Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report the arrest on Sunday of a Malvern woman. 33-year old Angela Danielle Neil was being held without bond after being arrested at 4-p.m. for Violating a Protection Order.

And, a Maryville, MO. man was taken to the Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs following an accident that occurred Sunday afternoon on Interstate 29 in Mills County. Authorities say Timothy Babcock was traveling north on 180th Street at around 2:20-p.m., when his 2008 Chevy went off the road and into a field, where it continued north for about one-mile before coming to rest near the 37.25-mile marker of I-29. The vehicle sustained major damage. Officials say Babcock appeared to be intoxicated and was found walking aimlessly on I-29.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, Hailey Murphy, of Glenwood, was transported to the hospital by Glenwood Rescue Saturday afternoon, when the 2002 Mazda she was driving left northbound 237th Street at Galaxy Court, and struck a tree in the front yard of a residence, causing the airbags to deploy.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has released details about a crash over the weekend that claimed the life of an Oakland man and resulted in injuries to three other persons. Pott. County Sheriff Jeff Danker says the accident took place on 360^th Street, just south of Iowa Highway 92, at around 12:45-p.m., Saturday.

Danker says 31-year-old Joshua Fritz of Oakland was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident just east of Treynor. He said Fritz’s vehicle was northbound on 360th, which is a B-level road, when it collided with a southbound vehicle driven by 19-year-old Jordan Easton of rural Council Bluffs. The vehicles met nearly head-on at the crest of the hill.

None of the occupants of the vehicles, other than a child, were wearing their seatbelts. A passenger in Fritz’s pickup, 4-year-old Clayton Fritz of Oakland, was taken by Macedonia Rescue to Council Bluffs Mercy Hospital. Easton was taken by Carson Rescue to Mercy Hospital, while a passenger in his pickup, 22-year-old Brendan Jones of Omaha, was transported by Macedonia Rescue to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha. The sheriff says none of the injuries were believed to be life threatening.

Danker says the two vehicles were part of a coyote-hunting party. He says the accident remainsl under investigation.

An announcement from the Rieken-Vieth Funeral Home says Fritz graduated from Riverside High School with the class of 2000. Afterward, he enlisted in the National Guard where he served until 2008. While in the Guard he was stationed in Afghanistan from 2004-2005 during Operation Enduring Freedom. On February 14, 2008 he was married to Melissa Ann Miller. The couple has one son.

The Iowa Department of Public Health is asking for citizens to stop selling and trading WIC benefits on social media sites. In a press release, the IDPH says WIC local agencies continue to inform the department that they personally have identified advertisements or have received information from the public regarding advertisements on social media sites for the sale of WIC benefits, particularly infant formula. The continued report of these actions indicates to the state WIC office and to USDA that this illegal activity is ongoing.

WIC benefits are issued to pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children who have been certified as eligible to participate in the program in accordance to federal regulations. WIC food instruments and cash value vouchers may only be used by a WIC participant, a caregiver, or a designated proxy to purchase WIC eligible food items for the participant’s use. Any other use of WIC benefits, including the posting of WIC benefits for sale on the internet, is evidence that the participant committed a violation and is therefore subject to program sanctions.

The USDA has consulted with their office of general counsel and requested that all national social media sites post a notice regarding the illegality of selling WIC benefits, particularly infant formula on its website and that WIC food and benefits be added to its list of prohibited items. The state WIC office in the Iowa Department of Public Health is now requesting the same actions from local social media sites. If you have seen someone posting WIC benefits, contact the IDPH office by calling 515-281-7095 or by email at jill.lange@idph.iowa.gov.

The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will finalize their Fiscal Year 2015 budget, Tuesday morning. The action comes during their regular meeting that begins at 9-a.m., and will be followed by the setting of a date for a Public Hearing on the budget.

In other business, the Board will hear from County Treasurer Brenda Wallace, with regard to a tax abatement request/resolution, and County Engineer Nick Kauffman, with regard to a Motor Grader purchase and other Secondary Roads Department matters.

