(Atlantic, Iowa) – The lawyer for an Atlantic man facing felony charges of Arson and Attempted Murder, entered a written plea of Not Guilty for his client Wednesday, in Cass County District Court. In addition to the felony charges, 30-year-old Anthony Rey Asay is charged with Assault causing bodily injury or mental illness, Willful Injury causing bodily injury, and Possession of Marijuana/1st offense. Asay is set to be arraigned June 6th, with a pre-trial conference on June 11th, and trial on July 12th at 9:30-a.m.

Asay is accused of being involved in a May 4th residential structure fire on Cedar Street in Atlantic, and an assault that occurred later that same day at 1207 Birch Street in Atlantic. During the apprehension, he was uncooperative and resisted Officers. Asay was charged with Possession of Marijuana./1st offense, and a separate assault charge in connection with an incident that took place April 30th .

(Radio Iowa) – A majority of over 400 clinical and administrative staffers at Planned Parenthood facilities in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and the Dakotas are taking the first step to unionize. The group has notified the National Labor Relations Board they’d like to join the Service Employees International Union. Ashley Schmidt is a Planned Parenthood training and development specialist who works in Nebraska and western Iowa.  “As we move forward into what will be a challenging a difficult time, having this union will ensure that all of our voices are heard,” Schmidt says.

The group of employees work at facilities in Iowa and the four other states in Planned Parenthood’s North Central States region. They say Planned Parenthood’s front line workers are experiencing burn out. April Clark is a registered nurse who has worked at eight Planned Parenthood Clinics around Des Moines and eastern Iowa for the past decade. She says unionizing is a way to make sure Planned Parenthood executives take care of front line workers. “To make sure that our people have fair and just wages, safe and adequate staffing ratios and equal access to benefits,” Clark says.

If the organization’s executives do not recognize the union, the National Labor Relations Board will oversee an election among Planned Parenthood workers in the five states.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Cass County Public Health said Thursday, CCPH recently completed  their most recent session of their “A Matter of Balance,” course.  The award-winning program helps older adults learn to manage their concerns about falling, make changes to reduce the risk of falling, and increase their physical activity, flexibility, strength, and balance.

The next session of A Matter of Balance will be held from on Wednesdays August 3rd through September 21st.  Registration is required as class size is limited. To register, or for more information, please contact Victoria Means at Cass County Public Health at 712-243-7443.

Back left to right: Victoria Means (Course Instructor), Linda Jensen, Suzzane Just, Sheryl Buroughs, and Linda Edelman (Course Instructor)
Front left to right: Marcene Arn, Dick Hensley, and Carol Hensley. (Photo submitted)

(USDA, Washington, D-C) – Doing things “halfway” can often cause problems later on, especially when it comes to having a holiday weekend cookout. Gary Crawford reports….

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And, just like there is a certain brand-name hotline for turkey cooking tips before and during Thanksgiving, Meredith Carothers, food safety expert with the USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline, says there are several ways you can get food safety questions answered live by real experts.

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(The hotline is 1-888-674-6854 [1-888-MPHOTLINE]; Live chat M-F 9-a.m. to 5-pm Central time, at ask.usda.gov ; or e-mail mphoptline@usda.gov, or search usda.)

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Before the Iowa Legislature wrapped-up their session this week, they reached an agreement on a bill that which will allow ATV/UTVs on county highways as a part of a statewide law.

(R) Rep. Tom Moore

Iowa House District 21 Representative Tom Moore….

He said also, HF 2147 appropriates $150,000 to support the christening and commissioning ceremonies of the new USS Iowa (SSN 797).

And, with regard to the Budget, Tom Moore expressed disdain toward actions taken in the Senate, with regard to the Budget, which he says “are always the focal point at the end of the session.”

