(Radio Iowa) – The woman who won the Iowa-based World Food Prize last fall has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Heidi Kuhn founded a non-profit called Roots of Peace in 1997. It works to remove landmines and restore ground ravaged by war so it can be used as agland. The head of a group in Azerbaijan nominated Kuhn for the Nobel Peace Price. Kuhn recently visited the country to launch a pilot project to clear an estimated one-and-a-half million landmines and revive an area where vineyards used to flourish.

Norman Borlaug, a Cresco native who was awarded the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in improving crop production and he helped found the World Food Prize 38 years ago. At last October’s World Food Prize ceremony in Des Moines, Kuhn said she intended to use the half a million dollars that came with the award to work on removing landmines in Ukraine. The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize will be announced next October.

Heidi Kuhn. (Roots of Peace photo)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Cass County will meet in a regular session beginning 9-a.m. Tuesday, in their Courthouse Board Room, in Atlantic. On their agenda, is a canvass of the June 4, 2024 Primary Election results, followed by action on approving a Resolution appropriating $45,000 in ARPA Funds to the City of Lewis, for the purchase of a good, used ambulance.

The Board is expected to act on approving: The issuance of a County credit card to Sheriff’s Deputy Cameron Ward; The hiring of a person for the Treasurer’s Department Driver’s Examiner/Office Assistant, and, appointing a member of the Board of Supervisors as a liaison to the County Conservation Board.

Join Electronically via
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2899195216?pwd=R0hSa2FOOTh0NUdra1ZSdVhVWHpMUT09
Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
Passcode: 012064

Or, Call In:
312-626-6799, press *9 to indicate you wish to speak.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue has issued a report on arrests that took place from May 20th through June 9th. Most recently…

• On Sunday (June  9th), 42-year-old Atrin Farek, of Atlantic, was arrested (as previously mentioned) for Willful Injury and Child Endangerment.
• Last Friday (June 7th), 41-year-old Joseph Reynolds, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense.
• On June 5th, Atlantic Police arrested 43-year-old Nicole Anaya, of Atlantic, for Driving While License Denied or Revoked.
• On the 3rd, 24-year-old German Barios, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 4th Degree (Shoplifting).
• There were two arrests June 2nd, in Atlantic:
  • 26-year-old Resty Helson,of Midvale, UT, was arrested for Driving While License is Denied, Suspended, Cancelled or Revoked.
  • 32-year-old Devin Gardner, of Walnut, was arrested for Eluding, Disorderly Conduct, Interference with Official Acts, and Driving While Barred.
• On May 31st, 31-year-old Reybert Aguilar, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting), and Theft in the 3rd Degree.
• On May 29th, Atlantic Police arrested 20-year-old John Vasquez, of Atlantic, for Domestic Abuse Assault, Domestic Abuse Assault by Impeding the flow of air/blood, and Child Endangerment.
• On May 25th, 20-year-old Sabastian Hernandez, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1st offense.
• On the 23rd, 37-year-old Jeffery Knight, of Atlantic, was arrested for False Report to Public Entity.
• On the 22nd, 36-year-old Chipenson Louis, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 2nd Degree, OWI, and Interference with Official Acts.
• And, on May 20th, Atlantic Police arrested 18-year-old Cody Segebart, of Atlantic, for Assault Causing Bodily Injury.

Each of the above named individuals were taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail, and Booked-In. Three other subjects from Atlantic were cited into court and released, including:

• 18-year-old Paytyn Klahn, for Harassment in the 3rd Degree
• 18-year-old Xavier Anaya, for Theft in the 5th (Shoplifting)
• 18-year-old Shantell Michaels, for Theft in the 5th (Shoplifting).

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will hold their regular weekly meeting Tuesday morning (Instead of Wednesday), this week. On the agenda, is a canvass of the June 4, 2024 Primary Election.

