COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A man from Pottawattamie County was sentenced last Friday in Council Bluffs District Court, on drug charges. 58-year-old Scott Paul Polinski, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

In October 2021, Polinski was on parole with the State of Iowa Fourth Judicial District Probation and Parole Department for prior distribution of methamphetamine convictions. Officers received information that Polinski was selling methamphetamine out of his home. Officers went to Polinksi’s address to complete a home visit and speak with Polinski. Officers located 264 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia related to distributing illegal drugs.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Fourth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services Probation and Parole Department, and Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Small non-farm businesses in 14 Iowa counties and neighboring counties in Minnesota and Nebraska are now eligible to apply for low‑interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced Director Tanya N. Garfield of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in the following primary counties that began Aug. 2, 2022.

Primary Iowa counties: Harrison, Humboldt and Kossuth;

Neighboring counties: Crawford, Emmet, Hancock, Monona, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Pottawattamie, Shelby, Webster, Winnebago and Wright;

Neighboring Minnesota counties: Faribault and Martin;

Neighboring Nebraska counties: Burt and Washington.

“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” Garfield said.

Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

“Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 3.04 percent for businesses and 1.875 percent for private nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years and are available to small businesses and most private nonprofits without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship,” Garfield said.

By law, SBA makes Economic Injury Disaster Loans available when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. The Secretary declared this disaster on Sept. 26, 2022.

Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance. Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency about the U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance made available by the Secretary’s declaration. However, nurseries are eligible for SBA disaster assistance in drought disasters.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The deadline to apply for economic injury is May 26, 2023.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested Saturday night in Stuart, following a incident at a motel.  Stuart Police arrested 21-year-old Jayson Omar Perez, of Monte Alto, TX, and 27-year-old Fernando Becerra, Jr., of Weslaco, TX, for Willful Injury causing serious injury, after they allegedly assaulted a woman by hitting her with beer bottles and once she was on the ground, continued to kick and hit her. Perez was also wanted on warrants from Hidalgo County, TX, for three counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Both men were being held in the Adair County Jail on a $10,000 cash or surety bond, each, with Perez being held while awaiting an initial appearance on the Texas warrants.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports also:

• 32-year-old Stephanie Danielle Klos, of Creston, was arrested at around 1:53-a.m. Saturday in Adair County on a Union County warrant, and transferred directly to the custody of Union County Deputies.
• Late Friday morning, 38-year-old Kristin Nicole Ladd, of Greenfield, was arrested at Ridge View Park and Highway 25, for “Simulated Public Intoxication,” 1st offense. She was released later that same afternoon, on a $300 c/s bond. Ladd had previously been arrested on Sept. 28th, for OWI/1st offense. She was released the next day on a $1,000 c/s bond.
• A little after 1-a.m., Friday, 50-year-old Christopher Scott Partlow, of Menlo, was arrested by Police in Adair, for OWI/2nd offense, after his breath alcohol content (BrAC) registered .116%. Partlow was cited and later released.
• 64-year-old Debrea Jo Dukes, of Fontanelle, was arrested for OWI/1st offense last Wednesday night, in Greenfield, after she tested at .106% for intoxication. She was released with a citation.
• Three other individuals were cited and later released in Adair County:
  • 38-year-old Zackary John Richardson, of Greenfield, was arrested Sept. 25th for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop. He tested at .221% for intoxication.
  • 32-year-old Joshua Christopher Matthew Naujock, of Greenfield, was cited Sept. 26th for Trespassing
  • and, 39-year-old Nicole Irene Leusink, of Greenfield, was arrested Sept. 26th, for Disorderly Conduct, after allegedly hitting a person several times, with her fist. Leusink was released with a citation, later that same evening.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Governor Kim Reynolds and Democratic challenger Deidre DeJear are both talking about a Reynolds campaign ad that briefly features a Missouri congresswoman. Reynolds recited part of the ad script to the crowd at her fundraiser this past weekend. “When you’re watching the news and you see what’s happening, you have to wonder: Has the rest of the country lost its mind?” Reynolds asked.

Twenty-four hours later, DeJear talked about the ad at an Iowa Democratic Party fundraiser. “When I first saw the ad, I’ll be honest — I was like: ‘Oh! She’s got a real cute look alike for me,’” DeJear said, drawing laughter from the crowd. “I lean in and realize it’s a congresswoman from another state, a congresswoman who on that specific issue in that ad, we have a difference of opinion.”

The woman in the ad is Cori Bush of St. Louis, a Black Lives Matter activist who has called for defunding the police. Reynolds did not mention DeJear’s name during her speech this weekend. “She won’t stand with law enforcement when it matters,” Reynolds said, after referring to DeJear as “my opponent.”

DeJear has said she opposes calls to defund the police. DeJear urged Democrats who have opposing views on the concept to unite behind all Democratic candidates. “We are not going to allow anybody to divide us, despite the differences of opinion,” DeJear said late Sunday afternoon at the Iowa Democratic Party’s fundraiser.

