(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s two major parties have announced the 2022 Iowa Caucuses will be held on Monday, February 7th.

2022 is a so-called “midterm” election, so there will be no presidential preference voting among Iowa Republicans or Democrats at these caucuses. The two parties do coordinate on the date and Iowa Democratic Party chairman Ross Wilburn says the parties don’t agree on much, but we do agree on the importance of holding the Iowa Caucuses on the same day. Iowa Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann says he looks forward to working with Wilburn to ensure this type of cooperation occurs for the 2024 presidential caucuses.

In August, Kaufmann was appointed to the Republican National Committee group that will make recommendations for the presidential nominating process in 2024. On Sunday, former Iowa Democratic Party chairman Scott Brennan was appointed to the Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws group. That is where Democrats will debate the future of the Iowa Caucuses and other dates on the presidential nominating calendar.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning, are expected to act on approving the appointment of an Auditor’s Assistant, to fill a vacancy. The Board is also expected to discuss and take possible action on the closing of 570th Street at the Interstate 80 underpass as part of a plan by the Iowa Department of Transportation, to turn I-80 into six lanes (3 each direction), which would necessitate the closure of roads under certain overpasses that have a low volume of traffic. The DOT has previously stated that it costs anywhere from two-to three-million dollars to replace a bridge that would not be necessary if the road is closed and the earth built-up to support traffic instead of a bridge.

Landowners in the area have voiced their opposition to the plan, citing the need to get to their crops and/or animals living on either side of the bridge on their land. In other business, the Cass County Supervisors will discuss further, ISICS (Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System), cost and funding. Last week, Cass County Public Safety Communications Supervisor Mike Kennon and Sheriff Darby McLaren reported to the Board that several entities have voiced support for going with ISICS. Additional communication antennae and related equipment will be needed. Both men requested the Board begin the process to secure essential purpose bonds. A Public Hearing on a proposal to fund the project was set for Oct. 12th.

The Supervisors will also continue discussion with regard to the Willow Heights building and grounds the county owns, and possible uses for American Rescue Plan funding.  Their meeting takes place 9-a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5th, in the Supervisor’s Board Room inside the Cass County Courthouse.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council has a few interesting items on their docket for Wednesday evening. The meeting at City Hall begins at 5:30-p.m.  First up, is discussion with regard to a 2022 4th of July fireworks display. During their last meeting, the consensus of the Council was to pursue a Class B fireworks show using Viking Pyrotechnics, Inc., out of Shannon City, Iowa. They reached that decision based on knowledge at the time, that Viking was the only Class B provider in the region. Since then, City Administrator John Lund was informed local provider, “Wild Wayne’s,” is pursuing a Class B show. Wild Wayne’s owner or representative, and, Dan Vargason, with Iowa Fireworks Company, are expected to address the Council during Wednesday’s meeting.

Afterward, the Council is likely to act on awarding the 2022 4th of July Fireworks Display Contract, because any further delay could result in options for the show disappearing, leaving the City in the position of having one choice, or none at all. On a side note, Wild Willy’s owner Mark O’Brien has informed John Lund that AHS Senior class parents have requested O’Brien’s company to shoot fireworks after each touchdown by the Atlantic Trojans, during their Homecoming football game against Knoxville this Friday night. City ordinance allows for the display, provided the display operator has the proper valid insurance papers on-file.

The Council will also hear a request from Brad and Sara Strouth, who live at 1609 E. 22nd Street. The couple has eight laying hens on their 2.35-acres of land just south of East Ridge Park, farmland to the south and west of their property. Some is zoned residential, other parts are zoned for farming. There is a residential property to the west. Police Chief Dave Erickson has received some complaints regarding the presence of the chickens. Administrator Lund says if the Strouth’s are granted exemptions to the ban on poultry, it may open the gate to other forms of poultry, including ducks.

He will suggest to the Council, that a formal moratorium on any other applications of that nature, be placed on hold and a more “well-planned and coordinated policy” is developed. “No timetable should be offered,” he said, on “when such a policy would be allowed.” The ordinance already forbids chickens within City Limits (aside from Ag property). The Council may choose to grant the exemption, but no motion to deny is required, since the ordinance is already in place.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on approving a 28-E agreement with Cass County, for the W. 6th Street bridge project (#289), that the Board of Supervisors have already approved the agreement. Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken has indicated the project, which is estimated to cost $204,000, may be eligible for federal resources to help cover the cost. And, the Council will act on an Order to close certain streets on Friday, Oct. 8th, between 2:15-p.m. and 3:30-p.m., for the Homecoming Parade.

The parade line’s-up and begins at 10th and Linn. From there it proceeds west to Chestnut Street, then north to 3rd Street. The participants will then proceed east to Walnut, and south to 6th Street before the event concludes.

(Creston, Iowa) – No injuries were reported following a collision Saturday morning, in Creston, but a man from Shenandoah received three citations. Creston Police say a 2018 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 43-year-old Bruce Allen Tracy, of Murray, was stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Lincoln and Townline Streets, when his vehicle was hit from behind by a 2007 Saturn Aura XE. The driver of the car, 31-year old Anthony Robert Darling, of Shenandoah, told Police he was having issues with his brakes, and could not stop.

Darling was cited for Failure to Maintain Control, Driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked, and Failure to provide proof of accident insurance. Both vehicles sustained an estimated $6,000 damage, each.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – An attempted traffic stop Saturday night in Montgomery County, resulted in a pursuit and arrest of a man from Clarinda. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were performing routine patrol on Highway 48 southbound at around 9-p.m., when a motorcycle approached them northbound. Deputies activated their in-car radar, and observed the motorcycle was traveling at 102 miles per hour. The Deputy activated their red light and siren, and made a U-turn to catch up with the cycle.

As they got behind the machine, they observed it had an Iowa license plate which came back to a gray, 2013 Harley Davidson. The cycle took off at a high rate of speed, leading deputies on a pursuit through Red Oak to Highway 71, where the motorcycle crashed. At that time, the operator, Jason Patrick Fahey, of Clarinda, was arrested and charged with Eluding. His bond was set at $2,000.