(Radio Iowa) – A county official in northeast Iowa says the announcement that the proposed Navigator pipeline project has been cancelled is great news, but Delaware County Supervisor Shirley Helmrichs says she’s talking with other board members about updating the county’s ordinance regulating how close for-profit pipelines may be built to homes and buildings. “I’m going to pull out all the ordinances I have from other counties and go through setbacks and we’re going to make them large enough setbacks. It’s not going to be like a 50 foot setback,” Helmrichs says. “…We’re going to look at putting things in place rather quickly.”

Navigator’s proposed pipeline would have stretched through about 25 miles of Delaware County. Helmrichs says the cancellation has relieved a lot of stress among affected landowners. “It was like a breath of fresh air and a load of a lot of the landowners their backs,” Helmrichs says. “…They were so fearful somebody was going to take their property and not be able to make it functional and the fear of what would happen with that being so close to their homes.”

Helmrichs says she intends to have serious conversations with local legislators and urge them to forbid private, for-profit companies from using eminent domain to acquire land from unwilling property owners.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports two men were arrested on separate warrants last week. 28-year-old Joseph Daniel-Lee Dalton Bond, of Orient, was arrested Oct. 24th on a Polk County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault/Impeding the flow of air/blood. He was held for Polk County until his release on Oct. 26th. And, 20-year-old Cory Daniel Hansen, of Adair, was arrested Friday (Oct. 27), in Adair. He was taken into custody on a Dallas County warrant for Assault & Criminal Mischief in the 1st Degree. Hansen was immediately transferred to Waukee Police held on the warrant.

Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports also, 41-year-old Moises Plaza, of Des Moines, was arrested in Fontanelle on Oct. 23rd, for OWI/3rd offense, and Driving While Barred. He was released on a $5,000 cash or surety bond, a few days later. 49-year-old Billy Gene Hart, of Urbandale, was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol Oct. 28th, in Adair, for OWI/1st offense. He was cited and released from the scene.

And, 27-year-old Aurelio Shawn Sempek, of Johnston, was arrested by Adair Police on Oct. 28th, for OWI/1st offense, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. He was released Sunday on a $2,300 cash or surety bond.

(Ankeny, Iowa) – Dr. Stephanie Anderson, Superintendent  of the Riverside Community School District, reports member school districts of the Rural School Advocates of Iowa (RSAI) convened their Annual Meeting on Tues., Oct. 17, at 4:30 PM at the FFA Enrichment Center, in Ankeny. RSAI advocates on behalf of the students, parents and communities in rural Iowa to ensure all students have access to a great Iowa education, regardless of where they live. RSAI members include 187 Iowa school districts, several of which are among the largest geographic school districts in the state. All nine area education agencies, Iowa’s three Regents’ Universities and Des Moines Area Community College are affiliate members of RSAI.

Adequate School Resources: State Supplemental Assistance, or SSA, was a top priority for RSAI members, since this funding supports the very survival of rural schools. Last month, Gov. Reynolds announced Iowa’s Fiscal Year 2023 surplus of $1.83 billion in the General Fund, plus $902 million in reserve funds and $2.74 billion in the Taxpayer Relief Fund. Attendees discussed the impact on rural schools if additional tax cuts are made rather than directing a portion of the State’s combined coffers totaling over $4.6 Billion to public schools. Despite the state’s fiscal strength and high inflation, the Legislature set a modest increase of 3.0% per student last year. The state’s increases in revenues per student have lagged rural school costs of educating students in 13 of the last 14 years.

Dan Rold, the Riverside School Business Official, indicated, the continued underfunding of SSA, especially when compared to ever increasing inflation, has essentially resulted in an effective pay cut for school districts and staff.  This will continue to exacerbate already existing problems with school districts’ ability to attract and retain qualified staff.  Many districts have already been forced to dramatically increase salaries for staff at all levels and classifications in order to attract applicants for open positions.  Fund flexibility is an extremely temporary solution to this problem, as funds that are used for annual salaries will be unsustainable as those balances are depleted.  The other option is to completely abandon programs that the state itself considered high priorities only a few years ago, in order to permanently utilize those funds for general salaries.  Rold says the ultimate losers in all of this are the students, as they will receive a lower quality education than they otherwise would with adequately funded public schools.  The future negative societal impact of a lower quality education far outweighs the immediate financial benefit of withholding adequate funding for schools.