There are 36 days left in the 2022 campaign.

(Radio Iowa) – As dry conditions persist, particularly in northwest Iowa, many city water systems have asked customers to voluntarily conserve water. Todd Uhl, the public works director in Sheldon, says there’s no emergency yet, but things are going slowly in the wrong direction and mandatory water restrictions may be on the horizon. “As this drought continues, if we don’t get a good recharge this fall, winter, next spring — we will be on mandatory restrictions next spring for sure,” Uhl says. “I’m not saying we wouldn’t switch to them sometime this winter, but obviously restrictions going into this time of year don’t mean as much as they do in times when outside watering is more of a thing.”

There’s plenty of water in both of Sheldon’s deep wells, but Uhl says the quality of water in those deep wells have lower quality water. The community’s supply of high quality water comes from a series of shallow wells along the Floyd River and northwest of Sheldon and Uhl says the water levels in THOSE wells are dropping. “The static level, which is the level of the amount of water in the well when the pumps aren’t running, we’re seeing those levels decline. They’v been declining slowly this whole summer — not to the level where we’ve slammed on the panic button yet, but it’s going to be a concern if we don’t get recharge this winter or next spring, Sheldon will be on mandatory restrictions next summer,” Uhl says. “We will not be able to sustain another year of this.”

If the water situation doesn’t improve, Uhl describes what “mandatory restrictions” would look like. “No use of water for non-essential purposes, so basically you can use water for human consumption and that’s it,” Uhl says, “There’ll be no lawn watering. They’ll be no garden watering. There’ll be no flower garden watering. There’ll be no washing of cars. We’ll try not to limit the use of car washes and stuff that are doing it for a living, but we’re going to have to have people cut back.”

But the VOLUNTARY restrictions are what are in place in Sheldon today. The Lewis & Clark Regional Water System is due to connect in Sheldon by 2024 or, perhaps, at the end of 2023 and Uhl says that would also help the situation.

Red Oak, Iowa — Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, today (Monday), announced that Senator Chuck Grassley and Governor Kim Reynolds will be joining Ernst for this year’s Roast and Ride. Grassley and Reynolds will join Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Rep. Ashley Hinson, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Rep. Randy Feenstra, and State Sen. Zach Nunn at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on October 22nd for the special day of activities.

You can buy tickets for Joni’s 2022 Ruck, Roast, and Ride HERE. For more information, visit RoastandRide.com.

Ernst says “Our lineup for Roast and Ride wouldn’t be complete without our fearless leaders Senator Chuck Grassley and Governor Kim Reynolds. This is a perfect opportunity for Iowans to come out and support all of our strong, Conservative candidates, and hear from Arkansas’s next governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders. From the morning Ruck march to the motorcycle Ride, and of course our annual Hog Roast, it will be a full day of fun on October 22. Come join us as we get fired up for the Red Wave coming in November!”

Sen. Joni Ernst on a “Roast and Ride.” (2016 file photo from Radio Iowa)

Grassley says “Senator Ernst is a fierce advocate for our state and a tireless fighter for our way of life. While the Biden administration fuels the fires of inflation with reckless spending and allows lawlessness at our southern border, it’s more important than ever for Joni and me to keep fighting for Iowa together in the U.S. Senate. I look forward to meeting with Iowans at her annual Roast & Ride and keeping up grassroots momentum ahead of the November 8 election to get our country back on the right track.”

And, Governor Reynolds says “I am excited to join Senator Grassley and Sarah Huckabee Sanders at Joni’s Roast and Ride. Joni’s not only a good friend, but she cares so deeply about Iowa, our families, farmers, and small businesses. As Iowa Republicans push our commonsense message across the state, this event will be a great opportunity to rally supporters ahead of the midterm elections.”

JONI ERNST’S RUCK ROAST AND RIDE 

Ruck March | 7:30-8:30 AM 

Iowa State Fairgrounds – 3000 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317

Motorcycle Ride | 10:30-11:15 AM 

Note: Rider Check-In will take place at 9:30 AM 

Big Barn Harley Davidson – 81 NW Pl, Des Moines, IA 50313

Roast | 11:00 – 1:30 PM 

Iowa State Fairgrounds – 3000 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317

About Roast and Ride:

Joni held her first Roast and Ride in 2015. Over the years, the event has featured some of the biggest names in Iowa and national politics, including President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Ambassador Nikki Haley, Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Lindsey Graham, Governor Terry Branstad, and many others.

October 3, 2022 (MARION, IA) – Shop Iowa, a statewide e-commerce marketplace initiative of the Iowa Economic Development Authority with the support of the Iowa Small Business Development Center, has announced ‘Shop Iowa Day’, a day dedicated to promoting and offering incentives for shopping at Iowa small businesses across the state on the platform. Shop Iowa is managed by Member Marketplace Inc., an Iowa small business with employees in Marion, Iowa City and Des Moines.

