The state of Iowa is expanding a water quality program to clean up a northwest Iowa river, one of the state’s most polluted waterways. The Deep Creek Water Quality Initiative Project was launched in 2014 with a focus on adding cover crops along the Floyd River and tributaries in four counties — Plymouth, Sioux, O’Brien and Cherokee. Ben Brady, a conservationist with the U-S-D-A’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, helps oversee the project.

Brady says a high number of livestock confinements in the region contributed to the Floyd River’s high pollution rates, but he says the water quality initiative is working.

Iowa’s secretary of agriculture recently announced a new grant for a larger area. Almost 700-thousand dollars is available for farmers to add buffers and bioreactors to help filter water from fields.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s elected officials are responding to the shooting in Perry. Governor Reynolds posted a statement on social media, calling the shooting a senseless tragedy. Senator Grassley said the appalling violence at Perry High School is heartbreaking. Senator Ernst said she’s praying for the safety and recovery of those involved.

State Representative Carter Nordman, a Republican from Adel who represents Perry in the Iowa legislature, said he’s devastated by the news and thankful for the first responders who are handling the situation.

Congressman Zach Nunn, a Republican from Bondurant who represents Perry in the U-S House, said he is beyond angry and — in his words — “we have a duty to protect our children, families and educators.”

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was in Perry for an event right before this morning’s shooting. Ramaswamy posted on social media that someone at the event remarked that it was just a matter of time before something like this happened in Iowa — and Ramaswamy said there’s a psychological sickness at the core of our country right now. The top two Democrats in the Iowa legislature spoke at a statehouse forum after first reports of the shooting where made. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said it was too soon to talk about any policy response to what happened in Perry.

The Iowa State Education Association’s president and vice president issued a joint statement, saying words cannot express the sorrow they feel for the victims and the pain that everyone in Perry feels.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon County Board of Supervisors has reorganized its leadership for 2024. During the Board’s meeting Tuesday, the Supervisors nominated and approved Heath Hansen as Chairman for 2024. Doug Sorensen, who has chaired the board for the past two years, takes over as Vice-chairman. The board also appointed Chase Petersen and Abby Rasmussen to the Board of Health, and Susan Osvald to the Planning and Zoning Committee.

In other business, the Supervisors set mileage reimbursement rates as 67-cents per mile for the Sheriff and 58 cents per mile for all county employees conducting Audubon County business. The Board established the Audubon Advocate as the County’s official newspaper for legal notices, and appointed Heath Hansen as Safety Director.

The board voted to leave their meeting dates and times unchanged. They will continue to meet on Tuesdays in the Courthouse Board Room, beginning at 9-a.m.

Atlantic, IA — Officials with Cass Health, in Atlantic, have announced the arrival of the first baby of 2024. Scarlett Jean was born on January 1, 2024 to parents Chelsea and Eli Williams, of Atlantic. Surprising her parents by coming four weeks early, Scarlett now shares her birthday with older brother Silas who was born on January 1, 2022.

Chelsea and Eli Williams & daughter Scarlett Jean. (CCHS photo)

The Cass Health obstetrics team presented the family with a 2024 embroidered baby blanket and a year’s supply of diapers.

(Perry, Iowa) (updates with audio from Radio Iowa) – Officials with the Perry Community School District confirm the first day of classes after the Winter break were cancelled today (Wednesday), following a shooting incident. A large law enforcement presence was seen at the school, along with numerous ambulances and at least two medical transport helicopters. Radio Iowa reports Raccoon Valley Radio interviewed Perry High School Teacher Lori Meinecke, who said she heard about six to seven gunshots followed by the voices of several school coaches encouraging everyone to evacuate the area.

The Dallas County Sheriff says they’ve identified the person who fired several shots inside Perry High School about 15 minutes before school was to start this morning. The individual reportedly died from a self-inflicted gun shot wound. Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante spoke with reporters at the scene shortly after 10 o’clock. He said there are multiple victims.

One of the victims is reportedly a school administrator. The sheriff says an officer was at the scene within seven minutes after the emergency call that there was an active shooter in the school.  Sheriff Infante said also, that there were very few students and staff in the building at the time of the incident. One of the hospitals in Des Moines has confirmed its medical helicopter and ambulances were dispatched to Perry. The LifeServe Blood Center announced it was “actively sending blood and blood products to Des Moines area hospitals in response to the shooting.”

Perry is a Dallas County town with a population of about 8,000, located nearly 40 miles northwest of Des Moines. The school district has about 1,800 total students, with about 575 in grades 9-12.

(Radio Iowa) – The leader of Iowa’s largest food bank is urging Iowa lawmakers to provide state funding for the six major food banks in Iowa. Michelle Book is president and C-E-O of the Food Bank of Iowa, which distributes food in 55 counties.  “Many states provide line item budget funding to Feeding America food banks,” Book says. “…Today we’re funded by private donors, but going forward we would like to embrace a public-private partnership to ensure that we are able to feed all hardworking Iowans and Iowans that have retired or live on disability.” Book made a direct appeal to Governor Kim Reynolds during an online forum yesterday (Wednesday). Book also made an indirect reference to the governor’s decision to turn down federal funding for summer food assistance to low income households with children.

