The Glenwood Police Department reports 28-year old Thomas Cash, of Glenwood, was arrested Monday, on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear in Court, on an original charge of Serious Assault. His cash or surety bond was set at $5,000.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, today (Tuesday), issued the following statement following the U.S. Senate confirming him to serve as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation.  The timing for Northey’s resignation and swearing-in is still being finalized and will be announced at a later date.

Northey said in a statement: “It is a tremendous honor for me to be confirmed to serve as an Under Secretary of Agriculture.  I want to thank President Trump for nominating me and Secretary Perdue for his support and encouragement throughout the confirmation process. I also want to thank Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst for their strong support and their tireless work on behalf of my nomination. I greatly appreciate Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member Stabenow and the entire Senate Ag Committee for their bipartisan support of my nomination. I look forward to continuing to work closely with them in this new role.”  He said also, that “While this process has taken longer than expected, I remain as excited as ever to work with Secretary Perdue and the staff at USDA to support of our nation’s farmers and ranchers.

Northey added “I want to express my deep appreciation to the people of Iowa for affording me the opportunity to serve in this role for the past eleven years. Working with and learning from the men and women who make Iowa agriculture the dynamic and productive industry that feeds the world has been honor of a lifetime.” Northey was nominated to fill the position in September 2017. His nomination was approved unanimously by the Senate Agriculture Committee.

After a 4-month hold by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, Iowa’s agriculture secretary was finally confirmed to fill the USDA position.

Governor Kim Reynolds is touting a new magazine analysis that ranks Iowa number one among the states. U.S. News and World Report ranked states in eight categories and Iowa was tops in infrastructure — getting credit for efforts to expand access to broadband. Iowa also ranked in the top 10 in education, quality of life and health care as well as providing opportunities for success. Reynolds went on national television this (Tuesday) morning to tout the report. Here’s what she said on CBS This Morning. “What an honor to recognize Iowans that are making a difference in communities every single day all across our state,” Reynolds said on the program.

The governor’s re-election campaign send out an email this (Tuesday) morning seeking donations so Reynolds doesn’t “squander the opportunity to get the word out” about Iowa’s top ranking. During her appearance on C-B-S This Morning, Reynolds talked about her own rise from small town Iowa native to becoming Iowa’s governor. “Iowa truly is a place where is you work hard, dream big, anything is possible,” Reynolds said.

The Iowa G-O-P issued a statement praising Reynolds and Republican legislators for making “significant progress” on the economy and education. The executive director of the liberal group “Progress Iowa” issued a statement, too, calling on Reynolds to “stop bragging” and “start leading.” The chief content officer for U.S. News and World Report said the magazine’s analysis found Iowa is “good at a lot of things” like graduation rates and whether people go to the doctor regularly. He calls Iowa a “developing, evolving state.” Minnesota ranked second in the U.S. News and World Report ranking. Utah was third.

(Courtesy CBS “THIS MORNING” via Radio Iowa)

GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Five former state workers were sentenced to probation after their conviction of mistreating disabled people in their care at an Iowa health care facility.
A judge issued a yearlong probation sentence Monday to the employees who were fired or resigned in 2016 after resident abuse allegations surfaced at the Glenwood Resource Center, which cares for individuals with conditions such as autism or brain injuries.

The Des Moines Register reports that the five workers were charged with wanton neglect and required to serve two to four weeks in jail. A sixth case is ongoing.

The Iowa Department of Human Services oversees the facility. Department officials say the abuse was due to a small number of workers who have been removed. State administrators say they’ve improved training and supervision in response to the allegations.

Max Starlin, PA-C, will present a program on obstructive sleep apnea at the next session of Healthy U at noon on Thursday, March 15, at Cass County Health System, in Atlantic. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a serious disorder that causes people to stop breathing intermittently as they sleep. It is a very common disorder that affects millions of Americans. Starlin says “Obstructive sleep apnea is one of those problems that can really wreak havoc on us. People suffer from headaches, they’re tired all day, and they just don’t feel well, which has a huge impact on their quality of life. Thankfully, there are a number of great treatments to help people who suffer from this condition.”

