DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new superintendent has been named to run a state facility in Clarinda that treats individuals with serious mental illness. Kris Weitzell has been the acting superintendent of the Clarinda Treatment Complex since Jan. 2 when the previous administrator Mark Lund retired. She had been named actiNg deputy superintendent in September 2013.

Her appointment as superintendent was announced Wednesday by Iowa Department of Human Services Director Chuck Palmer and Department of Corrections Director John Baldwin. Weitzell has worked in the Iowa Department of Corrections since 1982 and started her career as a correctional officer at Mitchellville. She rose through the ranks to become deputy warden at the prison in Newton prior to taking a job at the department’s central office.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A school bus monitor in Waterloo has been accused of assaulting an 11-year-old student during an altercation. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports 56-year-old Sandra Shelby was arrested Monday on suspicion of causing bodily injury.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The owners of a dog ordered by West Des Moines to be euthanized are appealing the decision in district court. Reyna Gonzalez Tello and Jorge Galvan of West Des Moines have filed an appeal in Polk County District Court. They want a judge to overrule the city’s declaration that the 2-year-old pit bull named Palomo and nicknamed Killer is vicious.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa and Iowa State University are rushing to build more dormitories as high enrollment causes soaring demand for student housing. Documents from the Iowa Board of Regents show Iowa State is seeking approval to build an estimated $50 million residence hall project to house 700 students. The Des Moines Register reports the universities have spent millions to lease off-campus apartment buildings due to a boom in enrollment.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Highly touted receiver Allen Lazard has affirmed his commitment to Iowa State, joining a group that might be the best of coach Paul Rhoads’ six recruiting classes. Rhoads began his signing day press conference Wednesday by holding up Lazard’s signed letter of intent, a not-so-subtle jab at those who questioned if Lazard — a four-star prospect — actually would sign with the Cyclones.

Members of the City Council in Walnut will gather at 5-pm Thursday for their regular meeting. Among the items on their agenda is discussion and/or action with regard to: A request for possible business incentives; The operation of the Walnut Welcome and Community Center; and City Facilities, including the possible purchase of property.

The Walnut City Council will also consider possible adoption of: A Resolution scheduling the time and place for a Public Hearing, for the purpose of soliciting written and oral comments on the City’s proposed Fiscal Year 2014-2015 budget; A resolution establishing a Fire Department Bequeath Fund, to account for those funds received that benefit the department, and transferring funds from the City’s Fire Equipment Fund into the Bequeath Fund.

The Council will also review the preliminary budget, and talk about well repairs.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers, Wednesday, released a short list of recent arrests and incidents. Most recently, on Sat., Feb. 1st, 39-year old Tabitha Louise Hamilton, of Clarinda, was arrested for vandalism/destruction of property.

On Jan. 26th, 28-year old Brandon Michael Morrison, of New Market, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense. An, on Jan. 23rd, 46-year old Roger Dale Schaben, of Clarinda, was arrested at the Meadown Run Apartments, for Violation of a No Trespassing Order. That same day, 28-year old Megan Renee Warrick, of Clarinda, was arrested for OWI.

Clarinda Police also investigated 5 incidents of vehicle vandalism, 3 reports of property theft, 2 Domestic Disturbance incidents, 1 assault, and a dog bite incident on the playground of the Garfield Elementary School.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County say two Council Bluffs men were transported to the hospital following  a chase and crash of their vehicle Tuesday morning. According Sheriff’s Investigator, Lt. Dwayne Riche, at around 9-a.m. Tuesday, the Pottawattamie County Communications Center put out a broadcast for Pottawattamie County Deputies to be on the lookout for a white Chevy Malibu hatchback. Vehicle was last seen on Hwy 191 southbound with two occupants. Vehicle and subjects reportedly had been involved in a theft of a snow blower in Persia, in Harrison County.

A Pottawattamie County Deputy patrolling in the area of 400th and Tamarack acknowledged the broadcast and proceeded north to 385th and Tamarack. At this time the Deputy went to make his turn around at Shelby when he observed a vehicle matching the broadcast description. The Deputy observed two occupants and the chute of a snow blower in the back seat. The Deputy was able get behind the vehicle on East St. in Shelby. He activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop.

The driver of the vehicle accelerated to a high rate of speed and the Deputy activated his emergency siren in an attempt to get the driver to stop. The driver of the fleeing vehicle turned west onto Tamarack and north at 362nd St. onto a snow covered gravel road. The fleeing vehicle proceeded to the T-intersection of Whippoorwill Road at which time the driver lost control wrecking the vehicle into a cornfield north of Whippoorwill Road.

