(Radio Iowa) – Pope Francis has appointed the bishop of Davenport’s Diocese to serve as the Archbishop of Dubuque. The Dubuque Archdiocese covers 30 counties in northeast and northcentral Iowa where 18 percent of the population is Catholic according to an archdiocese news release. The Most Reverend Thomas Zinkula will be the 11th Archbishop of Dubuque when he’s ordained the fall. The previous archbishop, the Most Reverend Michael Jackels, resigned in April for health reasons.

Archbishop-elect Zinkula, who is 66 years old, grew up on a farm near Mount Vernon. He graduated for Cornell College with a degree in math, economics and business in 1979, worked at an insurance company in Cedar Rapids, earned a law degree from the University of Iowa in 1983 and joined a law firm in Cedar Rapids. In 1990, Zinkula earned a masters in theology at Catholic University, the same year he was ordained as a priest at the cathedral in Dubuque. Zinkula served seven parishes during his assignment in the archdiocese and was rector of the Catholic seminary in Dubuque for three years before his appointment as Bishop of the Davenport Diocese in 2017.

In a written statement, Archbishop-elect Zinkula said he is humbled and overjoyed to receive the appointment to return to his home diocese and hopes being a native son of the area makes the transition somewhat easier and quicker. His ordination will be held in Dubuque on October 18th. Until then, the Most Reverend Richard Pates, who retired as the bishop for the Des Moines Diocese in 2017, will continue as the administrator of the archdiocese.

(Here’s the list of parishes where TMR Zinkula served: 1990-1993 Parochial Vicar of St. Columbkille Parish, Dubuque; 1993-1996 Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Dubuque; 1998-2002 Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Rickardsville; Sacramental Priest for St. Francis Parish, Balltown and Ss. Peter & Paul Parish, Sherrill; 2002-2005 Sacramental Priest for St. John Baptist de La Salle Pastorate; 2005-2007 Pastor of Holy Ghost Parish, Dubuque; 2007-2011 Pastor of Holy Spirit Pastorate, Dubuque; June-July, 2011 Parochial Administrator of Holy Spirit Parish, Dubuque; 2012-2014 Episcopal Vicar of Cedar Rapids Region.)

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday), approved $30,000 in “seed funds” for Crossroads Behavioral Health Services. The funds will come from the County’s share of the State/Federal Opiod Settlement. Crossroads Executive Director Brittany Palmer, and Certified Prevention Specialist Jessica Putter, spoke to the Supervisors before making their formal request for funding. Palmer said they are working on proposed programming, with the staff of school districts within Adair County.

Brittany said because of the county’s poverty level and the number of teenagers in the county, those persons are at greater risk of getting involved in abusive and/or illegal substances. She said also, young people are more at risk than ever, of suicide and depression.

She said if they “Can get mental health services and drug prevention services in the schools, studies show that kids are six times more likely to engage in services if we commit them to the schools.”

Jess Putter spoke in more detail about the two programs they offer in the middle and high school.

The seventh grade program offers 10 sessions twice a week for several weeks.

The school district, she says, comes up with a list potential students who are most in need of Crossroads’ services. Supervisor John Twombley said Southern Hills Regional Mental Health officials indicated starting kids with services in junior high, is almost too late. Brittany Palmer agreed.

She said the Nodaway Valley School District has committed funding the Crossroads Programs, through a 4-year grant. The District served as a pilot program last year, and plans are to focus more on what needs to be done to make the programs work even better this year.

In other business, the Adair County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, acknowledged the receipt of Manure Management Plan updates, and appointed Pat Baier as the Grand River Township Trustee.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Community School District’s (ACSD) Booster Club report that on Friday, July 14th the Club held their annual golf tournament at Nishna Hills Golf Course. This year’s tournament boasted a roster of 32 teams, 38 hole sponsors, 7 corporate sponsors, and multiple volunteers. Volunteers manned a variety of areas including individual betting holes, registration tables, and a team that helped prepare lunch. The 2023 Booster Club Golf Tournament raised just over $20,000. Funds from the tournament helped pay for a new shed at the Atlantic High School tennis courts.

