(Radio Iowa) – The number of homes sold in Iowa has declined by nearly 14 percent in the first 10 months of this year — with sales in October down significantly. Twenty-nine-hundred Iowa homes were sold in October. That’s 34 percent fewer than in October of last year. Data from the Iowa Association of Realtors indicates home prices in Iowa were up 10 percent last month and the NUMBER of homes going on the market is increasing after record low numbers earlier this year.

The median price for a home sold in Iowa last month was 217-thousand-five-hundred dollars. That’s down nearly 10 percent from the record high set in July. The president of the Iowa Association of Realtors says Iowa properties are selling in about a month, but experts project homes will begin to spend more days on the market — typical for the winter sales season.

DES MOINES, Iowa (November 21, 2022) – The Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) presented the 2021-22 Annual Board Awards on Nov. 17th during the IASB Annual Convention in Des Moines. The awards are given each year to board members, board teams and superintendents/AEA chief administrators who dedicate time and effort to learning, advocacy, leadership and service projects to expand their knowledge and skills for better governance. Applicants must accumulate a specific number of credits to earn these awards.

Individual Achievement Awards were presented to 112 board members from 48 PK-12 school boards, four area education agency boards and one community college board. Organization and award winner names are listed in the captions of each photo on Flickr. From Atlantic, awards were presented to Board Members Kristy Pellett, Jenny Williams, and Laura McLean. Amy Grau from the Corning CSD also received an award, along the Al Hazelton and James Reischl, from the Harlan CSD.

Team Achievement Award: Atlantic Schools Award recipients: Jenny Williams (Board President), Laura McLean (Board Vice President), Josh McLaren (Board Member), Kristy Pellett (Board Member), Nicholas Hunt (Board Member).

Team Achievement Award plaques were presented to 15 school boards with a majority of board members who won the Individual Achievement Award. Congratulations to Atlantic, Bettendorf, Davenport, East Marshall, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Independence, Le Mars, Marshalltown, New London, North Polk, Sioux Center, Solon, Spencer and West Delaware County.

The Award of Honor was presented to 17 superintendents and one AEA chief administrator who invested time and effort to build skills and knowledge needed to be informed decision makers. Organization and award winner names are listed in the captions of each photo on Flickr.

Winner List available for download at: http://www.link-line.com/iasb-annual-board-award-winners/

(Sidney, Iowa) – Fremont County Sheriff’s Kevin Aistrope reports deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Monday (11/21) arrested 40-year-old Jeffrey Brent Vanhouten, of Tabor. He faces one count of Theft in the 5th Degree, Class-D Felony charges (2 counts) of Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and a Class-B Felony charge of Ongoing Criminal Conduct.

Authorities alleged that on Nov. 15, 2022 Vanhouten, who operates a floral company, was contracted to deliver flowers to a wedding in Omaha, Nebraska by a couple from Tabor. Vanhouten then returned to the couple’s residence in Tabor and was observed on camera entering the home without permission during their wedding.

It is also alleged that Vanhouten entered a 2nd Fremont County home in October and was found inside the residence by the owner.

Jeffrey Brent Vanhouten

Deputies also allege that on Saturday, Nov. 12th, Vanhouten entered the Fremont-Mills School in Tabor, where he entered several areas of the school without permission, caused damage to various items, and Vanhouten was then observed leaving the school with unknown items.

Vanhouten was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $32,000 cash or surety bond. The investigation is ongoing at this time. Anyone with similar incidents with Vanhouten is urged to contact the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett informed the Parks and Rec Board during their meeting this (Monday) evening, that a committee will conduct interviews on December 8^th, with applicants for the Parks and Rec Director’s job. The position became open last month, following the resignation of former Director Bryant Rasmussen, who accepted a job with the USDA. Board member Jeremy Butler said the interviews will be staggered for that afternoon, because the applicants are not all from this area, or from Iowa for that matter.

The Board heard from Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm, with regard to the Splash Pad project. The Board approved the engineering contract with Snyders during their meeting last month. He says since then, the survey work is finished and they have drawn-up a brief conceptual design. Sturm said “We’re ready to go.” He spoke about the potential locations for the Splash Pad.

The Board was in agreement that the 3,200-square foot location southeast of the Sunnyside Pool would be the best option. By comparison, Walnut’s Splash Pad is 2,400-square feet. In other business, the Parks and Rec Board voted to appoint Erin McFadden, Jolene Smith and Jeff Christensen to the Splash Pad Executive Committee, but at the request of Board Member Jeremy Butler, tabled his appointment as Splash Pad Fundraising Committee Chair with the authority to form the committee and recruit volunteers.

Butler said more information need to be gathered with regard to the steps that need to be taken so that the fundraising takes place legally, and at the same time benefits those who wish to use their donations as a tax deduction.

