UPDATED – Governor Kim Reynolds held a news conference today to highlight a dramatic increase in fentanyl-laced fake opioid pills that have flooded the state. It comes on the heels of the arrest of five residents of Cass County on federal indictments for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in a ring discovered after overdose deaths in Cass and Shelby Counties. “Fentanyl is here and the threat is real. In our major metro areas, and in our small towns, no community is immune,” Reynolds says.

Deric and Kathy Kidd joined the governor and Deric told the story of how their son Sebastian died from taking a fake pill. “On the evening of July 29 2021, our son went to bed after a long day at work. He was leaving for a trip to Arizona the next day with his aunt and uncle. The following morning, I noticed his bedroom door was still closed, so I went in to check on him, and I found him slumped over his bed. It’s an image that will haunt me forever,” he says. Kidd says Sebastion took half of what he thought was Percocet before he went to sleep and never woke up.

“Our son was taken from us on July 30th, 2021, he did not overdose. He did not want to leave this world,” Kidd says. “You don’t overdose on one Percocet or Xanax. He was deceived to death by whoever sold him that counterfeit pill.” Kidd says his son was poisoned for lack of a better term. He says everyone thinks they are going to be better parents than their parents were — and that kids are going to follow our rules. I’m sure almost everyone that has a teenager now has probably told them not to text and drive. And I’m willing to bet most of them have. Kids don’t listen,” he says.

“Statistics show the majority of high school kids have tried vaping or alcohol. Many parents don’t even realize they’re doing this. These pills or other drugs are no different. We live in different times. These counterfeit pills are becoming more and more popular. They are easy to hide, easy to purchase, and are very seldom detected by parents.” Kidd says young people are taking the pills for a multitude of reasons including physical or emotional trauma, depression, anxiety, physical pain from surgeries, peer pressure, or just experimentation. And he says it doesn’t matter what parents say.

“Please don’t look at someone that has lost a child and think that won’t happen to my kid. It does not discriminate. It doesn’t matter what demographic you’re from. It doesn’t matter who your parents are. Trust me when I tell you, you don’t want to feel this pain,” he says. Public Safety Commissioner, Steven Bayens says the volume of fentanyl seized by law enforcement throughout Iowa is shocking even to the most veteran narcotics agents.

“To be frank, I’m surprised our overdose deaths aren’t higher. But that concern in the context in 2021, the D-C-I is criminalistics laboratory analyzed the 17-thousand-163 fentanyl pills described disguised excuse me as prescription drugs,” he says. “In the first six months of 2022, that number has quadrupled to 70-thousand-556 fentanyl pills.”

A majority were disguised as prescription drugs. Bayens says the Drug Enforcement Administration has determined that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on body size and tolerance “We are truly at the point that anyone taking one of these pills is playing a deadly game of Russian roulette,” Bayens says. Governor Reynolds says the state will do more to help educate everyone about the dangers of fentanyl and fake prescription drugs. She says the Biden Administration needs to do more to stop the flow of illegal immigration and drugs across the border.

“It’d be nice to have a partner in Washington D-C, that had enough wherewithal to stand up and take action. I mean, the terrorists that are coming across the border, the human trafficking that’s taking place, the individuals that died that were being smuggled across the border in the back of a semi truck, ” Reynolds says. Reynolds says the administration has done very little to address these issues.

(Radio Iowa) – The City of Spencer has cut off power to a trailer park near the Clay County Fairgrounds after weeks of wrangling over conditions in the park. City officials initially gave residents of the 26 trailers at the Spencer Trailer Court until July 5th to vacate the property due to concerns about the electric grid, sewer service and safety issues, like boarded up egress doors and windows.

Spencer Trailer Court owner Bill Caskey and his attorney met with city officials and came up with a compromise and the city extended the deadline until today (July 12th). They agreed electric service would meet code in all occupied trailers by noon yesterday (Monday) or the city would proceed with plans to turn off the power today (Tuesday). Last week, Spencer Mayor Steve Bomgaars said social service organizations in Clay County had made significant progress in helping residents of the trailer park find alternate housing.

The City of Spencer ended electric service to the trailer park at 10 a.m. this (Tuesday) morning according to the Trailer Court’s owner.

(Radio Iowa) – State officials have signed off on a seven-and-a-half million dollar payment to settle a medical malpractice claim against the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Attorneys for 47-year-old Christopher Dolan of Davenport say he suffered severe impairments following treatment of a bleeding brain tumor. Dolan’s right arm and leg are paralyzed. His speech and other bodily functions are compromised and he requires 24 hour care.

The State Appeal Board agreed the state will pay Dolan and his wife two-and-a-half million. The remaining five million dollars will be covered by a medical and surgical group with over a thousand doctors called University of Iowa Physicians.

(Atlantic,Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, received a request for funding from the County’s share of ARPA monies, for the Cumberland Youth Program. Debra Brown said a fitness program that began in 2018, quickly expanded to establishing a facility where youth and adults could exercise and get together with peers. That’s the Cumberland Fitness Center, which is run by volunteers and is available at no cost to users. They were gifted the building which they had paid rent for, last week.

