Des Moines, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau (IID) report a Redding woman, 44-year–old Lesa Ann Darrah, charged with one count of Fraudulent Practices (a Class D Felony), following an investigation by the IID.

The charge against Darrah stems from an investigation which began in May of 2022. According to a criminal complaint filed by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, Darrah provided a fraudulent insurance document to law enforcement.

Darrah was arrested on July 3, 2022 and booked into the Ringgold County Jail. Darrah was later released from custody after posting a $5,000 bond. Trial will be set for a future date and no additional details will be provided at this time.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Audubon School Board of Directors will hold a special session on Thursday, July 7th at 6:00 p.m. in the board room at the high school.

A public hearing will be held on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimation of cost for the construction of the Audubon Community School District Middle & High School Facility Improvements Project.

Following the public hearing the board is set to approve plans, specifications, and form of contract for a general contractor. They will then review bids for the Audubon Middle/High School Interior Renovation rebid and act on approving a contract for a general contractor.

ATLANTIC, IA – Produce in the Park has seen a huge increase in attendance this year, and food trucks are proving to be a particularly popular attraction. In response, Produce in the Park is scheduling additional food trucks, and working with food truck vendors to prepare for increased demand. This week, taco truck Zemog’s Cocina will be at the park. Owner Ponce Gomez is bringing both additional food and additional staff to help serve his delicious Tex-Mex. Food truck vendors interested in participating in Produce in the Park should contact the Market Manager at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870.

In addition to food trucks, Produce in the Park continues to add other vendors this year. For example, Exira Flower Supply is joining the market for the first time this Thursday, July 7, selling fresh cut flower arrangements. Nearly 20 vendors can be found at the market every week selling local foods and crafts, including everything from cookies and cupcakes to handmade jewelry and soaps. True to its name, Produce in the Park continues to offer premium, fresh, local produce. Bridgewater Farm will have tomatoes at the July 7 market, and Brun Ko Farm will have lots of cabbage, in addition to a variety of other vegetables and fresh herbs.

This week’s local food feature is honey, which is sold by multiple vendors at the park. The Guest Chef will be serving a Thai-inspired slaw that includes honey, in addition to cabbage and fresh cilantro. Noble Provisions will be selling Honey BBQ and Honey Sriracha beef sticks, and Matilda Dawn Creations will be selling honey-themed greeting cards.

Produce in the Park July 7 Community Calendar:
Event: Produce in the Park – Taco Truck, Honey Week, and Parks & Rec Yard Games and Art

Date: July 7, 2022

Time: 4:30-6:30 PM

Location: Atlantic City Park (10 W. 7th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022)
Food Truck: Taco Truck Zemog’s Cocina

Activities: It’s Parks & Rec month! Atlantic Parks & Rec will be at the park with yard games and Art in the Park.

Live Music: Sarah Selders

It’s Honey Week! Guest Chef slaw recipe featuring honey (and cilantro). Buy honey and honey-themed products from vendors at the park, including honey-flavored beef sticks and honey-themed greeting cards.

Produce Highlights: Fresh produce (tomatoes, zucchini, cabbage, and more!), meats, farm-fresh eggs, popcorn, lemonade, pastries, kringle, cookies, cupcakes, soaps, candles, lotions, art prints, jewelry, greeting cards, plants, lawn decorations, and more!
Visiting organizations: Atlantic Public Library and July sponsor United Church of Christ of Atlantic. Free drawing for a dozen eggs sponsored by the Cass County Local Food Policy Council. (Anyone age 18+ can enter for free. Winner will be drawn after the market and receive eggs the following week.

Payment methods accepted: All vendors accept cash. Many accept credit card and Venmo. All qualifying
food vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as food stamps). All fresh produce vendors both accept and
distribute Double Up Food Bucks (coupons given for SNAP/EBT purchases of fresh produce).

Produce in the Park July 2022 farmers markets are sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion
Commission, the United Church of Christ of Atlantic, Cass County Tourism, Cass Health, First Whitney
Bank and Trust, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, and Deter Motor Co.

For updates on Produce in the Park, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram
(www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/), or visit the Produce in the Park website to sign up
for the e-newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com. For information on vending at the
park, contact Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-
5870.

Iowans will soon be able to ride the rails on what are known as “railbikes,” which resemble steel-framed go-carts that you pedal on railroad tracks with a battery-assist like electric bicycles. Mary Joy Lu is C-E-O of Rail Explorers which is launching service in Boone this month. Lu says railbike riders will start at the historic Boone Depot, pedaling across farmland into the Des Moines River valley.

