(Radio Iowa) — A spokesman for the company that won approval to be the first to produce medical marijuana products for sale in the state says their biggest obstacle so far has been getting the medical community to talk with them. Medpharm Iowa spokesman, Lucas Nelson, says they are currently holding informational meetings around the state for patients and others. “Unfortunately, too many physicians, nurses — and really the medical community at large — too many of them have been unwilling to meet with us or really anyone tied with this industry. Unwilling to talk about it and learn more about it,” Nelson says.

Iowans who want to use medical marijuana need a referral from a physician to obtain a card from the state health department to allow them to buy the products. He says he’s gotten a lot of emails from people who say their doctor won’t even consider it as an option. “Obviously that ultimately hurts the patients who can’t find doctors to certify their condition,” he says. Nelson says they want to work with doctors and patients. “We have said in all of our outreach to the big systems and the small clinics and pretty much everyone inbetween, medical organizations, everyone you can imagine throughout the state. What we have said is, look we are not here to tell you that this will work for every single patient — or even most patients necessarily. That’s up to you as the medical providers to decide with your patient,” according to Nelson.

Medpharm is a subsidiary of Kemin Industries, which is based in Des Moines and makes a variety of products for human and animal food. Nelson is a lawyer for the company and says they have been trying to answer any questions they get about the medical marijuana program. “We do think it is important that you understand what the program is, how it works, what your role is as a physician. Understanding where your liability is and isn’t,” Nelson says. “We’ve heard from a couple of medical community members that this illegal for them to do and there is no protection. That isn’t true, it’s built right into the code. Making sure that the medical community is aware of that.”

He says they are also trying to answer any questions that the general public has about the issue. “One of the things we’ve noticed is that not enough people across the state are really aware of this program and have the education about it that we think needed to be out there,” Nelson says. Nelson says another part of the forums is listening. “Giving people a chance to voice concerns, ask questions, hear comments, things they are worried about. Actually we’ve had some great questions presented. We’ve been able to work with the Department of Public Health on how we’ve actually answered those,” Nelson says.

The company can begin selling products on December 1st and he says they want to be sure everyone finds out the things they need to know before the doors open. But, he says they still are hoping to get better help from doctors. “Even if we had a million people in this state that knew about it and were eligible and ready to sign up — if they can’t find a doctor to certify them — then there’s really nothing they can do,” Nelson explains. MedPharm Iowa built a production facility in Des Moines and also owns dispensaries in Sioux City and Windsor Heights. There will be other dispensaries in Council Bluffs, Waterloo and Davenport.

(Radio Iowa) — Food insecurity is a daily struggle for thousands of Iowans, including children, families and senior citizens. Donations of canned goods often drop off during September, which is Hunger Action Month. Angie Grote, spokeswoman for the Food Bank for the Heartland, is urging Iowans to promote hunger awareness by getting involved. “You can come volunteer as a group or as an individual,” Grote says. “You can organize a food drive with your neighborhood or your office. You can make a financial donation. Ten dollars will provide enough food for 30 meals.”

The Omaha-based food bank is part of the Feeding America Network and helps to stock shelves across Iowa and Nebraska. “We source food from different partners and we have a network of partners in the community,” she says, “organizations like food pantries, emergency shelters, schools and we distribute food to these organizations.”
She notes, hunger isn’t just a metro area problem. “In rural communities, they may not have as many pantries or as many resources,” Grote says, “so their struggles are a little different than urban or suburban communities.”

It’s estimated 209-thousand people served by the Food Bank for the Heartland are food insecure and 80-thousand of them are children. The agency distributes food to 535 non-profit groups, including schools, homeless shelters and food pantries in 93 counties across Nebraska and Iowa.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig recognized thirteen students from Iowa at the State Fair for providing the artwork that appears in the “From the Farm to You” calendar.  Included among those who received recognition, was Treynor 5th grade student Monica Osborn, whose work was featured for the month of October. The calendar was distributed to fairgoers by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. (You can see an electronic version of the calendar here: https://www.iowaagriculture.gov/press/pdfs/2018/From%20the%20Farm%20to%20You%202018-2019%20Calendar.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery )

Monica Osborn receives her certificate of recognition from IA AG Sec. Mike Naig.

