(Radio Iowa) Iowa is being downgraded in a non-profit group’s report which ranks the states for public health emergency preparedness. Dr. Nadine Gracia, president and CEO of Trust for America’s Health, says the past year brought many challenges, including the ongoing pandemic, extreme weather events, rises in chronic disease rates, and startling jumps in the number of lives lost to substance misuse and suicide.

“We had 19 states and the District of Columbia in the high performance tier, 16 states in the middle, and 15 states in a low performance tier,” Gracia says. “This year, Iowa did move down a tier. It was in the high performance tier in last year’s report in 2022, and this year, it is now in the middle performance tier.”

Of the ten key categories the report measures in each state, Gracia says Iowa slid back in two of them, though she says those are opportunities for growth over the coming year. “The state no longer has emergency management accreditation, so working to restore that accreditation is an opportunity,” Gracia says. “Also, looking at a factor or an indicator around patient safety and the percentage of hospitals that score at the highest tier with regards to patient safety, that we also saw a decline between 2022 and 2023.”

The report found Iowa excelled in some areas, like in the percentage of Iowans who got their seasonal flu vaccine. Also, the number of Iowans who can take paid time off is higher than the national average. Among the other positives for Iowa. “It has plans in place, for example, to expand its healthcare capacity during times of emergency,” Gracia says. “It also has plans in place to be able to expand its public health laboratory capacity, to increase testing during times of emergency. The state also has public health accreditation, which advances the quality of services that public health departments are providing.”

Iowa also saw improvements in its water safety, according to the report. Gracia says putting a sufficient investment into public health in Iowa and nationwide is vital. “An important recommendation is for Congress as well as state and local governments to ensure that their funding is there and necessary to strengthen our public health infrastructure,” Gracia says, “to be able to modernize our systems, our data systems, our ability to do the communications that are necessary and also to bolster and increase and strengthen a diverse public health workforce.”

The mission statement of Trust for America’s Health is to promote optimal health for every person and community, and make the prevention of illness and injury a national priority. See the full report at: https://www.tfah.org/

(Radio Iowa) – More Iowa high school and middle school students are enrolling in educational programs offering courses directly related to employment in current or emerging occupations.

Dennis Harden oversees the career and technical education area for the Department of Education. “The number of CTE courses continues to increase with 9,643 courses offered in 2022, which was a 7.6% increase from the previous year,” he says. School districts are required to offer at least 12 units of coursework within four of the six CTE service areas.

Harden says all school districts experienced growth in courses with a statewide average of two courses being offered. “The participation rate continues to climb as well, with the participation rate in 2022 being 73.1%,” he says.

(Department of Ed photo)

Harden detailed some of the key areas of student interest. “Our largest CTE service area with 90 programs is applied science, technology, engineering and manufacturing, followed by health science and information solutions, human services, business, and finally agriculture,” Harden says.

CTE programs are delivered through middle schools, high schools, and community colleges, which include state our regional centers.

SHELDON, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety report an arrest has been made in connection with the death of a woman in Sheldon.The suspect, 41-year-old Nathaniel Byron Kessel, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, was taken into custody at around Noon today (Friday), in Flandreau South Dakota. Hessler was arrested on two Iowa: 1 count of felon in possession of a firearm (Class D Felony) and 1 count of murder in the 1st degree (Class A Felony).

Authorities say that at or about 4:00-p.m. Thursday, March 23, 2023, the O’Brien County Communication Center received a 911 call about a deceased female located at 604 4th Ave., in Sheldon. When authorities arrived, they found the female deceased inside her home. Her name was not immediately released. Her death was being treated as a homicide. An autopsy has been scheduled for Saturday March 25, 2023 at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner, in Ankeny, Iowa.

If you have any information regarding this investigation, please call the Sheldon Police Department at 712-324-2525, or you can call the DCI at 712- 224-7680.

This is an ongoing criminal investigation; no further details or names are being released at this time.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County (Iowa) Treasurer Tracey J Marshall says has issued a notice to property owners in the county: The second half of real estate and mobile home taxes are now due.

You can go online to pay your taxes at www.iowatreasurers.org. Credit and debit cards are accepted with a convenience fee.

The deadline for payments without penalty is Friday March 31.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Dept. have released a report on arrests that occurred from Feb. 26, 2023 through March 24th.  On Friday, March 24th, 31-year-old Chanson Hans of Sioux City, was arrested for Burglary 3rd (2nd or Subseq) 2 counts, Public Intoxication, Interference with Official Acts and a warrant out of Woodbury County for Violation of Probation for Burglary 3rd. He was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked in and held.

On Thursday, March 23rd, 30-year-old Renson Berdon and Receiver Berdon, both of Atlantic, were arrested for Public Intoxication. Both were booked into the Cass County Jail. On the 21st, Atlantic Police arrested 38-year-old Winser Ekiek, of Atlantic for OWI/2nd offense and Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree.

On the 18th, 60-year-old Glen Fleming, of Atlantic, was cited for Theft in the 3rd Degree and released.

There were two arrests March 17th, in Atlantic. 43-year-old Melissa Wheeler, of Atlantic, was arrested for Controlled Substance Violation, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance Violation, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Interference with Official Acts. She was taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked in and held.

On the 14th, 43-year-old David Reynolds, of Ames, was arrested on a Federal warrant for Dominion/Control of a Firearm or Offensive weapon by a Felon. 37-year-old Eric Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested March 13th, for Driving while license denied or revoked.

24-year-old Brittney Young, of Atlantic, was cited March 5th for Child Endangerment, and then released. On the 2nd, 31-year-old Itatipei Rudolph, of Atlantic, for False Application for a License or ID card.

