(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Utilities Board is about to close the file on their order seeking information on preparedness and handling of electric blackouts by utility companies in the state. I-U-B attorney, Jon Tack, told the board today (Tuesday) the action was taken in May after predictions by a couple of national groups about electricity availability. “We will not going to have sufficient generation available to meet peak load demands and that could result in load shedding, required temporary blackouts for Iowans,” Tack says citing the prediction. There have not been any widespread blackouts caused by lack of electricity. Tack says the I-U-B could end its oversight of the situation next month.

“We’re not quite through the peak demand season but we’re close and assuming that things go well and that we don’t have anything happened in the next few weeks — I would expect we could propose closing this docket in September,” Tack says.

The Georgia-based North American Electric Reliability Corp regulatory authority is one of the groups that had warned in the spring of the potential for the rolling blackouts, citing the increase in summer demand and drop in electricity production.

(Radio Iowa) – An engineer hired to evaluate a historic site in Arnolds Park is recommending major repairs to the Abbie Gardner cabin. It’s the site of what’s known as the Spirit Lake massacre of 1857. About three dozen Europeans were killed by members of the Dakota tribe who used the area for hunting. Thirteen-year-old Abbie Gardner was briefly taken hostage. Three decades later she bought her family’s cabin and gave tours. Anita Bomgaars is with the Abbie Gardner Cabin Friends group that asked for the evaluation. “The good news was that structurally the cabin is in pretty good structural shape,” Bomgaars says. “We really don’t need to worry about immediate roof collapse, but the other flip side of it is it needs a lot of work.”

The cabin needs to have the shingles and boards on the roof replaced, repair corners of the structure and install a handicapped accessible door. Bomgaars says her group hopes the roof gets replaced before winter. “We would like to say that would be our plan, but the cabin is owned by the State of Iowa and it’s part of the National Historic Register of landmark buildings in our country, so the onerous part it on them,” Bombaars says. “They need to get it done, but will provide, from our group, the impetus in a variety of ways to make sure that this occurs.”

Abbie Gardner cabin. (Iowa Conservation Commission photo)

The cabin was one of Iowa’s first tourist attractions and Gardner operated it herself until her death in 1921. Her son sold the property to the Iowa Conservation Commission in 1941.

(Blair, NE) – Published reports out of Nebraska say a man from Atlantic was arrested Aug. 11^th in connection with a stabbing incident at a gas station. Authorities say 30-year-old Anthony Asay, who is awaiting trial on a stabbing incident in Atlantic, was arrested following a traffic stop initiated as a result of an investigation, into an incident that began with an argument inside a Blair, Nebraska gas station.

Authorities say Asay and another man took the argument outside and began fighting. After the men were separated, Asay reportedly got into a vehicle and took off, but not before allegedly driving-up and stabbing the other male in the arm. The victim was treated for his injury at a local hospital.

Asay faces charges associated with the incident that include: 3^rd Degree Assault for punching the victim; 2^nd Degree Assault for stabbing the victim;Use of a Weapon to Commit a Felony; Possession of a Deadly Weapon by Prohibited Person – for possessing the knife he used to stab the male after being convicted of multiple felonies prior to this incident; and Driving under Revocation.

Asay was wearing an ankle bracelet when he was arrested, as part of his pre-trial release on his Cass County charges associated with a stabbing incident in Atlantic, last May. He was being held in the Washington County, Nebraska Jail for his latest, alleged offenses.

(Rural Villisca, Iowa) – A man from Adams County was arrested Sunday night, following a single-vehicle accident. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 61-year-old Joseph Gebbie, of Carbon, was charged with OWI/1st offense, after he was involved in an accident at around 8:30-p.m., in the 1800 block of Vine Avenue. Gebbie was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Cass County have approved a request for funding through the County’s allotment of ARPA funds (for COVID relief) received from the government, for the purchase of exercise equipment at the Fitness Center, in Cumberland. The request in the amount of $4,919 was granted after all the proper paperwork was filed by the City and Wellness Center representative Deb Brown.

Brown appeared before the Board in July to make the initial request for the Cumberland Fitness Center, which is run by volunteers and is available at no cost to users. At that time, she said they would like to purchase a Nu-Way recumbent cross-trainer-type piece of exercise equipment, which works the arms and legs. They typically retail anywhere from $2,500 to as much as $6,000 or more, depending on the style of the machine and accessories.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors discussed selling County-Owned Farmland by the former County Home (Willow Heights), on the southwest side of Atlantic. The Board was in favor of selling the land and using proceeds from the sale for housing development or other possible economic development purposes within the County.

Supervisor Steve Green on the history of the land and building.

Supervisor John Hartkopf said “The public purpose is gone for maintaining it.” Board Chair Steve Baier said once the Board issues a “Notice of intent” to sell the land, there are a number of steps before any sale can occur.

During their meeting today (Tuesday), the Board unanimously approved issuing the Notice. Public Hearings on the matter are expected to take place within the next few weeks,

In other business, Steve Baier said Nancy McCunn has agreed to serve as the Massena Township Trustee, but no formal action was taken to approve her appointment at this time.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, this (Tuesday) morning, approved the appointment of Morgan Lewellen, of Red Oak, as County Safety Coordinator. Morgan is a dispatcher with Montgomery County Communications, and was one of three applicants for the position that was vacated by the resignation of Beth Peterson, who also serves as the Election Clerk in the County Auditor’s Office. All three applicants were interviewed on Monday.

