(Radio Iowa) — Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says the drama surrounding Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court shows partisan warfare in congress has hit “almost rock bottom.” “This started downhill very quickly, on about July the 10th,” Grassley said this afternoon. “…You can look back 87 days and you can see that everything but whether he’s qualified to serve has been brought up.”

Grassley, who is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says he promised a “fair and thorough process” for reviewing Kavanaugh’s nomination and Grassley says there is “no hint of misconduct” in the updated F-B-I background investigation he and other senators just reviewed. “But what I’ve been dealing with since July the 10th…the downhill slope, is really dealing with a ‘Demolition Derby,'” Grassley said. “They just about destroyed a good person to be on the Supreme Court.”

Grassley suggested it’s time to turn the page. “I would like to have the future mending things, so we can do things in a collegial way that the United States Senate ought to do and, particularly, when it comes to Supreme Court nominations,” Grassley says. Grassley and other key Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee spoke this (Thursday) afternoon during a news conference in Washington, D.C. and Grassley ended with this message to reporters.

“Now I would never use the words ‘fake news.’ I consider you folks policemen for our democratic system of government, but I want to show you where some of you had bias. I’ve had demonstrators in my office for two weeks now, both for Kavanaugh and against Kavanaugh. One time the people that were for Kavanaugh wanted to be interviewed and they said, ‘We’re only interested in interviewing people against Kavanaugh,'” Grassley said, his voice rising. “Now that’s a bias that none of you should be proud of.” The Senate is scheduled to vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination Saturday.

“Hopefully we’re 48 hours away from having a new person on the Supreme Court,” Grassley said. Iowans who oppose Kavanaugh’s nomination have been delivering postcards to Grassley’s office in Des Moines this (Thursday) afternoon, urging Grassley to vote no on Kavanaugh. Grassley has said he will vote yes.

(Radio Iowa) — A north central Iowa truck stop that started as Interstate 35 was being built through Iowa will end its operations this month. The owner of the “Boondocks” Bob Welch and his wife Min told their 28 employees of the decision to close. “Opened the fifth of June of ’73 when the interstate ended here for several years,” Welch says. “I’m in my 46th year.” The truck stop in Hamilton County hosts a restaurant, a motel,and a convenience store. Welch and his wife are both in their 80’s and he says it takes a lot of hours to keep it going.

“Time that I think I’d better slow down somewhere,” Welch says., “I worked seven days a week for 44 years until I hurt myself in a bad fall near my wind generator two years ago. Tore the tendon out of my left leg and cracked three vertebrae. And I finally decided to take Sundays off.” The Boondocks served as a place for locals and those traveling the interstate to stop refresh and get something to eat. And for years it’s location has been a haven for motorists and truck drivers stranded in times when winter storms closed the highway.

“One time we had over 600 people in here for two days and two nights,” Welch says. Welch says there are lots of stories from those adventures through the years. He says his family helped him know what to do. “It was a heartbreaking decision to make — however we have been at it a long, long time — and our children are not interested in coming into the business. All three of them have encouraged us to do this, so we finally made the decision to close it,” Welch explains.

Welch thanks the hundreds of local people and hundreds of others who were just passing through who supported the Boondocks through the years. “It’s been a wonderful group of people and the local people — we’ve had a very, very good relationship with many of them.” Welch says. The Boondocks will shut down on October 20th and Welch says they will hold an auction to sell off the property.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge has dealt a blow to the defense for an Iowa youth basketball coach charged with secretly recording his teenage players undressing. Judge C.J. Williams ruled Thursday that the seizure of a USB device from former Iowa Barnstormers coach Greg Stephen didn’t violate his privacy rights.

The ruling means prosecutors can use videos found on the device against Stephen, who is charged with transporting and possessing child pornography and sexually exploiting minors. Stephen allegedly recorded players disrobing during trips to tournaments.

Stephen’s former brother-in-law, Vaughn Ellison, discovered the device in a bathroom when he was remodeling Stephen’s Monticello home. He later gave it to police.
Stephen’s attorneys argued Ellison was acting a government agent when he took the device, and that police violated Stephen’s rights by holding it for two days before obtaining a warrant.