“In my opinion,” Moore said, “the goal of government is to serve the people of Iowa by making informed decisions on how to use taxpayer money. When one chamber acts unilaterally and doesn’t listen to their departments the people of Iowa suffer. Although the budget is done and is an increase there are many areas,” Moore says “where we fell short of what [he] believes to be good conservative government..”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Local Food Policy Council is encouraging low-income adults age 60 and older and WIC recipients to apply for Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) produce vouchers. Adults age 60 and older with annual incomes less than $25,142 (single) and $33,874 (married) are eligible to apply for the Senior FMNP. The Senior FMNP provides $30 in farmers market produce vouchers to qualifying seniors first come, first served. To apply for the Senior FMNP vouchers, individuals over age 60 should call the Connections Area Agency on Aging at 800-432-9209 (extension 8888) and leave a message with their name and phone number. The agency may take up to five days to respond to messages.

FMNP produce vouchers are also provided to WIC (Women, Infants, Children) recipients first come, first served. For more information on the WIC program and the WIC FMNP vouchers, people in Cass County should call 800-338-4129.

FMNP is a congressionally authorized program with the goals of providing fresh, nutritious, locally grown produce to nutritionally at-risk women, infants, children, and low-income seniors; increasing the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding farmers markets; and aiding in the development of farmers markets. More information on the program can be found at https://iowaagriculture.gov/agricultural-diversification-market-development-bureau/farmers-marketnutrition-program.

All four Cass County farmers markets accept both Senior and WIC FMNP vouchers.

Cass County Summer Farmers Markets

• Anita Farmers Market:
  Location: Bandshell Park on Main Street in Anita
  Time/Dates: Tuesdays 4:30-6:30 PM, June – August
  $: Some vendors accept FMNP Senior and WIC vouchers. Some vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as “food stamps”).
  Contact: (402)677-2460.
• Atlantic Farmers Market:
  Location: Farm Bureau (1501 East 7th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022)
  Time/Dates: Saturdays 9:00 AM- Noon, May 21 – End of August
  $: Some vendors accept FMNP Senior and WIC vouchers. Some vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as “food stamps”).
  Contact: (402)677-2460.
• Lewis Farmers Market:
  Location: 3HO (201 1st St., Lewis, IA 51544)
  Time/Dates: Tuesdays 4:00-6:30 PM, Thursdays 4:00-6:30 PM, May 31– October 13
  $: Some vendors accept FMNP Senior and WIC vouchers.
  Contact: (712)789)-9455
• Produce in the Park:
  Location: Atlantic City Park (10 W 7th St., Atlantic, IA 50022)
  Time/Dates: Thursdays 4:30-6:30, June 2– October 13
  $: Some vendors accept FMNP Senior and WIC vouchers. All qualifying food vendors at Produce in the Park accept SNAP/EBT (“food stamps”). All produce vendors at the market both accept and distribute Double Up Food Bucks ($1 coupons for fresh produce provided for every dollar spent on fresh produce with SNAP/EBT up to $10 per transaction).
  Contact: (712) 249-5870

More About Cass County Local Food Policy Council: For more information on local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood. The Cass County Local Food Policy Council is a Cass County Government advisory body that promotes local foods and food access. The Council facilitates networking among people and groups who are involved in all aspects of the local food system—from growing and processing, to selling and eating. In its work, the Council gathers information about local food-related needs and considers what might be done to make sure everyone in Cass County has access to healthy food. The Council then makes recommendations and supports organizations working toward that goal.

To learn more about the Council, contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or (712) 249-5870. The next Council meeting is July 12 at 2:00 PM at the Cass County ISU Extension Office (805 W. 10th St. Atlantic, IA 50022). Meetings are open to the public.

(Cass County, Iowa) – Cass County Wellness Director Brigham Hoegh reports mobile food pantries will be held in both Atlantic and Anita, in June. A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. Mobile food pantries are available free of charge. Anyone in need is welcome, and no documentation is required. People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome.

Anita 2022 Mobile Food Pantries
Where: Anita Food Pantry (208 Chestnut Street, Anita IA 50020)
2022 Dates: June 22, August 24, October 19
Time: 4:30-6:30 PM 

Atlantic 2022 Mobile Food Pantries
Where: Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th St., Atlantic, IA 50022)
2022 Dates: June 8, August 10, September 14, October 29
Time: 4:00-6:00 PM

Mobile pantry dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For the latest information on mobile pantries, local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood or contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or 712-249-5870.