The Shelby County Cattlemen had a successful night on Saturday during their annual banquet. This year the banquet was held inside the new St. Mary’s Hall in Panama in front of a packed crowd. Before handing out their annual awards, the cattlemen gave out 18 $1,000 scholarships to area youth.

Kevin Goshorn, member of the cattlemen’s association, told the crowd over the last two years, the association has given out $84,000 between their scholarships and heifer programs. Steve Leinen then handed out the awards starting with the friends of the industry. Normally, this award would be handed out to a certain individual but this year the Shelby County Cattlemen recognized several local banks in the area.

The banks were Shelby County State, Farmer’s Trust and Savings, United Bank of Iowa, Farm Service Credit of America, Midstates, Defiance State, Landmands, Community Bank, Town and Country Credit Union, Templeton Bank and Bank of the West. The award for beef backer of the year was Mike Thraen and then the biggest award was presented to Bob Schechinger of rural Panama. Schechinger was surprised with the cattlemen of the year award. He said “I really didn’t catch on what they were saying, something about Korea and seven kids and Jeff was right there so I figured I better get out there. I didn’t think it would be anything. I was surprised put it that way.”

Bob and wife Norene have been farming northwest of Panama for 40 years and have raised cattle as well. Schechinger is a veteran who fought in Korea has since helped with area youth and participates at the Shelby County Fair each year. Together they have seven kids, five of whom were in attendance to congratulate Schechinger on the award. He thanked his wife for always being there and said he would not be the man he is today without her.

And, here in Atlantic approximately 250-people attended the annual Cass County Cattleman’s Banquet, Saturday night. One of the highlights of the even held at the Cass County Community Center was the presentation of awards. Jim Pellett, of Atlantic, received the “Hall of Fame” award. Randy Euken, of Lewis was named “Producer of the Year,” and Cullen and Associates, of Atlantic received the “Business of the Year Award.” It was also announced that the Cass County Cattleman’s group grilled over 5,500 units of meat during this past year at various events throughout the area.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

w/ Ric Hanson

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Patrons of the Exira and Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School Districts will head to the polls Tuesday (Feb. 4^th), to act on a Public Measure adopting a Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS). The polls will be open from Noon until 8-p.m. Exira-EHK Superintendent Dean Schnoes has said the election is required by the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) and Department of Education (DOE).

The RPS will allow the districts to authorize the expenditure of revenues from the State of Iowa to secure an advanced vision for the education fund received by the Exira-Elk Horn Kimballton Community School District. The RPS specifies how the One-cent Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) can be used, including, but not limited to: Property Tax relief; New buildings or additions to current facilities; the lease or purchase of buildings or equipment, and more.

The RPS is typically in effect for 10-years, which for each district independently is currently in 2020. Schnoes said “Because it’s a new district, it’s just another one of those things you have to have in-place, like a school starting brand new.” He said “If we’re going to continue on with the education that we have here providing the facilities, the curriculum, the things that we need to provide education…we still need to have [the RPS] in-place.”

If the measure fails to win voter approval, it will not terminate or restrict authority previously granted by the voters to expend receipts from the “secure an advanced vision for education,” fund. If it’s approved, it will remain in effect until replaced or amended by the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton School District.

You can read details about the Special Election on the Exira-EHL website under “Public Notices,” or click on this link to the PDF: http://swmcdn.com/site_0244/EXIRAEHK_RevenuePurposeStmt_111813.pdf

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – More than five dozen people will be losing their jobs with the closure of a Sioux City bakery.  Bimbo Bakeries USA says it will close its Sioux City operation March 28. A company spokesman says 64 people and their union representatives have met with company personnel officials to discuss severance and other benefits. Production will move to other Bimbo bakeries.

A regional vice president, Didier Moleres, says the company concluded that the aging Sioux City facility “could not compete in the marketplace.”