(Radio Iowa) – Events to mark the one year anniversary of the U-S Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v Wade are pointing to the abortion debate ahead in Iowa. This month’s IOWA Supreme Court ruling that kept a six week abortion ban from taking effect here was a key topic at the March for Life event at the Iowa Capitol Saturday. “We stand in support of holding these justices accountable to fullest legal extent possible,” Maggie DeWitte of Pulse Life Advocates said, to applause and cheers. “We stand in support of efforts by legislators to see Iowa’s heartbeat law passed anew.” DeWitte says waiting until the 2024 legislative session begins in January is unacceptable and lawmakers should convene soon.

“We request that our legislators call for a special session,” DeWitte said, to cheers. Six Republican legislators were at the event. Senator Sandy Salmon of Janesville suggested the movement is half way to its objective of banning all abortions. “You all are here to pray for that and see it through to the end and we’re not going to stop until we see that happen,” Salmon said. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says it was a good feeling to have her office defend the state’s six week abortion ban.

“I was disappointed in the court’s decision, but we know that’s not the end, is it? The fight does not stop there,” Bird said. “Our work does not stop.” Bird did not directly mention the three justices who blocked the six week abortion ban from taking effect, however. Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart says polling shows Republicans are out of step with public opinion. “The overwhelming majority of Iowans support access to abortion,” Hart says. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst expects Republicans will re-convene the state legislature in the next several months to enact abortion restrictions.

“Democrats are the only people in this building committed to protecting reproductive freedom,” Konfrst said. “If Iowans want reproductive freedom, they should not look to Republicans for anything other than removal of their rights.” Konfrst says Democrats in the legislature will be loud and proactive in their opposition to a near or total ban on abortion. “But the most important voices out there are everyday Iowans who should reach out to their legislators and tell them: ‘This isn’t what I want,'” Konfrst said. Hart says the abortion issue will be front and center of the Iowa Caucus campaign as well.

“The 2024 Republican hopefuls are fighting to one up each other on who can embrace the most extreme national abortion ban,” Hart says. “…As they pass through out state, it’s vital that we hold them accountable.” This weekend former Vice President Mike Pence urged his rivals for the G-O-P’s next presidential nomination to back a national 15 week abortion ban. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has expressed support for it and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchingson has said he’d sign an abortion ban, but would support exceptions.

Albia, IOWA – The Iowa Department of Public Safety, Sunday evening, reported that on Saturday, June 24, at 9:38 p.m., a 911 call was received at the Monroe County Law Enforcement Center. The caller reported a disturbance and shooting in the 423 A Street South in Albia.  Responding law enforcement found 49-year old Albia resident Daniel Gundrum with a gunshot wound. Despite life-saving efforts by officers and medical technicians, Gundrum succumbed to his injuries.

The Albia Police Department and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are investigating the death as a homicide.  An autopsy will be conducted by the Office of the State Medical Examiner to determine the exact cause and manner of death.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Albia Police Department at (641) 932-7815.  Authorities said there is no known threat to the public, and that the incident remains an ongoing investigation. Additional information will be released in the coming days.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, Sunday evening, released a report on seven arrests that occurred over the past week.

There were three arrests on June 20th:

• 34-year-old Victor Manuel Ramirez, of Omaha, was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol, following a traffic stop on eastbound Interstate 80, in Adair County. During the traffic stop, a police service dog indicated the presence of a narcotic odor coming from the vehicle, a 2008 GMC Yukon. A search uncovered four shrink-wrapped packages of suspected methamphetamine. Ramirez was arrested for: Drug Tax Stamp Violations; Keeping a vehicle or premises for controlled substances; Drug trafficking (at least 5-grams to no more than 100-kilograms of Meth), and on a hold for another law enforcement agency. He was released to that agency after his cash-only bond was set at $32,000.
• 33-year-old Cody Reese Craig, of Greenfield, was arrested June 20th by Greenfield Police, on an Adair County Felony warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree ($1,500-$10,000) and Child Endangerment. He was later released on a $5,000 bond.
• And, 42-year-old Wendi Nicole Wright, of Stuart, was arrested June 20th by Adair County Deputies, on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Her bond was set at $1,000.

On June 19th, the Iowa State Patrol arrested 21-year-old Immanuel Lonyik Logworong, of Des Moines. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop on I-80 for speeding 86 mph in a 70 mph zone. During the course of an investigation, the Trooper detected an odor of alcoholic beverages coming from Logworong. The man subsequently failed field sobriety and a preliminary breath test. At the Adair County Law Enforcement center, his BAC registered .127.  Logworong also admitted to giving the Trooper a false name. He was arrested for OWI/1st offense, Driving Under Suspension, and providing false ID to law enforcement. The man was later released on a $1,300 bond.

Also arrested June 19th, was 47-year-old Nicole Lee Glendenning, of Cumberland. She was arrested near Stuart following a single-vehicle accident and charged with OWI/2nd offense, and Carrying a weapon while intoxicated. The latter charge was with regard to a handgun found in her purse. Glendenning was later released on $52,000 bond (w/10% acceptable).

