(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest on Friday (January 6th, 2023), of Meghan Paulsen. The 42-year old Atlantic woman was arrested on warrants for Child Endangerment.  Paulsen turned herself in to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.

On December 31st, 2022 Deputies in Cass County arrested 52-year-old Craig Griffin, of Wiota, on a warrant for Violation of Probation.  Griffin was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance. That same day, 43-year-old Joshua Mullen, of Corning, was arrested in Cass County on the charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense.  Mullen was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On December 30th, 51-year-old Joel Lary, of Massena, was arrested on the charges of OWI 2nd Offense, Driving While Revoked, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Harassment 3rd Degree.  Lary was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

(Radio Iowa) – New members have taken their oaths of office and the 2023 Iowa General Assembly has started with typical fanfare. The partisan floor leaders in the Iowa House note it happened without the kind of drama that gripped the United States House last week. House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley, is starting his 17th year in the Iowa legislature.

“We see the dysfunction of what happens in D.C. all the time,” Windschitl says. “…Iowans are sick of it. I’m sick of it. I look at what’s gone out there over the last five, 10 years and I’m just baffled of how they can’t get their ducks in a row to actually govern the way we do here in Iowa.” House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, a Democrat from Missouri Valley, says voters want to see bipartisanship at the Iowa Capitol.

“Iowans are exhausted by politics as usual. Some of us might be, too. Let’s do things differently this year,” Konfrst says. “They want us to work together from beginning to end.” Speaker Pat Grassley, the top Republican in the House, says the G-O-P plans to cut property taxes and establish a new way for parents to use state money to cover private school tuition — and he suggests the debate about those ideas may be unpleasant at times.

“There’s going to be arguments and fighting, but I genuinely want you to know that I have an open office,” Grassley said, “more than happy to have any conversations.” Jack Whitver, the Republican leader in the Iowa Senate, says voters elected an historic super majority of 34 G-O-P senators for the first time in 50 years. “I think it’s safe to say that we are ready for bigger, bolder and better,” Whitver said. Whitver and newly-elected Senate President Amy Sinclair say the Senate G-O-P is ready to pass “school choice” — so parents can pick the educational setting that’s best for their child.

“This should not be exclusive to families with the financial means to pay for tuition or transportation,” Sinclair said, “or for those whose families can afford to move to a better zip code.” Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls says the 2023 legislature should instead turn its focus to the main dilemma Iowans see every day. “It’s been called a brain drain and a workforce crisis, but really this challenge is bigger than that,” Wahls says. “What we face is a people crisis, an exodus from the state of Iowa.”

The Iowa Republican Party hosted a fundraising breakfast two hours before the legislature began.

(Radio Iowa) – Health professionals are encouraging Iowa parents to take extra precautions with their kids amid a severe respiratory virus season. Wendy Woods, a medical officer at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, says R-S-V infection rates may bound again now that school is back in session, so she encourages anyone who’s sick to stay home to prevent spreading the illness to vulnerable children.

“They don’t have big enough airways to be able to support these illnesses,” Woods says, “and what to you or I is just a simple cold or upper respiratory infection, to them can be life-threatening.” Woods says it’s important for kids — and adults — to get the annual flu shot if they haven’t yet done so.

“They do decrease hospitalizations and decrease illness in kids,” Woods says, “and if you had an opportunity to do that, we should all take it.” The number of Iowa children hospitalized for R-S-V and the flu dropped off in the past month thanks to holiday school closures and severe weather having kept people inside.
(Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

The driver of a 2002 Ford was cited for Failure to Yield (FTY), following a collision that occurred at around 10:07-a.m. Saturday, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office says a 2022 Mazda driven by Daniel Clark, of Papillion, NE, was traveling west on Bunge Avenue, when the Ford, driven by 67-year-old Leslie Smith, of Red Oak, left his stopped position. The Ford pulled out in front of the Mazda, causing the Clark vehicle to strike Smith’s Ford in the middle of the intersection at Bunge and 189th Street.

Clark and a passenger in his vehicle were transported to Mercy Hospital for treatment of their injuries. Authorities cited Smith for the FTY offense.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports eight arrests took place over the past few days.

At around 11:57-p.m. Sunday, 21-year-old Bryan Keith Jones, of Tupelo, MS, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts, Domestic Abuse Assault, and on an Out-of-County/State warrant. Jones was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

There were two other arrests Sunday: 70-year-old Stanley Joseph Gredys, JR. of Omaha, was arrested at around 2:32-a.m. on I29, for Eluding/Speed 25 over the limit (Bond $2,000); and at around 8:08-p.m., 48-year-old Bryan James Jirkovsky, of Omaha, was arrested at the Mills County Jail, for OWI/1st offense (Bond$1,000).

Three people were arrested Friday, in Mills County: 39-year-old Becky June Sulley, of Griswold, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS), following a traffic stop on Highway 59 at around 9:45-p.m. (Bond $1,000); 40-year-old Bradley Gene Olsen, also of Griswold, was arrested at the same time and place, on two counts PCS, and on an Out-of-County/State warrant (Bond $2,000); 55-year-old Tammie Elizebeth Schumacher, of Mineola, was arrested Friday afternoon in Mills County, for PCS (Bond $1,000).

