(DES MOINES) – This week Rep. Jack Drake (R-Griswold) filed nomination petitions with the Secretary of State’s office to seek re-election to the Iowa House in the newly-formed district 21.  After redistricting, district 21 is comprised of portions of Cass County (including Atlantic and Griswold), portions of Pottawattamie County (including Walnut), and all of Adams and Union Counties.

Drake was born and raised in district 21 as he attended country school in rural Pottawattamie County and graduated from Atlantic High School.  After he attended the University of Iowa, Drake returned home to farm.

Jack and his wife, Shirley, have four children and eleven grandchildren.  The family attends the Griswold United Methodist Church where Jack has been very active as a Sunday school teacher, chair of the finance committee and chair of the endowment committee.

Rep. Drake has served as a leader in the Iowa House, particularly in the area of agriculture.  He is currently the Chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget subcommittee where he has worked to adequately fund the budget while keeping a watchful eye on taxpayer dollars.  He also serves on the Agriculture, Appropriations and State Government Committees.

Drake will continue his focus on job creation, limited government spending, and strengthening Iowa agriculture.

“Generations of Iowans have created the rich farming history that represents our great state.  We must do all that we can to continue that tradition as it passes down to new generations,” said Drake.  “I will continue to work to fund the priorities of Iowans while also protecting the hardworking taxpayers of Iowa.”

In his community, Drake currently serves on the Walnut Telephone Company Board of Directors.  Additionally, he is a member of:  the Corn Growers Association, Soybean Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses and the Farm Bureau.  He has served as the Past-President of both the East Pottawattamie County Extension Council and the East Pottawattamie County Farm Bureau.  He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Farm Bureau.

“Rep. Drake is a caucus leader and true public servant, one who listens and is respectful of the will of his constituents,” said House Speaker Kraig Paulsen.  “There is not a more dependable, honest legislator than Rep. Drake.”

A school bond issue that failed twice isn’t slowing down the efforts by the Riverside Community School District to come up with solutions to their aging facilities problems. Twice within the past year a bond issue placed before the voters seeking to consolidate the districts three buildings into one location, failed. Superintendent Jim Sutton says their school board decided to go back to the drawing board. He says both sides of the bond issue are trying to find ways to make patrons happy, and not divide community.

Sutton says the board is starting a committee to help the school district decide on the next step. He says they’re putting out suggestion boxes within the district’s communities. A committee will review the suggestions and report back to the school board. Sutton says the committee will not determine the next steps for the district, but will provide a summary of public input. Any resident of the Riverside School District can sign up for the committee. Sutton says the school district is trying to move quickly on finding volunteers.

He says you can simply call the Central Office at 712-484-2291 by no later than March 16^th , to have your name included on the committee. Sutton says the list of volunteers will be taken to the next Riverside School Board meeting for review and a committee of no more than a dozen will be selected.

(Courtesy Joel McCall/KNOD – Harlan)

Three Harlan residents were arrested on multiple charges Tuesday following a joint investigation into illegal drug activities. According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, 47-year old Jon M. Rodacker, 57-year old Mark E. Olson, and 53-year old Joleen M. Olson each face Serious Misdemeanor charges of Violation of Restricted Purchases of Pseudoephedrine from a Pharmacy (Rodacker – 18 counts; Mark Olson – 9 counts; Joleen Olson – 3 counts.).

Rodacker also faces Felony charges which include: Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine; Possession of Anhydrous Ammonia and Pseudoephedrine as Precursors; and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Additional charges include: Tampering with, possessing, and transporting anhydrous ammonia, 2-counts of Prohibited Acts and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Mark Olson faces additional charges of Possession of Meth and Drug Paraphernalia.

All three suspects were being held in the Shelby County Jail. Rodacker’s bond was set at $100,000. Mark Olson’s bond was set at $25,000, while the bond for Joleen Olson was set at $10,000.

Authorities say the trio were taken into custody after the deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and officials with the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement served search warrants on several locations in Harlan, and for one vehicle. The locations included: 809 4th Street; 1603 Cheyenne Avenue, and at a storage unit located on Industrial Parkway. An  investigation into the suspects’ alleged drug activities remains ongoing.

(8-a.m News)

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Two men from Shenandoah were arrested Wednesday on felony Forgery charges. According to Shenandoah Police, a joint investigation involving the Tabor Police Department and Fremont County Sheriff’s Office resulted in the arrest of 38-year-old Victor Ingrim and 43-year-old Curtis Clark, both from Shenandoah. Ingrim and Clark were taken into custody Class D Felony charges of forgery. Ingrim posted $5,000 bond and was released. Clark was unable to post bond, and remains in the Page County jail. If convicted on the charges, the men could face up to 5-years in prison and fines of anywhere from $750 to $7,500.

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Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say only minor injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident early this (Thursday) morning, on the west side of Red Oak.  Kevin M. Hardy, of Red Oak, told investigators he was returning home from work at around 2-a.m. and traveling south on Ginkgo Avenue, when he fell asleep at the wheel of his 2003 Saturn.

Hardy woke up just as he was traveling through the intersection with 205th Street and had attempted to stop, but ended up colliding with a fence on the south side of the T-intersection. A pole from the fence crashed through the car into the passenger compartment and went through Hardy’s shirt sleeve, causing a minor abrasion, but no serious injuries.

Damage to the car was estimated at $1,200. No citations were issued.

Authorities say three Red Oak men were arrested on felony burglary charges Tuesday, following a joint investigation between deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Red Oak Police. Taken into custody on charges of Burglary in the 3rd degree, was 38-year old Jody Lee Michaelsen, 20-year old Cameron Allen Crismon, and 20-year old James LeRoy Christensen, Jr., all of Red Oak. Christensen had faced an Aggravated Serious Misdemeanor charge of Accessory to a Felony, but that was dismissed by the court.  The trio allegedly burglarized a residence at 1685 G Avenue in rural Red Oak, during the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 6th.

All three subjects were brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond. Their preliminary hearings were set for March 16th. At that time, a judge may set their bail at $5,000 each.

Authorities in Montgomery County are investigating the burglary of a business in Red Oak. Sheriff’s officials say an investigation into an incident at the Red Oak Lanes bowling alley began just after 2-a.m. Tuesday. They determined a person or persons unknown forcefully entered the building at 1663 200th Street, and began vandalizing it. An undetermined amount of cash was also reported missing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-800-432-1001, or the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department at 712-623-5107.