-threatening situations is invaluable.”

Text-to-911 is a nationwide initiative. The Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD) oversees Iowa’s 911 program and has worked with local public safety agencies and wireless carriers to build a statewide network and make Text-to-911 technology possible. In some areas of the state, not all cell service carriers have the necessary technology in place to send texts to the 911 call centers that are capable of accepting them. The providers are working to make this service available as soon as possible.

Residents in counties currently accepting texts to 911 can check with their carrier to find out about availability in their area. Six wireless carriers currently, or will in the near future, provide their customers with the ability to text 911. The carriers are: AT&T, iWireless, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon.

For more information on the Text-to-911 program, visit homelandsecurity.iowa.gov.

Police in Shenandoan report a vehicle stolen from Coin was recovered Monday and a suspect in the theft was taken into custody. 28-year-old Jason Lee Myers, of Clarinda, faces charges that include Possession of stolen property, and driving while suspended. Myers allegedly took a red 2001 Pontiac Grand Am from in front of a residence in Coin. The theft was reported late Monday morning.

Officers received information that the stolen vehicle was seen traveling south on Highway 48 from the Montgomery County line. The vehicle entered Essex and pulled into the Casey’s parking lot, where Myers was taken into custody. He was being held in the Page County Jail on $5,000 bond.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports two women were arrested on Theft charges Monday. 43-year old Melinda Anne Starkey, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County warrant for theft 2^nd degree. She was being held for Union County in the Ringgold County Jail. And, 35-year old Katie Loraine Campbell, Lorimor, was arrested and then transferred from the Clarke County Jail to the Ringgold County Jail, on a Union County warrant for theft 2^nd degree.  Both women were being held on $5,000 bond, each.

Senator Chuck Grassley is joining two of his colleagues in the Iowa Congressional delegation in calling for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to take another look at its rule allowing so-called “bump stocks.” Those devices were used by the sniper in last week’s mass shooting in Las Vegas. Grassley, a Republican, is shifting the blame, saying bump stocks were deemed legal for sale during Pr “I would advocate very much for ATF reconsidering their rule,” Grassley says. “I’m quite surprised that something like that would happen during the Obama administration when they tended to have more of an anti-gun attitude than the present administration does or the majority of Congress holds.”

Congressman David Young and Senator Joni Ernst, both Iowa Republicans, are calling on the Trump Administration to quickly review federal regulations on the devices, which enable semi-automatic weapons to fire much more rapidly. Grassley says he’s against making a knee-jerk reaction and will not introduce legislation right away on bump stocks or anything else relating to restrictions on firearms. “We’re going to wait until we get all of the evidence that we need from the Nevada shooting, oughta’ wait until the police reports are done,” Grassley says. “Just today some new information came out, as an example, and I think that we will move accordingly.”

Grassley says the A-T-F ruled in 2010 that it would not regulate the bump stock device. “This tends to make a gun that you’ve got to pull the trigger each time you want to shoot a bullet kind of like an automatic,” Grassley says. “If automatics are outlawed, it seems to me like it was ridiculous for the Obama administration in the first place to put something in that would make a non-automatic gun an automatic gun.”

The shooter in Las Vegas opened fire on the night of October 1st from a 32nd floor hotel room window, spraying bullets into a crowd at a country music festival. A woman from northwest Iowa was among the 58 people killed, and more than 500 were injured in the stampede. Funeral arrangements are being announced today for 33-year-old Carly Kreibaum, of Sutherland. Kreibaum was a Sibley native, married and a mother of two. Her funeral is scheduled for 10:30 A-M on Saturday in Sutherland at the town’s community center. She’ll be buried at Waterman Cemetery in Sutherland.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, is expected to discuss a report from the State Auditor’s Office, with regard to the travel expenses of the County Employees. Their meeting in the Supervisor’s Board Room at the Court House, begins at 8:30-a.m.

Late last month, the State Auditor’s Office issued a report on employee travel expenses for Cass County personnel and elected officials determined some officials used County credit cards improperly and a county employee was doing non-beneficial work on County time.  The review was for the period of July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2016 and was conducted as a result of citizen concerns regarding the frequency of County Treasurer Tracey Marshall’s travel and certain purchases made using a County credit card.

The review determined County-issued credit cards were used to purchase items not related to County business. The County credit card policy specifies that County cards may not be used for purposes other than County expenses such as fuel, meals during overnight travel, lodging, and equipment purchases.  The review also determined that supporting documentation is not always provided or required for employee travel expenses submitted for reimbursement.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s office has corrected multiple errors in its guidance on the number of signatures that some Congressional candidates must gather to get on the ballot. For months, the office’s website misinformed potential candidates in Districts 2 and 3 about minimum signature requirements.

Democrats in District 2 were told that they needed at least 1,864 signatures to qualify for the June primary ballot and Republicans were told they needed 1,708. Those numbers should have been reversed.

In District 3, Republicans were told that they needed 1,710 signatures. They actually need 1,930.

Office spokesman Kevin Hall says the errors were corrected last week after they were pointed out by The Associated Press. He says letters are being sent to the parties informing them of the correct totals. The filing period runs from Feb. 26 to March 16.

A man wanted on a warrant for Probation Violation was arrested at his home Monday afternoon, in Treynor. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 22-year old Tanner Joseph Mathews, of Treynor, was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Pott. County Jail.

The Atlantic School Board will meet Wednesday evening in the High School Media Room, beginning at 5:30-p.m. Their first order of business is to conduct the annual meeting of the retiring board, followed by adjournment. Afterward, the New Board, which was formed following the Sept. 11th School Board Elections, will be held. Since there were no new members added as a result of the election, the Board will take action on administrative matters. That includes Oath of Office to re-elected Board members Josh McLaren and Kristy Pellett. They will also elect a Board President and Vice President, and set the date and time for future meetings.

During the regular session, the Atlantic School Board will hear from Justin Williams and Paul Iekel, with regard to the naming of the CCEOC (Former Cass, Inc.) Building, and discuss current class size information as presented. Other discussion and action items include Updated Job Descriptions and a Strategic Plan.

FORT MADISON, Iowa – Oct. 10, 2017 – The Iowa Transportation Commission today (Tuesday) approved more than $1.2-million in funding for five State Recreational Trails Program projects.Among them: $400,082 was awarded for Phase II of the Pottawattamie County Trail – Railroad Highway Trail (Sponsors: Pottawattamie
County Conservation Board and Pottawattamie County Trail Association), and $366,000 was awarded for Phase I construction of the the Raccoon River Valley Trail to High Trestle Trail (Dallas County Conservation Board sponsor).

The State Recreational Trails Program was created in 1988 with the purpose of developing and maintaining recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both motorized and non-motorized trail users. The funding is available to cities, counties, state agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations through an annual application-based program.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Officials say the third finalist in the search for the next Iowa State University president is executive vice president at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. The Iowa Board of Regents says Dale Whittaker will visit the Ames campus Wednesday and meet with staff, students and community members. His curriculum vitae and interview schedule are available on Iowa State’s presidential search website, presidentsearch.iastate.edu.

The first finalist, Sonny Ramaswamy, visited the campus Monday. He’s director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture in Washington, D.C. The second finalist, Pamela Whitten, is scheduled to be on campus Tuesday. She’s senior vice president for academic affairs at the University of Georgia, Athens.

The Iowa regents are scheduled to meet Oct. 23 to choose the next president.