(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors breezed through most of their agenda, this (Tuesday) morning. One of their action items was to approved a Resolution approving the Final Plat of the Stanton Technology Park Subdivision. The vote was unanimous. Supervisor Mark Peterson…

The Stanton Area Industrial Foundation owns the property located on the north side of the community, near the intersection of Highway 34 and Halland Avenue. The Stanton Child Resource Center would be the first business located at the Technology Park. The Technology Park will be served with full fiber optic service through FMTC to accommodate businesses heavily reliant on technology and connectivity. Bids will be going out this spring, with construction scheduled to begin this summer. Officials say the project has a timeline of three-to-five years.

In other business, two women appeared separately via Zoom, to voice their opinions with regard to a proposed ordinance regulating carbon pipeline projects in the County, that’s currently on-hold. Vicky Rossander addressed the Board from Rapid City, SD. She’s a former member of the county’s planning and zoning commission, and expressed frustration the Ordinance is continually being delayed.

Rossander said the Ordinance has been through a due-diligence process and should be vetted with a vote.

Jan Norris from West Township in Montgomery County, also spoke with the Board, in particular, with regard to pipeline easements.

She said there needs to be a deadline for the next public hearing on the pipeline Ordinance.

Norris said “The clock is ticking.”

Officials have said previously, they hope the delay will give the county time to review the ordinance–particularly questions regarding setback regulations and the board of adjustment’s role in pipeline regulations.

[Kansas City, MO] — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) mission is simple: Keep people safe on America’s roadways. One way we work to accomplish this task is through Vehicle Safety Recalls Week March 6-12, 2023. The safety week coincides with the start of Daylight Saving Time, which begins Sunday, March 12, 2023. NHTSA Region 7, which includes Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and, Nebraska is reminding drivers to check their vehicles for open safety recalls. In 2021 alone, there were 1,093 safety recalls affecting more than 34 million vehicles and other automotive equipment in the United States, some of the highest recall numbers on record.

“Checking for recalls is quick, easy, and, best of all, free,” said NHTSA Region 7 Administrator Susan DeCourcy. “During Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, we are urging everyone to take a few minutes to check for any open safety recall on vehicles, tires, car seats, and other vehicle-related equipment. Remember that every vehicle recall is important and should be repaired immediately. Your diligence will help keep you and others safe on the roadways.”

Two Simple Ways to Check for Recalls

NHTSA has two ways to check for open safety recalls: First, drivers can use the free, user-friendly Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Look-Up Tool, located at NHTSA.gov/recalls. This web tool allows vehicle owners to check for open safety recalls on their vehicles or automotive equipment, such as tires and car seats.

While you’re there, sign up for Recall Alerts. If your vehicle is included in a future recall, you’ll receive an email letting you know. NHTSA’s free web recalls tool will provide details on any unrepaired recall in your vehicle for at least the past 15 calendar years. It will also provide details on unrepaired safety recalls from major automakers, motorcycle manufacturers, and some medium/heavy truck manufacturers.

Drivers can also check for open safety recalls by downloading the free SaferCar app. Once in the app, enter your vehicle’s VIN and NHTSA will send you an alert if a safety recall is issued on them.

Think of the SaferCar app as your virtual garage: Once you download the app — available for iOS and Android — you can add any vehicle or related equipment, like tires, trailers, and car seats. SaferCar notifies you of all related recalls, even directing you to local dealerships, so you can quickly make an appointment and get it fixed quickly and for free.

Either method for checking recalls is free and easy. In both cases, you will need to enter the vehicle’s VIN, located on the lower portion of your car’s windshield on the driver’s side. The VIN is also located on your registration card, and it may be shown on your insurance card.

Stay Recall Aware Every Day

Although last year’s recalls affected millions of vehicles, tires, car seats, and other equipment, approximately 25% of recalled vehicles go unrepaired every year. This puts drivers, passengers, and other road users at risk.

