(Red Oak, Iowa) – An Absentee ballot worker in Montgomery County is questioning why he was removed from the absentee and special voter precinct board Tuesday night. Joey Norris spoke before the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors during their meeting this (Wednesday) morning after he was asked to leave the counting area Tuesday.

Norris said he believes he was chosen by Auditor Jill Ozuna for those attributes during the primary audit, to work during the general election.

Norris said “There was a a lot of focus on getting done with the count early,” and that he was asked to leave without just cause, by Auditor Ozuna.

He said his questions were treated with “disdain.” Norris’ father James Norris said his son is experienced and knowledgeable in the ballot auditing process, and in following the rules.

He said his son’s removal feels like retribution against the Norris family (for their opposition to the Summit Carbon Solutions carbon capture pipeline), and that he “takes that personally.”

Board policy does not require them to respond to public comments made following the public’s opportunity to speak. In other business, the Montgomery Board of Supervisors set a canvass of the Nov. 5^th votes to take place during their regular meeting that begins at 8:30-a.m. On November 12^th. And, the Board received a regular weekly report from County Engineer Karen Albert.

She said also they are working on plans for projects in their 5-year construction program.

And, the Montgomery County Supervisors passed a Resolution abating the taxes on land owned by the City of Elliott.

UPDATE: Bailey Smith says “Due to unforeseen circumstances with shipping of the AtlantiCash, we have to move the date!!” AtlantiCash is now expected to be available on Saturday, NOVEMBER 30TH.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce encourages you to get a kick start to your holiday shopping, and purchase discount AtlantiCash, presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust, NOVEMBER 30TH only, at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said “This is one of our favorite events of the year. AtlantiCash is money that has to be spent at local businesses, so not only does it boost Local Option Sales Tax, but it also supports all of our incredible businesses who have so much to offer this holiday season. Last year, we sold $40,000 in 45 minutes, so the goal is to sell another $40,000 this year.”

From 9 AM – 12 PM Saturday, November 30TH only, AtlantiCash will be available in packs of $100 for $80, a 20% discount. Shoppers can purchase up to three packs. Payment must be made at time of purchase in the form of cash or check only. There is a first-come, first-purchased basis with only a limited amount of AtlantiCash available. Purchase will not be allowed before Saturday and bundles cannot be reserved for later pickup. To sweeten the deal of discount AtlantiCash, the Atlantic Area Chamber’s latest custom Christmas ornaments will be available at a discount when you purchase AtlantiCash. On Saturday only, you can purchase an ornament one for $12 or a bundle of three for $35.

The Holiday Open House will also be taking place that Saturday, beginning when retailers open. Businesses will be offering a holiday sneak peek as well as treats, giveaways and special promotions. For a list of participating retailers, visit www.atlanticiowa.com. Discount AtlantiCash and the Holiday Open House are brought to you by First Whitney Bank & Trust, Cappel’s Ace Hardware, Rush CPA & Associates and Property Connection Real Estate.

Pick up your Christmas brochure from area retail businesses, ‘like’ the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Instagram to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities and a printable version of the brochure at www.atlanticiowa.com.

Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712-243-3017. Christmas in Atlantic is presented by Gregg Young of Atlantic.

GUTHRIE COUNTY, Iowa — Guthrie County residents, Tuesday, voted down the new tax to fund emergency medical services and declare EMS an essential service. The Public Measure garnered 53.9% of the 60% approval needed for it to pass. Guthrie County was among a dozen across Iowa to ask for voters’ approval to fund countywide emergency medical services. The ballot measure asked for 75 cents per $1,000 dollars of assessed value on all taxable property in Guthrie County. It would have raised more than $750,000 a year.

Senate File 615, signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds in June 2021, provides the framework for counties to deem the service essential. It allows them to create a referendum to raise property taxes to fund EMS.

