The Iowa Democratic Party is asking the county attorney in Red Oak to review whether Joni Ernst had an alleged conflict of interest in the 215-thousand dollars worth of county contracts awarded to her father’s company when Ernst was a county official. Ernst is the Iowa Republican Party’s 2014 nominee for the U.S. Senate, facing Democrat Bruce Braley in one of the closest senate races in the country. Former Iowa Attorney General Bonnie Campbell — who was chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party in the late 1980s — says according to state law, a county officer like Ernst “shall not” have a “direct or indirect interest” in a county contract.

“Iowans expect their public officials whether they’re running for local office or the United States Senate, to do never use the power of their office to benefit themselves, their friends or their families,” Campbell says. A spokeswoman for Ernst says the construction contracts were subject to a public competitive bidding process and it was the county supervisors who voted to award the contracts, not Ernst — plus Ernst does not have a financial stake in her father’s company. Campbell, a lawyer who served one term as Iowa’s attorney general, says by her reading of Iowa law, a county official’s “immediate family members” — including their parents — are not to get county contracts.

“Despite that I think pretty clear statement in the Iowa Code, Senator Ernst’s father, Richard Culver, received $215,000-plus dollars in county contracts for his construction company, Culver Construction,” Campbell says. “This was of course the same time his daughter was auditor.” Last Friday, a Washington, D.C.-based group called the “American Democracy Legal Fund” asked Iowa’s current attorney general to issue an opinion as to whether Ernst had a conflict of interest when her father’s company got those contracts while she served as Montgomery County Auditor. The Ernst campaign says Braley’s “liberal Washington allies” are making “frivolous” allegations to “prop up Braley’s desperate campaign.”

The state’s attorney general this week said the dispute falls under the jurisdiction of the Montgomery County Attorney. Today (Wednesday) Iowa Democratic Party officials asked the county attorney to rule on the matter. Staff in Montgomery County Attorney Bruce Swanson’s office say he won’t be in the office until late Friday. Swanson, a Republican from Red Oak, is seeking reelection this year and does not have a Democratic opponent.

(Radio Iowa)

Authorities in Harlan are asking the public’s help in finding counterfeit money circulating in the community. A counterfeit $20 bill was passed at a Harlan business Wednesday. The serial number was BF28462799B.

If you or your business receives a $20 bill that appears to be counterfeit, or has the same serial number on it mentioned above, contact the Harlan Police Department at 755-5151.

Police in Red Oak arrested a Pottawattamie County man early Wednesday afternoon. 26-year old Jason Rolfe Ahrens was taken into custody on a Montgomery County warrant for Failure To Appear in court on a Possession of a Controlled Substance charge. Ahrens was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, and held on $5,000 bond.

As part of its ongoing search, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is asking for the public’s help to locate 17-year old’s Michelle Goetz and Damian Gonzalez who went missing from Rogers, Arkansas on Sept. 26, 2014. It is believed that the pair may traveling to southwest Iowa.

Michelle Goetz – Damian Gonzales – selfie

Michelle she has blonde hair that may have been dyed blond with black underneath. and green eyes. Michelle is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has a tribal tattoo in a triangular design on her neck and an anchor tattoo on her torso. Michelle may be wearing glasses.

Damian has brown hair and brown eyes. He is 6 feet tall and weighs 225 pounds. Damian has a cross tattooed on his right shoulder. The pair is traveling in a white pick-up truck with Arkansas license plate.

The public is urged to call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) with any information concerning the disappearance or current whereabouts of Michelle and Damian. Calls may be made anonymously.

Michelle Goetz – Damian Gonzales

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – New students with parents or grandparents who have degrees from the University of Iowa will automatically receive a $6,000 scholarship over four years when they enroll.
University President Sally Mason said Wednesday that she expects hundreds of first-year and transfer students will receive the Iowa Heritage Award next fall.

Mason told reporters that the scholarship is a piece of the school’s strategy to increase its enrollment by attracting more students from Iowa and beyond. Any student with a parent, stepparent, legal guardian or grandparent who received an undergraduate, graduate or professional degree from UI will be eligible.

Within that pool, up to 20 of the highest-achieving students will receive the President’s Heritage Award, which will award another $6,000 over four years. Mason said private donations will help pay the cost.

The Southwest Iowa Coalition (SWICO) will be hosting a Candidates’ forum in Atlantic on Oct. 16th. SWICO says candidates for state and federal office who may be representing Iowans in Adams, Adair, Audubon, Cass, east Pottawattamie, Fremont, Page, Mills, Montgomery, Ringgold, Taylor and Union Counties, have been invited to attend the forum.

The forum will be held at the Atlantic Golf and County Club (102 W. 29th St.). The event begins at 5-p.m. Oct. 16th with appetizers and social time, with the candidates speaking about his or her position on rural development policy issues, at 5:30-p.m.

The event will conclude with a question and answer session moderated by SWICO President Lee Weir. There is no charge to attend, but you are being asked to make your reservation by e-mailing swico@swico.org, or by calling 712-621-2032.