(Radio Iowa) – Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad recently returned to China, the country where he served as U-S Ambassador for three years. “We still do a significant amount of business with them,” Branstad says. “The Chinese appreciate the quality and the safety of American food. We sell them a lot of agriculture goods, but we’re very concerned about the aggressive relationship both in terms of economic and military.” Branstad resigned as ambassador to China in the fall of 2020. A year later he formed a consulting firm that gives advice on how to conduct business in China.

“Xi Jinping treated me well while I was there, but I’m certainly very concerned about the economic differences that we have,” Branstad says. Branstad met China’s president in 1985, when Xi was part of a delegation of Chinese officials who visited Iowa. Branstad says he’d like to see U-S relations with China get back to where they were when he was governor.

“I’m hopeful that it’ll get better,” Branstad says, “…It’s at a kind of a low point right now.” Branstad was in China with two other former U-S Ambassadors three weeks ago to launch the non-profit U-S China Green Institute, to promote collaboration on climate solutions in both countries.

(Radio Iowa) – Today (Tuesday) marks 28 years since the disappearance of K-I-M-T T-V news anchor Jodi Huisentruit. She was believed to have been abducted from the parking lot of her apartment complex early in the morning in 1995 and her body has never been found. She was legally declared dead by a Cerro Gordo County district court judge in 2001, and the case remains unsolved. Family and friends gathered in front of K-I-M-T late this morning and family friend Dean Hager read a statement from the Huisentruit family.

“We know that along with us, you feel the pain and agony over Jodi’s case still being unresolved. Jodi lived her life as an optimist and she had a great passion for living life to the fullest. She was a bright light in this world and we would often hear her exclaim ‘I love life!’. We know that she would want us to be happy, be positive about the future, and to make the most out of our lives. However, we have to admit that as much as we remind ourselves to do so, sometimes it’s just too hard to feel that way.” Hager says the family is hoping to someday find closure.

“Jodi had such a bright future ahead of her and she should be here every day enjoying it,” Hager says. “She deserves better and we continue to pray that someone will come forward with the missing piece that will finally solve this case and given Jodi the justice she deserves.” Doug Merbach was Huisentruit’s news director at K-I-M-T.

“It just gets back to we want justice, we want someone to be found. It’s not through a lack of effort. It’s not through anything that we haven’t tried,” Merbach says. “Law enforcement has done everything they can. Outside agencies like findjodi.com have done just an incredible job keeping Jodi’s story out there and keeping her memory alive.” Merbach says he thinks of Huisentruit almost every day and he doesn’t want to see anything like this 28-year saga happening again. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agent Ryan Herman asks everyone that if you know something, say something to law enforcement.

“I think that any bit of information, any clue, anything, whether it’s about Jodi’s disappearance or about Jodi herself, feel free to reach out to law enforcement, the Mason City Police Department or the D-C-I,” Herman says. If you possibly have any information regarding Huisentruit’s disappearance, you can call the Mason City Police Department at 641-421-3636.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – One person was cited, but no injuries were reported, following an accident Tuesday (Today) morning, in Guthrie Center. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says a 2015 Ford F-150 pickup driven by 18-year-old Jacob Carl Matthew Thomas, of Guthrie Center, was northbound on Highway 25, leaving a stop sign at the intersection with Highway 44.

A 1987 Ford F-150 pickup driven by 67-year-old Dan Webb, of Guthrie Center, was traveling east on Highway 44 and was stopped at the stop sign. When he pulled away to turn north onto Highway 25, Webb failed to yield the right-of-way (ROW) to the Thomas pickup. the vehicles collided, causing a total of $2,750 damage. The accident happened at around 10:55-a.m.

Webb was cited for Failure to Obey a stop sign, and Failure to Yield the ROW.

(Radio Iowa) – The new owner of the Keokuk hospital is seeking COVID relief funds to help reopen the hospital. Michigan-based healthcare provider Insight bought the hospital three months ago and is seeking two-point-two million dollars through the state from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Mayor Kathie Mahoney says the city is including a letter about the plan in this month’s water bills, which they are asking residents and business owners to sign.

Mahoney says letters signed and returned to the city by July 5th will be sent to the governor’s office. Mahoney says the money would help Insight reopen the emergency room and offer other medical services on the Morgan Street campus by December. Without the money, it might be March or April of next year before the hospital reopens. Former owner Blessing Health closed the hospital suddenly last fall.

(reporting by Will Buss, Tri States Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Association of Realtors report shows some improvement in the availability of homes in May. The May report shows there were 14 percent more homes on the compared to April. But on a year-to-year basis the number of homes was down 13 percent compared to May of 2022. May saw a 29 percent increase in home sales from April — but sales were down by 13 percent compared to last May. Homes spent ten more days on the market in May compared to May 2022. The Median sale price increased two-and-half percent compared to last year at 225-thousand-500 dollars.

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A is distributing grants to 10 gas stations in Iowa to replace fuel pumps and storage tanks. U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the new equipment will be able to dispense a higher volume of ethanol and biodiesel. “This grant program can essentially pay up to 75% of the cost of installing these dispensing systems and storage facilities,” Vilsack says. “That’s a deal pretty difficult to say no to.”

