(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports four people were arrested on separate charges over the weekend.

Two people were arrested Sunday, in Creston: 25-year-old Noah Alexander Young, of Creston, was taken into custody Sunday morning, on two Union County Warrants for Failure To Appear (FTA) on an original charge of Providing False Identification Information, and, FTA on a charge of Disorderly Conduct/Loud Raucous Noise. Young was taken to the Union County Jail and held on a $600 cash-only bond; and, 36-year-old Ashleigh Nichole Shinn, of Diagonal, was arrested Sunday afternoon, for Driving while Suspended. Shinn was cited and released on Promise to Appear.

Saturday morning, 26-year-old Juan Angel German Estrada, of Creston, was arrested in Creston for OWI/1st Offense. Estrada was taken to the Union County Jail where he was later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond. Saturday evening, 64-year-old Eric Eugene Thornton, of Creston, was also arrested for OWI/1St Offense. He was also taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

(Radio Iowa) – A Bondurant company is getting a state loan to allow it compost material from ethanol plants, chicken growing operations and wood waste at a facility near Earlham. The D-N-R’s Tom Anderson says the J. Pettiecord company recently received a permit to run the operation. “This type of large scale organics composting facility is lacking in Iowa and seen as a critical infrastructure for sustainably managing organics and saving landfill space,” he says. Anderson spoke at the recent state Environmental Protection Commission meeting where one million dollars in assistance was provided to help the composting effort.

“The project will create a environmentally friendly, nutrient rich compost benefiting overall plant growth,” he says. “Finished compost also assists in erosion control measures by promoting deep plant roots and improving water quality by absorbing and retaining storm water and capturing contaminants in the sediment.” The annual goal of this project is to divert five-thousand tons of ethanol plant material and five-thousand tons of poultry waste from landfills while producing 40 to 50-thousand cubic yards of high-quality finished compost material. They also hope to process some 20-thousand cubic yards of wood waste into mulch and compost.

“This project will effectively reduce 20 million pounds of organic waste from Iowa landfills each year,” Anderson says. The E-P-C approved a one-million dollar loan, with 10-thousand of it forgivable. The company is putting in 350-thousand dollars of its money into the project. The company will use the loan to purchase equipment to run the operation. The funding comes from the Solid Waste Alternatives Program and the project was reviewed by a program committee and a C-P-A.

(Radio Iowa) – The Glenn Miller Music Festival returns to Clarinda for the 47th time this week, with concerts, events, and food to celebrate the famed band leader in his birthplace. Shari Greenwood, executive director of the Glenn Miller Museum, says the festival kicks off Thursday evening with a picnic at the Clarinda High School commons and a concert featuring the U-S Air Force band, Shades of Blue. Greenwood says Friday will be jam-packed, starting with morning events. “We have our stage show, which is introducing the winners of the scholarship competition and our Glenn Miller (Birthplace Society) Big Band plays,” Greenwood says. “Then, in the afternoon at 1, we have Adam Swanson, the four-time world champion ragtime piano player, and after lunch we also have a new band down here, the Louie Pettinelli Experience. Then, of course, Friday night at 7:30 is our Glenn Miller Orchestra in the (high school) auditorium.”

Saturday morning begins with a big band breakfast and pancake feed at the fire station featuring the Northwest Missouri State University jazz ensemble. Other Saturday concerts include Shin Shininger and the Shinsings after lunch, the Moonlight Serenade Orchestra at 3:30 p.m., and the Glenn Miller Orchestra at the Clarinda gym at 7:30 p.m., which will also include a swing dance competition. Greenwood says a free outdoor concert Sunday at 1:30 p.m. featuring the Iowa Military Veterans Band will wrap up the festival. “This is a band that has 105 members, so when I said, ‘It’d be great to have this band here,’ my board looked at me like, ‘What are you going to do with 105 members?’ There’s about 65 of them that are coming on Sunday,” she says. “So, we’ve got lots of concerts, other events, free concerts, food. It should be a really good weekend.”

Glen Miller

The festival includes hearing the finalists and awarding the Glenn Miller Music Scholarships on Thursday. Greenwood says $12,000 is given to the top three vocalists and instrumentalists who have applied for the scholarship, which assists high school seniors and first-year college students who plan to make music a central part of their lives. “These kids send in a music selection, a lot of paperwork, information about themselves, and they get graded before the top 10 from each category come to Clarinda to compete,” Greenwood says. “These kids also come on their own dime, so when they get here we try to work on home stays and make sure they have everything they need if they’re not traveling with a parent.”

The Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Museum is also open daily and will be free to visit on Sunday.

