United Group Insurance

Sierra Club lawsuit challenges approval of Summit CO2 pipeline permit

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Sierra Club’s Iowa Chapter has filed a lawsuit that seeks to overturn state approval of a permit for the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline.

In late June the Iowa Utilities Commission issued a permit for construction of the initial route for the carbon pipeline, giving Summit eminent domain authority to seize property from landowners who have not voluntarily agreed to let the pipeline run through their property. The Sierra Club’s Jess Mazour said people who objected to the pipeline did not get a fair hearing before the Iowa Utilities Commission.

“Our evidence was not given the weight that it should have and there’s some serious due process violations,” Mazour said, “but we really have a strong case and we finally get to take our case to court and have an unbiased decision maker.” Wally Taylor, an attorney for the Sierra Club, said the commission incorrectly ruled Summit’s pipeline had a public benefit as a so-called common carrier that may be granted eminent domain authority.

“It’s like when Walmart has their own semis pick up products from various vendors, put in on the semi and take it to a Walmart store, once it gets in that Walmart truck, it’s Walmart’s property,” Taylor said. “That Walmart truck is not a common carrier.”

Jess Mazour has been the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter’s conservation program coordinator for the past four years.

Taylor said the lawsuit cites other “misstatements of fact and faulty legal conclusions.” Mazour said the commission’s decision was not unexpected after Governor Reynolds replaced the commission’s chairwoman and appointed another commission member in the spring of 2023. “From that minute on, the process was sped up,” Mazour said. “They moved deadlines sooner than what we had been told by the former board.”

The Sierra Club is arguing the Iowa Utilities Commission showed a pattern of favoritism to Summit and contempt for pipeline opponents during the public hearing about the project that stretched over 25 days last fall. “We were expected to go through security and we couldn’t bring in water to the hearing or food, but yet Summit could go in the back door and had their lunch catered in and had coffee,” Mazour said. “It’s just little things like that throughout the whole process that it’s very obvious this new board had their mind made up.”

Five Iowa counties, landowners who object to the pipeline and nearly 40 Republican legislators have filed separate appeals. Summit Carbon Solutions issued a statement earlier this week, saying the company is confident in the Iowa Utilities Commission’s thorough review process. Summit, ethanol producers and Iowa Corn Growers have argued the carbon pipeline will help grow markets for ethanol in the U.S. and abroad and benefit farmers.

After plans were pulled for a separate Navigator CO2 pipeline, Summit has begun the process of seeking another state permit to extend its pipeline to ethanol plants that initially signed on to join the proposed Navigator pipeline.

With the dry weather, some Iowa farmers are starting to bring in the crops

Ag/Outdoor, News

September 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Some Iowa farmers are already firing up their combines to start harvesting crops. Angie Rieck Hinz, a field agronomist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, says it’s a bit early, but “There are a few farmers who are taking out some corn and even some beans in a few places here in central Iowa.”

While Iowa came completely out of a four-year drought this spring with steady rains, it’s been much drier lately and about two-thirds of the state is now considered “abnormally dry” on the drought monitor map. Rieck Hinz says that can be an advantage at this time of year.

“The heat, coupled with those dry conditions, is going to push that maturity on those crops a little bit faster,” she says. “We still need to wait for crops to dry down in some cases, but it’s been relatively dry for the last month compared to how we started off the growing season.”

Combine harvesting corn. (ISU Extension photo)

There’s a very dry patch in north-central Iowa, from roughly the Webster City area to Iowa Falls, where Rieck Hinz says they’re more than three inches below average on rainfall for the past 40 days or so. “Dry weather is always great conditions for harvest,” she says. “We can get big machinery in and out of those fields. We don’t have to worry about soil compaction. We’re not fighting mud. Let’s hope it stays that way. So the weather can both hurt us and help us at the same time when we get to harvest.”

Forecasters say there’s a chance for some rain over the weekend in parts of the state, and again in the middle of next week.

