(Radio Iowa)- The state Transportation Commission has approved a grant to build a roadway into proposed plant at a site in Plymouth County south of Le Mars. Deb Arp of the D-O-T presented the proposal for what’s called a RISE grant. “The proposed roadway provides improved access to the bio energy facility — a digester plant — and assists in the creation of five full time jobs,” she says. “The facility will take waste from three dairies and process it to generate renewable natural gas. The development is anticipated to start construction later this year and to start production in spring or summer of 2024.” She says this is a local development grant, and the county will help fund the project.

She says the project will cost more than one-point-five million dollars $1,585,556). The county requested a grant of 792-thousand-778 dollars, and will provide the other 50 percent cost of the project in a local match. The Transportation Commission also approved a settlement of a rise grant for Burlington. “The city received a grant of one-million-536-thousand for roadway improvements contingent on the creation of 128 new jobs by General Electric within three years of project completion,” Arp says. She says the company was only able to create around half the jobs.

“In May of 2019 the roadway was open to traffic — however the company associated with this project was only able to create an average of 61 jobs within the allowable timeframe,” she says. Arp says the city has agreed to repay 323-thousand-123 dollars from the grant.

(Sidney, Iowa) – A southwest Iowa man was arrested Tuesday in Fremont County on sexual assault and other charges, out of Missouri. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports, 44-year-old Dewight Eugene Binau was arrested at a residence in Sidney, on a warrant out of Newton County, Missouri.

On February 3, 2023, the Fremont County County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible sexual assault that occurred in Missouri in December, 2022, and forwarded the information to the Neosho, Missouri Police Department.

Following an investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Binau, charging him with two counts of statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy-deviate sexual intercourse of a person less than 12 years of age and one count of 2nd degree molestation of a child less than 12 years of age.

Dewight Binau

Binau was taken to the Fremont County Jail pending extradition to Missouri.

(Hamburg, Iowa) – A traffic stop late Tuesday night near Hamburg resulted in the arrest of a woman from Nebraska, on OWI and other charges. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the Fremont County K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on a 2015 Chevy Camaro for speeding, at around 9:30-p.m. on Interstate 29 southbound, about the 7.5 mile marker.

As Deputies were speaking with the driver, 31-year-old Toriann Michelle Russ, of Omaha, they detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and saw an unrestrained child in the vehicle. Russ was driving impaired, according to the report.

31-year-old Toriann Michelle Russ, of Omaha

She was arrested for: OWI/2nd offense; Child Endangerment; Driving While Revoked; Poss. of Marijuana, & Failure to use a child restraint device. Russ was being held in the Fremont County Jail  and a $6,300 cash bond, pending an initial appearance before the County magistrate.

(Radio Iowa) – With the recent collapse of two U.S. banks, one based in California, the other in New York, some Iowans may be concerned about the stability of their local financial institutions.

Ron Sorensen, president and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association, says there’s nothing to worry about, as the banks that failed were run much differently from how banks operate in Iowa. “Not only were these banks that we’re talking about, on the East and West coasts, using very unique business models, primarily tech companies who were funded through venture capital and crypto, they had issues in regards to liquidity,” Sorensen says. “The venture funding fell off from some of their local small business customers.”

That led to a critical drop in deposits, plus, Sorensen says the banks also had issues with their securities portfolios. “None of that exists in our banks here in Iowa, frankly, we have record capital levels in Iowa banks,” he says. “We still have strong liquidity. Our banks are based on a very safe and sound business model. They know their customers. They’re on Main Street every day.”

John Sorenson. (IBA photo)

Sorensen says Iowa banks are typically relationship-based, and their biggest depositors are in areas like agriculture, small businesses, and local companies and manufacturers. “These are strong businesses that have shown the same things that our banks are showing, right?” he says. “They’re consistently strong. They’ve been in the community for a long time, so as a result, it’s just a very different environment in Iowa.”

Iowa banks are well capitalized and highly liquid, Sorensen says, and they’re backed by FDIC insurance. Sorensen recommends customers talk with their local banking officials about the institution’s security. There are over 280 members of the Iowa Bankers Association.

(Radio Iowa) – The legislature is sending Governor Kim Reynolds a bill setting up a state process so small Iowa hospitals may be licensed as a Rural Emergency Hospital.

