DES MOINES – Governor Reynolds has appointed Sergeant Brady Carney of the Des Moines Police Department’s (DMPD) Investigations Division to lead the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.  

“Sergeant Carney’s years of experience in police patrol, investigation, and intelligence have prepared him to provide the best possible training experience for recruits,” stated Governor Reynolds. “I’m confident that his proven leadership abilities will continue the tradition of excellence at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy for the next generation of officers.” 

“I’m excited for the opportunity to use my background and training to develop Iowa’s new peace officers,” Sergeant Carney remarked. “Law enforcement training is dynamic and must always evolve. The citizens of Iowa deserve excellence from their public servants and the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy will work tirelessly to ensure those expectations are met.” 

Carney is a graduate of Adair-Casey High School and Iowa State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology in 2006. He was named Outstanding Recruit of the Des Moines Regional Police Academy’s 68^th Recruit Class in 2007. 

During his career, Carney has served as a uniformed patrol officer and narcotics investigator and has trained and supervised other officers throughout. He was named Des Moines Police Officer of the Year in 2019 and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2021. 

As director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, Carney’s responsibilities will include overseeing law enforcement training and education, evaluating its performance in meeting immediate and long-term objectives, and developing and implementing a training plan to accomplish organizational goals. Carney begins his new role on March 6, 2023. 

ELK HORN, IOWA — Residents of the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School District will vote on both a Physical Plant & Equipment Levy (PPEL) and a Revenue Purpose Statement on Tuesday, March 7. If these measures are approved, the district would prioritize the most urgent and required repairs throughout its school buildings. These include updating facilities, roofing repairs, safe and secure entrance improvements based upon our vulnerability assessments, technology, transportation etc.

“As we address key facility needs throughout our schools, the district and board are seeking ways to protect the investments our community has made in our buildings while respecting the needs of our property taxpayers,” said Trevor Miller, Superintendent. “If both of these measures are approved in March, we will be able to repair systems and facilities throughout our schools, which will help us ensure a safe and secure learning environment for our students.”

A voted PPEL is a voter-approved levy that generates funds a school district can use for infrastructure and equipment repairs, purchases and improvements. Funds may be used only for these purposes. The PPEL must be renewed every 10 years and is anticipated to have a maximum property tax rate impact of $1 per year on every $1,000 of taxable property value. The voted PPEL has been in place in the district for 10 years. Both measures are renewals and neither of these votes have an additional impact on tax rates. “We are not asking for additional funds as we will maintain our current funding mechanism,” said Trevor Miller.

A Revenue Purpose Statement allows a school district to use statewide one-penny sales tax dollars (through a program called SAVE) toward construction projects. It does not represent a tax increase. Rather, it simply changes how the district can use these dollars.

The district and board will share more information on the voted PPEL and Revenue Purpose Statement in the weeks ahead.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s Officials in Mills County report two arrests took place, Friday. Authorities say at around 12:50-p.m., 47-year-old Brent William Michael, of  Malvern, was arrested for Driving While Barred and Possession of Controlled Substance, His bond was set at $2,000. And, at around 3:50-p.m., Friday, 26-year-old Summer Brooke French, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Failure To Appear, on a charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was being held without bond in the jail.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report a man was arrested Saturday on three charges. Authorities say 26-year-old Kameron Myers, of Glenwood was arrested for Eluding, driving under suspension and neglect or abandonment of dependent person. His total bond was set at $10,300 (cash or surety). And, on Sunday, 23-year-old Cesar Salazar-Najera, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI 1st. He posted a $1,000 c/s bond and was released.

Glenwood Police said also, no injuries were reported following a collision that took place at around 12:30-p.m. Saturday, on Sharp Street. Authorities say a 2011 GMC Acadia driven by 50-year-old Amy Coleman, of Elkhorn, NE, was traveling westbound on Sharp Street in the center lane, and turning right into a business drive. Coleman told police she was on the phone and didn’t realize the road was a four-lane street.

