(Radio Iowa) – Dozens of Iowa veterans, including a retired sailor who’s more than a century old, will take part in this week’s special honor flight to Washington D-C. Ron Newsum, coordinator for the Brushy Creek Honor Flight, says the veterans will be flying on a chartered jet from the Fort Dodge Regional Airport.

“We’re taking about 162 or 163 people on it of which there’s going to be about 140 veterans,” he says, “the balance being staff and that type of thing.” This will be the 23rd honor flight for the organization which is dedicated to serving veterans in 30 northern and central Iowa counties. They are scheduled to depart shortly after 6 A-M tomorrow (Wednesday).

“We have one World War Two veteran who’s a 102-year-old Navy veteran going,” Newsum says. “We’ve got about seven Korean War veterans, and the balance is Vietnam veterans and peacetime veterans.” The delegation will arrive at Dulles International Airport at mid-morning to tour the war memorials and the sights of Washington, D-C by bus. They will also visit Arlington National Cemetery for the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The veterans will return home late Wednesday night.

(Radio Iowa) – Opponents of carbon pipelines are asking the state’s new utility regulators to take their objections to heart. The three-member Iowa Utilities Board convened this (Tuesday) morning, the first meeting for new members Eric Helland and Sarah Martz. Julie Glade of Cedar Falls says her family’s farm in Wright County would be impacted by the Summit pipeline.

“I’d like to start by welcoming our two new board members. Thank you for stepping up to the job,” Glade said. “…I urge you each to represent the 78% of Iowans who oppose the use of eminent domain for private carbon capture pipelines.” Beth Klahsen’s family farm near Arlington is along the Navigator route. Klahsen says she’s trusting regulators to do the right thing. “I do not envy the position you guys are in this time,” she said. “I do think the whole matter got pushed off to you because our elected officials didn’t want to go on the record either way. Our legislature failed to pass any sort of bill this past session to help.”

Denise Kleppe owns a century farm that’s on the Wolfe pipeline route. “I wouldn’t want to be in your position with this decision hanging on your shoulders,” Kleppe said, “but again you wouldn’t want to be in my situation where your legacy is being threatened by multi-billion dollar global corporations.” Mark Maher, a farmer from Imogene, says the Summit pipeline route would be too close to his home and grain bin complex.

“If you do grant something to do forward, make them uphold and respect the county ordinances that the board of supervisors, our elected representatives, have in place,” he said. Craig Woodward owns land in Cerro Gordo County that might be impacted by the Summit pipeline. Woodward tried to ask questions of the new regulators, but veteran board member Joshua Byrnes reminded Woodward that the board cannot comment on a pending case.

“There’s no question that the gravity of your decisions will be intense. What are your thoughts? How would you make a high quality decision?” Byrnes said: “You know the board is not responding to any comments today on a contested case.” Woodward said: “Well, I said I wanted to change things up a little bit,” and the audience laughed as Byrnes replied: “I appreciate you’re trying.” Governor Kim Reynolds appointed two new members to the board last month. Their terms started last week.

(Radio Iowa) – The Administrator of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission says the agency didn’t start the investigation into gambling by athletes at the University of Iowa and Iowa State. Administrator Brian Ohorilko says the agency was made aware of the investigation — but is not the entity that’s conducting it. Ohorilko also says the sports books they oversee do monitor for irregular sports betting patterns — but the agency has not been informed of any integrity issues involving the two state schools.

The administrations of the two schools says 40 athletes in football, baseball, basketball and wrestling are under investigation for allegations of online sports betting. Ohorilko says the Commission could get involved if there was an underage gambling issue or integrity issue — but would not be part of investigating N-C-A-A rules violations.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 9:50-a.m. today (Tuesday), of 67-year-old Sheryl Lynne Franzen, from Red Oak. Franzen was taken into custody for Theft in the 5th Degree. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

A businessman from Texas who’s launched a campaign for the G-O-P’s 2024 nomination for president is visiting Iowa this week. Ryan Binkley is also a pastor and co-founder of Create Church in a suburb of Dallas. “The Lord really placed it in my heart really about eight years ago. I really started hearing a message in my heart about what’s needed in our country,” Binkley says, “and today I see our country really in the biggest crisis I think that it’s been in the last 30-40 years and I see a great need for us to unify our country so we can tackle some of the biggest problems we have and I believe now’s the time.” Binkley says one of the biggest obstacles the country faces is an unwillingness between the left and right to compromise.

