(Radio Iowa) – About one in three college students surveyed say they’ve been diagnosed with a mental health condition, including anxiety, depression or both. Dr. Kristin Avery, of the MercyOne Clear Lake Pediatric and Adolescent Care Clinic, says college students should have their conditions addressed right away, especially freshmen who are away from home for the first time.

“It’s good to recognize symptoms of being anxious or being depressed after moving,” Avery says, “and noticing if those things start to affect your relationships with other people, or it’s affecting your sleep or your grades, and if you are noticing that is happening, to — sooner rather than later — get in to see a therapist or a doctor at student health to talk about if there’s anything different that needs to be done.” Avery says even small steps can help you out in big ways.

“I think learning about what works for you to relax,” she says, “so, coming up with some relaxation techniques, learning how much sleep you need in order to be kind of your best self is important as well.” Avery says schools are trying to do a better job of helping to address the mental health of students.

“There’s just more knowledge about all of that, and it’s more talked about now which is great for people who feel left alone in that and can advocate for themselves,” she says, “but it is a hard topic for people that I think just making sure that your taking good care of yourself is very important.”

Avery says students should look up their school’s mental health resources in advance, and remember they can also call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline anytime by dialing 9-8-8.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation has announced plans to spend millions of dollars to renovate the livestock barns on the fairgrounds. Foundation executive director, Peter Cownie, says the cattle, horse, sheep, and swine barns will each get an update. “The structures themselves are historic, you know, nearly a century old in some cases. Those will stay the same, but we need to renovate and restore the barns,” he says. “They are all unique, they all have different issues that have occurred over time,” Cownie says the barns have a constant flow of visitors and exhibitors through them during the fair’s run.

“You know, that’s where the 4-H and F-F-A youth show their livestock. They compete in the livestock competitions. The Iowa State Fair is the climax of their summer, and of all the competitions from the county fairs, and that is really the backbone of the Iowa State Fair youth in agriculture and what they do on these barns,” Cownie says. “And so to be able to renovate and restore them is really quite exciting for us.” The renovations are expected to cost around 25 million dollars.

The Blue Ribbon Foundation fundraising effort has already received 12 million dollars from the state’s “Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund,” along with five million dollars from the Richard O. Jacobson Foundation, and Jeff & Deb Hansen of Iowa Select Farms have committed two million dollars for the Swine barn portion of the renovation. Cownie says they will have more details on the renovation schedule when they meet in October. “It’ll take us a few years to do it — but we’re gonna get started in time for next year’s fair to have some improvements done,” according to Cownie. ” We’re going to make the specific decisions this fall on which ones go first and what order it will be. But we will have progress made by next year’s fair, no doubt.”

Cownie says the work on the Iowa State Fairgrounds is like anyone has with their house — there’s always something that needs to be worked on to keep it up. “What we strive to do is we want to maintain our heritage, we want to maintain our traditions. We love the fact that these buildings are historic, in our state,” he says. “We want those to remain historic, and we want them to remain upgraded so that people have the same memories that, so that the kids have the same memories as their parents and grandparents did.”

For more information on the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation visit www.BlueRibbonFoundation.org.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall Is asking for the public’s patience with regard to her office hours. In a statement issued Monday (this) afternoon, Marshall asked for patience “As new staff is learning the process of office functions.” She said also….

• TREASURER’S PUBLIC OFFICE HOURS ARE 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• DRIVER LICENSE – IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY – YOU CAN GO TO ANY DL STATION IN THE STATE OF IOWA APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED
• 24/7 SERVICES ONLINE WWW.IOWADOT.GOV
• DRIVES MUST BE DONE AT ANOTHER COUNTY OR STATE STATION – APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED
• MOTOR VEHICLE AND TAX TRANSACTIONS ARE AS USUAL
• FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE USE THE YELLOW DROP BOX NEXT TO THE COURTHOUSE DOOR.
• 24/7 SERVICES ONLINE AT WWW.IOWATREASURERS.ORG

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office on Monday (Today) released a report on 16 arrests conducted from Aug. 14th through the 20th:

On Aug. 20th: 40-year-old Kevin Louis Walker, of Adair, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; 40-year-old Daniel Phillip Faulkner, Jr., of Casey, was arrested for Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, Failure to Maintain Control, and Striking Fixtures upon a Highway. Both men were in a 2002 Dodge Durango that was involved in a rollover crash off I-80 at mile marker 86. They left the scene and were found at a residence in Casey and questioned before being released on citations; Arrested separately on Aug. 20th, was 40-year-old Bradley Gene Olsen, of Hancock, who was taken into custody by the Iowa State Patrol on a warrant out of Decatur County, for Failure to Appear on a Violation of Probation charge. He was being held in the Adair County Jail until turned over to Decatur County Deputies.