The Board will circle back to the appointment during their next meeting, and if there are still questions, the have the option to table it again. In other business, the Board discussed the benefit the Parks Department receives from the Hotel/Motel Tax, as it relates to a possible future vote to increase the tax. The current rate of 7-percent is a combined total of state, county and city sales tax rates. In late 2010, voters approved a measure that called for a hotel/motel tax of 4% with the money used to “improve, repair, operate and maintain parks and recreation facilities and grounds for the Atlantic City.”

City Clerk Barb Barrick explained what that means for the department’s budget…

Disbursements from the State are made quarterly.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports two men were arrested on separate charges, over the weekend. On Saturday, 26-year-old Trenton Duncan, of Sloan, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond, until seen by a magistrate.

And, on Sunday, 18-year-old Cody Krause, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI 1st offense. He has since posted at $1,000 cash or surety bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Monday, of 35-year-old Demarcus Jermar King, of Elliott, on a charge of Domestic Assault 2nd Offense and Criminal Mischief 4th Degree. King was arrested at approximately 9:43 a.m. and was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on no bond.

(Exira, Iowa) – Officials with the City of Exira Water Supply are recommending residents boil their water before using for drinking or to use an alternative source. The Regional Water Rural Water Association Water Supply had a problem in the distribution system and the water main feeding the City of Exira had to be shut down. Due to the potential for bacterial contamination, it is being recommended that the water be boiled before using for drinking or cooking or that an alternative source be used.

IT IS RECOMMENDED NOT TO DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. The water may be used for bathing and other similar purposes. If the water is colored, use an alternative source such as bottled water.

For more information, please contact Tim Wahlert, Water Superintendent or appropriate title at 712-304-0481. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791.

When water service is restored, there may be air in your water piping and the water may be discolored. It is recommended to run the first water from a faucet that does not have an aerator screen, such as a bathtub or hose bib. Open the faucet slowly to allow the air to escape. Once the water is flowing, allow the faucet to run until it is clear. The water may be cloudy at first due to air in the water or particles that dislodged as the pipes filled with water. This should clear fairly quickly. If water is cloudy or colored throughout the house and it does not clear after allowing the water to run for several minutes, use an alternative source such as bottled water and contact the person listed above.

The system has been repaired, repressurized, and bacteria samples will be collected. This advisory is a precaution until bacterial sample results are available. You will be notified when the results are available and the advisory is lifted.

The system is working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to resolve the situation.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report one person suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries during a collision this (Monday) morning, in front of the Cubbies store. Authorities say a 1986 Chevy K-10 pickup driven by 74-year-old David Hammer of Red Oak, and a 2022 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 26-year-old James Leroy Petty, also of Red Oak, were both northbound on Highway 48/Broadway at around 7:54-a.m.  A non-contact vehicle stopped to turn left into the Cubbies parking lot.

Petty stopped behind a vehicle waiting to turn left, as well. Hammer didn’t see the other vehicles stopped, and ended-up striking an empty anhydrous tank trailer with the front of his pickup. Hammer had a laceration to his leg and was transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital by Red Oak Rescue, for treatment of his injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Damage to the vehicles amounted to $7,100 altogether. No citations were issued.

(Radio Iowa) – An annual Thanksgiving week event outside the governor’s mansion has been cancelled, due to bird flu concerns. American presidents began pardoning turkeys in the 1870s and governors around the country have been holding annual ceremonies, too, to offer clemency to birds that otherwise were otherwise headed to the Thanksgiving table. Alex Murphy, a spokesman for Governor Kim Reynolds, said with a statewide order in place “to protect flocks from the threat of bird flu, turkeys will not be transported to Terrace Hill” for the annual pardoning ceremony.

The event has given Iowa governors a chance to promote Iowa’s turkey industry. Iowa turkey producers typically raise more than 12-million turkeys a year and the state has two turkey processing plants, in Storm Lake and West Liberty. The governor plans to release a video tomorrow to pardon two turkeys. Last year’s turkey pardoning ceremony at Terrace Hill featured two turkeys raised by the president of the Iowa Turkey Federation.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests over the past week. Friday evening, 30-year-old Junior Romain Hicks, of Fontanelle, was cited and released from the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, on a charge of Harassment in the 3rd Degree. At around 2:30-a.m., Friday, 24-year-old Valen Roseana McKown, of Creston, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 25. She was charged with OWI/1st offense, and later released with a citation.

At around 3:30-a.m. Thursday, 27-year-old Chelsey Mae Madison, of Creston, was arrested in Stuart, by Stuart Police. She was charged with Possession of Marijuana/1st offense, and Possession of Methamphetamine/1st offense. Madison was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond. And, at around 2:50-p.m. Wednesday, 53-year-old Thomas Budd Reeves, of Ames, was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol, following a traffic stop on I-80 near mile marker 76, in Adair County. Reeves was wanted on an Adair County warrant for OWI/1st offense and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense. He was released later that same afternoon, on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.