The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency reports the Fir Road Bridge over Mosquito Creek is closed for construction, from now through the end of October. The bridge is located just north of the intersection of Fir Road and Highway 191, between Washington Township Sections 11 and 12. Emergency responders and residents in the area should plan to take alternate routes.

In addition, 200th Street, in Shelby County, is closed for work for about a week, weather permitting. The affected section is between 1524 and 1537 200th Street. Between Fairview Township sections 36 and 2534. And as with Fir Road, emergency responders and residents should plan to take alternate routes while the construction project is underway.

If you have any questions, contact the Shelby County Engineer at 712-755-5954.

Officials with the Audubon County Emergency Management Agency, Tuesday (Today), report Littlefield Drive from the Audubon/Cass County line north to 300th Street, is now closed to through traffic, for the duration of a road resurfacing project. The 6.5-mile stretch of road was closed May 16th, except for local residents and emergency vehicles, but the contractor, Monday, informed authorities that closing the road is in the best interest of safety, until the project is completed.

If you have any questions, contact the Audubon County Engineer’s Office at 712-563-4286.

A member of the Shenandoah High School Cross Country team died after being struck by a car Tuesday morning, as she ran during practice. The Iowa State Patrol says 14-year old Kinsee Rooker, of Shenandoah, who would have been a freshman this fall, died at the scene of accident that took place at around 7:15-a.m.

According to reports, Rooker was running southbound on Avenue A at the intersection of Highway 2 and crossing the road, when she was hit by an eastbound 2002 Mercury Sable, driven by 27-year old Brent McKinnon, of Clarinda. No charges have been filed.

A Memorial Fund for the family of Kinsee Rooker has been established. Donations can be dropped off at the Bank Iowa locations in Red Oak and Shenandoah.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Three groups say a proclamation signed by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad that encourages people to participate in a statewide Bible-reading marathon is illegal. The Des Moines Register reports two of the groups, the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, say they are considering litigation. They claim the proclamation violates the U.S. Constitution by promoting Christianity.

The Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers also opposed the governor’s action. The prayer events are organized by Christian-based groups and are planned at courthouses in all 99 counties in Iowa from June 30 until July 3. Branstad signed the proclamation in April, calling it a historic event.

Governor Terry Branstad is in California today (Tuesday), at the BIO International Convention. He’s touting a new state tax credit for companies that develop new uses for the byproducts left behind when ethanol and biodiesel are made. “I went to Montreal last year to tell them that we were proposing it. It passed the House,” Branstad says. “This year it passed both the House and the Senate. It’s now law, or I guess January 1st it takes effect, but we’ve already got a number of companies that are looking at it.”

Starches, sugars and oils are the left-overs from “biofuel” production. Iowa’s new “biochemical tax credit” will provide up to 10-million dollars a year to companies that develop new products from those left-overs. “I just think this is the next generation of quality jobs that are going to be able to be created because we have this biochemical tax credit,” Branstad says. “I want the world to know it and this is a great forum to be able to talk about that.”

More than 15-thousand executives from companies in the world’s biotech and pharmaceutical industries are gathered in San Francisco for the week-long “BIO” convention Branstad’s attending. As Branstad meets with executives considering Iowa because of his new biochemical tax credit, he will pitch the idea of setting up operations on or near existing biofuels plants.

“You know, already you’ve got the complex at Eddyville where they’re making all kinds of products,” Branstad says. Experts say about 30 chemicals left over from biofuel production hold the greatest potential for development.Branstad will be in California ’til Thursday. Branstad will visit the San Francisco headquarters of McKesson while he’s there. Last year, McKesson picked Clear Lake as the site for a new warehouse in its pharmaceutical distribution network. Branstad also plans to make “prospecting” calls on California-based businesses that are considering expansion plans in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to meet Wednesday in their Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse. During their regular weekly session, which begins at 8:30-a.m., the Board will act on approving a Resolution calling for changes in expense appropriations (budgetary spending authority) in the General Fund, by:

Decreasing expense appropriation for non-departmental uses, and increase expense appropriation for the juvenile probation/detention department, and increasing the maximum allowable operating transfers: from the Amaizing Energy TIF Fund, to the Amaizing Energy Debt Service Fund, and from the Local Option Tax Fund to Secondary Roads Fund, as well as changing the function classification for County provided mental health and disability services.

The Supervisors will also act on approving fireworks display permits, and on the appointment of a Cass County Veterans Affairs Commissioner to a three-year term beginning July 1st, 2016 and running through June 30th, 2019.

Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson reports a traffic stop Monday night resulted in the arrest of a man on drug and other charges. 21-year old Jesse James Svoboda, of Audubon, was arrested at around 8:30-p.m. near 200th Street and Kingbird Avenue. Svoboda faces charges that include Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving While Suspended. He was also cited for having no insurance, and speeding. Svoboda has posted a cash bond, and was released from custody.

(9-a.m. News)

TREYNOR, Iowa (AP) – A western Iowa schools superintendent has agreed to drop the appeal of his 30-day state license suspension in exchange for a renewed contract from the school board. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the Treynor Community School District board last week extended Kevin Elwood’s contract for the next school year but gave him no raise. In return he dropped his appeal.

On Aug. 7 the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners suspended Elwood’s license, saying he should not have let his son work unsupervised as a custodian for the district after the son was accused of inappropriate sexual conduct. Elwood was accused of two violations of Iowa code.

In September 2013 Elwood’s son, Kreighton Elwood, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one of false imprisonment.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa State Patrol supervisor fired for misconduct is blaming his actions on an addiction to powerful painkillers. Sgt. Michael Haugen wrote in a letter released late Monday that he became addicted to opioids after battling medical conditions in recent years. He says his addiction “negatively impacted my family, friends, co-workers and others” and that he’s taking responsibility.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety moved to fire Haugen last month for misconduct that it has refused to explain. Haugen declined to appeal his termination by Monday’s deadline, instead submitting the letter resigning his position with the patrol in Mason City. He says he needs to “focus on my health and family.”

Haugen rear-ended another car in March in his state vehicle, but the patrol’s investigation blamed the front driver.