(Clarinda, Iowa) –  Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer wishes everyone happy and safe holidays, and reminds you that it’s that time of the year once again, for the Page County Sheriff’s Office to kick off their “Operation Blessing” program. The Page County Sheriff’s Office will be taking requests from now through December 13th, 2024, with hopes that requests for gifts can be filled without running into a shortage of items, or time to fill the requests.

The Page County Reserve Program started Operation Blessing in the mid 1980’s to ensure that every child in the rural areas of Page County had the opportunity to receive a gift at Christmas. It has continued every year since for over 40 years. In these times, the program is adapting. Gifts will be delivered to children included in the program, just prior to Christmas Eve. The Page County Sheriff’s Office Operation Blessing program will cover children ages 0-to 14, who reside in the communities of Shambaugh, Braddyville, College Springs, Yorktown, Coin, Blanchard, Essex, and Northboro as well as the rural areas, of Page County.

The requests must come from a parent or guardian of the child and can be called into the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193, or reported in person by the parent or guardian at the Page County Sheriff’s Office located at 323 N 15th Street in Clarinda. Again, requests will be taken from now through December 13. Each child will be given a first and second choice. It is suggested that a toy and clothing be requested.

Anyone wishing to donate money to the Page County Sheriff’s Office Operation Blessing program can either stop by the Page County Sheriff’s Office or mail the monetary donation to the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 323 North 15th Clarinda, Iowa, 51632. Monetary donations are taken year-round at the Office.

Sheriff Palmer says, “I would once again like to thank everyone for their donations and support of the program throughout the years, for without monetary donations, this program would not be able to continue. I wish to also thank our staff at the Sheriff’s Office / Jail / PAGECOMM Dispatch for their assistance in everything they do with this program. They go above and beyond with the call taking, shopping, wrapping and organization of this program. They along with the organizations, businesses, and individuals who donate make this program a success every year. THANK YOU!!! May everyone have a joy filled and safe Holiday season.”

(Radio Iowa) – Attorneys for renters and landlords in Orange City claim city-required inspections of rental properties every five years violate renters’ rights. They argued before the Iowa Supreme Court on Wednesday that mandated check-ups are unrestricted searches, and that it could result in police involvement if inspectors report activity they think is suspicious. Attorney Zachary Clausen represented the city and claimed the inspections help address health and safety risks. He added, police haven’t been involved in the past.

“In this case, there is no evidence that the inspector is doing any of those things,” Clausen says. “There’s no evidence that there’s any law enforcement involvement in all, in any of these inspections, whatsoever.” The city has to give landlords 15 days notice ahead of the inspection, and if the inspector arrives and isn’t allowed to enter, they can obtain an administrative search warrant. John Wrench, an attorney for the renters and landlords, said this loophole violates the Iowa Constitution, which protects against “suspicionless home searches.” Wrench argued the mandated inspections could give the city broad grounds for seeking warrants.

Wrench says, “The city’s entire justification for being able to forcefully enter the home using suspicionless warrants is because it’s a renter-occupied home.” The American Civil Liberties Union filed the brief in support of the renters and landlords. They claim the inspections and potential searches disproportionately affect people from low-income or minority backgrounds who are more likely to rent.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Produce in the Park’s annual Harvest Market is being held at the Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022) on Monday, November 25th, from 3-until 6-pm. The annual fall farmers market is held just days before Thanksgiving so shoppers can fill their Thanksgiving tables with local foods and decorate their homes for the holidays with local and handmade products.

Produce in the Park Board President Bailey Smith says, “While it’s common to see lots of squash and other fall vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and onions at Harvest Market, Produce in the Park is proud to have multiple vendors offering fresh greens and Bridgewater Farm selling tomatoes at this year’s market.” In addition to local produce, Harvest Market food vendors will be selling a variety of desserts, pastries, baked goods, meats, herbs, honey, jams, jellies, syrups, popcorn, and more.

Harvest Market offers an opportunity to purchase local and handmade holiday decor and gifts. Shoppers can expect to find evergreen decorations, candles, soaps, crocheted toys, earrings, artwork, lavender products, wood crafts, seasonal hand towels, and more. This year’s market includes a soup supper. Imagine Gifts and Greenhouse will be selling Chicken Noodle, Vegetable Beef, and Loaded Baked Potato soups for dine-in or carry-out.

Photo from the Imagine Garden (Picture submitted)

Vendors at Harvest Market 2024 will include:

• Soup Supper Vendor: Imagine Gifts and Greenhouse will be selling chicken noodle, vegetable beef, and loaded baked potato soups for dine-in or take-out.
• Bridgewater Farm – Lots of produce such as greens, sweet potatoes, and squashes, carrots, tomatoes, herbs, eggs, meats
• 3 Bee Farms – honey, jams, jellies, syrups, popcorn, and garlic. Frozen apple pies. Evergreen porch pots, Houseplants and succulents
• The Eye of Nebula – Baked goods including cookies and muffins, canned jellies, crochet toys, candles, soaps, and skincare products
• Wings of Love Sweetly Crafted – Cinnamon rolls and dessert breads, reusable paper towels, wipes, and burp cloths, and other various crafts
• Frosting Inc. – Gourmet cupcakes and other baked goods
• KookieNow with Mrs. Phippen – Cookies and homemade potpourri
• Paige’s Pieces – Earrings, signs, car hangers, keychains
• Brun Ko Farm – Chicken, lamb, eggs, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, spring mix, onions, garlic, honey
• Juj’n Juj’n and Mike Souder Original Art – Leather work, artwork
• Ter-Bear Honey – Honey
• The Kringleman Pastries – Danish kringle, Danish letters, eclairs, krispies, cream horns, and other pastries
• J.W. Lavender Farms at Quakerdale Farms – Lavender plants, bags, and bundles, as well as pillow sprays, candles, soaps, and more
• Wood Crafts by Ray – Wood craft products
• Noble Provisions – beef and more
• Imagine Garden Gift – Holiday decor and gifts
• Dragonfly Creations – Candles, soaps, crafts, and artwork
• Piper’s Brae Farm – Aronia berries and aronia products
• RaMakes Home Decor – Seasonal decor, wood products, towels

Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications for Harvest Market, and additional holiday markets planned for winter 2024-2025. Vendor applications can be found online at www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com; printed copies of the application are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 50022). Produce in the Park seeks vendors selling handmade or homegrown products, including local foods, as well as beauty products, candles, crafts, art, and decorations.

Harvest Market 2024 is sponsored by Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Cass County Tourism, Cass Health, City of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust and Nishna Valley Family YMCA. For the latest information on Harvest Market, and all Produce in the Park markets, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/).

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Community School District Director of Finance Lisa Jones, Wednesday evening, presented the District’s enrollment numbers to the Board of Education. The data included students who were enrolled in- and -out of the District, and BEDS (Basic Educational Data Services) information. Jones disseminated the data from the Department of Education’s website, which shows 1,400 resident public students live in and physically attend school here. There are 51 students who live in Atlantic but attend school somewhere else.

She says 1,531 students are what are called “Butts in seats,” Jones said, or the number of students who receive their education from the Atlantic School District.

The comparison from last year to this year, Jones said, shows the Atlantic District lost 32 students from the Open Enrollment-In, but there were also some gains.

The actual enrollment, though went from 1,414 to 1,452. Jones said that’s because more people are moving into the community and living in the school district, even though some are attending other schools. That means more money coming into the district.

The data breaks down information into several clusters, but overall, Jones said it’s good news for the district. Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen added, the district’s pre-school numbers are down, but there are a couple of likely explanations for that.

While the Jack and Jill is free, they are “maxed-out” on capacity, according to Dr. Johnsen. She said the Atlantic Head Start pre-school is maxed-out too, but they could grow up to 20-percent. Anything more than that, she said, and they’ll have to find the space to teach those students, somehow.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, said Wednesday, 52-year-old Lance Seastrand and his wife, 56-year-old Staci Seastrand, both of Davenport, were sentenced on October 31, 2024, after pleading guilty to felony charges stemming from an investigation by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau.

The investigation by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office began in December 2021 when a disabled victim reported that family members Lance and Staci Seastrand had fraudulently withdrawn over $200,000 from the victim’s bank account and IRA. Detective Scott Wainwright of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, along with Certified Fraud Examiner Kathy Barkalow at Schnurr Barkalow, investigated the case.

In March 2024, the Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau began an investigation after receiving information that Lance Seastrand fraudulently withdrew $170,416.66 from the victim’s insurance annuity. The investigation concluded that Lance Seastrand submitted forged documents to the insurance company to effectuate the withdrawals. Lance and Staci Seastrand used the fraudulently-obtained funds for their own personal benefit, in the form of cash withdrawals, casino withdrawals, and payments to creditors.

On August 16, 2024, Lance Seastrand pleaded guilty to three counts of Theft in the 2nd Degree (Class D felony), one count of Fraudulent Submission to an Insurer (Class D felony), and one count of Forgery (Class D felony). Staci Seastrand pleaded guilty to three counts of Theft in the 2nd Degree (Class D felony). The Clinton County Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.

Lance and Staci Seastrand were each sentenced to five years of prison (suspended), three years of supervised probation, and a $1,025 fine. The Seastrands were ordered to pay a joint sum of $150,000 restitution to the victim. A No Contact Order is in effect for five years, prohibiting Lance and Staci Seastrand from having contact with the victim.

(Washington, D-C) – The office of Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst, says “As part of her continuing effort to prevent sexual misconduct in the prison system, Senator is supporting the bipartisan Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, to address the increasingly pervasive sexual assault and harassment of Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees by inmates.” The Senator’s office says “from 2019-2023 there were 1,600 female staff members attacked by inmates at Thomson Federal Prison, just across the Iowa border in Illinois.”

Senator Ernst says “Federal prison workers play a vital role in our justice system and in keeping our communities safe. They deserve to have a workplace that is free from harassment. Through this legislation, I’m working to protect correctional staff and allow them to do their important jobs.”

Jon Zumkehr, President of the BOP Employees Union, Local 4070 (which represents correctional officers), said “We thank Senator Ernst for joining Senator Blackburn in leading the charge to protect correctional officers from harassment and assault by inmates. This bill represents an important first step, and we look forward to working with them on this and future legislation to ensure a safer workplace for all our members.”

The legislation would require:

• The Department of Justice Office of Inspector General to conduct a comprehensive statistical review and analysis of the incidence and effects of sexual harassment and assault perpetrated by federal inmates against Bureau of Prison (BOP) staff, including at Thomson Federal Prison;
• The U.S. Attorney General to report the findings of the Inspector General’s review to Congress; and
• The U.S. Attorney General to promote a rule adopting national standards for prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual assault and harassment of BOP staff by inmates.

Click here to view the bill.