Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State and local economic development officials in central Iowa have come up with a brand name and logo for the region in an effort to create an identity similar to that of Silicon Valley in California. The “Cultivation Corridor” area within a 60-mile radius of Des Moines will focus on the marketing of agribusiness, biotechnology and renewable fuel products.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State officials say 16 Iowa towns that received loans for water quality projects will end up saving money because of interest rate cuts. The Iowa Finance Authority and the Department of Natural Resources says those towns will see a combined savings of $1.5 million over the life of their loans. They have been paying 3 percent interest on the loans, but rates are being lowered 1.75 percent.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lucey, an 18-month old pooch from Waukee, Iowa, has beaten out 49 drooling competitors to take this year’s “Beautiful Bulldog” pageant. Monday’s tongue-in-cheek event is designed to kick off the weeklong Drake Relays, an internationally-renowned track and field event in Des Moines. Lucey was certainly a hit with the crowd at Drake’s Knapp Center, besting a pair of boys named Lord Nelson and Zuul to capture top honors.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Auditor Mary Mosiman says she’s reviewing the secret settlement payments with former state workers and will issue a public report when the investigation is finished. Democratic candidate for governor Jack Hatch wants a review of the settlements and a broader audit from a firm outside state government. Governor Terry Branstad appointed Mosiman last year.

Wet weather is the only thing slowing progress on the “Senior Activities Area” at Sunnyside Park, in Atlantic. Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring announced Monday, that grading is the next major step, but that many contractors are very busy with other projects to find enough time to work on the park. On the bright side, a local contractor has stepped forward with a generous donation of time and labor for that portion of the project.

Herring says Rob Stamp, owner of Stamp Construction, is willing to grade the area for the cost of the gasoline only. He said Stamp is excited be a part of the project, along with the Trevor Frederickson Foundation and Dean Orstad family, who are making major contributions for a professional level horseshoe playing area at Sunnyside Park. Herring said Stamp should be able to get the work on grading done within the next couple of weeks, weather permitting.

He said also, that Melanie Petty with the Fredericksen Foundation, has informed him the Foundation is willing to help out with the cost of the horseshoe, Bocce ball and badminton equipment, in addition to the labor and expertise needed to set up those activity areas.

In other business, Herring told the Parks and Rec Board Monday, that the Iowa Department of Transportation has approved a $40,000 TAP (Transportation Alternative Program) Grant application submitted by SWIPCO, for a concrete renovation of the Bull Creek Pathway in front of the Schuler Elemenary School. He says the walkway/bike path is used for Middle School Physical Education classes and cross county programs. The path in that area is currently narrow and ruddy. Once it’s straightened out and widened, the Intra-City bike path from 17th and Olive Streets to the Schildberg Recreation Area will be complete.

Herring said also, that the Roy Newberg Family has agreed to purchase two Memorial benches in his name, to be installed by the west kiosk at the Schildberg Recreation Area. On a separate note, Herring reported the six dog waste stations around the City’s trails and Rec Area are being used as intended. He thanked Board Vice President Mary Strong, Dr. Keith Leonard (formerly with the Atlantic Animal Health Center) and Dave and Barb Chase, for their donations making the clean-up stations possible.

Signs or placards will be made up for those posts to that effect, which may spur additional sponsorships, especially for the dog waste bags included at each station.

A committee comprised of Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Roger Herring and Melanie Dunphy, with the Nishna Valley YMCA, has completed the process of interviewing prospects candidates for the on-site Pool Manager’s position at the Atlantic Public Pool. Herring, who made the announcement during Monday night’s meeting of the Park and Rec Board, said there were three finalists for the position.

Tierney Kamies was selected for the job. She will also be the Head Coach for the Summer Swim Team. Tierney is finishing her Junior year at ISU, working toward her degree in Kinesiology and a Minor in Exercise Science. Herring said she only needs to complete her Certified Pool Operators License as a prerequisite before she can accept the position. If she does not complete the requirement in a reasonable amount of time, the position will be offered to the next best qualified candidate. The salary for Pool Manager will be approximately $4,800, with the Swim Coachs’ job paying $1,300.

Herring mentioned also, the Atlantic’s Swim Team will be joining a new conference this year. The Tri-State conference is made up of competitors from Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska. Herring said Missouri includes Maryville, Nebraska is Nebraska City/Syracuse, while the Iowa conference is made up of teams from Red Oak and elsewhere across southwest Iowa. Herring said the schedule is all figured out and they’re ready to go.

He added that they will likely be hiring an Assistant Swim Coach to help Kamies out. The position will be a “Few hundred dollars.” Herring said also, the Brett Johnson and Lucas Mosier will be the softball co-coordinators for the City of Atlantic’s Summer Recreation Program.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Saturday of a Council Bluffs woman on drug charges. 53-year old Julie Ann Vore was arrested at the E-Stop in Emerson, at around 11:10-p.m., Saturday. She faces charges that include Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Methamphetamine, Possession of Controlled Substance/Marijuana, a Drug Tax Stamp violation, and on a warrant for Violation of her Probation.Vore was being held in the Mills County Jail on $111,000 bond.

