(Radio Iowa) – Lawmakers on a Senate subcommittee have agreed to advance a bill that would double the number of medical cannabis dispensaries in Iowa, but they’re expressing reservations about the plan. About 18-thousand Iowans are currently registered to buy cannabidiol or C-B-D products from the five state licensed businesses. Senator Mike Bousselot, of Ankeny says a proliferation of products that produce a high are being sold elsewhere. “I think we ought to take a broader look at the program in light sort of all of the different facets of weed and hemp and THC and lack of action at the federal level,” Bousselot said.

Senator Janet Weiner, of Iowa City says Iowa’s medical marijuana program is really little — for a reason. “We’re just dancing around the issue of the fact that neighboring states have recreational marijuana and we’re losing out on a lot of revenue,” Weiner says. Marijuana is legal for recreational use in Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri. The five medical marijuana dispensaries licensed by the State of Iowa are in Coralville, Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Waterloo and Windsor Heights. The Iowa Cannabis Company operates three of those and a lobbyist for the company raised concerns about a section in the bill that says if the number of dispensaries expands to 10, one company could only operate three.

Tim Coonan is a lobbyist for Green Leaf Cannabis Company, a firm that backs the bill because it wants to apply for a license.  “That restriction makes it more competitive,” Coonan said, “rather than have the market completely dominated and monopolized by a certain few entities.”

Iowa Capitol Building (RI file photo)

MedPharm Iowa has the license for the state’s other two dispensaries.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session Tuesday morning. According to the meeting minutes provided by Auditor Mark Maxwell, Tony Buman, Shelby County Zoning Director, was present and recommended the passage of a Wind Turbine and Solar Farm moratorium in Shelby County until more details can be worked out on the proper conditions and possibly be implemented in county ordinances. The Board then acted to approve two resolutions pertaining to both commercial Wind and Solar Farms.

In other business, Chris Fredericksen, Shelby County Engineer, gave a Secondary Roads report which that specifies Fredericksen is authorized, on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, to execute the certification of completion of work and final acceptance thereof in accordance with plans and specifications in connection with all Farm­ to-Market and Federal or State aid construction projects in the county. Auditor Mark Maxwell said also, a utility permit has been applied for by the Rural Water Association for utility in a right-of-way. The permit was approved. Carolyn Blum, Shelby County Treasurer, was on hand to present her semiannual report to the Supervisors and give a quarterly report to the Supervisors which included that the number of drivers license examinations have increased with parent taught Drivers Education.

Geralyn Greer, Shelby County Recorder, gave a quarterly report to the Supervisors with the current event in her office and that she has volunteered her services on a State Committee for the State Recorders Association. Greer also introduced her new employee, Makenzie Burmeister, to the Board of Supervisors.  The Supervisors then considered the hours earned by the interim EMS coordinator, many compensatory hours have been earned and necessary in the start up of the Shelby County Department. All hours have been logged and turned in by the EMS Coordinator. The Board passed a related resolution to assist the EMS Department in Employee Compensation:

“Whereas the Shelby County EMS department was organized quickly, and Shelby County took over operations from Medivac in less than one month. Whereas no Supervisory position existed at the time of the transition. Whereas the assistant EMA director volunteered to head the creation of the EMS department and was named interim director. Whereas the duties of both positions take many hours more than allowed in EMA employee handbooks. And the limits of compensation time allowed are suspected to be exceeded in the interim EMS role. Therefore let it be resolved that until July 1st, 2024, any excess compensatory time accumulated over the maximum allowed in the EMA handbook, will be allowed to be paid out at a one hour worked to one hour paid ratio . Signed timesheets by a County Supervisor and the interim EMS director must be turned in and properly filled out to receive any of the compensation payout.”

The Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council role in governing and advising the Supervisors has never clearly been defined. Marcus Gross, Shelby County Attorney, spoke and the EMS Advisory Board is in place to assist the creation of the Shelby County EMS and to assist the Board of Supervisors in making future recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning the operation of the EMS Department.

