(Radio Iowa) – Iowa City Police say a man with a gun was arrested Tuesday morning at the Grant Wood Elementary School after he allegedly threatened multiple staff members. Police charged 31-year-old Brandon Jones of Iowa City with two counts of first-degree harassment and carrying a weapon on school grounds. The school district released a message to parents that said Jones was in the school office and had a handgun on his hip, but gave it to another person when he was asked to take it outside. No other details were released.

The Iowa City school district said it would have counselors at the school for staff members or students who wish to speak with someone about the incident.

(Radio Iowa) – Home sales in the state were down nearly 12 percent in October compared to last year. Iowa Association of Realtors spokesperson, Ashlee Kieler, says it’s a seasonal drop. “Really it’s very indicative of a typical housing cycle for us you know nationally and at the state level and the fall people are more settled you know school started now people are in the swing of things, so they’re not necessarily looking to uproot and move to new places,” she says. Kieler says the market didn’t come to a total standstill.

“That doesn’t mean there aren’t people out there looking there definitely are and it’s starting to kind of stabilize you know with those interest rates and things,” Kieler says. One of the issues has been having enough homes on the market for sale, something she says has been improving. “The inventories are ticking up little by little and so that gives some more opportunity and maybe will entice some people to get out there into the market too,” she says. Having more homes on the market creates movement that she says benefits everyone.

“Those people who are selling a lot of times they’re entering the market then too so that also gives them some opportunities out there,” Kieler says. The number of days homes were on the market increased year-over-year to 37 days compared to the 32 day average of October 2022. Median sales prices increased eight percent to 216-thousand dollars.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report two men were arrested on separate charges, late Wednesday afternoon/evening. At around 4:45-p.m., officers arrested 36-year-old Bryce Michael McKinnon, of Clarinda. He was taken into custody in the 1100 block of N. 5th Street, for Assault and Interference with Official Acts. McKinnon was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

And, a little after 5-p.m., Wednesday, Red Oak Police arrested 40-year-old Douglas Ray Kirsch, of Villisca. He was taken into custody at the Red Oak Fareway Store, for Theft in the 5th Degree. His bond was set at $300.

(Creston, Iowa) – An accident near the Casey’s Store on Devoe Street in Creston, Wednesday evening, caused $3,000 damage to the vehicles involved, but no one was injured. Creston Police report an SUV driven by 49-year-old Paula Crow, of Creston, was leaving the store parking lot at around 6:05-p.m., and turning left onto Devoe Street. She failed to see an oncoming westbound Chevy Cruze driven by 69-year-old John Raddatz, of Creston. Crow was unable to stop in time before the vehicles collided.

The Police report noted Crow failed to yield the right-of-way in making a left turn, but there were no citations issued.

(Radio Iowa) – The wife of G-O-P presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is stepping up her solo appearances in Iowa as the Caucuses draw closer. In May, Governor DeSantis invited his wife to join him on stage during his first campaign speech here. As she approached the microphone to speak and the crowd cheered, he said: “Let ‘er rip.” A few weeks ago it was Casey DeSantis who introduced Governor Kim Reynolds at the rally where Reynolds delivered her public endorsement of the Florida governor.

During an interview with Radio Iowa, Casey DeSantis laughed when asked if she had a role in securing that endorsement for her husband. “She is an exquisite governor. She is a fighter. She is somebody who stands up for what is right and she is very much like the governor,” Casey DeSantis says. “…She understands what it’s like to be able to put yourself in the line of fire.”

DeSantis campaign rally on Nov. 6, 2023 featured Casey DeSantis introducing Gov. Kim Reynolds, who endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that night.

DeSantis says as first lady of Florida, she decided not to sit on the sidelines. “I could have been taking the easy path where sometimes when you’re not out putting yourself in the arena, you’re not going to get hit,” DeSantis said, “but I saw it as an opportunity not necessarily about me, but about the position as first lady, to be able to do good on behalf of the people of Florida and hopefully of the country.”

