AMES, Iowa –Aug. 30, 2023 – You are invited to join the Iowa Department of Transportation for a virtual public information meeting to share your input on a proposed bridge replacement on Iowa 92 over Indian Creek, 0.7 miles west of Pottawattamie County Rd M-47.

Virtual presentation:

When: Anytime between Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 (around Noon) –Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

How to Attend: Navigate to https://bit.ly/Iowadotreg5506

Description: The website will help you get information about the project and allow you to give us feedback.  If you would like to receive future emails about this project or submit a comment or question for this project, you can go directly to: https://bit.ly/Iowadotcom5506 Comments are due by Friday, Sept. 15, 2023

For general information regarding the public meeting, Scott Suhr, Field Services Coordinator, Iowa DOT District 4 Office, 2210 E 7^th St., Atlantic, Iowa 50022, phone 712-388-6883 or 800-289-4368, email Scott.Suhr@iowadot.us

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Auditor of State Rob Sand today (Wednesday), released an agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Griswold, Iowa, for the period July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. The agreed-upon procedures engagement was performed pursuant to Chapter 11.6 of the Code of Iowa.

Sand reported fifteen findings related to the receipt and disbursement of taxpayer funds. They are found on pages 9 through 13 of this report. The findings address issues such as a lack of segregation of duties, disbursements exceeding budgeted amount, deficit fund balances and money provided to a nonprofit corporation in violation of Article III Section 31 of the Constitution of Iowa. Sand provided the City with recommendations to address each of the findings.

Three of the fifteen findings discussed above are repeated from the prior year. The City Council has a fiduciary responsibility to provide oversight of the City’s operations and financial transactions. Oversight is typically defined as the “watchful and responsible care” a governing body exercises in its fiduciary capacity.

A copy of the agreed-upon procedures report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s website at Audit Reports – Auditor of State.

The results from the D-N-R’s annual roadside survey show a 15 percent increase in the number of pheasants counted this year. Wildlife research biologist, Todd Bogenschutz (Boyg-en-shuts) says they counted 23 birds for each route.

Iowa’s weather has a big impact on pheasant numbers, and Bogenschutz says a mild winter coupled with a good spring weather for the hatch are paying off.

Bogenschutz says we’re probably looking at a harvest of around 300 to 400-thousand roosters this year, which would be one of the better seasons.

The hunter numbers this year will be around 60-thousand.

The youth pheasant season is October 21st and 22nd. The regular season opens on October 28th and runs through January 10th, 2024.

The Biden administration announced plans Tuesday to negotiate Medicare drug prices for ten medications, including treatments for diabetes. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has worked on legislation to fight escalating drug prices, and says the government should not dictate payments.

The Republican says says taking decision making away from pharmaceutical companies will result in less money going into the research to develop new drugs.

The plan faces legal action from pharmaceutical companies. The negotiated prices are expected to start in 2026.

The Des Moines Register is reporting Fareway plans to move its corporate headquarters from Boone to the Des Moines metro.

Fareway C-E-O Reynolds Cramer told The Register he didn’t make the decision lightly as it was his great grandparents who opened Fareway’s first store in Boone in 1938. Cramer said Fareway’s headquarters in Boone is out of space and many of the people who work there live in the Des Moines metro. According to the newspaper, Fareway is buying a building in Johnston that had been the Iowa Bankers Association headquarters and 100 employees will move into that building next spring.

In a statement provided to K-W-B-G Radio, Boone Mayor John Slight said Fareway will remain a vital corporate citizen of the city and 600 Fareway employees will still work in Boone. Slight said while disappointing, moving Fareway’s corporate headquarters to Johnston is important to Fareway’s continued expansion and that’s beneficial to Boone.

According to the company’s website, Fareway operates more than 130 stores in Iowa and six other states and has over 12-thousand employees.

Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg says a pilot project in three Iowa counties may be a way to provide quicker emergency responses in rural areas.

Beyond the ambulance crews and E-M-Ts already in place around the state, the “Iowa United First Aid” program will train new groups of volunteers in Cass, Calhoun and Van Buren Counties in what Gregg describes as “C-P-R Plus.”

Gregg got the idea for the program when he visited Israel last year and learned about a smart phone app that alerts medical professionals if there’s an emergency nearby. Earlier this week Gregg was in Keosauqua to meet with over 30 people who’re starting volunteer orientation for the program in Van Buren County.

Gregg is also urging the group to provide feedback about how the program works and if changes may be needed.

The three counties involved in the pilot program have each gotten a 50-thousand dollar state grant, which is being matched with 25-thousand dollars in local resources. Nearly all that money is being used to buy the bags and medical equipment for each of the volunteers.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – If you have ever wondered about running for and serving on a City Council or School Board, you can learn more about the responsibilities and what those positions entail, by attending “Local Office 101: Panel and Q&A,” hosted by the Cass County Democrats. The session takes place September 9th, from 9:00-until 11:00-a.m., at the Atlantic Public Library (507 Poplar Street, Atlantic, IA 50022).

Panelists sharing their personal experiences will include Atlantic City Councilmember Elaine Otte, Atlantic School Board Member Jenny Williams, and Atlantic Parks & Rec Board Member Shirley Jensen. LaVon Eblen will serve as the panel moderator.

Area residents are welcome to attend the free event to learn more about participating in local politics. Light breakfast refreshments will be provided.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Auditor’s Office, late this (Tuesday) afternoon, updated the list of candidates who have filed nomination papers for the November 7, 2023 Cass County City/School Elections.

On Tuesday, incumbent Elaine Otte filed papers to run for one At Large seat on the Atlantic City Council. Three candidates filed on Monday (8/28):

Incumbent Pat McCurdy for Atlantic City Council – Ward 3

Incumbent Linda Hartkopf, Atlantic City Council – Ward 4

Incumbent Mary Strong, Parks and Recreation Board. (2 seats open on the Board).

The filing period for the November 7^th City and School Elections continues through September 21^st.

(Radio Iowa) – With highs forecast in the 90s across much of Iowa this weekend, it won’t feel at all like fall, but an autumnal activity will kick off that’s a sure sign the cooler weather is coming soon. Nate Carr, an Iowa D-N-R conservation officer for Hamilton and Hardin counties, says two popular Iowa hunting season are opening on Friday.

Iowa’s teal season is short and runs just through September 16th, while the dove season lasts through November 29th.

Carr says hunters will need to be prepared before they head for the field this weekend.

There’s also registration needed for HIP, or the Harvest Information Program. There’s no fee associated with HIP but hunters of migratory game birds are required to fill out the brief survey. Learn more at: www.iowadnr.gov.