The Cass County Board of Supervisors had a light agenda this (Wednesday) morning, and therefore a brief meeting. The Board continued discussion with regard to the bidding process for the courthouse HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) replacement project, but made no decision on the matter.  Auditor Dale Sunderman said he visited with various vendors, one of whom was trying to put together a cost estimate. Sunderman says since the cost is expected to exceed $135,000, Iowa Code requires there to be a competitive bid process.

The Board said that there are still too many questions with regard to efficiency, and about what kind of system should be installed, or for that matter, if the current room radiators should be retained or replaced. There also needs to be an inspection to make sure the pipes aren’t insulated with asbestos.

Supervisor Chuck Rieken said they have to decide if they’ll use independent room heating and cooling, a boiler or whatever, before they can issue an RFP – a Request for Proposal.) Board Chair Frank Waters said it looks like they have a way to go before any changes are made to the courthouse system.  He said it’s shaping up to be a project for next year, at this point.

And, in his report to the Board, Cass County Engineer Charles Marker said there currently is no road rock available from the local quarries, but they still have some available for the worst roads. Road crews are being kept busy in the mean time, cleaning out road ditches and taking care of mowing. He said also officials with the City of Lewis had inquired about placing a tornado warning siren within the County road right-of-way by the Lewis School on the south side of town, near where County Roads G-43 and M-56 form a triangle.

He said he sees no problem with the position of the pole and siren, but the Supervisors need to approve the request during their meeting next week. The Board also reminds Cass County residents that if they see people tearing-up the dirt roads when they are soft and muddy, to call the Sheriff’s Department with a description of the vehicle and direction of travel. Offenders will be fined if they are caught.

Police in Glenwood report two arrests this (Wednesday) morning. 53-year old Shari Baker, of Glenwood, was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. And, 23-year old Theodore Brayman, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Theft in the 5th degree. Both subject’s bonds were set at $300.

The 8-a.m. Newscast w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Two people have been arrested in Creston on separate harassment and assault charges. Creston Police say 52-year old James Cook was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center Tuesday afternoon. Cook was charged with Harassment in the 1st Degree. He was being held in the jail on $4,000 bond.

And, 29-year old Christina Hunter, of Creston, was arrested Monday morning at the Union County LEC for Assault. She was released on a promise to appear later, in court.

The 7:06-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A Shelby County teen faces five-years in jail and a $5,000 fine for allegedly making terrorist threats against the Harlan Middle School. The Harlan News-Advertiser reports the unidentified 13-year-old is alleged to have kept a journal with specific threats to kill students, teachers, and athletes at HMS.

She was transported to the juvenile detention center in Council Bluffs and held on the felony charge. An investigation into the incident continues.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A 67-year-old man has admitted running a prostitution operation out of his exotic-dance bar in Omaha. Louis Venditte pleaded guilty on Tuesday to four federal prostitution charges, including one involving the transport of women from Iowa to Nebraska. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10.

Venditte’s wife, Ruby Venditte, and John W. Wagstaffe have pleaded not guilty to prostitution charges, accused of being partners in the operation at the former Goodfellas bar. Law enforcement raided the bar in October 2013 while serving a search warrant. The bar has since closed.

Ruby Venditte and Wagstaffe are scheduled to go on trial next month.

Two people, a man and a woman, were arrested on separate charges Tuesday evening, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say at around 9-p.m., 48-year old Kristine Courtney Ryan, of Elliott, was arrested in Elliott, for Fraudulent Practice in the 4th Degree. Ryan was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Earlier in the evening, 26-year old Chase Michael Samples, of Red Oak, was arrested in Red Oak, for allegedly violating a Protection Order. Samples was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

Deputies in Fremont County arrested a Colorado man Tuesday morning following a traffic stop in Hamburg. A vehicle driven by 32-year old Nicholas James Buck, of Ft. Morgan, CO., was stopped at around 7:30-a.m., for having fictitious license plates. The deputy learned Buck was wanted on a warrant out of Lancaster County, NE., and detained him while the Fremont County K9 “Argo” conducted a search in and around the vehicle.

During the search, the dog alerted to the presence of a controlled substance. The deputy found just over 3/4 of a pound of a substance resembling methamphetamine in the vehicle, and several items of drug paraphernalia.

Buck was arrested for Possession of a Counterfeit Controlled Substance with the intent to deliver, failure to have insurance, operating a motor vehicle without a license, and operating a non-registered vehicle. He was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $100,000 bond.

Prosecutors in Pottawattamie County say a Council Bluffs man has been charged with a felony after prosecutors accused him of choking, beating and kicking a 15-year-old boy after a traffic accident. The Omaha World-Herald reports 35-year old Ryan D. Linehan was driving a white Jeep Grand Cherokee in the 2800 block of North Broadway in north-central Council Bluffs just before midnight April 25th. He’s accused of passing a black 2001 Dodge Ram pickup truck, cutting off the pickup and striking it with his Jeep. The pickup’s teenage driver, who has a school permit and was on his way home from a function at St. Albert High School, pulled over to exhange insurance information.