Governor DeSantis says he and his wife shrug off criticism from the left. And Casey DeSantis says the associate of former President Trump who recently made a crude comment about her is part of the campaign noise that should be ignored. “When you’re standing up for what you know in your heart is right, you’re going to get attacked. People are going to come after you…You just have to stand strong and you know the truth and remember: ‘Mission first.’ And that is saving this country.”

Casey DeSantis is an Ohio native who graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in economics. She’s a former T-V anchor and reporter and currently the mother of three children under the age of seven.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa report a Des Moines man was sentenced on November 16, 2023 to 13-and-a-half years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.

According to public court documents, 36-year-old Fawnie Allen Avery, was on parole with the State of Iowa when he led officers with the Des Moines Police Department on a nighttime chase through residential neighborhoods after law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop of his vehicle. Avery crashed his vehicle, climbed out of his window, and attempted to flee on foot. A uniformed officer attempted to apprehend him. Avery struggled against the officer and pulled a firearm from his waistband. Avery pointed his firearm at a plain clothes officer and chambered a round in the firearm. Police were able to subdue Avery when a third officer arrived on scene.

At sentencing, the District Court found that two Des Moines Police officers were victims of Avery’s offense because Avery pulled his gun during the struggle leading to his arrest, pointed his gun at an officer, and chambered a round in his gun. The Court also found that Avery recklessly created a substantial risk of injury or death during the vehicle chase prior to his arrest.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board held two meetings this (Wednesday) evening. The first was the last regular, Annual meeting of the Retiring Board, headed by President Laura McLean and Vice-President Kristy Pellett. During the meeting the Board acted to approve the resignations of: Kelli Evans, High School Nurse; Tori Brummer, Freshman Volleyball Coach; and Megan Andersen, Kitchen Staff. The also approved recommendations to hire: Kelli Evans, Director of Health Services, and Megan Andersen, Media Center Para.

The Board then spent a considerable amount of time discussing modifications to the Early Retirement Plan for Certified and Non-Certified Staff. With regard to the re-hiring of retiring Certified Staff, the Board concluded those individuals must resign from all positions within the District and then re-apply and not be hired for a full-time position. They will only be re-hired at the Board’s discretion. With regard to the Early Retirement plan for Non-Certified Staff, the policy will state those persons cannot be rehired for any full-time positions. They approved amended wording for those plans as discussed.

Final meeting of the Retiring Atlantic School Board. (YouTube pic by Ric Hanson)

At the end of regular business, the Retiring Board adjourned. Retiring Board Members Nick Hunt and Jenny Williams each received a plaque for their respective four-and eight-years of service. Hunt had served 4-years. Williams was on the Board for 8-years. Nick Hunt ended his term by thanking the Board and saying he’s enjoyed serving and learning. He said realizes that everyone on the Board is “Passionate and want the school to succeed, and I think our time was productive. I think our school is in good shape, and I wish the new Directors all the best of luck.”

Williams echoed his comments. She said “It’s been a crazy eight-years. We’ve been through a lot together…the District has survived. It’s been a fantastic educational learning opportunity that I used daily and will continue to use.” She also thanked all the students and staff, and everyone who reached-out to speak with her.

Soon thereafter Board Secretary Lisa Jones called the Organizational Board to Order, and administered the Oath of Office to newly elected members Gini Jordan and Jodi Stowater-Goodrich, and re-elected Board member Laura McLean.

Board Secretary Lisa Jones swears-in New Board member Jodi Stowater-Goodrich, re-elected Board Member Laura McLean, and new member Gini Jordan.

The new Board nominated and selected Kristy Pellett and President and Laura McLean as Vice-President. They also appointed Lisa Jones as Board Secretary/Treasurer. Gini Jordan was nominated to serve as the Board’s Cass County Conference Board Representative. And, they left the dates and time for their meetings unchanged. The Atlantic School Board will continue to meet on the second and fourth Wednesday’s of the month (with the second meeting generally a Work Session). Their sessions will take place in the High School Media Center, beginning at 5:30-p.m.

In other business, the New Atlantic School Board established the Atlantic News Telegraph and the District’s Official Publication, and Ahlers and Cooney as Legal Counsel.