(Radio Iowa) – Senator Joni Ernst says a bipartisan proposal to help Afghan civilians who worked with the U-S military is included in a security-related bill that easily cleared the House AND Senate yesterday (Thursday). There’s money for processing special immigrant visas as well as travel and housing assistance in the bill.

“This will help us move some of those Afghan interpreters, if they get cleared through the state department, then we can start moving them out of Afghanistan,” Ernst says. Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa worked on the proposal in the House. Miller-Meeks says transferring authority to the Afghan government to protect Afghans who helped the U-S military over the past two decades would be a moral failure. The bill’s main purpose, however, is to ensure the budget for the Capitol Police doesn’t run out of money after the unexpected expenses of responding to the January 6th attack on the Capitol.

“With all of the additional overtime that they had, it puts them in a position the way they’re paid here, they would have to start furloughing workers,” Ernst says. Ernst says the 100 million dollars in the legislation prevents that and not only covers overtime, but mental health support for Capitol Police officers as well. Another 300 million in the bill is for new security measures in the Capitol complex.

“It’s additional repairs to the Capitol from January 6,” Ernst says. “It’s a different type of glass that they will be using in the glass at the Capitol building, things of that nature.” There’s also money in the bill to reimburse National Guard units, like Iowa’s, that were deployed to Washington to provide security.

(Radio Iowa) – A central Iowa man who’s been a member of the Iowa House since 2013 has died. Seventy-one-year-old John Landon of Ankeny was reelected to a fifth term in the Iowa House last November. A post on Landon’s Facebook page announced he was surrounded by his family as he passed away Thursday afternoon.

Landon, who grew up near State Center, enlisted in the Navy Seabees and served in Vietnam before a career in agribusiness. Landon had managed grain elevators before joining a farm management and ag real estate firm called the Peoples Company in 2002. Landon retired in 2012 when he first ran for the Iowa House.

John Landon (Photo from Iowa Legislature)

Landon, a Republican, won reelection in 2020 with 53 percent of the vote. House Speaker Pat Grassley issued a written statement calling Landon a humble public servant who was dedicated to his work in the Iowa House all the way until his final day. Governor Reynolds described Landon as a trusted, genuine and caring person.

From left to right: Prince and Mr. Congeniality Garrett Reynolds, King Craig Alan Becker, Queen Emily Plagman, Princess Caroline Pellett

The 2021 Cass County Fair got into full swing on Thursday night with the King and Queen contest held in front of the community garden at the fairgrounds. Emily Plagman was crowned 2021 Cass County Fair Queen and Craig Alan Becker was crowned King. The candidates went through a round of judging prior to fair with a meal and interviews. Then on Thursday night they were introduced to the crowd, asked about their involvement and future plans, and asked a surprise question written by their peers.

A total of 3 King candidates and 9 Queen candidates participated. Mr. Congeniality was awarded to Garrett Reynolds and he was also named Prince. Miss Congeniality was awarded to Taylor McCreedy. Princess went to Caroline Pellett.

King Craig Becker is a member of the Benton Franklin 4H club and Atlantic FFA. He is the son of John and Abby Becker. Queen Emily Plagman is also a member of the Benton Franklin 4H club and the CAM FFA. She is the daughter of Mike and Kristi Plagman.

The Little Miss and Mister contest was held just prior to the King and Queen contest. Youngsters 5-8 years old can enter the contest and winners are chosen by a drawing. The 2021 Little Miss went to Adalyn Hanson and Little Mister went to Ethan Retallic.

2021 Little Mister Ethan Retallic and 2021 Little Miss Adalyn Hanson with 2019 Prince Mitchell Williamson, 2019 King Nathan Behrends, and 2019 Queen Haley Becker

(Radio Iowa) – A special audit of the Iowa Veteran’s Home says former commandant Timon Oujiri was relieved of his duties in early May due after receiving more than 100-thousand dollars in improper pay. The report, released by State Auditor Rob Sand, shows the discrepancies that came to light when Department of Administrative Services employees reviewed the payroll of various agencies for accuracy back in April, in preparation to transfer to a new payroll system.

Payroll costs from July of 2019 through May of this year showed the number of improper payments and payroll costs at I-V-H. The report also includes suggestions to strengthen some of the internal controls at I-V-H, including a review of payroll journals by someone not associated with the payroll process.

The report has been sent to the Iowa DCI, the Marshall and Polk counties Attorney’s Office, and the Attorney General’s office. Governor Kim Reynolds appointed Marine Corps retired Major Mathew Peterson as the new I-V-H Commandant earlier this week.

Due to the heat advisory today, the Cass County Fair events tonight will be pushed back one hour.  The Little Miss & Little Mister contest, the Queen & King Contest and the Senior Recognition program will begin at 8:00 pm Thursday at the Garden on the fairgrounds in Atlantic.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office released details Wednesday on six arrests within the past week.

