A Republican from Sioux City says the “outrage” he’s hearing about the Iowa Supreme Court’s 2009 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa rings “hollow” to him. Christopher Rants says some of those who’re now campaigning to oust an Iowa Supreme Court justice who joined that 2009 ruling are the same people who came to him eight years ago, when Rants was speaker of the Iowa House, warning Iowa’s Supreme Court was likely to overturn the state’s Defense of Marriage Act.  “You don’t just start tossing out the judges because you don’t like their rulings,” Rants says, “particularly when a lot of people knew that this was going to happen down the road anyway.”

Rants says he was convinced by a representative of The Iowa Family Policy Center — now known as The Family Leader — that the House should start the process of getting an amendment to the state’s constitution to protect one-man-and-one-woman marriage. The Family Leader is now a key group involved in the campaign to vote Iowa Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins off the bench. Rants suggests it’s misplaced energy. “If people are upset, and I understand why people are upset, and you want to overturn it, you hold the legislature accountable,” Rants says.

Only the legislature — not even the governor — has the authority to begin the process of amending the state’s constitution, by placing a proposed amendment on the ballot for a vote of the people. Rants recently wrote a guest editorial in the Sioux City Journal, suggesting those who are campaigning against Justice Wiggins “would have us believe that our Supreme Court hijacked the Constition” and usurped the roles of the governor and the legislature. Rants disagrees. “I understand that this is an easy rallying cry for those people who are upset with the ruling or who want to continue to have the political issue to fight on,” Rants says. “Let’s face it — they raised a lot of money two years ago to finance their operation. They’ve got a lot of outside money coming in again and there’s nothing wrong with that, but my larger concern is that we politicize the courts to the point that we don’t have an independent judiciary.”

Two years ago the campaign to oust three Iowa Supreme Court Justices who were on the ballot in the 2010 retention election was successful and the groups involved have reunited this year to target a fourth justice who’s up for retention. Rants says he will vote yes to retain Justice Wiggins  “I wasn’t surprised when the court ruling came out. I don’t know many people who were surprised. Every lawyer I had talked to in advance of the court ruling said this was what was going to happen,” Rants says. “I don’t think this is a case of rampant judicial activism, not when you have a unanimous Supreme Court decision like that.” And Rants point out most of the justices that participated in the ruling had been appointed to the court by Republican Governor Terry Branstad. Rants, in his editorial for The Sioux City Journal, made clear that he doesn’t support same-sex marriage, but Rants wrote that he doesn’t blame Justice Wiggins — and he said neither should Iowa voters.

(Radio Iowa)

Cass County Republican Chairman David Wiederstein reports that Congressman Tom Latham attended an open house event at the Cass County Republican Headquarters in Atlantic on the afternoon of Friday, October 5th.

Congressman Tom Latham addresses the crowd.
(Photo courtesy Dale Gross)

Wiederstein says an estimated 30 people attended the event, during which State Representative Jack Drake and Congressman Latham spoke about the state of their campaigns. Both men also gave messages that centered upon reducing the size of government, tackling government debt, and increasing opportunity for success in the economy by eliminating government-imposed barriers and regulations.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A man from Adair County, known across the country for his painting of murals honoring veterans, on a huge rock south of Interstate 80, and other renditions, has won $5,000 from Casey’s General Stores. Store officials say Ray “Bubba” Sorensen, The Freedom Rock Artist, is the winner of the Casey’s “Famous People” contest. The winner was announced late last month, following a three-month search. To celebrate, Casey’s will host a pizza party for Sorensen’s hometown of Greenfield, all-day Tuesday, October 9th, at the Casey’s General Store located at 601 Southeast Kent Street.

Residents of Greenfield can visit Casey’s throughout the day for a slice of free pizza while supplies last. Casey’s will also present Sorensen with the $5,000 Grand Prize check at the store, beginning at 11-a.m.

The Casey’s Famous People contest began in July with a community-wide call-to-action asking Facebook users to nominate local “celebrities” from their hometowns for a chance to win the $5,000 Grand Prize. The contest generated more than 650 nominations, which were narrowed down to three finalists.

View a video of Sorensen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fObmgBa_UhY

While Iowa’s an agricultural state, some Iowans have lived their whole lives and never set foot on a farm. A program through the group “Farmers Feed US” invites all Iowans to learn more about the origins of their food along with the chance to win 12 months of free groceries. Justin Dammann, who farms near Essex in southwest Iowa, is one of eight featured Iowa farmers on a website that showcases their operations.  “Listen to the video, see our farm and how we grow corn, soybeans and cattle and then answer the trivia question and register to win free groceries for a year,” Dammann says.

