Iowa Attorney General candidate Brenna Bird made a stop in Atlantic on the campaign trail on Wednesday. Bird is the current Guthrie County Attorney and has roots in Western Iowa.

Bird said she decided to run for Attorney General because she thinks she can do a better job and get a fresh face in a position that has been held by the same person since 1978. She said she has enjoyed helping Iowans as a prosecutor and believes supporting law enforcement should be a big priority for the Attorney General.

Bird said defending Iowans’ constitutional rights and keeping the federal government in check is another big piece of the job.

Bird has a long family history in agriculture and she said she is ready to defend the industry.

You can find out more about Brenna Bird by checking out her website at birdforiowa.com or on her facebook page.

Listen to the full interview with Brenna Bird below.

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Nineteen Iowa school districts splitting more than 45-and-a-half million dollars in grants to boost teacher training are making plans for how the money will be used. The state’s new Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Pilot Program is being financed with federal pandemic relief money. In Davenport, superintendent T-J Schneckloth (SHNEK-loth) says the money will be used by the districts’ para-educators to earn enough college credits to become teachers.

The state money can also be used by high school students to earn para-educator certificates and associate degrees.

Schneckloth says the application and screening process will begin immediately. The pilot program was recommended by a state task force that looked at ways to encourage more Iowans to pursue careers in education.

The 19 districts are: AHSTW, Burlington, Cedar Falls, Cherokee, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Johnston, Linn-Mar, Marion, Marshalltown, MOC-Floyd Valley, Newton, Oskaloosa, Perry, Sioux City, Storm Lake, Winterset, Waukee.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors had a short meeting on Wednesday morning at the Adair County Courthouse.

The Board started by approving wages for township clerks. They then updated the travel policy resolution for county business to meet the most recent IRS mileage rate of 62.5 cents per mile. That rate will be retroactive to June 1, 2022. The VA transport rate will be ten cents above that rate, as is normal.

The board also approved mailings for homestead and military dis-allowances. There was also approval for a Child Abuse Prevention Grant draw down of $2,508.41 and agreement on the 2023 fiscal agent contract for the same program. The board also approved a treasurer clerk salary increase for Bethany Smith who has been in the office for six months now.

The board ended their meeting with a report from Veteran Affairs Commissioner John Schildberg. The office had an employee that couldn’t go to the national conference they were scheduled to attend due to a health issue. The office was credited back flight money and registration money. The credits returned to the general fund and that was going to put their office over budget. The board discussed that they will see how tight that budget comes out and see if there needs to be an amendment to their budget next spring to better meet needs next year. The office has experienced a big influx of Veterans served this year.

Supervisor Jodie Hoadley said she has heard some high praise for the Veterans Affairs office in the county.

The board discussed making sure grant money is used in all the ways possible and tracked closely to help keep the budget on track in the future.

The Atlantic Food Pantry will have a new home by the end of the year. The Atlantic Food Pantry Board announced that they have made arrangements for a move to 704 West 7th Street, the former “After 5 Somewhere” liquor store, in September.

The board said the new location will give them more storage space and allow for the continued drive-through distribution format it has utilized since 2020.

After discussion with city officials, the pantry has received permission to set up cones and barricades to route vehicles by the facility for a two-hour period on Thursdays. Vehicles will approach from the north down Palm Street, then turn west on the access road in front of the new building for delivery. They will then exit to the north down the alley towards 6th street. Vehicles will be prevented from entering from or exiting to Highway 6 for safety reasons.

The Pantry Board, volunteers, and clients wish to acknowledge and thank Dr. Chet Meneely and Dr. Tim Kriefels before him, for graciously allowing the pantry to use its current space for over 30 years at an affordable rent. The board said it has truly been a generous gift to the community.

The University of Iowa unveiled a new mobile medical training truck today (Tuesday) at the Iowa State Capitol. U-I program advisor, Cormac O’Sullivan says it allows medical professionals to get trained at home.

He cites one example where they would stage a car accident with mannequins for the local fire department.

They would then take them through training in the emergency room. O’Sullivan says there’s already staff shortages — and it’s tough for small towns to take everyone to a training session.

O’Sullivan is an associate professor in the College of Nursing where this first truck will be based in Iowa City. Two more trucks will be coming.

The goal is to reach every single facility, provider, and county in the state at least once a year with some continuing education training with simulation. Sioux City E-M-T Trainer, Terry Regaller, was on hand for the announcement.

He says the training is very important to the success of first responders.

The start-up of the program is funded with an eight-million-dollar grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust. Trustee Walter Panzirer (Pan-seer), says Iowa is the fifth state to get these types of trucks.

The funding will gradually drop down over four years, and then the University of Iowa has to find money to keep the program going.