(Radio Iowa) – Former President Donald Trump is urging his supporters to guard against complacency after a recent poll found his lead in Iowa is growing.  “Sometimes, you know, you’re leading by so much, they say: ‘Oh, I think let’s sit home and watch a movie or we’ll watch the results afterwards,'” Trump said. “You don’t want to do that. You’ve got to get out and vote.”

During an event in Coralville last (Wednesday) night, Trump cited the Des Moines Register/N-B-C News/Mediacom “Iowa Poll” which found him leading his closest rival by 32 points. “The more we win by, the more we have a voice. Think of it that way. You’ve got to get out and vote, even if you think we’re going to win. Who knows? You know, sometimes polls are wrong, but that would be record setting, quite frankly,” Trump said, with a laugh, “but you’ve got to get out and vote, vote and then we worry about November. You know, do one thing first.”

Trump calls his 2024 campaign a righteous crusade that will be advanced by a powerful margin of victory in the January 15th Iowa Caucuses. Trump’s speech lasted for nearly an hour and 15 minutes. He reviewed his record and campaign promises and repeated his criticism of Republicans who are backing his G-O-P rivals. “What’s with these politicians, right? What’s with these politicians?” Trump asked.

And Trump singled out New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu who endorsed Nikki Haley Tuesday. “It’s meant nothing,” Trump said. “People are wise to this stuff, you know?

Before the speech, Trump met with some of the Iowans who’ve volunteered to be Caucus captains in their precincts. Trump will return next week for a similar “commit to caucus” event in Waterloo, a signal his current Iowa Caucus campaign is dedicating more resources to identifying Iowa Caucus goers and ensuring they participate on January 15th.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday, approved the hiring of an additional ELL (English Language Learner) Teacher. Board member Josh McLaren said the action item was “Pretty self explanatory…the evidence is right there (referring to a document showing the increase in ELL students the District is experiencing), and they’re still coming. I’m mean, we’ve got more already this year than all of last year.”

Superintendent Beth Johnsen said “If you talk to the Principals, I think they would be able to say five-to 10 new students, just in the last month.”  Washington Elementary School Principal Stacey Hornung said she just finished testing a student that came from Central America…we also had another one [that] just started First Grade,” that knows “no English at all.”  Hornung said “Either way, it’s challenge to try and make it work for all of our kids.”

Atlantic School Board mtg., 12-13-23 (Zoom image)

On a somewhat related note, the Atlantic School Board approved submitting a request to the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC), for a modified supplemental amount of $8,398.50, related to the English Language Learning (ELL) program, for students who have exceeded five-years of weighting, that are included on the Fall 2023 Certified Enrollment headcount. Separately, they approved authorizing the district’s administration to submit a request to the SBRC (School Budget Review Committee), for a modified supplemental amount of $93,910.50, due to an increase of certified enrollment from the prior year.

And, the Atlantic School Board approved a change to the school calendar, allowing for two-hour early dismissal on the last day before the Christmas Break (Dec. 22nd) instead of a full, regular day. The move is designed to give families some additional time to prepare for any trip or celebrations they may have planned.

The Board approved also, the resignations of: Cole Lowary – Grounds/Facilities; Allison Spieker, Schuler Elementary Paraeducator (effective 12/22/23), and Caroline Pellett, 7th Grade Softball Coach; and Contract Recommendations for: Emma Maassen-Thies, Communications Specialist; Charisma Burg, Washington Elem. Para, replacing Taylor Jones, and, Summer Sport Coaches.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced yesterday to 180 months in federal prison for receiving child pornography. According to court documents, Jay Eugene Dietz, 35, received and possessed child sexual abuse material on his cell phone while he was housed at the Residential Reentry Center in Davenport. At the time of this offense, Dietz was serving a sentence of imprisonment for a prior federal conviction for receiving child sexual abuse material.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Dietz will be required to serve ten years 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. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nation-wide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children.

Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

Koch

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports an incident at the Sidney Elementary School, Tuesday, resulted in a brief lockout of the school. A Sidney School Resource Officer responded to the Sidney Elementary School, Tuesday, for a report of a trespasser. Deputies allege that on Monday (12/11/2023), 38-year-old Isaac Doyle Koch, of Birmingham, Alabama, entered a building on the Sidney Elementary Campus. Koch was approached by staff and told to leave the grounds.

The next day (12/12/2023), Koch returned to the same location and was approached by an SRO after being observed parked in a shared school parking lot. Koch refused commands by the SRO and a physical confrontation ensued. Koch was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Disorderly Conduct. Koch is being held on $300 bond. As mentioned, the incident caused a brief lockout at the Sidney Elementary School. No students were involved in the incident.

