ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Democratic challenger Fred Hubbell are set for a debate, giving voters a chance to compare the candidates weeks before the November election. The Wednesday debate in Ankeny comes as Reynolds, a Republican, seeks her first full term after taking office last year when former Gov. Terry Branstad became U.S. ambassador to China. Hubbell, a business executive who comes from a wealthy Des Moines family, hopes to convince voters that Iowa needs a change after nearly eight years of Republican governors.

Reynolds claims credit for Iowa’s low unemployment rate, job training programs and a large tax cut. Hubbell criticizes her legislative record, which he argues includes stripping state workers of collective bargaining rights, underfunding education while approving wasteful tax giveaways and continuing a privatized Medicaid program.

Iowa DNR Conservation Officers are searching for a missing boater believed to have gone missing on Saturday, October 6th  in the Mississippi River near Pool 11. The Cassville (WI) Fire Department responded to a call of a boat spinning in circles in the main channel north of the Cassville Ferry Landing. Firefighters were able to ram the circling boat and pull the safety lanyard to stop the motor. The boat came to rest on the shoreline north of Cassville.

Later, a call was received that a 56 year old man from Burlington, Wisconsin was believed to be boating by himself and had gone missing. Investigators believe the man likely fell out of the boat and was not wearing a personal flotation device. Searches were conducted throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday before being called off without locating the man. This week searches have continued between the Iowa DNR, USFWS and local fire departments as well as the U.S. Coast Guard.

Christian Aid Ministries of Illinois have converged on the area with specialized water recovery efforts including a command trailer, rescue boats with SONAR equipment and underwater surveillance tools and will be conducting searches. The search and response efforts are in conjunction with many agencies including the Iowa DNR, Wisconsin DNR, Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Wisconsin State Patrol, Guttenberg Fire Department, Guttenberg Police Department, Grant County (WI) Sheriff’s Office, Glen Haven Fire Department, and the Cassville Fire Department.

Cass County Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle reports a presentation on IPERS (The Iowa Public Employee Retirement System) was made Tuesday, by Mike Fitzgerald, Iowa’s State Treasurer. He spoke to about 90 people at the Atlantic High School Auditorium.  IPERS is a defined benefit program to which the current GOP Legislature has attempted to make significant changes, wanting to change it to a defined contribution plan or a 401K.  It is unclear as to Governor Reynold’s plans for IPERS as she has made several ambivalent statements over the past year regarding the pension plan. Because of these proposed changes, public employees expressed justifiable concerns about their retirement security. Fitzgerald told the crowd “IPERS is a $31 billion retirement plan designed to provide secure, lifetime pension benefits for Iowans who choose careers in public service.”

It is estimated by the IPERS Board that about 80% of the retiree benefits being paid out remain in the local community. In Cass County (2017 figures supplied by IPERS), there were 755 benefit households; the annual cumulative benefits provided to those households totaled $11,277,422, for an average of $14,937 per retiree. Mr. Fitzgerald serves as the trustee and custodian of the IPERS program through which one in ten Iowans is a current or potential beneficiary.

Saying public employees must be vigilant about their investment, Fitzgerald stressed the need for concerned public employees to contact their legislators and legislative candidates as well as the Governor and Gubernatorial candidates to express their opinions about IPERS, especially if they want to save IPERS from possible changes. There were numerous questions regarding the solvency of the retirement program and whether the current system or the others being considered was the better choice.  Fitzgerald assured the attendees of the current program’s solvency.

More information about IPERS can be found at its website https://www/ipers.org/

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 40-year old Myron Lee Brandon, of Pacific Junction, was arrested Tuesday night. Brandon was taken into custody on a Shelby County warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $10,000.  And, Taylor Villhauer, of Corning, was cited Tuesday in Mills County, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Waterloo school district officials say a threat on social media has forced them to cancel school Wednesday at the district’s three high schools. The officials said in messages sent to parents that they learned Tuesday evening of the threat that referenced West and Expo high schools. They say they worked through the night with police to investigate the posting. No arrests have been reported.

Officials say classes also were canceled at East High, even though it wasn’t mentioned. The three schools’ staff members were told not to go to work. Classes were not canceled at the district’s elementary and middle schools. The officials also say they intend to resume classes Thursday at all three high schools.

Police in Creston report the arrest Tuesday morning, of 34-year old Jaime Torres, of Creston. Torres was taken into custody on a warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. He was being held on a $5,000 bond in the Union County Jail. And, a Creston resident reported to police Tuesday afternoon, that sometime during the overnight hours Monday into Tuesday, someone entered his vehicle that was parked in the 200 block of S. Lincoln Street. An electronic larynx (a speech assistance device) and Samsung cell phone were stolen. The loss was estimated at $825.