Extra state, county and local law enforcement will be on the roads during the upcoming holiday weekend as part of a special effort to crack down on problem motorists before they become a problem to others. Iowa State Trooper Paul Gardner, who’s based in Fort Dodge, says they’re intentionally putting out the word before the Labor Day weekend arrives, to get people thinking about safety.

Gardner says 40 people were killed on Iowa’s roads over the Labor Day holiday last year.

Saturday is expected to be a very busy day on the state’s roads, especially around Iowa City and Ames as Iowa and Iowa State are opening their football seasons at home, while U-N-I is opening its season away — facing the Cyclones in Ames.

The Iowa D-O-T reports there have been 247 deaths on Iowa’s roads so far this year, well ahead of the 213 deaths as of this date a year ago.

This (Tuesday) morning marks the start of the 16th annual effort to package millions of meals to help feed the hungry in Iowa, across the U-S, and in countries around the globe. Meals from the Heartland launches the massive mission with today’s corporate contest, where Hy-Vee spokeswoman Nola Aigner (EYE-gner) Davis says dozens of volunteers will be pitching in to assemble the meals in plastic bags, which are then packed into cardboard boxes.

That event, the One Step Challenge, is being held at the MidAmerican Energy RecPlex in West Des Moines. The larger “Hunger Fight” event runs tomorrow (Wednesday) through Saturday as many thousands of volunteers will be packaging meals at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines. The goal is to produce and package four-million meals by the end of the day on Saturday.

There are two basic meals that will be assembled, a Hearty Pack, with rice, soy protein, vitamins, minerals and dried vegetables; and a Taco Mac, which contains enriched pasta, soy flour, and vitamin- and mineral-fortified cheese mix.

Individual and group registrations are being welcomed for shifts tomorrow through Saturday. Hairnets and gloves will be provided. Since 2008, Meals from the Heartland has provided more than 183-million meals to the hungry in Iowa, across the U.S., and around the world.
www.mealsfromtheheartland.org

Republican Congressman Zach Nunn says his race for a second term in the U-S House will get national attention.

The latest data shows Democrats have a 77-hundred voter registration edge over Republicans in the third congressional district. Last November, Nunn won Iowa’s third district seat in the U-S House by finishing just 21-hundred votes ahead of Democratic incumbent Cindy Axne. This summer, national Democrats began running online ads accusing Nunn of being part of the G-O-P’s anti-abortion crusade.

Nunn notes there will be no statewide races on Iowa’s 2024 General Election ballot.

Nunn says his congressional race, along with the U-S House races in Iowa’s other three congressional districts, will be the lead races in Iowa next year. No Democrat has announced they plan to run against Nunn in 2024. In Iowa’s first district, Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks will likely face a rematch with Democrat Christina Bohannan of Iowa City. Bohannan announced her 2024 congressional campaign earlier this month. Two Democrats say they’re running in Iowa’s fourth congressional district. One of the Democrats is Ryan Melton of Nevada, who ran against Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra last year, and the other is Ames doctor Jay Brown.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Secondary Roads Department, today (Monday), reports rown Ave. will be closed to traffic just north of 170th St. for approximately 3-4 days for a culvert replacement.

(Radio Iowa)- There’s a nationwide push to recruit more minorities for careers in law enforcement and a community in northwest Iowa is emphasizing diversity on its police force. Bayron Ordonez, who was born in Honduras, is one of four new officers taking the oath to serve and protect Sioux City.

Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller agrees.

Of four new officers recently sworn into duty in Sioux City, two come from the Hispanic community, including Ordonez.

Of the 127 officers on the city’s police force, more than a quarter are minorities, including women. There are no Native Americans on the force. About 20-percent of Sioux City’s population is Hispanic. Now, about eight-percent of the city’s police officers are Hispanic.

(Radio Iowa) – Five people were injured after a truck crashed into a house in Plymouth County this (Monday) morning. The Iowa State Patrol says the driver, 32-year-old Jesus Almaraz of Sioux City suffered a medical condition as he drove on Highway 3 near Le Mars is around 7 a-m and his truck went out of control and hit the north ditch causing it to go airborne and crash into a house.

Almaraz as was taken to Valley Hospital in Le Mars for treatment. Three passengers in the truck, also from Sioux City, sustained injuries. One of them needed to be extricated from the vehicle and was airlifted to a Sioux City Hospital for treatment. The state patrol says one resident inside the house also sustained minor injuries.

Several arrests were reported in the last week by police in Glenwood, among them:

On August 20th, Jennifer Baucom, 60, of Glenwood was arrested for OWI- 1st offense, bond set at $1,000 cash or surety (posted bond).

And, Ashton Schuppan, 35, of Glenwood was arrested for Criminal Mischief – 2nd offense, bond set at $5,000 cash or surety (posted bond).

On August 22nd, Byron Parker, 21, of Council Bluffs was arrested for Possession of Marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, total bond set of $1,300 cash or surety (posted bond).

Also,  Kayla Dutcher, 20, of Council Bluffs was arrested for Poss. of Marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, total bond set at $1,300 cash or surety (posted bond).

On August 24th, Ashton Schuppan, 35, of Glenwood was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Criminal Mischief 2nd degree, bond set at $5,000 cash or surety (posted bond).

On August 25th, Blaine Houser, 20, of Glenwood was arrested for OWI 1st offense and possession of drug paraphernalia, total bond set at $1,300 (posted bond).