On the web at: glennmiller.org/festival

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report a man was arrested early this (Monday) morning on a Public Intoxication charge. 38-year-old Brian Paul Anderson, of Red Oak, was arrested in the vicinity of 2nd & Nuckols Streets at around 12:06-a.m.  He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 bond. Red Oak Police were assisted by Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies in handling Anderson’s arrest.

(Iowa News Service) – Scientists in Iowa and their partners are going after what they call the ‘low-hanging’ fruit in their effort to sequester carbon and combat climate change. They’re making use of ingredients nature is already providing. It’s called biochar and its made by heating wood and other biomass at high temperatures with no oxygen. Biochar makes Iowa’s rich soil even more fertile, but it also turns that soil into one of the world’s most efficient carbon sinks, allowing it to absorb fossil fuel emissions, while creating healthier soil and sustainable fuels.

To Iowa State University soil science professor David Laird, mixing biochar into the soils is targeting the low-hanging fruit in carbon sequestration.

Last year, carbon sequestration projects removed more than 125-thousand tons of C-O-2 from the atmosphere, 92-percent of which were done using biochar, according to a group called C-D-R which tracks carbon sequestration.

Taking a soil sample for a soil test in a field. Testing carbon sequestration and plant health in Australia.

Once biochar is mixed with the soil, it can improve conditions for root growth and microbial activity in crops, which in turn reduce the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions. Biochar also helps the soil retain water, absorb nutrients and greenhouse gasses. While biochar won’t end climate change on its own, Laird argues it is an important piece of the puzzle given that the liquid transportation fuels the world relies on are notoriously hard to decarbonize.

While using biochar alone won’t help the planet reach a zero carbon emissions goal by 2050, Laird says it is a good first step that not only sequesters carbon but also a move toward creating fuels using biochar that could one day replace the heavy, emission producing liquid fuels.

(Area Counties) – There are very few contested* local races heading into Tuesday’s June 4th Primary Election. Candidates must receive 35% of the total votes cast in that race to be nominated in the primary election. Election results will be posted on the KJAN News page, when they become available. Unless otherwise mentioned, there are no Democratic or Libertarian candidate races in the following counties…

In Adair County, Republican candidate Michael Christophersen in unopposed in the District 5 Supervisor’s contest, and fellow Republican Jerry Walker is unchallenged for his District 3 seat. Republicans Jeff Vandewater, Mandy Berg and Kelly Mitchell are unopposed in their respective bids for Sheriff, Auditor and Recorder. Democrat Matt Wedemeyer is also unopposed in the District 1 Supervisor’s race.

In Adams County, there are no challenges on the ballot for Auditor, where Republican Becky Bissell is running, and Republican Sheriff Alan Johannes is unchallenged. Tony Hardisty is the only name on the Republican ballot for Supervisor in District 2 in Adams County, while Christopher Standley, another Republican, is the lone candidate in District 5.

In Audubon County, Republicans Donald Mosinski and Kent Grabill are running two seats on the Board of Supervisors. Nathan Wahlert’s name will appear on the Democratic ballot.

In Cass County*, incumbent Bernard Pettinger faces a challenge from fellow Republican J. Ford Lillard, in the 5th District Board of Supervisor’s race. Voters using the Democratic ballot will find Phyllis Stakey’s name listed for the Board of Supervisors in District 5. Republicans Stephen S. Green (I), Kathy Somers (I), and John Westring, are unopposed in their respective bids for District 1 Supervisor, Auditor and Sheriff.

In Guthrie County, Democrat Sheriff Marty Arganbright (I) is unopposed in his party during the Primary Election. He’s expected to face-off in November against the lone Republican candidate on Tuesday’s ballot, Matt Harmann. Republicans Mike Dickson (I), and Danielle (Dani) Fink (I), are unchallenged in their bids for re-election. Brian E. Johnson (I) is also unopposed for his District 2 Supervisor’s seat.

In Montgomery County*, where Republican’s Jill Cooper and Alex Burton are on the ballot for the Board of Supervisors in District 5, Cooper has withdrawn her name from consideration due to health concerns, and has thrown her support behind Burton. Donna Robinson chose to not run for re-election. Republican Sheriff Jon Spunaugle and Republican Auditor Jill Ozuna are unchallenged in Tuesday’s election, but incumbent Republican District 3 Supervisor Randy Cooper is being challenged by fellow Republican Bryant Amos.

In Pottawattamie County*, five Republicans are squaring-off for two County Board of Supervisor positions, and hope to move on to the November election. The candidates include Tim Wichman (I), Karis Crilly, Adam Houser, Charlie Johnson and Brian Shea (I). And, Republican Incumbent Melvyn J. Houser faces a challenge from fellow Republican Mary Ann Hanusa, in the Auditor’s race.