On Tuesday, July 27th Deputies arrested 28-year-old Victoria Elizabeth Marquez on a warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) 1st Offense and Carrying a Weapon.

Also on July 27th 58-year-old Jeffrey Michael Merrill was arrested following a traffic stop near Highway 92 and Greenview Road. Merrill was charged with OWI First Offense and Open Container.

On July 26th 27-year-old Kyler Jay O’Brien was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 92. O’Brien was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) 1^st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving While Barred, and Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle.

On July 25th 33-year-old Wesley Adam Keene was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated First Offense and being a Fugitive from Justice.

On July 24th 25-year-old Anthony Tyler Lee Robison was arrested and charged with Criminal Mischief 4th Degree. That same day 31-year-old Paige Krystle Bjorklund was arrested following a traffic stop on Nash Boulevard. She was charged with OWI 2nd Offense and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) 1st Offense.

The Glenwood Police Department reports a couple of recent arrests.

On Wednesday officers arrested 36-year-old Robyn Salmons of Glenwood on a Mills County Warrant for Failure to Appear on a Violation of Probation Charge. Bond was set at $50,000 cash only.

Early Thursday Glenwood Police arrested 19-year-old Dominick Maddocks-Miles of Glenwood for Driving While Revoked. He was booked in to the Mills County Jail on $1,000 cash or surety bond.

A full day of activities will be experienced during 2021 Cass County Fair, on this Thursday. Events include:

• 7:30-a.m.: Swine weigh-in
• 8-a.m.: Rabbit check-in
• 10-a.m.: Poultry check-in
• 10:30-a.m.: Meat Goat weigh-in and Dairy Check-in
• 3-p.m.: Sheep weigh-in
• 4:30-p.m.: Horse check-in
• 5-p.m.: 4-H/FFA Exhibits Open/Food Sale
• 7-p.m.: Little Miss & Little Mister contest
• 7:30-p.m: King & Queen contest
• 8-p.m.: Senior Recognition.

Some of the events set to take place tomorrow (Friday), include: a Dog Show; Clover Kids animal show; Share-the-Fun/Style Show; Mutton Busting, and the Bull ride. See the complete schedule HERE.

Students and staff of the Atlantic Middle School will be “Unable to occupy [the building] for the foreseeable future,” according to Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber, while mitigation strategies related to a fire that occurred Tuesday, are under way.  That was the consensus among mitigation inspectors following a fire that caused an estimated $875,000 damage to the roof that was under repair, and water damage to a good portion of the building. The price mentioned was the bid for Phase I mitigation from FirstOnSite Property Restoration, which the School Board approved during the emergency session. Phase I includes the removal of the water and deodorization of the structure. The District’s deductible is $5,000.

The School Board held an Emergency Meeting 8-p.m. Wednesday, to act on bids for the mitigation of fire-related damages. They heard from EMC Insurance Corporate Loss Specialist Scott Signor, who said he and Precision Roofing were on site Wednesday and walked the roof lines of the building, especially what they called “The area of origin.” He said they are developing what are being called “Temp repairs.”

Signor said something has to be built around the area of origin, and that “An area of subrogation may be possible as far as why the loss started.” He said several companies must first be put on notice and complete an inspection by several entities. The structure would have to be constructed over and above the affected area and then temporary repairs conducted over the entire area where it had burned. That while section was in the process of being replaced when the fire broke out. The temporary repairs would at least limit any future interior migration from rain that is expected in the next few days, and get the rain moving in the direction of the drains.

Signor said mitigation is just the first phase, and has nothing to do with repairs, the price of which will be significant. Signor said there were only four-to six rooms that were without apparent damage from the fire, smoke and water. Those rooms are located he said, in the southwest corner of the Middle School. “All other rooms are affected either substantially or less substantially,” according to Signor.

Barber and Middle School Principal Josh Rasmussen will organize a Google Document that will be a schedule of when personal items remaining in the building may be retrieved. If those items are damaged or destroyed, they will have to be identified by their owner and a general price provided, as allowed by the insurance policy. Signor echoed the sentiments of Mr. Barber, and the District’s local insurance agent Kip Harris, in saying that the quick response from Atlantic and other area fire departments, and the fact there was a thick concrete roof underneath the lining, saved the building from much more severe damage. He said firefighters “Did an outstanding job.”

The Harlan Police Department reports five arrests:

A total of three people were arrested on July 20th. 42-year-old Lisa Marie Briggs, of Harlan, was arrested on two active Shelby County warrants. She was transported to the Shelby County Jail. A man and a woman from Harlan were arrested following a call for service. Authorities say 34-year-old Roseann Dawn Randall, was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with domestic abuse assault. And, 38-year-old Keith Andre Smith, was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with obstruction of emergency communication and child endangerment.

On July 21st, 49-year-old Alan Lloyd Hill, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. Hill was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and prohibited acts.

And, on Tuesday, July 27th, 54-year-old Vernon George Cady, of Sac City, was arrested following a traffic stop in Harlan. Cady was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving while revoked.