Two central Iowans have created a coffee table book detailing stories of the county courthouses in all 99 Iowa counties. The 207-page book, “Prairie Jewels,” features color panoramic images and narratives about each of the stately structures. Freelance writer Michael Adams, of Des Moines, says David Richmond, who teaches photography at Simpson College in Indianola, started the project five years ago and it evolved into the book.

“Some of the stories are kind of long on history, others I might focus more on the architecture, and then some might have a little personal observation,” Adams says. “I approached this as a celebration of Iowa’s county courthouse heritage.” During their many journeys across the state to visit each building, Adams says they encountered other “courthouse groupies” who were making similar treks to every courthouse. He’s confident the book will have a wide audience.

“There’s folks that are going to be interested in Iowa history, there’s folks that are going to be interested in architecture, there’s going to be folks that just revel in looking at beautiful buildings,” Adams says. “These are stories of the host communities of these buildings as well.” In addition to the many unusual and sometimes-spectacular features of the buildings themselves, he says there were always tales of community pride, intrigue and whimsy.

“You just walk through these places and you’re incredibly aware of the history,” Adams says. “There were places I visited, like in Leon, I heard about this attempt by two thieves to blow up the treasurer’s office and they ended up blowing up half the courthouse.” While Iowa has 99 counties, there are actually 100 county courthouses in the state. “Lee County has two courthouses,” Adams says. “There’s one in Fort Madison, which happens to be the oldest courthouse in Iowa, and then there’s one in Keokuk that used to be a post office in its early life.”

Pottawattamie County also has two courthouses: the main one in Council Bluffs and the original structure in Avoca, which was built in 1885, though it’s now considered a sub-courthouse. “Prairie Jewels” was the focus of a successful crowd-funded Kickstarter campaign in the spring of 2015. It’s available at independent booksellers and online at: http://prairiejewels.com

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday morning, are expected to act on approving a Resolution to adopt an Indigent Disposition (Burial and cremation) Policy. The matter was tabled during their meeting Jan. 29th, after it was determined the Resolution, as originally proposed, needed an amendment.

During their session on January 29th, the Board met with representatives of county funeral service providers, the Veteran Affairs and General Assistance Directors, as well as the Cass County Attorney. Their discussion covered the type(s) of disposition, what dollar amount(s) should be paid for the service and whether or not to pay additional funds for grave opening/closing.

In other business, the Supervisors this Wednesday, will hear from Department of Human Services representatives Matt Madsen and Mary Jo Rehm, with regard to the DHS’ Fiscal Year 2017 Budget and Reimbursement arrangement. And, the Board will act on awarding contracts for two bridge replacement projects: A replacement bridge  on the Audubon County line or Akron Road, project # BROS-C015(58)-8J-15; and a reinforced concrete box culvert on 690th Street, project #BROS-C015(59)-60-15.

The Board will also award a contract or contracts for dump truck boxes and snow removal equipment for two new dump trucks. Their meeting in the Supervisor’s Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse, gets underway at 8:30-a.m.

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

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• 1 package (1/4 oz.) active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup cold butter, cubed
• 1/3 cup fat-free milk
• 1 egg yolk

Filling:

• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Cinnamon-sugar:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1.  In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.  In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar and salt; cut in butter until crumbly.  Stir milk and egg yolk in yeast mixture.  Add to flour mixture; stir to form a soft dough.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate two hours.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Punch down dough.  Turn onto a lightly floured surface; cover and let rest ten minutes.
3. Roll dough into an 18″ x 10″ rectangle.  Spread with softened butter.  Mix sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over butter.  Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal.  Cut crosswise into twenty-four 3/4 inch slices.  Cover slices with plastic wrap until ready to flatten.
4. In a small bowl, mix cinnamon-sugar ingredients.  Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon mixture on a sheet of waxed paper; top with a slice of dough.  Sprinkle with an additional 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon-sugar.  Roll dough to a four inch circle.
5. Place two inches apart on baking sheets caoted with cooking spray.  Repeat with remaining slices.  Bake seven to nine minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on wire racks.

(Delores Baeten, Downers Grove, IL)

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

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The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet Wednesday evening in the High School Media Center, during a regular session. On their agenda for the 5:30-p.m. meeting, is a presentation on the Fiscal Year 2015 Audit and action on approving the Audit Report.

The Board will also act on approving the resignation of High School Math/Freshman Baseball Coach Paul Dudley, and hold the second reading of their 300 series Board Policies, as well as the first reading of 400 series Policies. Discussion items include those pertaining to the Fiscal Year 2017 Certified Budget, and Summer Capital Projects.

Transportation Director Dave Eckles is expected to inform the Board that the School District is in need of at least two, new school buses during the upcoming budget year. Eckles proposes the Board consider purchasing up to four buses, using a lease-to-own option, which would allow the District to put down the purchase price of one bus, and make three more equal payments over the following three-years, which he says equates to paying for one bus per year. He also proposes the buses be propane-powered, since they tend to reduce the Transportation Department’s overall budget. The proposed, 4-year bus lease would cost the District $100,000.

Eckles says of the 19 yellow school buses the District currently owns, six were placed Out of Service (OS), while five others were given 30-days to make repairs. Three of the OS buses have common issues that can be fixed. Another, 16-year old bus has some minor welding issues, but is “rapidly decaying,” according to Eckles. One of the OS buses, which is 17-years old, has a minor issue to fix in order for it to come back into service. The final bus that’s Out Of Service has had an engine failure, and at 15-years of age, is not worthy of repair, according to Eckles.

The bus fleet has an average age of 10.37-years. Most buses he says typically have a useful life of 12-to 15-years, if well maintained. New buses capable of hauling 65 passengers, will have three-point seat belts installed, which would increase the price of those buses by $5,000 to $10,000. Regardless of the seat belt configuration, Eckles says dealers have told him a new 65 passenger bus would cost roughly $95,000.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report a Nebraska man was arrested late Monday evening on a drug charge, following a traffic stop. 38-year old Timothy A. Barnes, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested at around 6:40-p.m. after Adams County Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a Ford truck. A k9 sweep of the vehicle resulted in a positive alert for the presence of narcotics. A small amount of methamphetamine was found during the search. Barnes was arrested on a Possession of Methamphetamine charge, and brought to the Adam County Jail, where his bond was set at $1,000.

Police in Red Oak said late Monday evening a pickup truck that was stolen early Monday morning from the United Farmers Mercantile Cooperative in Red Oak, was recovered at around 5:40-p.m., Monday, near Grant. The 2002 Dodge Dakota was found one-quarter of a mile east of Highway 71 on 140th Street. The pickup was reported missing at around 8-a.m. Monday.

During the police investigation, it was determined a person or persons unknown entered the UFMC property at 203 W. Oak Street in Red Oak. Several vehicles owned by UFMC were rummaged through, but it’s believed nothing was taken. The suspect or suspects are then alleged to have started a 1991 Kenworth T-800 semi tender truck, and drove it through a chain-link fence that was surrounding large, bulk propane tanks.

From inside the chained-in area, they stole a white, 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup. The thief or thieves left in an unknown direction of travel. An investigation into the crime is ongoing. If you have any information that might help solve the case, call the Red Oak Police Department at 712-623-6500, or Montgomery County Crime Stoppers, at 1-888-434-2712.