(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report a woman from Cass County was arrested Tuesday evening following a traffic stop, and a Red Oak woman was arrested Tuesday afternoon, on fraud charges.

A traffic stop near W. 5th and B Streets, Tuesday, resulted in the arrest of 50-year-old Lisa Leraine Carlson, from Griswold. She was taken into custody after a records check determined Carlson had a suspended license through lowa. She was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $491.25 bond. Carlson was also cited for failure to provide financial liability.

And, Red Oak Police arrested 25-year-old Daisy Adelle Walker, of Red Oak, for 58 Class-D Felony counts of unauthorized use of a credit card. Walker was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $100,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – A small group of legislators will return to the statehouse today (Wednesday) and begin negotiations among Republicans on the spending plan for the state fiscal year that starts July 1st. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds says there’s no real impasse on the state budget and differences will be resolved quickly.

“We’re not going to shut the state down. We’re not Washington, D.C. and we’re never going to be,” Reynolds told reporters. “We know how to sit down and have a conversation and move things forward.” House Republicans have drafted and passed budget bills for all state agencies and operations. Senate Republicans have not, passing only the D-O-T budget out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on April 13th.

Senate G-O-P leaders say their overall spending target of about eight-point-two BILLION dollars matches the governor’s proposed budget plan. House Republicans are proposing spending about 70 million dollars more than that.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she is not giving up on her bid to get the 2022 Iowa legislature to provide state scholarships for students in private schools.  “We’ve had a lot of different things that we’ve looked at: narrowing it, doing a smaller number, limiting the number of schools that it would apply to, the percentage of poverty level,” Reynolds says. “I mean, we’ve talked about a whole host of things.”

In March, the Republican-led Senate passed the governor’s plan to provide state scholarships to 10-thousand students in low and moderate income households who enroll in private schools. Reynolds says some parents don’t feel their public school supports their values and a private school would be a better fit.

“The parent should have that choice to decide where is the right place for their child to get a quality education and the support system that they need,” Reynolds says. The plan has stalled in the House, as many House Republicans worry the proposal will hurt small, rural schools and benefit urban areas like Des Moines where there are dozens of private schools.

The governor’s plan for private school scholarships a year ago stalled, too. It was smaller and only for students transferring out of 34 public school buildings flagged for failing federal standards.

ATLANTIC, IOWA – May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions team raises awareness about the signs, symptoms, and risk factors regarding mental health and how to know when to seek help. Over the past couple of years, mental health has moved to the forefront for many. An increasing number of folks are beginning to see it for what it is: a vital component of your overall health and well-being, just as important as your physical health. At the same time, mental health conditions, resources, and conversations can still feel complicated and out of reach.

Many people are learning about mental health topics for the first time. Having a widespread understanding of the topic can help you be more informed if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health condition or crisis.  Around half of the people in the U.S. will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their life. This understanding can help us to be more empathetic to the mental health of our families, friends, and community members.

There are signs and symptoms to be aware of and specific factors that can lead to mental health conditions or crises. What resources are out there – and how do I know if they’re right for me?  By becoming acquainted with the common signs of mental health issues, we can be more prepared, confident, and less afraid of where to start when addressing our mental health.  “Understanding the signs and symptoms of a mental health condition is the first step to a happier, healthier life.” says Senior Life Solutions Program Director Karmen Roland, RN. “Understanding that mental health conditions are common and treatable is the next. We must keep working to break down the stigma against mental health to ensure people receive the help they need.”

There’s often no single cause for a mental health condition. Instead, many possible risk factors can influence how likely a person is to experience a mental health condition or how severe the symptoms may be. Some risk factors for mental health conditions include trauma, which can be a one-time event or ongoing, genetics, brain chemistry, lifestyle (such as a lack of sleep), as well as environment or social determinants such as financial stability and health care access.

Of course, understanding the risk factors for a mental health condition can be more problematic when it’s your mental health. It’s hard to see the changes. Take time to ask yourself about any changes in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to see if this is part of a pattern caused by a situation affecting the health of your mind. Here some questions to get you started:

• Have things that used to feel easy started feeling difficult?
• Does the idea of doing daily tasks like making your bed now feel really, really hard?
• Have you lost interest in activities and hobbies you once enjoyed?
• Do you feel irritated, possibly to the point of lashing out at those close to you?

Our society focuses much more on physical health than mental health, but both are equally important. If you are concerned about your mental health, several options are available. You are not alone – help is out there, and recovery is possible. It may be hard to talk about your concerns, but simply acknowledging that you’re struggling is a huge step.

You may not need this information today yet understanding the basics of mental health will mean you will be more prepared if you ever need it. Go to mhanational.org/may to learn more.

