The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting tomorrow (Friday), beginning at 8:30-a.m. in their Courthouse Boardroom. On the agenda is a Resolution to enter into agreement to abate the tax and assign a tax sale Certificate on a County-held parcel in Marne, as well as the abatement of tax for a parcel in the City of Cumberland.

The Board will also act on a 28-E (cost sharing) contract and agreement for provision of law enforcement to the Unified Law Enforcement District, which is comprised of the Cities of Cumberland, Lewis, Marne, Massena, and Wiota.

And, the Supervisors are expected to act on appointing a County Weed Commissioner, for the period covering March 2018 to November 2018. Later discussion will center on County employee health insurance options under the ISAC group program.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man threatened by city officials with legal action for saying on a website that his hometown smelled like “rancid dog food” has won a free-speech lawsuit.

Josh Harms, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, filed suit in U.S. District Court earlier this month asking a judge to block Sibley officials from suing him. City officials said they’d sue if he didn’t stop criticizing the odor problem from an animal food processing plant and talking with reporters about it.

On Thursday a judge approved a permanent injunction prohibiting city threats. The city agrees to pay Harms $6,500 in damages and $20,000 in legal fees. The city promises to hold First Amendment training and will not prevent Harms from launching a website under the address www.sibleystinks.com .

A 400-year-old painting that was forgotten in a dark corner of a Des Moines venue for more than a century has been rediscovered. Entitled “Apollo and Venus,” the work by Dutch master Otto Van Veen was painted in the year 1600. Robert Warren, executive director of Hoyt Sherman Place, was searching for Civil War flags in a little-used storeroom when he noticed the painting wedged between a table and the plaster wall.

“So the assumption was it was tucked away there either because it needed some repair work,” he says, “or the content, because it is a full backside nude of Venus de Milo and another cherub sans clothing.” A tag indicated the discolored piece had been donated to the Des Moines Women’s Club at Hoyt Sherman in 1923 and it was evidently forgotten in the storage area under the balcony of the auditorium. Warren says it’s impossible to know the value of the painting because it has never been sold.

“I’m sure it’s severely undervalued,” Warren says, “as it was listed for $1,500 when it first came into possession of the women’s club.” Now that the painting has been restored, Warren is having appraisers determine its value. The artist Van Veen is best known for being a teacher of Peter Paul Rubens.

(Radio Iowa)

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak man on Thursday. At 12:12pm Officers arrested 24-year-old Dakota Christian Thomas Sexton in the 200 block of East Joy Street in Red Oak for Domestic Abuse Assault and Criminal Mischief 5th Degree. Sexton was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on no bond until seen by a Magistrate.

The name has been released of the motorist who died in a two vehicle accident on Highway 20 in rural Calhoun County on Wednesday night. The Iowa State Patrol reported a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan operated by 37 year-old Deja Kirbylynne De Rubio, of Albion, was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Highway 20 when the vehicle struck the front of a westbound 2017 GMC Yukon driven by 53-year-old Tony Christensen, of Humboldt.

Both vehicles came to rest in the median. De Rubio died in the accident. Christensen was taken by Life Flight helicopter to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines for treatment. Three passengers in the Christensen vehicle were transported to Unity Point Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge with their names not released.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (March 29, 2018) — Ten Iowans were recently among the 200 craft trainees and apprentices from across the country that traveled to Long Beach, California to compete in the annual National Craft Championships competition, hosted by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). ABC of Iowa’s apprentices found success in California.

Six apprentices received national recognition for their efforts and three won safety awards, highlighting the correct utilization of personal protective equipment, safe handling of tools and equipment and maintaining a safe work environment.

Michael Jensen, of Atlantic is pictured on the right

Included among the winners who brought home medals was:

• Michael Jensen from Camblin Mechanical, Inc. in Atlantic placed first in the HVAC (Heating/Ventilation and Air Conditioning) competition.

“These apprentices represent the best of the best in their field,” said Ginny Shindelar, ABC of Iowa’s vice president of education and training services. “We’re incredibly proud of the superior knowledge, focus, hard work and safety skills displayed by our Iowa apprentices at the National Craft Championships.”

Overall, there were 15 competitions and 12 crafts. Each competition consisted of a written exam and a practical performance test, testing apprentices’ skills during a six-hour project. Prizes are awarded to the top three finishers in each craft.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man died after suffering an electric shock at a Cedar Rapids mobile home park. First responders were sent to Five Seasons Mobile Home Park around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. He was found in a detached shed. Police say he was pronounced dead at St. Luke’s Hospital. His name and other information haven’t been released.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), released a report on arrests. Yesterday (Wednesday), 45-year old Kimberly Denise Zeibig,  of Griswold, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Zeibig was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $25,000 bond. On Monday, 32-year old Daniel Raymond Jensen, of Atlantic, was arrested on two District Court warrants for Probation Violation. Jensen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $10,000 bond. Also arrested Monday, was 30-year old Janae Nicole Anderson, of Omaha. She was taken into custody on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Anderson remains held in the Cass County Jail on $10,000 bond.

On March 21st, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 54-year old Milton Milligan, Jr., of Council Bluffs, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Milligan was taken to the Cass County Jail and is currently held on a $5,000 bond.

March 12th, 21-year old Skyler James Svoboda, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Story County warrant. Svoboda was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $2,000 bond.

On March 11th, 28-year old Cam Christopher Jahnke, of Lewis, was arrested on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault 1st Offense (Simple). Jahnke was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance. That same day (March 11), 26-year old Jennifer Renee Avey, of Griswold, was arrested on a charge of Public Intoxication (Simple). Avey was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on her own recognizance.

And, on March 10th, Cass County Deputies arrested 35-year old Steven Micheal Scott Beck, of Carroll, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Beck was brought to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and held until time was served.

Employers with drug and alcohol policies in Iowa, and transportation businesses under federal safety regulations, who require employees to be drug and alcohol tested, are being offered courses in Atlantic and Red Oak. The training, which is required under the Iowa Code, serves to ensure a safe working environment and continuous safe operations.  In both communities, the sessions are for supervisors, HR, safety personnel, crew leaders, business owners, Designated Employee Reps, and anyone needing a refresher course. Certificates of completion are issued upon the successful conclusion of the course.

In Atlantic, the Supervisor Training Session will be held April 12th, from 1:30-until 3:30-p.m., at Iowa Western Community College, Room 105. Check-in is at 1:15-p.m.

In Red Oak, the session will take place April 12th, from 9-until 11-a.m., at the Red Oak Community College, Room 111. Check-in is 8:30-a.m.

Presenters include Zion Recovery Assistant Director Richard Mullen – IADC for southwest Iowa, and Priscilla Franken, ADC Serices in Ames.

There is a charge of $25 per person. Register in advance with ADCInc@mchsi.com by April 10th. Checks are payable to ADC Services.

Topics include: Defensible ways to keep operations safe, by applying for cause-reasonable suspicion test when necessary; How RS is defined; What procedures are needed; EAP & resources link to drug policy; indicators of use & how to protect employees and the public from harm, the impairing effects of prescription medications and marijuana on safety-sensitive jobs, and more.

For more information, call 641-420-3738.