(Radio Iowa) – Former Iowa Congressman Neal Smith of Des Moines has died at the age of 101. Smith, a Democrat, was first elected to the U.S. House in 1958. During an appearance on Iowa P-B-S in 2013, Smith said during his 36-year career in the House, he never personally asked for a campaign contribution. “In my first election, I was elected on $10, 300,” he said. Smith, an attorney and a farmer, was a key architect of several federal Farm Bills and he secured funding for two of Iowa’s federal flood control reservoirs — Saylorville and Red Rock. “When I was there, we put coalitions together on every bill. We just expected to,” Smith says. “I mean we had southern Democrats, northern Democrats, Republicans.”

Smith was born on a Keokuk County farm in 1920 and he served in the Air Force during World War Two. His plane was shot down and he received the Purple Heart.  “I don’t ever talk about it,” Smith said six years ago. “I was in the Pacific. I came back and many of my friends did not come back.” During an appearance on Iowa Public Radio when he was 95, Smith said he may have been the first candidate in Iowa to buy T-V advertising. He spent 75 dollars buying time on three television stations during his first campaign in 1958.

“I wasn’t expected to win, of course,” Smith said. “There had only been one Democrat who had ever represented Polk County before and he only lasted one term back in the ’30s.” Smith is among a core group credited with helping Iowa Democrats gain traction in state that had been dominated by Republicans for decades. The National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City in Jasper County is named for Smith, who worked to secure its creation. The federal buidling in Des Moines is also named in his honor.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman, Wednesday, confirmed that “Election night results for the City of Atlantic clearly show that no candidate for mayor received more than 50 percent of the votes:

• Grace N. Garret 463 votes for 37.58% of the votes.
• Pat McCurdy      80 votes for  6.49% of the votes.
• Kathy Somers    165 votes for 13.39% of the votes.
• Tim Teig        523 votes for 42.45% of the votes.

Therefore, a runoff election will be held on November 30, to determine who will become the mayor of Atlantic. Persons on the ballot will be Grace N. Garret and Tim Teig.”  Sunderman says   Absentee ballots may be requested now.  Ballots will be mailed on or after  November 9 as soon as ballots are available.  Deadline to request an Absentee Ballot to be mailed for City Runoff is
Monday, November 15. Absentee voting in the auditor’s office begins on or after November 9 as soon as ballots are available.  Last day to vote in the auditor’s office is Monday, November 29.

City Runoff Election Voter Pre-registration Deadline is Monday, November 15. Voting sites for this election will both be at the Cass County Community Center at 805 W 10th St.  Atlantic 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Wards will use the main entrance; and Atlantic 4th and 5th Wards will use the south entrance. Polls will open at 7:00 A.M. and close at 8:00 P.M.

(UPDATE: 4:30-p.m., 11/3: Jury released for the evening. Will return 8-a.m. Thursday to resume deliberations)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The fate of a Cass County woman charged with Murder in the 1st Degree and Child Endangerment – Resulting in Death, is in the hands of the jury. The case was turned over to the 12 members at around 1-p.m, Wednesday, after the Prosecution and Defense attorneys made closing statements, followed by a rebuttal to the defense closing argument.

Alison Dorsey, of Anita, has pleaded not guilty to both charges associated with the death of 11-week-old Luka Hodges, whom she cared for at a home in Massena, where as many as 11 children stayed at some points in time, including the day Luka suddenly stopped breathing. Prosecutor, Iowa Attorney General 3 Monty Platz, presented his closing statement Wednesday, saying that Luka “Should have had a fighting chance…he should be here alive.” He characterized Dorsey as being less than truthful or at least accurate, in her account of what happened Oct. 7, 2019.

Platz also tried to debunk testimony/theories by some experts last week (who are not pediatric doctors), that Luka’s death was not caused by Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), when five other experts suggested the injuries the child suffered could not have occurred any other way. The jury he said, needed to reconcile those differences. He said “Shaken baby is real.” Platz said Luka’s death was “No tragic accident.”

Defense Attorney DeShawne Bird-sell said the real story, as stated by Defense witness Dr. Dragovic, is that “There is no evidence of a purposeful act.” Dr. Kelly Kruse, who performed the autopsy on Luka, concluded the matter of death was undetermined. Bird-sell said said one of the bigger issues, was the rush to judgement on how Luka’s injuries occurred, leading up to his death, instead of waiting on the full autopsy results.

