Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis says negotiation is the way to resolve property disputes over developing privately-owned projects — like carbon pipelines.

DeSantis held two town hall meetings in northern Iowa this weekend and fielded questions about carbon pipelines at both events. In Algona, a woman asked DeSantis if a government agency should let a for-profit company use eminent domain to force landowners to sign property easements.

At a town hall forum in Garner, a man told DeSantis the carbon pipeline debate is tearing the state apart.

The forums DeSantis held in Garner and Algona were in counties where the proposed Summit Carbon Capture pipeline would pass through.

Produce in the Park is a weekly farmers market and community gathering held every Thursday evening from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM in the Atlantic City Park, now – October 12th.

This week, Sarah Selders will be providing live music and fresh, gourmet pizza will be on site from Hungry Spartan Pizza. Numerous vendors will be in attendance offering sweet treats, plants, crafts, baked goods and produce, produce, PRODUCE!

This week you can look forward to the following vendors:

Bridgewater Farms: wide assortment of produce
Brun Ko Farms: assortment of tomatoes, peppers, herbs, eggs, pork, lamb & chicken
Frosting, Inc.: gourmet cupcakes
Sue’s Country Garden: assortment of plants, produce, baked goods & jams/jellies
Cake’s, Cookies & Confections: assorted pastries & desserts
CJ Treats: baked goods & candles, soaps, body scrubs & oil diffusers
CK3 Farms: wide assortment of produce including watermelon
Harrisdale Farmstead: assortment of produce
Holaday Baking Company: assortment of baked goods & concession items
Imagine Garden Gifts: unique garden gifts including antique, vintage, and repurposed planters.
Johnna Joy Designs: wide selection of handmade jewelry & art
Kringleman: assorted Danish pastries
Neighborhood Bakehouse: sourdough, baguettes, sandwich bread & mini chocolate baguettes
Noble Provisions: homegrown ribeyes, beef snacks (jerky, summer sausage, beef sticks), beef brats, patties, pork brats, Italian sausage, & ground pork
Oak Hill Honey: home raised raw packaged honey
Piper’s Brae: assorted produce, jams/jellies, syrups & eggs
Ter-Bear Honey: home raised raw packaged honey
The 11th Acre: wide assortment of produce, baked goods, cottage foods & crafts

Our featured kids activity will be ‘Art in the Park’, featuring fun artistic crafts for kids to do, provided by YOUR FORTE. Visiting organizations include Zion Recovery and Cass County Cats. Yard games will also be on hand, provided by Atlantic Parks & Recreation.

All vendors accept cash, with many accepting credit cards and Venmo. All qualifying food vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as food stamps) with all fresh produce vendors accepting Double Up Food Bucks–coupons given for SNAP/EBT purchases of fresh produce.

For updates and information on Produce in the Park or how to sign up to participate, visit www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com. ‘Like’ or ‘follow’ Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/).

Today (Monday) is the first day to file nomination papers for the upcoming City/School Election. Last day to file is Thursday, September 21, 2023.

Nomination papers may be circulated prior to first date for filing as well as during the filing period. Nomination papers and candidate information are available at the office of the county auditor and from the secretary of state:www.sos.iowa.gov

Signature requirements for Cities are as follows:
City of Atlantic (Runoff Provisions)
• Council At Large Position-21 signatures
• Wards 1-2-3-4 Positions-10 signatures
• Park & Recreation Board-25 signatures

All other cities in the county require 10 signatures for each position

Signature requirements for School Districts are as follows:
Atlantic School District Positions- 50 signatures
CAM School District Positions- 20 signatures
Griswold School District At Large Position- 16 Signatures
Griswold School District Director 1- 10 signatures
Griswold School District Director 2- 10 signatures
For more information contact the Cass County Auditor’s Office at 712-243-4570 or email to auditor@casscoia.us.