Under federal rules, Rural Emergency Hospitals may discontinue in-patient care, while keeping out-patient services and an emergency room open. Rural Emergency Hospitals get five percent extra in federal reimbursement for treating Medicare patients. Senator Jeff Reichman is a Republican from Montrose, which is a 15 minute drive from the Keokuk hospital that closed last fall.

“Access to health care services is a critical issue in our state,” Reichman said. “…Rural Emergency Hospitals will help rural communities that need health care services, stabilize hospitals that may be struggling in rural areas and help ensure that essential needs for Iowans and specifically for us in Lee County are met.”

Bill backers say it’s likely a Rural Emergency Hospital will reopen in Keokuk. “Both of my grandparents’ lives were saved at Keokuk Area Hospital in the last five, six years, so having access at least to emergency care is very, very important,” Representative Amy Nielsen, a Democrat from North Liberty, said.

Republican Representative Martin Graber of Fort Madison said a constituent in Keokuk recently had to decide whether a relative who’d suffered a stroke should be taken to a hospital in Fort Madison or Carthage, Illinois because Keokuk’s hospital is closed. “There very aren’t many times that you and I get to vote on a bill that means life and death to people,” Graber said. “This one does that. When it’s fully implemented, it’ll make a difference.”

Republican Representative Tom Moore of Griswold said only hospitals in rural areas that can keep an emergency room open 24 hours a day, seven days a week will be able to get this new designation. “This bill will only affect a few rural hospitals, but it is critical in giving them the option to stay a viable, financially stable hospital or, in the case of the Keokuk hospital, the ability to reopen as an REH,” Moore said.

The Rural Emergency Hospital designation will also be available to rural surgical centers that provide outpatient services if the bill becomes law. Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, voted for the bill, but warned without higher reimbursement rates for the care provided to Medicaid patients, more Iowa hospitals will have to downgrade to Rural Emergency Hospital status. “I think the bigger question Iowans are asking is what can we do to prevent Iowa hospitals from failing in the first place,” Petersen said.

Representative Dave Jacoby, a Democrat from Coralville, was the only legislator to vote against the bill. Jacoby said the bill did nothing to help urban hospitals, which are also struggling with low reimbursement rates while providing care to rural as well as urban residents.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Utilities Board heard from the attorneys representing two companies which hope to build carbon dioxide pipelines today (Tuesday) as they try to work out scheduling issues for their permit requests. I-U-B chair, Geri Huser asked Wolf Carbon Solutions attorney, Amanda James, if they still plan to request a hearing on the project in the second quarter of 2024. “At this time it’s too early to be able to tell when we would like to schedule our hearing. They’re just getting out in the field now, and so they’re working with landowners, property owners,” she says. “To be able to say when we want a hearing, we just don’t have that information yet for a defined route.” Huser told James the Board does not believe there needs to be oral arguments on the location of the hearing — which is required to be near the middle of the area where the pipeline will be built.

“We agree and we thought that maybe just written comments if there’s any ideas on how to determine the location or midpoint,” James says. Navigator Ventures attorney, Samantha Norris was also asked about the timeline for the hearing. “We are requesting a hearing in the first quarter — we’ll plan on requesting a hearing in the first quarter of 2024. We would ideally like to finish that hearing before spring planting commences,” Norris says. Norris says they would like to start construction in the first half of 2024 if approved. She was also asked about taking oral arguments on the proposed site for the hearing on the pipeline.

“At this point, we don’t know that oral arguments are necessary. But because we have a number of interested stakeholders. And because our the layout of our line differs somewhat from Summit’s and from Wolf’s we think that it should be briefed at least so that all parties have a chance to say what location they think or multiple locations may be compliant with the statutory requirements,” Norris says. Summit Carbon Solutions is the third company proposing a pipeline — with a public hearing on the project set for October.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests. Today (Tuesday, 3/14/23), 42-year-old Joshua Edward Mastin, of Hastings, was arrested for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000. On Monday, 54-year-old Richard James Linfor, of Shenandoah, was arrested at the Page County Jail, on a warrant for Failure to Appear, on an original charge of OWI/1st offense. He remains held on a $5,000 bond.

On March 12th, 29-year-old Yaritza Concepcion Cibrian, of Omaha, was arrested following a non-injury accident. Authorities say Cibrian was traveling east on Bunge Avenue at around 3-a.m., at attempting to get into a club in Mills County. She took a wrong turn and ended-up traveling south in the northbound off-ramp at I-29, mile marker 42. She then attempted to make a U-turn, but her 2016 Chrysler went into the east side ditch. Deputies on patrol came upon the scene as Cibrian was attempting to get her vehicle out of the ditch. She was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000.

