(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday) voted to table two resolutions allocated ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act [Covid relief]) Funds, pertaining to the purchase of a Drone for the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, and a new radio system for the Secondary Roads Department. In both cases, the Supervisors wanted more information on those items, but no later than May 21^st.

In other business, the Board approved referring to the Cass County Condemnation in Eminent Domain Proceedings Board, as instead, the Cass County Eminent Domain Compensation Commission.

The Board set the date for a Public Hearing to vacate approximately 400-feet of Chicago Road west of 770 Street (North of Anita & South of Interstate 80). The hearing will take place during their next meeting, on April 23^rd, 9:15-a.m.

The Supervisors discussed with Anita Food Pantry Representative Tim Miller, a request to use the Local Option Sales Tax (Betterment) funds for improvements to the Pantry’s concrete parking lot. Miller requested funds for materials, not to exceed $25,000. Previously, the Anita Street Department had indicated its staff were willing to do some in-kind work on the project. The City has applied for a grant to help with the project, but they won’t know how much money they will receive until after the beginning of the new fiscal year that starts in July.

The Board voted to table a decision on the funds until July 16^th, by which time the grant picture should become clearer. The Supervisors then went on to accept the resignation of Tonia Larsen, as Brighton Township Clerk, and appointing her as a Brighton Township Trustee. They approved also, the appointment of Kathleen Pace as Brighton Township Clerk, and, they approved the appointment Alice Williams as Victoria Township Trustee. The Board approved the appointment of David Williamson to the Cass County Eminent Domain Compensation Committee.

The Board however tabled accepting the resignation of Duane Ortgies as Victoria Trustee, effective April 16^th, because the paperwork had not been filed in-time. They will take action on his resignation during their next regular meeting.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Malvern man was arrested late Monday night. 41-year-old Jeffrey Dale Hankins, was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, and False Imprisonment. Hankins was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is calling on the Biden administration to stand with Israel after the weekend attack that saw Iran launch some 300 missiles and drones into Israeli territory. Grassley, a Republican, says America needs to stick by its commitment to help Israel maintain its peace and security based on the long-standing Camp David Accords, signed in 1978. “First, it’s in the United States’ interest to support democracy in the Middle East,” Grassley says, “and secondly, it’s necessary to our own national security that we have a friend in such a foul region of the globe.” Grassley says the reasons those accords were enacted years ago are still very true today. For the large part, he says, the U-S has chosen peace for decades and earned international credibility.

“Now in this administration, the Biden administration, it’s trying to tell Israel how to run its government, even when to have an election, and how to fight — or not fight — its wars,” Grassley says. “This posture risks our relationship with Israel.” The White House response sends a signal to other allied nations, Grassley says, that may question how far the United States can be trusted.

“Israel has a right to demonstrate to Iran that Saturday’s attack won’t be tolerated again,” Grassley says. “The United States wouldn’t stand for some other nation telling us how to fight our wars. The United States must stand with Israel to maintain that credibility.” The weekend airstrike was unprecedented and marks the first time there’s been direct military action between Iran and the Jewish state.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), held a Public Hearing on the vacating of an unimproved alley in the unincorporated town of Stennett. Having heard or received no written, objections, the Board approved Resolutions to vacate the alley as described, along with a Quit Claim Deed to the alley property.

Supervisor Donna Robinson…

Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert updated the Board on Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities.

The Board approved a Title 6 Non-Discrimination Agreement (renewal) between the County and Iowa Department of Transportation, changes to the Montgomery County Personnel Handbook, as described by County Auditor Jill Ozuna.

And, the Supervisors approved moving their June 4^th regular Board meeting to June 5^th, due to the Primary Election being held on June 4^th.

(Creston, Iowa) – A Montgomery County man was arrested Monday night on OWI and other charges, in Creston. According to Creston Police, 47-year-old Donald Lee Gay, of Villisca, was arrested a little before 10-p.m. at 809 W. Adams, in Creston. Gay was charged with Operating While Under the Influence 1st Offense. He was posted a $1,000 cash or approved surety bond, but was being held without bond until seen by a judge on additional charges of Assault and Public Intoxication.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Adair-Casey CSD Board of Education will meet 7-p.m. Wednesday, April 17th, in the Guthrie Center, AC/GC High School Media Center. Here’s their agenda:

