(Radio Iowa) – The state’s top election official says there’s “zero evidence” Iowa’s vote counting systems could be hacked or infiltrated. Secretary of State Paul Pate says every ballot is a paper ballot and none of the ballot tabulators poll workers will use next Tuesday are connected to the internet.

“And we have our unsung heroes, the bipartisan teams of poll workers — your friends and neighbors — that give us that transparency and consistency across all 99 counties, so that we can feel confident in our election process,” Pate said today as he hosted a news conference with federal and state officials who are monitoring election-related threats.

Pate referred to a situation in Arizona, where armed people were observing voters putting their absentee ballots at drop boxes. “Because of what people are seeing on the news and reports from other states, there’s something I’d like to address — voters we’ve got your back,” Pate said. “You will be able to cast your vote safely and if anyone tries to impede that process in any way, our friends in law enforcement will deal with them. We have these guys on speed dial.”

Paul Pate. (RI photo)

Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens said voter intimidation hasn’t “traditionally” been a problem in Iowa. “In the past, I believe there was one report maybe out of western Iowa of a potential case of either a voter or poll worker intimidation and what we actually found out it was actually a false narrative being spread on social media to discourage people from going to that particular polling place,” Bayens said, “and so, in reality, there was no truth to it.”

About 10,000 Iowans will be working at precinct sites around the state next Tuesday and Pate is urging voters to treat them with respect. “It’s a very important job they’re doing because they care about elections,” Pate said. “These are your friends and neighbors, the people you go to church with, the people whose kids and grandkids go to the same schools as your kids and grandkids. Our election officials are made up of bipartisan teams in every polling place and they deserve a lot of credit for the job that they’re doing.”

The day after the election, Pate will order a hand count of ballots cast in a randomly selected precinct in each Iowa county. Two statewide races will be identified as the subject of the recounts. Pate said these post-election audits in the past have clearly shown Iowans that the vote tallies announced on Election Night are accurate. “Come election day when we put those tallies up, we need them to believe in it,” Pate said. “They can’t have a doubt because if they do, our republic has fallen and with that, whether it’s the Chinese or the Russians or the North Koreans, they just won the war without firing a single bullet.”

Pate hosted today’s news conference in the State of Iowa’s Emergency Operations Center. State officials will gather there next Tuesday to monitor and respond to any election-related threats.

(Radio Iowa) – The approaching holiday season can be the hardest time of the year for many of the 73-thousand Iowans who are caring for a loved one with dementia. Megan Benzing, program manager for the Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, says they offer a wide array of resources, programs and support groups just for caregivers.

“Alz Connected is an online messaging board where they can speak to other caregivers or family and friends who are also going through a similar situation,” Benzing says. “They can ask questions, get guidance and support as they’re going through this difficult time.” The starting point is the website alz.org/iowa, and all of the resources are free. There’s also a 24-7 helpline available at 800-272-3900. The cost of putting a loved one in a “memory care” facility can be several thousand dollars a month, so financial constraints can quickly become an issue for someone with dementia — and their family — making caregiving the best option.

“The goal is to try to keep them in their home as long as possible but because of the progression of the disease, they eventually get to a point where it’s nearly impossible for the caregiver to care for them on their own,” Benzing says. “They have to consider things such as in-home care, or putting their loved one into a care community.” The life expectancy after diagnosis often ranges from four to eight years, but she says it can be up to 20 years, based on conditions. Being a caregiver can be particularly stressful and demanding.

“Caregivers are often having to manage multiple conditions at a time,” Benzing says, “so not just memory loss, but long-term physical conditions, including gradual loss of mobility, emotional issues and behavioral and personality changes.” A survey found about a third of responding caregivers found themselves in declining health, while more than a quarter said they’d delayed or did not do things they should for their own health. More than six-million people nationwide are living with Alzheimer’s disease, including 66,000 in Iowa.

SWIPCO staff attended the NADO’s 2022 Annual Training Conference in Pittsburg, PA October 15-18 and received a 2022 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from NADO.

Atlantic, Iowa – Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO), which provides grant writing and administration services to its member communities in Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby Counties, has received a 2022 Aliceann Wohlbruck Impact Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the Post-Disaster Transformational Housing Development.

SWIPCO was recognized based on its support for the southwest Iowa towns devastated by the 2019 floods. SWIPCO secured $90 million in federal flood recovery funds through the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery programs for southwest Iowa communities including Glenwood, Hamburg, Logan, Malvern, Missouri Valley, Modale, Tabor, and Woodbine. These funds are being used for property acquisition, new housing construction, and infrastructure development for new housing. As a part of the grants, more than 100 housing units damaged in the 2019 floods have already been demolished and more than 250 new housing units are being built in these impacted communities.

NADO is a Washington, DC-based membership association of regional development organizations that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. The Impact Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and their partners for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation’s regions and local communities.