On the 18th of June, 27-year-old Adam Richard Bauman, of Cumberland, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop on Highway 92 in Adair County. Bauman was cited and released about 30 minutes after his arrest. And, 22-year-old William Bradley Wright, of The Woodlands, TX, was arrested June 18th by Police in Adair, for OWI/1st offense. He was later released on $1,000 bond.

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – Members of the Exira-EHK Board Of Education met Thursday evening. According to the meeting minutes provided by Board Secretary/Business Manager Mallory Meyer, during their session, the Board hear from Tom Benton and Travis Nelson, with regard to drawings to renovate and expand the weight room at the Exira Building.  The Board took no action on the plans, and indicated they would like to see additional planning and cost information associated with the project before moving forward with any decisions. Discussions on partnering with the community on the project began about two-years ago.

In other business, the Exira-EHK School Board approved the award of a 2023-24 school year bid for milk, to Anderson-Erickson Dairies, but took no action on bread bids, since no bids were received. They also tabled Fuel bids, due to a lack of bids received. The Board did approve 2023-24 Substitute & Activity Trip Rates. Substitute Teacher pay will increase to $160/day. Non-Certified Staff Substitute pay will increase to $13/hour. Bus Driver Sub. pay will increase to $23/hour, and Activity Trip pay will increase to $19/hour.

The Exira-EHK School Board approved a Design Services proposal with Invision Architecture, with a clarification indicating the “Scope” of the project will mean “renovation,” and not just “Soundproofing.” They tabled the termination of a Non-Certified Employee, but approved the following resignations and new hires:

Resignations
1. Sara Mayes – MS/HS School Counselor
2. Laura White – Associate
Hires
1. Jeremy Blake – Driver’s Education Teacher
2. McKinzie Bricker – MS/HS School Counselor
3. Julie Hansen – .4 Art Teacher
4. Emily Harris – Preschool Teacher
5. Paul McKay – Driver’s Education Teacher
6. Jarrod O’Donnell – Driver’s Education Teacher
7. Pamela Parker – Food Service

The Board also approved the first readings of several Board Policies, including: Policy 213, which will allow each participant three-minutes to speak, and the total time of public participation to be 20-minutes, Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment policies; the school calendar, and more.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report a woman was arrested Saturday on a charge of Assault. Authorities say an investigation into an incident that occurred earlier in the day, Saturday, resulted in the arrest of 18-year-old Alynna Gail Zuber, of Red Oak. She was taken into custody on the simple misdemeanor charge at around 2:45-p.m. in the 400 block of E. Valley Street, in Red Oak, and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where bond was set at $300.

(St. Paul, Iowa) – The driver of an SUV died Saturday afternoon in a collision with a Freightliner truck. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident in Lee County happened at around Noon, at the intersection of Highway 16 and 205th Avenue, north of St. Paul, Iowa.

The Patrol says a 2003 GMC Envoy SUV was traveling north on 205th Avenue when the driver failed to yield to the 2023 semi driven by 21-year-old Levi Allen Whaley, of Mt. Pleasant. The SUV was struck on the passenger side, causing the driver to be ejected.

Both vehicles came to rest in the northwest ditch. The driver of the SUV died at the scene. Their name was being withheld pending notification of family. The Patrol was assisted a the scene by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County EMS, West Point Fire & Rescue, and Air Evac.

(Silver City, Iowa) – A man from South Dakota was injured during a motorcycle accident Friday morning, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 48-year-old Cody Murphy, of Arlington, SD, was riding a 2000 Harley Davidson FHX southbound on Interstate 29 near mile marker 38, when the machine went out of control at around 9:42-a.m.

Murphy was tossed from the motorcycle and came to rest in the right-hand lane of travel, on the Interstate. The motorcycle slid into the median before coming to rest. Murphy was transported by Silver City Rescue to Bergan-Mercy Hospital in Omaha.

The crash remains under investigation. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Patrol at the accident scene.

Senator Chuck Grassley will host a Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, June 27th, 2023, from 1:45-2:45 p.m. at the Montgomery County Family YMCA Multi-purpose Room 101 E. Cherry St. Red Oak, IA 51566.

There is a possibility that there will be a quorum of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, but no official county business will be acted upon during that time.

After a week of warm, dry weather for most of Iowa, there’s a chance for showers and thunderstorms Saturday, the first of the summer season. Meteorologist Brad Small, at the National Weather Service, says the rain would bring some welcome relief from the worsening drought that now covers more than 83-percent of the state.

The forecast shows a chance for rain on Sunday, with dry weather returning on Monday.

The Museum of Danish America in the southwest Iowa town of Elk Horn is marking its 40th anniversary this weekend. Museum spokeswoman Amelia Juhl says they’re working with several Norwegian and Swedish organizations to showcase their traditions — and the facility. Saturday’s events include a private tent dinner, followed by a traditional Danish celebration of the summer solstice with a bonfire and a list of activities.

Juhl says visitors are welcome to bring their own seating, beverages, and lawn games to Sankt Hans Aften (sonkt hans OFT-en) or Saint John’s Eve. Events will be underway on the rim of the 30-acre Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park.

In the event of rain, most of the activities will be held indoors. While visiting the Museum of Danish America, you can check out the many detailed exhibits.

The museum has members in 48 states. Only Louisiana and Vermont are not represented. For more information about the museum and upcoming events, visit: www.danishmuseum.org.