(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Farm Bureau opened it annual meeting Tuesday, in Des Moines. I-F-B president Craig Hill, says farmers are looking forward to turning the page on 2019.  “We’ve had a difficult year. One, we’ve had to fight Mother Nature a bit to get our seeds planted. That was a difficult time — harvesting was a difficult time,” Hill says. “We’ve been challenged with uncertain markets, trade agreements. The lack of some progress on U-S-M-C-A and a number of other policy issues that we are all concerned about.”

Farmers are used to dealing with the weather conditions — but Hill says up and down trade talk added to the concerns. “You get your hopes up with an announcement, and then you find out it’s stashed away because it’s not actually real or it’s not happening. You can’t trust what you actually hear,” Hill says. He says there is always optimism the new year will be better.

“Folks are looking forward to turning the page on next year — they’re starting to make plans for that,” according to Hill. “It’s time to kind of celebrate our success, acknowledge our blessings and also look at those challenges and how we are going to address them going forward.” Hill says a resolution of trade issues, including U-S-M-C-A and China, would give farmers a boost heading into 2020. But he is concerned that the polarized political climate in Washington will halt any progress.

“I don’t know that anybody really thinks it will get much better any time soon. so, we want to get what we can done, manage our affairs the best we can… we hope Washington improves, but with impeachment and all the things around what’s going on in D-C, it’s going to be very difficult getting anything done in 2020,” Hill says. The Iowa Farm Bureau’s annual meeting runs through today (Wednesday).

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds is breaking from predecessor and mentor Terry Branstad’s practice of having state agency directors present their spending outlines for the next budgeting year in a public forum. Reynolds is meeting privately with the top bureaucrats in state government to go over items for next year’s state budget.

“Really doing a one-on-one and walking through the bugdet and asking them: ‘You know, what are some initiatives that you’re working on? Where can we maybe take a look at some opportunities to help you do what you’re doing in your agency?’ And I have really found that to be very, very productive,” Reynolds told reporters Tuesday.

In the past two years, Reynolds hosted budget presentations in her office at thie time of the year, as Branstad did, giving legislative staff, the news media and others a chance to hear about agency priorities and the spending requests state boards and commissions had approved. Later this month, Reynolds will host a hearing at the state capitol — as former Governor Branstad did — to give members of the public a chance to speak about state policy and spending decisions.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa is advancing a plan to lease its utilities system to a for-profit company for 50 years in exchange for a large upfront payment that would be used for strategic goals. University President Bruce Harreld outlined the plan during a meeting with the Iowa Board of Regents, which is expected to consider approving the plan next week. It would turn over the operation of plants that provide power, steam and water to campus to a newly-formed company involving two energy firms.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — An Evansdale man will be sentenced to up to five years in prison after entering a plea in the hit-and-run death of a Waterloo teenager. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports Brandon Donald Gordon on Monday entered an Alford plea to a charge of leaving the scene of a fatal accident. The plea doesn’t admit guilt but acknowledges he’d likely be convicted in a trial. Gordon was arrested days after striking 16-year-old Tayshaun Jenkins on March 10. Jenkins’ body was found about four hours later.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police have identified a man who died after being found shot inside a car. Police on Tuesday identified the man as 29-year-old Karlos Laverne Goldman Jr., of Des Moines. Officers found Goldman after responding to a report of a man who didn’t appear to be breathing inside a car in the Sherman Hill area, just west of downtown. Officers and medics began CPR and Goldman was taken to a hospital, where he died a short time later. Police say it’s considered a suspicious death.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies responded, Tuesday, to a collision on Highway 2, east of P Avenue, or about one-mile west of Clarinda. Authorities say 54-year old Jane Elizabeth Mayer, of rural Essex, was driving a 2007 Ford Taurus west bound on the highway, when she slowed for a deer crossing the road.

36-year old Aaron Duwayne Childs, of Yorktown, was driving a 1994 Toyota Camry west bound on Highway 2 behind the Mayer vehicle, when his Camry struck the rear of the Taurus, causing disabling damage to both vehicles. There were no injuries.

Childs was cited into court for No insurance. He was also arrested for driving while license is suspended. Childs was transported to the Page County Jail and held on $566.25 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum and Adair County Attorney Melissa S. Larson, Tuesday, announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Randall Lee Comly with gun and drug crimes, for which Comly faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The charges stemmed from an October 2019 incident where Comly allegedly shot at, and attempted to kill, four law enforcement officers in Stuart, Iowa.

Randall Lee Comly

On October 17, 2019, a Stuart police officer and three Guthrie County deputy sheriffs attempted to serve an arrest warrant for Comly at his apartment in Stuart. Comly allegedly shot repeatedly at the officers, two of whom were wounded during the exchange of gunfire. The government alleges that a search of Comly’s apartment revealed a .22 caliber revolver and methamphetamine under the bed in the room where Comly barricaded himself.

As a result of these alleged crimes, Comly is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm; possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it; and possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, Comly faces at least 25 years in prison, and up to life in prison. Under federal law, there is no parole.

“Randall Comly is a felon and alleged drug dealer who shot at law enforcement officers who were doing their jobs and protecting our community, said United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. “We will hold him fully accountable for his crimes.” Comly is currently charged in state court with attempted murder. Those charges will be dismissed without prejudice to allow the federal charges to proceed first.

