The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a southwest Iowa man was arrested Tuesday night on a warrant issued out of North Carolina. 45-year old David Laneir Morgan, of Red Oak, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 34, for being a Fugitive from Justice. Morgan was being held in the Mills County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Officials said also, an Omaha man, 50-year old Michael Anthony Weltch, was arrested at around 4-a.m. today (Thursday), for Theft in the 5th Degree, Providing False Identification information, and Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $900.

Two people were arrested Wednesday, in Mills County: 41-year old John Allen Ahrens, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 49-year old Carl David Galvan, Jr., of Glenwood, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. His bond was set at $300.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines-based MidAmerican Energy Company says it plans to spend $3.6 billion on a wind turbine operation that will generate up to 2,000 megawatts of electricity. Bill Fehrman, the utility’s CEO and president, announced the project Thursday at an event in Des Moines attended by Gov. Terry Branstad and other state officials. Officials say the wind farm will be the largest economic development project in the state’s history.

Fehrman says when the project is completed, the utility will generate wind energy that equals 85 percent of its annual customer sales in Iowa. MidAmerican is the state’s largest utility. MidAmerican didn’t release where the new turbines would be erected but says the utility will finalize locations while the Iowa Utilities Board considers the project.

A grant from the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) is providing the eight fire and rescue departments in Cass County with supplemental grain bin rescue tools. Stacie Euken, President of the Cass County Farm Bureau, says the County Farm Bureau Board applied for the grant from the IFBF to purchase grain bin augers and drills to run the augers, to aid in the rescue of persons trapped in grain bins.

All of the fire departments in Cass County are already equipped with lightweight grain bin rescue tubes, constructed to fit around the victim trapped in grain. The tubes are designed to stop the flow of the grain toward the victim, while at the same time relieving the pressure grain may place on the victim by rescuers attempting to save them.  The rescue auger is designed to quickly remove grain from around the victim while they are in the rescue tube. It’s powered by a one-half inch cordless drill.

Grain bin rescue auger (red device in the center) & a type of rescue tube (on the right). (Photo from the IA Farm Bureau.com website)

A normal grain bin rescue takes about three and one-half hours. In December, 2015, a 39-year old Creston man died in a grain bin, west of Murray. Iowa is one of two states with the highest number of documented grain entrapment incidents, according to a 2013 report by Purdue University in Indiana, which is the other state with the highest number of incidents.

There were four grain entrapment incidents in Iowa last year. Nationwide, there were 38 documented grain entrapments resulting in 17 deaths in 2014, up from 33 entrapments and 13 deaths in 2013. From 2000 to 2010, 17 Iowans died after being trapped in grain, according to the University of Iowa College of Public Health.

The nearly $9,000 IFBF grant will pay for the augers and drills, which are being provided by Cappel’s Ace Hardware in Atlantic, and the Anita Supply Company. Fire department representatives will receive their Rescue Auger and drills during a ceremony Monday evening at the Iowa Farm Bureau Office, in Atlantic.

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund recently donated $2,500 to the organization Friends of the Outdoor Classroom.  Trevor’s mom/fund spokesperson Melanie Petty, says the funds are expected to finish up the kitchen in the 12×20 addition that has recently been added on.

For the last 20 years the Outdoor Classroom has been an educational experience for students at CAM and other Cass county students.  Along with the expanded shelter the 87 acre area also has a quail habitat and a butterfly garden.

Fritz Baier, Board Member of the Friends of the Outdoor Classroom and Melanie Petty

Petty reminds you, that the Frederickson Fund’s annual golf tournament will be held August 13th, 2016 at Nishna Hills Golf Club.  All monies raised are given out through the year to various non profit organizations that meet the fund’s mission statement of giving back to things that Trevor cared about and was a part of.  Scholarships for graduating AHS Seniors will be handed out May 11th at their Senior Night.

Trevor lost his life tragically in a house fire on June 18, 2009.  The family and community has since given back more than $120,000 to the community that Trevor loved.  Petty says they look forward to continuing giving back for many years to come.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Creston Police say three people were arrested on separate charges, Wednesday. At around 8:30-a.m. Kirby Konkler, of Creston, was arrested on charges that include Domestic Abuse/3^rd or subsequent offense, three counts of Harassment in the 1^st Degree, and Interference with Official Acts. Konkler was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Just before 6-p.m. Wednesday, Creston Police arrested 28-year old Jeffrey Hoffman, of Creston, for Extortion and Violation of a Protective Order. Hoffman was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

And, a little after 9-p.m. Wednesday, 53-year old Johnny Feick, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1^st Offense. His bond, at the Union County Jail, was set at $1,000.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines principal has decided not to punish the girls who arranged for a male stripper to perform at their school’s synchronized swimming club banquet. Officials say the girls employed the stripper as a joke and say the stripper didn’t totally disrobe at Friday evening’s event at the Des Moines Social Club. A Social Club employee interrupted the performance and asked the stripper to leave.

