More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Michelle Andersen, Director of the Atlantic Public Library presented an Annual Report to the City Council, Wednesday evening. Andersen said statistics from FY 2017-18, dating to back before she took over as Director, until the present time, show there were over four-thousand active member accounts. She said also there were nearly 25,400 annual visits. They also have accounts specified as “Not Atlantic” patrons – meaning they serve Marne and Wiota, as well as “Open Access” members.

There were more than 63,000 physical items checked-out, which is about the same as usual. Use of the digital library has been up, though.  That includes everything you would expect to find at the library, but online: books, audio books, magazines, and about the same amount of use as their other digital resources. Andersen said there is a trend away from less public computer usage at the library, to more Wi-Fi connections on personal devices. She said also, they just closed the library-hosted “Picture Atlantic” digital photo contest as a further celebration of the City’s Sesquicentennial. There were over 100 pictures submitted. The winners will be announced Nov. 2^nd.

Financially speaking, Andersen said 86% of their revenues came from the City of Atlantic, with others coming from donations, State and County contracts. Last year, the County contributed a little more than $14,000, and this year is expected to be increased to $16,000. Expenses are primarily used for staff and circulation.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A Michigan man has been given 18 months in prison for ordering drugs online and having them shipped to a friend in Iowa, who then died of an overdose. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that 29-year-old Jay Rickert had pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids to willfully causing the distribution of a controlled substance. Rickert, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, admitted he had ordered a hallucinogenic drug in February 2015 from a supplier in Canada and had it shipped to the friend in Dubuque. Investigators say the woman used the drug, believing it was a hallucinogenic, but the supplier had shipped fentanyl, a powerful and deadly synthetic opioid.

Rickert’s sentence includes three years of supervised release after prison and an order to pay restitution of more than $13,000.

The Creston Police Department reports three people were arrested early this (Thursday) morning. Just before 6-a.m., 35-year old Heather Davis, 29-year old Steven Behlers, and 32-year old Shaune Tindle, were all  arrested in an apartment at 209 E. Mills Street, in Creston. All three were charged with Trespass. Davis was also wanted on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear in Court on a Child Support matter. She was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $1,300 bond. Behlers and Tindle were being held in the Union County Jail on a $300 bond, each.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Atlantic City Council met Wednesday evening and approved an Order to enter into an agreement with SWIPCO (the Southwest Iowa Planning Council), for Regional Taxi Service. The City contributes $8,000 per year from the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) Progress fund for regional public transportation. City Administrator John Lund says the funds have been budgeted for in Fiscal Year 2019, and carried forward into the FY 2020 proposed budget, as well as the city’s 10-year budget plan.

The Council also set November 7^th as the date for a Public Hearing on an updated Comprehensive City Plan. The Comprehensive Plan – which has been updated by SWIPCO – is intended to be a guiding document for the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council, when it comes to major decisions on public policy, according to Lund, who says Atlantic’s last Comprehensive Plan was adopted in Dec., 2002. And, while the general practice is for the Comprehensive Plan to be updated every 10-years, but Lund says “Administrative conflicts related to the interpretation of the plan and how it was to be applied to development in the community, resulted in an extensive delay before the updating process was initiated.” The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed the draft during their meeting on Sept. 20th, and made some suggestions for improvement. They recommend the Council adopt the plan as written, following the required Public Hearing on Nov. 7th.

In his report to the Council, Administrator Lund said he’s wrapped-up everything needed for a 28-E Fire Services agreement with the Atlantic Fire Department and other townships and/or communities they’ve been working with. The agreement, when finalized, will establish special taxing districts for Washington and Bear Grove Townships, and will help to pay for the purchase of a new Atlantic FD Pumper truck the department needs.

Lund said the City’s Department Heads met Tuesday to conduct the annual budget reviews, which he says is “Kind of the official kick-off to the budget season.” He also spoke with City Attorney Mark Bosworth with regard to rental property inspections, which Bosworth will research more, and a committee will follow-up on next month. The inspections, according to Councilman Chris Jimerson, would be conducted on a complaint basis if the plans move forward. Bosworth said he wants to take a closer look at the legal angle of the inspections before anything is written in stone. He wants to know whether other cities have seen the inspections used as retribution between the renters and landlords, rather than legitimate complaints. Jimerson said the committee has discussed what the course of action might be if a complaint by a renter turns out to be unfounded when an inspection is conducted.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council held the second reading of an Ordinance pertaining to speed regulations on Sunnyside Lane, from 10th to 22nd Streets, and the second reading of an Ordinance pertaining to trees in the City Right-of-Way, and the authority of the City Forester. They also approve a Resolution adopting the Building Permit Fee schedule. And, a Resolution pertaining to the City’s Personnel Policy.

ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) — A former police detective accused of taking prescription pills seized during criminal investigations has pleaded not guilty. Polk County court records say the plea was entered Wednesday for 39-year-old Joshua Copeland. He is charged with two counts of felonious misconduct in office, two counts of forgery and one count of possession of a controlled substance.

Copeland resigned in April from the Altoona police force to avoid termination. Authorities say Copeland switched pills seized during criminal investigations in 2017 and replaced them with over-the-counter medications. The pills were kept in temporary evidence lockers.

Authorities also say a small amount of methamphetamine was found in his squad car. The records say Copeland later tested positive for meth.

Police in Red Oak say an assault between two 14-year old males took place at around 5-p.m. Wednesday. The incident happened in the 1100 block of N. 3rd Street. Authorities say one of the 14-year old’s suffered minor injuries to his throat and face during the incident, but did not require medical transport. The other 14-year old was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and referred to Juvenile Court on a charge of Simple Assault. He was subsequently released to a Guardian, while awaiting his initial appearance in juvenile court.

(Radio Iowa) — The medical marijuana company that’s making the first ever products produced solely in the state gave a preview today of what they are going to offer when sales start December 1st. MedPharm Iowa’s Lucas Nelson has been overseeing the project since the state award the company the first medical marijuana license. “This is obviously a major, major day for both MedPharm and I think really for the patients across Iowa, the legislature, the entire community that has seen this program signed into law and now really starting to become a reality,” Nelson says.

Med-pot-capsules

Nelson spoke in the facility where the company grows the marijuana, extracts the cannabis oil (CDB), and manufactures and packages the products. “We do some of our own internal testing here and then those products that you’ll see today are also sent out to the State Hygienic Lab of Iowa. So, that’s the third part of the testing that will be verifying what’s in the products that they will be safe from heavy metals and some other things that they have decided to test for,” Nelson says. “Certainly a very important aspect of this program and something that differentiates our products from some of the others out there that may be sold over the counter.”

Med-pot-cream

MedPharm will operate two of the dispensaries in Sioux City and Council Bluffs. Stephen Wilson oversees the dispensary program and says they will have three products branded with the Aliviar name — a tincture liquid, capsules and creams. They each will have different mixes of C-B-D and T-H-C. “T-H-C and C-B-D work synergistically which each other — given that they kind of kick start each other to work that much better,” according to Wilson. “One by itself is not going work as well as when you get…both of them in there.”

The products will feature four formulations called Calm, with a 20 to one C-D-B to T-H-C mix; Soothe with a two to one C-D-B to T-H-C mix; Harmony with a one to one mix and Comfort with a one-to-20 C-B-D to T-H-C mix. “These are the four formulations we have now. We totally expect to have more as the program develops and as we are able to operate,” Wilson says. “And this is why you see the sliding scale here. A two-to-one versus a three-to-one is going to have vastly different affects, which is why we like to keep things on a sliding scale. But for now these are the four formulations you are gong to see and we have several different products within these formulations.”

Wilson says everyone’s body reacts differently and benefits differently from the various products and that’s why they have several options. “Each product has its strengths and drawbacks and that’s why we encourage patients to try several different products in order to find the right one that’s going to relieve any symptoms that they are suffering from,” Wilson says.

Wilson says they will ask patients to keep notes as they use the products so they can adjust the type and dosage of the products. “Someone starting out with five milligrams say using a tincture — we’ll say okay why don’t you try ten milligrams this time and see how you feel. Take notes about that, come back to us and we can play with the dosing that way,” according to Wilson. “That’s what’s nice about of a lot of the products that we have. It really allows us to play with them and see which product works best, which specific dose is going to work best for that individual.”

Those who want to use the medical marijuana products must get certification from their doctor that they have one of the conditions that allows them to buy the products. Wilson says the decisions on dosing will be done by the staff at the dispensaries in consultation with the patients. “Once the physician certifies that they have that condition it’s going to be really up to the patient consultants to determine that treatment plan,” Wilson explains. “That’s why we are going to make sure that our patient consultants at Medpharm are very well versed in all of this. We want them to take out as much of the trial and error as possible.”

