(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular, weekly meeting at 9-a.m. Tuesday in their Atlantic Courthouse Board Room. On their agenda is action on passing a Resolution “Approving [a] Collective Bargaining Agreement between Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Local 1414 American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Union, Council 61, AFL-CIO, Iowa (AFSCME).”

The Board is also expected to act on removing Ronnie Ross as Medical Examiner Investigator, retroactive to Dec. 6, 2023, and passing a Resolution to set Posted Weight Limits on County Bridges. They will also continue, and possibly act on approving, the Cass County Wellness Plan (effective from Jan. 1, 2024 through June 30, 2024).

The complete agenda is shown below:

(Des Moines, Iowa) –  Iowa anglers can buy the Missouri and Big Sioux River paddlefish license and tags starting Dec. 15 through Jan. 7th. The Iowa DNR says you can buy your special paddlefish license and tags on the Iowa DNR online licenses sales website at https://gooutdoorsiowa.com. A resident license sells for $25.50 and a nonresident license is $49. You must also have a valid Iowa fishing license. You can buy up to two tags – one from Dec. 15 to Dec. 31 and an additional tag from Jan. 1 to Jan. 7, or two tags if you didn’t buy one in December. A limited number of paddlefish licenses are available – 950 resident and 50 nonresident.

The license, harvest tag(s), and regulations will be mailed to purchasers in mid-January. Purchasers will be asked to complete an electronic survey to help the Iowa DNR evaluate the success of the paddlefish season. Please complete the survey whether you harvested a paddlefish or not.  The Iowa DNR is always working to improve the paddlefish season for anglers; any input provided is considered and is greatly appreciated.

The Missouri and Big Sioux River paddlefish season opens Feb. 1 and runs through April 30. For more information about Iowa’s special paddlefish season, visit the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/paddlefish – click on Missouri River Paddlefish Season and Regulations.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowans can buy 2024 resident hunting, fishing and other licenses on Dec. 15.  Licenses purchased for 2023 expire on Jan. 10. The Iowa DNR says the menu of license options includes the popular Outdoor Combo annual resident hunting/fishing/habitat combo license for $55; the Angler’s Special three-year fishing license for $62; and the Hunter’s Special three-year hunting license with habitat included for $101. Also available is the Bonus Line option for $14 letting resident and nonresident anglers to fish with one more line in addition to the two lines allowed with the regular fishing license. Upgrade your paper license to a durable hard card with custom art from Iowa artists for only $6.

Download the GoOutdoorsIowa mobile app for iPhone and Android devices to buy and access your license information, no matter where you are.  Sync your hunting and fishing licenses on the app to show in the field.  You may download multiple customer licenses to offer one secure digital license document location for families, groups, and more. Licenses are available at 650 locations across the state, and on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/GoOutdoorsIowa.

Hunting and fishing are often enjoyed with family and friends. A fishing or hunting license makes a great stocking stuffer.

Ames, Iowa – Dec. 11, 2023 – If you plan to get on Interstate 35 from East 13^th Street in Ames this week, there is some construction work that you’ll want to be aware of. Crews are working on sanitary sewer construction along East 13^th Street in Ames. To give them room to work, the City of Ames will be closing the entrance ramp from East 13^th Street to northbound I-35, now (Dec. 11) through Friday, Dec. 15.  You’ll be asked to follow a detour using Dayton Avenue and 190^th Street to northbound I-35.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through our 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide); stay connected with 511 on Facebook or Twitter (find links at https://iowadot.gov/511/511-social-media-sites); or download the free app to your mobile device.

(Iowa DNR News) – Every year over a hundred volunteers and DNR staff head out to spy on Iowa’s Bald Eagles. Thankfully, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the eagles usually don’t mind and official are able to get valuable data that helps the DNR to evaluate how the birds are doing in the state.

Volunteers help with two surveys: The Bald Eagle Midwinter Survey and the Bald Eagle Nest Monitoring Survey. The midwinter survey takes place in early January each year and requires surveyors to drive a standardized route, counting all eagles seen along the way. During the nest monitoring survey, volunteers collectively watch between 250 and 350 nests around the state and report on a nest’s activity and success in producing and fledgling eaglets.

Photo courtesy Abbie Sue Cartsensen. Taken near Smithfield Foods (Denison, IA).

Photo courtesy Abbie Sue Cartsensen. Taken near Smithfield Foods (Denison, IA).

