A traffic stop at around 11:25-p.m. Aug. 22nd in Bridgewater, resulted in the arrest of a Cass County man. The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports 35-year old Brian Harold Eilts, of Massena, was pulled over for failure to have license plates on his vehicle. As he approached the vehicle, the deputy recognized Eilts, and knew he had been barred from driving due to an earlier incident.

When Eilts exited his vehicle, the deputy noticed a broken glass pipe at Eilts’ feet. The man admitted it was a broken bong. After he was placed under arrest, a search of the vehicle was conducted, during which a broken glass pipe used for smoking meth, and a baggy of a white substance that appeared to be meth, was found. Eilts was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $5,000.

A traffic stop in the 1400 block of Highway 71 in Audubon County, Sunday afternoon, resulted in the arrest of a Pottawattamie County woman on drug and other charges. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 47-year old Jackie Rae Kennedy, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody at around 4-p.m. for Driving While Suspended, Speeding and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Kennedy was booked into the Audubon County Jail, posted bond and was released.

Atlantic Community School District Transportation Director David Eckles is issuing a reminder to motorists about the law, when it comes to passing school buses that are preparing to pick-up and drop-off students. The primary thing to remember he says, is that on two-lane roads, the law requires ALL drivers to stop for a stopped school bus with its amber or red lights flashing, and stop arm extended. Do not pass a bus that has stopped, because children you may not be able to see, could be walking around the front of the bus when they are coming home from, or going to, school.

On four-lane roads, motorists in the opposite lanes of travel do not have to stop, but those behind the bus must stop until the bus begins moving again. Slow down and pay attention. Children’s lives are at stake!

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she disagrees with President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender individuals joining the military. The Republican governor told reporters Monday that anyone who signs up for military service deserves appreciation and respect. Her office later said Reynolds doesn’t plan to take any action in response.

Trump directed the Pentagon on Friday to implement the ban and gave the agency authority to decide the future of openly transgender people already serving.

It’s unclear how many transgender Iowans serve in the military. An Iowa National Guard spokesman says no one has openly declared their status as transgender. Among Iowans serving in the federal armed forces, at least one transgender Army reservist told The Des Moines Register in July that he hopes to have a full military career.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a man from Nebraska suffered possible/minor injuries during a rollover accident Sunday morning. 25-year old Austin Jay Fricke, of Lincoln, NE., was driving a 1988 Toyota 4 Runner that was towing another 1988 4 Runner westbound on Highway 34, when the second vehicle began to sway. After Fricke lost control of his SUV, both vehicles entered the south ditch and rolled over.

Damage from the crash, which happened at around 9:10-a.m., Sunday, amounted to $3,500. Fricke, who was wearing a seat belt, complained of pain and/or injury, but was not transported to the hospital. There were no citations issued.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Another judge has ruled that Iowa Department of Transportation officers didn’t have authority to issue speeding tickets to drivers of noncommercial vehicles. The Des Moines Register reports Scott County District Associate Judge Christine Dalton says if officers had the authority to give tickets prior to a law change in May, an amendment wouldn’t have been necessary.

The new law gave department officers the authority to ticket drivers of noncommercial vehicles until July 2018. The ruling comes only weeks before another court takes up the broader issue of whether the agency acted illegally before the state law change.

State officials say the department could lose millions of dollars in federal money without the authority to ticket drivers of all types of vehicles.

Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley was in Atlantic last Friday, visiting with staff and administrators at the Cass County Memorial Hospital. Afterward, he spoke with KJAN’s Jim Field about health care and other issues, including NAFTA. (You can listen to the “Heartbeat Today” interview under the podcast link found at kjan.com, under the “Programs” tab)

With regard to healthcare, two separate approaches to the Affordable Health Care Act (Obama Care) are being bandied about. Grassley said on one side, hearings are set for September on a Bi-partisan bill to deal with the issue. The other one, which could be bi-partisan, but is currently partisan, is picking up support.

US Senator Charles Grassley visited Cass County Health System on Friday, August 25th. After a tour of the facility with CEO Brett Altman, Senator Grassley met with CCHS administrators and staff. A number of healthcare issues were discussed, including the importance of continuing both the federal support for Medicaid and the 340B pharmaceutical program, which provides funding from pharmaceutical companies for discounted medications for patients. “We certainly appreciate Senator Grassley taking time to visit,” Altman said. “It was a great opportunity to showcase our first rate medical facilities and share with him the great work being done by our dedicated staff here at CCHS!” (Photo provided by CCHS)

Grassley says something has to be done to allow people to buy private health insurance. As for NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement), Grassley says it’s important, especially for Iowa, not to have NAFTA upset. President Trump proposed getting rid of NAFTA during the election, but his views have since wavered, according to Grassley. He says Trump may be wanting to renegotiate NAFTA, and there is support from other changes, to at least make some updates or changes to, the agreement.

Grassley says the U-S has opened discussions with a hard bargaining position, but “That’s typical of how you start to bargain,” and he doesn’t think there will be a lot of damage done to NAFTA, particularly from the standpoint of agriculture.

And, with regard to President Trump’s threat to shutting down the government if he doesn’t see action soon on the border wall, Grassley said he hopes it’s just a bargaining tactic. He says experience has shown it’s costly to shut down and then at some point re-open the government. Shutting down the government, he says, “Would be a very bad thing to do.”

Grassley said also, he wishes the Press would focus more on what’s being accomplished in Washington than on what’s controversial, because there are bi-partisan efforts to move the country forward.