Award-winning projects were recognized during NADO’s 2022 Annual Training Conference, held in Pittsburgh, PA on October 15-18. The 2022 class of award recipients consists of 107 projects from 71 organizations spanning 28 states. These projects are presented in an interactive “Story Map” developed by NADO that includes project summaries, partners, and images. The Story Map is available online at: https://tinyurl.com/38vbcczu

“Regional development organizations and their partners have played an integral role in supporting local communities during this important time of economic recovery,” said 2021-2022 NADO President Misty Crosby, former executive director of the Buckeye Hills Regional Council, located in Marietta, OH. “This year’s Impact Awards recipients demonstrate the many ways our member organizations serve their communities by promoting economic development, fostering resilience, and improving quality of life for residents.”

The NADO Impact Awards are presented in honor of the late Aliceann Wohlbruck who was NADO’s first executive director and served 24 years as a tireless champion for regional approaches to economic development in rural communities.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – Officials with Cass Health say the organization welcomed a record number of providers during the past year and continues to recruit more primary care physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers to meet local demand. CEO Brett Altman says “We’ve seen an enormous amount of growth over the past five or six years, and we expect the local and regional demand for health care services to continue to increase. We’re committed to always being here for the communities we serve, and that means we must constantly be thinking about having the right number of staff to meet patients’ needs.”

Officials say during the last year, Cass Health welcomed several six providers, including: Dr. Adam Verhoef; Kellie Enderson, ARNP; Stacey Kasperbauer, ARNP; Emily James, ARNP; Emily Wittrock, ARNP, and Kevin Bohac, CRNA. Additionally, Cass Health added 13 specialists including Dr. Anjan Talukdar, Dr. John Park, Dr. Sumit Mukherjee, Dr. Paul Ganesan, Dr. Blake Bodendorfer, Dr. Rick Rinehart, Dr. Caliste Hsu, Dr. Brian Boes, Dr. Jeffrey Sartin, Dr. Anthony DeCicco, Dr. Thomas Schmidt, Dr. Stephen Slade, and Dr. Gino Chesini.

“During all of this, Dr. Elaine Berry also transitioned from a full-time physician to a full-time Chief Medical Officer, which also amplified our need to hire more new doctors,” said Altman. Chief Human Resources Officer Kolton Hewlett stressed that recruitment of family medicine providers is a continuous process, especially for rural facilities. He commented that, “We are thankful to be in a position where we are able to add new providers to our team. It’s good for our patients, and it’s a win for the community. With that being said, it saddens us to announce that one of our physicians will be leaving Cass Health next year.”

Dr. Edna Becht just announced that she will leave her practice at Cass Health in the summer of 2023. Dr. Becht will be moving to the Des Moines area to be closer to family. She spoke of her time at Cass Health as “living the dream.” “Cass Health has been a dream come true for a fresh residency graduate who wanted to do it all. I am humbled and grateful to have been welcomed into the hospital and the community with eager and open arms, and I am proud of the work I’ve done here,” said Dr. Becht.

Hewlett commented that, “We expect changes like this because as their families grow, or their needs and careers evolve, providers may change jobs. Coupling that knowledge with our forecasted growth, we are actively recruiting new family medicine providers all the time. We are excited to share that Massena native Whitney Schafer will be joining the Cass Health team as an advanced practice provider in December 2022. Additionally, just this week we signed another physician, Dr. Jeals Brines, a Leon, Iowa native who is completing family medicine residency in Des Moines and will begin at Cass Health in September 2024.”

For more information about the providers at Cass Health, visit casshealth.org.

(Creston, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Union County say no injuries were reported, after a semi tractor-trailer rolled into a ditch late Wednesday night. The 2004 Volvo semi driven by 34-year-old Adam J. Leith, of Creston, was traveling north on U-S Highway 169 at around 11:17-pm., near miler marker 37 (south of Lorimor), when Leith swerved to miss a deer. The rig went out of control after the trailer blew a tire. The semi tipped over onto the driver’s side.

When the semi tipped over, it dumped a load of corn onto the roadway. The vehicle came to rest in the east ditch, on the driver’s side. Damage to the semi was estimated at $80,000.

(Radio Iowa) – The attorney for one of the Fairfield teenagers accused of murdering high school Spanish teacher Nohema Graber is challenging evidence gathered in the investigation. Willard Chaiden Miller and Jeremy Goodale were both 16 years old when Graber was killed on November 2nd of last year. Miller’s defense attorney says police gave Miller’s mother false information to convince her to sign a permission form approving an interrogation.

That’s Annalisa Clifford Gold, the mother of one of the suspects. She spoke a court hearing Wednesday with her son’s attorney, Nathan Olson. Clifford Gold testified that once she reached the police station where her son was being interviewed, she asked repeatedly to see him, but was not allowed in the room. Prosecutor Scott Brown, an assistant attorney general, said the 16-year-old — who is being tried in adult court — told investigators he understood his rights to stay silent and ask for an attorney before the interview started. And Brown said permission forms meant to protect juveniles do not apply in cases like this.

