(Radio Iowa) – A late entrepreneur from north-central Iowa who’s credited with launching two businesses that became global powerhouses will be honored next week in the town of Garner. Garner Mayor Tim Schmidt is proclaiming next Monday as Francis Zrostlik Day. The mayor says Zrostlik was a pioneer who was instrumental in the growth and development of that city and most of the surrounding towns in Hancock County.

Zrostlik family receiving the proclamation from the city of Garner. Pictured from left to right: Garner City Administrator Jim Collins, Members of the Zrostlik family (Dave Zrostlik, Barbara Zrostlik-Beyer, Susan Zrostlik Firsching), Garner Mayor Tim Schmidt. (Photo courtesy Macy Fuller w/Performance Mktg.)

In 1961, Zrostlik founded the Iowa Mold Tooling Company which initially retreaded tires and expanded into making tire service truck bodies. He also founded Stellar Industries in 1990, which makes a fleet of mechanic and service trucks, and was the first company in the U-S to make hydraulic hooklift loaders.

Dave Zrostlik, son of Francis and current president of Stellar.

Schmidt says Stellar now has more than 800 employees and it’s made Garner the tire truck capital of the world. Zrostlik’s birthday was August 14th. He died in 2000 at age 65.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Community School District (ACSD) Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnson, Wednesday, announced Kindergarten through 12th-grade students in the District will be admitted to all regular-season sporting events, free of charge, beginning this Fall. The plan – part of the theme of “Trojan Community,” was approved by the School Board during their meeting Wednesday evening, in the Schuler Elementary School Library.

Dr. Beth Johnson (image from Zoom meeting 8-9-23)

Schools Superintendent Beth Dr. Johnson said the idea was formed during informal discussion on improving attendance and school spirit in the Trojan Community.

The theme includes all Pre-k through 12the grade students wearing all Trojan gear on Friday’s.

She encouraged community members to wear Trojan apparel on Friday’s during the school year, also. Atlantic School District Board Secretary/School Business Official (SBO) Lisa Jones, says students who might be unable to attend a football or basketball games – due to financial harsdship – will now have the opportunity to do so.

Atlantic A.D. Andy Mitchell (Image from Zoom)

Atlantic Assistant High School Principal/Athletic Director Andy Mitchell said the only stipulation to local sporting events is that elementary students must be with an adult. That is unchanged from the previous policy. Also, free admission does not apply to school musicals and plays. And, the costs for the District to pay game officials will come from the General Fund, whereas they previously were paid for out of ticket sales. During the 2022-2023 school year, paying those officials cost the District $42,000.

The first home football game is on September 1, at Trojan Bowl. Andy Mitchell said Fall sports training began this week.

Elsewhere in meeting news, the Atlantic School Board, Wednesday, included approved the following resignations:
Hilary Thompson, Transportation para
Laura Juhl, Preschool Aide
Erica Vandevort, Preschool Aide
Heather Prall, Food Service Employee
Amy Lambson, Food Service Employee
Michaelin Juhl, High School Para

And, they approved the following contracts:
James Probanz, Part-time custodian
Paul Iekel, Middle School Cross Country Coach
Sierra Parker, Preschool Aide
Callie Carter, Preschool Aide
Caleb Winters, Elementary Special Education
Aubrey Schuler, High School Special Education
Stacy Van Aernam, Classroom Para
Monica Carlson, High School Special Education Para
Kaitlyn Geib, Schuler Therapeutic Classroom Para

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The August session of “Healthy U” — Cass Health’s monthly lunch-and-learn series — will feature a presentation on “Older Adult Nutrition” by Beth Olsen, MS, RD, LD. The presentation will be held Thursday, August 17th at noon, in Conference Room 2 at CCHS (Cass County Health System/Cass County Hospital), in Atlantic.

Olsen graduated from Iowa State University with her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics in 2012 and Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences in 2013. She went on to complete her Dietetic Internship in 2014 and has been working as a Registered Dietitian ever since. Beth joined Cass Health in 2016 as the Director of Public Health, where she manages several community health initiatives and programs. In a unique dual role, she also serves as the Clinical Dietitian for Cass Health.

Beth Olsen, MS, RD, LD, Director of Public Health

Healthy U is a free educational series held every month at Cass Health that the public is encouraged to attend. During Healthy U, Cass Health providers and staff share health information on a different topic each month. Upcoming presenters include Dr. Matt Weresh and Lace Sindt, ARNP.

