(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report no-injuries occurred when two vehicles collided at around 11:30-a.m., Saturday. The accident happened at the intersection of Townline and Elm Sreets, when a 2014 Chevy Impala driven by 19-year-old Kaden Briggs, of Creston, stopped at the controlled intersection, but then failed to yield the right-of-way, and pulled away before striking a 2008 Pontiac driven by 69-year-old Shelley Ann Bakerink, of Creston.

The collision resulted in a total of $3,500 damage, with the majority of the damage affecting the Impala. No citations were issued.

(Radio Iowa) – After significant setbacks in the 2022 election and the apparent loss of the lead-off spot for the Iowa Caucuses, the chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party is stepping down. In early 2021, the Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee elected Ross Wilburn to lead the party through the 2022 campaign. Wilburn announced Saturday he will not seek another term. Wilburn said he has faith the party’s next chair will lead Iowa Democrats through the challenges ahead.

The November election saw Republicans gain seats in the state legislature. Republicans won every seat in Iowa’s congressional delegation and only one Democrat on the statewide ballot won — by a narrow 21-hundred vote margin. Earlier this month, a panel of national Democrats voted to dethrone the Iowa Democratic Party’s Caucuses. The plan is to have South Carolina’s Primary go first in 2024, followed by four other states.

Wilburn, who’s been reelected to another term in the Iowa House, says he’ll join other Democrats in working to grow the party and support candidates who’ll fight for the ideas a strong majority of Iowans support.

(Cass County, Iowa) – Firefighter/Rescue, law enforcement personnel and tow truck crews had their hands full Saturday morning, as they responded to no fewer than three separate accidents, in Cass County.

As we mentioned previously, one person was injured during a single vehicle accident at around 8:35-a.m., on Interstate 80 eastbound at mile marker 54. Rescue crews from Marne, Atlantic, and Cass EMS responded to the scene. Two persons were in the vehicle, one was injured, but both were transported to Cass Health, in Atlantic. A witness saw the vehicle fishtail, lose control and entered the northbound ditch before it struck a tree.

At around 10:37-a.m., rescue personnel and law enforcement responded to a single-vehicle accident on 770th Street, north of Glendale Road (Near Anita). Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Kyle Quist reports an SUV driven by Devon James lost control on the gravel and ended-up in a ditch near a field. James was cited for failure to show proof of insurance – accident related. No injuries were reported.

I80 near mile marker 54

I-80 EB near mm 64

770th St. north of Glendale Road

And, Atlantic, Anita and Wiota Fire personnel were dispatched at around 11:52-a.m., to a semi tractor-trailer fire on I-80 eastbound, near mile marker 60. The semi’s tractor was separated from the trailer before the fire spread. The trailer, which was hauling some pork products, went up in flames and was a total loss. No injuries were reported.

Richter Towing assisted at the scene of the incidents. Deputy Quist said “It was definitely not a warm day,” to be out in the elements fighting the fire and taking care of the accidents. We thank him for the information and photos!

(Marne, Iowa) – Authorities say one person was injured during a single vehicle accident this (Saturday) morning, in Cass County. The incident occurred at around 8:35-a.m., on Interstate 80 eastbound at mile marker 54. Rescue crews from Marne, Atlantic, and Cass EMS responded to the scene. Two persons were in the vehicle, one was injured, but both were transported to Cass Health, in Atlantic. A witness saw the vehicle fishtail, lose control and entered the northbound ditch before it struck a tree.

Additional information was not immediately available. (Photos submitted to the media by Deputy Kyle Quist. Click on an image to enlarge)

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, in Red Oak, reports two men were arrested on separate active Montgomery County warrants, Friday. Authorities say Kevin L. Ward, of Urbandale, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation, on an original charge of Control of a Firearm by a Felon – a Class D Felony.

And, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Justin L. Marsden, of Council Bluffs, on a warrant for Violation of Probation, on an original charge of Attempted Burglary 3^rd Degree and Possession of a Controlled Substance 2^nd Offense.