Currently the Safety Coordinator job description estimates roughly five hours of work, per week. A Safety Coordinator basically serves as the person responsible for planning, implementing and overseeing the County employee’ safety at work. Their main duty is to ensure that the county is in compliance and adheres to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) guidelines to to reduce work-related injuries.

In other business, Public Health Administrator Samantha Beeson updated the Board on Covid Health. She said since the onset of the pandemic, Montgomery County has had 2,375 cases processed. There are 41 cases in the past 14 days, 17 cases over the past seven-days, and three cases over the last three days. The total vaccinated population is 55.5-percent.

The community level of Covid-19 in Montgomery County is high based on cases and hospitalizations, according to the most recent update from the C.D.C. Beesen said “Covid is still here.” She said they are still recommending if a person is sick to stay home. She added the CDC has released new guidance with regard to persons who have tested positive for COVID-19.

In other Public Health news, Beeson said they are working the schools in the County to make sure all incoming Kindergarten through seventh through 12^th grade students are up-to-date on all their immunizations. It’s a State Law students must be immunized prior to the start of school. To-date, there have been no reported cases of MonkeyPox in the County.

And, Samantha Beeson said there are blood pressure clinics every Friday throughout the County, at no charge. That information is available on the Montgomery County Public Health’s Facebook page and in various publications.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he was being rhetorical when he told Fox News last week he feared a looming I-R-S strike force that goes in with loaded rifles ready to shoot some small business person in Iowa. The Republican was commenting on part of the bill President Biden will sign into law today (Tuesday) which will see the I-R-S hire 87-thousand I-R-S agents over the next decade — at a cost of 80-billion dollars. “This is an example of overreach by the IRS,” Grassley says. “I think it’s a way of going after the middle class and small business people because the very wealthiest in this country are already being targeted, and the corporations are being targeted.”

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellin says audit rates will not be increased for taxpayers with a yearly income under 400-thousand dollars, but Grassley says he’s not buying it. Grassley says he’s been dealing with leaders of the I-R-S since the mid-1990s who want to restructure the agency. “I’m mostly concerned about $80 billion in spending for the 87,000 new agents,” Grassley says, “and I wish the Democrats wanted to spend these resources on our southern border because that’s an enforcement issue just as much as the tax issues are.”

Treasury officials say the funding would also be used to upgrade a computer system that’s still using the COBOL language, which dates to the late 1950s. Grassley says the I-R-S and the F-B-I have repeatedly asked for billions of dollars for new technology. “Somehow government can’t do it, but the private sector can do it. They probably ought to call in Intel to do it for them and get it done right the first time,” Grassley says. “So, if they’re talking about upgrading, when are they ever going to get an upgrade? How many billions of dollars do they have to spend to get the job done?”

One report says the I-R-S workforce has been shrinking for decades as the U-S population has grown, and that around 50-thousand of the current 78-thousand agency employees were expected to retire or quit within the next five years. That would mean a large portion of the projected 87-thousand new hires under the bill would be replacing current workers.

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Board of Education in Griswold met Monday evening, and according to Superintendent Dave Henrichs, approved one resignation and a handful of contracts.

Henrichs says there is still one position left to fill for the upcoming school year.

In other business, the Griswold School Board approved a Resolution of Intent to participate in the ISL (Instructional Support Levy), which does not affect the taxes within the District.It’s a levy that already exists and is used for education programming, such as supplies and materials.

The Board also approved a couple of Memorandums of Understanding (MOU).One is with Western Governor’s University, the other with Buena Vista University.

The Griswold School Board approved three IBB (Interest Based Bargaining) representatives, who are the same as last year. That process begins in December. And they approved appointments to County Boards. They also agreed to provide reimbursement to staff members who do not have insurance, for flu shots. The shots will be administered in Griswold by staff with the Hy-Vee in Red Oak. And, the Board approved the establishment of the Student Athletic Leadership Team, which will be comprised of varsity level students and the high school principal, for the purpose of providing another avenue of furthering communication between student athletes and the school, to continue in efforts to improve athletic programs.

Dave Henrich said staff in the District have been gearing-up for the start of school.

(Creston, Iowa) – A man from Stuart was arrested late Monday night on drug charges, in Creston. According to Creston Police, Patrick Nolte was arrested at the intersection of Fremont and Elm Streets at around 10:36-p.m.  He was charged with Intent to Manufacture/Deliver Methamphetamine. Nolte was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting an appearance before the magistrate.

(Radio Iowa) – A federally funded program is ending soon that’s helped some 17-thousand Iowans stay in their homes with the lights on. In addition to paying for back rent, the Iowa Finance Authority’s Rent and Utility Assistance Program has higher income barriers, opening it to many more Iowans than comparable rent assistance programs. Lynette Jacoby, director of social services in Johnson County, says the challenge will be to find programs that can fill the gap. “We know though at the local level that there isn’t funding,” Jacoby says. “We can’t fill a gap of $350,000 a month in rental assistance.” Jacoby said the program’s 170-million dollar impact was not just for residents, but also landlords who would have lost income from emptied units or the eviction process.

The Iowa Finance Authority says the program will stop accepting new applicants at the end of August, following the national trend of dialing back COVID-era assistance programs. Luke Elzinga works at DMARC, which runs a network of food pantries in the Des Moines area. He says when people have fewer resources to cover rent, they’ll have to make it up somewhere else.  “A lot of the time, people will make sure their rent is paid first so they can remain housed and then figure out how they’re going to feed themselves,” Elzinga says. “That oftentimes looks like turning to a food pantry.”

The program ends as DMARC, like other food pantries, was already reporting record levels of demand for food assistance.

(reporting by Zachary Oren Smith, Iowa Public Radio)