(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council has had relatively short agendas during their past few meetings, but that changes with their session set for this Wednesday at 5:30-p.m. in their Chambers at City Hall, in Atlantic. There are Public Hearings scheduled with regard to: The submission of a CDBG application for an AMU Clearwell Water Project; The plans, specifications and form of contract for the Atlantic SplashPad; and on a proposal to Enter into a General Obligation Solid Waste Management Loan Management Agreement.

There are also Resolutions to consider and act on, including:

• Approving the aforementioned plans, specifications and form of contract for the Atlantic SplashPad, and Awarding a contract for project.
• A resolution setting the date for Public Hearings and Additional action on proposals to Enter into a General Obligation Loan Agreement and to Borrow Money,” with regard to a new Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Fund. (See details in the PDF link below).
• A resolution “Taking additional action on a proposal to Enter into a General Obligation Solid Waste Management Loan Management Agreement and Providing for the Levy of Taxes.”
• and, a resolution “Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Barb Barrick to temporarily provide City Clerk consulting services for the City of Atlantic.”

Read more about the upcoming meeting here: City Council Agenda Packet March 20, 2024-compressed_1

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Republican Joni Ernst is seeking the number three leadership position among her G-O-P peers in the U-S Senate. “This is the main communicator job or position for the Republican  Conference in the Senate,” Ernst says.

Ernst is currently the fourth-ranking G-O-P Leader and her title is Senate Republican Policy Committee chair. Her decision to seek a higher rung on the leadership ladder in the next congress comes after Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell announced he would step down as Senate Republican leader at the end of the year. As G-O-P conference chair, Ernst would help guide the message Republicans present to voters.

“This is a great opportunity for me to communicate what’s going on in middle America. We’re tired of hearing all about the coastal elites,” Ernst says. “It is time to hear directly from folks in Iowa, hear what’s going on on the ground.”  Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton is seeking the same position as Ernst. “It is a competition. It is an election and we have all the way ’til this fall to get our message out,” Ernst says. “It is going to be a very long campaign for this leadership position, but I’m up for the challenge.”

Ernst was reelected to a second term in the U-S Senate in 2020. She has not announced whether she’ll run for reelection in 2026.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds and First Gentleman Kevin Reynolds invite Iowans to join them for Terrace Hill’s Annual Egg Hunt on the Hill Saturday, March 23 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm.  The Egg Hunt on the Hill event is for children ages 1 to 10, and children must be accompanied by an adult. This is a free event. Families wishing to attend must RSVP by e-mail only to molly.thompson@governor.iowa.gov. Please include first and last names of each attendee and the age of each child. Guests should dress appropriately for the weather and bring their own sack or basket to collect eggs.

Guests will enjoy photos with the Easter Bunny, meeting Governor Kim Reynolds and First Gentleman Kevin Reynolds, eggs on a stick from the Iowa Egg Council, balloon animals, and most of all: the Easter egg hunt.

Space is limited to 150 children, and registration will close once capacity is reached.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports seven arrests took place over the past week. Sheriff Jeff Vandewater says there were two arrests on March 10th: 39-year-old Jacob Joseph Pratt, of Independence, MO., was arrested following a traffic stop by Stuart Police, and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, PCS/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Possession of Drug paraphernalia. Pratt was released later that same day on a $2,300 cash or surety bond. And, 24-year-old Richard Paul Welsch, of Greenfield, was arrested March 10th by Greenfield Police, for OWI/1st offense. Welsch was released a short time later, on a citation.

On March 11th, an Iowa State Patrol Trooper arrested 59-year-old Jon Jefferson Perry, of Fontanelle, following a traffic stop on Highway 92. Perry was charged with Driving While License Denied or Revoked. He was released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

On March 14th, 24-year-old Dylan Michael Cory, of Stuart, turned himself-in to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office. Cory was wanted on an Adair County warrant for OWI/1st offense. He was released the same day on a $1,000 c/s bond. And, 50-year-old Jason James Masolini, of Stuart, was arrested March 14th on an Adair County Felony warrant for Violation of Probation. Masolini was released the next day on a $5,000 bond after appearing before a Judge.

Last Friday (March 15th), 39-year-old Derik Wayne Bud Pickrell, of Fontanelle, was arrested in Fontanelle, for Driving While Barred. He was cited at the scene and released. And, on Saturday (March 16th), 46-year-old Brandie Sue Whitney, of Creston, was arrested in Greenfield, for Driving While Barred. Whitney was cited at the scene and released.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department says three people were arrested over the weekend. On Saturday, 21-year-old Ethan Wyatt, of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. He posted a $1,300 bond and was released. Also arrested Saturday, was 30-year-old Sandon Slater, of Glenwood. Slater was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He posted a $1,000 bond and was released.

On Sunday, Glenwood Police arrested 32-year-old Elisabeth Coffey, of Glenwood, for OWI/1st offense. Coffey was taken into custody following a crash that took place a little after 1-a.m., Sunday, in the area of 4th and Linn Streets, in Glenwood. A Glenwood Police Officer was providing assistance with a traffic stop, when he heard a crash. He proceeded around the block and upon arrival, noticed a 1993 Ford Crown Victoria had struck a mailbox. The driver’s side of the Crown Vic and the left front side of a legally parked & unoccupied 2007 Chevy Malibu about 20-yards to the south of the Ford, were damaged.

Coffey was checked-out by paramedics but refused treatment. She was transported to the Mills County Jail and later posted a $1,000 bond. Damage from the incident amounted to $7,100 altogether.