“An essential role of the county attorney is to pursue criminal cases in order to keep our communities safe, and our office takes that role very seriously,” said Adair County Attorney Melissa S. Larson. “I believe that the decision to step back from pursuing the state charges at this time, in order for the federal case to proceed first, accomplishes this. I am confident that the U.S. Attorney’s office will prosecute their case to the fullest extent of the law.”

Comly has been arrested and made his initial appearance in federal court in Des Moines, Iowa. Trial is set for February 3, 2020, before the Honorable Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger, United States District Court Judge. Comly is detained in federal custody pending trial. The investigation has been conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation; Adair County Sheriff’s Office; Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office; and the Stuart Police Department. The Adair County Attorney’s Office also provided invaluable assistance.

The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Tuesday of 38-year-old Jesse Donald Trost of Red Oak for Domestic Abuse Assault, a simple misdemeanor. Trost was arrested at 3:01pm in the 200 block of North Broadway Street in Red Oak. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on no bond.

The Red Oak Police Department is investigating a hit and run accident that occurred on Tuesday morning in Red Oak. The accident was reported at 10:12am at the intersection of Broadway and Walnut Street in Red Oak. It was determined that a 2005 Chevy Cavalier owned and operated by 71-year-old Eugene Potter of Red Oak was traveling northbound on Broadway at the intersection with West Walnut Street when a large cargo van failed to yield and collided with Mr. Potter’s vehicle. After the van struck the Chevy it continued to travel east on Walnut Street to 4th Street and then left in an unknown direction from there. A witness at the scene described the van as being either silver or white in color.

Mr. Potter’s Chevy sustained approximately $2,500 damage and was considered a total loss and no injuries were reported.

Anyone with information on the accident is encouraged to call the Red Oak Police Department at 712-623-6500.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports three arrests from this past week. On Nov. 27th, 39-year old Daphne Gwynne Doyle, of Anita, was arrested in Bridgewater, after authorities responded to a report of someone  trying to gain entry into a car parked in a residential driveway. While law enforcement was enroute, they were notified a female was sitting in the vehicle, but there were no keys. When a State Trooper arrived, he found Doyle sitting on the ground, with the owner of the vehicle standing beside her. Doyle admitted she had tried to steal the car. In her pockets was a needle and a small bag of meth. Doyle was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, and Burglary in the 3rd Degree – Motor Vehicle related. She was transported to the Adams County Jail and released the following day on her Own Recognizance.

On Nov. 26th, Adair County Deputies arrested 37-year old Joseph Lee Reynolds, of Stuart, on an Adair County felony warrant for Violation of Probation. Reynolds was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $2,000 cash or surety bond. And, at around 3:15-a.m. on Nov. 25th, 29-year old Jasmin Ceja, of Des Moines, was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol, following an investigation into a property damage accident on I-80 westbound at mile marker 65. Ceja was subsequently charged with OWI/1st offense and Child Endangerment without Injury. She was released later that same day on a $3,000 cash or surety bond.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber wants to remind residents of Cass County that the Mobile Food Pantry will be available in the Atlantic High School Commons Area, from 4-until 6-p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 4th). The Mobile Food Pantry event is sponsored by the ACSD Food Services Department, is FREE, and open to anyone in CASS County. Barber said there is PLENTY of food. Once you sign-in, you can check out all the tables full of canned, bagged and boxed food for you to take home. You can walk away with anywhere from 50-to 100-pounds of groceries to help your family during the holiday season.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports that as the result of a traffic stop on November 30th, deputies arrested 40-year old Morgia Jane England, of Emerson, on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Meth (B Felony), and a Drug Tax Stamp Violation (D Felony). She was also charged with Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense (Serious), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Simple). And, 55-year old Miles Victor Latham, of Atlantic, was arrested on felony charges that include Possession with Intent to Delivery Meth (B Felony), and a Drug Tax Stamp Violation (D Felony), along with a lesser Drug Paraphernalia charge. Both parties were taken to the Cass County Jail. Latham remains held on $30,300 bond; England remains held on $31,300 bond.

Arrested separately on Nov. 30th, was 53-year old Ronnie Carl Cardenas, of Omaha, who was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault (Simple). Cardenas was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance. On November 28th, Cass County deputies arrested 42-year old Christopher Dean Sharp, of Griswold, on a charge of Assault Causing Bodily Injury (Serious). Sharp was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance. On November 26th, 20-year old Korey Linn Cassady, of Panora, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Violation of Probation. Cassady was taken to the Cass County Jail and later transferred to Madison County authorities.

On November 22nd, 58-year old Jeffrey Charles Dory, of Anita, turned himself in at the Cass County Jail on two warrants for Violation of Probation. Dory was booked and was released later that day on $4,000 bond. And, there were two arrests on Nov. 21st: 18-year old Brady Lee Fulk, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI 1st Offense (Serious) and Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense (Serious). Fulk was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance. 19-year old Curclund Jackson VanAernam, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense (Serious). VanAernam was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance.

In a follow-up to our previous report with regard to a car-vs-semi accident on I-80 back on Nov. 26th, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office said that at around 6:40-p.m., the Deputies responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident on I-80 at the 52 mile marker in Cass County. A 2007 Toyota Camry driven by 24-year old Matthew Kim Stein, of Omaha, was on westbound I-80 when the driver lost control due to road conditions, crossing the median and striking an eastbound 2012 Freightliner driven by 57-year old Faruk Korajcevic, of Tampa, FL. Stein was transported to CCMH via Medivac for treatment of minor injuries. Damage to the Toyota is estimated at $8,000; damage to the semi is estimated at $30,000. No citations were issued.