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Cass County Supervisors discuss Environmental Health report, and appoint Lewis Library Board member

News

July 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass/Guthrie County Environmental Health Executive Director Jotham Arber provided the Cass County Supervisors with a Quarterly report this (Tuesday) morning. In it, Arber said the Environmental Health Department was busy conducting many perc tests over the past few months, along with providing well tests and septic system inspections. The perc test is meant to simulate the actual conditions in a working septic system.

Arber said he had some good news with regard to grants to help property owners pay with some of those services.

He mentioned also, that over the next couple of months there will be information coming out through the media and advertisements, reminding people there is money available through the grants, to property owners.

Septic system grants, he says would help he and his staff cover their entire service area, not just the unincorporated area. On a separate note, Arber says they are working on writing a Tanning Ordinance that would cover his four-county service area.

Currently, they are working under the old rules for inspections of tanning shops. In other news, the Cass County Board of Supervisors approved the appointment of Nadine King to the Lewis Library Board. They tabled action on appointments for the Massena and Washington Township Trustees, due to no applicants for those positions. And, the Board tabled action of a Resolution to vacate an Excess Row, until a later meeting when more information could be gathered.

Rainfall deficit approaching an inch in many parts of Iowa

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

July 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The latest Iowa crop and weather report from the U-S-D-A suggests drought conditions will expand in northwest Iowa this week. The U.S. Drought Monitor’s measurements last Tuesday indicated parts of Plymouth, Cherokee and Woodbury Counties were in extreme drought and much of northwest Iowa were classified as in severe or moderate drought. The state climatologist says while there were heavy rains in northeast Iowa last week, the remainder of the state was drier than normal and the rainfall deficit is approaching an inch in many areas.

Weekly rainfall was just a hundredth of an inch at several reporting stations in northwest and southwest Iowa. The U-S-D-A rates 81 percent of Iowa’s corn crop in good or excellent condition, while just over three quarters of Iowa soybeans have a condition rating of good or excellent.

“Discount Dayz 2022” coming to Atlantic this Saturday

News

July 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Residents of Atlantic will find more people buzzing around town, shopping and dining this Saturday, July 23rd, during “Discount Dayz (Previously known as “Crazy Dayz”). Participating Atlantic businesses will offer crazy summer deals during the shop local event. Kelsey Beschorner, Programs Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, says “In the past, Crazy Dayz has primarily been focused on retail-based businesses. We wanted to be more inclusive to businesses of all forms, so we decided to change the name. Businesses will still offer the same great deals, consumers will have the opportunity to experience savings beyond typical retail,” she said.

One lucky shopper will get the chance to win $250 in AtlantiCash. Shoppers are encouraged to post their shopping or dining selfies on Facebook during Discount Dayz, using the hashtags #MyAtlanticIA and #LoveLocal. The winner will be announced Monday, July 25th LIVE on the Chamber’s Facebook Page. “This is a great way to thank and reward people for shopping local. It gives them that extra nudge to spend the day in Atlantic,” Beschorner said.

Shop or eat at these participating locations to be entered in to win $250 in AtlantiCash.

  • Bonnesen’s Five & Ten Store
  • Brown Shoe Fit
  • Brymons Interiors
  • CoffeeGirl
  • Downtowner Cafe
  • Golden Dragon
  • Hanson’s Fine Jewelry
  • Hy-Vee
  • Jazzercise
  • Olsen’s Fuel
  • Outfitters Plus
  • Plaza Azteca
  • Rancho Grande
  • Randy’s Computer
  • Shaved Tail Louie’s
  • Something For You
  • Subway
  • Udderly Delicious

For more information on Discount Dayz deals and other Chamber events, visit www.atlanticiowa.com or contact the Chamber office at 712-243-3017. Discount Dayz is sponsored by First Whitney Bank & Trust and the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission.

Iowa Auditor of State to hold Town Hall tours in the area

News

July 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand will meet with community members across southwest Iowa on Wednesday and Thursday this week, as part of his 100 Town Hall Tour.  Auditor Sand will highlight the accomplishments of the office that have saved Iowa taxpayers millions of dollars.  They include uncovering the misuse of public funds and the creation of the Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) program, which encourages local governments to cut costs by reducing waste.

Locally, on July 21st: Sand will be in Atlantic from 6:15-to 7:15-p.m., in the downtown Atlantic City Park; In Audubon at Albert the Bull Park, from 4:15-to 5:15-p.m.; In Red Oak at the Legion Park, from 9:30-until 10:30-a.m., Thursday, and in Harlan, Sand’s Townhall will be in Harlan at Potter’s Park, from 2:45-to 3:45-p.m. See the graphic below for other scheduled dates and times (please click on the image to enlarge).

 

Grassley says he’s not worried about polls or his opponent

News

July 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The latest Des Moines Register “Iowa Poll” shows Republican U-S Senator Chuck Grassley may be facing his closest election since 1980. Grassley says he’s not concerned. “You know, I don’t worry much about these polls,” Grassley says. “I don’t worry much about who my opponent is, because I’ve got to work hard as a Iowa’s senator and I’m fighting the bad policies of this Biden administration.”

The poll shows fellow Republican and Governor Kim Reynolds has a 17-point lead over her Democratic opponent, while the same respondents gave Grassley an eight-point lead over his Democratic challenger, Mike Franken.”I got an opponent that says Biden’s doing a fabulous job and I think Iowans disagree with that as evidenced by Biden inflation, by gas prices going up, and not enforcing the open border,” Grassley says. “I think things are very much in Republicans’ favor, particularly in Iowa.”

Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) speaks to SWIPCO employees and community leaders. (Ric Hanson photo) _ FILE PHOTO

A politician once said there’s only two ways to run for reelection, unopposed or scared. Grassley disagrees: “Listen, I’ve never run unopposed as far as I can remember, at least not since I’ve been in Congress, and I never run scared. I’m running doing my job.”

The Iowa Poll was conducted July 10-13 and shows Grassley leads Franken, a retired Navy admiral, by 47 to 39-percent.

Dubuque airport terminal named in honor of Tuskegee Airman who was Dubuque native

News

July 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The main terminal at the Dubuque Regional Airport has been named in honor of a man who helped desegregate the U.S. military. Captain Robert L. Martin was born in Dubuque in 1919 and was one of the original members of the Tuskegee Airmen, a World War II unit of black pilots. Dawnelle Gordon is chair of the Martin Commemoration Committee. “At the time, people in the military were in debate and argument over whether Black Americans could be successful as officers in the military,” she says.

Captain Martin had graduated from Dubuque Senior High School, and studied engineering in Ames at what was then called Iowa State College. He was one of 12 Tuskegee Airmen from Iowa. “They stepped up to serve this country during a time when they had few opportunities, even worse adversity than today,” Gordon says, “but they wanted to serve this country they wanted to protect the United States and its freedom.”

Capt. Robert L. Martin

Gordon says convincing local officials to name the terminal for Martin was easy, but it was harder to raise the money to pay for an exhibit and for signs at the airport. Donations totaled 80-thousand dollars.

Healthy Cass County Continues to Promote Mental Health Resources

News

July 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors declared May Mental Health Month, and throughout the month of May, businesses and organizations shared mental health resources and promoted mental wellbeing across Cass County. For example, yard signs with messages such as “Mental Health is Health” and “It’s OK to Not Be OK” were displayed outside the courthouse and at parks, and libraries and other businesses across Cass County shared brochures on mental health resources.

While Mental Health Month may be over, mental health resources remain available. Mental health resources and many mental health trainings can be requested at any time.

A message written in chalk says, Keep Trying Your Doing Great. Atlantic elementary students wrote mental health messages on sidewalks in downtown Atlantic during May thanks to a chalk donation from Cappel’s Ace Hardware.

Mental health crisis resources available to people in Cass County 24/7 include:

For additional mental health resources in Cass County, see the Cass County Urgent Need Community Resource Guide at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/. For a paper copy of the guide,
call or visit the Cass County Extension Office at 805 W. 10th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022.

Free Mental Health Programs available in Cass County on request include:
Programs are available to businesses, churches, clubs, and other organizations.

