The Atlantic Community School Nutrition Department and Farm to School team are working hard to bring healthy, fresh, local food to school lunch. Your help is needed, by visiting a local farm and join as a together as a community to pick locally grown sweet corn for school lunches. Who can participate? Everyone in the community is welcome! Congregations, sports teams, FFA and 4H groups, families, friends—all are welcome.  The event takes place Saturday July 21st (Rain Date Sunday July 22nd). 30 volunteer pickers and 25 processors are needed.

You will gather at the Schuler Elementary School at 7-a.m., to be transported by bus to and from the farm. The first shift is from 9-a.m. until Noon, and the second shift is from Noon until 3-p.m.  Processors will cut, bag, and prepare the corn for students to eat. That group of volunteers will be at Schuler Elementary. Sack lunch and drinks will be provided to all volunteers!

A waiver will be required to be signed by all volunteers. Children under age 18 will need a parent/guardian signature. Waivers can be picked up on the morning of July 21st at Schuler, or requested from DeeAnn Schreiner prior to the event. Suggested clothing: lightweight long-sleeve shirt, long pants & shoes that can get dirty. To sign-up, or for more information, call 243-5369 or email DeeAnn at dschreiner@atlanticiaschools.org

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say bullet fragments struck two people after a handgun went off in one of a man’s pockets at the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines. Deputies were dispatched to the scene around 3 p.m. Sunday. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the 27-year-old man was pulling something from the pocket when the gun fired.

The bullet bounced off the floor and fragmented. One fragment struck a 62-year-old woman in a leg and another hit a 9-year-old girl in a leg. Both people were hospitalized. The Sheriff’s Office hasn’t released the names of those involved. No arrest or citations have been reported.

The American Red Cross is now facing an emergency blood shortage following a difficult Fourth of July week for blood donations, with hundreds fewer blood drives than a typical week and a resulting decline in donations. Right now, blood is being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. All eligible donors are urgently needed to give now to help replenish the blood supply – especially type O – Type O is the most in-demand blood type and often the first be depleted from hospital shelves during a shortage. Type O negative is the universal blood type and what emergency room personnel reach for when there is no time to determine the blood type of patients in the most serious situations. Type O positive is the most common blood type and can be transfused to Rh-positive patients of any blood type.

More than 550 fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and other community groups last week than during a typical week as individuals across the country celebrated the holiday and enjoyed summer activities. This could equate to as many as 15,000 fewer donations than needed, causing donations to now be distributed to hospitals faster than they come in. Facing a decline of about 80,000 new Red Cross blood donors each year for the past several years, the Red Cross launched the Missing Types campaign in June to encourage new donors, and those who have not given recently, to donate blood. While the campaign has already inspired thousands of new donors to give, the Red Cross is now calling on all eligible blood and platelet donors to roll up a sleeve as soon as possible to overcome the emergency blood shortage. Through the Missing Types campaign, which runs throughout the summer, the letters A, B and O – letters used to identify blood types – disappeared from corporate logos, celebrity social media accounts and favorite websites to illustrate the critical role every blood donor plays in ensuring blood is never missing from hospital shelves.

To schedule an appointment to donate, use the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross has added about 6,500 additional appointment slots at donation centers and community blood drives across the country over the next few weeks to accommodate more donors. Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 9-31st:

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center – Loess Hills Blood Donation Center, 705 N. 16th St. Council Bluffs, IA 51503

Adair County –  Orient, 7/10/2018: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Methodist Church, 124 South Maple Street

Audubon County –  Exira, 7/23/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Exira Recreational Center, 106 N Jefferson

Carroll County – Dedham, 7/11/2018: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Legion Hall, 302 Main Street; Manning – 7/27/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sacred Heart Church, 203 Sue Street.

Cass County – Atlantic, 7/19/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Atlantic YMCA, 1100 Maple Street; Griswold – 7/19/2018: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Central Church of Christ, 51 Harrison

Harrison County –  Logan, 7/31/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 108 West 4th Street; Missouri Valley – 7/19/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Rand Community/Senior Center, 100 S. 4th St.

Mills County – Glenwood, 7/13/2018: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Glenwood High School, 504 East Sharp Street

Montgomery County – Red Oak, 7/16/2018: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1101 East Summit; Villisca – 7/18/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 201 S. 3rd Ave

Page County –  Clarinda, 7/18/2018: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Regional Health Center, 220 Essie Davison Drive, & 7/27/2018: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Clarinda Academy, 1820 North 16th Street.