Coleman said also, she didn’t see a westbound 2008 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 19-year-old Rhett Donald Bruce Bentley, of Macedonia, who was in the outside lane. When Coleman attempted an (improper) turn into the business drive, her SUV struck the pickup. Damage from the accident amounted to $6,000. No citations were issued.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill that would ban Iowa motorists from having a phone or electronic device in their hands while driving has cleared a key senate committee, but Speaker Pat Grassley says he hasn’t polled the 64 Republicans in the House about the concept.  “With 24 new members, I just genuinely don’t know what the overall feel is,” Grassley says. “In the past, we haven’t had the level of support needed.”

The bill has been introduced in the legislature for more than a dozen years, but has never become law. The Senate Transportation Committee endorsed it last week. Senator Claire Celsi, a Democrat from Des Moines, used to oppose the law, but she says there are now plenty of inexpensive devices available to let drivers switch their cells to “hands free” mode. “My brother’s a fireman,” Celsi says. “I can’t tell you the number of times he’s related to me the awful accidents he’s been on the scene of…the horrible things that happen when people decide to take other people’s lives by being on the phone.”

Republican Senator Adrian Dickey of Packwood supports the bill, but he says it doesn’t go far enough in addressing the distracted driving problem. “We’ve all had examples where we’re driven down the road and met a car where somebody had their dog in their lap as they’re driving…the cheeseburger in hand,” Dickey says. “There’s so many aspects of distracted driving.”

Under current law, drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using electronic devices while driving, but adult drivers are only barred from sending or reading electronic messages. Iowa law enforcement agencies say it’s difficult to enforce, as drivers claim they’re using the phone for navigation or a phone call.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has awarded more than one million dollars in Iowa Great Places grants. Iowa Arts Council administrator David Schmitz says many of the projects selected in this round of grant funding are in rural parts of the state where there can be bigger impacts. “A lot of times we think about these projects being about preserving the past, but they’re also about the future, and, you know, signaling to a community that These places are worth investing in and keeping alive for the future,” Schmitz says.

He says an example is Cedar County officials wanting to renovate Tipton’s Hardacre Theater, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Schmitz says these projects look to make communities better places to live. He says this financial support can especially help rural parts of the state. “It’s all about communities looking at what they have, what’s authentic and local for them. I think a lot of our small and rural communities have these fantastic kind of latent assets in their community,” Schmitz says. “And this program has been really successful at helping the community and residents to identify those, and then bring them forward for funding.”

The Iowa Great Places is a ten-year designation.

(By Catherine Wheeler, Iowa Public Radio)

(Cass County, Iowa) – A reminder from Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh: The first 2023 mobile food pantry in the County takes place Wednesday, Feb. 8^th, in Atlantic. The mobile pantry will be held at the Cass County Community Center from 4-until 6-p.m.

A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. Mobile food pantries are available free of charge. Anyone in need is welcome, and no documentation is required. Each car can take food for up to two households at a time.

Additional mobile food pantries have been scheduled for Atlantic, Massena, and Anita. It is important to note that Massena pantries require registration. (See below for details)

Anita 2023 Mobile Food Pantries
Where: Anita Food Pantry (208 Chestnut Street, Anita IA 50020)
2023 Dates: February 15, May 17, August 16, October 18
Time: 4:00-6:00 PM

Atlantic 2023 Mobile Food Pantries
Please note: Atlantic 2023 Mobile Food Pantries are being held at different locations during the school
year (Cass County Community Center) and summer months (Atlantic High School).
Time: 4:00-6:00 PM

Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th St., Atlantic, IA 50022): February 8, April 12,
October 11
Atlantic High School (1201 E. 14th St. Atlantic, IA 50022): June 14, July 12, August 9

Massena 2023 Mobile Food Pantries
Please note: Massena pantries require registration. Boxes are limited. Registration ends the Monday
prior to the pantry date. To register for pantries in Massena, call (712) 779-3447.
Where: Southwest Iowa Egg Coop (74877 Clarke Ave. Massena, IA 50853)
2023

Dates: Feb. 8 (register by Feb. 6), April 12 (register by April 10), June 14 (register by June 12), July
12 (register by July 10), August 9 (register by Aug. 7), October 11 (register by Oct. 9)

Box pick-up time: 4:45-5:15 PM

Mobile pantry dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For the latest information on mobile
pantries in Anita and Atlantic, visit https://foodbankheartland.org/food-resources/find-food/. For the
latest information on Massena pantries, call (779) 3447.

For information on local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood.