COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Feb. 18 trial start has been scheduled for a woman charged with the shooting deaths of two men and the attempted murders of two law officers in western Iowa. Pottawattamie County court records say April Montello-Roberts, of Shenandoah, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, attempted murder of an officer, burglary and robbery.

Prosecutors say Montello-Roberts helped her boyfriend, Troy Petersen in the Aug. 4 killing of Jerrot Clark and the Aug. 7 slaying of Steven Carlson. An officer fatally shot Petersen after the pair’s pickup crashed during a chase.

The City of Atlantic’s Board of Adjustment, Monday morning, unanimously approved a conditional use permit application submitted by Schildberg Construction. The permit allows surface mining on the Tieg Family property at 2301 SW 7th Street just north of Schildberg’s current underground operation.

Mark Schildberg has said the changes will be minimal and gradual over the next 20-25 years. During that time span, the open pit will be moving west towards Highway 6 and then north parallel with the highway. As it becomes depleted, it will be filled in and another pit will be mined.

Gravel truck activity is expected to remain consistent with current levels. Officials say stockpiles and processing will remain in place and not change. As previously mentioned, Schildberg Construction has been working with Snyder and Associates on concept plans for a visual buffer of the area similar to what was seen in the 2003 conditional use permit.

Mark Schildberg has also stated his company is open to allowing the future, depleted site, to be transformed into another multi-use area that would service both private commercial businesses along the highway, in addition to the public recreation space to the west.

The Cass County Democratic Party is preparing for the 2020 Caucus, which will be held on February 3rd. Party Chair Sherry Toelle says “Caucuses are gatherings of neighbors where Democrats meet to organize their precinct for the upcoming election, discuss important issues; and declare their Presidential preference. In addition to electing delegates to the county convention, caucus goers address key issues that are important to their communities, and elect local party leadership.” Cass County’s Caucus will be held on Monday, February 3, 2020. Doors will open at 6 PM and you must be registered or in line by 7 PM in order to participate in the caucus.

In Cass County, you must attend the caucus at the caucus site for your precinct. Caucus sites are: Anita, Grant & Lincoln Townships—Anita High School; all Atlantic wards—Atlantic High School; Benton & Franklin Townships—Wiota Community Building; Griswold, Pleasant & Noble Townships—Griswold High School; Lewis, Cass & Bear Grove Townships—Lewis Community Building; Marne, Brighton, Pymosa, Washington, & Grove Townships—Atlantic High School; Cumberland & Union Townships, Edna & Victoria Townships, Massena & Massena Township—CAM Middle School.

There are five main goals for the caucus: conduct party business, determine Presidential preferences, elect delegates to the county convention and committees, elect representatives to the Cass County Democratic Central Committee, and discuss resolutions to the Party platform. Toelle notes that there are two important changes to the caucus this year: Voters can sign in early on-line, avoiding lines at the caucus site; And, in the way Presidential choices are determined. To sign in early, voters MUST sign in by January 17th, at https://idp-2020-prereg.firebaseapp.com/ and then present your registration card at the caucus.

Anyone who is eligible to vote in Iowa can caucus but voters must be registered Democrats to participate in the Democratic caucus. Voters must be 18 years old by November 3, 2020 and youth who have registered to vote at age 17 can participate in the caucus. Voters can register to vote, change their address, or change party affiliation at the Caucus.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Nurses have authorized their union leaders to call a strike at MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center in Sioux City. The union must give the hospital at least 10 days’ notice before picketing could start. The nurses also rejected MercyOne’s most recent contract offer. The two sides have been negotiating since at least June. The local’s current contract expired Sept. 1. The nurses union last authorized a strike in June 2010 but settled with the hospital before a walkout began.