Many Iowa communities large and small are struggling with housing, particularly affordable housing, in light of continued complications due to supply chain issues and rising costs associated with new construction. In northwest Iowa, Le Mars leaders are considering a plan called Vision 2045, which lays out the potential development of Le Mars going out more than two decades. City Economic Development Director Mark Gaul says community leaders are working to prioritize the plan’s ideas.

Senior housing is another key issue, according to Gaul, as he says most communities have senior housing, but few — like Le Mars — have enough of it.

The Vision 2045 plan for Le Mars aims to address housing, economic development, quality of life, tourism, transportation and downtown design.

(Radio Iowa) – Authorities in central Iowa are charging a man with murder in a case involving the abuse of two children. Des Moines police arrested 26-year-old Devin Luckett on Tuesday on first-degree murder along with a series of other charges. Investigators say Luckett called 911 in February to report a child in his care fell off a couch and was unresponsive. The four-month-old died two days later at University Hospitals in Iowa City.

An autopsy released by the state Medical Examiner’s Office in September determined the child had died of multiple blunt force injuries to the head. In August, police were called to a Des Moines hospital as a three-month-old was being treated for several broken bones — a child who was also being cared for by Luckett.

Police say the suspect is related to the child who was injured, but not the child who died.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with the City of Council Bluffs say two parks, Peterson Park and Manawa City Park, are getting makeovers. The City says old park equipment is being removed this week, and the new playgrounds should be ready before the snow flies.

Manawa City Park (Navajo and Mohawk St) is approximately one acre in size. The neighborhood park is undergoing a renovation that is expected to be completed in the spring of 2024, but the new playground should be ready this fall. New additions include an alpha tower play structure, an accessible merry-go-round, and a swing set with an ADA molded seat swing, all with a rubberized play surface. There will be a new 20′ picnic shelter, a hard surface play area with basketball hoops, and skate elements, including a kinked grind rail and a quarter pipe. Manawa City Park will also have a sensory garden with an internal trail system, play panels, and unique landscaping.

Manawa City Park conceptual plan.

Peterson Park (2500 S 8th St) is approximately 2.5 acres in size.  The neighborhood park is undergoing a renovation that is expected to be completed in the spring of 2024, but the new playground should be ready this fall. New additions include “the summit” play structure, a global motion merry-go-round, and a swing set with an ADA molded seat swing, all with a rubberized play surface.  Peterson Park will also get a new 20′ octagonal picnic shelter and updated landscaping.

Peterson Park conceptual plan.

(Fort Dodge, Iowa) – Officials with the Fort Dodge Police Department said today (Wednesday), an arrest was made in connection with the fatal shooting of a man, Sunday night. Authorities say over the past few days, investigators have continued to gather information, speak to witnesses, and follow up on all leads. As a result of the investigation thus far 20‐year‐old Olnario A. Rodriguez‐Ruffridge, of Fort Dodge, has been arrested for Murder in the First Degree (Class-A Felony).

Officers and emergency personnel responded to the 200 block of 3rd Avenue at around 8:42-p.m., Sunday, and found 44‐year‐old Jason A. Ruffridge, of Fort Dodge, unresponsive and  suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers began life-saving efforts until medics with the Fort Dodge Fire Department arrived, but Jason Ruffidge died at the scene.

Investigators are continuing to follow up on all credible leads and encourage anyone with information to contact the Fort Dodge Police Department. The Fort Dodge Police Department has been aided in this investigation by the Webster County Attorney’s office.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors have approved the hiring of Scott Roberts as the new Courthouse Custodian/Maintenance employee. Auditor Mandy Berg…

He’ll take over for the retiring custodian. They also approved the Auditor’s request for the hiring of Ruth Smith as a full-time Auditor’s Clerk, who is replacing a long-time, retiring clerk in the department.