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Iowa’s public universities are seeing increased interest in on-campus living from new and returning students, citing convenience and satisfaction with offered resources by their colleges. Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa and University of Iowa have all reported expecting higher numbers of students living in their residence facilities, in part due to more returning students wishing to stay on campus. At UNI, a near-record number of returning students submitted housing contract renewals, about 15% more than last year, a news release stated.

More than half of UNI’s new residents are choosing to participate in the Live 2 Succeed program. High costs off campus could also be a reason to live in university housing, Rafanello said, especially rising food prices due to inflation. With rent, utilities and even commuting becoming more expensive, the price tags of living on and off campus are similar. It makes sense students would go with the option that affords them more, he said.

ISU converts single rooms to doubles

Iowa State University housed just over 10,000 students in the fall, according to Vice President for Campus Life and Director of Residence Michael Harwood. That’s about 96% of the university’s capacity. ISU is seeing increased interest in on-campus housing, especially from returning students, prompting the college to shift some rooms from single to double occupancy. Around 150 spaces are being made available to meet the greater need, and the residence system governance report stated this would bring the university’s capacity to 10,566. ISU is expected to reach about 97% capacity in fiscal year 2025, according to the report, or just over 10,250 students. According to research from ISU, students who live on-campus have a 34% higher retention rate, 38% higher four-year graduation rate and 5% higher grade-point average than students who live off-campus.

UI keeps residence hall open

High numbers of returning students wanting to live on campus and record numbers of admissions applications have led the University of Iowa to keep Mayflower Residence Hall open another year, while keeping it on the market for sale. More than 1,500 students have applied to live on campus another year according to UI spokesperson Steve Schmadeke. The UI has also heard anecdotally that students are staying on campus for its location, support systems and not having to deal with rent and cooking. Von Stange, UI assistant vice president for student life and senior director of university housing and dining, said at a board of regents meeting that 94% of respondents to a student satisfaction survey would recommend on-campus living to new students.

Schmadeke said the university is also seeing a record number of applications from prospective students. The UI began the 2023-24 school year at 98% capacity, and according to a board of regents residence system governance report, the university is forecast to be at full capacity this fall with the increase in students living on-campus and the closure of Parklawn Hall due to lack of interest from students.

The UI expects to have enough space to accommodate all students wishing to live on-campus, according to Schmadeke.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Cass County are slated to meet at 9-a.m. on Tuesday March 19th in the Courthouse Board Room in Atlantic. Their agenda is as follows:

The order of agenda items may change based on when personnel are available and when time allows.
1. Call to order
2. Approve Agenda
3. Approve minutes from the March 5, 2024 meeting
4. Public Comments
5. Monthly report by Jotham Arber on Environmental Health
6. Presentation by Tim Miller, with the Anita Food Pantry, requesting funds to pave access the property
7. Approve Resolution 2024-07 Abatement of Taxes for 405 Cherry Street in Atlantic, IA under Iowa Code 445.16
8. Report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken
9. Monthly report by Debbie Schuler on General Assistance and Mental Health for the month of February
10. Appoint Peter Smith to Cass County Condemnation in Eminent Domain for the 2024 term
11. Supervisor Committee Reports
12. Filed Reports: Clerk of Court
13. Approve claims
14. Adjournment
15. Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Join Electronically https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2899195216?pwd=R0hSa2FOOTh0NUdra1ZSdVhVW
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Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
Passcode: 012064

Or, Call In at 312-626-6799, press *9 to indicate you wish to speak.

(Radio Iowa) – Construction is underway on two new housing projects in northwest Iowa to help ease the housing crunch, but many more units are needed in that region — and statewide. Amy Keairns, the neighborhood services supervisor for the City of Sioux City, says they’re helping developers pay for two apartment buildings, including converting an old high school. “There will be 71 total units of affordable housing created,” Keairns says, “but there is such a need in our community for affordable housing.” Keairns says that demand extends throughout the state. The two projects will also include a total of eight units for people who are homeless, including outreach services.

“So, they can be self-sufficient and then hopefully living on their own,” she says. Sioux City awarded two contractors more than one-point-two million dollars in American Rescue Plan money to help pay for the two apartment buildings. Keairns says she wishes they could do more. “We’re limited on the dollars that we receive,” Keairns says, “and we’re always seeking out other opportunities for additional funding and additional partnerships to try and do even more as far as new housing units and services as well.”

The apartments will be ready for people to move in next year. The Iowa Finance Authority estimates that by 2030, there will be a statewide shortage of 55-thousand rental homes for lower-income Iowans. Now, more than 20% of the lowest earners spend more than half of their income on housing.

• Possession of Controlled Substance–3rd or Subsequent Offense (‘D’ Felony)
• Possession of Burglar’s Tools (Aggravated Misdemeanor)
• Possession of Controlled Substance-Cannabidiol-1st Offense (Serious Misdemeanor)
• (2 counts) Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug (Serious Misdemeanor)
• and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Simple Misdemeanor).

His cash-only bond was set at $10,000.

Vernon T. Nellis

COLFAX, Iowa — [KCCI]  A body was found by search and rescue crews in the debris of a home destroyed by fire Saturday, in rural Jasper County. According to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, a fire at a residence in the 8800 block of 52nd Avenue West, near Colfax, was reported around 10:45 p.m. Saturday. When fire crews arrived, they found the home fully engulfed in flames with at that time, was an unknown number of occupants.

As crews worked to put out the fire, they learned there may be one individual inside the home. Crews from several agencies worked throughout the night conducting a search and recovery for the occupant, but the process was slowed by the heat of the fire and the removal of debris by heavy equipment.

At approximately 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, crews located the body of a deceased individual in the home’s basement. The remains will be taken to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny for identification and autopsy.

The fire remains under investigation.