The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in an organizational meeting this (Monday) morning, at the Shelby County Court House. During their session, the Board passed on the second reading, an amended Snow Removal ordinance. The ordinance says it is unlawful for any individual to deposit snow or ice onto a public roadway in quantities adequate to hinder utilization of the roadway by the traveling public.

The penalty for violating the provisions of pushing snow into the roadway will be:

• 1st offense – An individual pushing snow into the roadway will be contacted and given a copy of the winter road maintenance policy and a verbal warning. The warning will be documented.
• 2nd offense –$50 fine
• 3rd offense – $100 fine.

After the Christmas Eve snow storm, officials observed that over 80 instances where snow had been pushed across the roadways in amounts that were considered hazardous to motorists. With the passage of the ordinance, that type of activity will no longer be tolerated.

County leaders say with another rain/snow event forecast for the latter half of this week, residents clearing their driveway or sidewalks should follow the ordinance, and clear any snow that you may have thrown onto the roadway. An amendment to the ordinance, including cost of additional snow removal by the county, may also be in the works.

(KNOD/Harlan)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following an accident at around 11:10-a.m. on Dec. 31st. Authorities say the collision happened at the intersection of 710th Street and Boston Road, when a 2009 vehicle owned and driven by 47-year old Nyle Lewayen Lund, of Anita, was hit by a 2016 Honda, owned and driven by 73-year old Martin Liepa, of Des Moines.

The crash occurred as Lund was westbound on Boston Road, and Liepa was traveling south on 710th Street.  Following the collision, Lund’s vehicle entered the southwest ditch, rolling onto its roof. Damage from the crash amounted to $20,000. Deputies cited Liepa for Failure to Yield Right of Way.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two alcohol-related arrests on New Year’s Day. 19-year old Brody Lee Peterson, of Atlantic,  was arrested Jan. 1st on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Peterson was also cited for Minor in Possession of Alcohol. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on his own recognizance.

And, 24-year old Corey Merritt Spry, of Anita, was arrested Jan. 1st on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Spry was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

An employee-owned company in Cedar Rapids is expanding to the Chicago and Omaha markets. Van Meter, Incorporated distributes 800 different brands of electrical and mechanical products to contractors as well as industrial and commercial clients. It operates out of 14 locations in Iowa and has just completed its purchase of Bright Electrical Supply in Chicago.

Bright is a leading lighting distributor in the Chicago area. Its offices in Chicago will keep the Bright Electric name. Van Meter executives say they plan to open a branch location in Omaha by the end of March to serve customers in Nebraska.

Van Meter has operations in Burlington, Carroll, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Keokuk, Muscatine, Ottumwa, Sioux City, Urbandale and Waterloo. Van Meter’s product line includes lighting as well as data communications and power transmission equipment. Once the Omaha branch is opened, Van Meter will be operating out of 16 locations in three states.

(Radio Iowa)

The Adair County Sheriff’s Department reports a Greenfield man was arrested last week on an assault charge. 25-year old Cody Neil Daugherty was taken into custody Dec. 29th after allegedly punching Raymond Young, Jr., in the face, causing multiple fractures of Young’s upper jaw and eye socket. Daugherty was later released on bond.

Sheriff’s officials said also, 24-year old Robert Dean Garrett, of Greenfield, was arrested Saturday morning, in order to serve a court ordered sentence. Garrett was released this (Monday) morning, after serving the required time.

25-year old Kyle Christian Jorgensen, of Fontanelle, was arrested Jan. 1st on Highway 25 for OWI/1st offense following a motor vehicle accident. Jorgensen was also cited for Failure to Maintain Control. He was released later that day on $1,000 bond.

And, 20-year old Dakota Dean Rosch, of Creston, was arrested Friday morning by an Adair County Sheriff’s Deputy, following a traffic stop on Highway 25. Rosch was taken into custody for OWI/2nd offense, and Driving While license revoked for a previous OWI test failure. He was released later that day on $2,000 bond.

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

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WAYNE, Neb. (AP) – Authorities in Nebraska say a pilot has been found dead at the scene of a plane crash in the northeast part of the State. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office says the wreckage of the single-engine Cessna 172 was found around today (Monday), at around 1:30 a.m.

The plane was reported overdue Sunday and had gone off radar. It had been diverted to the Wayne County airport from its destination of Sioux City, Iowa, because of bad weather. The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene. His name hasn’t been released, pending notification of relatives.

Tom Becker manages the Wayne County facility, and he says Columbia, Missouri, was the last known stop for the aircraft. Federal authorities will be investigating.

Police in Creston say officers investigated a theft and two incidents of vandalism on New Year’s Eve Day. A resident of the 800 block of N. Lincoln Street reported Thursday afternoon that sometime within the past two weeks, someone stole a winch off his trailer located at 624 New York Avenue. The loss was estimated at $2,000.

Thursday evening, a restaurant at 211 N. Pine Street in Creston reported someone broke out a window in the back entry way to the business. The incident, which happened sometime between 7-p.m. and 8:30-p.m. on Dec. 30th, resulted in a loss estimated at $100. And, a resident on N. Pine Street reported two taillights on her vehicle had been broken out while it was parked outside her home. The incident happened sometime after 9-p.m. Dec. 31st. The loss was estimated at $150.

The Creston Police Department reports six people were arrested over the New Year’s holiday weekend. Sunday night, 21-year old Mario Pantoja, of Lenox, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear in court on an original, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 2nd offense, charge. Pantoja was being held in the jail on $2,000 bond.

Also arrested Sunday, was 30-year old Jamie Barrans, of Creston, for OWI/1st offense. He was later released on $1,000 bond. And, 52-year old Troy McKinney, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. He was also later released on $1,000 bond.

On Friday, Creston Police arrested 23-year old Michael Overhulser, of Creston, on a Union County warrant for Probation Violation. Bond was set at $5,000. On Thursday, 28-year old Cody Vandel, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Probation Violation. Vandel was being held without bond  in the Union County Jail. That same day (Thursday), 37-year old Stephanie Giesken, of Creston, was arrested for Simple Domestic Assault. She was later released from the Ringgold County Jail, of a Promise to appear in Court.

The City Council in Atlantic will hold its first meeting of the new year, 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall. During their session, the Council will handle administrative matters, including approval of the City’s official bank for 2016 checking accounts, and approval of the official newspaper for legal publications.

The Council is also expected to act on the re-appointment of Deb Wheatley Field as City Clerk. City Administrator John Lund says Wheatley-Field has served as City Clerk since 1982, and will be completing her 34-year of service, in February. In his strong recommendation to the Council for her appointment, Lund said “I cannot express enough what an asset she has been for Atlantic. She possesses the classic work values that built this country that are so rare, today.” Lund said “I have tremendous respect for her both as a co-worker and often as a mentor.”

In his report to the Council, Lund will discuss a Request for Use of the second floor auditorium in the City Hall building. The Atlantic City Council will also act on approving a change order for the Nishna Hills Golf Course Storm Water Improvement Project. John Lund says the change order pertains to the extension of an existing culvert on 14th Street, near the Atlantic High School. The culvert, he says, will be extended across the third fairway of the golf course.

At the conclusion of regular business, the Council will adjourn into a Closed Session for the purpose of discussing the job performance of City Administrator John Lund.