(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol has issued an alert for people to be on the lookout for a man wanted for murder in Adair County, MISSOURI. Jesse Rongey is #WANTED  is considered Armed & Dangerous. If you have any information, please contact Adair County (Missouri) Sheriff’s Office at 660-665-5621 or the U.S. Marshal’s Office at 877-926-8332 or usmarshals.gov/tips. (click on the image to enlarge)

(Ute, Iowa) – The Monona County Sheriff’s Office today (Wednesday) identified the pilot of a crop dusting airplane who died Saturday afternoon, when the aircraft struck electrical lines and crashed onto a road. Responding agencies found a commercial sprayplane on the roadway, and on fire. Authorities say 45-year-old Brady Neil Penner, of Weatherford, OK., died from his injuries at the scene of the accident near Ute.

Monona County Communications was made aware of the accident at around 1:09-p.m. Saturday. The accident occurred near 230th and Teak Avenue, near Ute.The FAA and NTSB conducted their investigation into the accident, but officials said it may take several months for a report to be filed on their findings.

The Monona County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Ute Fire and Ambulance, Western Iowa Power, Monona County Secondary Roads, and St. Lukes Pathology.

(Radio Iowa) – A University of Iowa law professor says there are practical guidelines in a bill to update how the Electoral College count for president is conducted. Derek Muller advised the bipartisan group of senators who developed the bill. “The risks of failing to enact the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 are significant. Some have attempted to exploit ambiguities over the years, most significantly in 2024,” Muller says. “To leave those in place ahead of the 2024 election is to invite serious mischief.”

The bill would make clear the vice president’s role as congress counts the votes of state electors is merely ceremonial. Also, under current law, one senator and one representative are able to lead an objection to a state’s electoral count. The bill raises the objection threshold to one-fifth of the members of the House AND the Senate. “At every turn, the bill offers more clarity, more precision and more stability,” Muller says.

Muller testified during a U.S. Senate committee hearing today (Wednesday). Making changes in the 135-year-old Electoral Count Act is a priority for congressional leaders of both political parties. “Congress must develop neutral, sensible rules well before any dispute arises in a contested election,” Muller says. “…A series of significant problems in the election of 1872 left unanswered questions and they remained unanswered ahead of the contested election of 1876, which threw the United States into a catastrophic election crisis. Even after that, congress could not find consensus until 1887.”

A bipartisan group of 15 U.S. Senators recently introduced their proposed update. “This bill has seven important components which are reasonable and practical ways of handling future disputes,” Muller said. Muller teaches classes in election law and federal courts in the University of Iowa College of Law.

Atlantic, IA — Officials with Cass Health say the hospital is excited to welcome three new rheumatologists to Atlantic Medical Center, RHC. Dr. Thomas Schmidt, Dr. Gino Chesini, and Dr. Stephen Slade will provide rheumatology care to patients beginning this fall. The three new providers will replace Dr. Kimberly Hendricks, who announced earlier this year that she is moving to Ohio to be closer to her family.

Dr. Thomas Schmidt

Dr. Gino Chesini

Dr. Stephen Slade

Tammy Bireline, Chief Clinic Administrator, says “We loved having her on staff, and while we will miss Dr. Hendricks, we certainly understand her decision and wish her the best. Over the last two years, we’ve seen the difference it makes for our patients to have rheumatology care closer to home. It was a priority for us to continue offering that access to care, and we’re excited to work with these new physicians.”

Dr. Schmidt, an Atlantic native, will begin seeing patients in September, with Drs. Chesini and Slade following shortly after. All three treat patients with osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, scleroderma, psoriatic arthritis, and vasculitis among other systemic rheumatology conditions.

All new rheumatology patients will need a referral from their primary care provider; existing patients of Dr. Hendricks will not need a referral.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The State Fire Marshal’s Office has issued a ban on open burning in Adair County, effective today (Wednesday), at 3-p.m., and until further notice. The Order is the result of a request from Adair/Guthrie County Emergency Management Director Robert Kempf, who was acting on behalf of the fire chiefs in each of the fire departments in Adair County. The Burn Ban states “No person shall engage in open burning in Adair County… except as specifically permitted by Iowa Code,” and until the EMA Director notifies the State Fire Marshal that conditions are such that they no longer constitute a danger to life or property. 

