(Radio Iowa) – A member of the Irish parliament spent the weekend in northwest Iowa. For the first time since the pandemic, Emmetsburg resumed its tradition of having an Irish politician as a guest at the city’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Paul Daly is one of 60 Irish senators. He’s from the town of Kilbeggan, about 55 miles west of Dublin.

Daly became an engineering teacher and he farmed as well. Daly served on a council council in Ireland for eight years until he was elected to the Ireland’s senate in 2016. He says the Iowa landscape has impressed him.

He owns thoroughbred race horses and is chairman of the racecourse in his home area.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – March 20, 2023 – If you’re driving in Denison in the coming months you will notice construction work taking place on U.S. 30/U.S. 59 over the East Boyer River bridge. Over the summer, the Iowa Department of Transportation will be replacing the bridge deck. Beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 27 until Oct. 26, weather permitting, we’ll have the road down to one lane in each direction. The road will also have a 10-foot lane-width restriction.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – March 20, 2023 – Lane closures on U.S. 75 in Plymouth County may slow you down a bit beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 27 until Aug. 6, weather permitting. Starting April 12, if the weather cooperates, we’ll be switching northbound traffic on U.S. 75 between Hinton and Merrill onto the southbound lanes in a head-to-head traffic pattern. Until the project is complete, you won’t be able to make left turns in the work zone.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular, weekly meeting beginning at 8:30-a.m., Tuesday in their courthouse Boardroom. Here’s their Tentative Agenda:
1. Call meeting to order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll call of members
4. Approval of Agenda – Order at discretion of Chairman
5. Read minutes as presented. Chairman to call for any additions/corrections to said minutes.
6. Board chairman will ask the audience for any comments, limited to two minutes per person.
7. Supervisors: Weekly committee/assignment updates
8. Secondary Roads Update
9. Tom Schuetz from Alera Group to discuss health insurance rates with IGHCP
a. Approve IGHCP Health Insurance rates
10. John Thomas to discuss the Hungry Canyons Alliance program.
11. New Business
a. Approve RESOLUTION NO. 23-10 Authorizing Montgomery County to Enter Into the Settlement Agreements with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Allergan Finance, LLC, Walgreen Co., Walmart, Inc., CVS Health Corporation and CVS Pharmacy, Inc.,Directed to the OPIOID Epidemic
b. Approve Cott Systems credential change from Auditor to Recorder for the Digitizing of public historical records to be available online for the public and according to Iowa Code and Statute guidelines.
c. Budget discussion and possibly set next budget work session
d. Approve claims payable for March 22, 2023
e. Personnel Evaluation- Montgomery County Maintenance Director–Anticipated to be
Closed Session pursuant to Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(i) and action as necessary
12. Discuss and start agenda items for next meeting
13. Announcements – The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 28, 2023
14. Adjournment
*Please note, this is a public meeting; however, it may be conducted via ZOOM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86185141628

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting beginning at 9-a.m. Tuesday, in their Boardroom at the Courthouse in Harlan. Among the matter to come before them is a Public Hearing on declaring Emergency Medical Services (EMS) an essential service, and funding-Action item.

1. Call to order/conflict of interest statements.
2. Approval of agenda      Action Item
3. Approval of minutes March 7th Meeting. Action Item
4. Approval of claims posted March 16th. Action Item
5. Supervisor committee reports
6. Receive recommendations for EMS funding from the EMS Advisory Council
7. Open Public hearing for public input on declaring EMS an essential service and funding-Action Item
8. Receive public comment/input
9. Close EMS Public Hearing-Action Item
10. Consideration to set dates for required notice of three hearings needed to continue pursuit of maintaining and taxpayer funding of a Countywide EMS service-Action Item
11. Chris Nelson Shelby County 2022 Financial Audit-Action item
12. County engineer report including:

