(Radio Iowa-John Slegers) One of the biggest buyers of Iowa corn is planning to cut off most of its purchases in 2024, though diplomatic efforts are still underway that aim to bring about a change in policy. Fourth District Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra says he recently met with our nation’s top trade ambassador to Mexico, and so far, there’s no movement on Mexico shifting its stance on plans to ban the majority of American corn.

Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, says the window of opportunity is slowly closing around engagement with Mexico.

Mexico is phasing out its use of G-M-O or genetically modified corn next year, though about 90-percent of all corn grown in the U-S is G-M-O corn. Feenstra says the looming ban, prompted by Mexico’s president, is in violation of the U-S-Canada-Mexico Free Trade Agreement.

The Iowa Department of Corrections reports an inmate has died at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville. 60-year-old Georgia Eileen Grau was pronounced dead on Saturday, August 12th at 7:24 a.m. due to an unexpected medical emergency.

Foul play is not suspected but an autopsy will be conducted to determine cause of death.

Grau had been serving a 10-year maximum term for the crimes of Reckless Use of a Firearm with Bodily Injury and Willful Injury-Causing Bodily Injury from Woodbury County. Her sentence began on January 19, 2021.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Cass County (IA) man was sentenced last Friday to n August 11, 2023, an Atlantic man was sentenced to 156 months (13 years) in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.According to public court documents, law enforcement completed several controlled buys from 54-year old Edward Allen Davenport, of Atlantic, in May, June, and August 2022 involving pure methamphetamine.

In August 2022, a search warrant was executed at Davenport’s Atlantic residence. Law enforcement seized additional pure methamphetamine, a scale, pipes, syringes, and bags with residue from Davenport’s residence.

Upon completion of his prison sentence, Davenport must serve a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Atlantic Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and Division of Narcotic Enforcement investigated the case

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A Michael Jordan rookie card will be added back to the safe deposit box contents auction running September 5th through the 20th. “After some excitement from the first auction earlier this year, we sent a Michael Jordan rookie card to be evaluated by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA),” said State Treasurer Roby Smith. “The card has been sent back to us with a rating of PSA 7, and we’ll be adding the rookie card as a lot in our upcoming auction. Make sure to check it out and get a peek of this rare item!”

Each year, the Treasurer’s Office receives two to three hundred safe deposit boxes that have been abandoned and is currently holding almost 3,000 boxes. When the Office runs out of room to store the boxes, it is forced to auction the boxes off. Some of the boxes currently being auctioned off have been held for 10 to 15 years. Before any auction, the Treasurer’s Office searches for the owner by sending out mailings; publishing names in newspapers and on social media; researching last known addresses; and providing opportunities for people to search in person at events. Proceeds from the auction stay in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt for the rightful owners to claim. If an owner comes forward before the auction, the items will be returned rather than sold.

Lone Star Auctioneers, specializing in selling unclaimed safe deposit box contents from state unclaimed property programs, will manage the auction. Lonestar will appraise each item in the box and will set the minimum bid. The auction website link is IowaUnclaimedProperty.org. Bidding is open to anyone registered and approved on Lone Star Auctioneers with a valid U.S. mailing address.

“I hope all past and present Iowans use this opportunity as a reminder to search GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov for their name, the names of friends, family and favorite businesses. Searching is fast, free and easy! Even if you’ve searched in the past, search again as properties are continually being added,” Smith concluded.

Unclaimed property refers to money and other assets held by financial institutions, businesses and organizations that have lost contact with the owner for a specific period of time. Safe deposit boxes are just one type of unclaimed property the Treasurer’s Office safekeeps. Dormant checking and savings accounts, uncashed checks, lost stocks, life insurance policies and utility deposits are also common forms of unclaimed property.

For more information on unclaimed property, visit GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov. Follow the Treasurer on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for the latest news and tips.

(Omaha, NE) – Officials with the Omaha Community Foundation are reminding Cass and Audubon County non-profit organizations that the deadline to apply for grant funds is Thursday, September 1. Applications are currently being accepted online for the fall grant cycle with $29,940 available to support Cass County nonprofit organizations and community projects, and $37,985 available to support Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects.

Of the total allocated funds in Cass County, $4,000 is restricted to the community of Griswold, and $25,940 is available to support nonprofit organizations and projects throughout the county.  In Audubon County, $2,375 is restricted to the Exira area, and $5,060 is designated for the community of Audubon.

Full application details, helpful resources, and a link to the application form can be found online by selecting Cass (Or Audubon) County under County Listing at swiowafoundations.org. Applications will only be accepted through the online system. 

