Atlantic City Councilman Dana Halder says when it comes to budget time, more money should be made available for improvements to the Atlantic Public Library. Speaking at Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting, Halder, who is the Council’s liaison to the Library Board, said the Board had a meeting Oct. 12th, during which roof repairs and a 5-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was discussed.

That brought up the topic of the Library’s budget. Halder said the Library’s 5-year CIP should really be a one-to three-year plan. He says looking back, there’s really been nothing done to the Library in over 20-years. Much of the money gifted to the Library has been placed into Trust and Agency. Those funds he says, have been used for new computers, and roof repair, but Halder says he doubts those who donate large sums of money want it to be used for a roof.

He said the Council will likely see a budget increase request coming from the Library when the Council considers the City’s budget for FY 2016-17, and he hopes they can find room for that increase. He said he feels the Library is “Very underfunded.”

He pointed to the fact it receives more than 650 visits each week, which amounts to 35,000 visits last year. Halder challenged the Council to come up with another City building “That has that much traffic.” On another note, Halder said the Friends of the Library will hold a book sale from 9:30-am to 6-p.m. Oct. 27th through the 29th.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A trial has been rescheduled to January for a woman accused of fatally stabbing a Council Bluffs man on July 4th, last year. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the trial of Jodie Sherman had been set for Tuesday but was rescheduled to begin Jan. 12. Sherman is accused of stabbing 52-year-old Douglas Richt in the throat during an argument after he picked her up in a car. She was arrested shortly after fleeing on foot.

Sherman’s mental competency to stand trial has been reviewed by psychiatric experts. Pottawattamie County Attorney Matthew Wilber told the Nonpareil that Sherman “is definitely competent to stand trial; the question for the jury is whether or not she was insane at the time of the stabbing.”

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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With the political season in full swing, Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones issued a reminder Wednesday to local candidates for office and their campaign supporters, as well as local groups and organizations, about the City’s Ordinance regarding placement of election and other signs. Jones said signs cannot be placed on City Right-of-Ways, such as the green space between sidewalks and the street. Signs can only be placed on the side of a sidewalk that faces toward a house, not the street. He said they’ve had to make calls telling people to remove signs that are not properly located.

Jones, who spoke during a meeting of the City Council, said some areas of town are becoming cluttered with the signs. It’s not only illegal, but unsightly, especially in the area of 10th and Linden Streets.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City woman has been given 25 years in prison for the death of her baby son and the neglect of two other children. Online court records say Rebekah Williams-McCarthy pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two counts of child endangerment and one of neglect of a dependent person.

The 2-month-old boy’s father, Michael Williams, last month was sentenced to 25 years on identical charges. Authorities have said little Leonard Williams was taken to an emergency room on April 29 last year. An autopsy later showed he died of malnutrition and dehydration.

Police in Creston say the Casey’s Store at 200 S. Elm Street was robbed at gun point early Wednesday morning. An employee at the store notified police of the robbery just after 6:30-a.m. An unknown male subject got away with an undetermined amount of cash. The incident remains under investigation.

Creston Police said also, three people were arrested on separate charges, Wednesday. 44-year old Mirsad Okanovic, of Urbandale, was arrested at around 11:40-p.m. for OWI/3rd or subsequent offense, and Driving While Barred. Okanovic was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

A little after 6:45-p.m., Wednesday, Creston Police arrested 22-year old Hayley Vandel, of Creston, on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear in Court. She was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $2,000 bond. And, at around 1:45-a.m. Wednesday, police in Creston arrested 37-year old Jerry Dillinger, of Thayer, on a Federal warrant for being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition. Dillinger was being held in the Union County Jail without bond, while awaiting extradition.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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An accident Wednesday evening south of Atlantic reportedly sent at least one person to the hospital. According to reports, the accident, which involved a semi hauling grain, and a car, occurred at around 6:15-p.m.

It’s believed three people were in the car, which ended-up in a ditch. Names and other details concerning the accident are likely to be released later today.

Police in Red Oak arrested a man early this (Thursday) morning. Officials say 34-year old Paul Earl Lemburg, II, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at a residence on W. Coolbaugh Street, at around 4:10-a.m., on a warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. Lemburg was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a man was arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop late Wednesday  night. 40-year old Charles Frank Adkins, Jr., was pulled over in the 3400 block of Highway 2, at around 11:45-p.m.  Following an investigation by the Fremont County K9 unit, Adkins, Jr. was arrested on Possession of a Controlled Substance and OWI/1st offense, charges.

He was brought to the Fremont County Hail and held on $1,000 cash bond.