HAMBURG, IA — Iowa 3rd District Democrat Representative Cindy Axne today (Tuesday), announced two new Community Facility Disaster Grants totaling $100,000 for the Hamburg Fire Protection Agency, to purchase a new fire truck and outfit volunteer firefighters with new protective equipment. The grants approved by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development cover three-quarters of the total cost of Hamburg’s new fire truck and 14 new self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs). The cost of the fire truck includes new equipment like hoses, radios, power saws, and vent fans.

Axne said “Getting this new lifesaving equipment to the brave volunteer firefighters of Hamburg is a critical step to reinforcing their ability to protect their community. I’m also glad to see Community Facility funding that we secured in the emergency disaster bill is making its way to the Iowa towns that need it most as they recover from last year’s floods.”

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has issued a report on recent arrests. On Monday (Feb.10), as the result of a traffic stop on Highway M-47, Shelby County Deputies arrested 38-year-old Shaun Patrick Garner, of Harlan. Garner was charged with prohibited acts, possession of controlled substance (marijuana, 1st offense) possession of drug paraphernalia.   He was transported to the Shelby County jail without incident and held under $3,300 bond until being released on his Own Recognizance, this (Tuesday) morning.

As the result of a traffic stop on Sunday, deputies arrested 19-year-old Levi John Klenda, of Kimballton, for possession of marijuana 1st offense.  Klenda was held on bond until released the following morning on his own recognizance, and given a future court date for appearance on said charge. Last Saturday, 50-year-old Michael Allen Schuemann, of Harlan, turned himself in to authorities, based on an active warrant for violation of probation. Schuemann was released a short time later after posting the required $20,000 surety bond and given a future court date.

And, on Feb. 5th, Shelby County Deputies arrested 31-year-old David Robert Plagmann, of Harlan, on a warrant for charges filed from a pursuit that occurred through Shelby County on Feb. 2nd.  Charges filed against Plagmann include Eluding and reckless driving. He was later released from the Shelby Jail after posting a $2,300 surety bond.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says having President Trump tout his prescription drug bill during the State of the Union speech last Tuesday has been a boost. Now, Grassley’s hoping to meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and this is his message: “Maybe things between the White House and Pelosi are not lovable right now, but if you feel like you want to do something on prescription drugs, I’d like to negotiate with you.”

Grassley, a Republican, and the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee have been working on legislation that would limit prescription drug price hikes to the rate of inflation. The bill would lower out-of-pocket costs for seniors on Medicare, too. “It’s the only bipartisan bill that can get 60 votes in the United States Senate,” Grassley says. Bills need just 51 votes to pass the senate, but at least 60 senators must agree to allow debate. Grassley says he’s telling his Republican colleagues in the Senate the polls show voters consider prescription drug costs a top concern. “We’ve got 23 Republicans up for re-election and it’s an issue in every state and it’s an issue nationally,” Grassley says, “so I’ve got the only game in town that you can run on a platform that you’re really going to do something about prescription drugs.”

A dozen Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors of Grassley’s bill.

(Radio Iowa) — Residents of the eastern Iowa town of Waukon are now without a popular restaurant after fire destroyed it Monday.  Gus and Tony’s Pizza and Steakhouse burned throughout the day. Waukon resident and former city council member Rod Peterson told K-C-R-G T-V, it’s not easy to see. “It hurts, because in every small town, it’s just hard on everything,” Peterson said.

Fire Chief Dave Martin said that two children, their mother, and one pet were rescued by an onlooker from the apartment next door to the restaurant. Peterson said this has happened before in the downtown area. “We had a big fire years ago — down here there used to be a big mill,” Peterson says. “Everything burned down in another fire, but it’s just part of what happens. It’s never easy.”

Gus and Tony’s has been a family restaurant in town for 39 years. So while this particular loss is a shock for Waukon, Peterson tells K-C-R-G T-V the tiny town is strong enough to handle it. “We’ll survive. We always do. That’s what Iowans do,” Peterson says.  The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Cass County Republican Supervisor Frank Waters announced prior to the start of today’s (Tuesday’s) Board of Supervisor’s meeting, that he would not seek re-election to the 5^th District seat on the Board. Waters said “It’s time for someone else to take over.” Waters, who has served on the Board for 11-years, to date, said he wanted to get the word out now, so someone who may be interested in circulating their nomination papers, can do so.

When the Board convened their regular session, they approved the plans, specifications, cost estimations and form of contract, for the Cold Springs Park Paving Project. Their action followed a public hearing on the matter, and discussion with Cass County Conservation Director Micah Lee.

The project will cost $129,270.50. It will go through the standard bid letting process before work begins later this Spring or Summer. The Cass County Supervisors also approved the renewal of the County Wellness Plan, which last year, Wellness Committee representative Deb Schuler said, saved the County a good chunk of money.

(She said implementing the policy saved the County more than $66,350 in costs, thanks to a 5-percent insurance discount. Schuler said “Over the past two years, there has been 100% participation” from County Employees.)

The only change in the policy ISAC 2020 employee Health Insurance/Wellness Program, is the date of effectiveness, from 2019 to 2020. Auditor Dale Sunderman said there are additional incentives for employees to participate and complete 100% of the Wellness Programs Offered by July 31, 2020.

In other business, the Supervisors accepted the bids and contract for Stock, and Project pipe, to be used by the Cass County Secondary Roads Department. The Board tabled action on setting set the dates for public hearings on a re-compilation of the Cass County Code of Ordinances. The Board wanted to go through the Ordinances and mark those that need to be repealed because they are no longer necessary. Before the Ordinances can then be re-codified, as required at least every five-years under the Code of Iowa, they must set the date for public hearings.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Department of Public Health says two Iowans who were tested for the coronavirus following recent travel to China have been cleared. The two unidentified individuals had agreed to voluntary home confinement while the state waited for the test results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The department also says there are 26 other individuals who are not showing any symptoms — but have recently traveled to China and are being monitored for the coronavirus. The Health Department’s medical director says everyone should continue to use proper hygiene techniques to avoid any kind of illness.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – The Waterloo City Council has voted to close the shortest of the local airport’s three runways — a proposal that had drawn opposition from some pilots. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported that the council voted Monday for the airport director to work with federal authorities on the decommissioning. The director had recommended closing the runway because of safety and liability concerns. Several pilots told the council at an earlier meeting that the runway is a safe alternative when high winds and other issues make it harder to access the two primary runways.

HATTIESBURG, MS (AP) – The U.S. Marshals Service says a sex offender who left Iowa without notifying authorities has been apprehended in Mississippi. A criminal complaint this month says Antonio Earl Satcher was required to register as a sex offender after his conviction in Black Hawk County, Iowa, of lascivious acts with a child – solicitation. During a months-long search for Satcher, authorities received tips that he was staying with relatives in Jasper County, Mississippi. He was eventually apprehended in Clarke County, Mississippi, last week. Court records list no lawyer for Satcher who could be reached for comment.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – Another defendant has been convicted in the slaying of a 26-year-old man in southeast Iowa. A Des Moines County jury found Emmanuel Spann guilty Monday of first-degree murder and conspiracy. He’ll be sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. Spann was one of five men charged with killing Demarcus “Peanut” Chew on Sept. 10, 2017, outside his mother’s apartment in Burlington. The last of the five is a Chicago man, Caesar Davison. Jury selection for his trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday.