(Radio Iowa) – Members of the Iowa House are considering extending a tax break for the Knoxville Raceway. In 2018, the Iowa legislature approved a $1.8 million sales tax rebate for the track. Jason Reed, general manager for the Knoxville Raceway, says state government red tape has kept the track from claiming the money.

“We got the bill passed and then there was some confusion on the rules on how it was going to be paid. We thought we were on the right road several different times where they told us, ‘Fill out these papers, send them in and you’ll get your money,’ but we ended up just getting denied in those two or three years in there and then COVID right after that,” Reed says. “We kept improving stuff. We thought we were going to be getting money back, but we weren’t getting it.”

Reed says it took three years for the Department of Revenue’s rules for the rebate to be functional. “A little over $700,000 that we’d done improvements to turn in, and then we were denied on,” Reed says.

The projects ranged from new restrooms to making the facility more handicapped accessible. Republican Representative Brook Boden of Indianola and two other members of a House subcommittee have advanced a bill that would extend the tax break until 2030. “When we wrote this and we decided to help Knoxville, we had great intent and I think it still has great intent,” Boden says. “We want to do what’s right and make that right with Knoxville and their community.”

Boden says the tax break supports a small community that hosts a big event. There are about 30,000 fans in the stands for four straight days of the Knoxville Nationals in August, plus there are big crowds in the 10 days of qualifying races leading up to the nationals.

“The Knoxville community grows by four or five times during that time frame,” Reed says.

The Knoxville Raceway is on the Marion County Fairgrounds. Weekly stock car racing began in 1954, but a few years later lighter weight sprint cars began racing on the track. The first Knoxville Nationals were held in 1961.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican senators had planned to advance a bill that would set some new rules for building carbon pipelines, but after hearing opposition the bill has been permanently shelved. Republican Senator Mike Klimish of Spillville says he came into today’s (Monday’s) subcommittee hearing with a plan, but after supporters AND opponents of carbon capture pipelines testified, that plan went out the window.

“I’ve never had a bill that absolutely nobody liked,” Klimesh said, to laughter. Cynthia Hansen is a landowner from Shelby County who does not want a carbon pipeline on her property. She’s urging lawmakers to ban the use of eminent domain for the projects, so developers do not have the power to seize property from unwilling landowners. “Iowa legislators have been quick to enact laws that protect the rights of citizens to own their firearms…but where are the legislators when landowners have been asked for the last two sessions, excuse me,” she said, breaking down before continuing, “for protection to defend the rights of our land?”

The bill would have required future pipelines — including those carrying natural gas or other fuels — to get permission from at least two-thirds of landowners along the pipeline route before a developer could seek authority from the state to seize the rest. Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, had planned to propose that the bill instead say that carbon pipeline construction would be on hold until federal safety rules are in place and all states along the pipeline route have issued construction permits. Schultz tabled those ideas after hearing from landowners who are resisting the pipelines.

“I think they’re telling us they don’t want us to go forward, even if we have motives that might be friendly,” Schultz says. Sometime this week a House committee is expected to consider a bill to establish some new rules for the three proposed carbon capture pipelines, so it’s possible senators may eventually revisit the issue.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Superintendent for the Harlan Community School District has issued a statement with regard to an investigation into the alleged activities of a substitute teacher. Late last week, it was reported the Harlan Community Schools sixth-grade social studies teacher Eric Robert Croghan has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a Greenfield man arrested on an Adair County warrant for numerous sex-related offense, was released last week on a $20,000 cash or surety bond. 20-year-old Dakota Layne Paxton faces charges that include two-counts of Enticing a Minor under 16 for illegal acts and enticing a minor under 16 for Sex Abuse. Paxton also faces five counts of Sexual Abuse/3rd offense involving a person older than the age of four. Additional information was not provided.

The Sheriff reports also, 39-year-old Andre Eugene Washington, III, of Kokomo, IN, was arrested Feb. 22nd on I-80 westbound following a traffic stop for speeding and defective license plate lamp. Upon questioning and further investigation, Stuart Police charged Washington with Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense, Possession of a Stolen Firearm (Glock .9mm) and Possession of a firearm as a felon. He was released the following day on a $5,000 bond.

On Feb. 21st, 27-year-old Matthew Henry Paulsen, of Adair, was arrested by Police in Adair, for Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense – Methamphetamine; PCS/Marijuana – 2nd offense, and Possession of drug paraphernalia. He was cited for Open Container as a driver, Paulsen posted a $2,000 bond on the Adair County charges, and was then transferred to Cass County for Violation of a No Contact Order.

On Feb. 24th, 42-year-old Justin Alan Robertson, of Greenfield, was arrested by Greenfield Police. Robertson was taken into custody on an Adair County warrant for five-counts Unauthorized Use of a Credit card (Under $1,500). Also arrested Feb. 24th, was 41-year-old Kristina Marie Johnson, of Greenfield. She was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. On Feb. 20th, 67-year-old Dennis Gene Killion, of Orient, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order.

And, on Feb. 19th, 42-year-old Talana Kaye Boan Roach, of Greenfield, was arrested for Domestic Abuse w/injury or mental illness/1st offense.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie Center say no injuries were reported following a rollover accident last week, west of Bayard. Authorities say 70-year-old George J. Marcelis, of Bayard, was driving a 1995 GMC truck eastbound on Highway 141 at around 11:45-a.m., when the vehicle went out of control on an icy bridge. The vehicle spun around and entered the north ditch before coming to rest on the driver’s side.