I. Open Public Hearing – 2024/25 Certified Budget
II. Receive Written and/or Oral Comments
III. Close Public Hearing
IV. Roll Call/Call to Order (Regular Meeting)
V. Approve Meeting Agenda
VI. Welcome Visitors/Public Comment
VII. Special Presentations
A. Senior Trip
VIII. Principal Report
IX. Superintendent Report
X. Board Report
XI. Financial Reports
A. Cash Balances & Bank Reconciliation
B. Student Activity Fund: Monthly Report
C. All Other Funds: Monthly Report
D. General Fund: Line Item Budget Monthly Report
E. General Fund: Year-to-Date Revenue/Expenditure Summary
F. General Fund: Salaries & Benefits Comparison Report
XII. Consent Items
A. Board Meeting Minutes
B. Monthly Bills
1. Prepaid
2. General Fund
3. Student Activity Fund
4. Nutrition Fund
C. Open Enrollment
D. Resignations
1. Matt Dahl, 2nd Grade Teacher (end of 2023-24 school year)
2. Julie Parker, Preschool Teacher (end of 2023-24 school year)
E. Contract Recommendations
1. Ashley DeWitt, Food Service
2. Jocelyn Jesko, Paraeducator
3. Dean Chesnut, Day Custodian
F. Gifts, Grants & Bequests
XIII. Discussion Items
A. School Safety – School Safety Grant
B. AEA Classroom Rental
XIV. Upcoming Dates
A. May Regular Board Meeting – Adair-Casey (TBD)
B. May Regular Meeting – Guthrie Center (TBD)
C. Baccalaureate & Awards Night- May 15- 6:00 PM
D. Commencement – May 19th- 1:00 PM
XV. Action Items (AC/GC)
A. Approve 2024-25 Certified Budget
B. Set Public Hearing for 2023-24 Certified Budget Amendment – May 15th @ 7:00pm
C. 2024-25 Winter Sports Coaching Contracts
D. 2024-25 Employee Benefit Program
E. 2024-25 Equipment Breakdown Insurance
XVI. Action Items (AC)
A. Purchase/BIdding Policies- – 705.01, 705.01 (R1), 705.01 (R2)
XVII. Action Items (GC)
A. Class of 2024 Graduate List
B. Purchase/Bidding Policies- – 705.01, 705.01 (R1), 705.01 (R2)
XVIII. Adjourn Meeting

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie Center Community School District’s Board of Education will meet 7-p.m. Wednesday, in the AC/GC High School Media Center (in Guthrie Center). The meeting begins with a Public Hearing on the 2024-25 Certified Budget, followed by action later on during the session, on approving the Budget as presented. The Board is also expected to set May 15th at 7-p.m. as the date & time for a Public Hearing on a 2023024 Certified Budget Amendment. Other action items during the meeting include approving:

• 2024-25 Winter Sports Coaching Contracts
• 2024-25 Employee Benefit Program
• 2024-25 Equipment Breakdown Insurance
• Purchase/Bidding Policies, and
• 2024 list of graduates.

The full agenda includes:

I. Open Public Hearing – 2024/25 Certified Budget
II. Receive Written and/or Oral Comments
III. Close Public Hearing

IV. Roll Call/Call to Order (Regular Meeting)
V. Approve Meeting Agenda
VI. Welcome Visitors/Public Comment
VII. Special Presentations
A. Senior Trip
VIII. Principal Reports
IX. Superintendent Report
X. Board Report
XI. Financial Reports
A. Cash Balances & Bank Reconciliation
B. Student Activity Fund: Monthly Report
C. All Other Funds: Monthly Report
D. General Fund: Line Item Budget Monthly Report
E. General Fund: Year-to-Date Revenue/Expenditure Summary
F. General Fund: Salaries & Benefits Comparison Report

XII. Consent Items
A. Board Meeting Minutes
B. Monthly Bills
1. Prepaid (Prior to Board Meeting)
2. General Fund
3. PPEL/SAVE Fund
4. Student Activity Fund
5. Nutrition Fund
C. Open Enrollment
D. Resignations
1. Ethan Lensch, AC/GC High School Principal (end of 2023-24 school year)
2. Colin Shawgo, HS Teacher & Instructional Coach (end of 2023-24 school year)
3. Justin Keck, HS Assistant Basketball Coach
4. Kris Lehman, Assistant HS Wrestling Coach
E. Contract Recommendations
F. Gifts, Grants & Bequests
G. Fundraisers

XIII. Discussion Items
A. School Safety- School Safety Grant
B. AEA Classroom Rental

XIV. Upcoming Dates
A. May Regular Board Meeting – Adair-Casey (TBD)
B. May Regular Meeting – Guthrie Center (TBD)
C. Baccalaureate/ Awards Night- May 15- 6:00 PM
D. Commencement – May 19th- 1:00 PM

XV. Action Items (AC/GC)
A. Approve 2024-25 Certified Budget
B. Set Public Hearing for 2023-24 Certified Budget Amendment – May 15th @ 7:00pm
C. 2024-25 Winter Sports Coaching Contracts
D. 2024-25 Employee Benefit Program
E. 2024-25 Equipment Breakdown Insurance
XVI. Action Items (AC)
A. Purchase/Bidding Policies. – 705.01, 705.01 (R1), 705.01 (R2)
XVII. Action Item (GC)
A. Class of 2024 Graduate List
A. Approve the current graduate list pending the completion of all school board graduation requirements.
B. Purchase/Bidding Policies- 705.01, 705.01 (R1), 705.01 (R2)
B. Approved the first reading of policies 705.01, 705.01(R1), and 705.01 (R2), waiving the second reading.

