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Cass County Supervisors act on request for a food truck to be located on the courthouse grounds

News

July 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Cass County, Tuesday, approved a request by Dennis Daniels, to set up a food truck on county owned property. Daniels explained his is a non-profit endeavor, with the funds raised from sales going toward the Boots on the Ground organization, serving food to Vietnam Veterans and others.

Daniels must show proof of his approved 501(c)3 paperwork before his food truck will be allowed to be set-up on the County Annex Building parking lot off of Walnut Street. In other business, the Board agreed to a request from CADCO Executive Director Jen McEntaffer, to contribute interest earned from the Valley Business Park fund, to a revolving loan fund for building loans.

McEntaffer said there are two “solid businesses prospects” that would be interested in the funds.

Cass County Supervisors meeting, 7-16-24

She explained also, that the revolving loan fund started with $180,000 and it has been revolved enough to where they have made $700,000 worth of loans. She said they have loaned out anywhere from $3,500 to $50,000; $50,000 is their cap. The Board will act on an amount to divest from the VBP fund during their next meeting.

The Cass County Supervisors, Tuesday, received a recommendation from the Emergency Medical Services System Advisory Council for the maximum amount of funding allowed by law, to be specified on the November 5th ballot. That includes 75-cents per thousand dollars assessed property valuation for Essential Medical Services (EMS), and a one-percent Iowa income surtax. Supervisors Chair Steve Baier explained this is NOT a new tax. Taxes are already being collected for EMS, but this WILL make it more a stable, consistent and transparent means to convey the information to the taxpayers of Cass County. The Board is expected to act on a resolution approving the request for a ballot measure on EMS, during their next regular meeting. The Supervisors have already passed a resolution declaring EMS as an essential service in the County.

The Supervisors received a presentation and request from Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue for ARPA funds to purchase mobile and portable radios. The radios – costing $11,430 – would be used for a School Resource Officer’s (SRO) position. A resolution on the request will be also be on agenda for approval during the next Board meeting.

The Supervisors tabled action on establishing a County Compensation Board, which, by Iowa law, was disbanded as of July 1st. They approved the appointment of Heath Larsen as Cass Township Clerk. He will replace Max Potter, whose resignation was accepted May 7th. And, the board approved Brandon Laverty as Cass Township Trustee, to replace Heath Larsen.

Two years in, staffing troubles still dog Iowa 988 call center

News

July 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – This week marks the second anniversary of the launch of 9-8-8, the national hotline for mental health emergencies. A report by the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable finds 87-percent of Iowa’s calls are being answered by in-state call centers, which is near the 90-percent goal. Emily Blomme is the C-E-O of Foundation 2 Crisis Services in Cedar Rapids, which operates one of Iowa’s two call centers. She says the turnover rate is almost at 50 percent. “Some of that is people who think that they can do the work or think they want to do the work, and they get into it and they don’t want to do the work, or it’s too hard,” Blomme says, “or they have their own lived experience and activates them in a way that they just weren’t anticipating.”

Blomme says the biggest challenge remains finding and retaining staff, and she adds, the worker shortage strains the entire call center. “So our people who are willing to take extra shifts, who are willing to work overtime, we love that,” she says, “but we also don’t want to burn them out, so then they can’t do the work.” Blomme says she’s had to increase pay and benefits in order to try to attract more staff members.

(by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

Annual free dental clinic will be in Sioux City

News

July 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Sioux City will host the 15th Iowa Mission of Mercy free dental clinic in October. Event founder Dr. Richard Hettinger says this will be the third time its in Sioux City. “Last time we were here we saw more than 800 patients and provided 600-thousand dollars worth of care. We’re hoping to exceed those numbers this time,” Hettinger says. Dentists and dental hygienists donate their time for the event. “It’s truly a mission driven by compassion. We’ll have over 400 dental professionals of various types here working on the two days that we’ll be providing care,” he says. “We understand that there are many unforeseen factors that impact whether individuals and families can receive dental care.

The economy, a change in employment, health issues and so much more can influence a decision to see a dentist.” Sioux City dentist Kia Stack-Miller says you don’t have to live in town to be seen and treated. “We’ve seen patients from all across the country. Sometimes they’re from our area, but sometimes they just need dental care and they’ll be willing to go wherever they can in order to receive it,” She says. “We do ask for some elements of information, such as the patient’s address, as well as health history so we can keep an accurate patient record, as well as providing safe treatments for these patients.”

Stack-Miller says they can do a variety of care.”Including cleanings, root canals, extractions and fillings there are also a limited number of partial dentures available on a first come first serve basis but the clinic does not provide crowns implants or full dentures, she says.

The Mission of Mercy Clinic is scheduled for October 4th and 5th in Sioux City. Learn more about the clinic at IMOM.org.

2 arrested following an assault investigation in Red Oak Tue. night

News

July 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak – assisted by Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies – responded late Tuesday night to 305 E. Nuckols Street, for a reported physical assault that was taking place. When officers arrived, the tenants of the unit refused to let law enforcement into their residence. As police were making entry, one of the tenants attempted to leave out the rear of the building. Officers made contact through the back door with other tenants. Police executed a search warrant on the unit due to illegal items that were seen. Two men were subsequently taken into custody:

36-year-old Jason Rolfe Aherns, of Red Oak, was arrested on a valid Adams County warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine-3rd Offense (A Class-D Felony), and Domestic Abuse Assault, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Simple misdemeanors). He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond.

28-year-old Dylan Elwood Taylor, of Red Oak, was arrested for Control of a Firearm/Offensive Weapon by a Felon (Class-D Felony), and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $5,000.