WASHINGTON – An Iowa man was found guilty in the District of Columbia of all 12 charges against him, including six felonies, for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

Salvador Sandoval, Jr. (Sandoval), 25, of Ankeny, Iowa, was found guilty of four counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers for assaulting Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers; one count of obstruction of an official proceeding; one count of civil disorder; and the following misdemeanors: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building; and parading demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. The verdict followed a bench trial, yesterday, before U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan.

Judge Hogan scheduled sentencing for April 25, 2023. The government requested the defendant be immediately remanded and, after a detention hearing today, the defendant was taken into custody.

According to the government’s evidence, Sandoval and his mother, Deborah, were present at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Sandoval is seen on video stating “We’re at the State Capitol, or the U.S. Capitol.” In a second video clip, Sandoval states, “Got pepper sprayed in the face and mouth…Got out cause I needed a break, and there’s still people inside.” The video then pans to the US Capitol Building where dozens of individuals are draped in Trump flags and chanting “USA, USA, USA!” in front of the Rotunda entrance. In surveillance video from inside the US Capitol building itself, Sandoval is seen inside the Capitol engaging in the assaulting of law enforcement officers, by pushing law enforcement officers who are clearly identified as Metropolitan Police Officers via insignias on their jackets and helmets. Sandoval and other rioters also grabbed the police shield of two additional Metropolitan Police Officers, attempting to pull the shield away from the officers. Sandoval and the other rioters were successful in prying a police shield free from one of the officer’s grasp.

Sandoval was arrested on February 19, 2021, in Iowa.

The charge of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison for each count; the charge of obstruction of an official proceeding carries a maximum sentence of 20 years; the charge of civil disorder carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Each of the following misdemeanors carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds. The following misdemeanors each carry a maximum sentence of six months in prison: disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or building, and parading demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. The Court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by the Southern District of Iowa, and the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Omaha Field Office and Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 23 months since Jan. 6, 2021, close to 900 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 275 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors visited with Scott Bennett, owner of NISHNANET, on Thursday, December 15th, 2022, to learn about new technology and services they will be providing.

NISHNANET came to serve the rural Atlantic and Audubon counties in 2018. Since then, NISHNANET has expanded to serve over 300 customers providing them with low cost, high-speed internet, phone service, tech support, and more. NISHNANET takes pride in customer service and recognizing a problem before the customer experiences the issue, which sets them apart from other larger companies. NISHNANET recently invested in a new hardware & software platform that allows their team to view and track “how the internet feels to the customer” regarding latency. Scott explained that latency is how long it takes for the customer to ask for something and for the internet to give it back them. This in turn determines how the customer experiences their internet services.

Ambassador’s Pictured Left to Right: Steve Tjepkes, Jennifer McEntaffer, Bailey Smith, Steve Andersen, Scott Bennett, Kelsey Beschorner, Dolly Bergmann, Bill Saluk, Anne Quist, Julie Waters, Dr. Keith Leonard, Jim Kickland, Elaine Otte, Jeremy Butler, Tiffany Johnson, Grace Garrett, and Kathie Hockenberry

On top of the new software, NISHNANET will be launching a technology in Atlantic that is as fast as fiber but can be done wirelessly. The benefit of this technology is having the speed of fiber optics without the price of installation, which allows this small local company to provide low-cost internet to the customer. Starting Thursday December 15th, NISHNANET will be accepting reservations for residential customers inside Atlantic city limits. These internet plans will start at $75 a month, 50 mbps by 10 mbps, unlimited.

For more information about NISHNANET and the services they provide, visit their website https://nishnanet.com/ or call 712-243-2497.