There were five arrests that took place August 18th, in Adair County:

• 41-year-old Kristina Marie Johnson, of Stuart, and 61-year-old James Edward Lyman, JR., of Greenfield, were arrested by Greenfield Police at around 11:15-p.m.. Each was charged with Assault with Bodily Injury, following an investigation into a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 400 block of SW Jackson Street, in Greenfield. Johnson was released on her Own Recognizance. Lyman was released with a citation to appear in court.
• 20-year-old Keegan Michael Miller, of Adel, was arrested on the 18th by the Iowa State Patrol, and charged with OWI/1st OIffense, along with Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. Miller was cited and released to the custody of his mother. At the same time and place, 21-year-old Autumn Marie Six, of Adel, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. She was cited for the offense, along with speeding and driving without a valid license. She was released with a citation, to the custody of her mother, also.
• Stuart Police on Aug. 18th, arrested 31-year-old Bianca Denise Cruz, of Detroit, MI., on two outside warrants from Kentucky, for Trafficking a controlled substance 1st Degree/1st offense, and Poss. of Marijuana. The Adair County Sheriff’s Office says she was released on a $6,000 bond four days later.

On Aug. 16th: 31-year-old Andrew David Potrepka, of Southington, CT., was arrested by Police in Adair, on I-80. He was charged with Eluding/speeding in excess of 100-mph, and Poss. of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense. He was released the next day on a $2,000 bond; 52-year-old Travis Gerald Keoppel, of Adair, was arrested Aug. 16th in Adair, on a Cass County warrant and turned over to Cass County Deputies; and, 45-year-old Jason Richard Berendes, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, for Contempt of Court/Failure to complete jail sentence. He served the balance of his sentence and was released two days later.

On Aug. 15th: Adair County Deputies arrested 29-year-old James Dean Michelson, of Creston, on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Bond was set at $2,000; Police in Stuart arrested 61-year-old Thomas W. Culwell, of Las Vegas, NV, on Aug. 15th. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding 90 in a 70 mph zone. Culwell was a passenger in the vehicle. Following an investigation, he was charged with Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia (a meth pipe), Poss. of Meth/1st offense, Prohibited Acts, Poss. of a Schedule II controlled substance, and two counts Poss. of a Schedule 4 controlled substance. His bond was set at $10,000. The driver of the vehicle, 41-year-old Jesseca Lyn Pop, of Salem, OH, was charged with Poss. of meth with the intent to deliver at least 5 grams but less than 100 kilograms, Poss. of Marijuana/1st offense, and Speeding. Her bond was set at $25,000.

On Aug. 14th, 44-year-old Jereamy Lee Rice, of Stuart, was arrested by Stuart Police, for Driving While Barred. He was released the same day on a $2,000 bond. And, 23-year-old Chloe Josephine Hagle, of Creston, was arrested on 260th Street off Henry Wallace Road, in rural Greenfield, for OWI/1st offense. She was later released with a citation.

(Glenwood, Iowa – August 22, 2022) – (updated/Radio Iowa) – The former city clerk in a small southwest Iowa town has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing money from Silver City accounts. Forty-four-year-old Artema Madeline Gray pleaded guilty to first-degree theft – a Class C Felony. An investigation found she made over 42-thousand dollars in personal purchases on the city’s credit card and overpaid herself nearly 11-thousand dollars. State Auditor Rob Sand’s office conducted the special investigation that was released this spring.

The special investigation covered transactions in Silver City from May of 2017 through April of 2021 and found Gray used city money to pay her CenturyLink bills and may have pocketed money from city fundraisers. According to the Mills County Attorney’s Office, Gray was sentenced after current and former officials from Silver City spoke about the financial impact on the town of 245 residents.

