(Glenwood, Iowa) – Mills County Sheriff Josh England reports three recent arrests. Two men were arrested on separate charges, Wednesday: 35-year-old Aaron Wade Opdyke, of Malvern, was arrested at around 12:40-a.m., for Driving Under Suspension. Bond was set at $300; And, 34-year-old Dustin Allen Hanshaw, of Clarinda, was arrested at around 10-p.m., for Theft in the 2nd Degree. His bond was set at $5,000.

On Thursday, Mills County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 49-year-old Dustin Clark Anglen, of Malvern, for OWI/2nd offense. Bond was set at $2,000.

(Radio Iowa) – News about the fatal shooting at the Perry High School Thursday, spread quickly. Students in or just arriving at, the school, messaged their parents when they learned what happened. Kevin Shelley tells K-G-R-A radio he was at his job, working on a garbage truck, when he got a text from his son Zander, a sophomore at Perry High, saying he’d heard shots and was hiding — and hurt.

Shelley said his son was only grazed by a bullet and he was headed to the hospital. School staff were preparing for the first day back from the Winter break, when their routine was shattered by a fire alarm. Lori Meinecke is a teacher at Perry High. She tells K-G-R-A radio she was in the school early on Thursday.

Meinecke says she followed proper procedures, getting herself and others out and away from danger as quickly as possible.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — A presentation was held for a long-range rail transportation plan for the Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council (SIMPCO). The Siouxland Regional Transportation Planning Association revealed plans for its 2050 long-range transportation plan. SIMPCO said the plan is a tool for developing safe and efficient transportation improvements in the region for the next 25 years.

Part of the plan includes the possibility of adding a passenger rail that would connect Sioux City to other hubs. The Siouxland Regional Transportation Planning Association said they are planning to get approval for the plan by November of this year.

The federal government has sponsored a study to see parts of the country would benefit from an Amtrak rail. That study will be submitted to Congress later this year.

GAZA, Iowa (KCAU) — There’s officially a candidate going up against incumbent 4^th District Representative Randy Feenstra in the Republican Party, for his seat in Congress. Kevin Virgil held a campaign launch meet-and-greet Thursday at the Producers Coop in Gaza, Iowa.

Virgil told KCAU-TV he thinks a true conservative should run and serve the district, when taking into account much of the community’s political preferences. He said based on Feenstra’s voting record over the last two terms, it’s apparent Feenstra isn’t what the area needs. He said they want an alternative, and he’s a better choice to represent the constituents.

Ryan Melton is the only Democrat vying for the state’s 4th congressional district in the U.S. house of representatives.

(Blair, NE) – The case of a 43-year-old Sioux City, Iowa man accused of killing a Nebraska priest will go to trial next month. Kierre Williams, who is charged with first-degree murder, was bound over to district court during an appearance in Washington County, NE, court Wednesday.

Williams is also accused of using a deadly weapon to commit a felony, burglary, and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person in the killing of Rev. Stephen Gutgsell. Gutgsell was killed during a break-in at the rectory of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in December. Deputies received a 911 call from Gutgsell, who, according to court documents, said there was a man armed with a knife in his kitchen. Within minutes, deputies arrived and found Williams inside the church rectory, along with the priest. Court documents say the responding deputy found Gutgsell near the kitchen in the rectory. He appeared to had a severe laceration and was bleeding profusely. Father Gutgsell was taken to Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, where he died.

Williams is scheduled to appear in court next on Feb. 6. He remains held in the Washington, County, NE, jail.

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowans are itching to forget about winter and instead think ahead to springtime and planning out their gardens. The Iowa State University Extension is offering a series of free home gardening webinars starting next week. Alicia Herzog, I-S-U’s Master Gardener Program coordinator, says the course is designed to educate and inspire. “We have ten of these webinar sessions. They’re about an hour each,” Herzog says. “We planned for them to go from 6 to 7 PM Central Time. If they wanted to go through the whole series, it would start January 9th and it goes through March 12th, so ten weeks, every single Tuesday from 6 to 7 PM.” People can sign up for the webinars as late as the day of the event, and they can take any one — or all — of the online classes.

“This is just an educational webinar series that we offer as continuing education for our master gardeners,” Herzog says, “and also just as a free resource to the public, to anyone who’s interested in gardening and wanting to become a better gardener this year.” Attendees can register to join through Zoom or Facebook Live. The ten courses will offer a wide range of gardening topics, with the January classes focused primarily on edibles.

“We’ll talk about tomatoes and dealing with disorders and diseases of those, grape pruning and canopy management, which is one that has been requested many times,” Herzog says. “Also a common one for any gardener is identifying and managing fruit and vegetable insect pests in your garden, and then seed saving for the home gardener.” Other topics will include soil health, cover crops, climate extremes and composting, as well as tips on designing your home garden. The first of the ten classes will be held next Tuesday night.

Register here: https://go.iastate.edu/UOOQEJ

(Radio Iowa) – Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was scheduled to have a campaign event in Perry about an hour after today’s shooting at Perry’s high school, so Ramaswamy said he prayed with the people who showed up and opened up a conversation about what happened.

“There were a lot of emotions expressed, a lot of tears had in that room,” Ramaswamy said. “…My heart goes out to the families. I can’t imagine the parents who have to suffer what they did, their kids being in a high school as something like that happened.”

During a campaign stop in Mason City later in the day, Ramaswamy said every school in the country should have three armed guards. “I’ve been saying that since day one of this campaign: for less than a quarter of the Department of Education’s budget we could actually dissolve the Department of Education and for 20% of that, put three armed security guards (in every school),” Ramaswamy said. “We have to get serious about protecting our children.”

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy campaigning in Mason City.. (KLSS Radio photo)

During an interview with the Des Moines Register and NBC News, Ron DeSantis said gun violence should be addressed at the state and local level and there should be no new federal restrictions on firearms. Nikki Haley was campaigning in New Hampshire and posted a statement on social media, saying “no parent, student or teacher should have to wake up and face news about a school shooting.”

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, gravely injured during a shooting 17 years ago and founder of the national anti-gun violence group GIFFORDS, issued a written statement early this afternoon.

“Students shouldn’t have to worry about being shot at school. We know that stronger laws prevent gun violence, yet Iowa has some of the weakest in the country,” Giffords said. “My heart goes out to the Perry community, we stand with you and won’t stop fighting to keep our kids safe.”

Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart, in a written statement, called what happened today in Perry “a nightmare” that is happening all too often in the U.S.

“The Perry community deserves better,” Hart said. “Iowa deserves better.”

State Auditor Rob Sand, the only Democrat elected to statewide office in Iowa, said he was “sickened by today’s horrors.

“…Every Iowan can offer thoughts and prayers for the Perry community, but elected officials with the power to reduce senseless violence must do more.”

DES MOINES, Iowa – Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff immediately on Thursday, January 4, and remain at half-staff until sunset on Sunday, January 7, 2024, in support of students, families, teachers and staff at Perry High School and the Perry community.

“Our hearts are heavy today, and our prayers are with everyone in the Perry community,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds. “This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to its core. I want this community to know that every Iowan stands with you.”

Flags will be flown at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be at half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

(Radio Iowa) – Authorities say a 6th grader was shot to death and five other people were wounded during a shooting this (Thursday) morning in Perry High School — and the 17-year-old suspect, who was a student at the school, died of a self-inflicted gunshot. Four students and a school administrator are hospitalized. One of them is in critical condition, but is expected to survive. During a news conference this (Thursday) afternoon, Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn was emotional as he praised teachers, staff and students for acting bravely and heroically during a tragic situation.

Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, says the suspect has been  identified as Dillon Butler and he was armed with two weapons — a pump action shotgun and small caliber handgun.

Mortvedt says all evidence t this time suggests the 17-year-old acted alone.

Mortvedt said he had not seen a TikTok video allegedly recorded this (Thursday) morning by Brooks that has been reposted on social media platforms. A reporter at the news conference asked Mortvedt if investigators have determined a motive for the shooting.

Governor Kim Reynolds opened this (Thursday) afternoon’s news conference with a message to the Perry community.

Reynolds has ordered all flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Sunday in support of the students, families, teachers and staff of Perry schools and the Perry community.

(Corning, Iowa) – Adams County Auditor Rebecca Bissell will serve as the Iowa State Association of County Auditors this year. ISACA membership is made up of County Auditors and their staff from all 99 counties in Iowa. The full membership meets at least three times a year and there are also six ISACA districts within the state that meet regularly. The organization focuses on the key areas which Iowa auditors are responsible for including budgets and audits, elections, real estate and valuations and taxes.

Ms. Bissell began her time with ISACA District 4, serving as President of the district for three years and then transitioned to the ISACA Board where she has served as Secretary, Treasurer, and last year, Vice-President. She received the gavel of President at the ISACA Business meeting in August 2023 and will serve for calendar year 2024.

Rebecca Bissell

ISACA’ s goals are to maintain a permanent organization to promote cooperation among Iowa counties which in turn will help to identify common problems and assist in developing solutions to promote standardization of practices to increase efficiency and reduce costs in offices across the state. The organization provides a platform for continuing education and networking of ideas and assists in identifying and seeking legislation necessary to provide sound local services. ISACA advises and shares information with the Iowa General Assembly on matters important to members as well.

“I am honored to serve this year as the ISACA President. I have seen the great work that ISACA has done in improving practices of Auditors’ offices across the state and I am proud and excited to carry that tradition moving forward,” stated Bissell.