(Radio Iowa) – Federal agencies will be sending out a message to all radios, T-Vs and cellular phones this (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, explains what will happen if you’re among the hundreds of thousands of cell phone users in Iowa. “At approximately 1:20, everyone’s going to receive an alert with special tones and vibrations,” Bearden says. “That’s going to be a nationwide test, so it’s going to alert every phone. You can’t opt out of this. It’s going to say, ‘This is a test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.'” The same alert will be broadcast on all radios and T-Vs as FEMA and the F-C-C test what is hoped to be the best option to quickly notify the public of an emergency.

“I think the takeaway should be that it’s a good drill to make sure that this nationwide system that we use, in the county even, are practice for an actual, real incident,” Bearden says. “If we would have had this system during 9-11, this could have been used.” Iowans who have an Apple device with iOS 17 software will be able to click on the alert for an additional instruction field. While some of us may be annoyed by the distraction, Bearden hopes they’ll consider the virtues of this unprecedented test.

“You have to plan and you have to practice, and you train as if it’s a real incident,” Bearden says. “So I would take that time, let your phone be on. It’s going to be a very brief moment of inconvenience. Look at that alert. If you have that iPhone/iOS 17, tap on that so that additional information comes up, because this is what would happen in a real life situation.”

There is concern that Iowans who are victims of domestic violence or other abuse might have their “secret” phones go off during this test. Officials recommend they power off their phones if the test will put them in danger until they can be safely turned back on.

The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session Tuesday morning, in Harlan. During their meeting, the Board discussed the lease with Heartland Family Services at the annex building. Auditor/Board Secretary Mark Maxwell says the lease will be up for renewal on January 1st, 2024. It calls for monthly charges of $700 for the space leased. Board Chair Steve Kenkel suggested raising the lease payments 50 cents per square foot to $12.50 per square foot, amounting to $8,400 for calendar years 2024 and 2025. A motion to that effect was passed.

Todd Valline reported on the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the Supervisors. The report included information from the latest SWIPCO meeting and Valline also reported that Southwest Iowa Transit Authority has one of the highest volume of rides in the state of Iowa. Several upcoming programs and promotions were also presented.

Brandon Burmeister, Shelby County Engineer, recommended that the Supervisors approve Utility Permits for Farmers Mutual Telephone Cooperative for permits numbered 2023-9-28-1, 2023-9-28-2, 2023-9-28-3. All three of the permits were approved. Burmeister then gave his Secondary Roads Department updates to the Supervisors concerning his department, including photos of some recent culvert and bridge replacement projectd completed by his department.

The Supervisor’s committee reports included Bryce Schaben reporting that the house at Manteno Park has been reroofed by the Conservation Department and that some of the sheeting was bad and added extra expense to the project. Steve Kenkel reported on the CO2 pipeline activities. He noted that three more Shelby County landowners will be testifying to the Utilities Board. Kenkel also advised that the Utility Board schedule is very dynamic.

Mark Maxwell, as Shelby County Election Commissioner, asked the Supervisors to approve the hiring of a part time person for election IT and processes help, on Election Day. The individual will have to have IT skills and experience of polling place processes. He said the total employment hours are expected to be about 20, total. Maxwell said there is some new technology that is required at some polling places this year that places the pollbooks behind the County firewall for more election security. Also, being a county employee permits the person to have more freedom working with other precincts. He noted that being a precinct election official only restricts being able to help other precincts at the polling place. The Board approved a search for and the hiring of, a part-time IT person.

Chair Steve Kenkel noted that all wellness activities required by County insured employees need to be completed by October 31st and all department heads have been notified. Also the 14th of November, at the first Canvass of the City/School Election there will also be a budget workshop to go over initial budget plans for fiscal year 2025.

(Radio Iowa) – After a very long wait, the barricades are finally coming down and the State Historical Building of Iowa, Museum and Research Center in downtown Des Moines will hold its grand reopening in ten days. Spokesman Jeff Morgan says there’s a beautiful, bright new atrium and significant infrastructure improvements that are designed to provide a safer, more secure facility that will preserve and share Iowa’s history for decades to come. “The State Historical Building has undergone a renovation project over the past five years and it’s going to be fully reopening on Saturday, October 14th,” Morgan says. “We’re going to have a day-long schedule of programs and activities. We’re going to be unveiling a brand new museum exhibition, called ‘Civics in Action’ that day, so we’re encouraging people to come down and participate and celebrate us.”