Roosevelt High School Principal Kevin Biggs said Wednesday the girls apparently didn’t do anything illegal and didn’t violate the district’s conduct code.  The club has been operating outside of direct school supervision, with members raising all the money for its support. But Biggs says the district plans to place the club and its finances under the control of Roosevelt High’s activities department.

The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday, approved the resignation of Assistant Varsity Football Coach Paul McKay, and contracts for Alan Jenkins as Head Freshman Football Coach, along with Justin Williams, as Head Junior Varsity Football Coach.

They also approved an Operational Sharing Agreement with the Griswold Community School District, to jointly share the services of a Transportation Director for the 2016-17 Fiscal Year. The total cost to Griswold of which amounts to $13,776 per year. And, an agreement with Griswold for the sharing of services provided by Atlantic’s Human Resources Specialist, which will cost Griswold $6,576 per year. In both cases, the individuals will work four days per week on matters related to the Atlantic District, and one day per week for the Griswold District.

The Board also approved: the purchase from School Bus Sales, of three, 65-passenger propane-powered Blue Bird school buses for $90,788 each, along with a Blue Bird lift bus for $109,542, and a propane filling station from Olsen’s Fuel Supply, for $18,352.

They also approved: A bid of $63,762 from R-L Craft for work on the Washington Elementary School Roof; A bid of $81, 636 from National Playground for playground equipment and safety surfaces at Washington, and, a bid of $175,626 from Camblin Mechanical, for the replacement of heat pumps at the Atlantic High School.

The Atlantic School Board still wants to bring an income surtax vote back before patrons of district. Board Secretary/District Business Manager Mary Beth Fast said the earliest the surtax could be placed before patrons of the district, is a special election on Sept. 13^th. The Board would need to have a ballot request submitted to County Election Commissioner Dale Sunderman by no later than July 29^th. The next dates for Special Elections are in December, February and April, 2017.

You may recall, last September, voters rejected a public measure to add an income tax surcharge component to the district’s Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL). The final tally was 452 No votes to 443 Yes votes, or, 49.5-percent approval. The measure needed a majority vote in order to pass. This past February, the Board revisited the matter.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein said during the Board’s Feb. 10^th meeting, that the surtax needs to come before the voters again, because, he said, as it stands right now, the only source of revenue for the PPEL is property taxes. An income surtax would give the Board the ability to have more flexibility with what it can do with the tax levy.

Board member Ali Bruckner suggested Wednesday, that they hold a work session to discuss their plan to move forward. Bruckner said the purpose of the work session would be to schedule community forums to educate the public about why they need the surtax. The bottom-line she said, is “It’s for the kids.”

Board member Dr. Keith Swanson has said the last Surtax asking was “Sold so poorly to the public,” he couldn’t believe it…meaning, it wasn’t explained well at all. Mary Beth Fast agreed the voters need to understand the surtax would reduce the property tax asking. Superintendent Mike Amstein said the surtax “Makes such a huge difference in your property tax.” Fast said at the February meeting, that the maximum surtax the District could impose, if approved, is 10-percent. Even if the District requested a nine-percent surtax, that would generate $300,000 and make for 67-cents difference in property tax relief.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Republican-controlled House has passed legislation that would add state oversight to boarding schools in Iowa, though the bill could face future opposition over exemption language. The House voted 74-24 Wednesday for the bill, which now goes to the Democratic-majority Senate.

SIBLEY, Iowa (AP) — Sibley leaders are studying the city’s options after owners of a processing plant didn’t meet a deadline to provide $50,000 to help reduce odors coming from the facility. The Sioux City Journal reports that Iowa Drying and Processing had until Monday turn in the money.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Dubuque police are investigating an apparent cross burning and are treating the incident as a possible hate crime. Police say Dubuque dispatchers received a report early Wednesday of burning items at the intersection of 22nd and Washington streets, but authorities did not initially find anything in the area. Police were notified again around 9:30 a.m. of burned objects in the same area. They found what appeared to be two crosses damaged by fire. More information will be provided Thursday.

LACONA, Iowa (AP) — The family of an Iowa woman who was fatally shot is trying to obtain a 911 call to include in their wrongful death lawsuit against the woman’s son. Sixty-eight-year-old Shirley Carter was found shot to death in June at her Lacona home. KCCI-TV reports the woman’s husband, Bill Carter, wants to obtain the 911 call from that night. No charges have been filed in the case.