If you think your vehicle may have a safety-related defect that isn’t part of a current recall, contact NHTSA online or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. Sometimes just one complaint is enough to trigger a safety recall.

NHTSA Region 7 is urging drivers to participate in Vehicle Safety Recalls Week March 6-12, 2023. But the awareness doesn’t have to stop there. Take advantage of NHTSA’s free resources — the VIN Look-Up Tool and the SaferCar app — and you’ll be covered every day of the year.

For more information on NHTSA’s Vehicle Recalls, visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A Public Hearing will be held 5:30-p.m. Wednesday at the Atlantic High School Media Center, during a meeting of the Atlantic School Board. The hearing is with regard to the Board adopting the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated costs, for Washington Elementary School Playground Equipment. A second public hearing for the 2023-24 School Calendar that had been set to take place, was instead scheduled for March 29, 2023, due to a publishing error.

In their regular session, the Atlantic School Board will act on approving the resignations of Evan Adamon (HS Vocal Music, Musical Director, NHS Advisor & TLC Mentor), and Sheryl Hinzmann, Washington Title Math Teacher. They will also act on Superintendent Steve Barber’s Contract Recommendations for: Ashley Mosier, Transfer to Title 1 Teacher, (2023-24); Alexandra Griffin Uren, 6-12 School Librarian Teacher (2023-24); Donald Klindt, School Bus Route driver; Tracy Daugherty, Transfer to Title 1 Math Teacher (2023-24); and Megan Anderson, HS Math Teacher.

Superintendent Barber is expected to remind the Board the Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held March 15th from 3:30-to 6:30-p.m., to allow parents another opportunity to talk with their students’ teacher(s). Both the Washington and Schuler conferences will be shortened from 20-to 15-minutes. And, he’ll report Camblin Mechanical is installing a big HVAC unit for the High School air quality project, which, when connected to the duct work, will produce higher air quality, especially in the auditorium.

The Board is expected to act on several, including:

• A recommendation from Mr. Barber to terminate the 2023-24 School Business Officer (SBO) sharing agreement with Adair-Casey. A-C is looking to share the position with the Guthrie Center District, with which they also share students.
• Approving a 2022-23 sharing agreement between the Atlantic, Exira-EHK and CAM Districts, with regard for HS Boys Soccer. The recommendation comes from Athletic Director Andy Mitchell, who says the Atlantic CSD currently has the same agreement in-place for girls soccer.
• Approve a 2023-24 purchasing agreement with AEA, which allows the Atlantic CSD to buy from different consortium’s, especially in the area of Food Service, and is compliant with the Federal Food Program.
• Act on appointing Ahlers & Cooney as the District’s Legal Council. The two attorneys come to the District from the Lynch Dallas Law Firm and have a long relationship with the District.
• The Board will review bids received for the Washington Elem. School Playground Equipment which, if approved, would be paid for through SAVE funds.
• They will also act on passing a Resolution for a 2022-23 Fund Transfer from General -to- Activity, for proactive equipment (Protective athletic gear). That includes pads/girdles, helmets and helmet reconditioning, for a total of $19,300.
• And, the Atlantic School Board is expected to pass a Resolution for a Board Approved 2023-24 PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy), which – if approved – gives the Board the authority to approve 33-cents on the PPEL, and will be reflected in the certified budget. The money will be used for building repaid, transportation vehicles and technology.

In other business, the Board of Education is expected to set March 29th at 5:30-p.m., as the date and time for Public Hearings on the 2023-24 School Master Calendar, and, Certified Budget.

(Radio Iowa) – With a rash of recent cyberattacks on Iowa hospitals, schools and companies large and small, it’s recommended we consider abandoning the use of passwords and instead, switch to using pass phrases. Computer security expert Jesse La Grew says the old way of creating short, cryptic passwords that you change frequently is no longer practical for most Iowans. The longer a password, the more secure it should be from hackers.