They have had concerns from some patients who have been having trouble finding a doctor to certify their condition.Wilson says this is an issue that has raised the most concern and confusion among doctors. “Doctors are never prescribing this — all they are doing is certifying that the patient has this qualifying condition. And I think that is why a lot of doctors get hung up,” Wilson says.

Wilson also gave an expected price range for the four products. The tinctures are expected to range from 50 to 150 dollars; the capsules from 30 to 130 dollars; the creams 65 to 85 dollars. They will also offer a trial pack of capsules that will range from ten to 25 dollars.

(Radio Iowa) — Republican Governor Kim Reynolds and Democratic challenger Fred Hubbell met for an often combative debate in Sioux City last (Wednesday) night. The hour-long forum featured strict time limits for the candidates’ answers to moderator’s questions, but about halfway through the two veered off topic in this sharp exchange. “You know, Fred, he promises everybody everything. I’m not sure how he’s going to fund it. We have a limited budget. We have to live within our means and just telling everybody that asks that you’re going to give them more money isn’t the answer,” Reynolds said. Hubbell replied: “I’m promising to stop throwing money out the window with those wasteful corporate tax give-aways every year. That’s over $100 million that the governor is just throwing out the window and getting very little value back. That’s a lot of money that we could use.”

Hubbell, a Des Moines businessman, is seeking elected office for the first time. “I want to be much more fiscally responsible and go through every line item in that budget,” Hubbell said. “We shouldn’t raise taxes until we can prove to the taxpayer we’re spending their money wisely.”

Reynolds has been governor for the past 16 months and is seeking election to a full, four-year term. “Our budget is balanced and we have $127 million surplus,” she said. “Our cash reserves are full.” Hubbell suggested businesses are looking for a more stability in the state budget. “We’ve had a budget that’s like a yoyo,” Hubbell said. “A few years ago, the governor had a $900 million surplus…She borrowed $195 million from the reserve funds. She’s had two years in a row of massive budget cuts in the middle of the year and now she’s got a surplus she cannot explain.”

Reynolds stressed the status of the Iowa economy. “Unemployment is at 2.5 percent, Fred. We’re seeing our economy grow and we’re seeing wages increase,” Reynolds said. “The last three quarters we’ve seen wage growth.” Reynolds then criticized Hubbell for allowing businesses he’s been associated with accept state tax credits. “The hypocrisy that’s coming from Fred Hubbell is ridiculous,” she said. “He has been taking advantage of these tax credits for four decades…and when he wasn’t taking advantage of them, he was handing them out, taxpayer dollars, to companies that he was personally invested in and he didn’t recuse himself.”

That’s a reference to Hubbell’s service on the Iowa Power Fund board that gave Pioneer DuPont a grant for an ethanol plant. “I followed all the rules of state disclosure. I followed all the rules of our state ethics committee, properly disclosed, and I did everything according to the rules,” he said, “just like the governor claims she did when she took all those airplane flights from companies she gave money to and people who contributed to her campaign.”

That’s a reference to Reynolds accepting rides on private planes owned by campaign contributors and a state contractor. The debate was sponsored and broadcast by K-T-I-V in Sioux City, K-W-W-L in Mason City and K-T-T-C in Rochester, Minnesota. The two candidates are scheduled to debate a third and final time on live T-V this Sunday morning, starting at 8 a.m.

Debate extras: The candidates each accused the other of “extreme” views on abortion. Reynolds started the exchange. “I am proud to be pro-life. I have said I will never stop fighting for the unborn,” Reynolds said. “…What Iowans don’t agree with is Fred’s position where taxpayer dollars go to pay late-term abortions, abortion-on-demand and partial-birth abortions.”

Hubbell responded.”I am an unabashed supporter of Roe v Wade and I have been for a long time,” Hubbell said. “But at the same time I don’t support those other procedures the governor’s talking about and she knows that. She’s just willing to say almost anything to try to get elected, even though they’re misleading statements.”
In response to a moderator’s question, the two quarreled about allegations of a toxic work culture in state government. “It was going on, as we know now, while the governor was a state senator,” Hubbell said. “It’s been going on the whole time she’s been lieutenant governor and governor…and it hasn’t gotten any better.” Reynolds shot back, citing her immediate firing of a state official accused of sexually harassing employees. Reynolds then faulted Hubbell for failing to get Democratic state Senator Nate Boulton to resign after women accused Boulton of inappropriate sexual conduct.

“I’m not going to be lectured by a guy about sexual harassment,” the governor said. “I didn’t see you doing anything….Boulton is still serving as a state senator. Lack of action.”