Violation of the Burn Ban is a simple misdemeanor.

IOWA CODE SECTION 100.40 Marshal may prohibit open burning on request.

1. The state fire marshal, during periods of extremely dry conditions or under other conditions when the state fire marshal finds open burning constitutes a danger to life or property, may prohibit open burning in an area of the state at the request of the chief of a local fire department, a city council or a board of supervisors and when an investigation supports the need for the prohibition. The state fire marshal shall implement the prohibition by issuing a proclamation to persons in the affected area. The chief of a local fire department, the city council or the board of supervisors that requested the prohibition may rescind the proclamation after notifying the state fire marshal of the intent to do so, when the chief, city council or board of supervisors finds that the conditions responsible for the issuance of the proclamation no longer exist.
2. Violation of a prohibition issued under this section is a simple misdemeanor.
3. A proclamation issued by the state fire marshal pursuant to this section shall not prohibit a supervised, controlled burn for which a permit has been issued by the fire chief of the fire district where the burn will take place, the use of outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, properly supervised landfills, or the burning of trash in incinerators or trash burners made of metal, concrete, masonry, or heavy one-inch wire mesh, with no openings greater than one square inch.

(Radio Iowa) – Last week’s statewide bicycle ride RAGBRAI was a chance for some small Iowa towns to raise money for community projects. The group Moms and Grandmas for Fonda used their stop along the route to fund raise for a new town basketball court. The northwest Iowa non-profit brought home around 600-dollars in pickle sandwich sales. Organizer Judy Hess says every little bit will help them reach their 30-thousand-dollar fundraising goal. “Being able to bring in that amount of money in such a short time, it’s great,” Hess says, “and getting to meet so many neat people. It was a fun day.”

Hess says she’s thrilled with how her community pulled together to make Fonda entertaining for the thousands of cyclists. Her non-profit will continue to host events like cow bingo and chili cook-offs to raise more money for the court. Elsewhere, Nemaha raised nearly enough money to finish construction on its historical museum. As one of the stops on Monday’s route, the northwest town nearly sold out of the 400 pounds of marinated turkey tenders prepared for the event. Organizer Jim Hamm says that effort earned them more than $8,000 toward furnishing the museum. He says he was proud of what the town was able to accomplish. “It felt good, it’s a good addition, but it’s going to definitely make a big difference to have that added on to what we have,” Hamm says. “This should come close to getting us done, I think.”

Tired as he was after the long day of selling tasty turkey to cyclists, Hamm says he’d do it again in a heartbeat. He hopes Nemaha gets another opportunity down the line to be on the route. Until then, he’s looking forward to the museum’s grand opening in the next year or two.

(reporting by Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), approved a request from Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, to begin the hiring process to fill a Jailer vacancy position. Deputy Sheriff Mike Algreen appeared before the Board of the Sheriff’s behalf.

The Board also passed a Resolution to join other counties in Iowa, in support of a Safe Streets and Roads Federal Grant. Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman…

Passage of the Resolution makes the County eligible to share with the rest of the County, up to 1-billion dollars in Federal Grants through a Transportation Bill that’s good for a period of five-years. Kauffman said it’s hoped that by Iowa counties grouping together, they would have a better chance of getting more of the funds that are available. If approved, he would like to use the funds for a shoulder widening project on certain county roads.

The Supervisors approved a proposal from Cott Systems to digitize County Record Codes/plat information. Kauffman said their price quote is different than what Cott originally proposed.

Cott Systems, he said $495 for the binder, and $11 per sheet, for the capsulations, for a total of $825.

The Board agreed to pay for the process, as long as the cost falls between the original $600 and the revised $825, with any overage in costs coming from the County’s share of the ARPA allotment. In his report on Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities, Nick Kauffman said there is a box culvert project is nearing completion, while another road is closed for a separate project.

CRESTON, Iowa – Aug. 3, 2022 – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston Construction Office reports bridge deck repair work on the Iowa 25 bridge over Interstate 80 in Adair County near Menlo will require closing north- and southbound Iowa 25 between I-80 and Guthrie County Road F-65 starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, until Thursday, Oct. 20, weather permitting.

During this project, traffic will be detoured around the work zone using I-80, Adair/Guthrie County Road N-77/Antique Country Drive, Guthrie County Road F-65, and Iowa 25 (see map).

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.