(Clarification/correction)The City of Audubon will featured during a 15-second Cenex commercial during the Super Bowl. The spot was shown last Saturday night, during the annual Audubon Chamber of Commerce Banquet, auction and awards program. Filming the spot occurred in mid-November on location, in Audubon, and prominently features Albert the Bull, along with some local citizens.

Albert the Bull was spiffed-up prior to shooting the Cenex spot.

There is also a 5-minute tribute You Tube video for viewing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llKOk_AA02A

Legislators are considering a proposal that would give Iowa schools authority to extend the riding time on bus routes. Under current Iowa law, elementary students may ride no more than an hour on the bus at a time. The length of a single bus ride for high schoolers may be no more than 75 minutes. Senator Ken Rozenboom, a Republican from Oskaloosa, favors allowing longer bus routes. “A Greene County school that has the elementary and high school co-located, if they were allowed to add 15 minutes to the elementary transportation time — taking it from 60 minutes to 75 minutes — it would allow them to eliminate two bus routes and save approximately $100,000,” Rozenboom says. “And that puts money into educating children instead of riding around on a bus.”

A bill that would let ride times for students be 15 minutes longer to school AND 15 minutes longer on the way home has cleared the Senate Education Committee. The legislation also let school boards set EVEN LONGER bus routes if they notify parents at least 30 days ahead of time and hold two public hearings before the change would take place. Senator Tod Bowman, a Democrat from Maquoketa, is skeptical. “I haven’t heard from any parents saying: ‘I want my kid on the bus longer,'” Bowman said. “…Haven’t heard from any superintendents saying they need a longer period of time and I haven’t heard from any constituents saying this is a need and I certainly haven’t heard from any students saying: ‘I want to be on the bus longer.'”

Bowman, though, wound up voting to advance the bill out of committee. The measure is now eligible for debate in the full Senate.

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Cass County Health System said Monday, that Amber McCarthy recently delivered a very special donation of 20 fleece blankets to the Emergency Department at Cass County Memorial Hospital. The blankets were made in memory of Ayzlee McCarthy, who passed away in 2014 from the influenza virus. Hospital officials say “On behalf of the patients who will treasure these thoughtful gifts – our sincere thanks to all of the volunteers and to the McCarthy family!”

Amber McCarthy (Center); Jen Morgan, PA-C, (left) and Judi Nelson, RN, (right) are shown with Amber holding a few of the donated blankets.

For the past nineteen years, the Cass County Master Gardeners have invited garden enthusiasts to learn about gardening through a daylong seminar of breakout sessions and hands on activities. 2018 marks the 20th year that the Cass County Master Gardeners will host a spring session on gardening, and the group is celebrating the milestone with a new format, new location and a prominent keynote presenter. This year’s event, “GROW-Weaving Plants Throughout Your Life” will feature celebrity author and award-winning speaker, J Schwanke.  Schwanke is a 4th generation florist, host and creator of “Fun with Flowers and J”, and a frequent guest on P. Allen Smith’s “Garden Home.” Regarded as the most trusted voice in the flower industry, J is the CEO of uBloom.com, the first online community for flower fans.

Cass County Master Gardener and event chairperson Lori Reid says “For our 20th year, we wanted to do something different that everyone would enjoy,” says . “J is just as entertaining as he is informative. J has two books published and his own show ‘Life in Bloom’ on PBS. Everyone will complete the day with a smile as he shares his passion for flowers.”

J. Schwanke

“GROW-Weaving Plants Throughout Your Life” will be held on Saturday, March 17th at the Cass County Community Center and will open with keynote “How to Create Your Own Life in Bloom” by J Schwanke.  Another new feature this year will be 80 minutes of “lightning learning” where attendees will have the opportunity to rotate between demonstrations on a variety of garden topics. A catered luncheon will be served while conference-goers enjoy a dessert demonstration by Janine Knop, aka “Miss Nini,” local baking celebrity and owner of Miss Nini’s Fine Desserts. Attendees will enjoy one of the featured desserts with their meal. A second presentation by J Schwanke entitled “Fun with Flowers” will complete the day.