“We need leaders that will do more than just talk unity,” Binkley says. “I remember when President Biden ran, he was making statements about unifying our country, but he never gave us anything that we can unify on, so it’s going to take a lot more than talk. We’re going to actually have to do it.” Binkley considers the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border to be the cause of many of America’s biggest problems.”Obviously we have a huge crisis with crime, but now the drugs that are coming in,” Binkley says. “…Opioids are the number one killer of young people age 18-25 and it’s about 200-300 young people a day that are dying and the politicians are just watching it happen and this is where unity comes in on this. I really think it’s going to take both parties to unify on this issue.”

Ryan Binkley. (Binkley campaign photo)

Binkley says Republicans have a great opportunity to connect with college students who are facing a weak job market and a tough economy. “Inflationary spending, the kind of things that we do with our monetary and fiscal policy today is not a long term win for them,” Binkley says, “and I think we have a great chance now to begin to speak to them (about) what freedom looks like, what smaller government looks like, what it means to their pocketbook, what is means to job opportunities.”

Binkley is the C-E-O of a business consulting firm with 400 employees. He also founded a non-profit called “The Way to Freedom” last July. Its website says the country needs leaders with integrity and lists freeing the economy and solving immigration as top goals.

(Omaha, NE) – Officials with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) have announced the winners of the 2023 BBB Student of Integrity Scholarships. The scholarships were created to promote ethics and integrity among young people so they may be motivated to continue incorporating moral values into every aspect of their lives. Public, private and home-schooled high school seniors from BBB’s service area were invited to apply.

BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty said “These students personify the best aspects of ethical behavior in their personal choices and actions. They serve as role models for others to emulate. These students are receiving these scholarships because of their commitment to honesty and accountability inside and outside of the classroom. The Better Business Bureau and its Foundation are proud to honor these amazing young adults with these scholarships.”

2023 BBB Students of Integrity Scholarship Recipients from Metro Omaha/Southwest Iowa include:

• Megan Wells will be graduating from East Mills High School in Malvern, Iowa. She will attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney and plans to pursue the Speech Pathology program with an emphasis of study on communication disorders.
• Trista Swain will be graduating from Griswold High School in Griswold, Iowa. She will attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha and plans to pursue a degree in Molecular and Biomedical Sciences. Swain hopes to become a medical doctor and an anesthesiologist one day.

(Atlantic/Anita, Iowa) – The Cass County ISU Extension Office reports the Anita Food Pantry will be hosting a mobile food pantry next week, on Wednesday afternoon May 17. A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. Mobile food pantries are available free of charge. Anyone in need is welcome, and no documentation is required. Each car can take food for up to two households at a time. See below for details and other upcoming mobile pantry dates in Cass County.

Anita 2023 Mobile Food Pantries (Additional details)…

Where: Anita Food Pantry (208 Chestnut Street, Anita IA 50020)

2023 Dates: May 17, August 16, October 18

Time: 4:00-6:00 PM

Upcoming Atlantic 2023 Mobile Food Pantries

Please note: Atlantic 2023 Mobile Food Pantries are being held at different locations during the school year (Cass County Community Center) and summer months (Atlantic High School).

Time: 4:00-6:00 PM

Atlantic High School (1201 E. 14th St. Atlantic, IA 50022): June 14, July 12, August 9
Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th St., Atlantic, IA 50022): October 11

Upcoming Massena 2023 Mobile Food Pantries

Please note: Massena pantries require registration. Boxes are limited. Registration ends the Monday prior to the pantry date. To register for pantries in Massena, call (712) 779-3447.