  • Question. Persuade. Refer. Suicide prevention training for adults by ISU Extension. Length: 1-1.5 hrs. Contact: Cass County ISU Extension at 712-243-1132.
  • Make It OK: Stigma is one of the greatest barriers to people getting mental health treatment. This is a mental health stigma reduction training. Length: 45 min – 1.5 hours.
    Contact: Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh bhoegh@iastate.edu or 712-249-5870.
  • NAMI Ending the Silence: Ending the Silence is a 50-minute session designed for middle and high school students. Students learn about mental health conditions through a brief
    presentation, short videos, and personal testimony from a young adult who describes their journey to recovery. Contact: Anna Killpack, Executive Director of NAMI Southwest Iowa,
    anna@namisouthwestiowa.com, 712-542-7904. (NAMI Southwest Iowa is an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), which is the nation’s largest grassroots mental
    health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.)
  • CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means) Is a suicide prevention training for adults related to reducing access to firearms. Length: 1 – 1.5 hrs Contact: Gina Moulas, Community
    Engagement and Partnership Coordinator for Suicide Prevention, VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, gina.moulas@va.gov, 402-810-0074.

For more information on available mental health programming or to discuss scheduling, call the Cass County ISU Extension Office at 712-243-1132.

Healthy Cass County is a community-focused volunteer network formed to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. Healthy Cass County meets on the second Monday of the month from 12-1 PM. Healthy Cass County welcomes participants from across Cass County. Reach out to Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or call 712-249-5870 for more information. For information on community wellness events or resources, follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty.

2 arrested Tuesday morning in Red Oak following assault investigation

News

July 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – An investigation into an alleged assault early this (Tuesday) morning, in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of two people. Red Oak Police say Officers were called to the 300 block of E. Market Street in Red Oak, for an assault that had occurred. Before those Officers arrived, Dispatch advised them that the female victim of the assault was in the front lobby of the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center. She reported the assault, and also that the alleged assailant, 24-year-old Abigail Jean Kates, of Red Oak, threw a pan at the woman’s car, causing one of the rear driver’s side windows to shatter.

Officers spoke with both the victim and Kates. They subsequently charged Kates with Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. In addition, 32-year-old Dylan Thomas Griffeth, of Red Oak, was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, and Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense.

Both subjects were being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, as of the latest report.

Creston Police report, 7/19/22

News

July 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department reports the arrest on Monday, at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, of 24-year-old Maxim. R. Kozlov, from Shannon City. Kozlov was charged with a Department of Corrections Warrant for Violation of Parole. He was being held in the Union County Jail on No Bond.

And, there were two incidents reported to Creston Police, Monday. A woman from Afton said someone stole her black leather Montana purse while working at the hospital. Contents taken were a debit card, drivers license, check book, cash and car keys. Loss estimate $260. The theft took place sometime between 2:30- and 3-p.m., Monday.

A Creston woman reported Monday night, that someone stole her Black and Orange BMX Bike from the side yard next to the front door. Loss estimate $200

Iowa schools encouraged to apply for federal grants for new buses

News

July 19th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand is encouraging Iowa school districts to apply for federal infrastructure grants to replace aging diesel powered buses. The grants can be used to buy buses that are battery-powered or run on propane or compressed natural gas. Sand says the federal program puts no limit on how much money goes to each state. “If we do a good job of getting applications in, we could really make great investments in our school bus fleet and great investments in reducing costs for our school districts in this state,” Sand says.

The application deadline is August 19th. Sand says more efficient school buses could make a big impact on a district’s budget. “Now that inflation is a problem and we are dealing with high fuel prices constantly, this could be an incredibly promising program for a lot of school districts to be able to save a good amount of money,” Sand says.

The grants come from the bipartisan infrastructure bill congress approved last year. The program is for replacing buses that are at least 12 years old. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a list of 204 public school districts in Iowa that would be prioritized for grants because they are rural or serve a student body with a high poverty rate. The Meskwaki Settlement School is also on the E-P-A’s priority list for bus replacement.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Grant Gerlock)