RESOLUTION 2023-18-Action Item

Shelby County 5 Year Plan discussion-Action Item

1. Resolution 2023-17 Authorizing transfer of Opioid Settlement funds to Shelby County-Action Item
2. Final canvass of the IKM Manning Special election-Action Item
3. Alex Londo EMA Funding Legislation
4. Recess and reconvene today to have any further department head budget discussions.-Action Item
5. budget workshop/discussions fiscal year 2024.
6. Adjourn

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular, weekly meeting 9-a.m. Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in their Boardroom at the Cass County Courthouse. The meeting will be conducted in-person, and live via Zoom.  Their agenda follows:

The order of agenda items may change based on when personnel are available and when time allows.
1. Call to order
2. Approve Agenda
3. Approve minutes from the March 14, 2023 meeting.
4. Public Comments
5. Report from Jothan Arber, Cass/Guthrie County Environmental Health
6. Presentation by Kate Olson, with Cass County Extension, on a request for ARPA funds to temporarily expand the role of the Cass County Wellness Coordinator to address local public health priorities and assist in long-term pandemic recovery efforts.
7. Approve Resolution 2023-04 vacating county road right-of-way for Willow Lane
8. Discuss/approve investment policy revision
9. Discuss/action on compensation board’s recommendation
10. Report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken
11. Appointments:
• Brighton Township Clerk
• Victoria Township Trustee
12. Supervisor Committee Reports
13. Filed Reports
14. Approve claims
15. Adjournment
16. Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 28, 2023

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report four arrests took place over the past few days. At around 11:10-p.m. Friday, 35-year-old Gabriel Rivera-Pagen, of rural Creston, was arrested at the Creston Union County LEC (Law Enforcement Center). Rivera-Pagen was charged with OWI 1st. He was transported to the Union County Jail where he later released after seeing the magistrate on his own recognize.

At around 12:45-a.m. Saturday, Creston Police arrested 30-year-old Noble John Murren, of Creston. Murren was charged with Public Intox 1st Offense, Assault, and Disorderly Conduct. He was transported to the Union County Jail and was later released on $900 cash or surety bond. Saturday afternoon, 63-year-old Jack Dee Farlow, of Creston, and charged with Animal at Large. Farlow was cited and released from scene.

Saturday night, 39-year-old Frank Martinez, of Texas, was arrested at the Quality Inn. Martinez was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault 1st Offense. He was transported to the Union County Jail where he later was released on his own recognize after seeing the magistrate.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Spring is here, and you can get your planting skills refreshed or learn all about gardening, by attending the Cass County Master Gardeners’ 2023 Spring Garden Seminar, scheduled for Saturday, April 1.  The 2023 seminar features a theme of “Gardening for Life” and aims to provide information and inspiration to gardeners of all skill levels. The morning session will be held at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic, with a new optional luncheon and afternoon bus tour for those interested in making a full day of the event.

The event beings with registration and a light continental breakfast at 8:30 AM. The first session beings at 9 AM, and will feature Aaron Steil, Consumer Horticulture Specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, discussing Late Season Plant Care.  Steil will return for the final morning session to lead a Gardening FAQ session, taking questions from the audience as well as discussing some of the frequently asked questions he gets on his Iowa Public Radio “Hort Friday” radio show and in his role as an Extension specialist.

In between the two general sessions, attendees will enjoy 60 minutes of “lightning learning sessions” where they will have the opportunity to rotate between short presentations on topics including food donation gardening, pollinator gardens, the benefits of gardening for health, and small space gardening.

Spring Garden Seminar 2023- “Gardening for Life” will be held at the Cass County Community Center on the fairgrounds in Atlantic. Registration and a light continental breakfast begin at 8:30AM on Saturday, April 1.  The program begins at 9AM and will conclude by 12:30PM. Attendees are encouraged to spend the afternoon lunching and exploring in the Atlantic area; suggestions and coupons will be provided to all who register! NEW this year is an option for attendees to sign up for an afternoon session featuring a box lunch and a bus tour to two local garden destinations: the Cass Health Healing Garden and Rolling Acres Organic Farm.