And early Saturday morning, 41-year old Patricia Margeret Zastera, of Glenwood, was arrested in Mills County for Serious Assault, Interference with Official Acts And Falsely Reporting an Emergency by 9-1-1.  There was no word on her disposition or bond.

And just before 1-a.m. Sunday, 33-year old Joseph William Anderson, of Malvern, was arrested in Mills County on a charge of Public Intoxication. His bond was set at $300.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a Griswold man was arrested on drug charges, Sunday. 26-year old Nick Aaron Rush was taken into custody on charges that include OWI 1st Offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Rush was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

And on Saturday, deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 52-year old Martin William Glover, of Griswold, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Glover was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

Governor Terry Branstad says private schools should be included in any anti-bullying measure the legislature passes this year. Branstad’s fellow Republicans in the House have expressed concerns about the bill, hoping to make it apply just to public schools. “I don’t see any conflict or any problem of working both public and private schools,” Branstad says. “We want all of our kids to be safe, regardless of where they go to school.”

Some Republicans say the bill goes too far and students could be labeled bullies for expressing their personal religious beliefs. Others say there’s no need for the legislation, as current Iowa law already gives school officials ample authority to address bullies. “This is a more effective law that will give schools the tools they need to protect all our kids and to make sure we don’t have more of these tragedies,” Branstad says.

Branstad has been asking legislators for the past two years to pass anti-bullying legislation that would give school administrators more authority to police bullying outside of school, especially on social media. “We should not wait ’til there’s another tragedy or suicide,” Branstad says. “We ought to take action now to protect Iowa children so they’ll be safe in our schools and give our educators the tools they need to deal with that issue.” Democrats in the Iowa Senate have passed an anti-bullying bill, but it has not yet been debated by the Republican-led Iowa House.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lucey, an 18-month old pooch from Waukee, Iowa, has beaten out 49 drooling competitors to take this year’s “Beautiful Bulldog” pageant. Monday’s tongue-in-cheek event is designed to kick off the weeklong Drake Relays, an internationally-renowned track and field event in Des Moines.

Lucey’s owner, Tiffany Torstenson of nearby Waukee, Iowa, is a surgeon at the Mercy Katzmann Breast Center. Torstenson said she often takes Lucey to work. She says Lucey’s demeanor around doctors and patients helped convinced her human family that she’d make a perfect therapy dog.

Lucey was certainly a hit with the crowd at Drake’s Knapp Center, besting a pair of boys named Lord Nelson and Zuul to capture top honors.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman say Election ballots for the June 3rd Primary were delivered to the Cass County Auditor today (Monday). Sunderman reports  the first day to vote an absentee ballot in the office of the county auditor is Thursday, April 24th, 2014. The polls will be open on election day from 7-a.m. until 9-p.m. Those unable to go to the polls on the day of election, may vote early by mail or, beginning Thursday, April 24th, by going to and voting at the county auditor’s office. In addition to regular office hours, the office of Cass County Auditor will be open Saturday, May 24, 2014 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday, May 31, 2014 from 9 a.m. thru 5 p.m.

The PRIMARY ELECTION is the electoral process used to choose who will run as EACH party’s (Republican or Democratic) candidate for a given office to be voted upon in the GENERAL ELECTION in November. A voter must choose and may vote only one party’s ballot (Republican or Democratic). In order to vote in Iowa a person must be registered in the person’s current county of residence, under the person’s present name, and at the person’s current address. May 24th, 2014 is the last day to pre-register in the office of the County Auditor in order to vote in the 2014 Primary Election. An alternate mail registration form may be used and that needs to be returned by mail or personal carrier to the County Auditor’s office by May 24 also. Forms are available at the county auditor’s office, many State of Iowa service offices and on the Secretary of State’s web site: sos.iowa.gov.

ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION

After 5 p.m. on May 24 a person may register to vote at the auditor’s office and vote an absentee ballot on same visit. A similar process is available at the precinct voting center on election day. The voter must show ID (The ID must include a photo and an expiration date. Acceptable forms of ID are: Iowa driver’s license; Iowa non-operator’s ID; United States passport; United States military ID; ID card from an employer; Iowa student ID; Out-of-state driver’s license; or out-of-state non-operator’s ID.

If the photo ID presented does not contain the voter’s current address in the precinct, one of the following documents that includes the voter’s name and current address in the precinct must be presented: residential lease; utility bill; paycheck; property tax statement; bank statement; government issued check; or other government issued document.