XVIII. Adjourn Meeting.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa —[Iowa Capital Dispatch]) –The Iowa Board of Pharmacy has revoked the license of a pharmacy technician convicted of stealing 600 doses of opioid painkillers.

According to police records, on April 11, 2023, the CVS Pharmacy within the Target store at 3804 Metro Dr., Council Bluffs, called in a report of prescription drug theft. The pharmacy then provided police with written documents, including a statement signed by pharmacy tech Sarah Elizabeth Taylor, 38, of Council Bluffs.

In that statement, Taylor allegedly admitted to CVS investigators that she had stolen roughly 600 50-milligram doses of the narcotic Tramadol between November 2022 and March 2023. Pharmacy officials estimated the actual loss at 700 doses of Tramadol.

Police alleged Taylor admitted that while at work she would place the pills into the trash and retrieve them later in order to conceal the theft. She was charged with fourth-degree theft, possession of a controlled substance, and obtaining a prescription drug through deceit.

She pleaded guilty to the possession and theft charges and the prescription-drug charge was dismissed by the court. She was sentenced to 45 days in jail, with all of that time suspended. Court records give conflicting information as to whether $860 in potential fines were actually imposed.

In January 2024, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy held a hearing on the matter that Taylor did not attend. On March 5, the board revoked Taylor’s license as a pharmacy technician. The decision was announced Monday.

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A crop report shows four percent of corn was planted last week as farmers slowly got into the fields. Some farmers attended I-S-U Extension’s “Planter University” earlier this year where field agronomist Meaghan Anderson says they learned how to best use their equipment. “Talk about more of the theory behind some of the technology and differences between them as well as really in-depth into the maintenance aspects that are going to be across all colors of planting equipment,” Anderson says. She says planter technology has advanced along with tractors through the years — leading to changes in things like speed across a field.

“Typically it wasn’t unusual for people to be planting anywhere from maybe three and a half to five or so miles per hour in the past and now there’s technology that allows people to plant more in the maybe eight to 10 are slightly faster miles per hour,” she says. Anderson says issues with the planter can cost farmers money when it comes to harvest time.”There’s certainly some changes and how we need to make sure we’re maintaining them and paying attention to changes in those planters as the season goes on to make sure that that seed gets planted where it needs to be when it needs to be,” Anderson says. She says having the planter ready to go at the start is only part of planting success.

“But in addition to that, being able to make appropriate adjustments on the fly, as farmers move perhaps across fields, as they move from one week to the next during the early part of the growing season when we know that rainfall can be variable and soil differences and residue differences can make such a change in how the seed actually enters the ground,” Anderson says. The Planter University team moves across the state in February so they can offer hand’s-on training in preparation for planting. This is the third year for the program.

(Radio Iowa) – The pandemic may be over, but ripple effects from all the stresses COVID-19 caused are still being felt in Iowa. Dr. Raymond Garcia, chief medical officer at Rosecrance Behavioral Health in Sioux City, says their Iowa facilities saw a significant spike in alcohol-related cases in recent years. Garcia says many people used alcohol as a way to manage stress during the pandemic, but also to socialize with others, even if they could only meet up online through Zoom.  “When you increase the behavior, that can increase the risk for developing a use disorder with the substance,” Garcia says, “and certainly, we saw that happening with alcohol.” Garcia says Iowa is facing an epidemic-level crisis with opioids right now, but he emphasizes alcohol remains the number-one most misused product. Alcohol use was the most common substance use disorder treated at Rosecrance during the past year, accounting for 20-percent of all cases.

“We did see a spike with COVID, and unfortunately, these things have a lasting effect,” Garcia says. “So people who developed a use disorder or maybe they had a recurrence during that period, they’re still struggling to recover from that within the last few years, even though the pandemic is effectively controlled or over.” During the height of the pandemic, a study found there were about 488 deaths — per day — nationwide that were caused by excessive drinking. Garcia says the same study found the number of deaths linked to excessive alcohol use has surged by 29-percent in just five years. He says Rosecrance is seeing a boost in both residential treatment and outpatient services.

“We’re seeing a higher number of people seeking counseling, and seeking medication management,” Garcia says. “Of course, it’s also triggering co-occurring mental health issues, so we’re seeing more people who’ve had their depression, anxiety disorders triggered by this as well, so there’s there’s been some other fallout.” Experts from Rosecrance are holding a free community discussion on alcohol misuse tonight (Tuesday) at 6 P-M at Spencer Hospital in Spencer.

“Anybody who has any concern,” Garcia says, “not only for themselves, but for people in their lives that they are concerned about, their loved ones, their friends, anybody who has any concern at all about this topic should attend.” Rosecrance facilities in Iowa serve more than 7,000 teens and adults every year at outpatient treatment clinics in Sioux City, Cherokee, Davenport, Le Mars, Spencer and Sheldon.