The Iowa Department of Transportation says motorists should plan to use extra caution on Interstate 29 on the south side of Council Bluffs, beginning on Tuesday. That’s when construction will reduce traffic to one lane in each direction. A northbound crossover pattern will be used. The area affected is I-29, south of the U.S. Highway 275/Iowa Highway 92 interchange, in Council Bluffs.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Several Nebraska and Iowa organizations will receive some of the $17 million in grants the federal Agriculture Department is handing out to help new farmers and ranchers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the grants recently. The money helps support programs to train and support beginning farmers and ranchers. An Iowa State University program will receive $698,393 to help aging farmers plan for succession at their operations.

A man from southwest Iowa who has served area residents in the Iowa House of Representatives for 22-years, died Sunday, in Atlantic.  Jack E. Drake, a Republican from Griswold, died from natural causes Sunday, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital. The 81-year old Drake was serving his 11th term. He was the longest tenured Republican in the Iowa House. He represented Walnut and eastern Pottawattamie County, along with much of Cass County and the entirety of Adams and Union counties.

Rep. Jack Drake (R), from Griswold.

In a statement released Monday (today) Representative Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, the incoming Speaker of the Iowa House, said “During his time in the Iowa House, Jack was a leader and trusted resource on agricultural issues, which are so important to the state of Iowa. We are all saddened to hear the news, but we will remember Jack as a strong advocate for his constituents, serving them honorably for nearly 23 years.”

Drake was born near Walnut, graduated from Atlantic High School and attended the University of Iowa. He was a farmer, and very active in local and state organizations, including his service as Secretary and board member of Walnut Telephone Company, member of Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Corn Growers Association, and many other such groups. Drake was chair of the Finance Committee and serving on the Audit Committee at the time of his death.

Jack Drake is survived by his wife, Shirley, two sons, two daughters, 11 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held 10:30-a.m. Thu., Oct. 15th, at the Griswold United Methodist Church.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested Saturday on separate charges. 25-year old Ke Neisha Renae Whyte, of West Des Moines, was arrested at around 7:10-p.m. for Driving While Suspended after being stopped for speeding on Highway 34. Whyte was being held in the Adams County Jail on $435 bond.

And, a little after 10-p.m. Saturday, 46-year old Santiago Arevalo Trujillo, of Lenox, was arrested following a traffic stop, during which a smell of alcohol was noted coming from inside the vehicle. Trujillo was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense. He was being held in the Adams County Jail on $1,o00 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say an impostor posing as an immigration officer handcuffed a man and robbed him of his passport, visas and cellphone. The Des Moines Register reports that police were called by the man’s wife from Arizona to check on her husband’s welfare. The man, who speaks only French, said through a phone-based translation service that another man wearing a yellow uniform who said he was an immigration officer approached him outside a home. He said the uniformed man pushed him inside the house, handcuffed his hands behind his back, then took the victim’s passport, two visas and a cellphone from his pants pocket.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Officials say one person has been hospitalized with critical injuries in suspected natural gas explosion at a Cedar Falls apartment complex. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the explosion occurred about 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Shady Rest apartments.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A fire has forced some residents out of a Cedar Rapids apartment building. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that the blaze was reported Friday night. Firefighters responded to the call around 7:40 p.m. and found a fire in a ground floor apartment, with smoke throughout the building. No one was injured.

WATERVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Officials say a bar and restaurant in the northeastern Iowa town of Waterville has burned down. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the Waterville Store Bar and Grill was destroyed in the blaze.

Department of Natural Resources offices assigned to state parks are getting more firepower to go along with their handguns. D-N-R spokesman Kevin Baskins says the officers are now learning to use assault rifles that will be assigned to them. “We made a purchase of 37 A-R-15’s. There are actually 34 officers who are in training to be certified on these,” Baskins says. Baskins says the state parks are safe but the officers often assist other law enforcement agencies such as country sheriffs or state troopers.

“A lot of our state parks are located in more remote areas of the state and that includes some of the counties that don’t have very high populations,” according to Baskins. “So, at times, our officers do provide mutual aid.” Baskin says the rifles will allow the officers to be prepared for any situation they might face. “One of the unfortunate realities of today is that we want to make sure that our officers have equipment that meets the standard of what they might encounter in some of their everyday duties in the parks,” Baskins says.

Baskins says they are sworn peace officers who can enforce any of the laws on the books. The state park officers must pass proficiency tests before being issued a rifle.

(Radio Iowa)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad will consider two finalists to fill a vacant district judgeship serving southwest Iowa. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that a state judicial nominating commission selected Craig Dreismeier, of Council Bluffs, and Susan Christensen, of Harlan, from a pool of 10 applicants to replace outgoing Fourth District Judge Timothy O’Grady. O’Grady announced his retirement Aug. 28th.

Both Dreismeier and Christensen currently serve as associate judges. Branstad has 30 days to make an appointment. He will interview both before making a decision. The Fourth District is comprised Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties.

w/ Chris Parks

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.4MB)

Subscribe: RSS

A Belmond restaurant that’s been under current ownership for less than a year is the 2015 winner of the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin contest. Joe and Jewel McFarland opened the Belmond Drive-in on Oct. 22, 2014, after both worked as cooks in various establishments for more than 20 years.

Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin in IA 2015 winner: Belmond Drive In.

The winning tenderloin is a center cut pork loin that Joe sources from a local meat locker. He hand trims and cuts the loins fresh daily. The tenderloin is dipped in an egg wash and then hand breaded with a medium size breadcrumb. The McFarlands currently sell 20 to 30 breaded pork tenderloins a day. The drive-in is open each day, except Tuesday.

The IPPA Restaurant and Foodservice Committee is presenting the McFarlands with a check for $500, a plaque and a large banner in ceremonies at the restaurant today. The Belmond Drive-in also will receive statewide publicity for winning IPPA’s 13th annual contest.

Three C’s Diner in Corning placed second in this year’s contest and will receive $250 and a plaque. Rounding out the top five finalists was the Recovery Room in Ottumwa, the Peru Bar & Grill in Peru and The Office in Lenox. Those restaurants will receive a plaque to display in their restaurant.

Tenderloin lovers submitted 1,161 nominations and nearly 40 tenderloin sandwiches were judged this summer on the quality of the pork, taste, physical characteristics and eating experience. The contest recognizes Iowa dining establishments that support the swine industry by putting pork on their menu. All restaurants, cafes and taverns that serve breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches year round and list them on their daily menu can be nominated for the award.

(IPPA Press Release)