(Radio Iowa) – One of the Iowa delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago says her friends in other countries are paying close attention to the presidential race. Janice Weiner, a state senator from Iowa City, joined the U-S State Department in 1987 and had assignments in seven foreign countries.

Weiner says one reason she wanted to be a delegate at this week’s convention was because of President Biden’s foreign policy initiatives.

Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart says for the past two weeks she’s been thinking about Biden’s convention speech and how it would solidify his legacy.

Iowa delegates on the floor of the Democratic National Convention on August 19, 2024. (Iowa Democratic Party photo)

(Woodbine, Iowa) – Officials with Woodbine Fire & Rescue, Monday evening, asked residents and others to stay away from part of  downtown Woodbine, as multiple firefighting agencies worked to battle a structure fire at the Food Land Grocery Store, located at 62 W. 5th Street.  The fire was reported through 9-1-1 at 3:47-p.m.

The first crews and authorities to arrive on the scene, found fire and heavy smoke coming from the building. Multiple agencies, including 11 additional fire departments, responded to the scene. Woodbine Police and Harrison County Conservation officials established traffic control. Crews were still on the scene late Monday night. The cause of the fire was unknown as of the last report. Additional information was not available.

Woodbine Fire & Rescue Association Facebook page photo

A little over 10-years ago (Oct. 2013), the Woodbine Food Land Store helped local business in their recovery effort, when a fire devastated several downtown businesses, following a fire that started in a flower shop.

(Sac County, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Sac County reports two people were arrested Friday (Aug. 16), in connection with a marijuana growing operation. According to a press release, Deputies executed a search warrant at around 5:45-p.m., Friday, at a residence at 509 S. Perth Street, in Schaller. The purpose of the warrant was to obtain evidence in an ongoing criminal mischief investigation. Deputies detained two residents in the home: 42-year-old Keegan Cross, and 65-year-old Glenda Turnquist, until the entire home was searched for any other possible subjects.

While walking through the basement, deputies observed several marijuana plants in various stages of growth. A second search warrant – specifically for controlled substances – resulted in the confiscation of more than 40 marijuana plants, grow lights, and ventilated grow tents, among other materials to grow and maintain marijuana plants. Lake View Police assisted in handling the incident.

Keegan Cross and Glenda Turnquist each face charges that include: Manufacture of a controlled substance (Marijuana) under 50 kilograms (a Class-D Felony), and Simple Misdemeanor charges for Possession of Drug paraphernalia. Cross faces an additional charges of Interference with Official Acts, which is also a Simple Misdemeanor. His bond was set at $5,600. Bond for Turnquist was set at $5,300.

Both subjects have previous convictions for controlled substance violations, stemming from similar search warrants executed at the same residence in both 2017 and 2018.

“All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie Center and Adair-Casey School District Boards of Education will hold their regular monthly meetings this Wednesday evening (Aug. 21st) in Guthrie Center AC/GC High School Media Center. The meetings begin at 7-p.m.

The Boards will act on:

Open Enrollment
1. In Adair-Casey, Kindergarten

Resignations (GC)
1. Brenda Sheeder, HS Paraeducator
2. Toni Colling, HS Paraeducator

Contract Recommendations (GC)
1. Deb Ocker, Food Service
2. Brooke Boals, Dance Team Sponsor
3. Tara Largent, Volunteer Assistant Volleyball Coach
4. Patti Halbur- SPED Transfer
5. Kylie South- HS Paraprofessional

2nd Semester Whole Grade Sharing Invoice (AC/GC)

A-C District Board action items:
Open Enrollment
1. In, Atlantic, 4th Grade
2. In, Atlantic, 11th Grade
3. Out, Atlantic, 11th Grade
4. Out, CAM, 2nd Grade

Resignations
1. Nickie Nelson- Nutrition Director

Contract Recommendations
1. Veronica Bennett, 1:1 Paraeducator
2. Laura Fever, Elementary Art/Reading Teacher

Ron Baier and Jarmin Field Memorial

Both Boards are expected to discuss  High School Grade Reporting.

ATLANTIC, IA – Cass County Public Health will host a new session of A Matter of Balance beginning Monday, September 16. This free class is designed to help decrease falls and help older adults manage their fears about falling. 

A Matter of Balance is an award-winning program to help older adults learn to manage their concerns about falling, make changes to reduce the risk of falling, and increase their physical activity. It includes 8 weekly two-hour sessions for a small group of 8-12 participants led by trained facilitators.  

Cass County Public Health has been offering this program since 2018 because falls among adults aged 65 and older are common, costly, and preventable. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older, with 1 in 4 older adults reporting falling every year. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults ages 65 and older. The age-adjusted fall death rate increased by 41% from 2012 to 2021. Over 30% of older adult Iowans reported a fall in the past year, totaling over 157,000 individual older adult falls.

For more information, or to sign up, call Cass County Public Health at 712-243-7443.

(Radio Iowa) – Sarah Corkery, the Democratic candidate in Iowa’s second congressional district, says lowering prescription drug costs and promoting alternative medicine would be a priority if she’s elected to the U-S House.

Corkery is a breast cancer survivor. Her mother died of cancer and her sister, who had an auto immune disorder, died of a lung infection. She says that life experience gives her insight in how to make health insurance more affordable.

Corkery’s 15 year old son is legally blind and has epilepsy. Corkery, a Cedar Falls native, is a first time candidate — challenging Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson’s bid for a third term in the U-S House.

(Radio Iowa) – Work began this morning (Monday) to remove a railroad bridge in Sioux City that collapsed in June during flooding on the big Sioux River. Charges were set off on the span of the bridge that is on the South Dakota side of the river in North Sioux City.

Amy McBeth of the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad is overseeing the operation.

Crews started removing the span shortly after the explosive charges were set off. McBeth says they’ll set off charges on the span on the Iowa side of at a future date. They will then put up a new bridge.

McBeth says it will take crews around one week to remove the debris from the bridge span on the South Dakota side.

Explosive charges break up the collapsed bridge near Sioux City. (KSCJ photo)

(Radio Iowa) – Attendance at this year’s State Fair has set a record. Over 1,182,000 (One-million 182-thousand) people attended the 2024 Iowa State Fair, which ended Sunday. In addition to the overall record, a single day record of nearly 123,000 was set on Saturday, August 10th. Daily attendance dropped below 100,000 on just two days — last Tuesday and Wednesday.

Iowa State Fair’s Grand Concourse on Aug. 16, 2024. (RI photo)

This was Iowa’s 170th State Fair. The previous attendance record was set in 2019.

(Radio Iowa) – Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is reminiscing about his long-time connection to President Joe Biden.

Vilsack, who has served as Biden’s U-S Secretary of Agriculture, spoke this (Monday) morning to the Minnesota delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Biden is to speak at the convention tonight (Monday).

Vilsack says he called the White House chief of staff the day after Biden’s announcement to suggest Tim Walz would be a good running mate for Kamala Harris.

Vilsack says Democrats a window of opportunity to remind voters that President Trump fumbled as a leader during the pandemic.

Vilsack discussed the stakes in races for Minnesota’s congressional seats and legislative races and closed with a reference to the political landscape in Iowa where Republicans control the legislative and executive branches of government and all six members of Iowa’s congressional delegation are Republicans.

Vilsack served two terms as Iowa’s governor and left office in early 2007, when Democrats controlled the Iowa House and Senate.