(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Recorder Mary Ward Recorder has announced that she has implemented Cott Systems’ PropertyCheck in a renewed effort to combat property and mortgage fraud. This 24/7 service allows residents to sign up on the Recorder’s Office website: https://www.casscountyia.gov/county-departments/recorders-office/ to receive notifications when official documents are recorded on their property. Residents can activate alerts based on their name. There is no cost to participate.

PropertyCheck works seamlessly in the background of the Recorder’s Office records management software, automatically searching thousands of documents and sending a text or email notification only if a match is found. The County partners with Cott Systems to offer this no-cost solution, adding an additional layer of protection and allowing residents to feel safer in their homes.

Ward explains this is an added service we are excited to bring to the residents of Cass County. “We have had a number of people recently asking about this type of service. The link to sign up is listed below and can also be found on our website along with instructions for signing up. I would encourage you to sign up using multiple names. For example if you go by Mike A Smith, you would want to sign up the following multiple names: Mike A Smith, Michael A Smith, Mike Alan Smith, Michael Alan Smith and your spouses names also. You can choose to be alerted by email or text message.”

County residents can sign up for PropertyCheck alerts at: https://cotthosting.com/iacassExternal/

(Radio Iowa) – A presidential candidate who’s campaigning in Iowa today (Monday) is blasting the rules that could prevent him from being in the first televised debate for G-O-P candidates. Perry Johnson is a Michigan businessman who’s sending his book — Two Cents to Save America — to thousands of likely Iowa Caucus goers.

In 2022, Johnson launched a campaign for governor in Michigan, but Michigan election officials ruled over 94-hundred signatures on his nominating petitions were invalid and he did not have enough signatures left to get his name on the primary ballot. Courts in Michigan and a federal judge denied Johnson’s appeal of that decision. Johnson says the qualifying rules for the first debate among G-O-P presidential candidates in August show Washington hates him.

Johnson has never held elected office. He has written several books and earned his fortune after founding a company that certifies if businesses are meeting industrial quality standards. Johnson launched his presidential campaign this spring, after airing a campaign-style ad in Iowa during the Super Bowl.

Johnson is scheduled to host a lunch in Creston at noon and a happy hour in Atlantic at 4 p.m. today. He has stops in Council Bluffs, Denison and Harlan on Tuesday.

(Anita, Iowa) – Firefighters from Anita, Wiota and Adair responded Sunday, to what was initially described as a couple of hog buildings on fire, about three-miles east of Anita. Anita Assistant Fire Chief Jake Karns describes what they found upon arriving at the scene. 

The blaze occurred at 76748 Fairview Road at around 3:15-p.m.  Karns said the Wiota and Adair Fire Departments assisted with water tankers. Adair also provided an additional pumper truck.

No livestock were lost, and none of the firefighters were injured. Karns said there wasn’t much left of the buildings except for the tin. Authorities had said Sunday, the heat of the fire could be felt from the roadway, and firefighters had to contend with 90 degree weather in their turnout gear.

Crews were on the scene until around 5:30-p.m., Sunday. A cause of the blaze remains undetermined. You can view drone video of scene from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, as shown below.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports two accidents occurred over the past three days. At around 3:20-p.m. Friday, a 2007 Honda Fit driven by 37-year-old Daniel Buck Busenbarrick, of Creston, was traveling on Highway 34 east, when the vehicle went off the road on a curve and onto the shoulder. Busenbarrick over-corrected, sending the vehicle across the highway and into the west ditch, where it rolled at least once before coming to rest on its wheels. Damage to the car was estimated at $1,500. Busenbarrick was transported to his residence by a Union County Sheriff’s Deputy. No citations were issued.

And, at around 5:50-p.m. Saturday, a 1989 Ford Ranger pickup driven by 75-year-old Dennis Eugene Loury, of Afton, was traveling in reverse out of a parking lot near Division and North Streets in Arispe. His vehicle crossed into northbound traffic and struck an unoccupied 2019 Dodge RAM pickup legally parked on the east side of Division Street. The parked pickup was registered to a woman from Mount Ayr. No injuries were reported. The sheriff’s report said Loury stated he had accelerated too rapidly and was unable to brake in-time.

The Ranger sustained $100 damage. The Dodge pickup sustained $2,500 damage. No citations were issued, but authorities note improper braking, and Loury’s “Inability to effectively operate a motor vehicle (possibly due to his age).”

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa native astronaut Peggy Whitson says she’s ready for her -next- space mission after returning last week from her record-setting fourth trip to the International Space Station. Whitson, who grew up in Beaconsfield, is the only astronaut who’s gone into orbit on an American space shuttle, a Russian Soyuz, and now a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. She says the G-forces from this latest launch were quite impressive. “It was about four-and-a-half Gs during the second stage, as we were accelerating,” Whitson says. “I always thought it was interesting, when you get to 200 kilometers, and then you change your attitude, and just increase the speed, getting up there really fast — 6,000 meters per second, which just is amazing.”

