(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that a lawsuit over the ownership of donated artifacts inside the official residence of the governor should be allowed to proceed. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, the ruling centers on a dispute between the private, nonprofit Terrace Hill Society Foundation and the state’s Terrace Hill Commission, both of which are dedicated to restoring, preserving and furnishing Terrace Hill, the official residence of Iowa’s governor. The building, located at 2300 Grand Ave. in Des Moines, is a National Historic Landmark built in 1869. For years, the foundation worked closely with the commission, a state entity that manages the governor’s residence, by placing items from its collection of artifacts on display at Terrace Hill.

In recent years a dispute arose over ownership and control of the collection, which, the foundation claimed, resulted “in the commission, in effect, seizing control of the collection.” In 2022, the Terrace Hill Society Foundation sued the commission, alleging that for nearly 50 years, the foundation and its predecessors had received hundreds of items of donated property, including historical artifacts and monetary donations, for the restoration and improvement of Terrace Hill.

The foundation argued that it had placed many of the donated items into the “custody and control of the commission,” while relying on an agreement the two had to work “harmoniously” and “cooperatively” in a joint effort to improve the mansion. According to the foundation, the agreement provided that donations from the foundation to the commission were made with the understanding that the foundation would retain ownership of the items. The commission, represented by the attorney general’s office, attempted have the district court dismiss the lawsuit, arguing it was barred by the doctrine of sovereign immunity. The district court denied that motion, but the state appealed, sending the matter to the Iowa Supreme Court.

Terrace Hill

The court on Friday ruled in favor of the foundation, affirming the district court judge’s decision that the foundation “has property rights under state law and the Iowa Constitution, and it is entitled to have this court rule on the merits of its ownership claims.” The ruling means litigation over the issue of ownership can resume at the district court level.

The Terrace Hill Commission is a nine-person board, created by statute and appointed by the governor, that provides for the preservation, maintenance, renovation, landscaping and administration of Terrace Hill.

(Creston, Iowa) – (Updated w/Creston PD CORRECTION!**) Four people were arrested on drug charges over the weekend, in Creston. According to the Creston Police Department, at around 12:33-a.m. Saturday, 45-year-old Robert Todd Jackson, of Creston, was arrested at the intersection of Mills and Sumner Streets, on charges that include: Possession of Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine/1^st Offense, and Driving while Suspended. Jackson was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $1,300 Cash or Surety Bond; 47-year-old Deanne Michelle Jackson, of Creston, was arrested at the same time and place, for Possession of Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine/1^st Offense. Jackson was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $1,000 Cash or Surety Bond; and, at around 3:30-p.m. Saturday, Creston Police arrested 49-year-old Carrie Ann Johns, of Creston**, at the intersection of Jarvis and Adams Streets. Johns was charged with Driving while Barred. She was cited and released on Promise to Appear (in court). 

Sunday evening, Creston Police arrested 20-year-old Daemon Cole Rodriquez, of Texas, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Rodriquez was cited and released on Promise to Appear. And, 41-year-old Amanda Morris, of Afton, was arrested at Casey’s North, in Creston. Morris was charged on a Guthrie County Warrant for FTA Possession of Contraband in Correctional Institution, Possession of Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine 1^st Offense and Operating while Under the Influence 1^st Offense. Morris is being held in Adams County on No Bond awaiting extradition to Guthrie County Jail.

Creston Police report also, that at around 2:36-a.m. Saturday, 21-year-old Aaron James Cozad, of Creston, was arrested for  OWI/1^st Offense, and Driving while Revoked. Cozad was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $2,000 Cash or Surety bond.

(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) – In response to the overwhelming cleanup efforts following the severe weather of April 26th, Pottawattamie County has announced the establishment of a tree debris drop-off location. There is no charge for property owners in the county to utilize the drop-off, and officials emphasize material outside vegetative debris will not be accepted. Loads including scrap metal, lumber, and other material will be denied.

• LOCATION: 145th Street & Rosewood Road; formerly known as the ‘KOA Campground’
• DATES: Now through June 6, 2024 (Seven days a week, closed Memorial Day)
• HOURS: 8:00AM-4:00PM

The drop-off is open to all property owners in the county who experienced damage from the recent weather events. Pottawattamie County Secondary Roads employees will be on-site with equipment to assist in the process. Once operation of the drop-off location is complete, Pottawattamie County Conservation will burn the debris.

