(Radio Iowa) – Workers in Davenport have been removing the sand-filled HESCO barriers this week that kept back a surge of water on the Mississippi River. The river is receding fast after nearing record flood stage from snowmelt that came down from Minnesota. Tim Baldwin was around in 2019 when the flood waters inundated his building in downtown Davenport — but he says was feeling pretty confident in the work the city had done to keep his block safe this time.  “We had no worries at all that that wall was going to fail,” Baldwin says.

The city doubled the size and height of the wall after the water breached the wall in 2019. It held through the crest of 21-and-a-half feet. “We saw it creep up to one of its highest points we’ve ever seen it creep up on that wall before. There was a lot of wall left to go we could have handled a lot more water I think and again no concerns whatsoever,” according to Baldwin. Pete Stopulos owns several buildings that were damaged by the downtown flooding in 2019 — but didn’t see a repeat this year. ” Really, I think the major take away was the plan worked. In 2019, we all hoped the city would build the wall they did this time. Obliviously, the blueprint was there and they executed it and it worked quite well,” he says.

Davenport flooding, 4-30-23

Baldwin says they did lose some business at his Front Street Brewery and Tap Room as traffic was limited by road closures to the downtown. He’s counting on the Bix 7 Road Race and the 50th RAGBRAI to recoup some of that lost revenue.

(reporting by Zachary Smith, Iowa Public Radio)

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Two people were arrested on separate charges, Tuesday night, in Red Oak. Police say 40-year-old Elysia Tylene White, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 9-p.m. in the 600 block of N. 5th Street, in Red Oak. White was charged with Theft in the 5th Degree. Her bond at the Montgomery County Jail was set at $300. And, at around 8:30-p.m., 56-year-old John Philip Gekas, of Omaha, was arrested in Red Oak, following a traffic stop near Joy Street and Miller Avenue. Gekas was taken into custody on an active Ida County warrant for Contempt of Court. His bond was also set at $300.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – An investigation into an accident that took place at around 2:30-p.m. Tuesday, in Red Oak, resulted in an arrest. According to Red Oak Police, 25-year-old Hailey Ann Fada, of Red Oak, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. She was also cited for Failure to Maintain Control. Hailey Fada was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

The accident happened in the 1400 block of Eastern Avenue, when a 2017 Chevy Malibu driven by Fada, sideswiped a legally parked 2011 Ford F-250 pickup, registered to Charles Shipley, of Red Oak. Damage to the vehicles amounted to $3,500 for the pickup, and $4,000 to the Malibu.

(Rad Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red report a man was arrested Tuesday afternoon, for failing to appear in court on drug charges. Authorities say 29-Cody James Copeland, of Red Oak, was arrested on a Montgomery County warrant for failure to appear on original charges of possession of a controlled substance and a controlled substance violation.

Copeland was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA –Three Cass County (Iowa) residents were sentenced on May 16, 2023 for conspiring to distribute fentanyl causing serious bodily injury or death.

Cam Christopher Jahnke, 33, was sentenced to 193 months in prison. Chase Daniel Jahnke, 29, was sentenced to 204 months in prison. Kelsi Thurman, 27, was sentenced to 156 months in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, each defendant plead guilty to agreeing to obtaining fentanyl pills from sources in Omaha, Nebraska, and selling those pills in and around Cass County, Iowa. The investigation determined that between August 2019 and June 2022, the group obtained and distributed over 10,000 pills containing fentanyl. Fentanyl distributed by the group caused two fentanyl overdose deaths.

Two additional co-defendants, Colby Clarken, 20, and Collin Clarken, 25, have also plead guilty to the same charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl causing serious bodily injury or death. Both are scheduled to be sentenced in August 2023.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa stated the convictions disrupted a major source of supply of fentanyl in Western Iowa and was accomplished through the cooperation of numerous law enforcement agencies.

Agencies involved in this investigation included the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Atlantic Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (SWINE) Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, Iowa Division of Intelligence, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Omaha Police Department.

(Radio Iowa) – The nearly 100 officers in the Iowa D-O-T’s Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division will soon become part of the Iowa Highway Patrol. The switch takes effect July 1st. Governor Kim Reynolds says it makes sense to have units with similar functions under the same roof at the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Iowa State Patrol Colonel Nathan Fulk says the organizations have been partners for many years.

“In 2022, we collectively assisted more than 14,000 stranded motorists and the Iowa State Patrol investigated over 4600 traffic collisions,” Fulk says. “As we come together, we will in a position to improve the public safety services with consistency, collaboration and teamwork.” Tom Bruun is chief of the D-O-T’s Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division. “For years, Motor Vehicle Enforcement has worked side by side with our partners with the Iowa State Patrol to keep Iowans safe,” Bruun says.

“This transition will continue to strengthen that partnership by bringing all state traffic law enforcement together under the umbrella of the Iowa State Patrol.” Brunn, Fulk and the state public safety commissioner will meet next week with the 365 state troopers and the 98 officers in the D-O-T’s Motor Vehicle Division to discuss how the merger will work. Bruun, who has worked in the D-O-T for nearly 34 years, says the focus for his officers will remain on commercial trucking and operating the 11 weigh stations in Iowa for semis.