Mills County Attorney, Naeda Elliott, said she would like to thank the Mills County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Auditor’s Office for their help and dedication to bring justice to the residents of Silver City.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Police Department reports numerous arrests took place from July 31st through August 20th. Beginning with the most recent arrests:

On Aug. 20, 48-year-old Dan Christensen, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct and Public Intoxication. On the 19th, 21-year-old Curclund Vanaernam, of Atlantic, was arrested for Operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. On the 18th of August, 31-year-old Samuel Martinez-Alverado, of Atlantic, was arrested for simple assault. There were two arrests August 16th: 18-year-old Alaina Abild was cited into court for Shoplifting (5th Degree Theft), and released at the scene. And, 25-year-old Weneity Seker, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intox., and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On August 9th, Atlantic Police arrested 53-year-old Jeffrey McCoy, of Atlantic, on a Cass County warrant for OWI/1st offense. The previous day, 20-year-old Jordan Mullins, of Atlantic, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts. On the 6th, 45-year-old Jason Tasto, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 5th (Shoplifting). On Aug. 5th, Atlantic Police arrested 25-year-old EJ Stephen, of Atlantic, for Public Intox.

And, there were two arrests on July 21st, in Atlantic. 31-year-old Kenneth Bliss Johansen, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1st Offense, and 42-year-old Kantauo Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While License is Barred.

All of the subjects with the exception of Alaina Abild, were booked into the Cass County Jail and later released.

(Radio Iowa) – Union representatives and managers of the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in southeast Iowa have reached agreements, avoiding a strike at the facility.  Ten unions represent workers who make ammunition for the U.S. Defense Department at the sprawling site near Burlington. The three year contract for Iowa Army Ammunition Plant employees expired on Friday at midnight. According to Forbes magazine, workers at the plant make some of the components for missiles that have been shipped to Ukraine.

A Teamsters representative who spoke to the magazine said union members do dangerous work for the military. An explosion at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in 2006 killed two workers and destroyed a building on the property.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic say they are pleased to welcome Emily Wittrock, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP), to the team of providers at Atlantic Medical Center, RHC. As a board-certified family nurse practitioner, Wittrock will provide care to patients of all ages. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the National Society of Leadership and Success. Previously, she earned a life-saving award from the Iowa Heart Association and is a DAISY Award Winner.

Wittrock says “I wanted to be a provider since I was in elementary school. I have always wanted to work in rural health care, because I have always felt so supported by this community. I am excited to give back and build relationships with my patients and grow as a provider, and I feel really fortunate to be working with so many established, knowledgeable providers at Cass Health.”

Emily Wittrock, ARNP

Emily Wittrock graduated with an Associate’s of Science in Nursing in 2015 from Southwest Iowa Community College. In 2017, she completed her Advanced EMT training at Mercy College of Health Science. The following year, she graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Governor’s University. Most recently, she completed her Master of Science in Nursing from Clarkson College in 2021. Wittrock has work experience in cardiac/telemetry units, ICU, medical/surgical hospital units, emergency medicine, surgery, behavioral health, and hospital medicine. Over the last several months, Wittrock has worked on the hospital medicine team and in AMC Rapid Care, both areas where she will continue to work on an as needed basis.

Wittrock and her husband Josh are life-long residents of Anita, and they have one son named Westen. She is a member of Anita Town and Country and the Anita Volunteer Fire Department.

To make an appointment, please call 712-243-2850.

(Radio Iowa) – A new survey finds as many as three out of four Iowa households that rely on private well water may be at risk for unhealthy nitrate levels. The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach survey found just 10 percent of well owners tested their water quality in the last year, as it is not required by state law. Jamie Benning is the assistant director for Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension at I-S-U. “What that tells us with the amount of, or the frequency of their monitoring, or testing, along with some other behaviors is that 73% of well owners in Iowa are at risk for nitrate exposure,” Benning says, “because they haven’t tested in the last two years.”

Benning says about 33 percent of well owners are considered to be at the highest risk because they also haven’t installed filters to remove nitrates and don’t seek alternative sources of drinking water. Even though it’s not required by the state, Benning says people should regularly test their well water to make sure it’s safe to drink.  She says, “Put it on your calendar, maybe around your birthday, maybe ahead of the holidays, a time that you’ll remember and treat it like any other health action that you take.”

It’s estimated about 7.6-percent of Iowa households use well water.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – A ticket purchased in northeast Iowa was just one number short of winning a 99 million dollar Mega Millions prize. The ticket purchased at a Casey’s in the town of Ossian matched five numbers — but missed the Mega Ball — that would have resulted in the jackpot win for Friday’s drawing. The ticket holder will still get a one million dollar prize when they bring it in to Lottery Headquarters. It was the only ticket in the drawing to come that close to the jackpot.

No one had all the numbers, so the jackpot will increase for Tuesday’s drawing. (Estimated 116 million as of Monday)