Some important background to have before reading this year’s results, is that 2022 was the worst nesting season in many years for Iowa’s Bald Eagles. For the first time in the history of the survey the average number of young fledged per nest dropped below the important threshold of 1; only an average of 0.88 young were fledged per nest. This is thought to be the result of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak last summer. A total 1,663.5 miles of waterway were surveyed in January of 2023 and over 2,900 eagles were counted using these waterways!  That works out to almost 2 eagles per river mile surveyed. The most eagles were counted on the Mississippi and Des Moines Rivers though the highest density (eagles per mile) was on the Iowa River.  One of the important things we keep an eye on, as it is a good indicator of population health, is the proportion of the count made up of immature eagles. Since the survey started in 1991, that proportion has hovered around 30% and this year was consistent with that at 32%.

From late winter to summer, another army of volunteers around the state monitored 329 bald eagle nest sites. They observed from a distance and recorded whether the nest was active and, if so, if it was successful fledgling eaglets. A total of 66% of the active monitored nests were successful, 12% failed (the remaining had an unknown outcome). There was an average of 1.77 fledglings produced per nest which is one of the highest rates in recent years. This represented a very good recovery after 2022’s poor nesting season! In addition, there was one very surprising observation – a nest that fledged 4 young! Usually, bald eagles only lay 1-3 eggs with the most common being 2 fledglings per nest. The DNR says “We had never even heard of a nest hatching 4 young, much less raising them all to fledgling! However, a very diligent nest monitor was able to capture this very rare phenomenon. Congrats to the parents of the fab four for a job very well done!”

According to the Iowa DNR, this year was characterized by a return to normal after a year of extremes in 2022.  The midwinter survey count was just below the average and the nest monitoring survey had an average number of successful nests and a high number of young produced. Taking into account the success rate, the overall number of known active territories and the average number of young produced by nest, a possible 720 young eagles were fledged by Iowa’s nests!

This paints a picture of a resilient and healthy bald eagle population in Iowa, which is great news for our nation’s symbol! For now, officials will continue to monitor both wintering and breeding eagles in order to help monitor the Bald Eagle’s recovery. The DNR wants to issued “A huge and very heart-felt thank you to the many volunteers and staff who help to make this monitoring possible!”

The latest Des Moines Register/N-B-C News “Iowa Poll” shows former President Donald Trump has the support of just over half of likely Iowa Caucus-goers. Trump leads Florida Governor Ron DeSantis by 32 points and is 35 points ahead of former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. Haley spoke to a large crowd on a farm near Waukee Sunday afternoon. Haley pointed to national polls which show her leading President Biden.  “Think about it. That means up and down for our governors, for our Senate seats, for our House seats,” Haley said, “but that means an economy that gets back on track because we have the landslide victory.”

During an appearance on Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S this weekend, DeSantis said there is a clear appetite for a different G-O-P nominee in 2024. “I kind of think to myself: If Ronald Reagan were running for a third time, he’d be getting 90% from Republicans,” DeSantis said.

Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy had five percent support, just ahead of former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has not campaigned in Iowa. Ramaswamy has been telling audiences first-time Caucus-goers are going to show up to vote for him on January 15th.

(Worth County, Iowa) – A collision Sunday night between a car and an SUV resulted in three people being transported to a hospital in northern Iowa’s Worth County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2008 Chevy Tahoe driven by 36-year-old Corey Tangman, of Manly (IA), was traveling south on Balsam Avenue (west of Fertile, IA) at around 8:37-p.m., and approaching the stop sign with Highway 9, when Tangman failed to obey the stop sign. His SUV struck a 2017 Chevy Malibu on the passenger side, as the car – driven by 22-year-old Sierra Selvidge, of Lake Mills, was traveling west on Highway 9.

Following the collision, the SUV continued traveling east on Highway 9. A 2004 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 43-year-old Brian Charlson, of Leland (IA), was traveling west on Highway 9 just east of the intersection with Balsam Avenue, when Tangman’s SUV crossed the center line and collided with head-on with the pickup. All three drivers were injured and transported by ambulance to MercyOne Hospital. The Patrol says Tangman and Selvidge were not wearing their seat belts.

The crash remains under investigation.