In other business, the Supervisors in Adair County approved Township Clerk wages, a Liquor License Renewal for the Greenfield Golf and Country Club, and they acknowledge two Manure Management Plan updates from Prestage Farms sites. They also approved a Child Abuse Prevention Grant draw-down amounting to $629.87, and, authorized the Board Chair to sign an application with the County’s insurance company for a Commercial Crime Policy.

In his report to the Board, County Engineer Nick Kauffman presented the Fiscal Year 2023 annual DOT financial report.

The Board approved the report as presented. Kauffman also spoke about various Secondary Roads Department maintenance projects and other activities. Here’s a bit of what he said during the meeting…

The Board’s meeting lasted just 20-minutes.

(Radio Iowa) – Federal agencies will be sending out a message to all radios, T-Vs and cellular phones this (Wednesday) afternoon as a test of the nation’s emergency alert systems. Tracey Bearden, 9-1-1 coordinator for the Polk County Emergency Management Agency, explains what will happen if you’re among the hundreds of thousands of cell phone users in Iowa. “At approximately 1:20, everyone’s going to receive an alert with special tones and vibrations,” Bearden says. “That’s going to be a nationwide test, so it’s going to alert every phone. You can’t opt out of this. It’s going to say, ‘This is a test of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.'” The same alert will be broadcast on all radios and T-Vs as FEMA and the F-C-C test what is hoped to be the best option to quickly notify the public of an emergency.

“I think the takeaway should be that it’s a good drill to make sure that this nationwide system that we use, in the county even, are practice for an actual, real incident,” Bearden says. “If we would have had this system during 9-11, this could have been used.” Iowans who have an Apple device with iOS 17 software will be able to click on the alert for an additional instruction field. While some of us may be annoyed by the distraction, Bearden hopes they’ll consider the virtues of this unprecedented test.

“You have to plan and you have to practice, and you train as if it’s a real incident,” Bearden says. “So I would take that time, let your phone be on. It’s going to be a very brief moment of inconvenience. Look at that alert. If you have that iPhone/iOS 17, tap on that so that additional information comes up, because this is what would happen in a real life situation.”

There is concern that Iowans who are victims of domestic violence or other abuse might have their “secret” phones go off during this test. Officials recommend they power off their phones if the test will put them in danger until they can be safely turned back on.

The Shelby County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session Tuesday morning, in Harlan. During their meeting, the Board discussed the lease with Heartland Family Services at the annex building. Auditor/Board Secretary Mark Maxwell says the lease will be up for renewal on January 1st, 2024. It calls for monthly charges of $700 for the space leased. Board Chair Steve Kenkel suggested raising the lease payments 50 cents per square foot to $12.50 per square foot, amounting to $8,400 for calendar years 2024 and 2025. A motion to that effect was passed.

Todd Valline reported on the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the Supervisors. The report included information from the latest SWIPCO meeting and Valline also reported that Southwest Iowa Transit Authority has one of the highest volume of rides in the state of Iowa. Several upcoming programs and promotions were also presented.

Brandon Burmeister, Shelby County Engineer, recommended that the Supervisors approve Utility Permits for Farmers Mutual Telephone Cooperative for permits numbered 2023-9-28-1, 2023-9-28-2, 2023-9-28-3. All three of the permits were approved. Burmeister then gave his Secondary Roads Department updates to the Supervisors concerning his department, including photos of some recent culvert and bridge replacement projectd completed by his department.

The Supervisor’s committee reports included Bryce Schaben reporting that the house at Manteno Park has been reroofed by the Conservation Department and that some of the sheeting was bad and added extra expense to the project. Steve Kenkel reported on the CO2 pipeline activities. He noted that three more Shelby County landowners will be testifying to the Utilities Board. Kenkel also advised that the Utility Board schedule is very dynamic.