Voters with no ID may establish identity and residence in the precinct by written oath of a person who is registered to vote in the precinct. The process to register on election day (same day registration) is: 1- provide proof of IDENTITY (photo ID); 2- provide proof of RESIDENCY (current address in the precinct); and 3- SIGN AN OATH attesting that the info given is true.)

The county election commissioner recommends that persons who are not currently registered or who have moved since last registering and who are planning to vote in the June PRIMARY ELECTION pre-register in the office of the County Auditor by May 24, 2014, the last day to pre-register. You may pre-register and vote absentee on the same day.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS: Dale Sunderman, Cass County Auditor, also notes that if a person chooses, he/she may request and vote a ballot before election day (called ABSENTEE BALLOT). A signed absentee ballot request form may be mailed or delivered to the county auditor and a ballot will be mailed. Or an absentee ballot may be requested in person at the office of the County Auditor and voted at the auditor’s office immediately on any day the office is open up through the day before election day. Absentee ballots may not be picked up and taken to a voter. Absentee ballots must either be mailed out or the requester may vote the absentee ballot in the auditor’s office.

IF VOTING BY MAIL: A written request on the State required form may be mailed or hand delivered to the County Auditor’s office. Deadline to request that an absentee ballot be mailed is May 30, 2014 at 5 p.m. (Absentee request forms are available at the auditor’s office and on the Secretary of State’s web site: sos.iowa.gov). A ballot along with instructions on how to complete the ballot will be mailed to the requester. For the ballot to be counted, the completed ballot then must be returned either by personal carrier to the office of County Auditor before the close of polls on election day or returned by mail postmarked no later than the day before the election. All ABSENTEE BALLOTS MUST BE RETURNED whether voted or not voted.

IF VOTING AT THE COUNTY AUDITOR’S OFFICE: Beginning Thursday, April 24 the absentee voter may come to the CASS COUNTY COURTHOUSE during the regular office hours of 8 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday thru Friday, up through the day before the election and cast a ballot. In addition to regular office hours, the office of Cass County Auditor will be open Saturday, May 24, 2014 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday, May 31, 2014 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

FOR THE 2012 PRIMARY ELECTION THERE WILL BE 13 VOTING CENTERS:

1 Atlantic 1st Ward: Zion Lutheran Church (811 Oak St)

2 Atlantic 2nd Ward: Atlantic Public Library (507 Poplar)

3 Atlantic 3rd Ward:.Cass County Community Center (805 W 10th)

4 Atlantic 4th Ward : United Church of Christ (1607 Hazel)

5 Atlantic 5th Ward: Heritage House (1200 Brookridge Circle)

6 Bear Grove,Cass Twp/Lewis: Lewis City Hall

7 Benton, Franklin Twp/Wiota: Wiota City Hall

8 Brighton,Grove,Pymosa,Washington Twp/Marne: Cass County Community Center

9 Edna, Victoria Twp: Massena Public Library

10 Grant, Lincoln Twp /Anita: Anita Community Center (805 Main St)

11 Noble, Pleasant Twp/Griswold: Griswold Community Bldg. (601 2nd St)

12 Massena Twp/City of Massena: Massena Public Library (122 Main St, Massena)

13 Union Twp/City of Cumberland: Cumberland Community Bldg. (200 W 2nd)

If you have questions concerning this or other elections, contact the office of Cass County Auditor/Election Commissioner Dale Sunderman (Phone: 712-243-4570; FAX: 712-243-4572)

The Atlantic Police Department reports four people were arrested over the past few days. On Saturday, 19-year old Christian Sempek, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant for Serious Assault. 24-year old Kevin Engles, of Atlantic, was arrested that same day on a warrant for Violation of his Probation, and 21-year old Michelle Buboltz, of Ames, was arrested Saturday for Theft in the 5th Degree/Shoplifting.

On Friday, 31-year old Mike Henson, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While License Revoked. All four individuals were transported to the Cass County Jail and held pending an appearance before the Magistrate.

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs announced last week that it has approved the Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board’s recommendation to award $65,000 to the Museum of Danish America Curatorial Center in Elk Horn, for their Green Roof, and Prairie Installation for landscape enhancements and fabrication, as well as the installation of nine interpretive signs at the new 8,000 square-foot Curatorial Center.

Terri Johnson, Administrative Manager, Museum of Danish America (formerly the Danish Immigrant Museum), says “Funding from the Iowa Great Places program has given the Museum…the opportunity to continue developing its 30-acre Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park.” Johnson says this year, they will install additional interpretive signs, plant trees as well as two rose meadows and install a green roof on a new 8,000 square-foot curatorial center. The green roof will serve as an elevated continuation of the Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park and will be unusual in that it will incorporate prairie grasses and flowers instead of sedums, which are most commonly used on green roofs.

The Danish Villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton received designation as an Iowa Great Place in 2010. Created in 2005, Iowa Great Places now includes 31 Iowa communities. For more information, including Iowa Great Places community profiles, visit www.iowagreatplaces.gov.