Brown said the would like to purchase a Nu-Way recumbent cross-trainer-type piece of exercise equipment, which works the arms and legs. They typically retail anywhere from $2,500 to as much as $6,000 or more, depending on the style of the machine and accessories. The machine the Fitness Center would like, is about $4,900. The Board didn’t make a commitment of ARPA Funds, since the second-half payment to the County has not-yet been received yet. The Board suggested the City of Cumberland be on-board first, in the form of an official request for funds and other processes. Brown said they hope to the piece of equipment in-place by September.

The Supervisors passed a motion to allow up to $40,000, for the repair of the Hitchcock House roof. The Reverend George B. Hitchcock House was restored, and tours began in 1992. The House was used as part of the Underground Railroad for fugitive slaves looking to make their way to freedom in the mid-19th Century. Hitchcock House Board Member Mark Clark said the cedar shingle roof was last replaced nearly 40-years ago, and it is showing its age.

Hitchcock House Board Chair Sharon Guffey-Lewis said they had received three bids for the project, with the lowest “Estimated bid” of $27,700 coming from Rigid Edge. The term “estimated bid” was used by the contractors who submitted them, because they can’t predict what the cost will be to purchase shingles, when it comes time to order them. In voting to approve the “up to” cost of the project, the Supervisors noted the significance of the Hitchcock House, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

In other business, the Cass County Board of Supervisors approved Stacie Linfor as a new, Treasurer’s Office employee. Last week, they approved the position’s wage. Linfor currently works for KJAN as Traffic Director/Receptionist & Sales Professional. The Board also, after lengthy discussion with Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall, which was sometimes heated, voted to approve a wage increase to 75% of the top office pay, for three hourly employees, and their status as Deputies.

Stacie Mueller, Deputy County Treasurer, wanted to clarify that even though it’s been publicized the Office is “Temporarily closed to the Public for Staff Training,” the Treasurer’s Office is capable of helping people if they walk-in or call, but Mueller and Marshall both recommended the public utilize online and/or other Counties for certain services, including Driver’s Licensing and Registration renewals.

The Cass County website says: “If you need to pay property Taxes, Please call 712-243-5503 and someone can assist you.*24 hr services for Driver’s License renewals can be made online at www.iowadot.gov*Property Taxes and Motor Vehicle Renewals: The best way is by mail or online www.iowatreasurers.org* A Bill of Sale is required for all Motor Vehicles purchases. We will process your payments as they come in. Please provide a telephone number in the event we need to contact you. Please use the yellow drop box outside – envelopes are in the side box.”

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports 27-year-old Zachary Digilo, of Glenwood, was arrested Monday on a Cuming County, NE warrant, for Failure to Appear. No bond was set.

Atlantic, IA — A reminder for Cass County residents and others who utilize the services of Cass Health, in Atlantic: Thursday, July 14th will be a busy day at Cass Health as crews begin work on the Emergency Department entrance, Emergency Drive, and AMC Rapid Care. Emergency Drive will be closed through early fall for replacement and repairs. Cass Health Plant Operations Director Lee Wyman says “The driveway up to the building is in rough shape, and we’ve been doing what we can to patch it and keep it in service. During the last two years of construction, it has really suffered from construction traffic and heavy equipment. Now that we’re nearing the end of the project, it’s time to close it so that we can completely replace the drive.”

Emergency traffic will be routed around the building instead, and patients will be directed to enter through the Rehab Services entrance due to construction beginning at the Emergency Department entrance. Cass Health Chief Financial Officer Abbey Stangl says “We want to assure everyone that our Emergency Department is open and will remain open throughout this phase of construction. Our team has spent a lot of time ensuring that access to care remains our top priority, and while these changes are inconvenient, we know that they are necessary in the long run.” 

At the same time, AMC Rapid Care will be relocating to Atlantic Medical Center while the current clinic space is being remodeled to accommodate additional exam rooms. As of July 14, all AMC Rapid Care patients should park in Lot A and use the Main Entrance during this phase of construction, which is expected to last through early 2023. Due to the move, AMC Rapid Care will be closed that morning until noon.

(Radio Iowa) – A few Republicans in the U-S Senate complain they were “misled” by several now-Supreme Court justices about abortion during confirmation hearings, but Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley isn’t among them. Grassley says the nominees were “absolutely” honest with him when they appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “They never know what they’re going to hear,” Grassley says. “You don’t know what’s going to come down the road. You have to give the best answers to questions you can and that’s what they gave.”

Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska say the high court’s recent ruling on Roe versus Wade was inconsistent with precedent. Collins says Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh had said in their testimony how they’d support the nation’s long-standing precedents. Grassley has a different view on affirming views that have stood for decades. “We’re just lucky that precedents can be overturned,” Grassley says. “We’d still have segregated schools in the United States if we didn’t have Brown overturn Plessy 50 years before that.”

Grassley says he has no complaint about the three newest appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying they’re doing exactly what they should be doing, making decisions based on facts and the law. “And that’s what they did in the case of Roe,” Grassley says. “They made a decision based on the fact that the decision made 50 years ago was the wrong decision because there’s nothing in the Constitution about abortion.”

Grassley says the high court’s ruling to refer any decisions on abortion back to the states is the correct one, so those decisions can be made by elected officials and not by appointed justices.