Pottawattamie County –  Avoca, 7/14/2018: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., American Legion, 309 1/2 Elm; Council Bluffs – 7/13/2018: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Community Hall, 205 S. Main St., 7/14/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Mid-America Center, One Arena Way, 7/15/2018: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Broadway United Methodist, 11 South 1st Street, 7/15/2018: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Mid-America Center, One Arena Way, 7/28/2018: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Council Bluffs, 7 S 4th St.; Crescent – 7/14/2018: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Fire Station, 102 West Florence

Ringgold County –  Mount Ayr, 7/10/2018: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., First Christian Church, 201 W Monroe

Shelby County –  Earling, 7/30/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Joseph’s Hall, 118 Main Street; Elk Horn – 7/10/2018: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Elk Horn Lutheran Church, 4313 Main Street; Harlan – 7/19/2018: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Conductix, 1417 Industrial Parkway, & 7/24/2018: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Veteran’s Memorial Building, 1104 Morningview; Westphalia –  7/18/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Boniface Parish Center, 305 Duren St..

Taylor County –  Bedford, 7/27/2018: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Legion Hall, 301 Main St; Lenox –  7/31/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 210 E. Dallas St.

Union County – Afton, 7/17/2018: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., East Union High School, 1916 High School Drive; Creston – 7/11/2018: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Creston High School, 601 W. Townline.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 1:11-a.m. today (Monday), of Daryl Rodney Newbury, II, of Carthage, Tx. Newbury was taken into custody in Corning for Public Intoxication. Early Sunday morning, three people were arrested in Corning following an assault and fight in progress. Angela Goodvin, of Corning, was arrested at around 12:30-a.m. for an assault involving a baseball bat at 808 7th Street. Goodvin was charged with Domestic Abuse. At around 12:52-a.m., Donald Hannover was arrested at Lake Icaria, following an investigation into a fight in progress. Hannover was charged with Disorderly COnduct and Public Intoxication. And, at around 3:50-p.m., 54-year old Gary Glenn Snyder, of Corning, was arrested following a traffic stop at Highway 148 and 183rd Street. Snyder was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former longtime Iowa Gov. Robert D. Ray, who helped thousands of Vietnam War refugees relocate to the state and defined Iowa’s Republican politics for years, has died. He was 89. Ray’s former chief of staff David Oman said Ray died Sunday at a nursing home. He said Ray battled Parkinson’s disease for several years. Ray was elected governor in 1968. He never faced a serious election challenge during his 14 years as governor.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa agency wants to use inmates to build homes for low-income individuals, but the idea is on hold without more support from state lawmakers. The Iowa Department of Corrections said the program, which was quietly considered but ultimately rejected during the last legislative session, would give inmates work training experience. The agency believes it could help alleviate Iowa’s shortage of skilled workers while addressing a lack of affordable housing in the state.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Dubuque will begin sharing its traffic camera video with a California technology company in hopes of developing methods to decrease dangers and improve traffic flow. The Telegraph Herald reports that Dubuque City Council members have approved a license agreement with NVIDIA Corp. The city will provide its traffic camera and video footage to the technology firm. City documents show the arrangement will last for at least three years

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man faces charges in Nebraska and Iowa after officials say he led officers on a high-speed chase and rammed two law enforcement vehicles. The Nebraska State Patrol says the incident happened Friday evening when a trooper tried to stop a pickup truck being pursued by South Sioux City police. Officials say the truck rammed the trooper’s car before crossing into Iowa. It latter again rammed the trooper’s car and a sheriff’s SUV before the driver was arrested.

A man from South Dakota was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Omaha, following a crash on Interstate 29 in Harrison County, Sunday afternoon. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened on I-29 southbound near mile marker 92, at around 3:30-p.m.

A 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by 49-year old Walter Jessup, of Bresford, SD, was traveling in the left lane, when a 2013 Toyota Prius in the right lane front of him, slowed and began to enter the left lane, due to traffic that was backed up ahead.

The cycle struck the Toyota in the rear, driver’s side fender. After the collision, the motorcycle came to rest in the median after flipping end-over-end. The Prius came to rest on the west shoulder of I-29 southbound. Jessup was transported by LifeNet to Bergan Mercy Hospital, in Omaha. The driver of the Toyota, 61-year old Doyle Crume, of Webster, SD, was not injured.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports an arrest was made Sunday, in connection with a possible fight in progress involving a knife, in Imogene.  The suspect had fled the scene prior to law enforcement arrival. Deputies determined 35-year old Lyle Stogdill, of Imogene, had been in an altercation with another male and displayed a knife in a threatening manner.

Stogdill was later arrested at a location in Shenandoah, Iowa with the assistance of the Shenandoah Police Department. He was taken into custody for Assault while Displaying a Weapon, Going Armed with Intent, and Domestic Abuse.  No injuries were reported.

Stogdill was being held at the Fremont County Jail, pending further Court Proceedings.

Lyle Stogdill

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety report that at approximately 12:30-p.m. Sunday, a semi hauling hazardous material was flagged down by a motorist that witnessed a liquid coming from the trailer at the 86mm of Interstate 29. Iowa State Patrol Troopers arrived and accessed the situation. The liquid material was deemed hazardous and the Interstate was shut down both north and south bound. The roadway has since re-opened.

The man who served as Iowa’s 38th Governor has died. Robert D. Ray died Sunday at the age of 89, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease, according to a statement released by his former Chief of Staff. Ray passed away at a retirement community.

Ray was first elected as Iowa’s governor in 1968, and then served a total of 14 years. He later served as CEO of two insurance firms, one in Cedar Rapids and the other in Des Moines. Then, in the 1990’s, Ray served as the acting mayor of Des Moines and then president of Drake University.

During Ray’s tenure as governor, he expanded funding for k-12 education, led the creation of a merged Department of Transportation, and eliminated the sales tax on food and drugs. He also established the Iowa Energy Policy Council and then-Department of Environmental Quality, both two concepts that were ahead of their time nationally.

Ray will also be known for issuing Executive Orders advancing civil right. He established other big committees and groups while serving as Iowa’s governor, including the Governor’s Economy Committee, a Taste Force on Government Ethics, and the Science Advisory Council.

The funeral service for Gov. Ray is pending, and will be announced shortly.

Gov. Kim Reynolds issued the following statement Sunday on the passing of former Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray: “Governor Ray’s legacy lives on in the millions of people that he impacted as a tremendous statesman for Iowa and our nation. His civility, courage and common-sense governing set a high standard for those who followed. 

“May our prayers and thoughts bring peace to First Lady Billie Ray, her daughters and family at this time.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa agency wants to use inmates to eventually build at least 100 homes a year for low-income individuals around the state, an unusual idea within the expansive prison labor industry that has so far been stalled by a lack of support from lawmakers.

The Iowa Department of Corrections said the program, which was quietly considered but ultimately rejected during the last legislative session, would give inmates work training that could reduce their likelihood of returning to prison once they’re released. The agency believes it could also help alleviate Iowa’s shortage of skilled workers and its lack of affordable housing.

A bill to create the program failed to secure enough support in the Republican-controlled Legislature by missing key deadlines for legislation to advance. It was later added to unrelated budget bills before getting cut. Corrections officials plan to pitch the program again, possibly in the legislative session beginning in January.

The Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission, a voluntary organization of local governments, first pitched the housing program to corrections officials about four years ago, and the idea picked up steam last year. Mike Norris, the commission’s executive director, said the group represents 35 mostly rural communities, many of which struggle with a lack of affordable housing, in part due to inconsistent demand for construction and lower profits.

Corrections officials estimate Iowa inmates would get paid about $1 an hour to participate in the housing program. That’s the same average they’re paid through Iowa Prison Industries, which already oversees inmates who make products and furniture sold to government entities and other approved groups. The division sought up to $2 million to start the program, arguing it would later be self-funded.

If revisited next year and approved, 12 acres of land next to the Newton state prison in central Iowa would become a fenced-in construction zone where prisoners could build single-story 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom homes, according to a Feb. 12 memo between corrections officials. If the program is fully up and running, state officials envision more than 80 inmates from the nearby medium security facility helping to build at least 100 homes annually that can be shipped around the state.

Iowa Prison Industries also wants approval to create a private nonprofit corporation to run the program with a new board of stakeholders — a mix of individuals involved in the homebuilding industry. Some of their paper trail of work on the program would not be subject to Iowa’s open records laws, though the corporation would be required to submit an annual report on its operations and activities.

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds included $1 million for the housing project in budget recommendations she released in January, and an aide said the governor remains supportive of the program. Key lobbying organizations like the Iowa Association of Business and Industry registered against the main bill that would have created the program. Nicole Crain, a senior vice president for ABI, said the association wants to help address affordable housing concerns but doesn’t believe in government competing with the private sector.