Morgan

Lesberg

Two people were arrested on separate charges Monday, in Fremont County. Deputies arrested 26-year-old Jarrett Michel Morgan, of Hamburg, after authorities were called to the home for a report of harassment. During the investigation, deputies allege Morgan falsified statements to law enforcement. Deputies also located a dog kept inside a kennel, inside the residence that appeared to be caged for an extended period and was covered in feces. Morgan was arrested for Animal Neglect and Making False Report. He pled guilty and was fined by the court and released; And, 31-year-old Martin Tel Leseberg, of Hamburg, was arrested Monday for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. Deputies allege Leseberg stole prescription drugs from an estranged family member for the purposes of harassment. He was released on bond.

Webber

Sandahl

Sunday morning (Dec. 10th) at approximately 8:17-a.m., Fremont County deputies were called to Farragut for a disturbance. The caller advised that a male had previously lit a fire inside the residence and was armed with a machete. Deputies, along with assistance from the Shenandoah Police Department, Page County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa State Patrol, responded to the scene. Deputies arrested 34-year-old Shaun Michael Webber, of Farragut. He was charged with: Four counts of Child Endangerment; Arson 1st Degree, and Domestic Abuse while armed with a weapon. Webber was being held on a $35,000 cash bond.

Last Saturday, Dec. 9th, deputies arrested 35-year-old Matthew Duane Sandahl, of Lincoln, Nebraska, for Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was released on bond.

Danielle Adams

John Adams

On December 5th, the Fremont County K9 Unit was called to the area of 180th Street, near Anderson, Iowa for a report of a vehicle parked in the middle of the road with a female sleeping in the driver’s seat. Deputies arrested 42-year-old Danielle Rene Adams, of Randolph, Iowa, for: OWI/1st offense; Keeping a Vehicle for the Purpose of Controlled Substances; Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. A passenger, 42-year-old John Leroy Adams, also of Randolph, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine 3rd Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were released on bond.

Others arrested in Fremont County include:

On 11/29/2023, 28-year-old Andrew Dean Christiansen, of Nebraska City, Nebraska, was arrested for Willful Injury, causing bodily Injury. He was released on his own recognizance.

Abramson

Berry

Christiansen

On Dec. 1st, 34-year-old Keith Alan Abramson, of Kansas City, Missouri, was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense. He was released on bond. The next day, 63-year-old Richard Paul Hedlund, of Bellevue, Nebraska, was arrested for possession of Marijuana. He was released on bond.

And, on Dec. 4th, 47-year-old David Lee Berry, of Hamburg, was arrested for Driving While Barred. He was booked and released.

Hedlund

(Radio Iowa) – Some might call it a Christmas miracle. A north-central Iowa community is in the midst of raising money for a new municipal swimming pool, and Hamilton County Supervisor Rick Young says they’ve gotten a tremendous, surprise gift. “In the last week, we received an anonymous donation of $1 million,” Young says, “and this person does not wish to be recognized and they don’t want to name the area for them.” The entire project is expected to cost four-million dollars, so Young says this donation is a huge step forward.

The pool is to be built in Jewell, to replace a pool that’s around 60 years old. “Initially, it was just going to be the Jewell area, but it serves Gilbert, Hubbard, Radcliffe, Blairsburg, Kamrar, Williams, a lot of the towns around the surrounding area,” Young says, “so that entails about 12,000 people.”

Donations are still being taken for the project. There’s no date set on when construction is to begin.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis says former President Donald Trump is moving to the left on some issues. DeSantis points to Trump touting an endorsement from a Rhode Island man who was part of the Black Lives Matter movement. “He was bragging about that on his social media, saying, you know I’m so glad to have the support of this particular gentleman as well as BLM,” DeSantis says. “BLM was responsible for riots in the summer of 2020. That cost billions of dollars and led to a number of deaths and it was something that actually happened under his watch as president of the United States.”

DeSantis says Trump is flip flopping on abortion, by criticizing state laws that ban nearly all abortions. And DeSantis says he and Trump have a different frame of mind about the 2024 campaign and presidential conduct. “I consider myself a servant leader. It’s not about me,” DeSantis says. “…I want people to know that supporting me as president that when I get up there, obviously I’m going to take care of business, but I’m going to be able to conduct myself in a way they’re going to be proud of. They’re not going to have to make excuses for me…We’ll execute, get the job done and we’ll do it in a way that really aims higher.”

C-N-N recently announced plans for a candidate debate on January 10th, with polling thresholds that only DeSantis, former U-N Ambassador Nikki Haley and Trump would meet. DeSantis is the only one of the three who’s said he’ll participate. “I think if you’re not willing to debate in Iowa on the eve of the Caucus, that shows a lot about you and your willingness to engage,” DeSantis says. DeSantis made his comments to Iowa reporters during an online news conference.

Trump is scheduled to campaign in Coralville early this (Wednesday) evening and return to the state for a rally in Waterloo next Tuesday. A recent Des Moines Register/N-B-C News/Mediacom “Iowa Poll” found Trump’s lead has grown since October, with over half of likely Caucus goers backing Trump.

