(Radio Iowa) – Some Democrats are calling for Congress to return from its recess to enact emergency legislation that would pay for additional relief following the two recent hurricanes that caused significant damage in several southern states. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, says he’s confident there’s sufficient funding in place to handle the disasters.

“Just before we left, we put $20 billion in the pot, and as of Sunday, only 2% of that was spent yet,” Grassley says, “so there’s only three weeks to go until Congress is in session, so there’s more than ample amount of money available.” Federal lawmakers aren’t scheduled to return to business until November 12th. Grassley says -if- they’re called back, he’d go, but he doesn’t think such action is necessary.

The adequacy of FEMA’s response to the hurricanes is the subject of much “he said/she said” debate among the presidential candidates, but Grassley says he thinks the agency is doing what it’s supposed to do. “At least what I know from reading in the newspapers, listening to the radio, and watching TV, I’m satisfied,” Grassley says, “but I’m not in Asheville, North Carolina, seeing it on the ground.”

Hurricane Helene spawned severe winds, heavy rain and record flooding in western North Carolina, where Iowa utility crews are still helping to restore the power. Iowa has had its share of terrible weather events this year, too, and Grassley says FEMA’s response in Iowa to deadly tornadoes and historic flooding was up to par. “Things that have happened in Minden and Greenfield, and let’s see, Spencer would be where we had a flood, Rock Valley, we had a flood,” Grassley says. “I’ve been to those communities today, and I’m satisfied with what I saw FEMA doing here in Iowa.”

In addition to the billions in damage from the two hurricanes coming 13 days apart, Helene killed at least 250 people in seven states, while Milton is blamed in 14 deaths in Florida.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Secretary of State’s office has released a video explaining the roll of poll watchers on Election Day. A narrator lists all the requirements and limitations during the nearly five-minute long video.  “A poll watcher is a person who has official permission to be at the polling place on Election Day or in the room where absentee ballots are counted before the polls close.”

The move comes as both political parties have increased recruitment of people to observe Election Day voting. Candidates or people who hold political office cannot be poll watchers. Poll watchers must provide written permission to a precinct’s election workers that they’ve been appointed by a Democrat, Republican or Libertarian Party official or by a political organization that does not have major party status in Iowa, like the Green Party.

Candidates nominated by petition may also appoint poll watchers. State officials say poll watchers are to observe, but not interfere with the election process. Poll watchers who interrupt or try to influence a voter who’s casting a ballot can be arrested and charged with third degree election misconduct.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – More than 200 people participated in the Atlantic Park & Rec Department’s “Zombie Run,” Saturday night at the Schildberg Campground and Recreation Area. Parks and Rec Coordinator Jeff Christensen says members of the Royal Neighbors Chapter 1373 were on-hand for the event with drinks, fruit and candy, part of which was supplied from the Atlantic Fareway Store.

Proceeds from the event benefited the Atlantic Park and Rec Department and Atlantic Animal Shelter. (Photos courtesy Jeff Christensen)

SHENANDOAH – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is partnering with Optimal Aquafeed and Page County Conservation Board to stock rainbow trout at 9 a.m., Oct. 19, in RAPP Park outside of Shenandoah. Approximately 800 rainbow trout ranging from around 1- to 2-pounds, from Optimal Aquafeed will be stocked by the Iowa DNR in a small borrow pit on the RAPP Park property.

Anglers 16 years and older must have a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout.  The daily limit is five trout per licensed angler with a possession limit of 10.  Children age 15 or younger can fish for trout with a properly licensed adult, but they must limit their catch to one daily limit. The child can pay the trout fee which will allow them to catch their own limit of five trout.

This is the fourth year of this successful partnership that provides a unique fishing opportunity to anglers in southwest Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – A northeast Iowa farmer has been sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for stealing nearly five million dollars worth of livestock and federal pandemic assistance.
Prosecutors say 54-year-old Michael Butikofer of Monona, in Clayton County, had a large operation raising cattle for investors across the U-S and he recruited employees from South Africa who were forced to live on the farm without access to clean water or even furniture. According to a news release from the U-S Attorney’s Office, Butikofer convinced eight investors to let him sell their cattle in his name — and he took over two-and-a-half MILLION dollars of the profits for his own use. He was also accused of getting more than a million dollars in emergency assistance from the U-S-D-A at the start of the pandemic for cattle he did not own — and making false claims to get a one-and-half MILLION dollar disaster loan from the S-B-A in early 2022.

