(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors met in a Special Session Thursday afternoon (June 9th), following a written request from Cass County Auditor Sara Harris, for an administrative recount of some precincts (Mentioned below), following the June 7, 2022 Primary Election. The recount was requested due to a reported discrepancy between the OVO machine (ballot scanner) and the number of signed declarations of eligibility forms. The counts were any where from one to two votes than higher than they should have been.  Harris said the reason for discrepancy was due to a ballot jam or machine malfunction and per the Secretary of State’s office when this occurs an administrative recount is recommended.

She reports the following precincts will be included in the administrative recount:
– Precinct 2, Atlantic 2 – machine off by 1
– Precinct 3, Atlantic 3 – machine off by 1
– Precinct 5, Atlantic 5 – machine off by 2
– Precinct 6, Bear Grove/Cass/Lewis – machine off by 1
– Precinct 7, Benton/Franklin/Grant/Lincoln/Wiota/Anita – machine off by 1
– Precinct 8, Brighton/ Grove/Pymosa/Washington/Marne – machine off by 1
– Precinct 9, Noble/Pleasant/Griswold – machine off by 1

The Board approved a letter authorizing Sara Harris to conduct an administrative recount at 1-p.m. on Friday, June 10th, 2022. Their next regular meeting is Tuesday, June 14, 2022, the day of the official vote canvass.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests took place Sunday, June 5th:

63-year-old Dawn Good, of Casey, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation. And, 30-year-old  Jordan Kopp, of Anita, was arrested for OWI 3rd Offense.  Kopp was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and later released on his own recognizance.

And, on June 1st, Deputies in Cass County arrested 34-year-old Joanna Seagler, of Massena, for OWI/1st offense. Seagler was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held until her later release on her own recognizance.

All criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law.

(Casey, Iowa) -A person who allegedly tried to break into a home in Adair County was shot by the occupant of the home, early this (Thursday) morning. According to the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, at around 3:18-a.m., the Adair County Communications Center received a cellular 911 call reporting a vehicle in the median of Interstate 80 near the Adair rest areas in Adair County. An Adair County sheriff’s deputy responded and shortly after his arrival, determined that the crashed vehicle had previously been reported as stolen to the Omaha Police Department. Officers from the Stuart Police Department and their K9 unit were summoned to assist in locating the driver of the stolen vehicle.

At approximately 4:30-a.m.,  the Adair County Communications Center received a cellular 911 call from a rural residence southwest of Casey, in Adair County. The occupant of the home reported that someone had tried to break into his home and that he, the occupant of the residence, had shot the suspected intruder. Officers searching for the driver of the stolen vehicle, who were in the immediate area, responded and administered first aid to the wounded subject. Adair Rescue and the Adair County Ambulance responded to the scene to provide additional medical aid. The suspected intruder was transported by an Air-Ambulance to a Des Moines area hospital where he is receiving treatment for multiple gun shot wounds.

Although in the very preliminary stages of the investigation, Sheriff Jeff Vandewater says it is believed that the sole resident of the home was awoken to the sound of strange noises. A short time later, the resident of the home heard additional loud noises and glass breaking and encountered an individual whom he believed to be unlawfully attempting to enter his home through a broken window. The resident of the home fired multiple shots at the suspected intruder and then called 911.

The identity of the suspected intruder has not been confirmed at this time. The Adair County Sheriff’s Office has asked the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to assist with the investigation. The Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Stuart Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Adair Fire and Rescue and the Adair County Ambulance all collaborated to resolve this incident. There will be no additional updates until the investigation is concluded.

The Sheriff said “There is NO information available to law enforcement that indicates there is an ongoing danger to the public and it is believed this is an isolated incident.”

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports three people from Glenwood were arrested on separate charges, Wednesday (June 9):

• 55-year-old Sherry Harvey was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation (Bond: $5,000)
• 44-year-old Phillip Mott was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault and Going Armed with Intent (No bond set until seen by a magistrate judge)
• 23-year-old Jordan Salmons was arrested for Assault Causing Bodily Injury, and Violation of a No Contact Order (No bond set until seen by a magistrate judge).

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Joni Ernst is leading a bipartisan group of lawmakers calling for a new Middle East agreement, to counter Iran. Ernst says Wednesday’s drone attack on a U-S consulate in Iraq shows Iran and its proxies are a growing threat in the region.  “Iran is presenting a clear and present danger to the United States and Iraq,” Ernst says. Ernst envisions a security cooperation agreement among the U-S, Iraq, Israel, the United Arab Emirates as well as other Arab nations. She says it would set the stage for integrating air and missile defense systems in those countries.

“The point is we’re trying to pull everybody together to get systems that will actually work together,” Ernst says. Ernst has introduced a bill that outlines these ideas. She says it’s not about creating something like NATO, where partner nations pledge to provide military support to a member that’s attacked or invaded. Instead, Ernst says the goal is to ensure defense systems in Middle East countries that are U-S allies can effectively communicate and respond to missile attacks in the region.