Senior Life Solutions is Cass Health’s program designed to meet the unique needs of individuals typically 65 and older experiencing depression and/or anxiety related to life changes that are often associated with aging. If you or someone you know is struggling, our program wants you to know we are here to help. Whether through our program, or another service, our team works to identify and address the emotional needs of those in our community and provide support.

If you need more information, education, or would like to discuss support, please call 712-250-8100 or visit casshealth.org.

The city of Denison is receiving money from the E-P-A, for community-wide assessment work and the development of reuse plans for sites including the Denison Municipal Utility Power Plant and Avenue C sites. The selected grant also supports the creation of a project webpage and Spanish translation services for outreach activities.

The EPA says Denison will receive $400,000 of the $254.5 million in Brownfields grants for 265 selected communities. Denison Mayor Pam Soseman says “This will further our ability to revitalize vacant areas into usable spaces.” Denison City Manager and Engineer Terence Crawford says “This is our first Brownfields project, and we are anxious to take full advantage of the opportunity.”

“The federal Brownfields fund,” Crawford says, “allows us to proactively protect the environment and the health of our citizens, while helping to transition blighted or underutilized properties into assets that strengthen our community. Reinvesting sustainably within our existing footprint will eliminate costly infrastructure extensions, create jobs, and generate additional sources of tax revenue.”

(Corning, Iowa) – Adams County ISU Extension and Outreach Summer Intern Haley Hart reports “AgSafety4u” is an online course designed for youth, 14 and 15 years of age who are seeking employment and must be certified to drive or operate tractors and machinery for hire. This program can be used for the classroom portion of the Hazardous Occupations Order for Agriculture (HOOA) safety certification program.

Extension Offices in Adams, Ringgold, Taylor and Union County are partnering with the Southwest Valley Ag Ed Program to provide the additional hands-on training that is required for issuing a US DOL certificate. Participants must complete the training online prior to attending the driving event on June 4.

Visit https://ag-safety.extension.org/ and scroll down to find the “Online Safety Course” option. You will receive a certificate upon completion of the course; you must bring it with you to the driving day.

Cost: The online certificate course costs $10/person, and must be paid online before completing the course. There is no additional cost to attend the drive date.

Details: Driving to Complete US DOL requirements: Saturday, June 4 2022, from 8-a.m. to Noon at the Lenox Rodeo Grounds, 205 E. Iowa Street, Lenox IA. Registration deadline: Tuesday, May 31st. Contact a County Extension office listed below for the driving day. No late registrations will be accepted, due to scheduling.

Sponsored by:

• Adams County Extension & Outreach, (641)-322-3184
• Ringgold County Ext. & Outreach, (641)-464-3333
• Taylor County E & O, (712)-523-2137
• Union County E & O, (641)-782-8426
• Southwest Valley Agricultural Education program.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor and Commission of Elections, Stephanie Burke, says Montgomery County voters will be receiving postcards in the mail this week ahead of the Primary Election scheduled for June 7, 2022. Burke said the cards will be sent from the Iowa Secretary of State to update voters on their polling locations.

“Due to various circumstances, some voting locations will be different from where voters voted during previous elections,” Burke said. “The polling places affected are Precinct 2 and Precinct 5.” The new polling location for voters living in Precinct 2 will be at the Red Oak Gold Fair Building. The new polling location for voters living in Precinct 5 will be at the Elliott Community Building.

Auditor Burke reminds the voters that there is absentee voting in the Auditor’s office. “Absentee ballots will be available on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at the Auditor’s office and may be voted in the office until 5:00 p.m., Monday, June 6.” The Auditor’s office will also be open Saturday, June 4, 2022 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For more information about the 2022 Primary Election, contact the Montgomery County Auditor’s office at 712-623-5127 or visit the county website at www.montgomerycountyia.gov. Voters can also follow Montgomery County Auditor & Elections on Facebook.

Atlantic, IA – Cass Health officials have announced Shelley Paulsen, LPN, was honored with the DAISY Award during Nurses Week. A packed room of family, friends, and colleagues surprised her with a special ceremony to present the award. “I was shocked to walk into that room and see everyone there. While I don’t like being the center of attention, I am grateful for this recognition. I’ve always felt lucky to be a nurse and to be able to have such an impact on others,” said Paulsen.