Cost for the day, including continental breakfast, lunch and all session, will be $35. A schedule and registration form will be finalized soon, and available at the Cass County Extension office, or online at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. Previous attendees who received a “save the date” postcard in the mail will also receive a brochure with registration form in the mail. For more information, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or email xcass@iastate.edu. Mark your calendars now for March 17th and plan to join the Cass County Master Gardeners for the 20th Annual Spring Garden Seminar- GROW!

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man was hospitalized after being struck by a train in central Iowa. The Des Moines Register reports that the man was afoot when struck around 2:30 p.m. Monday near an overpass in the Story County city of Nevada. He was taken to a Des Moines hospital and is expected to survive his injuries.

The man’s name hasn’t been released.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former assistant city attorney for Council Bluffs has been sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute a large amount of marijuana. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Monday that 44-year-old Don Bauermeister, of Omaha, was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. Bauermeister had worked since 2003 for Council Bluffs but resigned in June after confirming he’d asked someone to drive from Omaha to Oregon to pick up marijuana.

The matter arose in January 2017 when a Utah state trooper recovered 12 pounds of marijuana and a pound of THC wax during a traffic stop. The driver showed a series of text messages from Bauermeister confirming two such trips.

A man from Union County was arrested late Monday night on drug charges, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, 24-year old Shilo J. Major, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 11:04-p.m. in the 200 block of S. 2nd Street in Red Oak. Major was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center. He faces felony charges that include Possession with the intent to deliver, marijuana and methamphetamine. He was also charged with Possession of a Prescription drug, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, which are Serious and Simple Misdemeanor’s, respectively.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former assistant city attorney for Council Bluffs has been sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute a large amount of marijuana. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Monday that 44-year-old Don Bauermeister, of Omaha, was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. Bauermeister had worked since 2003 for Council Bluffs but resigned in June after confirming he’d asked someone to drive from Omaha to Oregon to pick up marijuana.

PULASKI, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the discovery of a body found in a burned-out car in southeast Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says a farmer on Saturday morning reported the burned-out car in Davis County, southeast of the small community of Pulaski. Deputies responded and found human remains inside the car. The remains were taken to the Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny, where an autopsy will be conducted this week.

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) — A woman has been charged with stealing from a bank and a bank customer in northern Iowa. Court records say 33-year-old Cassandra Lane is charged with two counts of theft. Court documents say she stole $13,300 from the customer and nearly $4,000 from the First Security Bank and Trust branch in Charles City. The records don’t list the name of attorney who could comment for her.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa county is considering its response to a lawsuit filed by an Arizona man who spent two months in jail for a robbery he didn’t commit. The Linn County Board of Supervisors met behind closed doors Monday to consider the lawsuit filed by 23-year-old Joseph McBride. The county hasn’t answered the lawsuit, which alleges County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden signed a complaint against McBride containing false statements.

Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Public Safety say at around 1:30-a.m. Sunday, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a shooting at the rest stop located at exit 159 in Dows, Iowa.  The shooting victim was transported to North Iowa Mercy Hospital for treatment.  The incident is being investigated by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

As a result of the investigation, investigators are asking for the public’s assistance identifying the two individuals who were captured on video at a nearby convenience store prior to the shooting. (The images are posted below, click to enlarge)

The black male and female were driving a gray or silver 4-door SUV, possibly a Jeep Cherokee.

PULASKI, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the discovery of a body found in a burned-out car in southeast Iowa. The Iowa Department of Public Safety says a farmer on Saturday morning reported the burned-out car in Davis County, southeast of the small community of Pulaski. Deputies responded and found human remains inside the car.

The remains were taken to the Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny, where an autopsy will be conducted this week.