Some computer systems require passwords that need to be between 16 and 20 characters, which is where using a pass phrase is handy. You can create a pass phrase out of a series of four or five words that are easy for you to remember, but that are exceptionally hard for anyone else to discover. It will make your account more secure from most attempts by hackers to force their way in.

(Radio Iowa) – Two Casinos and one sports betting operation have been fined by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Racing and Gaming administrator, Brian Ohorilko says the Diamond Jo Worth Casino had an underage individual enter and gamble in May of 2022. “That individual entered with three adult companions — the security officer posted failed to request identification — and so that end individual entered the floor unchallenged and was on the floor for two hours and 30 minutes,” he says.

The casino was fined 20-thousand dollars for the violation. “Diamond Jo Worth has not had any commission level underage gambling violations in the past 365 days. And that is why that fine is at 20-thousand dollars,” Ohorilko says. “The first two for any casino would come in at 20-thousand dollars typically.” The Iowa West Racing Association in Council Bluffs and its Horseshoe Casino was fined 20-thousand dollars for a self-exclusion violation involving a gambler in April of 2022. “That individual, after gambling for some time had approached a security officer and had requested to self exclude themselves from casinos. The facility had indicated to the customer that there wasn’t anyone on property to enroll that individual in the statewide self exclusion program,” Ohorilko says.

He says the casino directed the person to another casino where the gambler was able to sign up — but that violated regulations. “Every casino in Iowa is expected to have someone available to enroll a customer if a customer requests, and so obviously that did not occur that particular evening,” he says. The final violation involved licensed online sports book Rush Street Interactive. Rush Street used a payment processing company that had inadvertently permitted customers to use a credit card to load their sports betting account. “During the period of time in question, Rush Street had accepted 42 credit card transactions amounting to just shy of 10-thousand dollars. Rush Street acknowledged that this was a violation,” Ohorilko says.

The company agreed to an administrative penalty of 20-thousand dollars. Ohorilko says Rush Street was one of a half dozen companies that used this payment processing company that allowed the use of credit cards, which are not legal for gambling Iowa. The other companies have all paid fines for their involvement.

(Radio Iowa)- Iowa ranks as one of the nation’s top states for volunteerism and as more Iowans leave the workforce or retire, they’re encouraged to stay active by finding a new passion through the giving of their time. Atalaya Sergi, director of the AmeriCorps Seniors program, says older Iowans can draw on a wealth of experience from decades in a wide array of professions.

Sergi says, “They give their time and their energy, their gifts and talents that they have developed over the years and focus on something that is a local challenge.” AmeriCorps Seniors matches more than 170-thousand older people nationwide with service opportunities every year, and studies find the benefits of volunteerism go well beyond the good being done in the community. Sergi says volunteers who devote 100 hours or more per year are most likely to experience health benefits themselves.

“Eighty-eight percent of volunteers reported a decrease in feelings of isolation, 84% reported improved or stable health at a time when we would anticipate that their health would be declining,” Sergi says, “and we know that through other research, states with higher rates of volunteerism have lower incidence of heart disease.” Here in Iowa, there are hundreds of volunteering options for seniors, and the program lets them choose how they’d like to give back.

You can mentor and tutor children, helping them learn to read, helping them gain a deeper understanding of math and science concepts,” Sergi says. “You might want to support a homebound, older adult to live independently in their home, helping them with minor household chores, making sure that they’re getting to their appointments or staying connected.” Other options include supporting families or veterans in need, and helping the homeless or the hungry through food banks or shelters.

A recent federal survey ranked Iowa the number-four state in the country for volunteerism, with more than 40-percent of Iowans donating their time, well above the national average of around 30-percent. The Corporation for National and Community Service says Iowans are very generous with their giving, donating more than 75-million hours of their time with an annual economic impact of nearly $2-billion.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill eligible for debate in the Iowa Senate would legalize the sale of raw milk at dairy farms. Esther Arkfeld of Harlan, says when she lived in another state, she bought raw milk rather than formula for her baby, but found out when she moved to Iowa five years ago it was illegal here. “How is it that in the 21st century in a country where 45 of the 50 states allow the sale of raw milk Iowa — a state that prides itself on agriculture, farming and freedom — is the only Midwest state to criminalized it?” she asks.

