(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Waste Reduction program recently helped some of the families who were hit by flooding in Clay County. Iowa Waste Exchange Coordinator Shelly Codner says they were able to send unneeded mattresses and beds from Iowa State University to Spencer. “It’s actually a program by the After Five Kiwanis in Spencer. It’s called “Sweet Dreams for Spencer”, and they’re trying to get a bed and a mattress to every child whose families lost their homes during the flooding. The Iowa Waste Reduction Program was created to find ways to use items that are no longer needed to keep them out of the landfills. Codner says the beds from I-S-U filled an important need and was an economic benefit to Spencer.

“Spencer would have avoided purchases with regard to mattresses and beds,” she says. Codner says Sukup Manufacturing donated the trucks to move the beds to Spencer. “Sukup went down to aim and picked up the mattresses. We loaded them with Iowa State staff, myself and volunteers, and then Sukup hauled them up to Spencer, and they had volunteers on that end that unloaded them,” she says.

says this was one of the more rewarding projects they worked on, knowing the need for those who have suffered from the flooding.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors approved numerous administrative matters on their agenda this (Wednesday) morning, including:

A Courtyard use permit for September 27th for a Mainstreet Greenfield pancake and sausage rally event, and an IMWCA (Iowa Municipal Workers Compensation Association) Board of Trustees ballot (there are 3 candidates for three open seats on the Board). Board Chair Jerry Walker…

The Supervisors acknowledged the receipt of two Manure Management Plan updates from Rose Acre Farms and Westlake Swine from Orient. They passed a Child Abuse Prevention Grant Draw down in the amount of $132.31, and, the Supervisors acknowledged receipt of a letter from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, with regard to Violations and/or Non-Compliance. Auditor Mandy Berg said the letter did not pertain to any COUNTY violations, but rather situations in Stuart and Greenfield.

Supervisor Jodie Hoadley reported on discussion that took place during a recent ISAC (Iowa State Association of Counties) Conference, with regard to legislative issues and ISAC’s stance on the issues. For example…

Other topics for discussion at the ISAC Conference included security in the courtrooms and related costs to the counties, Emergency Management funding and governance, the Emergency Medical Services levy and the TIF districts. Mandy Berg presented to the Board a Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report, with regard to Opiod Funds.

And she presented to the Board an agreement with Windstream for Fiber/Internet connection to the Courthouse.

The Board approved the agreement as presented. Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman presented for the Board’s approval, and Board Chair Jerry Walker’s signature, the following:

A Resolution awarding a Farm-to-Market (FM) Hot Melt Asphalt (HMA) crack sealing project,
The final voucher for the N-36 Lee (Township) Reinforced Concrete Box (RCB) culvert project
The front page of the N-7 Eureka (Township) Bridge Plans.
And, a Contract and performance bond for the N-22 Washington (Township) Culvert repair/Revetment project.

The Board approved all documents presented. Kauffman then made his weekly report on Adair County Secondary Roads Department maintenance projects and activities.

(Oakland, Iowa) — A local automobile dealership has donated $100,000 toward the Riverside School District’s capital campaign. According to reports, Keast Motors in Oakland presented the school district with a check Tuesday morning. The funds will be used for the second phase of the campaign, intended to make multiple improvements to the school’s athletic facilities, plus an addition to the agriculture program.

Riverside Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Anderson told reporters that donations like the one from Keast go a long way in making capital projects possible, that would otherwise be difficult to budget for as a school district. Plans call for replacing the football field with natural grass, installing wells to water the football, softball, and baseball fields, installing a satellite concession stand with restrooms near the softball and baseball fields, and obtaining a greenhouse for the district’s agricultural program.

The total estimated cost of phase two is $710,000.

Photo from the Riverside Community School District’s Facebook page.

Phase one of the capital campaign was completed in the summer of 2023. That phase included a new Riverside welcome sign, a “We R Riverside” donor recognition wall, a digital marquee sign, parking lot improvements, landscaping and repairs to the baseball and softball fields, and adding a retaining wall and landscaping for the safe room. For more information on the campaign or how to contribute, visit goriversidepride.org.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Mills County say two people were arrested recently, on separate charges. At around 11:30-p.m. Monday (8/26), 37-year-old Angelina Marie Schafner, of Nebraska City, NE., was arrested following a traffic stop. She was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance. Bond was set at $1,000.

And, at around 6:50-p.m. Tuesday, deputies in Mills County arrested 43-year-old Clinton Troy Buckingham, of Glenwood, for Domestic Abuse Assault, Violation of No Contact Order, and Child Endangerment. Buckingham was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – A former University of Iowa student has voluntarily returned to the U-S where he’ll face prosecution for allegedly attacking a woman in Iowa City. U-I police say Ali Younes arrived in Chicago on Tuesday and now awaits extradition to Iowa. Younes is charged with attempted murder, robbery, theft and escape. In April of 2022, police say he tackled and choked a woman until she was unconscious on the U-I campus and stole her 20-thousand dollar earrings.

Before his trial was to start in May of last year, a U-I release says the then-19-year-old cut off his ankle monitor and used Jordanian travel documents to flee the country, with the help of his parents. They were later convicted of helping him escape.

Ali Younes (Photo provided by UI Police Dep’t.)

Once Younes is returned to Iowa, a trial date will be set.