The route will take riders about six-and-a-half miles from the depot where they’ll enjoy stunning views and might spot a few bald eagles fishing along the waterway.

There are two and four-seat railbikes with the costs averaging about 40-dollars per person. Groups of about 20 railbikes will be leaving the depot in a group, with guides at the front and back, but with plenty of space in between.

Rail Explorers is partnering with the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad and anyone who’s taken the Boone Dinner Train will be familiar with the stretch of track as it’s the same course.

The rides will debut on July 21st, running Thursday through Monday through perhaps mid-November. Lu says they’re looking to immediately hire about 30 railbike guides. The company has railbikes in four other locations in the U-S: Las Vegas; Newport, Rhode Island; and in Cooperstown and the Catskills in New York.
railexplorers.net

(Radio Iowa) This year’s pheasant harvest hit its highest mark in 13 years and the man who tracks bird numbers says things are already setting up for another good year. D-N-R wildlife biologist, Todd Bogenschutz (Boyg-en-shuts), says the weather has been good.

He says the spring nesting conditions were very good for the birds.

He says it was not cool enough to cause major problems. Bogenschutz says rainy days in June don’t have as much impact because the temperatures are higher.

Bogenschutz will find out more about pheasant numbers in August when the D-N-R conducts its roadside survey of birds. Those surveys usually give a good indication of what to expect during the hunting season.

(Radio Iowa) The Iowa Supreme Court has denied the governor’s request to rehear an abortion case it decided less than a month ago.

On June 17th, the Iowa Supreme Court overturned a 2018 ruling that said women had a fundamental right to an abortion under the Iowa Constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade the next week. Last Friday, Republican Governor Kim Reynolds asked the Iowa Supreme Court to rehear the case involving a 24 hour waiting period for abortions and adopt a new standard that would make it harder to find that abortion restrictions are unconstitutional. The state court’s refusal to rehear that case means the 24 hour waiting period for abortions in Iowa is likely to go into effect late this week.

Current Iowa law allows abortions up to the 20th week of a pregnancy. Governor Reynolds is asking an Iowa DISTRICT Court to reinstate a ban on most abortions after the sixth week of a pregnancy.

The Creston Police Department reports two recent arrests.

On July 2nd at 10:13 a.m. Creston Police arrested 39-year-old Angel Valdovinos Rodriguez of Creston on a charge of Assault. Rodriquez was taken to the Union County Jail and later posted bond.

On July 6th at 2:12 a.m. Officers arrested 23-year-old Devion Alan Geesey of Council Bluffs at Sycamore and Montgomery. Geesey was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st Offense, Interference with Official Acts, and False Reports 911 Call. Geesey was booked into the Union County Jail on $1,600 cash or surety bond.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors are set to meet for their regular meeting on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. in the Adair County Courthouse Boardroom.

Their light agenda mostly consists of information from County Engineer Nick Kauffmann. He will discuss a cell phone policy update, discuss a ROW contract, and deliver a report on maintenance and activities.

The Creston Police Department reports an OWI arrest following an accident on July 3rd. The accident was reported at 1:20 a.m. on Adams Street in Creston.

After investigation it was determined that a 1985 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am driven by 19-year-old Adam McElwain of Creston was attempting a burnout and lost control. The Trans Am ended up striking a legally parked 2015 Ford F250 pickup. McElwain was not injured during the crash and was wearing a seat belt. He was later processed for OWI.

The truck sustained an estimated $2,000 damage. The Trans Am was disabled and deemed a total loss at an estimated $3,000 damage.

In recent years, the population of people of Pacific Islander descent in Cass County has increased significantly. This July Healthy Cass County will be hosting Trevy Augustin, the Executive Director of the Iowa Department of Human Rights Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs. The event will be held on Monday, July 11, from 12:00-1:00 PM. Augustin will share information on Pacific Islander cultures. The information is expected to be relevant to all businesses and organizations in Cass County that work with or serve people of Pacific Islander descent.

As Cass County Public Health Director Beth Olsen commented, “It is important that all people in Cass County have access to resources. I have found Trevy to be immensely helpful, and I encourage folks to attend this event.”

This event is open to the public. To join the meting virtually, contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or 712-249-5870. The meeting will also be broadcast at the Atlantic Public Library meeting room. Anyone is welcome to attend. Food is allowed in the meeting room, and attendees are welcome to bring their lunch.