Audubon County Sheriff’s report on arrests made June 1st thru Sept. 2nd

News

September 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday) issued a report on arrests conducted and citations issued, from June 1st through Sept. 2nd.  Most recently:
  • On Sept. 2nd: 25-year-old Guillermo Hernandez, of Harlan, was arrested on charges that include: Eluding; Driving While Suspended; Driving While Barred, and Possession of Stolen Property. The charges stem from a chase that began around the intersection of Highway 71 and Highway 44. Hernandez appeared before the magistrate and was held until he posted bond on September 9th.
  • On Sept. 1st: 32-year-old Christi Carpenter, was arrested on a Harassment 1st charge. The charge stems from an incident in the 300-400 block of W Washington in Exira on August 30th. Carpenter appeared before the magistrate and was held until she later posted bond;Christi Carpenter was also charged with Child Endangerment, Possession of Marijuana 1st, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Keeping a Premises for Controlled Substances. These charges stem from the unrelated arrested on September 3rd. She posted bond on all the charges and was released; 39-year-old Brentley Gross, of Exira, was summoned into court September 1st, on charges of Possession of Controlled Substance-marijuana 1st and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He appeared before the magistrate on a later date.
  • 40-yearold Rose Brabham, of Exira, was summoned into court on a Theft 3rd charge on August 13th, 2024. The charge stems from an incident in the 200 block of Kilworth on August 12th. She appeared before the magistrate on a later date. Audubon Sheriff
Other arrested or cited include:
  • 22-year-old Caelyn Bevins, of Omaha. She was cited June 1st, 2024, for charges of Possession of Controlled Substance- marijuana 1st and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She appeared before the magistrate on a later date. The charges stem from a traffic stop in the intersection of Highway 44 and Highway 71.
  • James Black, age 46 of Audubon, was summoned into court on June 2nd, 2024, on a charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The charge stems from a traffic stop around South Division and Highway 71. He appeared before the magistrate on a later date.
  • Jesse Brubaker, age 32 of Audubon, was arrested on June 5th, 2024, on a charge of Driving While Barred. He was released on his own recognizance and appeared before the magistrate on a later date. The charge stems from an investigation of a crash around Kingbird Ave and 200th St.
  • James Fulk, age 46 of Hamlin, was arrested on June 19th, 2024, on charges of Possession of Controlled Substance- 3rd or Subsequent and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He appeared before the magistrate and was held until he posted a $5,000 bond on June 25th. The charges stem from when Mr. Fulk was arrested on an unrelated warrant.
  • Teri Thompson, age 57 of Exira, was summoned into court on June 20th, 2024, on a charge of Bootlegging. She appeared before the magistrate on a later date.
  • Nicholas Swanson, age 44 of Kimballton, was arrested on June 21st, 2024, on a charge of Driving While License Denied or Revoked. The charge stems from an unrelated arrest warrant. He posted a cash bond and was released.
  • Thomas Strathman, age 53 of Brayton, was arrested on June 25th, 2024, on charges of Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct. He was released on his own recognizance and appeared before the magistrate on a later date. The charges stem from an incident on Highway 71 in Brayton.
  • Eduar Sabillon Yanes, age 33, of Audubon, was arrested on July 30th, 2024, on charges of Operating Under the Influence-1st, Driving on Wrong side of Two-way Highway, Open container and Failure to Yield Emergency Vehicle. He was released on his own recognizance and appeared before the magistrate on a later date. The charges stem from a traffic stop in the area of Chicago St. and Highway 71.
Note: Criminal Charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

ISU Campanile marks 125 years

News

September 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A fixture on the Iowa State University campus in Ames that started out as a memorial has become an enduring symbol of the school as it celebrates 125 years. Music professor Michael Golemo says the bells for I-S-U’s campanile were a gift from Edgar Stanton to remember his wife Margaret McDonald Stanton who died in 1895. “Edgar Stanton wanted to fund putting a small bell tower in that facility, but that but the facility that building wouldn’t sustain the tower, and so instead they they ended up building the freestanding Campanile tower,” he says. Edgar Stanton was part of I-S-U’s first graduating class and served in several roles at the school, including four stints as acting president over 50 years. Margaret Stanton was the first dean of women at the school and was there 25 years before she died.

Golemo says the bells have been upgraded through the years and the song the “Bells of Iowa State” added to their stature and importance.  “I like to think about the idea that faculty are maybe on campus for a couple of decades, and students a couple of years, and and we as administrators are are mere caretakers of this incredible institution. But the bells of Iowa State are forever, and generation after generation the bells chime and really ring out the sound and the soul of what it means to be an Iowa State Cyclone,” Golemo says. He is the director of bands at I-S-U ans says the position of the Campanile gives it a different sound.

“Most carillons are built in town squares, and so when they are played, they are so often played with the hustle and bustle of a of an urban community in their surroundings,” he says. I-S-U’s bell tower is right in the middle of campus in an open space that allows the sound of the bells to travel. “The fact that our Campanile is in the midst of this palatial lawn at the heart of Central Campus, it actually has even a greater musical and oral impact because of its really unique location,” Golemo says. The Campanile has also become the subject of some folklore. One story suggest a woman is not a true coed until she has been kissed under the Campanile (Campaniling) at the stroke of midnight.

“Whether it is the romance of Campaniling beneath the tower, or laying on the lawn and doing your homework or hammocking and resting between classes, or going out and playing Frisbee in the shadow of the Campanile. I think that that tower, and what it means is is always kind of at at the heart of of the the experience of of being here,” Golemo says. It is believed to be one of the most photographed places on campus.

The 125th celebration is this Sunday (Sept. 15) at 2 p-m north of the Campanile.

Iowa hosts Troy

Sports

September 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa looks to bounce back from a loss to Iowa State by hosting Troy. Under first year coach Gerad Parker the Trojans have a bunch of new players and are 0-2 after losses to Nevada and Memphis.

That’s Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz who says Troy is used to success after posting 11 wins last season.