Raw milk enthusiasts like Arkfeld says unpasteurized milk tastes better and has more nutrients. Critics say raw milk has more bacteria and is dangerous for pregnant women. The dairy industry opposes the bill. Justin LeVan is the secretary of the Iowa Dairy Foods Association, which represents dairy businesses.

“As soon as there’s an outbreak of any kind, the businesses in Iowa will suffer and milk sales will go down whether it’s associated with raw milk or not.” Under the senate bill it still would be illegal to sell unpasteurized milk at restaurants and farmers markets, but raw milk and other products like cheese, yogurt and ice cream that are made with unpasteurized milk could be sold legally at the dairy where it’s processed.

The Senate approved similar legislation a year ago, but bills to legalize raw milk sales have never been considered in the Iowa House.

(Radio Iowa) – Hawkeye football coach Kirk Ferentz says he is greatly disappointed the state’s attorney general negotiated a more than four million dollar settlement with a dozen former players. The players accused Ferentz and other coaches of creating a racially hostile culture for black players. In a written statement released, Ferentz said for more than two years the Hawkeye football program had been unfairly maligned by the allegations and the settlement was offered without consulting him or other coaches named in the lawsuit.

Ferentz indicated he’s been told the reason for the settlement was financial, to avoid the possibility of a large jury verdict. Ferentz, in his statement, said the settlement clears the coaches of any wrongdoing — but had hoped a judge would have been given a chance to rule on their motion for a dismissal of the case. According to Ferentz, many former members of the team said things that they later recanted when questioned under oath.

The state Appeal Board approved the settlement Monday afternoon.

(Guthrie County, Iowa) – A man whose vehicle allegedly sideswiped another in Guthrie County, Saturday morning and left the scene, was tracked down and the driver questioned, in Greene County. Sheriff’s officials report a 2023 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 25-year-old Wesley Reeves, of Glidden, was traveling east on Highway 141 at around 4-a.m., Saturday, when his vehicle was sideswiped by a 2022 pickup traveling west.

Reeves turned around and followed the other vehicle towards Jefferson. He called 911 to report the incident and followed the suspect pickup until a Greene County Deputy could stop the vehicle. The driver of the suspect pickup was identified as 23-year-old Reyes Joseph Molina, of Waukee.

Authorities said he had no drivers license and spoke little English. The man was released from the scene. No citations were issued and no injuries were reported.  Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Annual Atlantic Fire Department awards banquet was held Saturday, February 25^th, . The Atlantic Fire Department (AFD) and the Iowa Firefighters Association (IFA) recognize those that have dedicated 20 years and more to fire service. Mark McNees was recognized for his 32-years of service to the AFD, his years of service to the IFA, and his past service as Chief of the Atlantic Fire Department. (Photos & info. courtesy Chief Tom Cappel)

From the left: IFA President Chuck Raska; Mark McNees; IDA Representative Roger Bissen (Harlan FD).

Rich Smith was recognized for 30-years of service to the AFD.

From the left: IFA Pres. Raska; Rich Smith; Chief Tom Cappel, Roger Bissen.

Wayne Brosam was recognized for 25-years of service to the AFD. Brosam is also an Assistant Chief of the AFD, as well as a Special Agent with the Arson & Explosives Bureau with the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Wayne Brosam (2nd from left)

To the left are: Chase Mewhirter (10 yrs), Travis Petersen (10 yrs), Jeremy Sandbothe (10 yrs), Tom Cappel.

Locally, the Atlantic Fire Department recognizes those that have served for 5 years and over.

Those receiving awards but not present for the picture were: Paul Wood (15 yrs), Matt Benning (10 yrs ), and

Jake Vetter ( 10 yrs)