Thursday night, 32-year-old Siara Nicole Butler, of Omaha, was arrested in Mills County for OWI/1st offense ($1,000 bond). And, 30-year-old Keith Patrick Schreck, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Failure to Appear on a Burglary in the 3rd Degree charge. He was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail and transported to Mills County, where bond was established at $10,000.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports there were four arrests over the past week. At around 2:52-a.m. on January 2nd, 26-year-old Austin John Worthington, of Casey, was arrested for Theft in the 2nd and 4th Degrees, and Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree. The charges stem from the sale of a pickup truck that was not fulfilled according to the terms of the transaction. When the vehicle was found, the radio had been removed, the ignition was damaged, and exhaust system was cut out. There was also a problem with the steering box. Worthington was taken into custody in Stuart, and held on a $7,000 cash or surety bond in the Adair County Jail.

At around 7-p.m. January 2nd, 37-year-old Trel Curtis Peterson, of Des Moines, was arrested by Police in Adair, for Eluding and Driving While Barred. He was released January 4th on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. The Sheriff says during the early morning hours of January 7th, a Deputy arrested 44-year-old Michael Ross Waddingham, of Orient, in Orient, after he observed a vehicle and ran the license plates. The vehicle came back as having been stolen. A Probable Cause search revealed controlled substances, including Meth, Marijuana, Clonazapam, and more. The vehicle also contained drug paraphernalia, including a glass pipe, baggies, 2 used hypodermic needles with blood in them, and a large amount of cash in the form of $20 bills.

Waddingham was arrested on charges that include: Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd or subsequent offense – Marijuana;  Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense – Clonazapam; Theft in the 2nd Degree – vehicle related; Possession of drug paraphernalia; Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug; and Drug trafficking more than 5 grams but less than 100 kilograms of Meth. Bond was set at $50,000.

And, on January 7th at around 2:41-a.m., 62-year-old Paul David Bathurst, of Greenfield, was arrested by Greenfield Police, for OWI/2nd offense. He was later released on a $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says Iowa voters have given Republicans in the legislature a clear mandate for decisive action on key issues. Governor Kim Reynolds spoke at a G-O-P fundraiser this (Monday) morning.

House Republican Leader Matt Windschitl hinted at quick G-O-P action on major legislation.

The House and Senate convened at 10 a.m. and elected floor leaders for both political parties.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Officials with the Glenwood Police Department report two arrests from the past few days. On Friday, 35-year-old Jessie Harman, of Glenwood, was arrested for Child Endangerment. Her cash or surety bond was set at $2,000. And, on Sunday, 41-year-old Jose Ibarra Carrillo, of Glenwood was arrested for OWI/ 2nd offense. His has since posted a $2,000 bond and was released.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold two meetings, Tuesday morning. The first is their regular weekly session that begins at 9-a.m. at the Cass County Courthouse. On their agenda is a report by Cass/Guthrie County Environmental Health Director Jotham Arber, and weekly update from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken. The Board will act on approving a five-year lease extension with the Cambridge Law Firm, for upper half of the County-owned building on south Poplar Street. And, the will consider and possibly act on the continuation of Zoom sessions for the Supervisor’s meetings in 2023. The Board began using Zoom as an option for in-person attendance, when COVID restrictions were set. They decided to continue the practice of using the interactive (Virtual)) feature last year, because many (including the media and those who have business with the County) found it to be very convenient.

Next up on their agenda, is the setting of 2023 County Holidays, and the appointment of Drew Williams as Victoria Township Clerk (effective 3/1/23). The Supervisors will also act on appointments for the Medical Examiner and Investigators:

• 1st Deputy: Edna Becht, DO
• Deputy: Angela Weppler, MD
• Investigators:
  • Darcy Young, RN
  • Ronnie Ross, PM
  • Michelle Schroder, RN
  • Andrea Stork, RN

Once their regular meeting business concludes, the Board will move into a Work Session (Beginning at 10-a.m., or 15 minutes after the previous meeting is adjourned). During the Work Session, the Supervisors will discuss with Department Heads, the new Employee Handbook, and Health Insurance renewal.

(Radio Iowa) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is announcing more than nine-million dollars in grants and loans for projects to bolster independent meat processing, with direct impact on two ag projects in Iowa. U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says these investments are a way to give more marketing opportunities to small and mid-size farming operations. Vilsack says, “That will create hopefully more income for farmers, more choice for consumers, and more jobs in rural areas.”

A meat locker being built in the northwest Iowa town Marcus is receiving an 800-thousand dollar loan for new construction, while a cattle operation in the southwest Iowa town of Tabor gets a 210-thousand-dollar grant to expand production. Vilsack says the loan to Jordan’s Meat Market in Marcus will fund new construction and bring new jobs. “Creating an opportunity for not only additional opportunities for farmers to market their products,” he says, “but also this is a new business that expects and anticipates it will be able to employ six additional workers.”

The two Iowa projects are among 25 across 15 states.

(reporting by Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio)