(Radio Iowa) – There are just six weeks left in the Iowa Caucus campaign season and two of the leading candidates made their case directly to Iowans this past weekend. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke to a crowd in Newton Saturday, marking Jasper County as the 99th one he’s visited. “Are you ready to make history, Iowa?” DeSantis said, to cheers. “We’re got a mission. January 15th we are going to win the Iowa Caucus and that is going to propel us to being the 47th president of the United States and you’re going to make it happen.”

DeSantis, who’s pinning his candidacy on an Iowa victory, says the tour sends a signal. “The fact that I’m willing to do this, that should show you that I consider myself a servant, not a ruler,” DeSantis said, “and that’s how people that get elected should consider themselves.” Also Saturday, DeSantis announced that if he’s elected president, he would direct officials to reduce the federal workforce in Washington, D.C. by 50 percent.

“As part of our effort to take power out of Washington, D.C., move agencies in other parts of the country, we will answer the call and what people have suggested here in Iowa. You guys will have first dibs on the Department of Agriculture. We will send it to Iowa and you guys take care of it,” DeSantis said, to cheers. Former President Donald Trump spoke at events in Ankeny and Cedar Rapids Saturday, citing his lead in recent polls.

“We got this this thing. We got this thing,” Trump said, to cheers from the crowd in Cedar Rapids. And Trump zeroed in on DeSantis. “He’s been falling out of the air like a very seriously wounded bird — right? — to the ground and it’s a very pleasant thing to see,” Trump said. “It looks like he’s gonzo.” Many at Trump’s event in Ankeny were precinct leaders for Trump’s 2024 Iowa Caucus effort and Trump mentioned his 2nd place finish in the 2016 Iowa Caucuses.

“We would have done very well if it was a regular primary, but a Caucus is very different, but we learned a lot,” Trump said. “This time we have the best team anyone’s ever assembled for a Caucus.” The crowd in Ankeny booed as Trump mentioned Governor Kim Reynolds, who has endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. “That was her choice to do this, but I believe in loyalty,” Trump said. “…I don’t care if she endorses me or not. It’s not going to make any difference because the only endorsement that matters is the Trump endorsement.”

Trump described his agenda as common sense rather than conservative — and repeated some of his promises, like repealing and replacing ObamaCare and enhancing border security. “We’re going to seal up those borders so tight and we’re going to have the largest deportation of very bad people,” Trump said, to cheers, “very bad people who shouldn’t be in this country.”

Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy campaigned in Iowa on Saturday and says he’s on track to visit each of Iowa’s 99 counties twice before the Caucuses on January 15th. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley plans to return to the Iowa campaign trail next weekend. Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra will host an event in Sioux Center Saturday with Haley, Ramaswamy, and DeSantis.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report a man from Page County was arrested Sunday afternoon. Authorities say 21-year-old Jordan Chase Shum, of Yorktown, was arrested for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. He  was taken into custody in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street at around 2:15-p.m. and held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

[Updated 12/4] (Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic will hold one of their two, regular monthly meetings 5:30-p.m., Wednesday, in their Chambers and City Hall. Among the action items on their agenda, is the swearing-in by Mayor Grace Garrett, of Atlantic Police Officer, Nicholas Whipple. Whipple is a Bedford High School graduate and a certified police officer in the State of Iowa. He graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and joined the Iowa National Guard in 2022. He completed his IANG Basic & AIT Training, in Oct. 2023.

The Council is expected to pass a Resolution approving the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Budget for Atlantic Municipal Utilities. Their action is essentially an acknowledgement of the AMU Board having passed their Budget. The budget shows 2024 Total Revenues & Financing Sources in excess of of $19.2-million, and Total Expenditures & Transfers Out amounting to nearly $18.4-million. AMU General Manager Steve Tjepkes and Comptroller Jennifer Saathoff will be present during the City Council’s meeting to answer any questions.

In other business, the Council will hear an Annual Report from Michelle Andersen, Director of the Atlantic Public Library. They’ll act also, on Orders to:

• Appoint Emily Kringel to the Board of Adjustment. Kringle will replace Alexis Fleener, who has moved out-of-State and formally resigned from the Board. The Board of Adjustment reviews appeals of the City’s Zoning and Sign Ordinance. The Board meets as needed, on the second Monday of the month, at 5:30-p.m.
• Authorizing Snyder & Associates Engineers to proceed with the design and bidding process for the Atlantic Splash Pad Project. Splashpad Committee representatives met on Nov. 2nd with the City’s Personnel & Finance Committee, which considered a request for the City of proceed with the design and bidding for the project. During a follow-up meeting on Nov. 13th, the Committee unanimously to recommend the Council authorize Snyder’s to proceed with the design & bidding process for the Splash Pad Project.

The Atlantic City Council move to act on a Resolution “Closing the Inclusive Playground Fund and transferring the fund balance ($45,000) to the Splash Pad Fund,” as well as the Third and Final Reading of an Ordinance Amending the City Code, with regard to City Administrator Duties, followed by an “Order to Approve an Administrative Assistance Contract Addendum for [a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant)] contract,” with regard to the “Weresh Upper Story” project. The Amendment states SWIPCO (the Southwest Iowa Planning Council, in Atlantic) “Shall maintain all pertinent records for the greater of three-years after the date the recipient is notified that the State CDBG contract has been closed with HUD (Housing and Urban Development).”