Staff Shortages: is also high on the list of priorities for rural schools who are struggling to recruit and retain great teachers, paraeducators, bus drivers and staff. Although adequate funding would help make school employees’ pay competitive with other jobs, it would not alone be enough. Attendees discussed the need for school leaders and state officials to change the culture of political speech; to restore education to a respected profession. Amanda Brandon, 6-12 Vocal and Band Teacher at Riverside shared, Staff shortages have led to increased workload and reduced specialized instruction for students as I have combined roles as a band, choir, and stage production teacher. It is affecting the overall quality of rehearsals, performances, and student engagement and may even lead to teacher burnout.

RSAI members also affirmed the following issues as priorities for the 2024 Legislative Session:

• Oppose expansion of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) to homeschool and support: 1) a level playing field, 2) oversight of ESA, and 3) funding to follow students to public school who withdraw from private school.
• Opportunity Equity, Increased Student Needs and Mental Health resources.
• Quality Preschool including 1.0 weighting for full-day programs.
• Extension of Whole Grade Sharing, Reorganization and Operational Sharing Incentives.
• Local School Board Authority rather than state-directed mandates.
• School Foundation Formula Equity to close the per pupil funding gap within 10 years.
• Bond Issue Elections limited to November (Oppose) and Simple Majority vote (support).
• Supported Area Education Agencies (AEAs) and the services they provide to rural schools.
• Resources: Position Papers on key issues and a Digest of the 2023 Legislative Session are available on the RSAI legislative website at: http://www.rsaia.org/legislative.html

(Radio Iowa) – Two people were killed in a high-speed crash in Davenport over the weekend. Police say officers spotted the Chevy speeding and driving recklessly about 2 A-M Sunday in Davenport’s downtown. Officers tried to pull the car over, but it sped away and they didn’t pursue. Minutes later, police say the Impala left the road and hit a building.

A female passenger was dead at the scene, while the man who was driving was taken to the hospital where he later died. No names were released. No one was in the building at the time of the crash.

EARLHAM, Iowa — (KCCI)- A man from western Iowa was found guilty last week of sexually abusing children at a central Iowa childcare facility. 30-year-old Caleb Fairchild, of Stuart, was arrested in October 2022 and charged with three Class-B Felony counts of sexual abuse in the 2nd Degree, and one count of indecent contact with a child, and Aggravated Misdemeanor. The abuse was carried out between 2019 and 2021 at an Earlham preschool and childcare facility.

Fairchild is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 18th.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council will meet 90-minutes earlier than usual when the meet Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 1st). The Council will gather for a 4-p.m. session in their Chambers at City Hall. Among the action items on their agenda, is:

• A resolution “Obligating funds from the Southeast Urban Renewal Area (URA) Revenue Fund for Appropriation to the payment of annual appropriation Tax Increment Financed (TIF) obligations,” which are due in the next succeeding fiscal year. City Administrator John Lund notes “This is bureaucratic red tape relating to [a TIF] for the Redwood Subdivision.” Action on a similar resolution will take place, with regard to the Hotel Whitney URA.
• Action on a resolution “Granting [an] extension on the maximum accrued vacation hours for Assistant Police Chief Paul Wood.” Wood has served the A-PD for 19-years. City Administrator John Lund reports that due to ongoing staffing issues with the Police Department, Assistant Chief Wood has had to delay the use of his Paid Time-Off (PTO) hours and fill shifts for other officers, sometimes swinging between day and night shifts. At the end of October, Wood will have nearly 250 vacation hours on the books. He is requesting an extension of his vacation accrual bank until the end of January, 2024, so that he does not lose nearly 90-hours of vacation accumulated over the 160 hours allowed for City employees with 10-or more years of service. The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee recommend the Council approve a formal extension be given until the end of March, 2024, for Wood to use his vacation time over 160 hours.
• The Council will act on a Personnel and Finance Committee recommendation to approve the job description, FY2024 compensation and posting of an Assistant Code Enforcement and Animal Control Officer position. The committee recommends the full-time position would be compensated at $22.74/hour, or $47,299.20 annually. The position would be overtime eligible, have City health insurance, and IPERS benefits.
• The Atlantic City Council will also act on approving an amended ordinance with an updated position description for “City Administrator,” to include (but not limited to):
  • Preparing the City’s annual budget and related components;
  • Reviewing and recommending change to the City Council on the City’s annual compensation for all employees not covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement;
  • Managing the development and administration of labor contracts, in accordance with Iowa law;
  • Directing and coordinating activities of City departments of Finance & Administration, Public Works and others, as determined by the Council. The hiring, promoting and discipline of employees of departments directly supervised, and the overseeing of Department Head meetings;
  • Acting as the City Zoning Administrator;
  • Acting as the City’s Flood Plain Manager;
  • Advising the Council on insurance matters;
  • Performing other duties as may be required by the Council, not inconsistent with the City charter, law or ordinances.