Looking back to last month, Atlantic Police arrested two people on the 28th of February: 25-year-old Emily Garside, of Atlantic on a Cass County Warrant for Violation of Probation, and, 42-year-old Michael Messing, of Griswold, was arrested for Simple Assault.

There were also two arrests on February 26th: 23-year-old Tarek Bunan, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.  And 35-year-old Gleen Raymond, of Atlantic was arrested for for Driving While License Denied or Revoked.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by TS Bank on Thursday, March 23rd, 2023. Ambassadors helped welcome new staff and celebrate 100 years of TS Bank serving Southwest Iowa.

The Ambassadors welcomed Megan Sramek to her new role as VP of Ag Business Banking. Megan graduated from KSU and began her career in different facets of lending which include working at the FSA Loan Office at the State Office in Manhattan, and as a realtor, working with rural properties and appraising. Megan was born and raised in agriculture on her family farm and ranch and is currently farming with her husband and family.

Amanda Hansen, Branch Manager, also introduced the Ambassadors to Alex McAfee in the Marketing Department and Adriana Mendez, Front Line Banker, that came on-board in the fall of 2022. Amanda shared that both Alex & Adriana have jumped into their rolls seamlessly and have enjoyed their time building professional relationships in the community.

Ambassador’s Pictured Left to Right: Abby Becker, Kelsey Stupfell, Sue Liston, Adriana Mendez, Jennifer McEntaffer, Bill Saluk, Megan Sramek, Kathie Hockenberry, BJ Hart, Amanda Hansen, Beth Spieker, Carlie Dunlap, Jolene Roecker, Dolly Bergmann, Jo Beth Jensen, Kelli Hecker, Tori Gibson, Ann Johnk, Donnie Drennan, Alex McAfee, Krysta Hanson, Julie Waters, Lacey Sampson, Bailey Smith, Jim Kickland, Dan Rossell, Kelsey Beschorner, John Bricker, Dave Wise, Graydon Schmidt, Brent Mullen

TS Bank’s mission is to Ignite Prosperity in the communities it serves. Dan Rossell shared how the Guttau Family has owned the company since the early 70’s and is continuing to lead by example when it comes to investing in every TS Bank community. TS Bank reinvests 10 percent of its net income locally; hosting educational events, partnering non-profit organizations, sponsoring local events, and organizing programs in community schools. Kelsey Stupfell, Director of Public Relations, shared TS Bank’s financial literacy program has been able to reach over 140,000 students in Southwest Iowa.

For more information on TS Bank’s services and community projects visit https://www.tsbank.com/ or at 1005 E. 7th Street in Atlantic.

(Creston, Iowa) – Sun glare was blamed for a property damage accident this (Friday) morning, in Creston. Police report a 2007 GMC Acadia SUV driven by a 15-year-old female was driving herself and her sister to school at around 7:35-a.m.  As they were traveling east in the 900 block of W. Montgomery Street, in Creston, the driver was hit in the face by intense sun glare. She was unable to see a legally parked 2014 Dodge Challenger until it was too late.

Damage from the accident amounted to $4,500. No injuries were reported, and there were no citations issued.

(Radio Iowa) – Minnesota would be a legal “refuge” for children from Iowa and elsewhere to get “gender-affirming health care” that’s illegal in their home state, under a bill the Democrat-controlled Minnesota House passed early this (Friday) morning after long and heated debate. Representative Larry Kraft, a Saint Louis Park Democrat, asked parents to think about how they’d feel if the government forced them to stop critical care for their child’s health. “How could a government do this,” Kraft says, “and yet, it’s exactly what’s happening with bans on gender-affirming care in too many places, including just next door in Iowa and South Dakota.” Representative Walter Hudson, a Republican from Albertville, responded that South Dakota is passing a law…

“‘…to make these abhorrent practices illegal,” Hudson says. “That is why our neighbors to the south in Iowa have done the same, because they love their children, because they don’t want to see harm come to them.” The proposed law would also protect Minnesota providers from legal action by other states where such care is banned. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law this week that makes it illegal to start prescribing puberty blockers or to perform gender transition surgery on anyone under 18.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has overturned lower court rulings that blocked Missouri utility companies from building new electric transmission lines in the state. L-S Power Midcontinent and Southwest Transmission challenged a law passed in 2020 that gave those who already owned electric lines in the state the right of first refusal on new projects. The lower courts ruled the two companies had no case because there was not a current project they were bidding on.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled the companies are qualified to supply transmission lines and they would be harmed by not being able to bid on new projects. The Supreme Court also ruled in favor of their argument that the Right of First Refusal issue was improperly thrown into an omnibus bill that passed late in the legislative session. The court says the issue did not have the votes to pass on its own and attaching it to a bill that is sure to pass is a hallmark of what’s known as logrolling.

(Griswold, Iowa) – Officials with the Noble Initiative Foundation have announced sufficient funds have been raised for a new Childcare Development Center in Griswold, and now they’re ready to break ground. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held beginning at 10:30-a.m. Saturday (March 25, 2023). Participants and anyone interested in attending the event will first meet in the Griswold Elementary School Gym (20 Madison St) for a brief presentation and refreshments. The scene then shifts to around the corner, to the site of the future Griswold Childcare Development Center.

A one-half million dollar grant from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation is helping the initiative close in on their initial fundraising goal of $2.3 million. The Foundation’s mission it “To provide high-quality and accessible childcare, support a strong school system, improve the local workforce, and expand affordable housing opportunities through community-based projects.”

The Noble Initiative Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization committed to strengthening our community. The Griswold Child Development Center is slated to open in August (2023).