Mark Maxwell, as Shelby County Election Commissioner, asked the Supervisors to approve the hiring of a part time person for election IT and processes help, on Election Day. The individual will have to have IT skills and experience of polling place processes. He said the total employment hours are expected to be about 20, total. Maxwell said there is some new technology that is required at some polling places this year that places the pollbooks behind the County firewall for more election security. Also, being a county employee permits the person to have more freedom working with other precincts. He noted that being a precinct election official only restricts being able to help other precincts at the polling place. The Board approved a search for and the hiring of, a part-time IT person.

Chair Steve Kenkel noted that all wellness activities required by County insured employees need to be completed by October 31st and all department heads have been notified. Also the 14th of November, at the first Canvass of the City/School Election there will also be a budget workshop to go over initial budget plans for fiscal year 2025.

(Radio Iowa) – After a very long wait, the barricades are finally coming down and the State Historical Building of Iowa, Museum and Research Center in downtown Des Moines will hold its grand reopening in ten days. Spokesman Jeff Morgan says there’s a beautiful, bright new atrium and significant infrastructure improvements that are designed to provide a safer, more secure facility that will preserve and share Iowa’s history for decades to come. “The State Historical Building has undergone a renovation project over the past five years and it’s going to be fully reopening on Saturday, October 14th,” Morgan says. “We’re going to have a day-long schedule of programs and activities. We’re going to be unveiling a brand new museum exhibition, called ‘Civics in Action’ that day, so we’re encouraging people to come down and participate and celebrate us.”

That new exhibit focuses on the significant events, court cases, caucuses and issues that shaped the future of Iowa and the United States. “They’ll be able to see more than 60 artifacts from our permanent collection, everything from a Ding Darling political cartoon to election tickets from the 1800s,” Morgan says. “We’ll have artifacts from caucuses of Iowa’s past, and banners, buttons, ribbons and more.” Another exhibit features Mia Peterson, who grew up in Webster City, and became a prominent national advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.

“She actually carried the Olympic torch, and we’re going to have a number of her items here,” Morgan says. “We’re also going to have information about our Benoist biplane. We’re going to have an object station that will transport artifacts through several different exhibits during the day, and then we’ll have storytellers in the ‘Iowa and the Civil War’ exhibition.”

Built in 1987 as a center for Iowa history, the State Historical Museum of Iowa will have new hours, and will be open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 3:45-a.m. on Sept. 30th, in Essex, resulted in an arrest and three people cited for Minor In Possession (MIP)/Consumption of Alcohol. According to the Shenandoah Police Department, the traffic stop on a vehicle with an equipment violation occurred in the 1500 block of South Avenue, in Essex. The driver, 23-year-old Daniel Ohnmacht, of Essex, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, Possession or carrying of firearms while under the influence, and supplying alcohol to a minor. He was also cited for Open Container. He posted a $3,000 bond and was released with a court date. Passengers in the vehicle who were cited for MIP included 20-year-old Caden Henderson, of Shenandoah, 19-year-old Brice Sederburg, of Atlantic, and 19-year-old Jillian Galbraith, of Rea, Missouri.

Shenandoah Police said also, that at around 11:30-p.m. on Sept. 30th, 25-year-old Derek James, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop in Shenandoah. James was charged with OWI/1st offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. James was being held in the Page County Jail on a $1,600 bond.

On Oct. 1st, 29-year-old Quentin Demanett, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault, and on two counts of Child Endangerment. He was being held without bond in the Page County Jail. And, on Oct. 3rd, 32-year-old Hope Kalkas, of Shenandoah, was arrested on charges that include Disorderly Conduct, and Consumption or Intoxication in public places. Her bond at the Page County Jail was set at $600.

The hearing for the Summit carbon pipeline got underway again Tuesday with landowners discussing their concerns about the pipeline coming through their property. Dennis Graham testified he is concerned about whether there is insurance to cover any damages. He says they are pretty confident that they’re not covered under his personal policy. He says that covers normal farm operations, not a pipeline with compressed C-O-2. The Iowa Utilities Board has landowners listed to testify through Thursday, the Summit hearing could then wrap up.