Shelley Paulsen, LPN (Photo provided by Cass Health)

Paulsen has worked for 26 years at Atlantic Medical Center. She first joined the team as an immunization nurse, and she also worked with Dr. John Weresh until his retirement. Since then, she works daily with Scott Hixson, PA-C. Her nominator wrote, “Shelley needs to know just how truly amazing she is and that she has touched my life for many years at my lowest times in life and my highest times. I believe that God truly knew what he was doing with Shelley becoming a nurse and making our paths cross.” Paulsen commented, “I truly enjoy the patients and families we care for. I always try to treat them with respect and kindness, to let them know they are important to me, and that’s allowed me to develop a relationship with them over the years. It’s especially fun to see the babies I cared for bring their babies in to see us!”

Nurses at Cass Health are honored twice annually with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.® The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. The DAISY Award committee at Cass Health wishes to thank all nominators for their submissions. Each nurse who was nominated will be presented with a special pin and a copy of the nomination.

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

This is one initiative of The DAISY Foundation to express gratitude to the nursing profession. Additionally, DAISY offers J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, The DAISY Faculty Award to honor inspiring faculty members in schools and colleges of nursing, and The DAISY in Training Award for nursing students. More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org. An online nomination form is available at https://www.casshealth.org/daisy.

(Radio Iowa) [UPDATED] – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that will significantly expand the number of Iowa gas stations that sell E-15 — fuel that has a 15 percent ethanol blend. “This historic bill makes Iowa the first state in the nation to adopt an E15 standard, setting the stage for the single largest expansion of biofuels in our state’s history,” Reynolds said, adding a whoop as the crowd around her applauded.

Stations that sell less than 300-thousand gallons of gasoline annually or have older tanks and pumping systems that are not compatible with ethanol can apply for waivers — but the rest will have to start selling E-15 by 2026. The law also requires most retailers that sell diesel to start selling B-20 — diesel with 20 percent of a soybean-based additive. Reynolds signed the bill on a farm near Prairie City.

Representatives of the biofuels industry and farm groups as well as several legislators were there. “For well over a year we’ve been working on different versions of this bill,” Reynolds said, “and the final product is truly a statement to the idea that good faith discussion, negotiation and compromise can pay off in a big way.” Reynolds says rather than electric vehicles, biofuels offer energy independence and security for the United States.

“Biofuels account for $4 billion of Iowa’s GDP and supports tens of thousands of jobs in our state. It powers our economy and fuels the world and this position of global leadership means this reverberates far beyond our borders,” Reynolds says. “When we talk, people listen and we’ve never spoke more loudly and more clearly than we are today.” Will Cannon, a district director in the Iowa Corn Growers Association, hosted the event at the century farm where he’s grown crops for the past 20 years.

“As a farmer here in the state of Iowa, this bill means a lot to me,” Cannon said. “Ethanol means a lot to me…Ethanol is one of those markets that helps to get good prices so someone like me has an opportunity to farm.” The law requires any gas stations that are built after January 1st of 2023 to sell E-15 immediately. The plan also includes additional state grants for stations that install blender pumps and equipment that can handle higher concentrations of ethanol and biodiesel. Tax credits for fuel retailers are in the legislation and it also doubles the biodiesel production tax credit.

“It makes needed improvements to our renewable fuels infrastructure program and, honestly, it couldn’t have come at a better time,” Reynolds said. “Iowans are anxious for alternatives.” The price of E-15 is about 10 cents less per gallon — sometimes lower in rural areas. E-15 is often identified at “Unleaded 88” on a pump — and someone from the Iowa Corn Growers Association brought cookies to the event that were decorated with the number 88.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), met during a regular session at the courthouse in Atlantic. During their meeting, the Board received a request for funding from the County’s share of ARPA (Covid-19) monies, for the Anita Volunteer Fire Department. Anita Fire Chief Eric Steffensen said they need some equipment for their squads and to transport patients down a stairs.

Steffensen said the past few years, they haven’t been able to conduct their annual fundraisers that would help their ambulance service, due to Covid.

He told the Board their current AED’s (Automatic External Defibrillators) are “well past their prime”for usefulness. The replacement devices are upgraded to monitor several vital statistics and transmit data to the hospital. The Board agreed Anita’s AED equipment should be upgraded, and approved the request for $65,000.

They heard from Griswold City Manager Ted Marciniak, who proposed a five-year extension (from 11-to 16-years) on the City’s TIF District (Tax Increment Financing) with regard to the Noble Initiatives DayCare Center Project. The Board previously approved $150,000 for the Daycare Project.

Marciniak said Noble Initiative will serve as the developers of a housing project in Griswold, in conjunction with the City. The Board was not asked to take action on the matter at this time. It has to be brought before Iowa Western Community College and the Griswold School District, before it can move forward. He was asked why the TIF needed to be extended for five-more years.

He said a normal initiative would not be ready until they receive a report from the Noble Initiative Engineers.