(Radio Iowa) – August continued the summer weather pattern that Iowa and the Midwest have been stuck in now for some time. State Climatologist, Justin Glisan, says this pattern includes warmer conditions.

It was also drier, with rainfall averaging three-point-five inches in August.

Glisan says the combined numbers for the three summer months this year are very similar to 2020 and 2021.

Dry conditions this summer left grass brown. (RI photo)

He says June, July, and August, of this year, continued the drier trend.

Glisan says the drought conditions this year are NOT as bad as they were for the three summer months last year. He says the La Nina weather pattern is behind the warmer, drier summers.

He says that could lead to a warmer winter, but it’s too early to tell that.

(Radio Iowa) – Construction is underway on a giant mural bearing the likenesses of Don and Phil Everly on Highway 2 in southwest Iowa, alerting tourists to the Everly Brothers Childhood Home in Shenandoah. California artist John Cerney created the mural, which he says targets motorists who may not know of the brothers’ rich history, and how the duo parlayed performances as young children on K-M-A in the 1940s to music stardom as rock-and-roll pioneers in the 1950s and ’60s.

Cerney, the creator of similar signs in southwest Iowa, says the mural is more eyecatching than the run-of-the-mill billboards dotting the countryside.

Everly Bros. mural (Radio Iowa0

For an Everlys Brothers’ fans like Cerney, the mural is a labor of love.

Cerney and two assistants plan to return to the mural today (Thursday) for waterproofing and other finishing touches. Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association officials hope visitors will stop by the Everly Brothers house during Shenfest weekend in late September.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The General Election will be Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Adair County Elections Deputy Josh Nelson has provided a final list of the names of candidates who will appear on the ballot.

Candidates who have filed papers for the General Election are as follows:

County Supervisor District #2NE – Elect 1

Jodie Hoadley (Rep)

County Supervisor District #4SE – Elect 1

Nathan Baier (Rep)

Doug Davidson (NP)

County Treasurer – Elect 1

Brenda L Wallace (Rep)

County Recorder – Elect 1

Janelle Schneider (Rep)

County Attorney – Elect 1

Melissa S Larson (Dem)

Richland Township Clerk – Elect 1

Evelyn Hopf

Richland Township Trustee – Elect 2

Steven Lilly

Roger Tanner

Washington Township Clerk – Elect 1

Diane McCall

Washington Township Trustee – Elect 2

Richard Antisdel

County Hospital Trustee – Elect 4

Barbara Kalbach

Mark Schildberg

Pam Wiggins

County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner – Elect 2

Steve Baudler

Phil Kading

County Agricultural Extension Council Member – Elect 5

Sondra A Baudler

Beth Davenport

Clark R Dolch

Matthew Rohrig

Voter pre-registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. Monday, October 24, 2022. Pre-registered voters are required to provide an approved form of identification at the polling place before receiving and casting a regular ballot. Voters who are not pre-registered – such as voters registering to vote on election day – and voters changing precincts must also provide proof of residence.

A voter who is unable to provide an approved form of identification (or prove residence if required) 1) may have the voter’s identity/residence attested to by another registered voter in the precinct, 2) prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents, or 3) cast a provisional ballot and provide proof of identity/residence at the county auditor’s office by 12:00 p.m. (noon), November 15, 2022.

Election Day Registrant attesters must provide an approved form of identification. For additional information about providing proof of identity and/or residence visit: https://sos.iowa.gov/voterid or phone (641) 743-2546. Voters may request an absentee ballot from the Auditor’s Office. Voters may vote in the office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning October 19, 2022, or they may request a ballot be mailed to them.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed is 5:00 p.m. Monday, October 24, 2022. The last day to vote absentee in the Auditor’s Office is Monday, November 7, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Polls will open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day November 8, 2022.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna has released the final list of names of the candidates whose names will appear on the ballot for the November 8, 2022General Election. (TFV=To Fill a Vacancy)

County Offices ONLY
Supervisor District #1 (Vote for 1)
• Charla A. Schmid (Rep) – Winner from Primary
Supervisor District #2 (Vote for 1)
• Michael Olson (Rep) – Winner from Primary
Supervisor District #4 (Vote for 1)
• Mark L. Peterson (Rep) – Winner from Primary
Montgomery County Treasurer (Vote for 1)
• Jackie Joy Porter (Rep) – Winner from Primary
Montgomery County Recorder (Vote for 1)
• Carleen Bruning (Rep) – Winner from Primary
Montgomery County Attorney (Vote for 1)
• Drew B. Swanson (Rep) – Winner from Primary
Montgomery County Auditor – TFV (Vote for 1) Two-year term
• Jill Ozuna (Rep) – Nominated by Convention
Hospital Trustee (Vote for 4)
• Jill Carter Bergstrom
• Roger Ehmke
• Jason Poston
• Kevin Cabbage
County Agricultural Extension Council (Vote for 5)
• Tammi VanMeter
• Macey Ellis
• Gayle Allensworth
• Ryan Sundermann
• Marta Clark-Moffett
Soil and Water Conservation Board (Vote for 2)
• Roger Cerven
• Kirk Baird
Soil and Water Conservation Board—TFV (Vote for 1) Two-year term
• Kerry Confer

