(Atlantic, Iowa) – The polls are now open in Atlantic for the Mayoral Election. The only polling place is the Cass County Community Center. Grace Garrett and Tim Teig are vying for the seat currently held by Dave Jones, who did not run for re-election. Garrett and Teig were the top two vote recipients during the Nov. 2^nd election. Since neither had 50.1% of the vote, a run-off election was declared.

Atlantic residents living in the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd Wards will use the main entrance to the Cass County Community Building on the fairgrounds. Those residents living in the 4^th and 5^th Wards will use the south entrance. The Polls close at 8:00 pm.

There are two other Iowa cities with Mayoral run-off elections today: Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids. Voters in Cedar Falls and Edgewood will decide who wins run-off elections for City Council members.

(Radio Iowa) – Non-profit agencies are having a hard time finding volunteers and the Salvation Army in Sioux City is hoping a promotion with a local business will help them. Volunteers ringing bells during the holidays will be part of the “Ringing for Bling” program. Salvation Army Captain, Karissa Zumwalt says  “A two-hour time slot gets you a chance to win one of 12 pieces of jewelry from Riddle’s Jewelry. If you do more than one time slot, you get more chances to win,” Zumwalt says. The holiday fundraiser is key to raising money for their programs throughout the year.

“We’re pretty far behind in our goal right now, so we are just trying to push as hard as we can to get volunteer groups. You know, if it’s a church group, or a school group that wants to go together — it makes it more fun — or a family that wants to go out and just spend two hours together bell ringing,” she says. Zumwalt says they are also looking to hire people who may need to earn a little extra cash during the holidays.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are encouraged to make their year-end charitable contributions on this so-called Giving Tuesday and cyclists are being steered toward the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. Mark Wyatt, the group’s executive director, says the nonprofit is asking for help from the many tens of thousands of Iowans who love to go two-wheeling under pedal power. “We want to expand our efforts to help have better bicycling in the state,” Wyatt says. “We work at the state capitol, we work with the DOT, we work in elementary schools all across the state. This opportunity helps us expand our reach.”

The coalition received pledges of 50-thousand dollars if that much is matched by the end of the year, plus, donations made today via Facebook will have all processing fees waived, so 100-percent goes directly to the nonprofit.  “If you donate to the Iowa Bicycle Coalition through Facebook, there’s no credit card charges associated with that and they have some matching funds,” Wyatt says. “Although they probably expire early in the morning, but if you donate early, your donation may be doubled.”

Lobbyists for the coalition are pushing state legislators on several fronts, including a call for much stiffer penalties for motorists who are involved in crashes with bicyclists. “We’re also working for safe passing, so motorists would be required to change lanes to pass bicycles,” Wyatt says, “and of course, we’re working on some traffic safety issues. We’re really big on requiring hands-free cell phone use while driving.”

Whether it’s five-dollars or 500, he says all contributions can help to make an impact toward better educating Iowans and to help establish safe and enjoyable bicycle recreation and transportation networks statewide.

https://www.facebook.com/iowabicyclecoalition

(Radio Iowa) – A key Democrat in the Iowa Senate says the one billion dollars in the state’s Taxpayer Relief Fund should be used to reduce taxes for working Iowans and invest in schools, hospitals and child care. Senator Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City is the top Democrat on the Iowa Senate’s tax policy committee.

“Iowa GOP tax policies have hollowed out Iowa’s small communities and rural landscapes,” Bolkcom says, “and their tax and economic policies have created rural teacher and health care worker shortages and child care deserts.” The billion dollars accumulated over the past two years as state tax collections surged past official estimates and were deposited in the Taxpayer Relief Fund.

“It was seen as kind of a gimmick by Republicans to draw attention to their desire to cut taxes and I don’t think anybody expected it would have this kind of revenue come to it the way it was designed.” Bolkcom says the latest estimate indicates more than nine billion dollars in federal pandemic relief money and loans has been sent to Iowa during the Trump and Biden Administrations and the state wouldn’t have this billion dollar surplus without that.

“If it were not for the CARES Act money and the American Rescue Plan money from the federal government, Iowa would need every single one of these dollars that people have paid in state and local taxes to solve our problems that have been created by a pandemic that remains out of control in Iowa.” As Radio Iowa reported Monday, Speaker Pat Grassley — the top Republican in the House — says the billion dollars is an overpayment that should be returned to taxpayers. Bolkcom says the across-the-board reduction in individual income taxes he expects Republicans to pursue primarily benefits the wealthiest Iowans.

“I think the tax cuts will absolutely be loved by their Des Moines donors,” Bolkcom says. Bolkcom says he and other Democrat favor increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit for low and moderate income Iowans who work and have little to no income from savings or investments.