DES MOINES — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Thursday, announced a $20 million investment to help nonprofit organizations in Iowa expand to meet the needs of more Iowans. The new Nonprofit Innovation Fund will provide a competitive grant opportunity to help nonprofit organizations make transformational investments in vertical infrastructure that will enable them to offer additional services or help more Iowans.  Reynolds said “Iowa nonprofits provide critical support to Iowans most in need. While these organizations work around the clock to meet today’s needs, the Nonprofit Innovation Fund will provide innovative and transformational investments to help prepare Iowans for tomorrow.”

Nonprofits are encouraged to apply with shovel ready projects that expand the number of services provided to Iowans and/or projects that increase the number of Iowans served by the nonprofit. Eligible expenses for infrastructure projects include construction costs, acquisition, site development, engineering and architectural services. The program provides awards up to $3 million for infrastructure projects.

Applications will be accepted starting June 27th at iowagrants.gov. Grant recipients must have all funds obligated no later than December 31, 2024 and expended by June 30, 2026. For more information, visit iowaeda.com/nonprofit-innovation-fund/.  Funding for this grant opportunity is made available through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

(Radio Iowa) – The City of Winterset is hosting a celebration this weekend to mark what would have been the 115th birthday of actor and native son John Wayne. Liz Hansen is manager of the John Wayne Birthplace and Museum. A dedication ceremony and grand opening is scheduled for Saturday morning at the museum which doubled in size with the new expansion. “The old museum was refurbished to be movies and movie outfits from the 1930s up to the 1970s,” Hansen says. “The new museum is called Friends and Family, with an Alamo display on one end of it.” Events this weekend include a pancake breakfast, a 5-K run, a sold-out dinner and auction, two free showings of the movie “McLintock!” and more. “We will have book signing by Mark Orwoll who wrote the book, ‘John Wayne Speaks,'” Hansen says. “We will have Barry Corbin here, who is a cowboy character actor, great guy.”

As it’s also a holiday weekend, Hansen is expecting large crowds in little Winterset, especially following two years of postponements due to the pandemic. “It’s like a reunion every year. We have people actually scheduled from two years ago,” Hansen says. “They book up all the bed-and-breakfasts and the two motels that we have. It’s quite a busy time and it’s more fun than you can shake a stick at.”

Born in Winterset in 1907 as Marion Morrison, Wayne started acting during the silent film era of the 1920s and later became a popular icon through his starring roles, especially in westerns and war movies. He was among the top box office actors for three decades, appearing in 142 films and being named by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest-ever male stars. While he died in 1979, Hansen says “The Duke” remains much beloved to countless fans. “That’s true!” Hansen says, laughing. “I mean, they still love the past presidents and I think he’s right up there with them.”

Wayne’s birthday was Thursday.

https://www.johnwaynebirthplace.museum/2022-birthday-celebration/

(Radio Iowa) – The current state auditor has announced that former State Auditor Richard Johnson died Thursday at the age of 87. Johnson, a Republican, served 25 years as State Auditor before his retirement in January of 2003. Johnson began working in state government in 1968 and served as the finance director of what was then called the Iowa Highway Commission. In late 1978, the state auditor died.

Governor Robert Ray appointed Johnson to the office in early 1979 and Johnson won reelection as state auditor six times. In the 1990s, Johnson joined State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald, a Democrat, in pushing for state government to use accounting standards that more clearly showed both revenue and expenses. In 1996, Johnson endorsed and actively campaigned for then-Congressman Fred Grandy as Grandy ran against Governor Terry Branstad. Grandy came within three-and-a-half points of defeating Branstad in the G-O-P Primary that year.

The legislature passed a resolution in 2002, praising Johnson for his political courage. Current State Auditor Rob Sand has released written statement, extending his condolences to Johnson’s family. Sand says Johnson’s record is a source of inspiration for him and for others in the office. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann says Johnson called out misuse of tax dollars regardless of party or person and set the modern standard for conservative budget practices.