The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday) approved a proposed preliminary plat for a new subdivision, located about 2.5-miles south of Atlantic near the old Walnut Grove Research Farm. Zoning Administrator Rich Hansen said plans for the Walnut Grove Subdivision off of Highway Six, started last October. He said the septic systems have already been approved, the utilities are accessible and hard surface roads are nearby for those who want to construct homes on at least three of four available lots. Plans for the fourth lot, which is a little over 11-acres are still being discussed.

Hansen said there were also some issues with regard to easements for some water lines, but the zoning board approved the preliminary plat, and recommended the Supervisors follow suit. Hopefully, he says, that issue will be resolved by the time the final plat is presented to the zoning board.

Hansen says the land itself won’t be rezoned. It’s classified as agricultural, and the prospective property owners were made aware of that.  The subdivision is bordered on the north by Lansing Road, on the east-southeast side by Highway Six, on the west/southwest by the Jerry and Linda Petersen, and Billy and Leanne Pellett properties, and the Pellet property on the south.

In other business, the Cass County Board of Supervisors approved expense appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012, certified the base salaries of deputies serving county offices, a two-percent across the board compensation increase for non-union or other such county employees, and a 28-E agreement with Adair County for the services of Cass County Engineer Charles Marker. The 28-E agreement stipulates Marker will get a two-percent increase in pay, the cost of which will be shared by the two-counties.

w/ Morning Announcer Chris Parks

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About one-third of the City of Atlantic and a large part of a rural area served by an Atlantic Municipal Utilities substation were without power for a few minutes Tuesday evening, thanks to a previously unknown problem.

Greg Smith, AMU’s Director of Electric Operations said they were putting in a new control system at around 4:45-p.m., and when they went to test the system and operate a breaker remotely, they quickly discovered a problem with some of the older wiring. Smith says result was a signal being sent to a wrong breaker, which opened-up and caused the Chestnut Street substation to briefly go off-line. He says it‘s a good thing they found the problem because the wiring was incorrect.

He says once the signal was sent and the breakers were tripped, they were able to clear the alarms and restore electrical service.  Smith says they are working to correct the problem so it doesn’t occur again.

w/ News Director Ric Hanson

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An old scam is making a comeback. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is making the public aware of a scam that is currently going around in our area.

The scam involves a person who — in most cases — calls, claiming to be a grandchild or another relative. The individuals claims they are in jail and need money.

The Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone receiving a call of that nature to be extremely suspicious, and to ask questions of the caller, that only your grandchild or other relative would know the answers to.

In addition, before offering any financial help or information, you should to attempt to contact your grandchild or other relative yourself, to verify the story being told to you. You may recall, a year or so ago, we told you an area resident received a similar call from a person claiming to be a man’s grandson who was in jail in Canada.

When the resident asked the caller a question only his grandson could answer, the person on the other end of the phone became upset and eventually hung-up. The man later called his grandson to confirm he was NOT in trouble with the law.

Plenty of rumors are floating about the looming flooding in Council Bluffs and the city is taking steps to separate truth from fiction. Art Hill, a spokesman for Council Bluffs, says they’re launching a 24-seven flooding hotline so people can get answers to any questions right away.

“We are establishing an information line,” Hill says. “It’ll always be staffed by a person to relate information they’ve been hearing and whether or not it’s correct.” He says the city is also updating its website constantly with the latest flood data. Hill urges Council Bluffs residents and business owners to register on the city’s Code Red notification system.

“If, geographically, your home or business is in a location that might be impacted in some way, you’ll get either a phone call or a text telling you about it,” he says. Hill says officials want to make sure all residents with special needs get help in case there is an evacuation due to flooding — or some other emergency.

“Whether it’s because of limited mobility or age, they (should) register with the city and in the event of an evacuation, we’d have the information.” The information line is (712) 328-4672 and the website is: www.councilbluffs-ia.gov

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — A company that operates long-term care facilities is selling nine centers in Nebraska and Iowa, including the Beatrice Manor.

Careage Management LLC of Sioux City, Iowa, has reached an agreement to sell the facilities to The Ensign Group, which operates 87 skilled nursing, assisted living, home health and hospice services in eight western states.

Beatrice Manor is an 87-bed facility and employs nearly 100 people.

The other Nebraska centers being acquired are in Falls City, Randolph and Wayne. The Iowa facilities are in Fort Dodge, Clarion, Hawarden, West Bend and Cherokee.

Dan Myers, the president of CEO of Careage, says the new company plans to retain current employees.

The sale is expected to close July 1.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Flooding along the Missouri River in the Omaha area is forcing Amtrak to disrupt its California Zephyr passenger train, which travels between San Francisco and Chicago.

Amtrak says Tuesday that service will be temporarily suspended between Denver and Chicago for at least six days because of predicted flood crests and additional closures of Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks in the Omaha area.

Amtrak says in a statement the suspension of service is effective with an eastbound train on Thursday from Emeryville, Calif., and a westbound train on Friday from Chicago. The disruption is expected to continue through at least June 14.

There will be no Amtrak service in Iowa, except in Fort Madison, Nebraska, and in Fort Morgan, Colo. Daily service will continue between Chicago and Galesburg, Ill.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State transportation officials say Interstate 29 in western Iowa is in the path of the rising Missouri River, and parts could be closed within days.

The Department of Transportation on Tuesday released an initial assessment of the state and federal highways most at risk.

It includes I-29, U.S. 275 and Iowa 333 in Hamburg, where a massive sandbagging operation is under way to protect the town. Other parts of I-29 are on the list, including north of Council Bluffs, near Crescent and near Loveland. A section of Interstate 680 in Council Bluffs is also at risk.

Officials have also included Iowa Highway 2 in Fremont County and state Highway 127 near Mondamin (mahn-DAY’-min) in Harrison County.

The DOT says it will update the list as the river rises.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – June 7, 2011 – Nighttime construction work will cause lane closures on eastbound Interstate 80 between Madison Avenue (exit 5) and U.S. 6 (exit 8) near Council Bluffs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Tuesday, June 7, until Saturday, June 11, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Council Bluffs construction office. 

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey posted speed limits and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles and wear seat belts.