In Shelby County*, three Republicans are in the running for two seats on the Board of Supervisors: Alexis Carter, Mike Kolbe and Charles Parkhurst. Two Republicans have are running for County Auditor in Shelby County: Melissa Arkfeld and Taryn Knapp.

(I) = Incumbent

(Radio Iowa) – U-S Senator Joni Ernst’s annual “Roast and Ride” fundraiser has given Iowa Republicans a chance to restate their criticism of last week’s conviction of former President Trump. Ernst said the trial has solidified support for Trump. “Stop the political persecution of Donald J. Trump,” Ernst said. Ernst, who intends to seek reelection in 2026, has said she’s open to serving in Trump’s Administration if he wins in November. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann kicked off Saturday’s fundraiser with a question.

“How many people in this room, right now, stand with Donald J. Trump?” Kaufmann asked. Every Republican office holder who followed Kaufmann on stage made their stance clear. Governor Kim Reynolds cited the donations the Trump campaign says were made after the verdict. “And $53 million in 24 hours is a pretty good indication of where the people in this country are standing,” Reynolds said. Senator Chuck Grassley called all the cases against Trump a distraction.

“This political lynching of Donald Trump,” Grassley said, “…they think they could prosecute Biden into the next White House, but I think they’re going to prosecute Trump into the White House.” Texas Congressman Wesley Hunt, the event’s keynote speaker, has campaigned for Trump often. Hunt suggested the verdict has awakened a sleeping giant. “For those of you that are fearful of a revenge tour that’s exactly what we need,” Hunt said, “and on day one we need a man to step into office — on day one — to turn this whole thing around.”

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst and Governor Kim Reynolds at Ernst’s 2024 “Roast and Ride” fundraiser.

Two of the four Republicans who represent Iowa in the U-S House also spoke at Ernst’s fundraiser. Second district Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion told the crowd Trump’s conviction will backfire on Democrats. “I think angry voters are motivated voters. Are you angry? Are you motivated? I think so,” Hinson said, to cheers. Third district
Congressman Zach Nunn of Bondurant told the crowd Republicans need to win a majority of seats in the U-S House in November, or Democrats will impeach Trump again.

“Do you want a country where you can be proud not only to salute the flag, but to know that you’ve got a president and a government that have your back, not come after your back?” Nunn asked.

About 700 people attended Saturday’s fundraiser for Ernst’s campaign. Ticket sales from the motorcycle ride beforehand were donated to the Iowa Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation.

DES MOINES – Today (Sunday), Gov. Kim Reynolds authorized a disaster proclamation for Cherokee County, Iowa effective immediately through July 2, 2024. The USDA has confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock. 

This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites. 

The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. 

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will meet this Wednesday morning (June 5th), beginning at 8:30-a.m. in their Board Room at the Courthouse in Red Oak. During their session, the Board will hear from Marielle Anne Alipio, with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). She will present information with regard to Disaster/Recovery Assistance.

The Board will also hear from Laura Kyndesen, with the 4th Judicial District Court Administration, with regard to office space for Magistrate Mensen. And, they will discuss RAGBRAI participant camping on the property of the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center (LEC), with action as necessary.

The final order of business for the Montgomery County Supervisors, is action on passing a resolution with regard to the 2024-25 Sheriff’s schedule of fees.

(Massena, Iowa) – Democrat Phyllis Stakey has officially announced her candidacy for the Cass County Board of Supervisors in District 5. The District includes Anita, Wiota, Massena, and Cumberland. The District 5 seat is currently held by Republican Bernard Pettinger.

Phyllis describes herself as a lifelong resident of Cass County with a history of community involvement. She is running for Cass County Supervisor because she believes it is important for elected county officials to manage our monetary resources efficiently, and she wants to help promote and further develop thriving communities in Cass County.

Phyllis served on the Cass County Hospital Board of Trustees for 18 years, where she was a member of the finance committee. She also worked as a realtor for 23 years. While serving on the Cass County Board of Review, Phyllis gained experience with tax assessments. Phyllis says the combination of these responsibilities gives her insight into taxation and finance, at both the personal and county level.

Phyllis Stakey (Photo & information submitted)

Phyllis is quick to point out that she knows how much Cass County has to offer, and says she is committed to spending the time and doing the hard work to position the county for long-term success. Phyllis believes all County Supervisors should be actively engaged in supporting and promoting their communities. Through the years, Phyllis has been active in Cass County
tourism, various housing committees, Massena Historical Society, Massena Chamber of Commerce, and other various community organizations.

Phyllis and her husband Jim, a rural mail carrier, raised their three children in Massena. Jim passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2014. Phyllis is an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Massena. Phyllis can be reached at 712-779-0291.