The jury was sent home at 4:30-p.m. Wednesday, and are set resume deliberations at 8-a.m. Thursday. It’s not clear how long the deliberations may take. The jury has several, lesser degrees of charges that could consider under both Murder in the 1^st and Child Endangerment resulting in death charges, including 2^nd Degree Murder, Malice aforethought, and of course, acquittal.

KJAN News will be there when the verdict is handed down in Cass County District Court.

ATLANTIC, IA (November 3, 2021) – Bring local to your table this holiday season. Harvest Market 2021 will be held at the Cass County Community Center on Monday, November 22 from 3-7 pm. This late fall farmers market is held the Monday before Thanksgiving, so shoppers can pick up premium local produce, local meats, delicious baked goods, and other local foods to enjoy at holiday celebrations. The market also offers locally-made craft products including seasonal candles, goat milk soaps, holiday decorations, and gifts.

Harvest Market 2021 vendors confirmed as of November 3 include: Bridgewater Farm, Brun Ko Farm, Sue’s Country Garden, Erickson Foods, Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, The Kringle Man, The Pet Bistro, Hilltop Creations, Smudge, Hygge Cottage, The Chalking Teacher, DezaRae Farm Soaps, Ter-Bear Honey, Piper’s Brae Farm, TJ’s Kitchen, Kingwood Farm, Harrisdale Farmstead, The Chalking Teacher, JD Crafters, and DeLaine’s Designs. A-Town SmokeShack will be at the market selling barbeque sandwiches and sides, so if shoppers spend the whole evening at the market they won’t have to go home without dinner.

Harvest Market 2021 will offer both in-person shopping as well as pre-ordering. Pre-order will be available through www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com from Nov. 12-19. Pre-ordering is an excellent option for customers who want to plan on a particular food item—such as a favorite pie, as well as customers who are short on time to shop at the market, and those who want to stay distanced this holiday season. Some vendors, such as Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, will only be offering pre-ordered
products. Don’t miss a reminder to pre-order. Sign up for the Produce in the Park newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com. Produce in the Park thanks customers for masking and distancing at indoor markets.

Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications to Harvest Market and other holiday farmers markets (Christmas Market Dec. 23, Sweetheart Market Feb. 12, and Spring Celebration Market April 16). For more information visit produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com or contact Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870.

For the latest information on Harvest Market, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/) or sign up for the Produce in the Park newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Nov. 3, 2021 – To begin the next phase of interstate reconstruction in Council Bluffs, northbound Interstate 29 between 9th Avenue and Avenue G is expected to be closed to traffic on Monday, Nov. 15, weather permitting. Beginning on Nov. 8, weather permitting, the new Northbound Frontage Road will be opened to traffic ahead of the interstate closure. Several closures and detours will be in place to prepare for this traffic shift.

Expected Daytime Changes – Monday, Nov. 8:

• Northbound Frontage Road will open to traffic on Monday morning between Avenue A and I-29 northbound, north of Avenue G.

Expected Nighttime Closures – Monday, Nov. 8:

• West Broadway will be closed between 35th Street and I-480 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to allow workers to restripe pavement to open at full capacity.

Expected Daytime Changes/Closures – Tuesday, Nov. 9:

• The Northbound Frontage Road will be gradually opened throughout the day starting near West Broadway. By the end of the day, it will be fully open from 9th Avenue to northbound I-29.
• The ramp from 9th Avenue to I-29 northbound will be permanently closed.

Expected nighttime closures – Tuesday, Nov. 9:

• The eastbound I-480 ramp to northbound I-29 and the northbound I-29 ramp to westbound I-480 ramp will close until I-29 is reopened in Summer 2023.

Beginning Sunday night, Nov. 14, construction crews will begin work to close northbound I-29 between 9th Avenue and Avenue G. This closure will be in place for approximately 21 months (Summer 2023). Traffic not destined for Council Bluffs should use detour routes. Local traffic will be detoured at 9th Avenue to the Northbound Frontage Road.

Iowa DOT encourages motorists to follow signs and use caution while becoming accustomed to new traffic patterns. A short video is available at www.CouncilBluffsInterstate.IowaDOT.gov to further demonstrate upcoming changes and impacts to travelers and local businesses in the area.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports an armed robbery occurred at the Corning Hy-Vee store on Saturday, October 31st. Deputies responded to the call at 8:53 p.m. on Halloween night. It was reported that one suspect was able to take an undisclosed amount of money before fleeing the scene prior to Deputies’ arrival. No injuries were reported and the incident remains under investigation.