Megan Roberts, ACSD Booster Club Scheduler commented,”Our partnership with Beth Johnsen, ACSD Superintendent and Lisa Jones, ACSD SBO have begun as both were out in full support of the event and were in attendance throughout the day!”  ACSD Superintendent Beth Johnsen commented on the overwhelming support from the community she witnessed as she attended her first official ACSD event, saying “The Boosters Club put on a well-organized golf outing to fund-raise money that supports our activities program!  The turnout of teams and local business support was outstanding. The Atlantic Community support was speaking loudly with how they are loyal supporters for taking care of the needs of our kids. I am very impressed with the overwhelming advocacy for the school district. I met a lot of awesome people at the event and I look forward to being part of the growing support and energy in Atlantic.”

This year’s tournament offered corporate sponsorship opportunities. Those sponsors included: Meredith Communications, Duke rentals, Brocker Karns & Karns, Rolling Hills Bank & Trust, Olsen Fuel Supply, AM Choron & Son, Mutual of Omaha – Stuart Dusenberry, State Farm – Megan Roberts.

The 2024 ACSD Booster Club golf tournament is scheduled for Friday, July 19th at the Atlantic Golf and Country Club.

The ACSD Booster Club holds monthly meetings on the third Monday of the month at 630pm, in the Atlantic High School media center. Stay up to date by following the Booster Club’s Facebook page:  “Atlantic School Booster Club“. Questions pertaining to the ACSD Booster Club should be directed to: boosterclubhelp@gmail.com

(Radio Iowa) – As many as 60-thousand cyclists are expected on today’s (Wednesday) leg of RAGBRAI from Ames to Des Moines, which would be the largest-ever day on the bike ride — and on one of the hottest days of the year so far. A heat advisory is posted for Iowa’s southern half and western Iowa as forecasters say the heat index may reach 105 degrees. Hans House, an emergency medicine professor at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, says people who are most vulnerable to heat stroke are the very young, the very old, and those on certain medications. “So a lot of elderly are on medications, either for blood pressure or for Parkinson’s or other psychiatric medications,” House says, “and all of these can adversely affect the body’s own heat regulatory mechanisms.”

House says signs of heat stroke include people who are hot, but who aren’t sweating, and are showing signs of an altered mental state like confusion. She says, “Since part of heatstroke is that change in mental status or that confusion, you may not recognize that you’re getting yourself in trouble, especially with the dehydration part.” The experts say to skip strenuous outdoor activities and if you have to be outside, drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks in the shade. That won’t be an option for most RAGBRAI riders as they head for Iowa’s largest city. Many of Des Moines’ main roads are closed to accommodate bike traffic with limited pass-through points for cars.

Des Moines Police Sergeant Paul Parizek says motorists should plan to take detours or to take extra time to get around today. “Our whole city is probably going to be impacted by an increased number of cyclists,” Parizek says, “so we need to make sure we keep our heads on a swivel and share the road and do everything we can to make sure they get where they need to go safely.” Parizek says the most issues may be on East 14th Street which will be completely closed from Euclid to University Avenue.

“That’s a main thoroughfare through our city,” Parizek says. “It’s a state highway and it’s going to be shut down for a long time, beginning up in Ankeny all the way into Des Moines, so that’s where we’re going to see the biggest impact.” Cyclists will take Des Moines’ Walnut Street through downtown, and Fleur Drive to Water Works Park where riders will camp overnight. Parizek says road restrictions will last until 6 o’clock tonight or later. Around 100 Des Moines police officers are working the RAGBRAI route to manage traffic throughout the city.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report 22-year-old Jeremiah Lee Whitney, of Creston, was arrested Tuesday morning. Whitney was arrested at the Union County LEC (Law Enforcement Center), on a Union County warrant for Harassment 1st degree. His bond was set at $2,000.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop a little before 9-p.m., Tuesday, in Red Oak, resulted in an arrest. Red Oak Police report 56-year-old James Kent Otte, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 100 block of Elm Street in Red Oak. He was charged with OWI/3rd offense – a Class D Felony, and Driving While Barred, an aggravated misdemeanor. Otte was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Officials with Harlan Municipal Utilities, Tuesday, declared a water watch effective from July 25 through September 1. HMU says its “Customers have been doing an awesome job watching their water consumption. Unfortunately, due to the prolonged drought, our raw water capacity has been reduced to a level that triggers a water watch. Well maintenance is ongoing. However, our test wells are at the lowest recorded level since the early 2000’s.” They thank you for your cooperation!