Six-thousand meters per second is over 13-thousand miles per hour. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying Whitson and three crewmates splashed down off the Florida coast last week following a ten-day mission. While Whitson has spent well over 600 days aboard the space station, she says new equipment and a large crew made navigating inside the orbiting outpost more of a challenge. “You have to find where all the new cable traps are and everything,” Whitson says. “You have to learn some of those things and with that many people aboard, you couldn’t go as fast. Like, when there was only two or three people aboard, it was pretty easy because you could zip around the corners, there was very few odds that would bang into somebody.”

Peggy Whitson in space suit (Axiom photo)

Eleven astronauts and cosmonauts were aboard the station at one time during this Axiom 2 mission. Whitson, who is now a private astronaut, was asked whether she’s ready for her next launch. “Yep, I’m ready, let’s go!” Whitson says, “especially if I can have a crew that’s great as this one.” Private astronaut John Shoffner and two Saudi Arabian astronauts joined Whitson aboard Axiom 2. They conducted more than 20 experiments in space.

With her fourth mission completed, Whitson’s U.S. space endurance record stands at 675 days.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting beginning at 9-a.m. on Tuesday (June 6, 2023). Their session includes a joint meeting with the Audubon County Board of Supervisors via Zoom, at 9:30-a.m. Some of the agenda items for the Shelby County Board include (but are not limited to):

1. Cost of living increase July 1^st 2023, non union employees-Action item
2. Authorization Chairperson signature Rural Transit system agreement-Action Item
3. IT Director report
4. Todd Valline Shelby County Chamber of Commerce report
5. Recess Meeting-Action item
6. Public Hearing Right of Way abandonment Fiscus area- Action Item
7. Close Hearing-Action Item

Joint meeting Shelby and Audubon Counties Boards of Supervisors 9:30 AM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85214867289?pwd=cEZncUdQam9kZHR1NFRmZVYzNHZFZz09

Meeting ID: 852 1486 7289

Passcode: 337347

13. Resolution 2023-33 Right of way abandonment-Action Item
14. Possible Recess to wait for EMS Hearing-Action Item
15. Open Public Hearing EMS for Public Comment at 10:00 AM-Action Item

16. Close Hearing-Action Item
17. Resolution consideration declaration of EMS an Essential Service-Action Item
18. County Engineer renew Contract-Action Item
19. Aureon Utility Permit-Action Item
20. Adjournment

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say there were six arrests conducted over the past few days. At around 12:07-a.m. today (Monday), 50-year-old Brenda Jean Still, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC). Still was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault 2nd Offense. She was taken to the Adams County Jail and is being held on no bond.

There were four arrests on Saturday, in Creston:

• A little after 3-a.m., 18-year-old Connor Russell Larkin, of Creston, was arrested in the 100 block W Union. Larkin was charged with Disorderly Conduct-Fighting /Violent Behavior. He was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $300 cash or surety bond. Larkin was also cited for Person under 21 using Tobacco/Vapor Product 1st Offense.
• At around 7:45-a.m., Saturday, Creston Police arrested 43-year-old Sheri Jo Watters, of Creston, for Public Intoxication 1st Offense. Watters was cited and released.
• About 30-minutes later, 34-year-old Ellen Maureen Quintanilla, of Lenox, was arrested in Creston on a Union County Warrant for Controlled Substance Violation, 2 counts of Possession of Controlled Substance. Quintanilla was transported to the Adams Co Jail and later released on $12,000 cash or surety bond.
• At approximately 8:45-a.m., Saturday, 19-year-old Rory Allen Davis, of Creston, was arrested on two Union County warrants for Violation of Probation original charge Criminal Mischief- Aggravated Misdemeanor, and Violation of No Contact/Protective Order-Contempt. Davis was being held in the Union County Jail on $4,300 cash or surety bond.

And, Police in Creston arrested 44-year-old Lindsay Kay Cornick, of Creston, on Friday. She was taken into custody at around 7:20-p.m. at the Union County LEC. Cornick was charged with OWI 1st and Possession of Controlled Substance, Marijuana 1st Offense. She was later released on $2000 cash or surety bond. Creston Police said also, a person residing in the 300 block of N. Sumner Street reported on June 1st, that someone broke into his home and took two pair of Jordan shoes and an Xbox1. The incident happened sometime between 1-a.m. and 5-a.m. The loss was estimated at $330.