A free boxed lunch is provided for all attendees, so reservations are required. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat. For more information about Healthy U, visit casshealth.org/healthyu.

(Des Moines, Iowa)  – Atlantic FFA Advisor/Ag Instructor Eric Miller reports even before the Iowa State Fair officially began, members of the Atlantic FFA Chapter were hard at work. On Wednesday (Aug. 9th), the Draft Horse Show kicked off with Colton Becker and his Percheron “Spring” began the day by winning Champion FFA Halter class. Next was FFA Showmanship where Becker also came out on top. Finally in the FFA Cart Class, Becker finished 1st and swept the FFA Draft Horse competition. (All photos are courtesy Eric Miller & Melissa Johnson)

When asked about his outstanding day Becker responded, “My experience at the Iowa State Fair was one to remember. Last time I competed in the FFA horse show it was during covid. During covid the state fair was completely different, this year it was nice to experience the normal. This year I competed in 3 different classes and did well in both. I am thankful for my advisor, family, and friends that all come together and help.”

In the FFA English Equitation Division, Taylor McCreedy had an outstanding day. McCreedy won Champion FFA Horse English Equitation. Taylor also placed first in English Walk/Trot and 3rd in English Pleasure. McCreedy will also compete in Western Classes and the CowGirl Queen contest as the Iowa State Fair continues this week. Becker and McCreedy will also represent Atlantic FFA in the Parade Of Champions on Saturday afternoon.

Colton Becker and “Spring”

Colton Becker and “Spring”

Poultry Group; Left to Right: Rio Johnson, Bethany Anderson, Lily Johnson, Conner Johnson, Walker Gary.

Poultry Group; Left to Right: Rio Johnson, Conner Johnson, Walker Gary, Bethany Anderson.

Taylor McCreedy

In the FFA Poultry Show, Atlantic FFA had an outstanding day winning Supreme Champion Large Chapter Herdsmanship and won the Supreme Champion FFA Poultry Award. FFA members Bethany Anderson, Rio Johnson, Conner Johnson, Lily Johnson and Walker Gary brought a total of 44 birds for the show today. Bethany received 3 Blues & 2 Purples, & was named Champion Modern Game Bantam & Champion Old English Game Bantam. She also received 3rd place Showmanship. After the show Anderson said “The other exhibitors and staff were very nice and helpful. The show was lots of fun and was a great experience, seeing many breeds and varieties of poultry was very educational.”

Rio received 10 Blues on her Individual Breeding Class poultry entries, with 1 of her birds placing first in its class. Johnson also said, “Not only did I get to help and teach others about my poultry, but I also got to learn from other exhibitors too. It was really cool seeing how much hard work everyone puts in for the poultry project.” Conner received 7 Blues & 2 Reds on his Individual Breeding Class poultry entries, with 2 of his birds placing 1st in their class. Lily received 8 Blues & 2 Reds on her Individual Breeding Class poultry entries, with 1 of her birds placing 1st in its class. Walker received 6 Blues & 2 Reds on his Individual Breeding Class poultry entries, with 1 one of his birds placing 1st in their class.

Atlantic FFA would like to give a special shout out to Melissa Johnson for all of her help! Atlantic FFA Advisor Eric Miller said, “it was an outstanding way to start the Iowa State Fair.” Later this week Atlantic FFA members will have 3 individuals with Breeding Cattle, 2 FFA Pigs, 1 individual showing Rabbits, 4 members showing photography and FFA Farm Crops. To finish out the fair 2 individuals will also show FFA Dairy Goats.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak said a Cass County man was arrested Wednesday on a Montgomery County warrant. 37-year-old Brandon Ray Larson, of Atlantic, was arrested at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Larson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $25,000 cash bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Former Vice President Mike Pence says he has a plan to unleash America’s resources and make the United States the world’s top energy producer by 2040. China has led the world in energy production since 2006.  “For the long term security and prosperity of the United States of America, we have to have a vision and a long term strategy,” Pence said. “In a little more than 15 years America can be the number one energy producer in the world and in one more way we’ll be the leader of the free world again.”

Pence, who’ll be campaigning in eastern Iowa this (Thursday) morning, describes his plan as an “all of the above” strategy. Corn-based ethanol is part of the mix. “Coming from the state of Indiana, I have been an enthusiastic supporter of ethanol. In my plan we actually call for year round E15,” Pence says. Pence says if elected president, he would remove limitations on natural gas extraction and grant new drilling permits on federal lands.  “The Biden Administration slowed down and in many ways shut down oil and natural gas exploration in the United States,” Pence says.