“It doesn’t require that the United States provide defense. It’s just security cooperation,” Ernst says. “…We feel if we are able to get them speaking together about security cooperation, then other things will follow…We end up seeing them engage culturally, we’ll see them engage in trade, so there’s a lot more that will follow after these countries know that they’re working together for collective national security.” Democratic senators from New Jersey and Nevada and a Republican senator from Oklahoma joined Ernst today (Thursday) in co-sponsoring the bill.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Bryant Rasmussen, today (Thursday), said “As we move further into June, Sunnyside Pool wanted to get out a schedule of days we will not be opening due to a shortage of lifeguards. This does not include any days we will be closed for weather.” The pool will be closed for certain this weekend and next, beginning on Fridays both weeks.

Rasmussen suggests you call before coming to the pool, to make they have not exceeded guest capacity as determined by the number of lifeguards on-duty, and American Red Cross regulations.

He thanks the public for understanding, and reminds persons interesting in working as a life guard, to apply. You can find an application on the parks and rec page, or come in and request one at the pool.

DES MOINES — Today (Thursday), Governor Kim Reynolds announced the 19 recipient schools of the Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Pilot Grant Program, which she unveiled during her Condition of the State Address in January. Included among them is: the AHSTW District**, which is receiving over $1.656-million dollars; Council Bluffs District ($709,879), and the Winterset District*** ($561,726).

The Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Pilot Program grants will serve more than 1,000 paraeducators and students in 134 schools ultimately creating over 500 new paraeducators and 500 new teachers.  Of these, 110 recipients are creating the first-ever registered apprenticeship programs in their schools. A total of $45.6 million will be granted towards the program. The full list of award winners can be found here. The grant program will provide opportunities for current high school students and adults to earn a paraeducator certificate and associates degree and paraeducators to earn their bachelor’s degree all while learning and working in the classroom. The program will begin this fall during the 2022-2023 school year. To learn more about the pilot program, visit here.

Governor Reynolds says “The overwhelming response we received for this grant opportunity has been truly remarkable and is evident of the great interest and passion that lies within our students and paraeducators to jumpstart their careers in education. Through valuable partnerships, this program makes post-secondary educational opportunities available at the fingertips of high school students before graduating high school. And, we’re not done yet–this pilot program is just the beginning of what we hope will expand across the state.”

Iowa Dept. of Education Director Ann Lebo said “Growing our teacher and paraeducator talent pipeline helps ensure Iowa students have access to a world-class education today and into the future. I commend these school districts and postsecondary partners for their innovative plans to start registered apprenticeships that will inspire and support the next generation of educators in Iowa communities.”

Funding is made available through the American Rescue Plan Act.

**The AHSTW District includes: Atlantic/Central Decatur/Clarinda/East Mills/Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton/ Fremont-Mills/Glenwood/Griswold/Harlan/IKM-Manning/Lamoni/Lenox/Logan-Magnolia/Missouri Valley/Riverside/Sidney/South Page/Stanton/ Treynor/Tri-Center/Woodbine.

***The Winterset District includes: Van Meter/Creston/Interstate 35.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s delegation in the U.S. House has voted along party lines on new gun regulations, like raising the age to buy A-R-15 style rifles from 18 to 21. Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines says it is common sense, comprehensive legislation that will help curb the gun violence epidemic. The three Iowa Republicans in the U.S. House voted no. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says the bill Democrats proposed was unconstitutional. “What we saw last night obviously was legislation that they pushed through that will really to little to stop the violence,” Hinson says, “but again it just targets our law abiding citizens and violates their Second Amendment rights.”

The bill passed with the support of all House Democrats and five Republicans. Hinson says congress should instead bolster school safety, law enforcement training and mental health resources. “Right now I think we need to be focused on real solutions to the challenges in our country,” Hinson says. “The laws on the books need to be enforced and we need to stop guns getting into the wrong hands.”

Congressman Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, also supports the G-O-P proposal to add security to schools and increase access to mental health treatment. Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican from Ottumwa, is co-sponsoring a bill to let schools use federal pandemic relief funds on security measures.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s Officials in Mills County report 26-year-old Joseph Ray Moreno, of Omaha, was arrested Wednesday afternoon. He was taken into custody on a warrant issued by the Council Bluffs Police Department, for Unauthorized Credit Card Use. His bond was set at $2,000.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Association of Workforce Boards is hosting its annual statewide training workshop today (Thursday) in Marshalltown for Iowa’s nine local Workforce Development panels. Miranda Swafford, executive director of the Mississippi Valley Area Workforce Development Board, based in Burlington, explains the group’s overall role in improving workforce opportunities across the state.  “The primary role of the local Workforce Development Board is to really oversee all of the Workforce services in their specific counties,” Swafford says. “They are a federally-mandated board and they help to develop specific programming to meet the needs of our businesses and our job seekers through our Iowa work centers.”

The group is meeting at the Iowa Valley Continuing Education Conference Center in Marshalltown.  “We are bringing all nine Workforce boards together, which will be comprised of business owners and economic development, community college representatives and a lot of other workforce partners,” Swafford says. “We are bringing in experts from outside the state to help design and drive Workforce services across the state of Iowa moving forward.”

Learn more about available Workforce Development opportunities at www.iowaworkforceboards.org.