(Atlantic, Iowa) – The owners of The Franklin Market and The Picker’s Parlor, in Atlantic, are spreading the word about their “Adopt A Soldier” program. Amanda Graham said in a post on social media, that her husband was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010-11, and during this time, she served as his unit’s Family Readiness Group leader. Graham said “One of my favorite roles of this position was putting together care packages to send to our unit.

This year, The Franklin Market and I are hoping to help others make care packages for our local Veterans in need. We are challenging our community and local businesses to take part in our ‘Adopt a Soldier’ program. Between now and December 10th, anyone may nominate a local Veteran who could use something- maybe it’s food or clothing, maybe it’s household goods, or maybe it’s gas cards to get to doctor appointments, help with lawn care, snow removal services, roof repair, auto repair, etc. Maybe it’s a hot, fresh meal once in awhile. Maybe it’s someone to walk their dog. Or maybe it’s someone who is lonely or depressed and could use their spirits lifted.”

Graham says you can simply stop in at 402 Chestnut and fill out a nomination form, or email them to request one sent to you. The forms are available now (Nov. 12th through December 10th. Amanda says also, “The Veteran’s name and personal info will NOT be shared with anyone except the person adopting that Vet, if needed for services. The donor and person nominating may choose to send a card with the gift and include their name and contact info if desired. Gifts can be dropped off at The Franklin Market and we will deliver all gifts the week before Christmas. At the current time, the Veteran needs to reside within 20 miles of Atlantic. We will extend this if able.”

The business will hang information about Veterans who available for “adoption” on a tree in the entryway (a description of what is needed will be on the tree, no names). You may take one if you commit to providing what is needed. “Please see us at the counter to officially adopt that Vet. We will begin hanging the ornaments as soon as we receive them, so just stop in to adopt,” Graham says.

She said also, “You may also provide a monetary donation to help cover services needed or Veterans who may not be adopted by Dec 10th, so that we can ensure everyone gets something they need.”  If you are a business that provides a service and would be willing to donate your time, please let Graham know, so she can hook you up with a Veteran should that service be needed.

There are reports one person is pinned under a vehicle as the result of a multi-vehicle crash this evening on Interstate 80 eastbound, at mile marker 76, near Adair. No further details are available. Anita Fire Rescue and other agencies were responding as of 4:47-p.m. The road is blocked.

(Radio Iowa) – Congresswoman Cindy Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, will seek re-election for a third term in the U.S House in Iowa;s new third congressional district. Axne, who had been considering a run for governor, says she took some time to make the decision because she wanted to assess where she could “make the most impact” for Iowa.

“What does redistricting look like and how are we going to make sure that Iowa has the best support for what we need? And it took a minute and really look at all these things in conjunction and make sure I made the right decision,”Axne says. Axne defeated incumbent Republican Congressman David Young in 2018 and she won a 2020 rematch against Young.

“My goal, when I started in my first primary, was to to make sure that I represented Iowans in the best way I thought I could, to make sure that we do three things: uld: put money in their pockets, give our families opportunity and ensure that states like Iowa got to operate on a level playing field with other states,” Axne says. “…I still feel that the best way to address those issues is within the United States Congress.”

Commercials critical of Axne have already begun airing in Axne’s current district. Axne says that shows she’s in the number one targeted race for Republicans in 2022. “This job, for me, is about standing up for Iowans,” Axne says. “That means making sure that we have what they need, but it also means protecting our democracy and I play a pivotal role in both of those areas and I intend to make sure that Iowans have the best voice out there.” Axne made her announcement during this (Friday) morning’s taping of Iowa Press which airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.

Axne’s decision follows this week’s announcement from Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who — like Axne — lives in the new third congressional district, but will seek reelection in the new first district. Four other Republicans have announced they intend to run in the new THIRD district. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann says Axne is a big government Democrat who has spent the past two years cozying up to Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden. Axne endorsed Biden before the 2020 Iowa Caucuses and she says she’d be happy to have Biden campaign for her in Iowa in 2022.

“Once we get the infrastructure bill signed into law, the Build Back Better bill signed into law, next year folks are seeing expansion of those child care centers, they’re seeing more money in their pocket because of the earned income tax credit or the child tax credit…when those pieces are put in place and we start moving those agendas forward, we’re going to overcome some of the false narratives that we’re hearing right now,” Axne says.

Axne is the only Democrat in Iowa’s congressional delegation. She’s also among the few House Democrats who won last year in a district that President Trump carried. Her margin of victory in 2022 was about one-and-a-half percent.

(Storm Lake, Iowa) – The driver of a pickup died and two people were injured during a head-on crash Friday morning south of Rembrandt. According to the Iowa State Patrol, at around 9-a.m., a 2005 Ford F-150 pickup driven by 33-year-old Juan Alday Pena, of Storm Lake, was traveling north on Highway 71, when the vehicle went out of control. It crossed the center line of the road into the path of a 2010 GMC Arcadia, driven by 46-year-old Terry Stevens, of Spencer, who was unable to avoid the ensuing collision.

The Pena died at the scene. Stevens, and a passenger in Pena’s pickup, 41-year-old Ninfa Carbral Bautista, of Storm Lake, were transported to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center by Buena Vista EMS. All of the accident victims were wearing their seat belts.

The Patrol said weather was a factor in the crash.

Des Moines, Iowa — Data released today (Friday) by the Iowa Department of Public Health shows the state is headed in the wrong direction on the spread of COVID-19. There were 8,047 positive tests in the last week, up from 7,616 at last report on Wednesday. The state’s 14-day positivity rate climbed from 8.9% to 9.2%. That number has been increasing for about two weeks.

Hospitalization numbers have declined. There are 487 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, down from 524 on Wednesday. Of those hospitalized with COVID-19, 75.8% are unvaccinated, while 87.1% of those listed in intensive care with COVID-19 are unvaccinated. There have been 3,895,495 vaccine doses administered in Iowa, with 68.3% of those 18 and older fully vaccinated, and 71% of those 13 and older with at least one dose.The number of long-term care facilities reporting a virus outbreak dropped from 29 to 26 since Wednesday.

IDPH provides new COVID-19 data every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.