Cost for the morning seminar sessions, including continental breakfast, materials and refreshments is $25. The afternoon session featuring lunch, transportation and garden stops can be added on for an additional $20 fee. Attendees are encouraged to register early as space is limited. Early registration deadline is March 25. After this date, a limited number of walk-in spaces will be available for the morning session at $30/attendee. Walk-in registration will not be allowed for the afternoon bus tour. A full schedule and registration form are available for pickup at the Cass County Extension office, or online at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

Previous seminar attendees with a current address on record will also receive a brochure with a registration form in the mail or by email. Questions can be directed to Kate Olson at 712-243-1132, or by email at keolson@iastate.edu. Mark your calendars, get registered, and plan to join the Cass County Master Gardeners for the 2023 Spring Garden Seminar on Saturday, April 1!

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Produce in the Park’s Spring Celebration Market in Atlantic, is scheduled for Thursday, April 6 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022). Over 20 vendors are scheduled to attend the holiday farmers market. Spring Celebration Market is held the Thursday before Easter, so shoppers can pick up Easter dinner and Easter basket goodies and farmers market favorites such as premium local produce, meats, jams, desserts and baked goods, candles, crafts, art, jewelry, and bath and body products. Pim’s Thai food
truck will be in the Community Center parking lot selling Thai Food for the duration of the event (4:00-7:00 PM). Spring Celebration Market is the last holiday farmers market Produce in the Park is hosting before the summer market season starts June 1.Spring Celebration Market offers both in-person shopping as well as pre-ordering.

Pre-ordering will be available from Thursday, March 30 to Tuesday April 4. Shoppers can pick up pre-orders and shop in person at Spring Celebration Market on Thursday, April 6. Spring Celebration Market vendors confirmed as of March 19 include Johnna Joy Designs, Wud Bi Ten, Sweet Sisters Vegan, Brun Ko Farm, Holiday Baking, Sue’s Country Garden, Ter-Bear Honey, Noble Provisions, Smudge – Candles, Soaps, and More, Kringleman Pastries, Spirits of the Faire, Miss NiNi’s Fine Desserts, Donna’s Jewelry, Studio Samantha, Bridgewater Farm, Midwest Candles by Brit, Frosting, Inc., Creekside Crystals and Crafts, Blessings Bakery and Gifts, Knuckle Down Crochet, Crafts, and Pet Treats, Silver Valley Craft Corner, Pim’s Thai Food Truck, and Precursor Printing.

Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications to Spring Celebration Market. For more information visit produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com or contact the Market Manager at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com.

Spring Celebration Market is sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, Cass County Tourism, First Whitney Bank and Trust, Cass Health, Gregg Young Automotive of Atlantic, and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. For the latest information, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/) or sign up for the Produce in the Park newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com.

Bridgewater Farm will be selling fresh spinach and other premium organic produce at Spring Celebration Market April 6.

(Radio Iowa) – The author of a new book contrasting first-hand accounts of China in the 1980s versus the modern era will be in Des Moines for an event tonight (Monday). Patti Isaacs first visited China in 1981 on a one-year contract to teach English at a small university, and people were still wearing uniform clothing during the last days of communism. Twenty-four years later, Isaacs returned to that same university to teach English — and to do research for her book, “The Second Long March, Memoir from a Witness to China’s Transformation.”

She says the changes were astonishing between 1981 and 2005, as high rises and a high-tech zone had sprung up. Isaacs says the book aims to dispell stereotypes and provide stories of “regular people” in China. She says national pride is growing for some, while others feel modernization robbed China of its soul.

(Altoona, Iowa) – A pedestrian was struck and killed on Interstate 80 near Altoona, Sunday night. The Iowa State Patrol reports, a 2022 Chevy pickup driven by 49-year-old Rodney Gene Fuller, of Grimes, was westbound in the center lane of I-80, when the vehicle struck 36-year-old Perry Wilton Robert Dodds, of Des Moines. The Patrol said Dodds was standing in the center lane, wearing all dark clothes. He was killed on impact.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Altoona Police and EMS.