Officials with the Harlan Police Department remind residents that while the State of Iowa allow fireworks to be purchased, the City of Harlan has adopted a policy on the USE of fireworks. They are as follows:

-No person under the age of 18 shall discharge a DOT 1.4 class firework without adult supervision.

-A person shall only discharge a firework device on real property they own or property where consent has been given.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department issued their regular activities report, Monday afternoon. Authorities said on June 18th, 60-year old Cindy Jo Cassidy, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for service about a possible shop lifter. Cassidy was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with Theft in the 4th degree.

And, on June 15th, 41-year old Joshua Urena, of Harlan, was cited for driving while suspended, and violation of financial liability coverage following a traffic stop near 12th Street and Industrial Ave.

BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) — Iowa and Illinois have partnered to build a bridge across the Mississippi River that will connect the neighboring states. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner attended a groundbreaking ceremony Monday in the Iowa city of Bettendorf to discuss the future Interstate 74 Mississippi River bridge. The $1.2 billion construction project is expected to begin this summer and be completed in 2021.

The project will replace two aging bridges and include a new pedestrian and bike path. Transportation agencies in both states will coordinate construction work. Rauner attended the event in the middle of a special legislative session he’s called in Illinois to try and force a budget deal. If lawmakers don’t reach an agreement by Saturday, Illinois will enter its third straight year without a spending plan.

Voters in a large part of Pottawattamie County will head to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in a Special Election to fill an Iowa House of Representatives seat in District 22 that had been held by Greg Forristall, of Macedonia. Forristall died of cancer in May.

Four candidates are seeking the seat, including: Forristall’s widow, Carol, who is running as an Independent; Republican Jon Jacobsen; Libertarian Bryan “Jack” Holder, and Democrat Write-in Ray Stevens.

House District 22

The polls are open from 7-a.m. until 9-p.m.  For specific information on where to vote, see the Iowa Secretary of State’s website: https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/electioninfo/sh22special.html

Patrons of two area school districts will head to the polls Tuesday, to decide the fate of separate bond referendums. In Cass County, voters in the Griswold School District will determine whether or not a $9.9-million General Obligation bond issue will pass or fail. If approved, it will mean the district’s facilities will be combined to one campus in Griswold.

The district’s facilities in Elliott and Lewis would be closed and bonds issued to build a new, 33-thousand square foot elementary building onto the south side of the Griswold Middle School/High School campus. It would allow for two classrooms per grade level, an area for Special Education and Preschool, as well as a multipurpose area which would serve as an auditorium, gym and cafeteria. The administrative offices would be moved into the new building and the old offices turned into classrooms. The polls are open from Noon until 8-p.m. at the Lewis Library, along with the Elliott and Griswold Community Buildings.

In Montgomery County, the polling place for patrons of the Red Oak School District, is at the Gold Building on the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. The hours to cast ballots are the same as those in the Griswold District. Absentee voting is available at the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office until 11-a.m., Tuesday. Voters will decide on a $19.9-million dollar General Obligation bond issue designed to reduce the number of school campuses from four, to three.  A 60-percent super majority of votes need to be cast in favor of the referendum, in order for it to pass.

If the bond is approved, the District’s pre-K and kindergarten students will be at Washington Elementary School, the 1st through 6th graders at the Inman Primary School, and 7th through 12th grade students at the Red Oak High School. All three buildings would be renovated accordingly. The move is designed to save the District about $400,000 per year. The total project cost is estimated at $29.16-million, with the State penny sales tax making up the difference between the $19.9 and 29.16-million.

The district tax levy, if the bond passes, would become $15.60 per $1,000 of taxable property value. The current levy is $14.28 and the levy approved for fiscal year 2017-2018 is $14.49, according to the district.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, Monday, released a report on recent activity. Vandewater said 27-year old Joseph Dean White, of Exira, was arrested June 20th an an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. He was brought to the Adair County Jail and released the following day on $1,000 bond.

And, an Adair County Deputy arrested 27-year old Adam James Magill, of Casey, on June 23rd. Magill was arrested in Casey on Guthrie County charges that include Driving While License Denied or Revoked for OWI, Interference with Official Acts, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Magill was turned over to Guthrie County authorities to faces charges in that County.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The son of a Nigerian farm laborer who rose out of poverty to earn graduate degrees in agricultural economics and spent his career improving the availability of seed, fertilizer and financing for African farmers is this year’s World Food Prize winner.

Akinwumi Adesina, president of African Development Bank, says the future of global food security relies on making farming in Africa a profitable business to help move farmers out of poverty. An official announcement for the $250,000 World Food Prize was expected in a ceremony Monday at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington. Adesina will receive the prize Oct. 19 at the Iowa Capitol.

The prize was created by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Norman Borlaug in 1986 to recognize scientists and others who have improved food quality and availability.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman from Anita was arrested this (Monday) morning, on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Violation of a No Contact Order. 55-year old Katherine Anne Lange was brought to the Cass County Jail and later released on a $300 bond.

(In an update to our online report Sunday evening, and our newscasts this morning), The Cass County Sheriff’s office confirms no injuries were reported following a rollover accident north of Atlantic, Sunday evening. Authorities say 18-year old Victoria Irene Krogh, of rural Atlantic, was driving a 2003 Buick Century westbound on Boston Road at around 5:25-p.m., when the car went out of control on the gravel surface. The vehicle rolled onto its top into the south ditch and came to rest on a fence. The accident happened about three-quarters of a mile east of 590th Street. Krogh was trapped in the vehicle until she could be freed by Marne Fire and Rescue. No citations were issued. Damage from the accident amounted to $5,050.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports three recent arrests. Last Friday, Officers arrested 48-year old Mark Winston, of Atlantic, on a Cass County warrant for Driving While License Under Suspension, and 23-year old Zachary Vance, of Omaha, turned himself-in to the Cass County Jail on Cass County warrants for Failure to Serve Jail Time on OWI/2nd offense and Violation of Probation, charges.

On June 21st, 19-year old Austin Malloy, of Walnut, was arrested in Atlantic for Driving While License Denied or Revoked. All three men were booked into the Cass County Jail.