Everyone should know more about how the food they eat is produced, he says, in addition to how livestock are cared and how farmers work to protect the soil, air and water. The website features beef cattle, dairy cattle, turkey, corn, hog and soybean farmers from across the state.  “We promote those products voluntarily through programs like the Farm Bureau or Farmers Feed US and tell our story, how we produce them and show America and the world,” he says. “If we didn’t think those products were safe, we certainly wouldn’t be feeding what we grow to our own children.”  Among his crops, Dammann raises white corn, which is for human consumption. “None of that goes into the cattle market or the livestock market,” he says. “It’s kind of neat to see how the white corn is raised here in Iowa and is turned into white flour and then is used to make tortillas and tortilla chips. It’s neat to see that farmer’s gate-to-the-plate movement.”

The website offers an up-close look at eight Iowa farm families and a chance to tour their farms, in addition to the two grand prizes of free groceries for a year. The other farmers featured are: Russ Yoder, turkey farmer, Wayland; Eric and Emily Crossman, hog farmers, Ogden; Jim Brown, soybean farmer, Churdan; Pam Johnson, corn farmer, Floyd; Stephanie Dykshorn, dairy cattle farmer, Ireton; Matt Schuiteman, hog farmer, Sioux Center; and Tim Kaldenberg, beef cattle farmer, Albia. Learn more at the website: www.FarmersFeedUS.org/ia

(Radio Iowa)

Counties: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE–

THE GRASSLAND FIRE DANGER INDEX WILL BE IN THE EXTREME CATEGORY THIS AFTERNOON. EXTREME FIRE DANGER MEANS THAT FIRES START QUICKLY…SPREAD FURIOUSLY AND BURN INTENSELY. ALL FIRES ARE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS. ALL OUTDOOR BURNING SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN AREAS WITH EXTREME FIRE DANGER.

Counties in Western Iowa: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE//Mon., Oct. 8th 2012

RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS.

THE MOST HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FROM AROUND MIDDAY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS UNTIL A LITTLE AFTER SUNSET. WINDS OF AROUND 25 MPH ARE EXPECTED AT TIMES…WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE  AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT IN THE AREA. IN ADDITION, SURFACE FUELS ARE VERY DRY DUE TO DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND PERSISTENT LACK OF RAINFALL.

ANY FIRES WILL SPREAD RAPIDLY. BURNING OF ANY KIND SHOULD BE POSTPONED…AND HARVESTING OPERATIONS SHOULD EXERCISE A HIGH LEVEL OF CAUTION. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

In area News: Two tractor-trailers collide on I-80 in Cass County early this morning, just east of the exit to Highway 71. One of the trucks erupted into flames. Only Minor injuries reported; Cass County Democratic Party Chair says several campaign signs have been stolen or vandalized in Atlantic; Atlantic Walk to School Program continues this morning; Atlantic School Board and Audubon City Council to hold separate, regular meetings tonight; record low temps set in Atlantic over the weekend; Ag Sec. Tom Vilsack to speak near Lewis this afternoon. RED FLAG WARNING for Counties along and north of Highway 30 today (from Noon-to 7-pm)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Members of the Audubon City Council will hold their regular meeting this (Monday) evening. On their short agenda, is discussion about, and possible action on, a Housing Rehabilitation Application through the Region 12 Council of Governments (COG). The Council will also receive and possibly act on, bids for the painting of the swimming pool, and a generator for the Sewer Department. Their meeting begins at 7-p.m.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will return to their Monday evening monthly sessions, beginning tonight. Previously, the Board had met on Tuesday evenings twice  a month, but during their last session, voted to change it back to Monday’s. During tonight’s session, which begins at 7:30, the Board will hear a progress report on construction at the Middle School, and a Student Council report from Media Specialist, Ginger Bechtold.

They’ll also act on contracts, including those for General and Special Education, and Volunteer Coaches, along with any resignations. The School Board is also expected to take action on approving changes in substitute non-certified pay, and the Certified Annual Report as well as Special Education Supplement, and a sharing agreement with the Fremont-Mills Community School District, for Chemistry classes.

Discussion items will focus on Driver’s Education, and a review of the 2012-2013 Activity Budget. The meeting takes place as always, in the Atlantic High School’s Media Center.