(Iowa DNR News) – If you are ready to explore Iowa’s happy trails and hidden gems, you should download the State Park Passport for a chance to win prizes as you visit parks and forests across Iowa! It’s free to sign up — the more parks you visit, the more chances for prizes! Please note: If you signed up in 2022, last year’s passport has expired. You must sign up again for the 2023 State Park Passport to participate.

From now through Oct. 31, State Park Passport holders can earn points by checking into more than 60 state parks and forests. Get started by signing up and downloading the passport onto your mobile device. Along with checking into parks through the passport, visitors can then discover “Hidden Gems” as they explore. Each park and forest on the passport includes a description of a “Hidden Gem” feature, such as a historical marker, scenic overlook, special trail and more.

New this year — earn and “bank” points that can be redeemed for various prizes. Each park has a different point value (either 100, 200 or 300 points), with remote parks earning higher points. Additionally, every 300 points earns a chance at a sweepstakes prize package.

Prizes for the 2023 State Park Passport:

500 points – any passholder redeeming at this level gets $5 off an overnight camping stay
1,000 points – first 500 passholders to redeem at this level get a weather-proof sticker
2,500 points – first 300 passholders to redeem at this level get a ceramic coffee mug!

Once points are redeemed, your passholder points reset to zero. So, cash-in early, or bank points for higher level prizes. Additionally, for every 300 points earned, passholders are automatically entered into a drawing to win a paddling package (kayak, paddle, life jacket and dry bag) or a three-night stay at a cabin at Lake Darling State Park. There is no limit to the number of entries!

Prizes were donated by sponsorship partners Bass Pro Shops and the Iowa Hunter Education Association.

Post a selfie at the hidden gem with the hashtag #IowaStateParks on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and the DNR will randomly select one photo to win an outdoor cooking package!

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced it has awarded more than $7.7 million to the state of Iowa in Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program funding. Projects supported by RCE Program funding in Iowa include: The South Concord Street Grade Separation ($7,756,862), City of Davenport. The project will eliminate one grade crossing and create a grade separation at another to provide better access to critical infrastructure, including the regional wastewater treatment plant. The City of Davenport and Canadian Pacific Kansas City are contributing funds totaling a 20 percent non-Federal match.

Nationally, the RCE Program will provide over $570 million in funding for 63 projects in 32 states. This inaugural round of funding will address more than 400 at-grade crossings nationwide, improve safety, and make it easier to get around railroad tracks by adding grade separations, closing at-grade crossings, and improving existing at-grade crossings where train tracks and roads intersect.

Last year, there were more than 2,000 highway-rail crossing collisions in the U.S. and more than 30,000 reports of blocked crossings submitted to FRA’s public complaint portal. “Every year, commuters, residents, and first responders lose valuable time waiting at blocked railroad crossings – and worse, those crossings are too often the site of collisions that could be prevented,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we’re improving rail crossings in communities across the country to save lives, time, and resources for American families.”

For years, FRA has received complaints from citizens, states, and localities regarding the delays and disruptions caused by frequently blocked crossings that force residents to wait hours at intersections or take detours. These delays and disruptions can also prevent first responders from getting to emergencies quickly. Further, over 2,000 collisions occur every year at highway-rail grade crossings. The projects selected for funding in the first year of this program will greatly improve the quality of life in communities big and small, creating safer rail crossings and allowing people to get to and from their homes, schools, businesses, hospitals, fire stations, and workplaces without being stranded and delayed by a standing train.

“The Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program is another critical tool that FRA is using to make a lasting impact on the safety and transportation needs of communities nationwide,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “With these project selections and the many more that are to come, we will save lives and reshape infrastructure in ways that allow individuals to move through their neighborhoods seamlessly and safely.”

Along with projects that build or upgrade physical infrastructure at railroad crossings, FRA awarded $15.7 million for planning activities and $33.1 million for project development and design activities that will build a pipeline of projects for future funding. Twenty two percent of all funding, $127.5 million, was awarded to projects in rural areas or on Tribal lands.

For the full list of Fiscal Year 2022 RCE Program project selections, please click here. Further information about the RCE Program can also be found here.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Engineer’s Office reports three road closures are currently in effect (beginning 6/5/23). Links to the detour route maps are included below.

• Officials say 160th St will be closed approximately 500′ west of Kent Ave to the intersection with Kent Ave. The road will only be closed during daytime work hours through Tuesday, June 6th.  (detour route)
• 290th St will be closed from Indian Ave. to approximately 0.5 mile east during normal daytime working hours through 4-p.m. Tuesday (6/6/23) (Detour route)
• Quebec Ave will be closed to through traffic from 110th St to 120th St. for approximately 2 weeks (through June 15th). (detour route)

For any additional information, contact the Adair County Road Department at 641-743-6111.