On Shop Iowa Day, Wed. October 12, the Shop Iowa marketplace will offer site-wide discounts from apparel to wall decor and everything in between. By supporting Iowa small businesses on this day and shopping sooner for the holidays, shoppers can enjoy:

• A chance to win a $500 Shop Iowa shopping spree grand prize, or one of four additional Shop Iowa gift cards. No purchase necessary.
• 1-day markdowns from small businesses across the state.
• $5 Shop Iowa gift card for every $25 gift card purchased.
• Free shipping specials by select business and local pickup where available.

“We recognize the importance of giving small businesses the visibility and support they need to succeed, which is why we created Shop Iowa,” said Debi Durham, executive director of Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority. “The online platform has positively impacted small businesses in all 99 counties across Iowa, and we look forward to building on that success with the first-annual Shop Iowa Day.”

Promotions will run until 11:59 P.M. on October 12, and early deals will also start the night before at 6 P.M. for Shop Iowa email and text list subscribers. Sign up for text alerts to get all the promotions as they happen on Shop Iowa Day and unlock 20 percent off an order: shopiowa.com/shopiowaday

Launched in August 2020, Shop Iowa is a convenient way to buy products from small businesses from across the State of Iowa with one checkout and have items arrive at your door. Now serving businesses in all 99 counties, the marketplace serves as an additional revenue stream for businesses already familiar with e-commerce, but also provides an opportunity to help businesses step into selling online for the first time with the support of the Member Marketplace team.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved three more fines at their meeting last week for the illegal use of credit cards by sports betting operations. Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko says they are all part of one case involving the company processing the payments for the sports betting companies.  “In these particular cases, they involve some prepaid cards, a complicated type of transaction where customers either unknowingly or willingly circumvented the credit card rules. And so we do think though, I should mention, that this is an isolated incident,” Ohorilko says.

Bet M-G-M and Elite Hospitality were each fined 60-thousand dollars, while S-C-E Partners was fined 20-thousand. Two other casinos were fined at the Commission’s August meeting in the same case. Ohorilko says this is something that is rare. He says credit card violations are really not something they have experienced with the casino industry, though there have been a few. Ohorilko says it is tougher to have something like this happen for traditional betting at a casino. “In the casino environment, there are a number of physical controls that are in place,” he says, “and so you know, you cannot use a credit card you cannot put a credit card into a slot machine and so so the only way to use a credit card in a physical casino would be to get some sort of cash advance.”

Ohorilko says getting that credit card cash advance would take a lapse in oversight by casino employees. Representatives from the three sports gambling operations appeared at the meeting and said they are taking steps to correct the problem. Ohorilko says the large fines send the message that this is not acceptable. “Two years ago the law was changed in Iowa that called out the use of credit cards for wagering on any type of sports wagering and gambling games, and so it is something that is very important to the policymakers in this state and it’s something that we really don’t want to see,” Ohorilko says.

He says the companies all addressed the situation promptly and they have done some follow-up audits that have not found any issues.

(Radio Iowa) – The U.S. Secretary of Labor says he’s been briefed about the long-running strike at a Burlington factory that makes farm equipment and Marty Walsh says he’s willing to help in any way he can. “Sometimes both companies and unions reach out to me,” Walsh says. “That’s probably the best scenario when that happens because what I try to do is go and mediate the situation.”

On May 1st, United Auto Workers went on strike at the C-N-I plant in Burlington where Case I-H and New Holland equipment is made. The union represents about 430 workers at the plant.Walsh is a former construction worker and union member who served two years as head of the Greater Boston Building and Construction Trades Council for two years. He was part of the team at the White House that helped broker the deal to avert a nationwide railroad strike last month.

“But there’s been cases that I’ve worked into, nurses strikes around the country, that both sides have asked me to come in and try to resolve it and what I try to do with both sides is get them to talk at the table and stay at the table,” Walsh says. “I mean, you can’t solve a strike if one side’s not sitting down and talking to you.”

Walsh is meeting with Iowa labor leaders this (Monday) morning to discuss federal tax breaks available for so-called green energy projects like large solar arrays, wind power storage and carbon capture pipelines.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports two people were arrested on separate OWI charges, Sunday. 57-year-old Jeffrey Daniels, of Glenwood, and 57-year-old Mark Priester, of Lincoln, NE., were each charged with OWI/1st offense. Their bonds were set at $1,000, each. Priester was arrested after the 2015 Mazda 6 he was driving, struck a legally parked, unoccupied 2019 Dodge Durango pickup.

The accident happened at around 1:47-a.m. Sunday, in the area of N. Walnut and Sharp Streets, in Glenwood. Authorities say the Mazda was backing up from a parking spot, when it struck the front of the pickup. The left rear of the Mazda and left front of the pickup, sustained damage. Damage from the incident amounted to $4,000.