(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports five arrests from over the past week. Among them was 37-year-old Barrett Martin Driskill, of Blockton, who was arrested Nov. 28th, by Stuart Police. Driskill was wanted on a warrant out of Cass County (IA) for Failure to Appear for his Pre-Trial Conference, Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, Theft in the 2nd Degree, and OWI/1st Offense. His arrest followed the pursuit of a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee that began during a traffic stop in Stuart at around 1-a.m., on Nov. 28th.

The chase eventually entered a field where the SUV stopped after reaching a fence line near Interstate 80. Driskill took-off on foot and was tracked north across the Interstate in a field, with the assistance of a Guthrie County K9. He was found hiding in a waterway. He refused to answer questions and advised officers that he was walking down the creek, collecting rocks. Officers noted he did not appear to have any dirt or mud on him, and did not have the appropriate clothing on for the weather conditions. An odor of alcoholic beverage was detected coming from his body. An open container of alcohol was seen in the Jeep.

Driskill was transported to the Adair County Hospital and then to the Adair County Jail, where, in addition to the Cass County charges, he was charged with: Felony eluding; Possession of a Controlled Substance-Marijuana/3rd or subsequent offense; Failure to stop at a stop sign; Speeding; Improper rear lamps, and Open Container by a person over 21-years of age. He was turned-over to Cass County Deputies to answer to the charges in our county.

Elsewhere in Adair County arrests

• 26-year-old Jesse Andrew Queener, of Stuart, was arrested by Stuart Police, on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. He was released the following day on a $5,000 cash or surety bond
• 32-year-old Cody Neil Daughtery, of Greenfield, was arrested Nov. 29th by Adair County Deputies, on an Adair County warrant charging him with Assault causing bodily injury or mental illness. He was released the same day on a $1,000 c/s bond.
• 50-year-old Jason Edward Caldwell, of Stuart, was arrested Nov. 29th by Adair County Deputies, on a charge of Driving While Barred. He was released the following day on a $2,000 c/s bond.
• On November 30th, 45-year-old Michael Price Griffin, of Adair, was arrested by Adair Police at the Casey’s store in Adair. Griffin was charged with Driving While Barred and held on a $2,000 c/s bond.
• And, on Dec. 3rd, 21-year-old Dylan Roger Holste, of Orient, was transported to the Adair County Jail in Greenfield, following a traffic stop. Upon contact with the vehicles’ occupants, the Deputy said he could immediately tell a passenger was extremely intoxicated. Holste, who was driving the vehicle, admitted to having had a beer. Following a Standardized Field Sobriety Test, and his refusal to submit to a Preliminary Breath Test, Dylan Holste was transported to the Jail. The report says while he was on the phone to his father, Dylan admitted he had four-or five-drinks. The report says he refused to provide a specimen of his breath on the Datamaster DMT. He was cited for OWI/offense, and released from the Sheriff’s Office

(Red Oak) – Officials with the Red Oak Police Department report a man from Nebraska was arrested Sunday evening. Authorities say 44-year-old Juan Avalos, Jr., of Omaha, was taken into custody at around 5:15-p.m., in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue. Avalos wanted on a warrant out of Omaha, associated with a fraudulent check.

Avalos, Jr., was transported to the Montgomery County Jail for being a fugitive from justice, and was being held, pending extradition to Nebraska.

(Radio Iowa) – A key lawmaker says Republicans in the Iowa Senate intend to reform Iowa’s property tax system in 2023. Senator Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, is chairman of the Senate committee that drafts tax policy. “We are going to be laser focused on property taxes this upcoming session,” Dawson says. “Frankly, it may be one of the only few topics that the Ways and Means Committee from the Senate is prepared to look at.”

Dawson says the system has been on auto pilot and it’s time for meaningful reform of property tax levies. Senator Pam Jochum of Dubuque, is the top-ranking Democrat on the Iowa Senate’s tax-writing committee. “If we’re going to make that kind of a change, I hope we use a scalpel and not an ax,” Jochum says, “because right now, local governments are way too dependent on one tax — and that is property.”

A couple of years ago, state officials agreed to spend about 100 million dollars on Iowa’s mental health system, paying bills that have been covered by county property taxes — but Dawson says that’s barely, if at all, reduced Iowans’ property taxes.”What we have done thus far appears to not be producing a result to make us a competitive state for property taxes,” Dawson says. Jochum says lawmakers should have a broader discussion that might let local governments diversify their tax base.

“To start reducing the pressure of property taxation to support the police, fire, emergency services, snow removal, recreation,” she said, “all of the things that we rely on our local government to do.” The biggest chunk of local property taxes supports local public schools and Jochum says lawmakers should consider increasing state funding for public schools to offset those dollars.