“As federal poverty benefits become more difficult for Iowans to access, I would like to encourage you to consider providing funds to help Feeding America Food Banks procure food for the over 1200 pantries and feeding sites which we support across all 99 Iowa counties,” Book said. Reynolds responded briefly, but did not commit to the idea of a public-private partnership with Iowa’s six Food Banks. “I appreciate you and what you do on behalf of those in need, so thanks a lot,” Reynolds says. “And I appreciate your recommendation.” Reynolds recently notified federal officials Iowa would no longer participate in a program that provides 40 dollars a month for each child in a low income family, to help pay for food while school is out for the summer.

In a written statement released December 23rd, Reynolds said COVID-era cash benefit programs are not sustainable and this program did nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic.

DES MOINES, Iowa [WHO-TV] – After holiday gatherings with family and friends, many Iowans are dealing with the lingering effects of illnesses likely spread at those get-togethers.
Metro doctors are seeing more patients for flu, COVID, and RSV. WHO-TV says the latest report from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services last month found COVID activity is “very high” in the state. Flu activity is considered moderate.

The spread of the illnesses has led to an increase in hospitalizations as well. According to the CDC, hospitalizations in Iowa because of the flu climbed 37% during the week ending December 29th. The CDC will release an updated report on Friday.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold a special session Friday, to receive departmental funding requests for Fiscal Year 2025. The meeting begins at 9-a.m. in the Supervisor’s Board Room at the Courthouse, in Greenfield.

Their agenda is as follows:

9:00 a.m. Melissa Notion, DHS – FY25 Funding Request

Minutes

Claims

Jotham Arber, Environmental Health – FY25 Funding Request

Leesa Lester, Southern Iowa Trolley – FY25 Funding Request

Lillian Nichols, Library Association – FY25 Funding Request

Stephanie Claussen, Public Health – FY25 Funding Request

Brenda Meisenheimer, Fair Board – FY25 Funding Request

Connie Scarlett & George Feazell, Historical Society – FY25 Funding Request

The meeting is available in-person or via the telephone at (605)-313-6157. When prompted, use access code 526272#.

SAYDEL, Iowa (WHO-TV & KJAN) — Battling issues ranging from sagging student attendance to an inability to hire and retain teachers, the Saydel School District is considering a move to a four-day school week for 2024-2025. WHO-TV in Des Moines reports the district has been speaking openly on the subject for two years but talks accelerated in late 2023. Following a district-wide survey last month, district officials held an open forum with parents Wednesday night (Jan 3, 2024).

The session began with an explanation of why Saydel is considering a four-day week. It’s been losing teachers and having trouble replacing them. It’s also been losing students and thus also the state money that comes with them. That means simply raising salaries is not an option in Saydel. The district explained this to parents, then broke up into small groups to have a conversation and answer questions.

The district will then send out another survey to parents to ask whether they approve or disapprove of the plan. Superintendent Todd Martin says while this is a popular solution right now in Iowa (it’s used in five districts so far), it’s no gimmick.

Teacher Molly Fritz said the subject has been the talk of the district all year. Some 92% of teachers surveyed in the district said they approved of the idea. Students would be off either Monday or Friday, and then an extra 30 minutes would be added to the four remaining school days. That would meet the state requirements for class time. It would also shorten the school year for students by 15 days and for teachers by 20. The proposal could be sent to the Saydel School Board by the middle of next month with an ultimate decision soon to follow.

Last September, the Griswold School Board discussed the possibility of a four-day school week and future calendar considerations, but after a survey of District staff was conducted and returned for input, the Board voted 5-to-1 not to pursue the matter at that point in time.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports four arrests took place Wednesday (Jan. 4):

Early Wednesday afternoon, Officers arrested 32-year-old Dalton James Cormeny, of Creston. He was taken into custody on three Union County warrants for: Failure to appear an original charge of theft in the 1st degree; criminal mischief in the 2nd degree; and Burglary 3rd Degree; Failure to appear original charge of child endangerment with bodily-injury, and, Domestic abuse assault/ 2nd offense. Failure to appear original charge domestic abuse assault impeding flow air/blood. Cormeny was being held in the Union County Jail on a $35,000 cash-only bond.

A little after 4-p.m., Wednesday, 36-year-old Danny Alan Fry, of Creston, was arrested at his residence. Fry was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was taken to Union County Jail and later released on a $300 cash or approved surety bond.

Late Wednesday night, Creston Police arrested 44-year-old Ryan Wayne Feldhacker, of Creston, for Violation of Probation, Burglary in the 1st Degree and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. Feldhacker was taken to Union County Jail, where he was being held without bond until seen by Judge on the Violation of Probation charge, and a $30,000 cash or approved surety for the additional charges. At the same location of Feldhacker’s arrest, and at nearly the same time, Creston Police arrested 40-year-old Alicia Ellen Lovell, of Creston. She faces the same charges, with the exception of probation violation. Lovell was taken to Adams County Jail, where her bond was set at $30,000 cash or approved surety.