Jordon Sanders, interim EMS Coordinator was present to have the Supervisors consider a new wage scale for the EMS department. The Board approved the wage scale as presented.

A building and grounds use application by the Roar into Harlan organization was presented to the Supervisors to hold their monthly Thursday evening events this next summer. No incidents involving the Courthouse grounds have been noticed or reported to County officials. The Shelby County Supervisors passed a motion to approve the application as presented.

The Shelby County GIS director, Mark Maxwell, presented a contract between Harlan Municipal Utilities and the County for GIS services. Harlan Municipal Utilities want to have a three-year contract with the County versus a perpetual contract as has been the case in the past. A motion to that effect was passed.

The budget limits placed on Counties by the Iowa Legislature has caused the Supervisors to consider several options of cutting costs to taxpayers. A new County retirement incentive has been drafted with the details available at the Auditors office. Generally described as employees with over 25 years of continuous full time employment with Shelby County, over 55 years of age and eligible for bonafide retirement may apply for an early retirement package now offered by Shelby County. A motion to approve the retirement package passed as presented.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Community School District Transportation Director Steve Andersen presented his first report to the School Board Wednesday evening, since taking over the position. He said the Transportation Department has 19 regular drivers and 12 active substitute drivers.

Andersen all of the District’s yellow buses run on propane. A smaller, mini-bus runs on gasoline, and there are five diesel buses.

Steve Andersen showed the Board a color-coded map indicating their bus routes.

ACSD Transportation Director Steve Andersen (Official ACSD photo)

Andersen said all of their buses are inspected twice per year. All 27 buses were kept in-service last year, with only minor repairs needed, such as burned-out lights. A suburban that was previously taken out of service for repairs, was returned to the fleet this past Fall. He said one of his goals is to be able to acquire routing software, similar to what he used in his former delivery business. Currently, the routes are drawn by hand.

Andersen said the software would not only be a good security benefit, but a parent’s portal would allow changes to the route to be more efficient, based on student availability.

He said also, he wants to offer competitive compensation for the District’s drivers.

He also wants to continue to recruit Class-B licensed drivers. Andersen noted they can train persons who are getting their Class-B license for the first time and get them up-to-speed with an approved training at no charge.

(Radio Iowa) – Before this week’s warm-up, more than 30 swans were trapped in the ice on Little Wall Lake in central Iowa’s Hamilton County. Rescue efforts were hampered as the ice was too thin to safely support humans, so a hovercraft was used last week to reach the struggling birds. Jeni Boonjakuakul, with the Iowa Bird Rehabilitation Center in Des Moines, says seven swans were saved, but three died, likely from a combination of exposure and lead poisoning. “We took the four remaining ones to the Nebraska Wildlife Center. They have a full-time vet and some amazing equipment and we were able to get the lead out of the gizzards of two of the swans,” Boonjakualkul says. “Two are still there because they were too unstable to do the procedure, but we are hoping within the next day or two, that they stabilize, and then we can do the procedure on them as well.”

Another 24 dead swans were pulled from the icy lake by rescue and recovery teams. Boonjakuakul says it’s common for swans to be afflicted with lead poisoning. “They usually are ingesting lead particles that are at the bottom of the lake, and Little Wall Lake is 30 inches lower than it normally is due to our drought,” she says. “The swans have very long necks, so they were able to reach the bottom, and as they forage, they’re picking up particles, and then the lead just sits in their gizzard. It doesn’t digest and it doesn’t move through their system and it just continues to poison them.” It’s hoped all four swans can return to the Iowa rehab center to be nursed back to health, though it could take months.

Iowa Bird Rehab photo from Facebook

For updates on the swans, follow Iowa Bird Rehabilitation on Facebook.
iowabirdrehab.org

(Griswold, Iowa) – Officials with the Noble Initiative Foundation (NIF) Board and Lakin Foundation Child Development Center (CDC) of Griswold, will hold a Grand Opening this Saturday morning for the new Center. Due to an anticipated over-flow crowd and occupancy limits for the Center (established by the State Fire Marshal), the Grand Opening will be held at the Griswold Church of Christ (51 Harrison St.) in Griswold, instead of at the facility. )

The event begins at 10:30-a.m.  It includes a brief presentation, followed by a reception.