Pence says it’s not realistic to abandon fossil fuels and the Biden Administration’s extreme focus on a carbon-free future is folly, according to Pence. Pence, though, says a comprehensive energy strategy should include renewable sources like wind, solar and hydro-power — as well as nuclear energy. Pence says the safety of nuclear power is light years ahead of what it was decades ago when incidents like the Three Mile Island accident made headlines. “We also have to remind people that as we all desire to reduce CO2 emissions — in my case not through mandates and not through a climate change agenda, but through American innovation — nuclear power generates zero CO2,” Pence says, “so it’s clean for the environment, it’s safe.”

Iowa’s only nuclear power plant was shut down three years ago and MidAmerican Energy abandoned its proposal for a small scale nuclear power plant in Iowa a decade ago. Pence made his comments during an interview with Radio Iowa. He plans to visit the Iowa State Fair this (Thursday) afternoon.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn visited a Boys and Girls Club in Des Moines today (Wednesday) to announce bipartisan legislation he says will help improve the reporting in child pornography cases. Nunn says the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline received more than 32 million reports of online child pornography last year.”Sadly in Iowa last year, in 2021, we became one of the top five states in the nation. for child sexual abuse associated with this type of exploitation,” Nunn says. He says it’s up to everyone to help change the situation.

“Too often, child sexual assault happens within a known family member or community. Equally, the good news is our communities are the first safeguard to be able to provide awareness and protection for those children when these types of assaults occur,” he says. Nunn, a Republican from Bondurant, says it is long past time for Congress to take a leadership role in making sure the victims of abuse can seek justice for their exploitation trauma, and this legislation will do that.

“It will strengthen the cyber tip line to prevent and respond to online Child Sexual Abuse material,” Nunn says. “It is imperative that we use the full extent of the law to hold accountable those who would exploit and sexually assault a child in violation of the laws and moving it from pornography to what it truly is — a sexual crime against the minor.” Nunn says the Child Online Safety Modernization Act will help law enforcement prosecute the crimes.

Congressman Nunn. (photo from Nunn video)

“It will modernize our cyber tip line and require online platforms to have a role in preventing the exploitation holding and distribution of child sexual assault,” Nunn says. “It will also preserve our cyber tip line reports for a year allowing our law enforcement the ability to not only build a case, but to hold those accountable. Unfortunately, in today’s world, these are only held for days at a time.”

Representatives of the Union County Sheriff’s Department and the Altoona and Des Moines police departments were on hand for Nunn’s announcement. Nunn represents the Third District and hopes the bill will get passed this year.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Elvaston, Illinois man was sentenced yesterday (Tuesday) to 25 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to public court documents, and evidence presented at sentencing, Randy Glenn Price, 63, was identified by law enforcement through a confidential informant, who purchased pound quantities of methamphetamine from Price. In 2022, Price received multiple pounds of methamphetamine from out-of-state sources and distributed it in and around Johnson County, Iowa. In total, Price was attributed with distributing 33,046 grams (33.05 kilograms) of ice/actual methamphetamine.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Price will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. The Court also levied a $4,000 fine against Price.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Johnson County Drug Task Force.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The Council Bluffs Police Department today (Wednesday), reports a suspect charged following the death of a Council Bluffs woman, now faces additional charges. Officials say 61-year-old Ivan Samuel Brammer, of Council Bluffs, was served at the Pottawattamie County Jail, with a warrant for Murder in the Second Degree. Brammer was being held in the jail on previous charges of Abuse of a Corpse and Theft in the 2nd Degree. The charges follow an investigation into the discovery of a woman’s body earlier this year. The case has been forwarded to the County Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

On February 15, 2023, 60-year-old Ilene Gowan was reported as being missing to the Council Bluffs Police Department. According to Gowan’s daughter, her mother had not been seen or heard from since February 13, 2023. Gowan’s deceased body was located on February 26, 2023, in a roadside ditch in the area of 152nd Street and Old Mormon Bridge Road, near Crescent, Iowa.

Ivan Samuel Brammer (CB PD photo)

On May 23, 2023, an arrest warrant application was submitted and approved charging Ivan Brammer with the aforementioned charges  (Abuse of a Corpse and Theft 2nd Degree), which are alleged to be related to Gowan’s disappearance. The investigation into the circumstances of Gowan’s death remains active. The State of Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office, after Gowan’s autopsy, indicated an unknown cause and manner of death.