Driver, 43-year old Michael Meehan, and his passenger, 68-year old Edward Spurling, both of Council Bluffs, were transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, for injuries suffered from the accident. Spurling was treated and released, while Meehan remains hospitalized.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office investigation is ongoing at this time. Charges are pending in Harrison and Pottawattamie County.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa and Iowa State University are rushing to build more dormitories as high enrollment causes soaring demand for student housing.  Documents from the Iowa Board of Regents show Iowa State is seeking approval to build an estimated $50 million residence hall project to house 700 students.  Construction in Iowa City continues for a $53 million residence hall project for 500 students. It’s scheduled to open in 2015 and is the university’s first new dorm in more than 40 years.

The Des Moines Register reports the universities have spent millions to lease off-campus apartment building due to a boom in enrollment over the years. The Regents will meet Thursday to discuss financing to complete the new UI dorm. They will also discuss the ISU project.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet Thursday morning in Atlantic. During the 8:30-a.m. session at the courthouse, the Board will act on approving an application for Industrial Tax Exemption for Bernard Vais (Anita Livestock Auction), with regard to separate cattle and vet sheds.

The Board will also act on approving the previously tabled regulations for “Radon Control Methods,” which were approved by the County Board of Health on Jan. 27th. The Supervisors last week held-off on approving the regulations so they could read through them.

In other action, the Board will act on approving a pay rate adjustment for a Secondary Roads Dept. employee, and, hear a presentation from Solutions, Inc. with regard to quotes for new computer servers, backups and/or intelligent business continuity. Action to purchase one or more of those systems will follow.

Two people were arrested Tuesday in Atlantic, on warrants from North Dakota. The Atlantic Police Department reports 29-year old Kristina Schrupp, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County North Dakota warrant for Conspiracy to Commit Forgery or Counterfeiting. And, 28-year old Casie Schrupp (whose address was not given), was arrested on a warrant out of Cass County, ND, for Abuse or Neglect of a Child. Both suspects are being held at the Cass County Jail in Atlantic, awaiting extradition to North Dakota.

The Harlan City Council voted down approval of an ordinance that would have rezoned an area from a Residential to General Business district. The 3-to 2 vote followed a public hearing on the ordinance to amend the property at 812 Hill Street from R-2, one and two family residential, to a general business district. There were no comments from the public, either written or spoken with regard to the matter.

Councilman Dave Miller voted against the ordinance, saying he was concerned about a business being placed in a residential area. He said “By rezoning that, we are interjected a business in a residential area. Anything that is allowed under B-2, general business, in the future can go on that lot. If the monument business decides at a future date to sell, that could be an automotive repair shop, auto dealer or tire repair shop. There are any types of business that could go in there and be at the center of a residential area.”

The council did, however, approve a motion that pertained to how they would fund the increase in insurance cost for the city. In a previous insurance committee meeting on January 20^th, it was reported by City Clerk Debra Sawyer that the city will see an increase of 4.1% for the City’s medical insurance. Mayor Gene Gettys told the council the city has a fund saved for just that type of occasion. According to Gettys, “In recommendation from that (meeting) to mitigate the increase, we carry the balance or to have a sizeable fund to offset the cost of the increase. The recommendation was to offset the cost to have a zero net effect on the insurance cost.”

In other business, during the Mayor’s report, Gettys said the city has received $132,000 for the renovation of the Pioneer park walking trail. He said the city is very short of the goal of $320,000 and believes by the end of summer or fall the city could start the project. The funding came from Transportation Alternative Plan funds.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A survey of residents in southwest Iowa and southeast Nebraska finds the region compares favorably with San Diego and some of the nation’s other top places to live in terms of quality of life. Greg Youell, executive director of the Metro Area Planning Agency, says the survey was commissioned in preparation for “Heartland 2050,” a long-range development project, and found residents in the region love living there. “The people here really enjoy it,” Youell says. “They have a high quality of life, quite a bit higher than the national averages. They feel optimistic overall, again much higher than the national averages, about the future.”

The survey found 60-percent of those questioned believe the region is on the right track and well above the national average. There were still concerns, including things like the need for more quality jobs and retaining well-educated young adults. “The top two that stood out were crime and taxes,” Youell says. “We talked too about potential solutions and there’s a lot of interest in revitalization and reinvestment but not so much in growing outward. They really think we need to invest in our existing communities.”

He says the consultant who organized the survey has a new view of the region.  “Our quality of life here was as high as any he’d ever seen and compared us with San Diego,” Youell says. “While it’s cold right now and we don’t think of ourselves like San Diego, he said the people really have something special here that they really appreciate.” Youell says the responses will be used as part of four future development scenarios resulting in a plan for responsible growth in the region.

The survey questioned residents in: Harrison, Mills and Pottawattamie counties in Iowa, and in Cass, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington counties in Nebraska.

(Radio Iowa)