Jochum and Dawson made their comments at the winter meeting of the Iowa Taxpayers Association.

(Radio Iowa) – University of Northern president Mark Nook says U-N-I’s plan to start a nursing program is part of a reassessment of university programs. “We’re looking at several other areas in this academic positioning,” Nook says. “…What are the programs the state needs or the programs that students really want to get into and how do we grow those programs and do they make sense on our campus?”

U-N-I administrators say the new bachelor of science in nursing should be launched in 2024, to help address the nursing shortage. There’s also a shortage of accountants and C-P-As. U-N-I already offers an accounting degree to students at the Cedar Falls campus, but Nook says that could expand soon. “It is a program where we’ve recently got approval from our accrediting agency to offer courses here in Des Moines,” Nook says, “and we’re looking at how we might be able to manage that and make that work out.”

Nook says he and other U-N-I officials are looking at how to expand academic programs in applied engineering and what some call “big data” because students are seeking those skills. “We’ve got a data analytics program in the College of Business, but we also recognize that data analytics is important in every other field, whether it’s education, the sciences, the humanities,” Nook says. “And so how can we make data analytics available to students, regardless of their discipline, so they have a better understanding of how to use the data that’s in their field?”

Nook says colleges and universities around the country are facing enrollment headwinds, because fewer high school graduates are pursing a four-year degree, so figuring out which majors are most attractive to students that do intend to go to college is key.  “That’ll help us grow our enrollment,” Nook says, “because we’ll have the programs students want and the state needs as well.” U-N-I’s enrolllment peaked in 2000, at more than 14-thousand students. This fall’s enrollment is just under nine-thousand students.

Nook made his comments during a weekend appearance on Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S.

ATLANTIC, IA (December 5, 2022) – Produce in the Park’s Christmas Market will be held at a new location this year. Market Manager Brigham Hoegh reports the 2022 winter farmers market will be held at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA on Thursday, December 22 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, and the YMCA will offer free activities for kids during the market.

Hoegh says while Produce in the Park’s summer farmers markets consistently offer activities for people of all ages, finding a holiday market space that can accommodate both vendors and activities has been more challenging. The Nishna Valley Family YMCA has been a supporter and sponsor of Produce in the Park’s summer markets, and the organizations are excited to partner for Christmas Market 2022.

Christmas Market is held just days before Christmas, so shoppers can pick up premium local produce, meats, desserts and baked goods, and other local foods for holiday meals. The farmers market also offers seasonal candles, bath and body products, decorations, and gifts. Zipp’s will be at Christmas Market 2022 selling pizzas (both frozen and ready-to-eat).

Spirits of the Faire will be selling gourmet hot cocoa at Christmas Market December 22, 3-7 PM at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA

Christmas Market 2022 vendors confirmed as of December 4 include: Smudge, Holaday Baking, Bridgewater Farm, Brun Ko Farm, Sue’s Country Garden, Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, Noble Provisions, The Kringle Man, DezaRae Farm Soaps, Johnna Joy Designs, Wud Bi Tek, JD Crafters, Atlantic Atlas Cinema, Frosting Inc., Spirits of the Faire, Sweet Sisters Vegan, Donna’s Jewelry, Rolling Acres Farm, Unicorn Clouds, Studio Samantha, and Corn 4 a Cause.

Christmas Market 2022 will offer both in-person shopping as well as pre-ordering. Pre-order will be available through www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com from December 10-20. Pre-ordering is an excellent option for customers who want to plan on a particular food item—such as a favorite cheesecake—as well as customers who are short on time to shop at the market. Some vendors, such as Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, will only be offering pre-ordered products.

Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications to Christmas Market and other holiday farmers markets (Sweetheart Market Feb. 11, and Spring Celebration Market April 6). For more information visit produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com or contact Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870.

Christmas Market is sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, Cass County Tourism, First Whitney Bank and Trust, Cass Health, Meyer and Gross Real Estate, and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. For the latest information on Christmas Market, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/) or sign up for the Produce in the Park newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

MT PLEASANT, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety reported Sunday night, that on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at approximately 10:04 PM, Officers of the Mt Pleasant Police Department and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a domestic disturbance at the 700 block of Main Street, where the male caller was being held at gunpoint.

Upon arrival, Officers encountered a male calling for help from the bathroom window.  The male was able to exit the bathroom window.  While attempting to make contact with the subject, the subject brandished a weapon and an officer discharged their weapon.  The Officers were not injured during the encounter.  The subject sustained a gunshot wound to the right arm as a result of the officer involved shooting.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was notified and requested to investigate the incident.  Per protocol, the Officer has been placed on Critical Incident Leave, pending the investigation.  The name of the subject is being withheld, pending the continued investigation.  The name of the officer is being withheld, pending an interview with DCI.

No further information will be released at this time.

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