Only organizations providing services in Cass County or Audubon Counties are eligible to apply for their respective county grant funds. They must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and be an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity, a local municipality, or a fiscally sponsored project.

For Fall 2023, the Cass County and Audubon County Community Foundations will entertain requests for capital and program support. General operating support will not be considered. General operating support will only be considered for extenuating, non-recurring circumstances.  

Please contact Sunni Kamp (sunni@omahafoundation.org) or Sydney Calcagno (sydney@omahafoundation.org) at 800-794-3458 with application-related questions. All completed grant applications will be considered at the October Board meeting, with applicants being notified of funding decisions by the end of October. 

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The U.S. Attorney’s Office reports a Shelby County man was sentenced last Friday (Aug. 11) to 21 months in prison for failing to register as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to public court documents, 32-year-old Tyrone Peacock, of Harlan, registered as a sex offender in Illinois in May 2020. Yet, in March 2022, Peacock obtained an Iowa identification card listing a residence in Harlan, Iowa. Peacock resided in and was employed in Iowa, and failed to register, in violation of the requirements of SORNA.

After his prison sentence, Peacock must serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Harlan Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office released details on Monday on five recent arrests.

On August 6th at 12:54 a.m. Stuart Police arrested 43-year-old David Yepez of Denver, CO in Stuart for Domestic Assault-Bodily Injury 1st Offense. Yepez was released the next day on $1,000 bond.

On August 7th at 10:09 p.m. Adair County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 28-year-old Serik William Baldwin at 103 E Hayes Drive in Casey on a charge of Theft 1st Degree, greater than $10,000. He was booked in to the Adair County Jail and held on $10,000 bond.

On August 7th at 11:34 p.m. Adair County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 36-year-old Charles William Walker of Council Bluffs on a warrant for Violation of Probation. He was booked in to the Adair County Jail and released three days later on $2,000 bond.

On August 11th at 12:47 p.m.Adair County Sheriff’s Officials arrested 31-year-old Cristian Ortiz of Adair at 302 East Iowa Street in Greenfield on a Iowa Governor’s Warrant which was issued based off a Texas arrest warrant. He was held on no bond and set to be transferred to Dallas County, Texas authorities.

Also on August 11th at 8:23 p.m. Adair County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 43-year-old Justin Alan Robertson of Greenfield at 411 Southwest 3rd Street in Greenfield on a Union County warrant. Robertson was turned directly over to Union County Deputies.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office released some more details on an ATV accident that occurred Saturday night in Massena.

First repsonders were called to the accident near 750th Street and Clarke Avenue in Massena around 10:19 p.m. The call stated a male was found laying in the middle of the roadway, conscious and breathing. Upon arrival officers determined that Aaron Latus of Atlantic was operating an ATV and is believed to have flipped or overturned the vehicle, ejecting Latus. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries and then transferred to a regional hospital via LifeNet helicopter.

No further details are known at this time and the incident remains under investigation.

(Cascade, Iowa) – A car heading in the wrong direction collided head-on with another vehicle, Sunday night, in eastern Iowa, killing one person, and injuring four others. Names of the victims were being withheld, pending notification of family. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2009 Cadillac DTS was traveling south in the northbound lanes of U-S Highway 151 in Cascade, when it collided with a 2020 KIA Forte. The crash happened at around 11:32-p.m., at Gehl Lane.

All of the accident victims were wearing a seat belt. One person died at the scene. One of the victims was transported by helicopter to the University of Iowa Hospital. Two of the victims were transported by Cascade EMS and Bernard Fire to Mercy One in Dubuque. The third victim was transported by Epworth Fire to Finley Hospital.

No fewer than 14 agencies assisted at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.

Iowa women who use wheelchairs are being recruited to take part in the Ms. Wheelchair Iowa Contest this fall. The winner will spend the next year as the state’s chief advocate for people with disabilities. State director Angie Hulsebus says it’s not a beauty pageant, but a contest based on the person’s achievements since the onset of the disability. There are only a few key criteria to apply.

You’ll also need to be able to attract sponsors to raise money for expenses, including the trip to next year’s Ms. Wheelchair America event where you’ll represent Iowa at the national level. It’s an exceptional chance to advocate, educate and empower, Hulsebus says, through all kinds of opportunities.

Applying is as easy as sending the program an email and they’ll send you back an application.

Hulsebus was Ms. Wheelchair Iowa 2009 and says it was one of her crowning achievements.

This year’s Ms. Wheelchair Iowa Contest will be held October 28th at the Hearst Center For Performing Arts in Cedar Falls. Contact the program at: mswheelchairiowaprogram@gmail.com or through Facebook at Ms. Wheelchair Iowa Program.