Naig said “The ‘From the Farm to You’ calendar emphasizes the connection between the production of our state’s farmers and everyday products enjoyed by Iowans. The art by these students helps showcase Iowa agriculture in a way that can be enjoyed throughout the year.” He presented the students with a certificate during the State Fair recognizing their selection. Students can submit drawings to be considered for inclusion in the calendar next year. Pictures should be drawn using only black lines on plain white paper, 8 ½ by 11 inches. The pictures should not be colored. They can be submitted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Calendar Kids, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319.

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

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Voters in the Audubon Community School District, Tuesday, approved the renewal of a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL), for another 10-years. Unofficial results from the Audubon County Auditor’s Office show there were 159 Yes and 4 No votes. 163 registered voters out of a possible 2,523 cast their ballots, Tuesday (a turnout of 6.46-percent).

The levy will fall into-place beginning with the 2019-20 budget year, and will not to exceed Sixty seven cents ($.67) per One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) of the assessed valuation of the taxable property within the school district, commencing with the levy for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.

The levy, which was unchanged from the past years, will be used for any number of purposes, including, but not limited to: the purchase and improvement of grounds; the construction of schoolhouses or buildings and opening roads to schoolhouses or buildings; the purchase, lease or lease-purchase of equipment or technology exceeding $500 in value per purchase, lease or lease purchase transaction; repairing, remodeling, reconstructing, improving, or expanding schoolhouses or buildings and additions to existing schoolhouses; and the purchase of transportation equipment for transporting students and the repair of such transportation equipment if the cost of repair exceeds $2,500.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer today (Wednesday), released a report on arrests taking place since August 8th. Most recently, on Tuesday, 32-year old Jessy Richard Card, of Audubon, was arrested on an active felony parole warrant out of Wisconsin.  Card was transported to the Audubon County Jail where he is waiting for extradition to Wisconsin.  The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest. On Sept. 4th, 30-year old Jessica Lynn Pedrin, of Audubon, turned herself in on an Audubon Police Department warrant for Theft – 4^th degree and Theft – 5^th degree.  Pedrin was later released on promise to appear by the magistrate and is awaiting trial.

Two arrests occurred on August 24th. 43-year old Jeremy Charles Snyder, of Audubon, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Causing Injury.  Snyder was transported to the Audubon County Jail where he was held until sentencing on Aug. 27th on another charge.  The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest. And, 46-year old Verlyn Duane Richardson, of Audubon, was arrested for Assault Causing Injury and transported to the Audubon County Jail.  Richardson was later released on promise to appear by the magistrate and is awaiting trial.

On Aug. 16th, 27-year old Scott Nathaniel Belew, of Audubon, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension and Interference with Official Acts.  Belew was transported to the Audubon County Jail where he later pled guilty to both charges. And, on Aug. 8th, 32-year old Skielynn Stephens, of Audubon, was arrested on an active Carroll County Warrant.  Stephens was then released to the custody of Carroll County Law Enforcement.

Officials with the Creston Police Department report 40-year old Brandie Whitney, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center Tuesday morning, on a Union County Warrant for 5 counts of Compulsory Education Violation/3rd or subsequent offense. Whitney was being held in the Adams County jail on a $5000 bond.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A former University of Nebraska football player is scheduled to go on trial next week on charges that he cashed fraudulent checks at casinos in western Iowa. Pottawattamie County court records say 45-year-old Reggie Baul has pleaded not guilty to one count of theft, 15 counts of forgery and one of ongoing criminal conduct. He’s accused of cashing the checks from April into July at the Ameristar and Horseshoe casinos in Council Bluffs. His trial is set to start Tuesday.

Baul joined the Husker football team as a receiver in 1993 and played through two national championship seasons. Baul has served jail time in Nebraska for drug and other crimes since.

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 Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on separate charges, of two women from Creston. Authorities say 59-year old Kathy Beemer was arrested on a felony charge of Forgery, and Theft in the Third Degree (an Aggravated Misdemeanor). Beemer was being held at the Taylor County Jail on $5,000 bond. And, 41-year old Crystal Huddleston was arrested on an active Taylor County Warrant for Violating the Terms of Probation. Huddleston was being held at the Taylor County Jail, pending an appearance before the Magistrate.