(Tabor, Iowa) – A traffic stop late Monday night near Tabor on Interstate 29, resulted in the arrest of a man on felony drug charges. According to the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, 58-year-old Raymond Lamar Greene, of Nebraska City, Nebraska, was taken into custody at around 11:03-p..m.

Authorities say the Mills County K9 Unit assisted the Iowa State Patrol on the traffic stop near mile marker 30 on I-29. During an investigation, the K9 “Danken” was deployed around the vehicle, and presented a positive indication for the odor of narcotics. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of nearly 40 grams of methamphetamine.

Greene was arrested and transported to the Mills County Jail.

Raymond Greene

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say there were no injuries reported after a car struck a utility pole, Monday afternoon. Authorities said 18-year-old Logan Tanner Wissner, of Fontanelle, was driving a 2009 Nissan Altima eastbound on Russell Street at around 4:20-p.m.

Wissner told Police that as he was passing through the intersection, another vehicle was in his lane traveling in the opposite direction, forcing him to move over. When he did so, right front side of the car hit an Alliant Energy utility pole. The car sustained $2,000 damage, while damage to the pole was estimated at $100.

There were no citations issued.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County say three people were arrested over the past week on separate charges. (As reported earlier) Saturday evening, 33-year-old Aaron Wade Opdyke, of Malvern, was arrested on I-29 for Possession of a Controlled Substance, A Controlled Substance Violation, and Eluding. Bond was set at $15,000.

Thursday night, 26-year-old Shayleigh Lauren Small, of Standwood, IA, was arrested on I-29 on three counts of Child Endangerment, and OWI/1st offense. Her bond was set at $2,000. And, on the 24th, 28-year-old Lawrence Albert Pace, IV, of Percival, was arrested on a Harrison County warrant for Failure to Appear. His bond was set at $1,000.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office said also, there were two incidents of 3rd Degree Burglary reported on the 24th, an incident of 4th Degree Theft, and one incident of Trespass.

(Radio Iowa) – Two Fairfield teenagers accused of killing a high school Spanish teacher have pleaded not guilty. Sixteen year olds Jeremy Goodale and Willard Miller filed written not guilty pleas to charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony in the death of 66-year-old teacher Nohema Graber.

Both teens have asked to be released before their trial. A judge is still considering that request — and a request to reduce their one-million-dollar bail. Prosecutors argue the bail should stay the same or be raised to two million dollars.

(Radio Iowa) – A former West Des Moines insurance agent has been charged with a felony for allegedly filing a false insurance claim for coverage of fire damage. According to the Iowa Insurance Division, 48-year-old Tanya Schettler listed the wrong date of the fire on an insurane claim, knowing the fire occurred during a period when no insurance coverage was in effect.

Tanya Schettler

A state investigation of Schettler began in August of 2020. Last Wednesday, she was charged with one count of insurance fraud. If convicted, Schettler could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of 75-hundred dollars.

(Radio Iowa) – Clearfield Mayor Chris Knox is hoping an egg production facility that was heavily damaged by fire this weekend will be able to recover. Knox says he noticed the plant burning at around 7:30 Saturday morning — and most of the facility’s employees were standing outside when he drove by. The mayor says the gusty winds made for what he called “a scary deal.”

“The wind did pick up pretty strong there Saturday afternoon,” he says. “It was blowing right towards town at that particular time, and there was a pretty big concern about starting a cornfield on fire right to the east side of where the fire was. From there, it could have carried into the town of Clearfield.” Knox says the facility was bought from Iowa Cage-Free last month and is now known as Hen Haven Fire crews brought the fire under control by about 6 p-m Saturday–but not before it caused considerable damage.

“One complete hen house was burned clear to the ground. I would estimate it to be 700-to-800 feet long. It took it completely down. From there, the barn was connected by breezeways to the processing facility, and to the office space, and I believe to the distribution center. The processing, the office space, and the distribution area were all completely damaged, as well,” according to Knox. It’s believed hundreds of thousands of chickens died in the fire. Knox says the plant employs up to 70 people and the fire is a big blow to more than just the facility’s workers.

“It goes to people supplying the facility with feed resources and other resources,” he says. “It doesn’t even affect just the employees, it affects everybody that has ties to that business, as well. It would be really great if we could salvage what we can out of the mess, and continue to have that for the community. It really would.” Knox praised fire departments from surrounding communities for their assistance in battling the fire.

There’s no word on what caused the fire. None of the facility’s employees were injured, but Knox says two firefighters reportedly were treated for smoke inhalation.