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM School Board is set to meet tonight at 6:30,in the CAM High School Media Center. The meeting will include business for the Retiring Board, followed by the Organizational and Regular Board meeting. View the agenda, below:

Retiring Board Meeting Agenda
1 Call to Order
2 Welcome visitors
3 Agenda Changes
4 Approval of Agenda
5 Consent Agenda
5.1 Approval of Minutes, Bills, Financial Statements
6 Communications
6.1 Public input on non-agenda items
7 Treasurer’s Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023
8 Acceptance of Abstract of Votes of Election
9 Recognition of Outgoing Board Member
10 Adjournment of Retiring Board

Organizational and Regular Board Meeting Agenda
Immediately Following Retiring Board Meeting
1. Call to Order Organizational Meeting by Board Secretary
2. Administer Oath of Office to Elected Board Members by Board Secretary
3. Election of Board President for 2023-2024 – Administer Oath of Office by Board Secretary
4. Election of Vice-President for 2023-2024 – Administer Oath of Office
5. Appoint Board Secretary/Treasurer – Administer Oath of Office
6. Approval of Agenda
7. Consent Agenda
7.1. Open Enrollments
7.2. Resignations
7.3. Contracts
7.4. Volunteers
7.5. Fundraisers
8. Communications
8.1. Public input on non-agenda items
8.2. Correspondence
9. Administrative Reports
10. Discussion/Action items
10.1. Establish Meeting Date, Time, Location for 2023-2024 Meetings
10.2. Adopt Resolution Naming Depositories, Depository Limits, Authorized Signatories and Updating Bank Accounts Removing Previous President and Updating to New President
10.3. Appoint Official Newspaper Publication
10.4. Appoint Legal Counsel
10.5. Appoint Level 1 Investigators
10.6. Appoint Committee Membership and Assignments
10.6.1. Cass County Conference Board Representative
10.6.2. Facility Committee
10.6.3. Compensation Committee
10.7. Approve the SBRC request for the modified supplemental amount for Open Enrolled Out in the amount of $61,389
10.8. Approve the SBRC request for the modified supplemental amount for At Risk and DropOut Prevention programs in the amount of $135,152
10.9. Approval of Moving PPEL & SAVE from Regular Checking Account to NOW Checking Account at Rolling Hills Bank & Trust
10.10. Approval of Board Policies Revisions 4.01.13 to 403.6E1
10.11. Discuss Facility Project Process
11. Board Report
12. Adjournment

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services says it has taken more than 160-thousand people off the Medicaid roll in the past seven months who no longer qualify. H-H-S Director Kelly Garcia says they check several things when making the changes. “So we have a variety of different systems that pull down and extract data and, and populate the forms ahead of time and we work very hard on that,” Garcia says.

Preliminary state data show 70 percent of those removed through October were for procedural reasons, like not returning required paperwork. Director Garcia says the information they use also helps them ensure they are not taking people off the list that are still eligible. “We feel comfortable with what that looks like. Because we’ve been able to see how many individuals are continuously insured through another form or there’s been an income change in their status as well,” She says.

They started looking to remove people following the end of a COVID-19 pandemic era federal requirement that required states to keep most people enrolled in Medicaid, even if they no longer qualified. The state data show more than 15-thousand people who were taken off the Medicaid roll have had their coverage reinstated.

(Radio Iowa) – Four Republican presidential candidates shared stories of their faith during an event at Dordt University in Sioux Center this weekend. Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra and his wife hosted the event, which attracted several hundred people. “We look to God for our direction and our guidance,” Feenstra said to open the event, “and our leaders should do the same thing.” Nikki Haley talked about the statewide day of prayer she initiated when she was governor of South Carolina. “You never know what tomorrow’s going to bring,” Haley said, “but that faith and that readiness is so important for what we have ahead.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described his faith is his compass. “Faith in God is really the foundation of how I live my life,” DeSantis said, “but also how I conduct myself in an elective office.” Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy told the crowd his Hindu faith led him to take this journey on the campaign trail. “I think that God puts each of us here for a reason,” Ramaswamy said. “My faith teaches me we each have a purpose and it’s a moral duty to realize that purpose.”

The Feenstras also invited Texas pastor Ryan Binkley to the event and he told the crowd God spoke to him in dreams about running for president. “I ignored them for a few years and then it just became more clear,” Binkley said, “that now’s the time.”

Feenstra, who has indicated he may endorse a candidate, praised each candidate on stage, but did not signal who might get his public backing before the January 15th Caucuses.