Gov. Reynolds visited the Dallas County weigh station and signed legislation to move Motor Vehicle Enforcement officers and staff to the Iowa State Patrol. This move will enhance the footprint of state officers on the road and improve safety and the ability of officers to protect through increased efficiencies, consistency in purpose and operations, and consistent training. The MVE officers will officially join the Iowa State Patrol on July 1, 2023 (IA DOT photo)

“Enforcement of size and weight regulations prevents damages to the roads and bridges, which makes them safer for the motoring public,” Bruun says. Governor Reynolds signed the bill into law at the D-O-T weigh station for semis that’s along eastbound Interstate-80, just after the Van Meter exit. It was open for parts of 21 days last month — and 25-thousand commercial vehicles passed through.

State troopers and D-O-T Motor Vehicle Enforcement Officers drive vehicles that are different colors and, while the style of their uniforms are similar, troopers have brown hats and shirts, while blue is the color worn by D-O-T officers. Officials haven’t announced whether those color-coded differences will remain after the merger.

(ISU Extension News) – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer the Iowa Master Conservationist Program in Adair and Cass County as a joint program between the two county Extension Offices this summer and fall. The program will take place at outdoor parks and public areas within the two counties, providing participants with hands-on interaction with the diversity of the state’s natural resources. The program teaches about Iowa’s natural ecosystems and the diversity of conservation challenges and opportunities that exist in the region. Graduates of the course learn to make informed choices for leading and educating others to improve conservation in Iowa.

The program consists of approximately 12 hours of online curriculum and six face-to-face meetings. The online modules will include lessons and resources by Iowa State subject-matter experts to be reviewed at the participants’ own pace at home or at their local County Extension office. Module topics include conservation history and science, understanding Iowa ecosystems, implementing conservation practices in human dominated landscapes and developing skills to help educate others about conservation practices.

The first meeting will take place on Tuesday May 30th at Lake Anita State Park, beginning at 6 PM. A total of six face-to-face meetings will build on the online lessons and be held at different locations in Adair and Cass County one Tuesday evening per month from June-October of 2023. All meetings will begin at 6 PM and last from 2-3 hours depending on the topic. Each face-to-face meeting will be led by local subject-matter experts to demonstrate how the principles covered in the online curriculum and play out locally.

Registration for the course is $50 per person and is due at the time of registration. To register or with questions, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Adair County at 515-231-2741 or Cass County at 712-243-1132 or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass or www.extension.iastate.edu/adair for registration forms and details. The deadline to register is Thursday, May 25 to guarantee a space in the course.

Atlantic, IA— Officials with Cass Health, Tuesday,  announced a new opportunity for high school students interested in healthcare careers. The “Healthcare Careers Camp” will give local students hands-on experience with several careers including nursing, radiology, and more. The camp will be held from 10 am to 2 pm on Thursday, June 22nd.

Kat Niemann, Cass Heath Human Resources Coordinator, says “Cass Health is committed to welcoming and developing students at all levels, and we’re excited to offer this experience for our local high schoolers. Being able to sample a career, see the behind-the-scenes, and meeting the people who can serve as future mentors or resources is a priceless opportunity.”

Registration is free and will include lunch for all participants. Interested students need to register on casshealth.org/camp by June 5th. Questions about the Healthcare Careers Camp can be directed to Kat Niemann at nieka@casshealth.org or 712-250-8022.

DES MOINES – Today, Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Pocahontas County in response to severe weather that occurred on May 12. The governor’s proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program and the Disaster Case Management Program for Pocahontas County.   
The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services website at hhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.

The Disaster Case Management Program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. Disaster case managers work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice, and referral to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Management Program, contact your local community action association or visit www.iowacommunityaction.org.     

(Radio Iowa) – Memorial Day is less than two weeks away, and while many Iowans talk about supporting the troops and veterans, volunteers are needed year-round at the Disabled American Veterans to help local men and women who served in uniform. John Kleindienst is a U-S Marine Corps veteran and the D-A-V’s national voluntary services director. He says the impact volunteers have on the veteran community is invaluable.

“When an individual volunteers for a veteran or a veteran’s family, they get to hear his side of the story and establish a relationship that continues to grow and prosper,” Kleindienst says. “So, I hear stories all the time from our volunteers and I hear stories all the time from veterans, how meaningful it is for volunteers to step in and fill critical gaps.” The number of veterans who need additional support is rising, especially since the number of volunteers has significantly dropped because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The D-A-V offers a variety of scholarships for young people who volunteer through the organization. “We do award 10 scholarships annually valued at $110,000. Our top scholarship is $30,000,” Kleindienst says. “(All) an individual 21 years of age or younger has to do is get out and volunteer for veterans and give us 100 hours or more in order to be eligible for our scholarship.”

The organization is now accepting applications for the 2024 scholarship season. Learn more at DAVscholarships.org.