During Healthy U, Starlin will discuss the types of sleep apnea, their causes, and the variety of treatment options. Healthy U is a free educational lunch series at Cass County Health System held monthly in Conference Room 2. The public is invited and welcome to attend, but reservations are required as lunch is provided for all attendees. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat.

Two people were killed in a head-on crash about 8 o’clock last (Monday) night in southern Iowa’s Monroe County. State troopers say a 2002 Chevy pickup driven by 28-year-old Nathaniel Stroud of Centerville was westbound on Highway 34 traveling at high speed in the eastbound lane and struck a 2014 Chrysler driven by 34-year-old Summer Cox of Allerton. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. Highway 34 was closed for more than three hours in both directions.

(Radio Iowa)

The Iowa House has voted to require the state’s grocers to sell “conventional” eggs in addition to eggs marketed as coming from “free-range” or “cage free” operations. The requirement would be in force for stores that accept federal “Women, Infants and Children” or “WIC” food benefits. Representative Bruce Bearinger, a Democrat from Oelwein, backs the bill. “The egg is the most versatile, low-cost source of high-quality protein that we have and it is important that we ensure our most vulnerable citizens continue to have access to the best price and the lowest price they can for this commodity,” he said.

The legislator who introduced the bill said his concern was the pressure retailers are getting to sell only eggs that come from “cage free” operations. The bill as originally written would have simply forced Iowa grocers to always have conventional eggs for sale. It was adjusted, though, to link that requirement with participation in the WIC program. Bill backers say “conventional” eggs are significantly less expensive. Representative Bruce Hunter, a Democrat from Des Moines, says the market should dictate policy for grocers who might find a way to sell specialty eggs at a competitive price.  “And have that opportunity to serve what they think is the best interest of their store and of their customers,” Hunter said.

Hunter’s view was in the minority. The bill passed the House on an 81-to-17 vote. A similar bill is eligible for debate in the Iowa Senate.

(Radio Iowa)

The CAM School District’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting 5-p.m. Wednesday, at the High School Media Center, in Anita. On their agenda, is discussion followed by possible action on the CAM Education Association (CAMEA) negotiations toward the 2018-19 Master Contract, and a changing of the time for March’s regular meeting, to 5:30-p.m.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of video recording four people in a Mason City school staff restroom has pleaded not guilty. Court records say 46-year-old David Bemis entered the pleas Friday to four counts of invasion of privacy. A trial date hasn’t been set.

Investigators say Bemis was a janitor at Clear Creek Elementary School in May 2013 when he hid a video camera in the restroom and recorded four school employees in varying degrees of nudity. Investigators say the recording was found on a computer in Bemis’ home in Mason City. He no longer works for the district.

Clear Lake Superintendent Doug Gee says an investigation began in January after the district learned about an incident occurring four to five years ago. He says no students were recorded.

The Cass and Adair County Boards of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meetings Wednesday, in Atlantic and Greenfield, respectively. In Atlantic, the Cass County Board will meet at 8:30-a.m. in their Board Room at the Courthouse. On their agenda is discussion and action on an Abatement or Compromise of tax on the County held Tax Sale Certificate for a parcel of land in Meredith’s Addition, in Lewis. The Board will also sign an agreement for County Engineer Charles Bechtold, with regard to the County Home generator replacement project.

In Greenfield, the Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet 9-a.m. Wednesday, at the Adair County Public Safety Center’s PSC Conference Room. Auditor Mindy Schaefer will provide an update on the Election Trailer, and IMWCA renewal worksheet. Sheriff Jeff Vandewater will discuss the credit card limit, and a New Hire. County Conservation Director Kevin Blazek will present pickup truck bids, and County Engineer Nick Kauffman will present contracts for various bridge/road resurfacing and other projects, as well as discuss other departmental activities.

At the end of regular business, the Adair County Board of Supervisors will enter into a Closed Session to discuss and possibly act on two parcels of land for real estate purchase.