Brown said in Iowa, teens who are 16 or older and accused of serious crimes like murder are not protected by juvenile court rules. The judge who presided over the evidence hearing did not indicate when he might rule on the objections. Miller is set to stand trial in March in Council Bluffs. Court documents released this week suggest a possible motive for Graber’s murder. Miller allegedly met with the Spanish teacher on the day of her murder, to discuss his grades.

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors recently approved more than $4.7 million in federal and state grants to assist 44 agencies with homelessness assistance initiatives during the 2023 calendar year. IFA Executive Director Debi Durham says “The homelessness assistance awards announced today will have a direct impact in helping thousands of Iowans in their time of need. Iowa’s homeless service professionals work tirelessly to help get Iowans back on their feet and into permanent housing and this funding will aid in those efforts.”

The funding is made available through the federal Emergency Solutions Grant program and the State-funded Shelter Assistance Fund. IFA conducted a two-year combined ESG and SAF competition for funds in 2021. Applications were scored in several categories, including project design, experience and capacity, community partnerships, performance, budget and grants management. 

In Pottawattamie County, three agencies received grants:

• Heartland Family Service received an Emergency Solutions Grant in the amount of $61,790;
• MICAH House Corporation received a Shelter Assistance Fund grant award of $132,232;
• and, New Visions Homeless Services receives a Emergency Solutions Grant for $77,793, AND a Shelter Assistance Fund grant for $144,076.

The complete awards list is available here.

Individuals in need of homelessness assistance should contact the coordinated entry system, online at iowahousinghelp.com or by phone at: 833-739-0065. Residents of Des Moines or Polk County should call the local centralized intake: 515-248-1850.  Additional information….

Emergency Solutions Grant Program
The primary purpose of the Federal Emergency Solutions Grant program is to help Iowans and their families quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness. Examples of eligible services include street outreach, shelter, homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing (rental assistance paired with case management and supportive services). The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and by the Iowa Finance Authority in Iowa. Twenty-seven agencies were awarded a total of more than $2.9 million in 2023 Emergency Solutions Grant Program funds.

Shelter Assistance Fund

The State-funded Shelter Assistance Fund program provides assistance to help with the costs of operations of homeless and domestic violence shelters, essential services for the homeless and evaluation and reporting services. Thirty-three agencies were awarded a total of nearly $1.8 million in 2023 Shelter Assistance Fund grants.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports the Sheriff’s Department’s “Operation Blessing,” which strives to make sure every child in the rural areas of the County receives a Christmas gift, will be slightly different this year, from years past. Sheriff Palmer says “We will be taking requests from November 12, 2022 through December 10, 2022. This is to hopefully ensure that requests for gifts can be filled without running into a shortage of items to purchase.”

The Page County Sheriff’s Office “Operation Blessing program covers children from birth to age 14, who reside in the communities of Shambaugh, Braddyville, College Springs, Yorktown, Coin, Blanchard, and Northboro as well as the rural areas, of Page County. The child must be a resident of the aforementioned communities, or rural Page County. The requests must come from a parent or guardian of the child and can be called into the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193, or reported in person by the parent or guardian at the Page County Sheriff’s Office located at 323 N 15th Street in Clarinda, IA. Each child will be given a first and second choice. It is suggested that a toy and clothing be requested.

Anyone wishing to donate money to the Page County Sheriff’s Office Operation Blessing program can either stop by the Page County Sheriff’s Office or mail the monetary donation to the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 323 North 15th Clarinda, Iowa, 51632. Monetary donations are taken year-round at the Office. The Page County Reserve Program started Operation Blessing in the mid 1980’s to ensure that every child in the rural areas of Page County had the opportunity to receive a gift at Christmas. It has continued every year since for almost 40 years. In these times, the program is adapting. Department deputies and staff will be delivering gifts just prior to Christmas Eve.

Sheriff Palmer says “Our current times are to say the least trying and unsure. We as an Office strive to find some normalcy for the children of our County in these unsure and trying times. I would once again like to thank everyone for their donations and support of the program throughout the years, for without monetary donations, this program would not be able to continue.” He thanks also the staff at the Sheriff’s Office / Jail for their assistance in everything they do with this program. He says they go above and beyond with the call taking, shopping, wrapping and organization of this program. They along with the organizations, businesses, and individuals who donate make this program a success every year. THANK YOU!!!

May everyone have a joy filled and safe Holiday season.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests over the past few weeks. On Oct. 24th, 39-year-old Andrew Grieshaber, of Cumberland, was arrested on the charges of Burglary 2nd Degree and Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree.  Grieshaber was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond. And, on Oct. 22nd, Deputies arrested 38-year-old Fernando Villa-Diaz, of Atlantic, on the charge of OWI 3rd Offense.  Villa-Diaz was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

This past Tuesday (11/1), 38-year-old Megan Schroder, of Griswold, was arrested for OWI 2nd Offense.  Schroder was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held until her later release on her own recognizance. And, on Wednesday Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 53-year-old Randy Rush, of Atlantic, for OWI 2nd Offense.  Rush was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held until his later release on his own recognizance.