Representatives from Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) along with developers and city officials in Woodbine and Glenwood came together to celebrate progress on Disaster Recovery housing projects on Tuesday, August 22nd. These projects are the fruit of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery funding from the 2019 floods in Southwest Iowa.

From Left to Right Back: Jacob Levang- IEDA, Jeff Geerts – IEDA, Ashley Hayes – SWIPCO, Steven Stransky – IEDA, Kevin O’Neill – HUD, Anderson Stoute -HUD, Brian Sullivan – IEDA, Steve Eggleston- HUD, Todd Heistand – NuStyle Development Corp, Mitch Scanlan- NuStyle Development Corp. Front: Jared Morford – IEDA, Teresa Yeung – HUD, Katie Shelton – IEDA, Hayley Krozier – IEDA, Abbey Lukehart – USDA, Jenna Tennant – USDA, Carrie Murdock- NuStyle Development Corp, Aaron Koontz – SWIPCO, Erin Hudson – SWIPCO, Greg Rothermel, NuStyle Development Corp.

The group first met in Woodbine to get a look at a 40 new home project that is nearing completion by NuStyle Development Corporation. These new homes and supporting infrastructure will allow displaced flood victims an opportunity to return to an area they prefer to live at an affordable price. It will also benefit low to moderate income families that want to put down roots in the community. Non-flood impacted households can also apply.

The initial funding was available for communities and counties to apply for to support building new homes, rehabbing homes, and rebuilding vital infrastructure. The cities of Woodbine and Glenwood applied and then took bids for projects from developers. They then selected developer projects that they felt best represented the communities’ needs and got to work after project approval. Malvern, Tabor, Logan, and Hamburg also have active projects.

After their morning visit to Woodbine, representatives from SWIPCO, HUD, and IEDA traveled to view some projects in Glenwood with city officials and representatives of developer Mark Hughes Construction. Glenwood has multiple projects underway including 40 new homes in the Arbor Hills Development with Mark Hughes Construction and the Burr Oak Apartment Complex being developed by Travis Overhue.

From Left to Right Back: Sandi Winton – Jim Hughes Real Estate, Steven Stransky – IEDA, Jacob Levang- IEDA, Amber Farnam- Glenwood City Administrator, Brian Sullivan- IEDA, Jeff Geerts- IEDA, Dave Smith, Mark Hughes Construction Front: Mark Hughes – Mark Hughes Construction, Jared Morford- IEDA, Katie Shelton – IEDA, Hayley Krozier – IEDA, Ashley Hayes- SWIPCO, Aaron Koontz – SWIPCO, Brad Taylor- Mark Hughes Construction, Jennifer Hughes- Mark Hughes Construction, Nate Bolte- Mark Hughes Construction

SWIPCO Disaster Recovery Coordinator Ashley Hayes said “It is so rewarding to see these projects making progress to give individuals that were displaced by the flood a chance to move back to a small town. Many individuals that have applied have told us they had no choice but to move somewhere they didn’t really want to and they are so happy to return to the area they love.”

Hayes said it takes community support to make these projects happen, “It’s also so great to see the pride these communities have and their future vision for growth.”

Over half of the homes in Woodbine have qualified families in the process of purchase. Developers receive a $100,000 reimbursement to build the homes valued at around $275,000 so they can be sold at a more affordable $175,000 price tag. Hayes said some individuals have also worked with USDA to secure loans, which has been very helpful. Many of the spots in Glenwood also have buyers ready, as do some other smaller projects in Tabor.

If you or anyone you know has an interest in new homes being built in Woodbine, Logan, Glenwood, Malvern, Tabor, or Hamburg. Or if you are interested in new rental opportunities in Glenwood visit www.swipco.org and follow the link on the home page for more information. If you have additional questions call 712-243-4196. SWIPCO is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Monday, August 28th was the first day for local candidates to file papers to run for local city and school board elections.  On the first day, three candidates files nominations papers for city of Atlantic seats.

Linda J. Hartkopf filed to run for re-election to Atlantic’s 4th Ward council seat and Pat McCurdy filed for re-election in Atlantic’s 3rd Ward.

Also, for Atlantic Parks and Recreation Board, Mary Strong filed her papers on Monday for one of the two available seats.

During this year’s Iowa State Fair, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau partnered with the Iowa State Patrol to survey fair goers about mobile device and seat belt use in vehicles. Iowans from nearly every county were polled and represented in the data. The results show lower seat belt use in the backseat, an alarming number of drivers holding cell phones, and broad support for hands-free legislation.

Results from the survey of 1459 Iowans show cell phone use behind the wheel is prevalent with 51% of drivers admitting to always or sometimes having a mobile device in hand. Despite high usage, 85% surveyed support hands-free legislation.  Bills limiting cell phone use by mandating hands-free technology have been introduced in the Iowa Legislature since 2019, all attempts at passage have been unsuccessful.

Over 55% of Iowa’s passenger vehicle traffic fatalities are unbelted/unknown. While 91% of Iowans polled reported always buckling up when driving, only 66% always wear a seat belt in the backseat. This statistic comes on the heels of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announcing a proposed rule to require front and rear seat belt warning systems for drivers in most new vehicles manufactured in the United States. Iowa has a primary seat belt law for front seat passengers only. Passengers over 18 in rear seats are not required to wear a seat belt.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau works with city, county, state, and local organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce deaths and injuries on Iowa’s roadways using federally funded grants.