Prosecutors say Butikofer made false statements about his financial condition when he filed for bankruptcy soon after getting that S-B-A loan. The U-S Attorney’s Office says Butikofer used his bankruptcy filing to dupe three migrants who’d worked for him into accepting 30 percent of the nearly quarter of a million dollars a federal court ordered Butikofer to pay them for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Last year, federal agents rescued a husband, wife and teenaged daughter from South African from Butifer’s farm. They had been living in a camper without water, electricity or heat. Then again this past April federal agents prevented other migrants recruited to work at the farm from winding up there.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s Area Education Agencies are still making adjustments in how they operate, based on changes mandated during the last legislative session. Stan Rheingans is interim administrator for the Central Rivers A-E-A, based in Cedar Falls, and he’s also administrator of the Keystone A-E-A, based in Elkader. Under the old plan, Rheingans says schools that graduate 25 students a year would have access to the same resources as schools with 800 graduates per year.

“In the new model, the larger districts, because it’s funded on a per student basis, can purchase many of the services and materials that they would choose,” Rheingans says. “Smaller districts will have to really think through how to spend those resources, because it’s going to be based on their enrollment, and so they’ll have access to limited dollars for that.” He says the A-E-As are having to do more with fewer employees, saying their staffs have been cut by 20-percent.

“We are stretched thinner than we’ve ever been, so we’re working really hard to make sure that doesn’t impact students first,” Rheingans says. “We always want to be student-focused, making sure that as we spread out employees over that geography, that we always focus first on what’s best for kids.”

There are nine A-E-As in Iowa which provide special education services, teacher training and other services to Iowa school districts.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday (Today), approved a Rural Transit System (RTS) joint agreement with SWIPCO (Southwest Iowa Planning Council), for Fiscal Year 2024-25. They also approved waiving the deadline and continuing to operate under the terms of the agreement for private development by and between Cass County and KLC Comes, LLC (Bluebird Hill event venue). The venue is owned by Kim and Drew Comes.

Board Chair Steve Baier…

In other business, there was a motion with regard to “Stand-up” a County Compensation Board, but the motion died for lack of a second. By law, all compensation boards in Iowa dissolved July 1, 2024. Regardless of whether or not a county reestablishes it, new requirements to document comparable positions and justify recommendations now exist

Cass County Supervisor’s meeting, 10-15-24

The Board received a monthly report from Jotham Arber, Executive Director of the Cass/Guthrie County Environmental Health Department, who mentioned they are closing out water testing for the year, with the advent of the first hard frost. The tests are normally conducted every three-years.

The tests cover bacteria, nitrates and arsenic that may exist beyond safe levels, in rural wells. Arber said also, they’re coming to the end of the time for to conduct any perc (percolation) tests for septic systems.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert, Tuesday, informed the Board of Supervisors and residents of the county, that concrete barricades are now in-place on J Avenue, between 215^th Street and 230^th. The road had originally been cordoned-off by a barricade and snow2 fence, following severe storms that took place in May, which undermined the road, and caused a metal culvert to curl-up. Albert said sometime last Friday, someone removed the barricades that were set in-place, making for a dangerous situation, and the potential for additional damage.

While understanding having the road closed is an inconvenience, Engineer Albert asked people to “Please not remove signs,” and please do not cross over that section of road with a damaged pipe. Supervisor Donna Robinson suggested trail cameras be hidden in the area to try and catch the person or persons responsible for removing the signs and barricades, in the future.

In other Secondary Roads Department-related news, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with Hungry Canyons for a project on G Avenue, north of 190^th. Karen Albert says the project involves a bridge replacement in that area.

The Board authorized the Stanton Community Development group to withdraw from Destination Iowa grant funds that were intended for the completion of a trails project. Jenna Ramsey is President of the group.

Stanton Community Development group President Jenna Ramsey speaks to the Montgomery County BOS (10-15-24)

At the end of the year – pending projects continuation – she says, almost one-million dollars will have been spent between different organization grants and people on the Stanton Trails Projects. But there have been some unexpected issues have come to the forefront.

The application was a joint effort between the County and City of Stanton. The Stanton City Council agreed to withdraw from the agreement during their meeting Monday evening. Ramsey said it’s hard to give the grant money up, but there’s too much at risk moving forward.

The Montgomery County Supervisors expressed regret in having to approve from the withdrawal agreement, but they understand the City’s fiscal responsibility in the matter and the inherent risks.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) today (Tuesday), announced the appointment of Jared Nobbe as the new Director of the 3rd District. Nobbe, who brings over a decade of experience in community-based corrections and criminal justice, will lead the district, effective immediately. He will be succeeding Maureen Hansen, who officially retired after a 34-year career with the department.

Nobbe most recently served as the Probation/Parole Supervisor for the 3rd District, where he supervised the Department’s Sex Offender Treatment Program and oversaw critical initiatives such as the Re-Entry and Incentive Program. In addition to his extensive corrections experience, Nobbe holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Wayne State College.

Nobbe’s tenure as Director will focus on enhancing service delivery, advancing evidence-based practices, and ensuring the safety and security of both staff and the community. His extensive background in risk management and offender supervision will guide his approach in leading the district through future challenges and opportunities.

Maureen Hansen’s departure marks the end of an era for the 3rd District, with her 34 years of service to the DOC leaving a lasting legacy.