(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Clarinda was arrested Wednesday evening on an assault charge, in Red Oak. Police say 36-year-old Bryce Michael McKinnon was taken into custody at around 6:34-p.m. in the 2300 block of Eastern Avenue, in Red Oak. He was charged with Assault on a person engaged in certain professions, causing bodily injury. McKinnon was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The historic Harlan-Lincoln House in Mount Pleasant is changing hands. The two-story yellow and white house is now a stand-alone Iowa non-profit corporation, Harlan-Lincoln House, Inc. The now-closed Iowa Wesleyan University transferred ownership of the house, which was built by former Iowa U-S Senator James Harlan in 1876.

He was a friend and political ally of President Abe Lincoln – and Harlan’s daughter, Mary, married Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln. More than 20 volunteers will give guided tours of the house – and care for the structure and grounds. A public re-opening event is planned for October 21st.

Federal agencies sent out a message to all radios, T-Vs and cellular phones Wednesday afternoon, as a test of the nation’s emergency alert systems. Tracey Bearden, 9-1-1 coordinator for the Polk County Emergency Management Agency, says at 1:20 P-M, all devices were sent the alert as a test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System by the F-C-C and FEMA.

Bearden says the key takeaway should be that it’s a good drill to make sure that this nationwide system works and to practice for an actual incident. While some of us may have been annoyed by the distraction, Bearden hopes they consider the virtues of this unprecedented test as a way to be prepared.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue appeared before the City Council during their meeting this (Wednesday) evening, to update the Council on his department’s plans to address junk vehicle violations. The Chief said at the request of the Council, the P-D has been working on a process of dealing with personal vehicles being park on personal properties, in violation of the City’s Code of Ordinances.

He says two officers each are assigned to one of five zones in the City. The goal is for those officers to look for violations in their zones as time allows, and find the best way to address those violations.

Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue speaks w/the City Council (10/4/23; Ric Hanson photo)

Right now, the officers have a letter they can submit to violators, in an attempt to resolve the matter without having to issue a citation.

The project is in the beginning stages of its implementation, but Chief Hogue says they’ve already seen positive results from their efforts to alert vehicle owners to issues with the Code.

He said “We don’t wish to cite or fine the citizens into compliance.”

In other business, the Council passed Resolution “Approving the dedication of [the] Redwood Subdivision to the City of Atlantic.” During their meeting in April, 2022, the Council approved the preliminary plat for the subdivision, with the final plat having been approved in June of 2022. Both plats created nine new lots for low-density residential, single-family homes, and extended a cul-de-sac (East 20th St.) with utility service and right-of-way (ROW), west of Redwood Drive. A stipulation of the preliminary plat states “The public infrastructure improvements (streets, sewer, storm water & water main) shall be dedicated to the City of Atlantic.” The Resolution completes the transfer of the ROW and improvements within, to the City.

The Atlantic City Council approved the Transfer of Funds for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2023-24. City Administrator John Lund says is a routine transfer of money for the City’s 63 separate funds, and is a critical component of making the City’s budget work effectively. It also reconciles accurate cost-accounting with the desire to create transparency on what is being spent in each line item in each fund. The transfers, Lund says, are always in accordance with State Law. In the past, Lund notes, the City simply followed the budget on the transfers as sufficient documentation of activity, but the auditors are now requiring that a separate resolution be passed as the transfers occur.

Mayor Grace Garrett reminded citizens of Atlantic and the surrounding area of Atlantic, that if they wish to serve on the Parks and Rec Advisory Board, letters of your intent are due in to City Hall no later than 4:30-p.m. this Friday, Oct. 6th. Any late letters will not be considered.

She said to date, they have received about a half-dozen letters of intent.

(Bedford, Iowa) – The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, today (Wednesday) said a suspect wanted on multiple Iowa warrants throughout the State of Iowa, had been apprehended. Details concerning the capture of 30-year-old Ely Laramie Will are currently not available.