County Engineer Nick Kauffman will then present for the Board’s approval, contracts for Debris Removal in County Right-of-Ways, and for an Interim Engineering agreement with Adams County, whereby Kauffman’s duties would be shared with Adams County, as allowed by the Code of Iowa.

The Board is expected to enter into a closed session to discuss the contract, to be followed by action on approve the contract as presented. Their meeting in the Adair County Courthouse Board Room begins at 9-a.m., Tuesday.

The conference phone will still be used for those who cannot attend in person and can be accessed by using the following dial in information:

Dial in Number: (605) 313-6157 Access Code: 526272#

You will be asked to identify yourself if you call-in, prior to the Board opening their session.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Fresh on the heels of last week’s 4th Ward Meet-and-Greet in Atlantic, the man who represents the Ward – Councilman Shawn Sarsfield – continues his quest to promote volunteerism in the community, and to help keep Atlantic a clean city for residents and visitors alike. Sarsfield spoke with KJAN late last week. He said during the Meet-and-greet event, about 30 people attended, including some who were not from Ward 4, who wanted to partake in the discussions that were held.

He said there was discussion with regard to the City’s 5-year Comprehensive Plan, and the steps the City needs to take in order for it to grow. The new housing program was also mentioned.

Atlantic City Councilman Sean Sarsfield (Photo from the City’s website)

Out of the discussion, came the idea of volunteers helping those less fortunate, who cannot afford to pay for their lawn to be mowed, and other tasks we take for granted.

He says there are sign-up papers at City Hall in Atlantic, for those who are interested in volunteering for those odds jobs, to lend their hands in support of the Ward. You don’t have to be from Ward 4 to participate. Sarsfield says the feeling of helping your neighbors – even those you don’t know – is worth the experience.

He says you can volunteer when you have the time to do so. If you’re called upon to help with a task and can’t spare the time, it’s OK. You can share your time at a later date, if you like. Shawn Sarsfield says he just appreciates your willingness to volunteer as time allows. He said people stepped-up after the June 4th meeting, to offer their tools and equipment as necessary, to aid in the clean-up efforts.

He says he plans to hold another meeting this Fall, to see how volunteerism efforts are helping, and to see how the concerns mentioned at last week’s meeting, are being addressed. And, as previously reported, be on the lookout for other Atlantic City Council members to hold meetings for their respective Wards, in the weeks and months to come.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic RAGBRAI ® housing forms for hosts and riders continue to be open for Atlantic RAGBRAI 2024. All forms can be found at www.atlanticragbrai.com, or at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, located at 102 Chestnut Street, in Atlantic.

Volunteers who are interested in becoming a host family are encouraged to apply. Hosts can choose to provide any space that they are willing, whether that be lawns, basements, or spare rooms. A bathroom and shower space must be made available for the riders.

The deadline for riders applying for housing closes on June 14, but host applications will continue to stay open until all housing requests have been filled. If you have any questions about what it takes to become a housing host or about the host process, please don’t hesitate to contact Atlantic RAGBRAI at 712.243.3017 or email atlanticragbrai@gmail.com.

The Atlantic RAGBRAI Committee will continue to meet regularly to plan for Atlantipalooza on July 22nd. As information is available, it will be shared with the community and on the website www.atlanticragbrai.com. Community members and riders alike are encouraged to follow Atlantic RAGBRAI on Facebook and Instagram for updates and all things Atlantic RAGBRAI.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – In an update to our early posts and reports, the Atlantic Police Department says no injuries were reported following a collision Sunday at W. 22nd and Chestnut Streets. According the P-D, a vehicle driven by Carole Schroder, of Walnut, was facing eastbound on W. 22nd Street at the stop sign. A vehicle driven by Tyler Turner, of Atlantic, was southbound on Chestnut Street.

Schroder proceeded into the intersection, failing to yield from the stop sign before her vehicle was struck by Turner’s vehicle. The accident happened at around 3:11-p.m.

