(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa District 20 Republican Representative Ray Sorensen, from Greenfield, today (Monday), issued a report to his constituents summarizing last week’s – Week 12 – legislative activity and what’s ahead for this week. Soresensen they are promptly diving in on the 13th, and are “…whittling through the remaining budgets and bills and hope to finish up this General Assembly sometime this month.” He said “A couple of bill ideas are hanging around, including ESAs (Education Savings Accounts) and the Bottle Bill. They are ideas that have been around for a while and have taken many forms. The Senate has passed a version of both bills off their floor. This means we take them up as is, and amend if deemed necessary, or we pass our versions of those bills for them to take up, or we defer and pass neither.”

Ray Sorensen said he held legislative forums last Saturday, and commented on the lack of civil discourse. “Can I say (and I include myself in this) it would be great if we worked on having civil discussions about policies and politics with folks we disagree with.” He said that “Seems to be a lost art. We’ve locked ourselves in our echo chambers and become immediately offended and angered when presented with an opposing view.” His guess, he said, “Is that we’ve attached our identities to political parties and issues. Your recourse with politicians is your voice and your vote, but tell me what does yelling, losing your temper, and hurling insults do?”

Sorensen said he knew ESAs would continue to be a big issue and that he’s lobbied extensively on both sides of the issue from folks across the state. “I had one legis forum date left” he said, “and thought I’d shake it up and bring in someone to my forums in favor of the ESA bill to stir up some extended and deeper discussion on it. Walt Rogers, who was the former Education Committee Chairman, and who has been, and still is a proponent of the ESA proposal, gave a presentation as to the intent of the bill, who benefits, how the numbers shake out, etc. I think great points where made all around.” The “One thing that stuck with [him], is digging further to figure out the discrepancy in what the actual cost per pupil is, as neither side gave way on that point.”

“The current bottle deposit and redemption system in Iowa has developed problems since its inception. One primary issue is the lack of redemption centers and viable and convenient options for redeeming cans and bottles. Parties on all sides of the issue are ignoring the law without any consequences. The Senate has passed a version of the bottle bill, and currently we are waiting to pass the House version.” Representative Sorensen said he “will keep you up to date on where we end up.”

“This [past] week,” he said, “we passed our education budget proposal on the House floor that appropriates $1,004,141,874 in General Fund dollars. We proposed a new innovative funding approach for Iowa’s Regent Universities to help address Iowa’s workforce crisis. The bill provides $12 million for scholarships for students preparing to fill high-need jobs. The students in their junior and senior years of qualifying programs will receive scholarships of $5,000 per year. This money is on top of the Regent’s usual general fund appropriation.”

Sorensen said also, “The State and Regent Universities will be better partners in addressing the state’s workforce needs as this new funding will incentivize the regents to recruit more students to the jobs we need here in Iowa.” Representative Ray Sorensen can be reached at Ray.Sorensen@legis.Iowa.gov.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Saturday, April 2nd, deputies arrested 34-year-old Kennith Alan Cline, of rural Clarinda, on a Page County Warrant for Sex Offender – Residency violation 2^nd or subsequent Offense. Cline was arrested at the Pottawattamie Jail and then transported to the Page County Jail where he was being held on a $5,000 bond.

Kenneth A. Cline

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The downtown City Park in Atlantic will serve as the site next week for an Easter Egg Hunt. The event takes place April 16th, beginning at 10:30-a.m., and is sponsored by Atlantic Rising. Group President Lucas Mosier the event was very successful in the past, but has not taken place since COVID became a part of our lives.

The eggs are hidden in sections designed to appeal to different age groups of children.

Some of the prize sponsors include the Kiwanis, which donated several bike helmets, and Atlantic Bottling, which is donating free beverages. Also, Hy-Vee is donating free hot dogs. Individuals, other businesses and organizations in town are also helping to make the event a big success.

The eggs themselves are filled by volunteers, with a couple of pieces of candy and the chance to win bigger prizes. Children ages 2-to 10 are welcome to participate in the Easter Egg Hunt, which runs about five-minutes.

There are more than enough eggs for each child to grab. Parents are welcome to take pictures of their kids, and the Easter Bunny.

(Glenwood,Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports there were seven arrests over the past week. Today (Monday), a little after 1-a.m., 40-year-old Crystal Marie McCann, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested at the Mills County Jail on a warrant for Possession of Controlled Substance ($5,000 bond). Friday night, 38-year-old Garret Allen Horgdal, of Henderson,  was arrested on a warrant for Failure To Appear. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

There were three arrests Thursday in Mills County: 36-year-old Andrew Thomas Copeland Falk, of Red Oak, was arrested within the City Limits of Emerson, on 2 counts Possession of Controlled Substance, and Drug a Tax Stamp Violation (Bond $55,000); 41-year-old Louis Hardrock Younger, of Bedford, was arrested within the City Limits of Emerson for Possession of Controlled Substance (Bond: $25,000), and, on an Out of County/State Warrant (No Bond); 53-year-old Gary Duane Boehler, of Missouri Valley, was arrested in Mills County, Thursday at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a warrant for Harassment in the 3rd Degree (Bond $300).

