(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7th, in the Atlantic High School Media Center. The Consent Agenda/Action items include approving the resignations of:

• Michelle Fritz, Middle School Teacher (effective at the end of the current school year)
• Sarah Rose, H.S. Counselor (effective at the end of the current school year)
• Maria Pearson, M.S. Librarian (effective at the end of the current school year)

And, Contract Recommendations and/or Letters of Assignment for:

• Volunteer Coaches for 2024 Spring Athletic Programs
• Caine Page, Substitute Van/Suburban Driver
• Lori Hayes, Schuler Sped Para, long-term sub (February-End of School year).

The Board will also act on the advertising of, & the hiring for, a Director of Student Services.

The meeting will be available to view on You Tube.

(Radio Iowa) – Former Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey has died. Northey, who was 64, was a fourth-generation farmer from Spirit Lake and an Iowa State University graduate.

He talked about his path to becoming Ag Secretary after receiving an Iowa Ag Leader Award in 2022 for his outstanding and distinguished service to Iowa agriculture. “I left Iowa State, came back to the farm, got involved in Iowa Corn Growers, Iowa Farm Bureau and served in some roles in those organizations, and then ran for Iowa Secretary of Ag back in 2006,” he said. Northey said he loved the job. “It’s a a great job. A wonderful job to be a part of, certainly a highlight of my career,” he said.

Northey was reelected twice to the state post and then resigned in early 2018 after being appointed as Under Secretary in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he oversaw the Farm Service Agency.

Current Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig said in a statement that he was shocked at Northey’s death. He says Northey was a husband, father, grandfather, and a farmer who loved Iowa and loved Iowa agriculture.

Bill Northey. (IA Ag Dept. photo)

Other Iowa elected officials also reacted to the news. U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley said in a statement, “the Iowa farm community lost a giant. Bill Northey was a dear friend and fierce advocate for the family farmer.” Fellow U.S. Senator Joni Ernst said in a statement, “Bill Northey dedicated his life to Iowa agriculture. Throughout his career as a farmer, leader in key agriculture organizations, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary, he was a steadfast advocate for the producers that feed and fuel our world. He helped establish Iowa as a national leader on key initiatives including ethanol and the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, while always remaining grounded and connected to his family farm in Dickinson County.”

Governor Kim Reynolds said in a statement that, “Bill was a great leader whose work ethic and passion for Iowa agriculture was unmatched. Iowans and farmers around the country were fortunate to have such a rock-solid advocate and friend.” The Governor has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff and they are to remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of Northey’s funeral.

(Radio Iowa) – Fort Dodge leaders may soon add a franchise fee to utility bills to help pay for hiring more police officers. Police Chief Dennis Quinn says Fort Dodge experienced seven homicides last year, and that’s unusual for his city of 25-thousand. “We’ve had a pretty rough year as a community,” Chief Quinn says, “with the level of violence that we’ve had.” The city council approved the first reading of a plan to add a five-percent franchise fee to pay for eight new officers, an increase in the force of 20-percent.

Many communities and counties across the state turn to franchise fees on electric and gas bills for extra funding. Quinn says it’s an effort to be proactive. “Anytime you get into money can be contentious and I understand that, too, I have bills to pay, just like everybody else does,” Quinn says, “but this is something that we need. If there was another way the city could do this, we would do that.”

Fort Dodge City Manager David Fierke says the new fee would raise about two-point-four million dollars a year, with part of the money also going toward property tax relief and quality-of-life services like the library, art museum, and senior center. Fierke says new state tax laws now limit the money communities can levy.

“There really isn’t another way to do this,” Fierke says, “without a significant reduction in quality of life and other services.” Fierke says if the city council gives its full support, customers could see the franchise fee on their utility bills as soon as this summer.

(Radio Iowa) – The Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce had canceled this year’s “Color the Wind Kite Festival” that was scheduled for February 17th.

Chamber officials in a statement say consistent above-average temperatures in recent weeks have made the ice unsafe to host the festival that drew nearly 20,000 people to Clear Lake last year. The festival showcases a collection of gigantic inflatable kites flown by dedicated enthusiasts from all corners of the United States.

(Photo courtesy of the Color the Wind Kite Festival.)

This is the third time in the festival’s 24-year history that it has had to be canceled due to deteriorating ice conditions, with the first time in 2013 and the other time being in 2017.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she will send another group of state law enforcement agents and Iowa National Guard soldiers to the US-Mexico border, but she’s waiting to coordinate the timing with Texas officials. “Twenty-five governors have said they’re going to stand with Governor Abbott and do what this president refuses to do,” Reynolds said today during a news conference at the Iowa Capitol.

Reynolds plans to use federal pandemic relief funds to pay for the mission. Reynolds was among a dozen Republican governors who were in Texas Sunday in support of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s actions at the border. “The reality is we don’t know who is entering our country, but we know what they’re capable of…It’s why Governor Abbott has stepped up to defend his state, his people and truly our nation,” Reynolds said. “For three years Texas has been on the front line of the most serious national security and humanitarian crisis of our time.”

Governor Kim Reynolds speaking at a news conference on Feb. 5, 2024. (RI photo)

In 2021, Reynolds sent a group of state troopers and investigators to assist Texas officials at the border for two weeks. Last year, the governor deployed 109 Iowa National Guard soldiers and 31 state law enforcement officials to Texas for a month. Reynolds does not expect the bipartisan plan developed by U-S Senate negotiators to toughen immigration rules to pass. She said President Biden already has the authority to act. “We do not need a new law,” Reynolds said. “He needs to follow the existing law. He is not denying illegal entry into the country.”

Reynolds told reporters two Chinese nationals were arrested in rural Iowa last week in connection with what investigators describe as a $30 million nationwide fraud case. “One of the individuals charged is believed to have entered the country illegally through the southern border months before his arrest,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said 26 of the state’s drug investigations last year were linked to the Mexican drug cartels.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests:

At around 7:40-p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1st, 41-year-old Bradley Gene Olsen, of Griswold, was arrested on a warrant for Failure To Appear. His bond was set at $2,000.

Friday morning, 28-year-old Joseph Ray Moreno, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Mills County for Possession of a Controlled Substance – Bond: $1,000.

And, Sunday evening, 28-year-old Dennis Eugene Runyon, of Glenwood,  was arrested for OWI/1st Offense. Bond: $1,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic is set to meet this Tuesday evening (Instead of their normal, Wednesday session). Their session takes place at 5:30-p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6th, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. On the agenda is:

• Discussion and Consideration of the purchase of 16 Airpaks for the Atlantic Fire Department.
• An update from the Splash Pad Fundraising Committee.
• Consideration of/submitting a letter of support for, a Splash Pad CAT (Community Attraction and Tourism) Grant.
• Action on a Resolution “Allocating the Alliant Energy Gas Franchise Fee for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025.”
• Action on a Resolution “Authorizing bids for 2024 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation.”
• An Exempt Session for purposes of Collective Bargaining Strategy (as allowed in the Iowa Code).

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports a man was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $200,000 bond associated with an Adair County warrant for multiple, alleged, sexual abuse offenses. 45-year-old Joshua David Huddleson, of Orient, was arrested January 30th on warrants charging him with:

• 3 counts of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree
• 2 counts of Lascivious Acts with a Child by fondling or touching
• 1 count of Child Endangerment with Bodily Injury.
• 1 count of Indecent Contact with a Child.

On January 31st, 36-year-old Corry Donald Johnston, of Des Moines, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Failure to Appear on a Driving While Barred, charge. Johnston was released Feb. 2nd on a $2,000 cash-only bond. And, 32-year-old Bryan Dean Schultz, of Greenfield, was arrested Jan. 31st, on a Union County warrant for OWI/2nd offense. Schultz was turned over to Union County Deputies. His bond was set at $2,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce will host their Annual Dinner Friday, March 1st, 2024, at The Venue in Atlantic. Chamber Executive Director Bailey Smith says “The Annual Dinner is always a favorite for the Chamber. It’s a great opportunity for us to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, look forward to what we will accomplish and most of all, highlight all of our members and volunteers that have invested their time and money back into our organization and our community.” The Chamber will be recognizing businesses, organizations and individual leaders in the community. The 38th Annual Distinguished Service Award will also be given out at the dinner.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual, business or organization who has made the community a better place to live. They have rendered special services for the benefit of the community and have demonstrated an active leadership role for the betterment of the community through their involvement in business, civic and social service organizations.

Last year, the Distinguished Service Award was given to Melissa Ihnen for her dedication to Atlantic through her business, Meyer & Gross Real Estate, as well as her service to youth through her leadership in Boy Scouts the past 25 years. On top of the busy schedule those two commitments creates, she also serves on numerous community committees including Planning & Zoning, Board of Adjustment and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Board.

Smith encourages those who sent a nomination last year to do so again this year if their recipient didn’t win. “We received 12 incredible nominations last year and look forward to seeing what amazing individuals, businesses and organization are nominated this year.”

Nominations for the Distinguished Service Award are due by February 16th, 2024. You can nominate someone by submitting a nomination letter to the Chamber at 102 Chestnut Street, or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com. The Annual Dinner will begin at 6:00 PM with a social followed by dinner at 6:30 PM. You can register for the dinner at www.atlanticiowa.com.

(Cass County, Iowa) – In an update to our earlier reports, the Iowa State Patrol confirms one person died as the result of a head-on crash this (Monday) morning, in Cass County. The Patrol reports a 2007 GMC Sierra pickup driven by 43-year-old Vincent Samuel Trabona, of Amite, LA, was traveling west on Highway 6 (White Pole Road), at around 5:52-a.m., when for reasons unknown, the vehicle crossed the center line and struck a 2019 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 59-year-old Greg Scott Cohrs, of Griswold.

Following the crash, the GMC pickup came to rest in the north ditch, while the Chevy came to rest in the south ditch. Cohrs was wearing his seat belt, but died from his injuries at the scene.  Highway 6 was closed for a little more than three-hours, while the crash was under investigation.

The Patrol was assisted at the crash site by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic Police, Griswold Fire and Rescue, Lewis 1st Responders, and Cass EMS.