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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
(Montgomery County, Iowa) – Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the pursuit of two people from Colorado, that began at around 11:18-p.m., in Montgomery County. Deputies tried to stop a vehicle driven by Alexsis Hannah Free, of Ft. Collins, Colorado, near Highway 48 and L Avenue, but she sped away instead. A pursuit which ensued, went north on Highway 48, with speeds at times at or approaching 115 mph.
The vehicle made it’s way into the residential area of Griswold, where a passenger, Rene Telesforo Valdivia, of Fort Collins, Colorado, got out and took off on foot. Deputies meanwhile continued to pursue the suspect vehicle about a half mile longer, before it stopped on Highway 48, in front of the Griswold High School.
Alexsis Free was taken into custody and charged with Felony Eluding. Rene Valdivia was located a short time later in the 800 block of 1st Street in Griswold and arrested for Interference with Official Acts. Both subjects were transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where Free’s bond was set at $5,000, and bond for Valdivia was set at $300. Additional charges are expected, upon completion of the investigation.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted during the incident, by Deputies with the Cass and Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Offices, along with the Mills and Shelby County K-9 Units.
(Dallas County, Iowa) – A woman from Waukee was injured during a collision Friday afternoon. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident happened at around 2:10-p.m. on Hickman Avenue at Southeast Carefree Lane. A 2006 Ford Freestyle van driven by Julie A. Paetznick, of Stuart, was traveling west on Hickman while a 2015 Jeep Renegade driven by 82-year-old Carol A. Neal, of Waukee, was traveling east.
When Neal turned in front of Paetznick’s van at SE Carefree Lane, it was struck by the van, and resulted in Neal suffering from serious injuries. A 2020 Chevy Malibu was stopped at the intersection facing southbound, and was struck by the Jeep. The driver, 50-year-old Jacqueline M. Thompson, of Dallas Center, was not injured.
The Patrol says Carol Neal was transported by Waukee Fire/EMS to Methodist Hospital.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 7:50-p.m., Friday, of a man following a traffic stop. Authorities say 21-year-old Phillip William Currin, of Villisca, was stopped in Villisca and taken into custody for Possession of Marijuana/1st offense. His bond at the Montgomery County Jail was set at $1,000.
Award Winning Projects, Entrepreneurs and Volunteers Honored
April 22, 2022 (Des Moines) – Main Street Iowa hosted the annual Main Street Iowa Development Awards celebration Friday evening at Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. The program honored the efforts of those who work tirelessly to revitalize Iowa’s downtowns – the heart and soul of communities across the state. The awards honor outstanding accomplishments, activities and people making a difference in the state’s Main Street districts.
This year, 13 projects were selected to be recognized from the 76 competitive nominations submitted. Governor Kim Reynolds and Debi Durham, executive director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Finance Authority, presented the honors.
Forty-three leadership award recipients were honored throughout the evening for their significant and inspirational leadership and volunteer contributions to their local Main Street programs. The Spirit of Main Street Award was also presented to the network of 53 local Main Street executive directors for their dedication, creativity and commitment to their local economic development efforts through the challenges of 2020 and 2021.
During the event, eight communities were recognized for reaching new milestones in the amount of private investment in their commercial districts. Grundy Center was recognized for reaching the $2 million benchmark, and Lansing was honored for $3 million in local investment. Colfax, Manning and West Branch each attained the $5 million benchmark. Fort Dodge and Hampton were recognized for achieving $10 million in local investment since being designated as local Main Street programs, and Mason City reached the $50 million benchmark.
Several communities were honored for significant anniversaries for Main Street Iowa program designation during the evening. The communities of Cedar Falls, Spencer and Valley Junction in West Des Moines are celebrating their 35th anniversary this year. Osceola was recognized for 25 years of program participation. The communities of Marshalltown and Mount Pleasant were recognized for achieving 20 years of designation and Chariton, Jefferson and Lansing are all celebrating 10-year anniversaries this year.
More information, and A list of awards presented during the ceremony may be found here: iowaeda.com/UserDocs/documents/IEDA/2022msiawards_winners.pdf
(Avoca, Iowa) – An investigation that began with a sexual assault report from Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, led to the arrest of a man from Avoca and multiple sex abuse charges. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office said Friday (today), 35-year old Zachary David Yost was arrested April 16th.
He faces charges that include: Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child; Sex Abuse in the 3rd Degree (Child Victim) – 1st Offense; Incest, and five-counts of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree. Yost has since posted a $20,000 cash bond (10% of $200,000) and was released with a pre-trial supervision GPS location device. He was also required to submit a DNA sample.
A hearing in his case was set April 25th at 9:30 a.m.
Note: All criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law.
(Radio Iowa) – Secretary of State Paul Pate says he’s ready to work with legislators to ensure state law clearly requires Iowans who sign nominating papers for candidates include the date they signed the petition. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled last week errors in the dates next to three signatures on U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer’s nominating petitions were not grounds to disqualify Finkenauer from the June Primary ballot.