And, the Council will act Wednesday on approving the Annual Urban Renewal Report as required by the Iowa Department of Management. The report details everything relating to TIF Districts and projects. Failure to submit the report would prevent the County Auditor from collecting property tax revenues from the URA’s for the City’s TIF obligations. The Council approved the 2022 Urban renewal report during their meeting Nov. 16, 2022.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Cass County (IA) are set to receive a trio of regular reports, act on two appointments, and prioritize CIP (Capital Improvement Project) costs. Their 9-a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 31st) agenda includes action on passing a resolution pertaining to an agreement for storage space at the Willow Heights utility building, and, the appointment of Carol Seddon and Denise O’Brien to the Cass County Food Policy Council.

The Board will receive a Quarterly report from Cass County Conservation Director Micah Lee, and a Monthly report from Cass County Mental Health/General Relief Coordinator Debbie Schuler, as well as a weekly update from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken. On a related note, the Supervisors are expected to approve the hiring of a Secondary Road Department Equipment Operator 1 (Anita District), at a probationary wage of $24.50/hour.

The Board will discuss the costs associated with, and prioritize these CIP ‘s:

• Secondary Road Sheds: Anita, Griswold, Massena & Atlantic.
• Conservation Dept.: Hitchcock House (Foundation repair & barn siding); Cold Springs Park (Restrooms, picnic shelter & camp sites near the beach).
• Courthouse improvements: Including the boiler and windows.

Join the meeting electronically at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2899195216?pwd=R0hSa2FOOTh0NUdra1ZSdVhVWHpMUT09
Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
Passcode: 012064
Or, Call In to:
312-626-6799, press *9 to indicate you wish to speak.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say the driver’s of two SUV’s complained of pain and possible injury, but they were not transported to the hospital, following a collision Saturday morning near the Creston High School. Authorities report a 2004 Buick Rendezvous SUV driven by 15-year-old Karlee Capson, of Creston, was stopped, facing east on Townline Road, waiting to turn north into the high school parking lot, when the vehicle was struck from behind by a 2016 Jeep Renegade SUV. The accident happened at around 9:30-a.m.

The driver of the Jeep, 20-year-old Macy Adamson, of Creston, told police she had looked down at her radio for second, before hitting the rear of the Buick. The airbags on her SUV deployed during the impact. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts.

Damage from the collision amounted to $10,000. No citations were issued, but the Police report noted Adamson was following too close, and “operator inexperience” was a factor in the accident.

(Radio Iowa) – A new Iowa Poll from the Des Moines Register and N-B-C News shows former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley tied for second place with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, but both trail former President Trump by 27 points. Trump’s lead has increased slightly from the Register’s Iowa Poll in late August. Haley and DeSantis both registered 16 percent support in this latest Iowa Poll. It found Haley has a growing amount of support among independents who plan to register as Republicans to vote on Caucus night. A third of independents said they plan to vote for Trump, Haley got 22 percent and DeSantis got 12 percent of independents. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott was a distant third in the poll, with seven percent support. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has not campaigned in Iowa this year, got four percent, as did businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.

The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus four-point-nine percent. It was conducted from October 22nd through the 26th and includes responses from 404 likely Iowa Caucus-goers. Former Vice President Mike Pence dropped out of the race on the 28th. Pence had two percent in the Iowa Poll, but all respondents were asked who their second choice candidate was and those second choice responses were added to other candidates.

(Radio Iowa) – A Hancock County man is charged in the weekend murder of his estranged wife.  The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says at about 11:11 on Saturday morning, Hancock County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a home in Woden for a welfare check. On arrival, deputies made entry into the residence and located 56-year-old Karen Crews of Woden, who was later pronounced dead at the residence. 56-year-old Roger Crews Junior of Woden was arrested at about 8:30 on Saturday night in Freeborn County in southern Minnesota without incident and was charged with first-degree murder.

The DCI says Karen and Roger Crews were separated and living apart. The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are conducting the investigation.