For more information please see: https://harlannet.com/public-notices-employment…/

(Omaha/Council Bluffs) – According to American Hospital Directory data, there is a shortfall of more than 300 inpatient behavioral health beds in Iowa and Nebraska. To address this need, officials with Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and Acadia Healthcare, Tuesday, announced plans to build a state-of-the-art behavioral health hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The 96-bed hospital will include 24 inpatient beds dedicated to serving the mental health needs of children and adolescents, as well as provide outpatient services. This new facility will be a center of excellence, addressing the growing unmet need for accessible, high-quality behavioral health services in the region. (See computer renderings of the future facility below. Click on the images to enlarge.)

Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital is an affiliate of Omaha-based Methodist Health System. Pending regulatory approval, the hospital is anticipated to open in 2026. It will be operated through a joint venture partnership between Jennie Edmundson and Acadia, the largest standalone provider of behavioral health care services in the U.S. Together, the organizations will invest more than $55 million in expanding behavioral health resources in the region.

Methodist CEO and President David Burd says “This hospital will be a tremendous resource, and this partnership will help strengthen our level of expertise and implement proven best practices while enhancing the quality and number of behavioral health services available to patients throughout the area.”

Jennie Edmundson and Acadia are in the process of securing land for the hospital and will announce the location at a later date. Construction will begin once all regulatory approvals are obtained. Chris Hunter, CEO for Acadia Healthcare says “The new hospital will increase lifesaving services for individuals and families in the region. We look forward to partnering with local communities to bring hope and healing to those in need.”

This purposefully designed behavioral health hospital is anticipated to include large treatment rooms for group therapy sessions, centralized nursing stations to provide open lines of sight to all common areas, high ceilings and large windows to capitalize on natural light, serene outdoor spaces and high-tech features. Ultimately, this will allow patients from western Iowa and eastern Nebraska access to the services they need in an environment that promotes peace and well-being.

(Stuart, Iowa) – A multi-vehicle accident with injuries has Interstate 80 westbound blocked in Adair County. The crash occurred at around 5-a.m. about one-mile west of Stuart (Between Exit 93: County Road P28 and Exit 88: County Road P20). Reports say as many as five semi-tractor trailers and a passenger vehicle were involved, with two of the semi’s on their side. Stuart Police report both lanes of westbound traffic are blocked. (UPDATE): Traffic off I-80 westbound is being rerouted through Stuart on P-28, and west on White Pole Road (Country 925)  to Menlo, then south to I-80. Please take your time if traveling in that area or take a different route, if possible. Stuart Police report also, there is an additional vehicle accident at exit 93.

Additional details are currently not available.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The 2023 Cass County (IA) Fair begins its week-long run in earnest on Thursday, but some pre-fair activities will be held today, including:

• 4-H/FFA Static Exhibit Judging, and Clover Kids Static Showcase, both beginning at 9-a.m. (those events conclude at 2:30-p.m.)
• 10:30-a.m.: Bucket of Junk Judging will take place.

The Bucket of Junk contest was introduced to the Cass County Fair in 2013 by Superintendent Duane Weirch. With the help of Weirch Welding Plus, LLC in Lewis, this growing contest has been a way for 4-H and FFA members to explore the welding project area and create a unique exhibit for the county fair showcase. Each year, Wierch puts together multiple 5-gallon buckets of assorted metal “junk” pieces. Youth often participate in the contest year after year taking on the new challenge bucket.

The Bucket of Junk contest combines both the technical and creative side of welding, teaching youth a valuable skill and challenging their imaginations in the process. All buckets include the same number of items and are as close to identical as possible. Participants can clean, weld, cut, bolt, fasten, bend, shape, paint or finish the items however they chose to BUT they cannot add any additional pieces. Bolts are the exception and may be used as fasteners but not as decorative items.

Exhibitors will meet with a judge one-on-one to share their finished projects and discuss what they have learned. Contestants will be judged on creativity & artistic style, technical welding skills, percent of “junk” used from bucket, and knowledge of project. Fairgoers can view exhibits from July 27^th to July 31^st and cast their vote for the “people’s choice” award. Winners from judging and people’s choice will be announced at 4:00pm on Monday, July 31^st in the Community Building. Exhibitors have the option to auction off their completed projects at the fair fundraising auction on Monday evening, immediately following the Parade of Champions at 5:45pm in the outdoor show ring.