Township Clerks and Trustees
Lincoln Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
• Connie Mellott
Lincoln Grove Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
• Bill Thomas
Garfield Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
• Ron Gerlt
Garfield Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
• Bryan Huff
West Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
• Joseph M. Jardon
West Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
• Daniel R. Jensen
West Township Trustee –TFV (Vote for 1) Two-year term
• Krista Huntsman
Sherman Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
• Jo A. Good
Sherman Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
• None Filed
Red Oak Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
• Gordon Arnold
Red Oak Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
• Wayne Peterson
Grant Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
• None Filed
Grant Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
• Dwayne Vennerberg
Grant Township Trustee – TFV (Vote for 1) Two-year term
• Dane E. Belt
Pilot Grove Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
• None Filed
Pilot Grove Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
• None Filed
Pilot Grove Township Trustee – TFV (Vote for 1) Two-year term
• None Filed
Frankfort Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
• Greta McCarthy
Frankfort Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
• Mark B. Allen
Washington Township Clerk (Vote for 1)
• Cheryl Case
Washington Township Trustee (Vote for 1)
• Jeff L. Vanderhoof

CRESTON, Iowa – Sept 1, 2022 – Painting of the U.S. 34 bridge over the Nishnabotna River west of Red Oak will require lane closures beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 6, until early October, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office. Traffic signals will be in place to direct traffic through the work zone.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The Creston Police Department reports four recent arrests.

On Monday, August 29th at 8:50 p.m. Creston Police arrested 33-year-old Chelsie Nicole Liesener of Creston and 24-year-old Tommie Lynee ONeall of Creston at 806 Laurel Street in Creston on a charge each of Theft 5th Degree. Liesener and ONeall were cited and released on Promise to Appear.

On Tuesday, August 30th at 4:38 p.m. Officers arrested 20-year-old Kason Eugene Hulett of Lenox at 302 N Pine Street in Creston on a charge of Failure to Appear. Hulett was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on $3,000 bond.

Also on Tuesday 21-year-old Breck Nathaniel Loe of Creston was arrested at his residence on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. Loe was taken to the Union County Jail and held on no bond until seen by a Magistrate.

(Radio Iowa) This holiday weekend is expected to continue what has been a busy summer on Iowa’s lakes and rivers.
The D-N-R ‘s Susan Stoker, says two words describe the crowds she’s seeing during the summer weekends.

Stocker is the D-N-R Boating Law Administrator, and she says the big crowds haven’t led to a huge increase in problems.

You may have been out on your favorite lake several times — but Stoker says you need to be prepared for changes.

Stoker says. Some of those changes could have happened with recent rains across the state.

And she says you have to remember to make sure the person who is operating the boat doesn’t take part in the holiday cheer.

She says that can lead to an accident with serious injuries or deaths.

(Radio Iowa) State officials have chosen a California-based company to join two other private firms that manage Iowa Medicaid — the joint state-and-federal program that currently provides health care services to 800-thousand disabled and low income Iowans. State Medicaid director Elizabeth Matney says Molina Healthcare’s contract will start July 1st.

The state is extending its current Medicaid contract with AmeriGroup. Iowa TotalCare’s contract for managing care for Iowa Medicaid patients runs through 2025. Matney says the goal is to divide Iowa’s Medicaid members evenly among the three managed care companies.

Hospitals and other other health care providers in the state have complained that Medicaid claims are not always being paid on time. Matney says no system is perfect, but the contract with Molina sets clear deadlines.

Republican Governor Terry Branstad oversaw the shift to private management of the Medicaid program in 2016. Democrats in the legislature say the contracts ensure profits for out-of-state companies while rural Iowa’s health care system crumbles.

Cass County Auditor Sara Harris submitted her resignation from the position to the Cass County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday.

Harris had been appointed to the position by the Supervisors following the retirement of longtime Auditor Dale Sunderman in February. She was appointed in April and took the Oath of Office to fill the position until the November general election.

The Cass County Republican party held a special nominating convention on August 16th to name a Republican candidate for County Auditor and nominated Kathy Somers of Atlantic. Somers has experience in local government, having served on the Atlantic City Council for 12 years.

The resignation letter that Harris submitted to the Board of Supervisors is listed below.

Dear Cass County Board of Supervisors:

Please accept this letter as official notice of my resignation. My last day will be Monday, September 12.

I would like to thank the board for the opportunity to interview and ultimately obtain the position of auditor over two additional candidates, with Kathy Somers being one of the two. It was an honor to utilize my skills and 24-years of experience in human resources, payroll, accounting and management in the private sector to help transition the county from the decades of service provided by Dale Sunderman seamlessly in terms of service provided to the county. Our office was not closed to the public, other than a mandated audit of election results. Over the past four months I was progressing every day in learning the duties of the Auditor position despite the added pressure of the Treasurer’s office being closed for an extended period due to the exodus of the entire department staff.

It hurts to know that I will not be able to continue to improve and grow within the walls of the courthouse. I had always wanted a position within the courthouse. I remember in grade school I took a tour of the grounds and I thought at that time how it would be such a neat opportunity to represent my family and community in such a role.

Sadly, my fate has been decided for me by the Cass County Republican Central Committee with their organized effort to remove me in a referendum against the board of supervisors when they chose to place party loyalty over process and a full capability of doing the job as an auditor. I do feel that I could have campaigned and won the election but to what end? The toxic environment fueled with unnecessary drama would remain and the party powers that decided to push me out, to no fault of my own, will be more inspired than ever to continue their vendetta against the board and by association, me and my family. I love this town and community, and I would not want to see it further divided by politics. I pray for all involved that peace may come soon.

Sincerely,

Sara Harris