(Rural Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce has presented a second, Angel of Christmas Award this week. As we’ve previously mentioned, the award, sponsored by Cass Health, was first presented Wednesday morning at Cass Health, to Tom McLaren, for his inspirational posts on social media, and his prayers for people around the world, who request them. This (Friday) afternoon, Chamber representatives, CCHS CEO Brett Altman, and others gathered outside the house of Steve and Sue Andersen, about one-half mile north of the KJAN studios, to surprise the Steve with the Angel of Christmas Award. The Andersen’s were nominated Jon Jordan, Wellness & Lifestyle Director at WesleyLife Heritage House.

In nominating the couple, Jordan spoke of their civic and community spirit.

He said Steve is a vital member of the business community through his drinking water supply company, Crystal Clear, as well as his bicycle repair business, the Bike Farm. Jordan mentioned the Andersen’s have had more than their share of tragedy over the past couple of years. Steve’s dad died in late January, 2021. Less than 11 months later, the couples’ 20-year old son Avery died in an accident while on a delivery of water from the family’s business. And, on November 16^th of this year, a shed on the Andersen farm burned to the ground, destroying one of their delivery trucks and other property.

Through it all, Steve Andersen remained active in his church, volunteered on the Family Crisis Support Network Board of Directors and announces all of the home football games for the Atlantic Trojans. Sue Andersen was the driving force behind, and is President of, the Avery Andersen Foundation (www.averyandersenfoundation.org). Jordan said for those reasons and more, the award is well deserved.

Steve Andersen with his Angel of Christmas Award, presented by CCHS CEO Brett Altman, and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

Steve Andersen was modest in accepting the award. He joked “I wish I could think of something profound to say.”

The anniversary of Avery’s death is coming up on December 23^rd, just days before Christmas. Steve said he and Sue will get through it together, because they have each other, and the experiences of others who grieve, to comfort them.

He said it’s hard to say what he and Sue did to deserve the award, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t grateful for the nomination, and for being selected. Steve said Tom McLaren was also deserving of the award, because of his prayers, not only for the Andersen’s, but for families around the world.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued an Emergency Order today (Friday) against the company that was the scene of a large explosion and fire in Marengo on December 8th.  More than one dozen employees were injured in the explosion at the C-6-Zero plant that was making oil and other products out of old shingles.

The D-N-R order says the plant is a “clear threat to public health and the environment” in its current condition and there’s a possibility of “another catastrophic event” due to chemicals still inside the building.

The emergency order requires the immediate stabilization of hazardous conditions and the removal of all solid waste on-site, as well as the full remediation of the area. A spokesperson for the D-N-R says they are not commenting on the order as this is an ongoing investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – The manager of an eastern Iowa food bank says her big wish would be to provide more beef and chicken to those who need food assistance through a local pantry.

“I would love to have a plethora of meat available,” says Kim Guardado, the food reservoir director for Hawkeye Area Community Action Program in Hiawatha. “We always say for donations we’d like to have peanut butter and canned fish, canned chicken and all of those things, but honestly I’d really love to have tubs of ground beef and ground chicken and whole chickens and parts of chickens that we can provide. That is something that’s often limited at pantries because there just isn’t enough meat available.”

Food bank managers say donations from meat processors have declined, due to inflation and supply chain issues, plus USDA meat shipments have decreased since mid-2020. In the first year of the pandemic, the USDA spent $4 billion buying meat and other food from hundreds of private companies as schools and restaurants closed — and shipping it to food banks. That was six times the normal budget for the agency’s food box program.

A year ago, the USDA launched a $400 million initiative to help food banks and schools buy locally-produced food. Guardardo says she’s trying to buy more fresh food for her Hiawatha-based food bank.

“We’re really focusing on having more healthy options available,” Guardardo says. “Locally grown items as well, but I would love to be able to have potatoes, tomatoes, green peppers, onions and carrots available every day.”

But she says produce is expensive and her food bank’s budget is pinched. Its budget for buying food has skyrocket — just as it serves about 40 percent more people than it did last year. Guardardo made her comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight on Iowa PBS.