(Photo and logo provided to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, courtesy City of Stuart EMS)

As we’ve mentioned, the EMS measure passed in Cass County, with 76.4% of the vote. Page County voters failed to pass the EMS measure, with a 50.6% vote. In Sac County, the EMS initiative received 74.2% of the vote. Taylor County voters failed to approve their EMS initiative. It fell short of the 60% majority by 3.4%, or 56.6% yes to 43.4% no.

Iowa Senate District 8th:
Republican incumbent Mark Costello, 25,018*
Democrat Ryan Roenfeld, 10, 399

Write-In 73

Iowa Senate District 10:
Republican incumbent Dan Dawson 13,803*
Democrat Steve Gorman 10,798

Write-In 37

Iowa House District 15:
Republican incumbent Matt Windschitl, 12,783*
Democrat Benjamin Schauer, 5,636

Write-In 31

Iowa House District 16:
Republican incumbent David Sieck 12,837*
Democrat Candella Foley-Finchem  4,250

Write-in 31

Iowa House District 18:
Republican incumbent Tom Moore, 11,160*
Democrat Tripp Narup, 3,935

Write-In 46

Iowa House District 19:
Republican incumbent Brent Siegrist  7,738*
Democrat Roger Petersen 5,444

Write-In 26

Iowa House District 20:
Democrat incumbent Josh Turek 5,862 *
Republican James Wassell 5,298

Write-In 7

Iowa House District 23:
Republican incumbent Ray “Bubba” Sorensen  12,822*
Democrat Karen Varley 4,935

Write-In 36

(Area News) – It took a while for some counties to report their final election results from Tuesday’s General Election in Iowa. Cass County, which normally has the Absentee ballots reported first, didn’t get those results in until 2:43-a.m. Wednesday, due in-part to the heavy voter turnout.

In Cass County (IA), Republican incumbent Bernard Pettinger, of Anita held off a challenge from Democrat Phyllis Stakey of Massena, for the Board of Supervisors in District 5. Four candidates were running for three seats on the (non-partisan) Soil and Water Conservation District Board. The winners include: Curt Behrends, of Wiota; Chris P. Witzman, of Atlantic, and Chase Wheatley, of Massena.

A Public Measure for an EMS income surtax and assessed valuation tax passed in Cass County by a vote of 4,883 Yes to 1,506 No. Voters in the CAM School District in Cass County failed to approve a $22.5-million dollar bond measure, 859 NO to 671 Yes. The total vote (all CAM district counties) was 884 NO, 697 YES. A $55-million bond measure for Iowa Western Community College to pay for infrastructure and other improvements to the college’s campuses, including here in Atlantic, failed by a slim margin, 45,319 YES to 30, 977 NO, or 59.4%. The measure needed a 60% super majority vote to pass.

The Iowa Western Community College Public Measure also passed in Audubon, Montgomery, Pottawattamie and Shelby Counties. The measure failed in Adair and Adams Counties

There were no contested races in Adair and Montgomery Counties.

Voters in Adams County chose Christopher Standley to represent them on the District 5 Supervisors seat. His opponent was Karl McCarty. Adams County voters defeated Public Measure AJ, which asked if the Board of Supervisors be reduced from five members to three, per Iowa Code. The vote was 1,372 NO to 667 YES.

In Audubon County, where there were four candidates hoping to fill two seats on the Board of Supervisors, the winners were Republicans Kent Grabill and Donald J. Mosinski. And, Republican incumbent Audubon County Auditor Lisa Frederiksen held-off a challenge from Christena Hemmingsen, winning by a vote of 2,189 to 759.

In Guthrie County, voters chose Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Harmann, a Republican, to replace long-time incumbent Democrat Sheriff Marty Arganbright. Harmann won by more than 1,500 votes. There were five candidates for four seats on the County Ag. Extension Council in Guthrie County. The voters chose Carol Wendt, Kayla Willms, Ruth Blomquist and Dwayne Seeck for those positions.