The truck sustained about $1,500 damage. No citations were issued.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Officials with the Glenwood Police Department report a woman from Malvern was arrested Saturday. 25-year-old Michaela Goodman was arrested for Driving While Barred. She posted a $2,000 cash or surety bond, and was released.

(Radio Iowa) – The Board which oversees Iowa’s medical marijuana program today (Monday) denied a petition to allow the use of the dried marijuana plant known as “vaporizable flower.” The petition request was submitted by medical marijuana provider Bud & Mary’s, which was formerly known as MedPharm. Doctor Jacqueline Stoken was one of the board member’s who reviewed the petition and says they had a couple of concerns. “It didn’t bring out that there is damage that occurs to the body when you smoke or vape the T-H-C, this includes lung and also brain damage,”she says. Stoken says this is a particular concern for people who were still in their teenage years or younger, as their brains are still developing.

Doctor Bob Shreck says Bud & Mary’s own petition contained two citations documenting the high incidence of smoking when flour is available and also hybrid use both vaporized and smokeable.  “The optics of a medical board approving a smokeable form are not good. There is concern about the normalization of marijuana use amongst our youth,” Shreck says. He says the board’s action wouldn’t change anything. “Our recommendation would need to go to the Board of Medicine would need to go to the Department of Health and would be in violation of current law,” Shreck says. “The best we could do would be to recommend that the legislature changed the law.” He says there are efforts in the legislature to make such a change.

Schreck says he is also concerned that the change in name from MedPharm to Bud & Mary’s has also led to a change in the company’s marketing. “I felt their website is no longer a medical website. It’s a lifestyle website. And this is very alarming statements that are made on that are alarming as well,”Shreck says. Stoken and other board members agreed with Shreck. Schreck says there is already a legal inhaleable form of medical marijuana. “Convenient to use, dose limited, easy to measure in titrate, which is important with the use of medical marijuana because medical marijuana doesn’t cure any disease,” he says. “It relieves the effects and side effects of several chronic illnesses and chronic adverse conditions, but only for a few hours.” He says the cost of products are one argument the company uses.

“We would concede that flower would be of lower cost — there’s no doubt of that,” Shreck says, “but the other costs, the social costs, the medical costs, the adverse costs, we think far outweigh the lower costs to the individual patient.” The Board voted unanimously to deny the petition to allow the use of “vaporizable flower.” It is the second time such a petition has been turned down.

(Iowa DNR News) – A bypass at the City of Creston collection system was observed Monday morning. The bypass occurred near Taylor Park, which flows into a marshy area and eventually drains into McKinley Lake.

Creston wastewater treatment facility superintendent, Jim Bristow, said he expects the bypass to stop midweek.

Creston city officials are collecting water samples for analysis. Samples will be taken upstream from where sewage is discharging into marshland and at the outlet end of the marsh on the north side of Adams Street. The samples will be tested for bacterial contamination including ammonia and E. coli.

Residents should keep children and pets away from the area.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The issue of parking in the downtown Atlantic business district will be discussed Wednesday afternoon, during a meeting of the Atlantic City Council. According to the agenda, Brown Shoe Fit owner/manager Brian Ruge will address his concerns with regard to customer parking, long-term parking and snow removal. He is also expected to address building and sidewalk issues. The Council’s meeting begins at 3-p.m., in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, instead of the normal 5:30-p.m.   A Budget work session will follow, at 4-p.m., Wednesday.

In his letter to the Council, Ruge says “Despite the fact that we have made strides in our downtown appearance…buildings not being maintained [there are] dangerous intersections, trees overgrowing into buildings, bricks on sidewalk lifting and becoming a tripping hazard.” The biggest issue he and other business owners have, is parking. Specifically with regard to the snow route.  “When the city attempts to clear the downtown streets,” he says, “they are not able to do this successfully which leaves the front 5 parking spots uncleared and unusable per vehicle parked on Chestnut Street. Parking is a constant issue and concern. This is not only costing the city more time and money having to attempt to clear the streets multiple times, but also money lost. Lack of parking=loss of business=loss of tax dollars spent.”

Photos submitted to the Atlantic City Council

Brian Ruge says “The biggest concern with parking is when cars are parked for days. I understand there are tenants who reside downtown; however, their vehicles being parked for lengthy periods of time means that parking becomes limited and can be problematic for those intending to shop. As a business owner, my priority is the customer, and allowing them the priority for parking. Downtown parking should not be viewed as a public lot to park. Furthermore, I find myself running products out to customers who are not able to park on our block due to the lack of space available and sometimes even moving vehicles for customers. I have spoken to Grace about installing a Handicap parking spot on our block to help this situation, but this was not possible due to the slope and drain. Overall, thinking about the big picture, the business owners in downtown Atlantic are missing out on sales, and our customers are not being prioritized.”

In other business, the Council will recognize Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Travis Hanson, for achieving his Grade III certification. Travis joined the Atlantic Wastewater Department a little more than four-years ago. The City does not provide any financial incentives to obtain the certification, nor does it cover the costs to test for the certification.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Saturday at 11:45 p.m. of 25-year-old Christopher Floyd Birdtail of Red Oak on a charge of Harassment 1st Degree. Birdtail was arrested at 1310 Broadway Street in Red Oak and booked into the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.