OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a 25-year-old man suspected of killing an Omaha man last September. The body of 30-year-old Ernesto Saavedra was discovered Sept. 7 behind a building in northeast Omaha. Authorities haven’t said how he died.

Police say the suspect, Marquez Sanders, was taken to Omaha on Wednesday from the Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he’d been in custody. Nebraska court records say Sanders is charged with second-degree murder.

Griswold Fire and Rescue and Medivac Ambulance crews were called to the scene of a single-vehicle accident early this (Thursday) afternoon just across the Cass/Pottawattamie County line, at 490th and Highway 6. The call went out at around 12:15-p.m. According to reports, a vehicle went out of control and entered the north ditch. The female driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, was transported by ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. No other details are currently available.

(Photo credit Tamara Wiley)

DES MOINES, Iowa – (July 20, 2017) – As temperatures rise, so can energy use. As a result of this week’s hot weather, MidAmerican Energy is issuing a peak alert and encouraging customers to conserve energy today and Friday. Peak alerts are issued when temperatures hit the mid to high 90s and electricity use is expected to be at or near maximum levels.

MidAmerican Energy has sufficient generating capacity to handle extreme summer temperatures, plus a reserve margin. However, during a peak alert, customers are asked to take simple steps to lower their electricity usage, which can help reduce demand and save money on their electric bills. To follow are five ways people can reduce their energy usage:

1. Wait till sundown: Limit clothes drying, baking and other heat-producing work with appliances to the morning hours or after 7 p.m.

2. Dial up: Setting your thermostat a few degrees higher can make a big difference – reducing electrical usage 3 to 5 percent for each degree. A setting of 78 degrees will keep you comfortable when it is more than 90 degrees outside. If you are not at home during the day, close the house and turn off the air conditioner.

3. Use fans: Fans use less energy than air conditioners and can boost the comfort from an air conditioner, increasing its efficiency. Use ceiling and portable fans to better circulate cool air throughout your home. Reverse the normal direction of ceiling fans to pull cool air up from the floor. Ventilate your attic with a thermostatically controlled fan.

4. Trim foliage outside: Keep your air conditioner unit clear of grass, weeds and shrubs. This will keep your air conditioner unit from working too hard.

5. Block sun: Close drapes, particularly those on west and south windows, to shut out direct sunlight.

MidAmerican Energy also reminds customers to be safe during times of extreme heat and provide support to elderly neighbors, family members and friends who do not have an air conditioner. Customers without an air conditioner can also visit a public place such as a mall or library to find relief.

For more energy-saving tips, visit www.midamericanenergy.com.

The Harlan Police Department reports a man from Morrison, IA, was arrested Sunday following a scuffle with a Peace Officer. 39-year old James R. McIntyre was taken into custody following the incident that took place in the Myrtue Memorial Hospital Emergency room.  McIntyre was charged with assault on a peace officer and disorderly conduct.

On Tuesday (7/18), 24-year old Mitchel D. Cook, of Carter Lake, was arrested following a traffic stop at 12th & Chatburn in Harlan.  Cook was cited for driving while barred and transported to the Shelby County Sheriff’s office.

And, on July 12th, 31-year old Megan E. Owen, of Harlan, was charged with Theft in the fifth degree after it was determined she had allegedly stolen pain meds from a locker at work.

Harlan Police said also, two, property damage accidents took place July 16th. No injuries were reported.

New wind power projects are still appearing across the region as Iowa utilities boost the amount of electricity they get from renewable sources. Opposition to those projects is also growing. Lucas Nelsen, a policy program associate with the Center for Rural Affairs, says there are reasons for those objections.

“We’re seeing more opponents but that’s also because we’re seeing more wind development,” Nelsen says. “As wind continues to get cheaper, as it gets easier to build more efficient turbines and as the technologies become more efficient, we’re going to see wind in more places than we used to which means people that have never dealt with wind energy are going to experience it more often.”

Nelsen says people who oppose wind projects have to be careful that they don’t choke off all new development. “The bigger issue is making sure the siting and the zoning are compatible with development and the desires of residents,” Nelsen says. “It’s a weird balance we have to strike. We have to be careful we’re not making zoning so strict that we can’t develop any wind energy anywhere. It’s a really valuable source of development for rural communities.”

Nelsen says developers who seek to build large wind farms could also do a better job at the front end. “Go in early. Talk to the community. Make sure you’ve answered their questions and that you know what their concerns are,” Nelsen says. “When you know what their concerns are, you can begin trying to figure out, how can we address these? What are the solutions we can identify?”

Nelsen says wind power projects can bring tax revenue, new families and new business to rural areas.

(Radio Iowa)

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reminds persons interested in running for your local school board, that August 3rd is the last date nomination papers may be filed with your school board secretary, in advance of the September 12th School Board elections. All offices are for four-year terms.

For the Atlantic Community School District, there are two At-Large local directors seats open on the School Board. Incumbents are Kristy Pellett and Josh E. McLaren, both of Atlantic.

In the CAM School District, there is an At-Large local director seat open, as well as a North District local director, and a South District local director. The incumbents include: Chuck Kinze, of Anita – North Director; Gary Dinkla, of Massena – South Director, and Nick Kaufman, of Adair – At Large.

And in the Griswold School District, there are two At-Large local director seats open, and one seat each in District 3 and District 4. Incumbents include: Scott C. Peterson of Elliott – District 3; Donald K. Smith – District 4; Steve Baier, of Griswold, and Robert Peterson, of Elliott – At Large.

Election information, including the candidate nomination form, is available online at the Iowa Secretary of State’s website, from the local school board secretary’s offices, and the Cass County Auditor’s Office. Check with your local school board secretary for local school board director district boundaries.

Mills County Sheriff Eugene Goos reports three recent arrests. Wednesday night, 28-year old Andrew Dean West, of Malvern, was arrested for Eluding, Careless Driving, and Following too close. His bond was set at $2,500.

43-year old Mark Anthony Palm, of Hastings, was arrested late Wednesday evening for being a Fugitive From Justice. He was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond.

And, 35-year old Benjamin Todd Draper, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested at around 2-a.m. today (Thursday), for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.