Pottawattamie County voters elected Republican incumbent Auditor Mary Ann Hanusa over her challenger Bryan Jack Holder, an Independent candidate. In Shelby County, there were six people running for four seats on the County Ag Extension Council. The winners were Connie Petersen, Michele Monson, Kathy Fara and Larry J. Wendt, Jr.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Two men were arrested on separate charges in Red Oak. Tuesday night, 35-year-old Bryceton Lee Flathers, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 900 block of N. 4th Street, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. Flathers was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

And, at around 1:50-a.m. Wednesday (Today, Nov. 6th), Red Oak Police arrested 38-year-old Dustin Keith Edie, of Red Oak. He was arrested in the 800 block of Eastern Avenue, for Interference with Official Acts. Edie was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Donald Trump has won Iowa’s six electoral college votes for a third time. However, Trump’s double-digit victory here over Kamala Harris is by a wider margin than in the two previous Iowa General Elections. Iowa Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann celebrated last (Tuesday) night with the crowd at the party’s headquarters in Des Moines.

“Let’s make sure the entire state hears us,” Kaufmann said. “Donald Trump won Iowa!” A statement from the Trump campaign says Hawkeye state voters are eager for President Trump to fix what Kamala Harris broke. It closed with a dig at Ann Selzer, who runs the Des Moines Register’s Iowa Poll. A poll released Saturday showed Harris leading Trump in Iowa.

“The Iowa Poll was a joke this year,” Kaufmann said. “…I think every single person in here that’s a Republican…that believes that we need to have accuracy in reporting…here’s my challenge to you: Cancel your subscription to the Des Moines Register and get five more people to do it, too.” Unofficial results indicate Trump received over 56 percent support in Iowa — and finished 14 points ahead of Harris.

Kaufman told Radio Iowa the party’s strategy of urging G-O-P voters to cast absentee ballots paid off. “The first time in Iowa history Republicans are…ahead in terms of number in early voting,” Kaufmann says. There were also long lines at many polling places yesterday. “I would be very, very surprised if we didn’t have more Republican voters than Democrats as we usually do on Election Day as well,” Kaufmann said.

(Radio Iowa) – Republicans appear to have secured supermajorities in the Iowa legisalture, although there could be recounts in some close races. House Speaker Pat Grassley says Republicans in the Iowa House have expanded their majority to 67 seats. “We may have to add on to the Capitol so there’s a room big enough to hold all the House Republicans that we’re going to have this upcoming session,” Grassley said, to cheers. Every Republican incumbent seeking reelection to the House won.

Grassley suggests Democrats, by focusing on the abortion issue, were at a disadvantage. “Why in the world is a party running on one issue…killing babies?” Grassley asked. “And I think Iowans rejected that wholeheartedly tonight here in the Iowa House.”

Republicans have held 34 of 50 seats in the Iowa Senate for the past two years and unofficial results indicate Republicans will hold that 34-seat supermajority when the legislature convenes in January. The state’s most expensive legislative race was in central Iowa – and Democrat Matt Blake, a former Urbandale City Councilman, defeated long-time state Senator Brad Zaun.

Zaun, a Republican who ran for congress in 2010 and 2014, was the only elected official in Iowa to endorse Donald Trump before the 2016 Iowa Caucuses.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Ashley Hinson won reelection with 57 percent of the vote in Iowa’s second congressional district.) “Fellow patriots and fellow Iowans — we got it done!” Hinson said, to cheers. Hinson, who defeated a Democratic incumbent in 2020, secured a third term in the U-S House with last (Tuesday) night’s victory. “We sent a message, a loud and clear message, that Iowans believe in strong, conservative leadership,” Hinson said.

Hinson, who was endorsed by Trump earlier this year, told a crowd of supporters in Cedar Rapids she looks forward to working with a Trump White House. “Our values and our way of life have come under attack by liberals like Kamala Harris who want to turn our country into a liberal wasteland…They’re radical, they’re wrong and we are going to stop them. Are you with me?” Hinson asked, and the crowd cheered.

Jodi Puffett of Delhi, the independent candidate who ran against Hinson, got about one percent of the vote.