Where: Southwest Iowa Egg Coop (74877 Clarke Ave. Massena, IA 50853)

2023 Dates: June 14 (register by June 12), July 12 (register by July 10), August 9 (register by Aug. 7), October 11 (register by Oct. 9)

Box pick-up time: 4:45-5:15 PM

Mobile pantry dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For the latest information on mobile pantries in Anita and Atlantic, visit https://foodbankheartland.org/food-resources/find-food/. For information on local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood. With questions, call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday (today), voted 4-to-1 to set May 16th at 9-a.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing on the sale of real estate in the County, with regard to the Willow Heights facility. Supervisor Wendy Richter was the lone Nay vote. Since other, required hearings were held in the fall of 2022, the hearing on the 16th is essentially a formality and to accept the sale price arranged through Property Connections Real Estate. The difference with the next hearing, is that a price and the name of the buyer will be listed. The property has not yet been sold.

In other business, the Board passed a Resolution establishing the 2023 Weed Control Program-CASS CO. Board Chair Steve Baier read from a portion of the Resolution approved….

The Supervisors received a regular weekly report from County Engineer Trent Wolken.

With regard to various bridge & road construction projects…

He said also, Bridge #380 closed last week.”

And, he said they will be working on equipping two replacement dump trucks that were ordered over a year ago. Their chassis are “on the ground,” as of Monday, but the dump boxes still need to be installed. Those were ordered over a year ago, as well as two motor graders are set to be delivered.

The Board approved the final pay voucher for the paving of Adair-Cass County Road G-61/Victoria Road. The Adair County Board of Supervisors approved their share of the project cost during their meeting on May 2nd. The total project cost is $2.5-million. Cass County’s share is $213,000.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday (Today), agreed to set May30, at 8:45-a.m., as the date and time for a public hearing on a County Budget Amendment. The Board also approved the following:

• The Recorders Report of Fees amounting to $16,730.59.
• An alcohol license renewal for the Red Oak Country Club.
• Claims payable in the amount of $460,550.24

The Montgomery County Supervisors tabled discussion on the County Employee Handbook until additional information and clarification is made. A renewal of annual contract with Solutions was approved in the amount of $37,800. The County is in the third-year of a five-year agreement with the company. The amount paid each year is locked-in, and therefore unchanged.

The Board approved ARPA Funding for the County Conservation Department, in a total amount of $49,925. Conservation Board Member Jon Spunaugle mentioned $3,400 was requested for a new “Smartboard” at the Outdoor Educational Center, and $15,525 was for a new side-by-side UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle).

Montgomery County Board of Supervisors Mtg. 5-9-2023

He said $31,000 was requested for a remodeling project at the Anderson Conservation and Wildlife Area/Wolfe Nature Center.

Supervisor Donna Robinson said the Conservation Department is very deserving of the funds. Spunaugle agreed.

The Montgomery County Supervisors also approved ARPA Funding for 67 new windows at the courthouse, with 25 of those in the attic, the frames for which are so rotten, the glass is in danger of falling out. ARPA Funds will also be used for brick tuckpointing at the courthouse, in the amount of $200,000.

And, the Supervisors in Montgomery County approved the abatement of taxes (Amounting to $30), for a parcel of land (described as a “sliver”) north of 200th and west of G Avenue. The County Secondary Roads Department basically had an easement for a short road so their trucks could turn around.

(Radio Iowa) – Starting this fall, students at Drake University will be able to study under a new zoo and conservation science degree. There’s been a similar curriculum concentration for Drake students to tack onto their majors since 2015 and the university recently approved expanding it to a full degree. Drake professor Michael Renner says the program will prepare students to take on entry-level jobs in zoos, especially when zoo directors claim most applicants for these roles are unqualified. “You need to know something about biological mechanisms, the transmission of disease, microbiology, physiology,” Renner says. “You need to know something about how animals fit into the world, so that would be ecology and organisms, scale biology, not looking at the parts, but looking at the whole critter, and you need to know something about behavior.”

The program is partnering with Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines. Renner says students will spend time at the zoo through many of the degree’s classes. Renner says with the full degree, students will not only learn about animals, but also take a management course so they can grow their careers beyond entry level.  “Students do two internships before they graduate and that’s kind of a differentiating factor from other places where a student might be able to pick up an internship,” Renner says. “They’re very competitive in the zoo world. It’s kind of a mark of the quality of the program that our students are so successful in competing for internships, and by the time they graduate having had two, then they’re very competitive for the jobs.”

Renner says well-trained zoo workers make zoos better places for animals to receive conservation and care. Students can sign up for the major starting this fall.

(by Catherine Wheeler, Iowa Public Radio)