And, on March 9th, 39-year-old Travis Mitchell Long, of Omaha, was arrested at the Mills County Jail on a Mills County warrant for two-counts Violation of Probation. He was being held without bond in the jail.

On March 11th, a man from Kennard, NE was transported by EMS ground to Jennie Edmundson Hospital, following a collision on I-29. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says a 2003 Ford driven by Scott Sonnenfelt was southbound near mile marker 41.4 at around 12:09-p.m., and when a 2021 Toyota driven by 31-year-old Kyle Schwanbach, of Omaha, attempted to pass, the car went out of control due to the sleet. It collided with the Ford and both vehicle went into the ditch on the west side of I-29. Sonnenfelt complained of neck and shoulder pain before being transported to the hospital.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday), heard a report from representatives with the non-profit Cass County Committee on Aging. Judy Marnin spoke about the history of the organization, activities at each site and working to get senior’s out and about so they stay healthy and active.

Supervisor’s Board Chair Steve Baier told the Board the Supervisors had been contributing a total of $7,446 per year for the organization, but then Covid came along….

The Board opted to continue with the same amount funds from the upcoming Budget.

In other action, the Cass County Supervisor’s approved the hire of Tony Gustafson, Operator 1 with the Secondary Roads Department, but they scrubbed discussion and action on a County Investment Policy, while waiting on additional information.

Discussion, followed by action to approve, took place on the following matters:

• Snow removal for all three locations (courthouse, annex & jail), effective July 1, 2023. Green Acres’ bid was approved. They had bid $75 for the courthouse (an increase of $25 over last year), and $50 each for the Comm. Center & DHS Building.
• Trash service for all three (Aforementioned) locations, efffectve July 2, 2023. Cook Sanitation’s bid of $195/month. An increase of $30.Trash is collected once per week.
• and Seasonal lawn service to include fertilizer, chemical sprays, etc., for the courthouse and public safety building (does not include mowing services), beginning immediately. Green Acres was the lone bidder, with no change in the price from last year.

All contracts are for two-years. The Board however tabled action on a bid for Southlawn Memory Gardens mowing services, until Supervisor O’Brien can talk with Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett about cost-sharing and related matters.

Des Moines – A Mason City woman, 26-year-old Shavhona Whitmore, pled guilty and was sentenced on March 13, 2023 to one count of Fraudulent Submissions (Class D Felony) following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Divisions Fraud Bureau.

The investigation began in July of 2022. According to criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, Whitmore misrepresented information to an insurance company in an attempt to receive benefits she otherwise would not have been entitled to.

Following her guilty plea, Whitmore was placed on supervised probation for five years. A civil penalty of $1,025 is imposed, but suspended.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

(Radio Iowa) – U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is scheduled to testify before members of the Senate Ag Committee this week, including Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. Vilsack, a former Iowa governor and a Democrat, is pushing through policies at U-S-D-A which Grassley says will make it difficult to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill. Grassley, a Republican, says Vilsack discussed the continued consolidation of farming at the agency’s Ag Outlook Forum. “Even with record farm income, almost half of our farmers have negative farm income. We know that the largest 10% of the farms receive 70% of the commodity payments,” Grassley says. “That’s unacceptable.”

Grassley says he’s pursuing payment cap legislation which targets farm programs specifically to small- and medium-sized farmers.  “Along this line, the words ‘actively engaged in farming,’ a legal term, is very important,” Grassley says. “USDA has the ability to tighten the rules on those, whether or not they’re actively engaged. If they aren’t actively engaged, they shouldn’t be qualifying for payments.”

Grassley says they need to find ways to make the farm safety net work for all farmers, not just the large ones. He says the U-S-D-A’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, a program championed by Vilsack, is a departure from the agency’s earlier efforts to focus on small farmers. “Not-so-small companies like Microsoft, Campbell’s Soup, and Hershey’s have all been rewarded by this new program that the USDA created,” Grassley says, “and keep in mind that USDA created this program without input from Congress.”

Grassley says Vilsack’s actions, which he says include increasing the price of SNAP by 250-billion dollars, will put hopes for swift passage of the Farm Bill in jeopardy. The Senate Ag Committee hearing is scheduled for 8:30 A-M/Central on Thursday.