Authorities in Council Bluffs report last week’s victim of an apartment fire has been identified. The Iowa State Medical Examiners Office has ruled in its preliminary report, that 59-year old Charles Ruckman, of Council Bluffs, died from smoke inhalation. On Jan. 8th, Fire crews responded to an apartment fire at 221 N 30th Street. Ruckman’s body was found after the flames were extinguished and a search of the apartment was conducted.

The Atlantic Business and Professional Women (BPW) are offering four scholarships this year. Applications for two, $1,000 BPW Scholarship, one $500 Collen Scholarship, and a $1,000 Bev Mendenhall Scholarship, must be submitted by April 1st. Applications for one of several $1,000 BPW Iowa Scholarships, must be postmarked by March 23rd. More details:

• Two $1,000 scholarships are available to a resident of Cass County, Iowa, giving financial aid to a man or woman needing education to either re-enter the work force, gain additional education for a career, meet educational requirements for employment, or to continue education interrupted for family or other reasons. (application deadline April 1)
• A $500 Collen scholarship is available to a female resident of Cass, Shelby or Audubon County, in Iowa, who is pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Computer Systems Management, Chemistry or Engineering. The student may be of any age and attend school full- or part-time. (application deadline April 1)
• The $1,000 Bev Mendenhall nursing scholarship, is available to a female resident of Cass County, Iowa, who wants to re-enter the work force, gain additional education for a career, meet educational requirements for employment, or to continue education interrupted for family or other reasons. (application deadline April 1)
• BPW Iowa is awarding several $1,000 scholarships to a man or woman, who is a resident of Iowa. The applicant must be a non-traditional student who: Is a US Citizen; has been out of the work force and wants or needs to go back to work, but needs additional education; Has completed high school five or more years ago, and now wants to start or resume their college education, and, Demonstrates financial need, scholastic ability, leadership skills, and career goals. (Application must be submitted by March 23rd).

Contact Kellie Jimerson, BPW Scholarship chairman at 712-254-0482, or email kjimerson@careinitiatives.org for an application.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A plan to give Iowa residents expansive gun rights has been derailed after the state’s elections office forgot to notify the public of the constitutional amendment approved by lawmakers last year. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate tells the Des Moines Register that a “bureaucratic oversight” resulted in his office’s failure to publish notice of the amendment in newspapers before last fall’s elections as required. The error means that amendment supporters likely must start over and that the earliest it could appear on ballots for a statewide referendum is 2022, instead of 2020. The amendment sponsor, Rep. Matt Windschitl, calls it a “monumental setback.”

The plan would amend the Iowa Constitution to declare that the “right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Critics say the plan would block gun safety laws. The error was first reported by the Bleeding Heartland blog.

ROME, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are searching for a missing snowmobiler in southeast Iowa. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office learned just before 2 a.m. Monday that 25-year-old Spencer Adam, of Richland, was missing. His snowmobile was found about an hour later west of Mount Pleasant, just south of the village of Rome.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly session beginning 9-a.m. Tuesday in their Boardroom at the Adair County Courthouse. On their agenda for discussion and/or action, is:

• Emergency Management Commission appointments
• The Revocation of VA Director appointment
• A budget work session
• 2018 W2 wages
• A longevity increase
• and a Child Abuse Prevention Grant draw down.

The Adair County Supervisors will also receive a report and FY2020 Budget request from the County Environmental Health Dept.

Snow covered roads are being blamed for a collision Saturday morning, in Union County. The Sheriff’s report says a 1994 Ford Dump truck driven by 41-year old Kyle Jame Krantz, of Creston, was traveling too fast for conditions. Krantz tried to stop at the intersection of E. Mills and N. Cedar Street in Creston, but lost traction due to the road conditions. The truck slid through the intersection and was struck on the passenger side by a 2001 Chevy Tahoe driven by 60-year old Pamela McKee, of Creston.  The accident happened at around 10:20-a.m.

McKee complained of pain following the collision, and was transported by private vehicle to the Creston hospital. No citations were issued.

The Glenwood Police Department reports three, separate arrests. On Sunday, 26-year old Jacob Rost, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. Rost was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail until seen by a Magistrate. Last Friday, 52-year old Sherry Harvey, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault and Child Endangerment. She was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail also, until appearing before the Magistrate. And, 60-year old Lori Erickson, of Glenwood, was arrested Friday for OWI/2nd offense. She posted a $2,000 cash or surety bond, and was released.