The Iowa company planning to build a two-thousand mile carbon pipeline through five states has now been denied construction permits in both North and South Dakota.

This (Monday) morning, South Dakota’s Public Utilities Commission unanimously rejected Summit Carbon Solutions application to extend its pipeline through their state. The South Dakota regulators say Summit failed to follow county ordinances the require buffer zones around city limits and homes.  Summit executives say they will refine their proposed route through South Dakota and resubmit the application.  The company’s statement says Summit Carbon Solutions says remains committed to South Dakota’s ethanol industry as well as the 73 percent of landowners along the pipeline route in South Dakota who’ve signed contracts giving the company voluntary access to their property.

Summit Carbon Solutions has already redrawn its proposed pipeline route in NORTH Dakota after regulators there raised concerns the pipeline was too close to North Dakota’s capital city.  The IOWA Utilities Board started a hearing on the company ‘s proposed pipeline path in Iowa in August.  The hearing resumes tomorrow (Tuesday) in Fort Dodge at 8 a.m.

A Huey helicopter from the Vietnam era has completed its tour of Ames, Boone and Carroll areas. Tom Arentz is one of the crew members on the helicopter that was restored by a group called Friends of Army Aviation.

Arentz and his fellow crew members gave flights out of the Ames, Boone and Carroll airports over the past week. Arentz says the first Huey flew in 1956.

The Friends of Army Aviation, which is based in Alabama, has restored two Hueys. The Patriot Peak Foundation sponsored the helicopter’s flights in Iowa from September 3rd through the 10th. Aretz says they fly with the doors open, not to scare the passengers who spend 85 dollars on tickets for the ride, but to give them insight into the way the Hueys were used in war.

If you are driving on Interstate 80 east of Van Meter on Wednesday night, Sept. 13, around 10 p.m., you need to be aware of the closure of both directions of I-80 for up to 20 minutes, weather permitting. Crews need to complete utility work over I-80 just west of the Dallas County weigh station between Van Meter (exit 113) and Waukee/Booneville (exit 117).

While I-80, as well as the eastbound I-80 entrance ramp from Van Meter (exit 113) and the westbound I-80 entrance ramp from Waukee/Booneville (exit 117), are closed, law enforcement will provide traffic control using a rolling roadblock to assist you through the work zone during the 20-minute closure.

The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) wants qualified Iowans to get and stay connected to crucial phone and broadband services to reach local emergency personnel, health care providers, and community and job resources, and to connect with family and friends. Having access to these services can be the difference between social connection and complete isolation.

The IUB joins the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of “Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week,” September 11-17, 2023. This week is designed to both raise awareness and increase participation in the federal Lifeline program and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

Promotion of these programs is targeted at helping ensure no one gets left out of vital communications services due to cost. Qualifying low-income residents who need assistance paying for monthly voice or broadband bills are encouraged to apply to the federal Lifeline program for potential financial assistance.

Under the Lifeline program, discounts are available of up to $5.25 monthly on a voice service bill or up to $9.25 per month for broadband or bundled voice and broadband service bills for qualified residents who participate in certain public assistance or veterans pension programs or meet income guidelines. Discounts of up to $25 per month are available for residents on tribal lands.

The complementary ACP was implemented by the FCC in 2021 and is also available to qualifying households. ACP can provide a monthly discount on broadband service of up to $30 per eligible household (or up to $75 per eligible household on tribal lands), with an additional one-time device subsidy to permit customers to purchase a laptop, desktop, or tablet at a discount from a participating provider if the household pays more than $10 and less than $50 toward the price of the device. The participating broadband service provider will receive the funds directly from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Current Lifeline participants are automatically eligible, but they still need to select a provider and eligible ACP plan to receive the benefit. The ACP is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

To apply for Lifeline benefits, or to request an application be mailed to you or download a copy visit https://www.lifelinesupport.org, or contact your local participating telecommunications provider or the IUB. To apply online or download an application for the Affordable Connectivity Program, go to getinternet.gov.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports that on September 3rd a Greenfield man was charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury and False Report of Indictable Offense to a Public Entity.  The sheriff says the charges came from an incident that happened on May 13th when deputies, Orient Fire and Rescue, and Adair County EMS were called to the 3300 block of Highway 25 for a motor vehicle collision involving multiple vehicles and cattle on the roadway.  At one point, Orient firefighter 42-year-old Nicholas Eugen Carson reported that someone in a white van had threatened him with a gun.  A Deputy observed that vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.  After speaking with several witnesses who were occupants of the van, it was determined that Carson had tried to open the door of the van and attack the driver after asking the occupants for licenses.  The victim gave consent to search the van and no firearm was found.  The reports states that actions by Carson, Orient’s Assistant Fire Chief, were done without any justification or authority to attempt to remove an occupant from a vehicle.  When asked to provide a written statement or come in for an interview about the incident, Carson declined.

On September 6th, the Adair Police Department arrested 59 year old Arnold Edward Morris of Adair on a warrant for Indecent Exposure.  Morris was held on $2,000 cash or surety bond.

On September 8th, Adair Police arrested 36 year old Austin Curtis Vanlandingham of Adair following a traffic stop.  Vanlandingham was charged with Driving While Barred and Possession of a Controlled Substance and was held on $3,000 cash or surety bond.

Also on September 8th, Greenfield Police arrested 53 year old Jason Dennis Kruse of Lake City at the Adair County Fairgrounds for Public Intoxication.  Bond was set at $300 cash or surety.

And, on September 8th, deputies arrested 49 year old Charles Herbert Abell of Orient on a Union County warrant for Theft 2nd Degree.  Abell was held on $5,000 cash or surety bond.