Everyone’s flexibility is appreciated as the NIF Board and Lakin CDC are anxious to celebrate opening the doors this spring! At the ceremony the community will learn about the next steps that need to completed, before doors open and children are accepted.  Groundbreaking for the 8,800-square-foot, $2.3-million facility took place in May, 2023. It’s anticipated the center will house up to 100 children ages six weeks to four years old during the day, with a separate before and after school area for elementary-aged kids. Other amenities include four classrooms and a gym.

PLEASANTVILLE, Iowa [KCCI] — An Iowa high school student has been charged with first-degree harassment for allegedly making threats toward Pleasantville High School. KCCI says Pleasantville administrators were made aware of the threat at the end of the school day Wednesday and contacted law enforcement. Police officers detained the student on campus before taking them to the Pleasantville Police Station for further questioning.

“Upon thorough evaluation of the information provided by both the Pleasantville School District and the Pleasantville Police Department, it was concluded that a criminal complaint for Harassment in the First Degree would be filed with the Juvenile Courts,” Pleasantville police said in a news release. Authorities say there is no ongoing threat to students or staff at Pleasantville schools or the community. Counseling services are available to students who may want them.

“We would encourage families to continue to talk with their children about the seriousness of threats and the importance of reporting suspicious activities, threats, or disturbing information to a trusted adult,” the news release said.

(Creston, Iowa) – Creston Police say two people were arrested, Wednesday. At around 2:30-p.m., 38-year-old Manuel Luke Richardson, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center on a charge of Failure to Appear. Richardson was taken to Union County Jail and later released after posting a $7,000 cash-only bond.

Wednesday night, 26-year-old Amanda Marie Blakley-Luddington, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston Fareway Store. She was charged with Driving While Barred. Blakley-Luddington was cited at the scene and released on a Promise to Appear in court.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen, Wednesday, discussed with the School Board, “Protective Procedures,” with regard to school safety, in light of the fatal shootings in the Perry Community School District in January. On January 23, district officials met with Law Enforcement, a representative of the Cass County Communications Center and others in the community, to ask and answer questions, with the ultimate goal of becoming better organized to react to potential threats school districts face.

Dr. Johnsen says involving students in the process of keeping the District’s buildings safe, is essential because of what they see happening, and what could be done prevent a potential incident from taking place.

Atlantic School Board President Kristy Pellett (Left), & Superintendent Johnsen.

She said Atlantic’s elementary school building Principals are involving parents in the process, and explaining the District’s A.L.I.C.E. (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate) training.

A District Safety Committee meeting is set to take place February 26^th, during which they expect to hear feedback from students and parent groups. In other business, Dr. Johnsen mentioned she and others will be flying to Phoenix, AZ next week, to attend a nationwide TLC (Teacher Leadership & Compensation) Summit.

She said “As administrators and as leaders of the district, we hope to pick up on good practices and then when we get back, its’ ‘what’s our next steps?’”

In other business, the Atlantic School Board, Wednesday night, reviewed and discussed a “Staff Culture Survey,” and Dr. Johnsen touched a bit on the Board’s 2023-24 Strategic Priorities.

(Radio Iowa) – A singer, composer, guitarist and humanitarian from the Middle Eastern nation of Jordan is showcasing her musical talents in southeast Iowa this week. Farah Siraj is making multiple appearances in Oskaloosa, including at the George Daily Auditorium where Allison McGuire is the community engagement and education director. McGuire says Siraj is being accompanied by musicians from all over the world, singing in Arabic, English and Spanish.

Oskaloosa is the current Iowa host of the Arts Midwest’s World Fest. McGuire says the program offers small Midwestern communities once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to learn about the world from musicians inside and outside the U-S.

In the past year and a half, World Fest has also brought in musicians from Finland, Alaska and Ghana, who’ve engaged thousands of Mahaska County residents, performing at schools, bookstores, coffee shops, and as the halftime show of college basketball games.

George Daily Auditorium – Home