(Radio Iowa) – Members of the panel that predicts state tax revenue say recession fears are receding and, while total receipts are down slightly, that’s due to previously approved tax cuts. The December report from the Revenue Estimating Conference sets the stage as Republican Governor Kim Reynolds and G-O-P lawmakers signal they hope to eventually eliminate the state income tax. Iowa Department of Management director Kraig Paulsen, the governor’s top budget advisor, is chairman of the Revenue Estimating Conference.

“We continue to see modest growth in Iowa’s economy,” Paulsen says “and the revenue numbers coming in support this.” The panel predicts the state of Iowa will collect over nine-point-seven BILLION dollars in taxes during the current budgeting year. By January, there will be more than three-point-six BILLION dollars in the Taxpayer Relief Fund where unspent taxes are being deposited. Paulsen says consumer spending in Iowa appears strong and, while, corporate income tax reductions have been made, total corporate tax receipts are up 15 percent over the past five months.

“To me, this indicates continued organic growth within Iowa’s economy,” Paulsen says. Clear Lake C-P-A David Underwood is another member of the tax-predicting panel. “The continued discussion of when’s the recession coming — it seems like finally everybody’s decided, well, it hasn’t gotten here yet, so maybe we won’t have one at least in the near term,” Underwood says. “That consensus helps a little bit, that we aren’t just wondering when that bottom is going to fall out.”

The Revenue Estimating Conference predicts the State of Iowa will collect over nine-point-seven BILLION dollars in taxes in the current budgeting year that ends June 30th. The prediction for the following 12 months is slightly less, primarily due to tax cuts approved in 2018 and 2022.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports 26-year-old Adam Edward Lee Austin, of Creston, was arrested at around 8-p.m. Tuesday (12/12/23), on three counts Violation of Probation. Austin was transported to the Union County Jail and held without bond, until seen by a Magistrate Judge.

(Radio Iowa) – A couple of donations will allow the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to build out a wildlife tracking system across the state. D-N-R Avian Ecologist, Anna Buckardt Thomas, says the system called Motus is a series of antennae stations and tracking tags that emit a radio signal. “And if they go by a station that’s listening on that same frequency, that station can detect those wildlife. And so we can build a really large scale understanding of movements of these wildlife,” she says.

There are currently 18 stations in Iowa and the 120-thousand dollars in donations will allow them to expand that by 20 stations to create a corridor from east to west across the center of the state. “And then stations bordering the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. And so that way, we’ll be able to understand bird movement along those major river corridors and that movement as well,” Thomas says. “And then, because we’ll have that fence through the middle of the state, we’re likely to detect pretty much any tagged wildlife that would come to Iowa.”

The tags are put on smaller migratory birds and insects like butterflies and dragonflies. The tags vary in size based on what’s being tagged, and that also dictates how long its battery will last. “For something like an insect, that tag lasts maybe a handful of weeks or a month. And for something like a small bird, it might last six months in a large bird, you might get a tag that can last over a year,” she says.

Motus tower station at the Iowa DNR’s Black Hawk Unit office, near Early. Photo courtesy of the Iowa DNR.

Thomas says different groups tag different species based on what they want to research, and she says there is always some sort of tagging going on. She says the stations all over the western hemisphere and Iowa provide a variety of information that the D-N-R can review. “So if we can learn about particular pathways or particular habitats that are really important for these migratory species, we can help inform our conservation and management of those areas,” Thomas says.  The information is also available to the public at the website motus.org.

“And you can explore a map of all the existing stations, you can click on a station and learn about what animals have flown by or moved by and then detected by that station,” she says. “You can look up what species of wildlife are being tagged on the system. You can look up a specific tagging project if you’re aware of it, though. There’s a lot of really cool data to explore.”  Thomas says you can also build maps of individual birds or collections of birds to see where they’re being detected as they move during migration periods.

The D-N-R hopes to add the additional sites in the next five years.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – You’re invited to join Cass County Conservation Department Staff at Atlantic’s Schildberg Recreation Area- Lake number 4, on Saturday, January 6, 2024 for “Soiree with the Swans.” Conservation Dept. Staff will be giving ten-minute presentations regarding the Trumpeter Swans every half-hour, beginning at 11-a.m., with the last one presented at 2-p.m.

There will also be time to view the swans through spotting scopes and witness random swan feeding sessions. Hot chocolate, cookies, and other snacks will be provided free of charge with donations being accepted (for swan care).

The Schildberg Recreation Area is located on the northwest edge of Atlantic, Lake 4 is on the north side of Highway 83. Atlantic is celebrating 24 winters of the Trumpeter Swans wintering here.

This event is not to be missed! IF THE WEATHER IS “BAD” OR THE SWANS ARE NOT AT THE PARK…the program will be at the Atlantic Public Library from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. with hot chocolate, cookies, and other snacks available. The event is being sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board, Atlantic Parks and Recreation, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.