The city positions to appear on the Cass County ballot for the 2023 City/School Election are:

Anita:
• Council Member- 2 Positions
• Mayor

Atlantic
• City Council At Large
• Atlantic 1st Ward Council Member
• Atlantic 2nd Ward Council Member
• Atlantic 3rd Ward Council Member
• Atlantic 4th Ward Council Member
• Park & Recreation Board-2 positions
• Park & Recreation Board-Vacancy Position

Cumberland
• Council Member-2 positions
• Mayor

Griswold
• Council Member-3 Positions

Lewis
• Council Member-3 Positions
• Mayor

Marne
• Council Member-3 Positions
• Mayor

Massena
• Council Member-3 Positions
• Mayor

Wiota
• City Council-2 Positions
• Mayor

The school positions to appear on the Cass County ballot for the 2023 City/School Election are:

Atlantic School District
• Board Member At Large-3 Positions

CAM School District
• Board Member North District
• Board Member South District

Griswold School District
• Board Member-At Large
• Board Member District 1
• Board Member District 2

On Monday, August 28 at 1:01 am, Creston Police arrested 29 year old Alan Dean Smith of 720 North Oak in Creston on charges of Harassment 1st Degree-Threaten Forcible Felony, OWI 1st Offense, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury or Mental Illness, No Intent.  Smith was taken to the Union County Jail where he is being held on $4,000 cash or surety bond.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today announced that the Agency is investing $13,435,000 in loans and $2,946,000 in grants to five projects in Iowa to strengthen infrastructure, promote business expansion and create jobs.

One of the grants goes to the city of Irwin in Shelby County, who received a $1,795,000 loan and a $2,346,000 grant through the Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program to make water distribution system improvements.  This project will construct a new 35,000 gallon water tower and replace water mains with 6″ PVC.  This project will also replace older galvanized steel, cast iron, and lead service lines with copper lines and will eliminate four dead-end lines by adding two short loops.  Once completed, this project will improve water security and storage, bring the city into compliance with water quality standards, and better protect the health and safety of 341 townspeople and residents of surrounding rural areas.

The other four grants will go the rural electric cooperatives.

Black Hawk County will soon be turning methane from its landfill into fuel for vehicles. Black Hawk County Solid Waste Management Administrator John Foster says that carbon reduction has been at the forefront of his team’s mind for a long time, and the public-private partnership provided the answer.

The landfill is the 4th-largest in Iowa and will be only the second in the state to recycle its methane into this type of fuel.

Foster expects that the project will be ready to go by November, and the sale of the recycled gas could yield 70-thousand dollars in revenue in its first year.

Montgomery County Deputies Sunday morning shortly after 2:15 am made a traffic stop at 270th and Evergreen Avenue and arrested 49 year old Jeffery Dean Etter of Red Oak on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.  Etter was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.  Mills County Deputies assisted with the arrest.

The second week of hearings opens tomorrow (Tuesday) in Fort Dodge as the Iowa Utilities Board takes public comments on the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline that would run nearly 700 miles across 29 Iowa counties. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the board’s ultimate decision could have a tremendous impact on the Midwestern ethanol industry.

The pipeline, one of three proposed in Iowa, would carry liquid carbon dioxide from ethanol plants to a sequestration site in North Dakota. Goss says states like Iowa and Nebraska depend heavily on ethanol production.

The first week of testimony was mostly from landowners and farmers who oppose the project, ridiculing what they say are scare tactics being used by the company. Many expressed fears about the potential impacts on land prices and on the environment. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association issued a report in February saying 75-percent of the state’s ethanol production would contract or migrate out of the state if carbon sequestration projects are curtailed, leading many plants to shut down.

Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is subtly urging Iowa Caucusgoers to focus on the 2024 election rather than on former President Donald Trump’s indictments. Without saying Trump’s name, DeSantis made the pitch to a crowd in Garner this weekend.

DeSantis says last Wednesday’s debate has kicked off a new phase of the campaign.

DeSantis is about halfway through his plan to visit each of Iowa’s 99 counties. Businessman Vivek (vih-VAKE) Ramaswamy (rahm-uh-SWAH-mee) also campaigned in Iowa this weekend and told reporters his goal is to finish in the top three in the 2024 Iowa Caucuses.

Ramaswamy held events in half a dozen Iowa towns Friday and Saturday, drawing people who had never heard of him before Wednesday’s debate.

Ramaswamy was in seventh place in this month’s Des Moines Register/N-B-C News/Mediacom Iowa Poll.

Montgomery County Deputies received an anonymous tip on Sunday, August 27 of possible animal neglect in the 200 block of Maple Street in Grant.  After speaking with the animal owner, 25 year old Shelby Woods, they determined that 2 dogs and a cat have not had adequate access to food and water or proper hygiene.  All three animals were released to Animal Alliance of Red Oak.  Woods was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with three counts of Animal Neglect.  All three charged are misdemeanors.  Bond was set at $300.