And, on March 30th, 25-year-old Devin Brandon Jackson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Sarpy County, NE., Jail, on warrants for 2 counts  Violation of Probation (Bond: $50,000). Also arrested on the 30th at the same jail facility, was 27-year-old Corey James Wentz, from Des Moines, on a Mills County warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree (Bond $2,000)

Sheriff’s officials said also, that on March 28th, Century Link in Omaha, NE reported an incident of Theft in the 4th Degree at 350th St/Marh Ave. No other details were provided.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say five people were arrested over the past four days, Authorities say that at around 4:23-a.m. today (Monday), 27-year-old Cody Shayne Thompson, of Diagonal, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense/Marijuana. Thompson was taken to the Union County Jail and held on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Saturday evening, 38-year-old Lee Ryan Fowler, of Creston, was arrested at his residence on a Union County Warrant. The warrant was for an original charge was Violation of a No Contact Order and Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. Fowler was transported to the Union County Jail where he later posted a $1,000 bond (cash or surety).

And, there were three separate arrests in Creston last Friday (April 1st):

• Just before 3-p.m., 34-year-old Julian Albert Rex Allision, of Creston, was charged with OWI 2nd offense, Driving while suspended and Eluding. Allison was transported to the Union County Jail and later posted at $7,300 cash or surety bond.
• At around 8:40-p.m., Friday, 35-year-old Thomas James Blobaum, of Creston, was arrested at his residence on a warrant out of Nebraska for Terroristic Threats. Blobaum was transported to the Union County Jail where he being held pending extradition to Nebraska.
• And, at around 11:30-p.m., Friday, 28-year-old Brandon Scott Lawrence, of Lorimor, was arrested in Creston with the assistance of Creston Police K9 Baxo. Lawrence was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance 3rd Marijuana. He later posted a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

In other news, Creston Police say a resident of the 800 block of W. Jefferson Street, reported Saturday morning, that someone got into his vehicle and took his wallet. The victim advised Police the contents of the wallet included a debit card, fuel card, boss debit card, DOT physical card and his driver’s license. No loss estimate was available. Saturday night, a man residing in the 400 block of N. Vine Street in Creston, reported to Police, that someone tried to break into his vehicle while parked at his residence. The man reported hearing his vehicle alarm go off at 9:50pm. When he went outside to check his vehicle, the man noticed damage to the front passenger’s door and the rear lift gate. No entry was made into the vehicle. Damage estimate $500.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – This week (April 3-9), is National Library Week, and the Atlantic Public Library encourages all community members to visit the library in person or online to explore and access services and programs. The library offers a wide array of programs, classes and resources that are available in person or from the comfort of home, including downloadable e-books, audiobooks, and magazines as well as online homework help.

National Library Week, is a time to highlight the essential role libraries, librarians and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. The theme for this year’s National Library Week is “Connect with Your Library,” which promotes the idea that libraries are places to get connected to technology, media, programs, ideas and classes, in addition to books. Most importantly, libraries also connect communities to each other.

As demonstrated through the pandemic, libraries of all types go above and beyond to keep their communities connected by expanding their programming, resources and collections. Libraries across the country are making a difference in people’s lives by providing electronic learning resources like online homework help and wi-fi access for students and workers who may lack internet access at home. Atlantic Public Library Director Michelle Andersen says the Library is supporting the local community with services such as VIP Connections, a social club for adults every Tuesday morning, and online resources like Brainfuse, Creativebug, and Ancestry.com.

Events happening during National Library Week include:

• Holy Vulnerability, faith-based book group, today (Monday) at noon
• VIP Connections, a weekly social club that meets every Tuesday 10 am to Noon
• Magic the Gathering casual play on Tuesday 4-6 pm (continues on the first and third Tuesday of each month)
• Knitting Group Wednesday at 10 am (regularly meets on the first Wednesday of each month)
• Toddler Time, a weekly story time for young children, on Thursday at 10 am
• Lessons of the Holocaust program Thursday at 6 pm
• Community Shred Day, a drive-through shred service for personal papers, on Saturday 9-11 am

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April. For more information, visit the library’s website at www.atlantic.lib.ia.us or visit the Atlantic Public Library’s Facebook page. The Atlantic Public Library connects the community to information, resources, and each other in order to spark ideas and new connections.