Last week, the biofuels industry blasted the Biden Administration for the E-P-A’s final ethanol and biodiesel production targets. This week, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association is thanking the U-S-D-A for aggressively implementing this incentive program — and for announcing applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in July.

The Iowa gas stations getting grants in this latest round of federal funding are in Baxter, Burlington, Carroll, Cedar Falls, Chester, Kalona, Marengo, Rockwell City, Waterloo and Van Horne.

(Glenwood, Iowa) — The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Monday afternoon, of a Malvern man. 29-year-old Patrick Clayton Giesting was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County, Tuesday morning (Today), acted on several matters before them under “New Business,” on their agenda. Before diving into the that portion of their agenda, the Board received a weekly report from County Engineer Karen Albert.

The Board then heard from Stanton Community Development Director Jenna Ramsey, with regard to an $850,000 Destination Iowa Grant the County applied for on behalf of the City, and the City received, to complete trails within the City of Stanton, and eventually to Viking Lake State Park. As with most things, the cost of materials and services to construct the trail have gone up since the grant was applied for last Fall.

A contract agreement between the City and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) was approved earlier this month by the Stanton City Council. The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors were asked to approved the contract, which essentially amounts to a letter of support.

The Board authorized Chair Mike Olson to sign the agreement.

Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, 6-27-23

She said since the prices have gone up since they applied for the grant, they’re currently waiting for updated price quotes before they move forward with completing the project.

In other business, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors discussed documents for the Montgomery County Development Corporation’s Rail Spur acquisition from the City of Red Oak, requesting financial support from the County, as necessary. No action was taken, but Auditor Jill Ozuna said a Resolution to that effect will be on the agenda for action during the Board’s next meeting.

The Supervisors in Montgomery County also approved FY 23-24 annual contracts with Nishna Productions, Inc., the Red Oak Public Library, and City of Stanton Public Library, for financial support, in the amounts of $1,421…..$17,820…and $6,020, respectively.

They also approved claims payable for Wednesday, June 28^th, in the amount of $517,157.48.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning (Today), held a public hearing on vacating portions of Pella Road in Union Township. The Board then approved vacating the Class-B (dirt) road, sections 13 and 24. Both sides are owned by one landowner. The road section in question, is 3,624-feet. The Cass County Supervisors then held a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the County Zoning Ordinance with regard to a zoning change classification request from Russell Lange – owner of R/T Motors in Atlantic – who intends move his business to a building on his land in Brighton Township, for the purpose of buying and selling classic automobiles.

Zoning Administrator Mike Kennon said the County Zoning Commission discussed and recommended the request be approved. The zoning request changes the classification from General Agricultural to Light Industrial.

The Cass Supervisors passed a Resolution to appropriate transfers for the Fiscal Year 2022-23, and a FY 2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement Addendum with Sheriff’s Deputies and an FY 24 Employee Group Agreement with Secondary Roads Department employees.

In other business, the Board approved John Westering for the Jail Administrator position, along with his salary, which is unchanged from last year. They approved the hiring of LaJean Fajen, as Jailer, with her rate of pay at $21.94/hour. The Supervisors acknowledged and confirmed the appointment of Tabetha Smith, RN, as Deputy Medical Examiner. She will replace Dr. Edna Becht effective June 30, 2023. And, the Board approved the re-appointment of Terry Duggan for a three-year term, to the Cass County Veterans Affairs Commission, as well as the appointment of Dawn Walton to fill the remainder of Roger Barbero’s term, which is through June 30, 2025.

Cass County Supervisors 6-27-23

Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken reported three bridges are currently under construction.

The Board’s final order of business was the approval by a vote of 4-to 1, extending the Crook Creek 5C pipe replacement project, to June 30, 2024. The nay vote came from Supervisor Mark O’Brien.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Aviation Museum, in Adair County, report a Vietnam-era helicopter, YL-37, will be at the Iowa Aviation Museum/Greenfield Municipal Airport, Sunday afternoon, July 30^th. It is expected to land between Noon and 1-p.m., and remain throughout the afternoon.

YL-37, a Sikorsky UH-34D helicopter, was flown in the Republic of Vietnam from 1965-1968 by Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron Three Six Two (HMM-362) known as the “Ugly Angels.” With fifty-four patches over bullet holes and shrapnel damage from a rocket attack, YL-37 is the only Marine UH-34D Sikorsky with documented combat history that survived the battle to return home. On many missions, YL-37 was fired on and was once disabled and carried from the crash zone by another helicopter. On her side is a bronze plaque with the names of thirty-three members of the Ugly Angels who gave their lives in Vietnam.

YL-37 Sikorsky helicopter (Vietnam era) – Photo supplied for this story

YL-37 is supported by the YL-37 Group Foundation of Inola, OK, and has become a flying tribute to Vietnam veterans and all of America’s Armed Forces. There is no charge for the event, however, contributions to help maintain and keep YL-37 flying will be accepted and appreciated. The museum will be open from 1-to 5-p.m., with regular admission.

Plans are subject to weather conditions and other issues beyond organizers’ control. If you have questions, call the Iowa Aviation Museum at 641-343-7184. Updates will be posted on the Iowa Aviation Museum Facebook page.