As we previously reported, Will was last known to be in the Lenox, Clearfield and Creston areas.

DES MOINES – Gov. Reynolds announced today (Wednesday), a third round of funding for the Child Care Business Incentive Grant Program to encourage employers to offer child care as a benefit to their employees.   

This round of the Child Care Business Incentive Grant Program will provide $5 million to support child care projects in Iowa.  Funds may be used to support arrangements between employers and child care facilities to reserve child care slots. Applicants can apply for up to $250,000. 

The Child Care Business Incentive Grant Program will be offered by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

“Incentivizing child care initiatives through collaboration with local businesses can help Iowans pursue opportunities that are best for their families,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Tackling this challenge requires everyone in our communities to be part of the solution and this third round of funding underscores our commitment to making child care more accessible throughout the state.” 

“The dividends from these investments in Iowa’s child care system are immeasurable,” said HHS Director Kelly Garcia. “These formative years in a child’s life lay the foundation for future health and well-being and have significant, lasting effects that cut across all HHS programming.” 

A Request for Proposals will be released October 4, 2023 at  https://bidopportunities.iowa.gov/. Proposals are due November 2.  Those interested in learning more about this opportunity can join the Bidders’ Conference October 10, 2023 at Noon by visiting https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1606104580. Pre-registration is not required. 

(Radio Iowa) – Cedar Rapids students returned to school Tuesday with additional safety measures in place after a weekend social media threat caused the district to cancel classes Monday. The district announced only 60 percent of students were in attendance. For the rest of the week an escalated police presence and a prohibition on backpacks remain in effect. Parent Adam Mayer says the Tuesday press conference about the issue was a start, but he says the communication with parents has been lacking.

Superintendent Tawana Grover says mental health supports are available to district families and staff. Cedar Rapids Police Captain Charlie Fields says they continue to investigate and no arrests nor citations have been made in connection with the threat.
(By Zachary Oren Smith, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – Managers of the state’s largest airport marked the beginning of the construction of a new 445 million dollar terminal with a groundbreaking today (Wednesday) in Des Moines. Airport executive director Kevin Foley says it has taken some time to get things planned and underway.

He says 65 percent of the people who leave the state by air fly out of Des Moines. Foley says it will give the airlines and passengers more space.

Foley says the new terminal will replace the original which had been added onto several times.

DM-airport-groundbreaking-(RI-photo)

The plan is to have the building itself will be completed in 2026 and then they will tear down the existing terminal and get the road in by 2027.

The project includes federal, state and local funding. Polk County voters will be going to the polls to vote on allowing the county to take out 350 million dollars in bonds for the project.

(Griswold, Iowa) – Griswold School District Superintendent Dave Henrichs, today (Wednesday), issued a brief statement with regard to a special meeting that had been scheduled to take place Thursday evening. Henrichs said “The appeal request has been withdrawn. Therefore, the Oct. 5 special meeting / hearing has been cancelled.”

As we previously reported on KJAN, the Griswold School Board was set to meet at 6:30-p.m., Thursday, to conduct a hearing on “Imposed disciplinary action of a patron,” and includes action on a motion to “Affirm or overturn [the] Administration’s Disciplinary Action imposed on a patron.”

Henrichs told KJAN News that the incident which sparked the disciplinary action against the patron, occurred during a football game on Sept. 22nd, but he didn’t elaborate on what type of incident took place.

(Braddyville, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a man who ran on foot away from Deputies in Nodaway County, Missouri, was captured today (Wednesday), in Braddyville (IA). Joshua Lee Green was located in the 900 block of W. Main Street. He was taken into custody on an active Taylor County (IA) felony warrant for Violation of Probation.

Green was also arrested on an active felony Nodaway County Missouri warrant for failure to register as a sex offender. Following his arrest, Green was transported and released to Taylor County Deputy.

Joshua Lee Green

Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Nodaway County Missouri Sheriff’s Office.

A charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.