Details concerning next week’s Special Meeting of the Cass County Conference Board were released today (Wednesday). The meeting which will be held with regard to the re-appointment of Cass County Assessor Brenda Nelson, takes place in the 2nd Floor Courtroom at the Cass County Courthouse, beginning at 5:30-p.m. Wed., Sept. 23rd.

During the meeting, the Board will hold a voice vote on approval of the minutes of their last meeting on Sept. 3rd, during which they voted 2-1 against re-appointing Nelson to another six-year term. Afterward, the agenda calls for an order to rescind the non-appointment vote. The matter will be done by Roll Call.

A public forum will then take place, with members of the public limited to 2-minutes per speaker, during which you may voice your concerns and/or questions. The forum will be followed by Roll Call vote to reappoint Nelson.

The process of determining Nelson’s future will include all members of the Conference Board deliberating together, as one. Any discussion by any member of the Board will not occur until the motion is made and seconded. Any member of the Board may call for a motion to approve reappointing Nelson to a six-year term beginning January 1st, 2016. That motion, if made, will need to be seconded, followed by deliberations.

Another Roll Call vote will then be held and recorded by the clerk or secretary of the meeting, and taken in the following order: Schools, Mayors and Board of Supervisors of Cass County.

Late last week, Cass County Attorney David Wiederstein said said he asked Conference Board Chair Frank Waters to reconvene the Board, to rescind the Sept. 3rd vote not to reappoint Nelson because of how it was conducted. He stated “There may or may not have been a violation of Open Meetings laws when the three voting units caucused at the same time. Members of the public in attendance, therefore, had to simultaneously divide their attention three different ways.”

Wiederstein brought the matter to the Director of the Iowa Public Information Board, but because a Special Meeting of the Conference Board is being held, he thought there was no further need for the IPIB to be involved in the matter.

A man from Shelby County reportedly suffered minor injuries during a crash Tuesday afternoon in Missouri. The Missouri Highway Patrol says 57-year old John A. Davis, of Panama, was traveling west on Highway 36 one mile north of Osborn, MO., when the 2001 Sterling truck he was driving left the road and rolled onto its passenger side before hitting several road signs. The vehicle came to rest on its side. The accident happened at around 2:15-p.m., Tuesday

Davis was taken to the Cameron Regional Medical Center for treatment. His vehicle was totaled in the crash.

Home prices in Iowa rose nearly six-percent last month compared to August of 2014. That’s according to a new report from the Iowa Association of Realtors. I-A-R president Jon Yocum, of Davenport, says the increase in prices isn’t the only good news for sellers. “Our time on the market is down, so we’re seeing homes sell much quicker,” Yocum said.

The average time on the market for Iowa homes sold in August was just 63 days, the lowest level in five years. Yocum credit low inventory levels across much of the state. The median price of a home sold last month was $146,000. That’s up from $138,000 in August of last year. Despite the rising prices, Yocum believes it’s good time for buyers entering the market because interest rates on a 30-year mortgage are still hovering around four-percent.

“I know there were reports earlier in the year and last spring that, in the third and fourth quarter, we were going to have increases in our mortgage interest rates. Well, that hasn’t come to fruition yet,” Yocum said. The number of homes sold in Iowa last month dropped 7.8 percent compared to August of last year, but Yocum says it’s typically a slow month for sales because families are getting ready for the return to school.

“So, the emphasis on buying a home dropped a little bit. But, I don’t think it was enough of a drop to change anything and I think you’re going to see a big increase in September,” Yocum said. Over the first eight months of this year, the number of homes sold in Iowa is up 7.6 percent compared to the same period last year.

(Radio Iowa)

Authorities in Union County say Doug Jones with the Union County Conservation Office reported Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 15th), that sometime within the past few days someone had vandalized the shelter house at Cedar Park southeast of Creston, in rural Union County. The damage was estimated damage at $300.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says you’re invited to join the Young Professionals of Atlantic (YPA), for their annual scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt will take place Friday, September 18th, beginning at Renew Ag Supply (811 Sunnyside Lane), at 5:30pm. This year’s theme is “Building Atlantic.”

When all the clues have been located join the YPA for an after party at 7:30-pm, at The Alley Bar & Grill (1005 Whitney St), where appetizers will be provided. The winning team will receive their entrance fee returned, and more.

Teams of four are $20, or $5 per person, and the YPA will find a team for you. Registration day of is $28 for a team of 4 or $7 per person. Visit www.atlanticiowa.com or call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 for more information.

The YPA scavenger hunt is brought to you by Renew Ag Supply and the S.F. Martin House. The Young Professionals of Atlantic are 20 and 30-something working professionals who want to be more involved in the community, meet more people, and have fun.

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

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A woman from Mt. Ayr reported to Creston Police, Tuesday, that someone had stolen her SUV from the parking lot at Southwestern Community College. The 2006 Jeep Commander with Iowa license plate AUX 179, was taken sometime between Noon and 1-p.m., Tuesday. The loss was estimated at $5,000.

Creston Police said also, officers arrested 19-year old Jazmin Govea, of Lenox, Tuesday afternoon. She was cited for Theft in the 5th degree (for allegedly shoplifting from Wal-Mart), and later released from the Union County Jail.

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

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Police in Red Oak arrested a man wanted on two warrants, Tuesday evening. 34-year old Kale Garrett Hardman, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 6:30-p.m. on a Mongtomery County Sheriff’s Department warrant for Contempt of Court for resisting an order of process of the magistrate court. He was also arrested on a Mills County warrant for Harassment in the 1st degree, and Violation of a Protective Order. Hardman was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on cash bonds amounting to $2,600.

An accident Tuesday afternoon near Menlo involving a semi on Interstate 80, resulted in one person being sent to the hospital. The Iowa State Patrol reports 59-year old Andrew Burch, of Huntsville, AL, was driving a 2015 International semi eastbound on I-80 about a two-miles east of the Menlo exit at around 3:15-p.m., when the truck — registered to New Prime, Inc., out of Springfield, MO. — left the road and entered the south ditch before it came to rest. Burch was transported by Stuart Rescue to the Adair County Hospital in Greenfield.