With the governor’s request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration, Pottawattamie County officials are emphasizing the importance of residential and business property owners submitting their damages to the Pottawattamie County Emergency Management website. The reports provide vital information that support the request for federal assistance to homeowners and business owners. The damage reporting portal can be accessed at pcema-ia.org.

(Iowa News Service) – Results of a new study show more American women are falling behind on getting critical breast cancer scans.  Nowhere is this perhaps more important than in Iowa, a state that is among the nation’s leaders in lethal breast cancer cases. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. It claims about 40,000 women every year.

Researchers have historically broken down mammography use by state and demographics, but the University of Iowa’s Iowa Cancer Registry Research Director – Sarah Nash – said that for the first time, this study took critical social factors into account when studying mammography use.  “And so they looked at several different things,” said Nash, “and the strongest predictors among these social drivers of health were life dissatisfaction, feeling socially isolated, experiencing lost or reduced employment, receiving food stamps, lacking reliable transportation, and reporting cost as a barrier to care.”

Nash said the results of this study point to the need to address social drivers and not just health care access when figuring out who needs help and how they can get it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that only 65% of women ages 50 to 74, with three or more health-related social needs, are up to date with their mammograms. Despite acknowledging the social determinants that can stand between a woman and her mammogram, Nash and other researchers have said the number one factor is cost. “So, to address costs, we can think about making sure preventive care remains at no co-pay,” said Nash. “We have a program in Iowa called the ‘Iowa Care for Yourself‘ program, which helps provide low- or no-cost screening for Iowans who are under insured.”

Scientists estimate early detection and treatment can reduce breast cancer deaths by almost a quarter.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A public hearing will take place Tuesday morning, with regard to the vacating of an alley in the unincorporated Montgomery County town of Stennett. The hearing – part of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisor’s regular meeting – begins at 8:45-a.m., and pertains to an alley located between East Depot and Wayne Streets. The hearing will be followed by action from the Board on approving or disapproving a Resolution to vacate the alley.

In other business, the Montgomery County Supervisors will discuss MidAmerican Energy electric rate options, with action as necessary, and take action on approving an Alcohol Renewal application for the Red Oak County Club, LLC.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie Center Community School District’s Board of Education will meet 8-a.m. Tuesday, May 7th, to act on approving a High School Principal contract, with Mr. Brian Sauser. The meeting takes place in the AC/GC HS Superintendent’s Office.

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Griswold School District’s Board of Education will hold a Special Session this (Monday) afternoon (May 6,2024), to act on contracts and updated handbooks. Their meeting begins at 4:30-p.m. in the Conference Room.

1. Call Meeting To Order

• Roll Call

• Reading Of The Mission Statement

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Griswold Community School District, in partnership with our families and communities, is to provide leadership for positive change to ensure the best learning opportunities for everyone in a safe and caring environment.

2. Approval Of Agenda (D.R.)

3. Public Input

4. Personnel – New Hires and Resignations (D.R.)

5. Approve Master Contract For GCEA (D.R.)

6. Accept GCEA Human Resource Handbook (D.R.)

7. Approve Master Contract For School Based Interventionist (D.R.)

8. Accept School Based Interventionist Human Resource Handbook (D.R.)

9. Approve Master Contract For Technology Coordinator (D.R.)

10. Accept Technology Coordinator Human Resource Handbook (D.R.)

11. Approve Master Contract For Non-Certified Staff (D.R.)

12. Accept Non-Certified Human Resource Handbook (D.R.)

13. Approval Of Contract Renewals For Certified Staff, Coaches/Sponsors, Administration,

Quasi-Administrators, And Support Staff (D.R.)

14. Adjourn

(D.R.) = Decision Required

(I.) = Informational

Final agenda will be posted in the Central Office no less than 24 hours before the meeting.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County, this (Monday) morning, arrested a Red Oak man on a Montgomery County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense. 60-year-old Robert Wade Abraham was taken into custody at around 4-a.m. in the 2300 block of Eastern Avenue, in Red Oak. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash-only bond.