Williams rejected those arguments. Both sides are discussing a possible plea agreement.

FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) — A group that studies paranormal activity wants to examine the former Winnebago County jail, but officials worry that allowing the visit could create liability problems.

The Mason City Globe Gazette reports two men from a group based in Forest City asked the Winnebago County Board if they could spend the night in the former jail.
Dustin Harms with the Ministers of the Haunted group says there’s great potential for paranormal energy in the building because it was a jail and before that a hospital.

Winnebago County supervisors said they were concerned about liability issues, so they’re reluctant to allow the group to explore the building. The paranormal group plans to look into getting its own insurance coverage before renewing their request for access.

CARTER LAKE – A Carter Lake steel fabrication company “could not be more excited” about the success of its apprenticeship program through Iowa Western Community College. Owen Industries graduated its first two journeyman welders at a ceremony Wednesday. Thomas Stalbosky and Brad Dittman will now help mentor future apprentices. The company has three active apprentices and plans to hire several additional people for its third class. Dittman says the program will “make sure you’re prepared.” Stalbosky says the program allows you to learn on the job while earning a paycheck. Owen Industries offers the first competency-based welding apprenticeship program in the state. Dan Kinney, president of Iowa Western Community College, says the college is excited for the future of the program.

Brad Dittman, left, and Thomas Stalbosky show off certificates of completion from the U.S. Department of Labor after becoming journeyman welders through an apprenticeship program at Owen Industries in Carter Lake, Iowa, on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018.

From left, Owen Industries Plant Manager Nick Bristol, journeyman welders Brad Dittman and Thomas Stalbosky, and Owen Industries President Tyler Owen stand for a photo at a luncheon at Owen Industries in Carter Lake, Iowa, on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018.

There’s a growing need for welders and other skilled laborers in Iowa and across the country. Ron DeBord, vice president of human resources at Owen Industries, says there will be a shortage of 400,000 welders nationally by 2024. He said Owen Industries partnered with Iowa Western to recruit passionate individuals who desire to become welders.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 52-year old Chet Tracy Hiatt, of Lorimor, was charged with theft 5^th degree on Sept. 28th. Hiatt was issued a citation to appear in court.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and Democratic challenger Fred Hubbell will meet in the Des Moines area for their first debate. The candidates for governor will debate at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ankeny campus of Des Moines Area Community College. The debate is being organized by KCCI-TV and The Des Moines Register. It will be aired live on KCCI.

The campaigns also have agreed to debates Oct. 17 in Sioux City and Oct. 21 in Davenport.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman wanted on a warrant out of Council Bluffs, turned herself-in to the Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday morning. After the warrant for 42-year old Lindsay Michelle Willie, of Council Bluffs, was confirmed, the woman was turned over to Corrections Staff. And, Tuesday night, a traffic stop on a van resulted in the arrest of 23-year old Julia Jacquelyn Churchill, of Council Bluffs. Churchill was taken into custody for Driving While Revoked.

A public hearing featuring a large crowd, was held Wednesday morning in Greenfield, as part of the Adair County Board of Supervisors’ meeting. The hearing was with regard to an amended Ordinance “Assessment of Wind Energy Conversion Property,” and was followed by passage of the third and final reading of the Ordinance, which affects persons who are both in favor of, and opposed to, the construction of numerous Mid-American Energy wind turbines throughout the county.

The amended ordinance sets a 2,000-foot setback for turbines from non-participating residences, and an 800-foot setback for property owners who wish to be associated with Mid-American Energy wind farm turbines.

The Arbor Hill and Orient wind energy projects tentatively calls for the construction 275 turbines, and the option to build 100 more. In all nearly 500 turbines are expected to be built, and will be spread throughout the County. Currently, more than 400 landowners have signed-up to have the turbines built on their land.

And, while the Adair County Supervisors passed the amended Ordinance, they tabled a more comprehensive plan addressing the health concerns, noise and other issues dealing with the turbines.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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