That new exhibit focuses on the significant events, court cases, caucuses and issues that shaped the future of Iowa and the United States. “They’ll be able to see more than 60 artifacts from our permanent collection, everything from a Ding Darling political cartoon to election tickets from the 1800s,” Morgan says. “We’ll have artifacts from caucuses of Iowa’s past, and banners, buttons, ribbons and more.” Another exhibit features Mia Peterson, who grew up in Webster City, and became a prominent national advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.

“She actually carried the Olympic torch, and we’re going to have a number of her items here,” Morgan says. “We’re also going to have information about our Benoist biplane. We’re going to have an object station that will transport artifacts through several different exhibits during the day, and then we’ll have storytellers in the ‘Iowa and the Civil War’ exhibition.”

Built in 1987 as a center for Iowa history, the State Historical Museum of Iowa will have new hours, and will be open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 3:45-a.m. on Sept. 30th, in Essex, resulted in an arrest and three people cited for Minor In Possession (MIP)/Consumption of Alcohol. According to the Shenandoah Police Department, the traffic stop on a vehicle with an equipment violation occurred in the 1500 block of South Avenue, in Essex. The driver, 23-year-old Daniel Ohnmacht, of Essex, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, Possession or carrying of firearms while under the influence, and supplying alcohol to a minor. He was also cited for Open Container. He posted a $3,000 bond and was released with a court date. Passengers in the vehicle who were cited for MIP included 20-year-old Caden Henderson, of Shenandoah, 19-year-old Brice Sederburg, of Atlantic, and 19-year-old Jillian Galbraith, of Rea, Missouri.

Shenandoah Police said also, that at around 11:30-p.m. on Sept. 30th, 25-year-old Derek James, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop in Shenandoah. James was charged with OWI/1st offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. James was being held in the Page County Jail on a $1,600 bond.

On Oct. 1st, 29-year-old Quentin Demanett, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, and on two counts of Child Endangerment. He was being held without bond in the Page County Jail. And, on Oct. 3rd, 32-year-old Hope Kalkas, of Shenandoah, was arrested on charges that include Disorderly Conduct, and Consumption or Intoxication in public places. Her bond at the Page County Jail was set at $600.

The hearing for the Summit carbon pipeline got underway again Tuesday with landowners discussing their concerns about the pipeline coming through their property. Dennis Graham testified he is concerned about whether there is insurance to cover any damages. He says they are pretty confident that they’re not covered under his personal policy. He says that covers normal farm operations, not a pipeline with compressed C-O-2. The Iowa Utilities Board has landowners listed to testify through Thursday, the Summit hearing could then wrap up.

The Iowa Business Council’s third-quarter Economic Outlook Survey shows continued concern about the national economy among its members. I-B-C president Joe Murphy says they measure member expectations for sales, capital spending and employment for the next six months. He says they saw a decline in each of those categories but the remained about 50 which indicates a positive outlook on the 100 point scale. The latest survey is just under 60. Murphy says concern about a recession remains and whether there will be one and how it will impact things. He says the inflation and higher interest rates are hitting the customers of the member businesses. Murphy says that the Iowa economy remains strong and that is why there is still optimism in the state.

The four Republicans in the U-S House of Representatives voted against the removal of Speak Kevin McCarthy, Tuesday. McCarthy was removed after eight other Republicans voted with Democrats on the move. Republican Matt Gaetz pushed to remove McCarthy for working with Democrats on the deal to avert the government shutdown. Iowa Representative Ashley Hinson criticized the move in a statement after the vote, saying it paralyzed the House and brought their work for the American people to a halt. Hinson says she will continue working to end what she call the embarrassing chaos and dysfunction in Washington.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s deputies in Montgomery County, Tuesday evening, arrested a 16-year old male on a felony weapons charge. The juvenile was taken into custody for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a Class-D Felony, and Minor possessing a concealed weapon – a serious misdemeanor. The unidentified teen was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

(Red Oak, Iowa) -Red Oak Police dispatched Tuesday for a reported suspicious vehicle in the 1900 block of Ingles Drive, ended-up arresting the driver on numerous charges. 56-year-old Laura Ann Schrader, of Stanton, was taken into custody for: Driving While Suspended; OWI/2nd offense; 7 count of Unlawful possession of prescription pills, and Assault on law enforcement. Her bond was set at $2,000.

(Grinnell, Iowa) – The Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office reports one person died, another was arrested, following a shooting on Interstate 80 Tuesday, about five-miles east of the Grinnell Exit. Authorities say  deputies responded to the 187 mile-marker westbound at around 8:25-a.m., following a call for assistance from the Iowa State Patrol.

The Sheriff’s Office, along with the Iowa State Patrol and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, are investigating the shooting death of an adult male. One suspect is in custody, and it is believed that there is no danger to the public at this time.

No further information was released as of Tuesday evening.