Ferentz says Parker was forced to rebuild the roster.

Kick-off from Iowa City is at 3-p.m. Pre-game coverage on KJAN starts at 1-p.m., Saturday.

Northern Iowa visits Nebraska

Sports

September 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley says the Panthers face a much improved Nebraska team on Saturday night. Under second year coach Matt Rhule the Huskers are 2-0 and ranked 23rd in the AP Poll.

Farley says the Huskers have game breaking speed on offense.

Farley does not expect a letdown by Nebraska after an impressive win over Colorado.

UNI is averaging nearly 300 yards on the ground but Farley says the passing of Aidan Dunne needs to become more of a factor.

Kick-off in Lincoln, NE is at 6:30-p.m.

Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors visit Griswold Rehab & Health Care Center

News

September 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors were hosted by the staff of Griswold Rehabilitation & Health Care Center on Thursday, September 12th. The Ambassadors were on hand to welcome the facility as a new Chamber member and to welcome new staff.
Dan Hansen, Interim Director, introduced the staff of the Griswold Rehabilitation & Health Center to the Ambassadors and gave them the opportunity to share about their services and programs. Griswold Rehabilitation & Health Care Center offers one-bedroom apartments in the assisted living along with long-term care, respite care, and dementia care. The facility also offers many types of rehabilitation such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. The staff also lead many social and wellness activities such as bingo, Wii bowling, memory exercise, crafts, and pet therapy.

Pictured (Left to Right): Kelsey Beschorner, Dan Hansen, LeAnn McVay, Andrew Martin, Tammy, Jody Steffen, Kathie Hockenberry, Heather Kramer, Jeff Christensen, Tori Gibson, Bill Saluk, Dolly Bergmann, David Kalny, Anne Quist, Elain Otte, DeeDee Kalny, Kennedy Freund, Shawn Heisser, Alicia Martin, Dana Lensch.

The Griswold Rehabilitation & Health Center provides exceptional amenities, enriching programs, and high-quality care. The facilities top priority is to deliver meaningful experiences for the residents and create a fulfilling work environment for employees.
Griswold Rehabilitation & Health Care Center is located at 106 Harrison Street in Griswold. For more information about the Griswold Rehabilitation & Health Care Center call 712-778-2534

Sioux City Mental Health Counselor Arrested for Fraudulent Billing Insurance and Medicaid

News

September 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau and the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted a joint investigation regarding Sioux City Mental Health Counselor Amy Hecht.  It is alleged that Hecht provided false medical codes on patient’s bills to provide additional reimbursement to which she was not entitled.

Hecht has been charged with twelve counts of Fraudulent Submission (Class D Felony), one count of Theft 2nd (Class D Felony), Fraudulent Practice in the 3rd degree (Aggravated Misdemeanor), and tampering with records. Hecht was arrested on September 9, 2024 and was released on bond.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Cass County Sheriff’s report on arrests from Aug. 22nd through Sept. 10th, 2024

News

September 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday), released a report on arrests that took place between August 22nd and Sept. 10th. Beginning with the most recent arrests:

On September 10th: Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 39-year-old Jennifer Ponder, of Atlantic, on warrants for Burglary 3rd Degree and Interference with Official Acts, along with a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance and a later warrant of Violation of Probation.  Ponder was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held; And, 50-year-old Jeffery Etter, of Atlantic, was arrested on warrants for Burglary 3rd Degree, Driving while Barred and Felon in Control of a Firearm.  Etter was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On September 8th:  50-year-old Jeffery Etter, of Atlantic, was arrested on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Offense, Driving while Barred and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Etter was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On September 4th: Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 53-year-old Aaron Latus, of Massena, on the charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Latus was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond; And, 67-year-old Jeanette Latus, of Massena, was arrested on a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Latus was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.

On September 3rd, 18-year-old Miranda Jennings, of Atlantic, was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated/1st Offense.  Jennings was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

On September 2nd, 23-year-old K-Son Seker, of Atlantic, was arrested by Cass County Sheriff’s deputies for Public Intoxication.  Seker was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held until his later release after time served.

On August 26th, 44-year-old Crystal Branch, of Griswold, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault.  Branch was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release after time served.

And, on August 22nd, Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 53-year-old Lynn Frohlich, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Violation of Probation.  Frohlich was transported to the Cass Count Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release.

Michigan Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms Charge

News

September 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Michigan man was sentenced yesterday to five years (60 months) in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.

According to public court documents, Michael Anthony McBride, 30, was stopped for speeding by the Iowa State Patrol in Adair County on July 21, 2023. A search of McBride’s vehicle led to the discovery of user quantities of marijuana and cocaine, a digital scale, and two firearms: a loaded nine-millimeter pistol and a semi-automatic “ghost gun.” McBride admitted to purchasing the firearms for protection. The nine-millimeter pistol had been reported stolen from a residence in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan in June 2023. McBride had been convicted of a felony drug crime in Michigan and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.

After completing his term of imprisonment, McBride will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.