Schroder told Officers she didn’t see the other vehicle approaching. Damage to the vehicles amounted to $10,000 altogether.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say seven people were arrested on separate charges and/or warrants over the past few days. There were two arrests on Friday, in Creston:

At around 4:05-p.m., 30-year-old Darren McCay Wilker, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston/Union County LEC, under the authority of a Department of Corrections Warrant charging him with two-counts of Violation of Probation, on an original charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. Wilker was later released on a $600 cash or surety bond. And, at around 4:47-p.m., Friday, Creston Police arrested 39-year-old Samantha Lynn Hays, of Creston, for OWI/3rd or Subsequent Offense. Hays was taken to the Union County Jail then transferred to the Adams County Jail. She was later released on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

Two people were arrested Saturday, in Creston:

At around 6:15-p.m., 36-year-old Wesley Gene Keeler, Jr. of Creston, was arrested on a Union County Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault by Impeding Air/Blood Flow – causing Bodily Injury, and False Imprisonment. Keeler was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $6,000 bond; At around 2:30-a.m., Saturday, Creston Police arrested 24-year-old William Joseph Wulff, of Creston, at the Creston Union County LEC. Wulff was charged with OWI/1st Offense. He was later released on a $1,000 bond.

And, three people were arrested in Creston, on Sunday:

A little after 12-a.m., 30-year-old Storm Julian Spencer, of Creston, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct-Fighting/Violent Behavior, and Public Intoxication. Spencer was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $600 bond; 50-year-old Timothy Daniel Williams, of Creston, was arrested at around 12:10-a.m., Sunday for Possession of Controlled Substance/Marijuana-1st offense, Public Intoxication, and Disorderly Conduct-Fighting/Violent Behavior. Williams was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $1,600 cash or surety bond; and, 39-year-old Kevin Wayne Rauch, of Creston, was arrested a little before 10-p.m., Sunday, at the Creston Union County LEC. Rauch was charged with False Reports-911 Call, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine 1st Offense. He remains held in the Union County Jail on a $1,600 cash or surety bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University researchers have created a test to detect a disease that could threaten the state’s pork industry, although it has not been found in the U-S. The test can identify Japanese encephalitis virus, or J-E-V, which is spread by mosquitoes and is related to West Nile and Zika. Rahul Nelli, at I-S-U’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, says most cases of J-E-V in pigs result in mild symptoms, but an outbreak could be very costly.

“The economic losses could be around $600-million for the pork production,” Nelli says, “so that’s a significant impact on our pork industry in Iowa.” Nelli, who led I-S-U’s development of the test, says J-E-V can also be a health threat to humans and other animals, including water birds and horses. The virus is present in Southeast Asia and spread to Australia in 2022. Nelli says the test will identify the virus in samples from pigs, or it can be used to tell when it is spreading in the environment.  “Basically, if you have a mosquito population,” he says, “you can collect mosquitos and collect their DNA and screen whether there is J-E-V around your farm.”

Nelli made his comments on the Iowa Public Radio program “River to River.”

(Radio Iowa) – A petition to manage nitrate pollution in northeast Iowa’s Driftless Area is trying to follow the successful approach in Minnesota to implementing federal Clean Water Act protections. Iowa Environmental Council attorney Mike Schmidt says the Iowa petition to the E-P-A will be modeled after Minnesota because of geological similarities. “Minnesota issues permits, or issues a general permit, covering more than 12-hundred facilities. Iowa has even more concentrated animal feeding operations, but fewer than 200 of those with permits under the Clean Water Act,” he says. Schmidt says water quality challenges associated with the Driftless Area go beyond state lines.

The facts of the Minnesota case are extremely similar to Iowa because it’s the same geologic formation,” Schmidt says. “Southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa, the Driftless Area and the Karst terrain do not follow a political boundary, it is a geological formation.”

Part of the E-P-A’s protections would include assistance for the region’s private well owners in danger of nitrate pollution. The I-E-C petitioned the E-P-A unsuccessfully for those protections for northeast Iowa in 2022.