“I did have a different opinion on it. I felt that 200 candidates plus got it right and were able to get the dates and the signatures done correctly,” Pate says, “…but I do respect the fact that the Supreme Court took a different interpretation and my homework now is to work with the legislature so that we spell it out so that it’s much clearer in the future.” In its ruling, the Iowa Supreme Court said just last year the legislature passed a law outlining the specific reasons for rejecting signatures on nominating petitions, but that law did not address missing or incorrect dates on the signature line.
Pate does not expect the state legislature to pass a bill on the subject before it adjourns this year, but he says it’ll be a priority in 2023. Pate says that way the law is clear when 2024 candidates begin collecting signatures on nominating petitions. “Consistency is the first thing. If we’re going to put the date on the petitions, then it should be required,” Pate says. “I think there’s a good case to be made that the dates are important when you’re trying to interpret when they were signed, to verify if those people were actually legitimate voters at the time or eligible (voters), so I think there’s a reason for that.”
Pate made his comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass/Atlantic Development Corp. (CADCO) and Anita Development have partnered to address the housing need in Anita and Cass County. Jennifer McEntaffer, CADCO Executive Director, says “Housing shortages are an issue in most of rural Iowa. There is a need for new developments, rehab of existing homes and housing in infill lots around the County. With the influx of individuals looking to move back to the area, and even possibly work from home, the need continues to rise.”
The two organizations and the City of Anita have partnered with contractors Mike Baragary and Kirk Henningsen to construct a 1,277 square foot house on a vacant lot owned by Anita Development. The house will be a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, with an attached garage and unfinished basement. The location of the lot was chosen due to its close proximity to CAM Schools and the Anita Wellness Center.
“It is our hope that the home will be built, sold and we can continue to increase the housing stock, one infill house at a time, throughout Cass County,” McEntaffer said. To keep up with population growth, Iowa will need 47,000 more homes by 2030, according to the Iowa Finance Authority. Darrell Hockenberry, Anita Development Chairman, said “The need for more housing exists throughout the State and specifically Cass County. We all need to work together to address this problem. Anita Development appreciates CADCO’s assistance and looks forward to working with CADCO on this project.”
CADCO is a 501c6 non-profit that serves as the Economic Development Authority for Cass County, Iowa. CADCO directs economic development initiatives, facilitates community cooperation, and assists organizations in their pursuit of local development efforts to enhance quality of life in Cass County. To learn more, visit their website at www.atlanticiowa.com/cadco.
April 22, 2022 (DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board, today (Friday) approved awards for four Iowa companies, which will assist in the creation of 75 jobs and result in over $84 million in new capital investment for the state. The projects are located in Farley, Shenandoah, Templeton and Lee County. The board also provided final approval on two reinvestment district plans for Fort Dodge and Urbandale/Des Moines.
Green Plains constructs new technology plant in Shenandoah
A subsidiary of Iowa’s Green Plains, Inc., Green Plains Shenandoah, LLC is expanding its focus on value-add agricultural technology, and will create diverse, non-cyclical, high margin feed ingredients, specialty alcohols and renewable feedstocks for the renewable diesel industry. The company plans to construct its Clean Sugar Technology plant adjacent to its biorefinery in Shenandoah, which will produce low carbon dextrose. The board awarded this $50 million capital investment project a $250,000 forgivable loan and tax benefits through the HQJ program. It is expected to create 12 jobs incented at a qualifying wage of $21.78 per hour.
Templeton Rye Spirits to expand Templeton warehouse
Templeton Rye Spirits, LLC produces Templeton Rye whiskey. The company plans to expand its warehouse facilities in Templeton for long-term barreling. The project is expected to create three jobs, of which two are incented at a qualifying wage of $22.63 per hour. It was awarded tax benefits through the HQJ program and represents a capital investment of $13.6 million.
Read more about the other projects HERE.
(Red Oak, Iowa) – Officers with the Red Oak Police Department, today (Friday), arrested a man on a theft charge. Authorities allege 46-year-old Markus Eugene Johnson, of Red Oak, was found to be in possession of a utility trailer from the City Maintenance Facility. The trailer was located in the 300 block of 4th Avenue. It was stolen on Thursday. Johnson was taken into custody at around 11:30-a.m., for Theft in the 3rd Degree (an Aggravated Misdemeanor), and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where his cash bond was set at $2,000.
(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Kyler Morgan, Edward Jones, on Thursday, April 21st, 2022. The Ambassadors joined Kyler Morgan in celebrating the opening of his new location in Atlantic with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Kyler graduated from Grand View University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. With a passion for teaching and serving others, his path eventually took him to Edward Jones. Kyler and his branch Office Administrator, Kristy Pitts, have had an office in Council Bluffs since March of 2014. Kyler was offered the opportunity to move his office to Atlantic when Brian Farley began his retirement transition.
Photo courtesy the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce
When ask about his favorite part of working in financial planning, Kyler shared working with clients on accumulating wealth, protecting wealth, and passing down generational wealth make him love his job. Kyler enjoys building relationships with clients and being able to offer advice and reassurance through celebratory moments, along with supporting individuals through the tough times as well.
Edward Jones, Kyler Morgan is located at 508 Poplar Street in Atlantic. Appointments can be made by stopping in or calling the office at 712-254-7647 or requesting an appointment at https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/financial-advisor/kyler-morgan.