At the conclusion of regular business, the Atlantic City Council will enter into a closed session to discuss with legal counsel, matters currently in, or likely to enter, litigation.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County**, Tuesday (Dec. 5), will hold a regular session in their Red Oak Courthouse Board Room, beginning at 8:30-a.m.  In addition to a Secondary Roads Department update from Engineer Karen Albert, the Board will discuss “Board of Supervisors Regular meetings available on the streaming platform YouTube,” with action as necessary.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors*** meeting takes place at 9-a.m., Tuesday, in their Atlantic, Courthouse Board Room. On their agenda is a presentation by Ryan Berven, with Assured Partners, with regard to health insurance year-to-date claims, ISAC rates for July, and Wellness.

The Cass County Supervisors will also act on passing a Resolution “Setting compensation for elected officials for Fiscal Year 2024 as previously approved by [a] voice vote on March 21, 2023.” During that meeting, Supervisor Steve Green moved and Supervisor Bernard Pettinger seconded, a motion to reduce the compensation board’s recommendation of 10% for elected officials and 13.5% for the sheriff by 40% to 6% for elected officials and 8.1% for the sheriff. The motion passed by a vote of 4-to-1, with Supervisors Wendy Richter opposed.

The Board will hear a regular, weekly report from County Engineer Trent Wolken, and a report from Cass County General Relief/Mental Health Coordinator Debbie Schuler, for the months of October and November.  Following their regular meeting, the Cass Supervisors will conduct a Budget Workshop session with Department Head, to plan for the FY 202402025 Budget. The work session begins at 10:30-a.m., Tuesday, also in the Supervisor’s Board Room.

**Please note, the Montgomery Supervisors meeting is a public meeting; however, it may be conducted via ZOOM

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85039693411

Meeting ID: 850 3969 3411

Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 If you are calling in, Press *9 to raise your hand if you wish to speak.31

***Join Electronically at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2899195216?pwd=R0hSa2FOOTh0NUdra1ZSdVhVWHpMUT09
Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
Passcode: 012064

Call In: 312-626-6799, press *9 to indicate you wish to speak.

(Waukee, Iowa) – Officials with the Waukee Police Department report that at around 4:36-p.m., Saturday (December 2nd), Waukee Police and Fire Department personnel were dispatched to a welfare check at a pond near the 1100 block of Northview Drive, which is on the west side of the city. The team recovered the body of a male juvenile. The Police Department posted on social media, “Our hearts go out to all of those affected by this tragedy, we also extend our heartfelt condolences to the family.”

The youth’s name was not immediately released.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report a man was arrested Friday afternoon for Violation of a No Contact Order. Authorities say 39-year-old Daniel Fasce was arrested at around 1:30-p.m., at the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held without bond.

OMAHA, Neb. — The Nebraska State Patrol said a western Iowa man was died in a three-vehicle crash early Saturday morning on Interstate 80. The crash happened at around 1-a.m. on westbound I-80 near I Street, in Omaha. The crash involved a semi, a Chevrolet Express van, and Honda Accord. The driver of the Chevrolet, 36-year-old Tanner Mudra, of Council Bluffs, died at the scene, according to the patrol.

The driver of the Honda was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the semi was not hurt.

Troopers said the Honda driver lost control and hit the concrete median. The semi driver then pulled over to help the driver of the Honda. NSP said the Chevrolet driver then hit the Honda, which had come to rest in a lane of travel, and then hit the semi.

NSP said the crash is still under investigation.

(Creston, Iowa) – A collision east of Creston Friday night claimed the lives of two people from Nebraska. The Iowa State Patrol this (Saturday) afternoon, said the accident happened at around 7-p.m. on Highway 34 at Iris Avenue, as a 2008 Ford Explorer was eastbound on Highway 34. A 1996 Peterbilt semi, which was stopped at the posted sign sign on Iris Avenue, proceeded to turn left onto Highway 34. The SUV collided with the grain hopper trailer the semi was pulling.

The driver of the SUV, 17-year-old Izabella M. Martinez, and a front seat passenger in the vehicle, 18-year-old Alex Conner Mauseth, both of Omaha, died at the scene. A third passenger in the Explorer, 14-year-old Xavier Martinez, of Omaha, was injured and transported to the hospital by Creston EMS. Both front seat occupants were wearing their seat belts. The 14-year-old was unrestrained.

The driver of the semi, 63-year-old Kelly Lee Jones, of Creston, was not injured. The deaths in Union County, bring to seven, the number of people who died in crashes, Friday. Four people died in a crash Friday night in Cedar Rapids, and a man from Osceola died Friday afternoon in a crash west of Osceola.

(Stanton, Iowa) – In an update to a report posted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Friday evening, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said a man from Villisca was flown to a trauma center following a bridge collapse on a private drive Friday morning, northwest of Stanton. 53-year-old Clint A. Means suffered serious injuries after the dry floater fertilizer spreader he was driving fell through a bridge an into the Tarkio River. He was last reported to be in serious, but stable condition.

According to the report, Means was operating a John Deere F4365 dry floater when the machine fell through the bridge, trapping him inside. The floater ended up on its side in the river facing west. Means was extricated from the operator’s station of the equipment.

The machine, owned by New Cooperative, sustained an $75,000 damage. Damage to the bridge, owned by Darren R. Barkman, of Stanton, was  estimated at $150,000.

The DNR earlier stated the collapse caused a fertilizer spreader to enter the waterway, resulting in an unknown amount of mono ammonium phosphate (MAP), sulfur, and potash being spilled into the Tarkio River approximately one mile north of Stanton. The collapse also ruptured a fuel tank, spilling roughly 100 gallons of diesel into the creek.

Bridge collapse near Stanton (DNR photo)

Field office staff from the Department of Natural Resources were on-site, Friday, collecting both upstream and downstream samples from the Tarkio River. Booms were placed downstream of the incident and samples will be submitted to the State Hygienic Lab for analysis. No dead fish were observed.

Cleanup efforts were underway. The DNR says it will continue to monitor cleanup efforts and consider appropriate enforcement action.