DUBUQUE, Iowa — A vehicle fished out of the Mississippi River on Iowa’s eastern border turned out to be related to a decades-old cold case. On October 12th, 2023 the Dubuque Police Department was notified that employees from Newt Marine Services, while conducting dredge operations in the Mississippi River near the Hawthorne Boat Ramp, located a submerged vehicle. The vehicle they pulled out was identified as a 1981 Mercury Zephyr belonging to Paul Joseph Knockel, a man who was reported missing in Dubuque on Nov. 25, 1990.

Knockel was 53 at the time he was reported missing by family, and his case has remained open since then. No human remains were located while investigators processed the vehicle.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Investigator Corporal Clark Egdorf at 563-589-4430 or Cegdorf@cityofdubuque.org. Anonymous tips can be submitted online via the Dubuque Police Department’s Official Page: www.cityofdubuque.org/209/Police or by calling Dubuque/Jo Daviess Crime Stoppers at (800)747-0117.

(Radio Iowa) – Opponents of proposed carbon pipelines in Iowa say the projects will be too much of a drain on Iowa’s water resources. Jan Norris of Red Oak is one of several people who read a joint statement during a public hearing this week. “As it turns out, Summit Carbon Solutions not only wants to take our land, they want our water,” Norris said.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has already granted Summit a permit to withdraw up to 55 million gallons of water each year from a new well near an ethanol plant in Chickasaw County. The agency is considering another application from Summit for the use of nearly 28 million gallons of water each year from a new well in Wright County, near an ethanol plant in Goldfield. Julie Glade’s farm is about 17 miles from Goldfield.

“We know these waters are life. They belong to all of us in Iowa,” Glade said. “…Please deny Summit’s Goldfield withdrawal request.” Representative Mark Thompson, a Republican, represents Wright, Humboldt and Hancock Counties in the Iowa House. “The water shortage is about as obvious as the nose on your face. We live near Belmond, near a lake. The lake has receded about 150 feet from the natural shoreline,” Thompson said. “…I also would encourage this permit to be denied.”

Proposed Summit Pipeline

The carbon capture process generates heat. Water is used to cool the carbon so it can be compressed, liquefied and shipped through a pipeline. Marjory Swan, a Wright County farmer, says Iowa’s water resources are not unlimited and shouldn’t be used for the project. “We are very well aware of the drought conditions Iowa and her neighbor states have been suffering through recently — 2.9 million residents of our state are currently living in areas of drought,” Swam says.

Others who testified at this week’s hearing asked state officials to consider how much water Summit would need for its entire project, not just for each of the ethanol plants that would connect to the pipeline.

Kathleen Hunt of Eldora owns land in Hardin County that’s along the proposed Summit route and she says Summit’s water use would be unprecedented. “It is incumbent upon the DNR to go about their work carefully and with scientified precision,” she said, “because the public wealth of Iowa is at stake.”

Summit has said it’s project is crucial to the survival of the ethanol industry as consumer demand for carbon-free fuel will grow. Three years ago the Iowa Department of Natural Resources rejected a different company’s plan to withdraw two BILLION gallons of water from a northeast Iowa aquifer every year and sell it to communities in the west that are running out of water.

(Ottumwa, Iowa) – Officials with the Ottumwa Police Department today (Thursday), report the arrest of a man charged in a homicide investigation. 60-year-old Gary Lewis Scott, of Ottumwa, was arrested at around 11:12-a.m. Thursday (Oct. 26), on four Felony charges, including: Murder in the 1st Degree (Class-A Felony); Willful Injury and Assault while participating in a Felony (Both Class-C felonies), and a Class-D felony charge of Going Armed with Intent.

Authorities say Ottumwa Police were dispatched at 10:46-a.m. on Oct. 16th, to 301 S. Ward Street, for a reported stabbing.  The victim was identified as 34-year-old Samuel Gallegos-Ramirez, of Ottumwa, who was transported to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center, where he was pronounced deceased.

Gary Lewis Scott mugshot (Ottumwa PD photo)

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) assisted from the onset of the investigation. Preliminary information at the scene of the incident did not immediately identify all of the circumstances that resulted in the death of Gallegos-Ramirez. Investigators were eventually able to identify and altercation that took place between him and the suspect, Gary Scott, which resulted in the filing of criminal charges.

Please note to following pursuant to recent Supreme Court rulings: “A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

(Radio Iowa) – Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis says former President Donald Trump “owes it to the voters to show up” for the televised debates among the 2024 candidates and DeSantis says the Republican National Committee should schedule a debate in Iowa in late December or early January.

“You may have some Iowa-specific things that some of the Iowans care about and that’s really what the RNC should be doing,” DeSantis said during an online news conference with Iowa reporters, “so you can put me of favor of bringing the next RNC debate or one of the ones between now and the Iowa Caucus to the state of Iowa. I think it’d be good for the process.”

The next debate will be held November 8 in Miami. Trump skipped both previous debates this fall and has scheduled a rally at the same time as next month’s debate. “Donald Trump should show up to these debates. He’s been totally missing in action,” DeSantis said. “…He’s always on the teleprompter now…When he does go off script, he ends up saying things, like he told people in New Hampshire that they didn’t need to vote, that he already had enough votes or something, which is very odd to do.”

Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. (RI file photo)

According to DeSantis, Trump’s first debate with Joe Biden had “a real significant impact” in the 2020 election because polling showed Biden gaining ground afterwards and DeSantis suggested that’s why Trump needs more debate experience. “I’m willing to allow him to bring his teleprompter to the debate if that’s what he wants to do,” DeSantis said, “…but he should be on that stage in Miami and subsequent debates.”

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a candidate who may not make the stage in Miami due to the RNC’s polling criteria, has compared the two previous debates among the candidates to reality TV. DeSantis said regardless of how the debates are managed, he plans to take the opportunity to speak to voters and Trump should do the same. “I think it’s a different guy in 2023 than he was in 2016. I think he was energetic and free wheeling back then,” DeSantis says. “…Now I think most of the stuff he’s talking about is himself and his issues and that’s not the inspiring message that’s going to be able to win the day.”

Vivek Ramaswamy returns to the Iowa campaign trail Friday for an event in Ames. Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Sioux City on Sunday.

(Radio Iowa) – The Dickinson County board of adjustment voted last night (Thursday) to deny a permit to Invenergy for a wind farm just a few miles from East Lake Okoboji. That vote came after three nights of public hearings.
Kris Van Kleet helped start the group Dickinson County Concerned Citizens to protest the project, and had tears streaming down the face after the vote.

“God is good, that’s all I can say,” she says. Van Kleet Dozens showed up in full force to say why they didn’t want turbines near their homes. Supporters of the wind energy farm say they were stunned by the 3-1 vote against the project. Terril City Council member Austin Fairchild says the wind farm would bring benefits to the county.

“Our poverty rate is over 20 percent. This project would have come with economic development, money, and more jobs to the area that would have been needed. I think we missed an opportunity here. I hope we appeal and win,” Fairchild says. County officials say Invenergy has 30 days to appeal the decision in court. Van Kleet says the focus will now be on repairing relationships since many property owners signed up for the project, which included up to 80 turbines.

“I pray that our community would heal, that people would forgive, and remember that we’re still neighbors and we’re still people,” she says. Two other wind energy projects have been proposed for the Iowa Great Lakes region, and Van Kleet says she will continue to fight against turbines there.

(By Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – The winner of this year’s World Food Prize is launching a program to reestablish vineyards and farmland in parts of Ukraine that were damaged in the war with Russia. Heidi Kühn is the founder of Roots of Peace. The U.S-based nonprofit works in war-torn nations to clear landmines and unexploded bombs, and to restore land to agriculture. Kühn says the risk of injury from unexploded ordinances can harm local economies and restrict food production for decades.

Kühn says, “As land mines are in there, it’s holding the land hostage from business opportunity.” The impacted area of Ukraine is estimated to cover 22 million acres, which is about the same amount of land devoted to corn and soybeans in Iowa. The area is considered critical to the global wheat supply. In Vietnam, the group is still clearing mines placed in the demilitarized zone 50-plus years ago. Kühn says in restored areas, farmers have planted more than one-million black pepper trees.

Heidi Kuhn. (Roots of Peace photo)

“This is fertile ground that feeds us,” she says, “so I think this is not a political call to action, this is a moral call to action.” Kühn will receive the award at a ceremony in the Iowa State Capitol tonight (Thursday). The World Food Prize is awarded each year in honor of Iowa native and Nobel Prize winner Norman Borlaug and his work reducing world hunger.

(by Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)

(Atlantic & Audubon, Iowa) – The Community is invited to attend the Cass and Audubon County Community Foundation’s Gathering for Good events set to take place next month. The FREE Cass County Gathering for Good event is hosted by the Cass County Community Foundation. It will be held November 13th from 5-until 6:30-p.m., at the Cass County Community Center. The Audubon County Community Foundation’s Gathering for Good event will be held November 10th, from 8-until 9:30-a.m., at the Exira Event Center.

At both locations, guests will be able to learn about the Community Foundation and its work supporting community initiatives; meet the Foundation’s staff, local board members and nonprofit partners; and learn how they can engage with the foundation to make an impact in Cass and Audubon Counties. Food and refreshments will be served.

Sunni Kamp, Director of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa, says “Community is the heart of everything we do at the Cass [and Audubon] County Community Foundation, so we are excited to share our work with our neighbors at our Gathering for Good event. We encourage anyone interested in philanthropy or learning about ways to give back to the community to join us.” Guests are asked to register for either event at: swiowafoundations.org

Community Foundations of SW IA (Logo)

About the Cass County Community Foundation
Established in 1998, the Cass County Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Cass County by supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services.

About the Audubon County Community Foundation
Established in 1997, the Audubon County Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Audubon County by supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services.

About the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa
The Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa serve to benefit the communities and residents of nine counties in Southwest Iowa: Audubon, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page and Shelby Counties. With generous donations from fundholders, they support organizations working to improve the quality of life in each county.

The Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa receive funds each year from the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program. These funds are distributed via grants to support the needs and opportunities in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and historic preservation.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports two Cass County residents were arrested Tuesday. 31-year-old Stephen Ross and 22-year-old Mikayla Tye, both of Atlantic, were arrested on charges of Theft 2nd, Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The charges stem from the recovery of a stolen pickup in the 3000 block of Falcon Ave. Both appeared before the magistrate and are being held on $10,000 cash or surety bonds. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Cass and Shelby County Sheriff’s Offices.

Two people from Exira were arrested on drug charges Oct.  19th.  60-year-old Kenneth Cook and 47-year-old Michaela Cook, each faces a charge of Possession with Intent to Distribute to Persons under 18. The charges stem from a search warrant in the 200 block of N Jefferson in Exira. Both appeared before the magistrate and are being held on $50,000 cash or surety bonds. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says 30-year-old Robert Joens, of Exira, was arrested on October 18th on an outstanding warrant for Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The charges stem from a traffic stop in the area of Highway 71 and Highway 44 on October 1st. He appeared before the magistrate and was held until he later posted bond.

On the 13th, 50-year-old Billy Simon, of Exira, was arrested on charges of Driving while Barred and Driving while Revoked. The charges stem from a traffic stop in the 300 block of Church Street in Exira. He was released on his own recognizance the next morning.

On Oct. 4th, 30-year-old Jacob Sweeney, of Audubon, was arrested on an outstanding Violation of Probation warrant on October 4th. He appeared before the magistrate and was held until he posted cash bond on October 16th.

And, deputies in Audubon County arrested 18-year-old Nathan Keiser, of Lewis, on an outstanding warrant for Assault. He appeared before the Magistrate and posted a cash bond. The charge stems from an incident on June 24th in the 200 block of N Kilworth in Exira.

Note: Criminal Charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Atlantic Iowa – The Nishna Valley Family YMCA and the Iowa Women’s Foundation invite all area businesses, employers, community agencies, individuals, municipalities, families and anyone else interested in the state of childcare in the Atlantic area, to a discussion on the future of childcare in our communities. The FREE luncheon will be Wednesday November 1, 2023 from Noon to 1:30pm at the Cass County Community Building using the West side of the building.

Nishna Valley Family YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes says “With the downsizing capacity of the Wickman Center and potential significant rate increases looming large for the new year, we welcome all employers, people, and agencies that are willing to work together to discuss and generate viable solutions to the childcare needs of our families.”  Haynes said they “Would also like to talk about a potential employer grant that the community can apply for, in which all businesses that have children in the center could be a part of. If your business has families that have children in the Wickman Center we would highly encourage you to attend or send a representative. We have the potential opportunity to help families with increasing costs of childcare for the coming year.

Sheri Penny of the Iowa Women’s Foundation will also be on hand to speak about the unique ways that other communities across Iowa are tackling the childcare crisis in their communities. She says “It is tough work, but communities that come together to work on the issue as a collective are having success in stabilizing childcare for their families and employers.”

Organizers hope anyone who has interest in this topic will attend, and be part of the community solution. Please RSVP to kboucher@nishnavalleyymca.com or call 712-243-3934 so that they can plan for the appropriate number of meals and seating. If you have specific questions or comments please don’t hesitate to reach out to Dan Haynes at 712-243-3934 or at dhaynes@nishnavalleyymca.com.

For more information you can call the YMCA at 712-243-3934 or stop by the YMCA at 1100 Maple Street, Atlantic Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says she is happy to see a new House Speaker elected to end what she calls “the chaos and dysfunction over the past few weeks.”  “It was inexcusable. And it was embarrassing. And the eight chaos agents in our conference who teamed up with every single Democrats to paralyze the House should be ashamed of the damage they did to the American people by shutting down the floor. But it is time to move forward,” Hinson says.

Hinson says new House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana has a plan in place to address the key issues like getting the budget done to avoid a government shutdown. “The schedule has already changed. We are moving forward with our single subject appropriations bills. And, again, my outlook on that hasn’t changed either,” Hinson says. “We have to pass the most conservative appropriations bills possible. And I don’t want to see a government shutdown. I don’t want to get into hypotheticals until we’ve had a chance to have a conversation as a conference. ”

The Republican from Marion represents Iowa’s Second District, and says her party had a lot of conversations in the last couple of weeks about the path forward and what that looks like. I am hopeful. And I believe in our newly elected speaker, Speaker Johnson, that he’ll be able to unify our conference around an agenda that will hopefully keep the government open and funded and give us the leverage we need to be able to negotiate to get conservative wins with the Senate,” she says.

Hinson says she hopes to get an updated timeline for the Farm bill soon. The other three members of the Iowa House delegation voted with Hinson for the new speaker and issued statements after the vote.

First District Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks says Johnson “is a humble servant leader that I trust to carefully guide our Republican Conference.” Third district Representative Zach Nunn says with the speaker vote over it’s time to double down on the necessary work to address the most pressing needs facing our country: reining in government spending, protecting Medicare and Social Security, passing a Farm Bill. Fourth District Representative Randy Feenstra says he has “full confidence that, under Speaker Johnson, we will continue to uphold our Commitment to America and deliver for our families, farmers, main street businesses, and rural communities.”