Body of missing boater recovered in Iowa lake

News

July 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

The body of a 47-year-old California man was recovered from an Iowa lake a day after an abandoned boat was located near Honey Creek State Park.

According to the Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources received a report of the abandoned boat on Rathbun Lake shortly before 11 a.m. on Monday. When the boat was located, officials found two dogs and personal property, but no occupant.

Authorities learned the boat’s occupant was last seen fishing on the south side of Rathbun Lake around 5:30 p.m. Sunday. The man’s body was recovered from the lake at about 7 p.m. Tuesday, in approximately 25 feet of water. Officials say the man was visiting family and friends in Iowa and was an avid fisherman at Rathbun Lake. The man’s name is not being released by authorities at this time.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

Non-injury accident in Creston, Tue. afternoon

News

July 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say no one was injured during a collision Tuesday afternoon between two SUV’s. Authorities say a 2014 Chevy Equinox driven by 17-year-old Zoey Vandevender, of Creston, was stopped at stop sign located at the 4-way stop intersection, of Elm and Montgomery Streets in Creston, facing west.

The teen began to turn left (southbound) onto Elm Street, when her vehicle was struck by another 2014 Chevy Equinox. The driver of that SUV, 89-year-old Mary McDonald, of Creston, failed to stop as she was traveling south on Elm Street. Her vehicle hit Vandevender’s SUV in the middle of the intersection, causing minor damage to the front end of both vehicles. Both vehicles were driven away from the scene, with damage estimated by police to be around $3,000 altogether.

The accident report says while McDonald ran a stop sign, no citations were issued.

A.G. Bird criticizes VP Harris’ record on police

News

July 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird used her prime time speaking slot at the Republican National Convention to tout former President Donald Trump’s approach to crime-related issues, but she began with her own biography.  “A few years ago, I was a local prosecutor, locking up bad guys, but in 2022 I ran for Attorney General and beat the incumbent Democrat who was first elected when I was just two years old,” Bird said, to laughter and applause.

Bird says she was elected because Iowans want a judicial system that protects them, not the criminals. “Democrats like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have made life miserable for law enforcement,” Bird said. “They treat police like criminals and criminals like victims.” Bird focused on Vice President Harris, a former local prosecutor who was California’s attorney general for six years.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird speaks at the Republican National Convention on July 16, 2024. (Photo from Bird’s staff.)

“Democrats like Harris use words like ‘reimagine’ the police,” Bird said. “…The Democratic Party is the party of defunding the police. They said it, they mean it and they can’t wiggle out of it.” Bird says Trump has repeatedly shown his support for law enforcement and will put criminals in jail where they belong. “The radical left believes in handouts, not handcuffs,” Bird said.

The Biden campaign points to recent data showing violent crime is at a 50 year low and the number of murders in America declined 13 percent between 2022 and 2023. Bird is the only statewide elected official who endorsed Trump before the Iowa Caucuses and Trump has predicted she’ll be Iowa’s governor some day.

AARP ‘road trip’ educates IA caregivers where they are

News

July 17th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Iowa News Service) – AARP Iowa is on a road trip, taking knowledge to family caregivers wherever they are and helping them learn more about the resources that may be available to them. It is part of the association’s larger effort to educate people about caregiving in Iowa.

AARP Iowa data show the state’s 330,000 unpaid family caregivers provide $310 million of care every year in the state, which is valued at more than $5 billion. Brad Anderson, state director for AARP Iowa, said caregivers are busy and often do not know what to expect or where to get information. “For example, they need to know, ‘How do I get in touch with the Area Agency on Aging?’ They need to know, ‘How does Medicare work?’ They need to know, ‘Is my loved one on the right prescription drug program?'” Anderson outlined.

AARP is traveling the state from the Mississippi River to the Missouri River in a big red RV to distribute information. Anderson noted they are making stops at grocery stores, hospitals, clinics and pharmacies; the most likely places to run across people who have just inherited caregiving duties.

There are other, more ‘hands-on’ things caregivers need to know but Anderson added since most people fall into the role, there is no real formal training and they have to learn their new role on the fly.

“How do I feed my loved one? How do I care for a wound? Maybe how do I even lift this person up and help them into bed?” Anderson explained. “These are all things that sometimes happen, literally, overnight.”

The informational tour is scheduled to last into August.

Tornado confirmed in Davenport, work continues to restore electricity

News, Weather

July 16th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities has confirmed a tornado hit Davenport during last night’s storms. Meteorologist Brian Pierce says they don’t know the full extent of the damage or the exact time  the tornado touched down, but they do know with some confidence the size and scope of the tornado.

“We have a width of 100 yards and a maximum windspeed of about 100 miles an hour, so it was EF-0 to borderline EF-1,” Pierce. The tornado moved about 8 miles through the city, and ultimately crossed the Mississippi River. Pierce says pinpointing the time the twister touched down may take time due to the scope of last night’s storms. “We did have straight line winds with windspeeds of about 70 to 75 miles an hour coming through the Quad Cities area. Up around the Dubuque area, winds were pushing 100 miles an hour,” he says.

The Des Moines area weather office confirmed at least one tornado touched down Monday night in Urbandale and Windsor Heights.

MidAmerican says around 50,000 people were without power at the peak of the storms, including 31,000 in the Quad Cities. Mid-American Energy spokesman Geoff Greenwood says they’ve called in a lot of help. “This is an all hands on deck type of situation,” Greenwood says. “And in addition to our own crews, we’ve brought in additional tree crews from elsewhere, and even contract line crews, some crews from other utilities here in the Midwest. Those line and tree crews come from Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

“They’re all focused on efforts in the Quad Cities, and we’ll have crews working throughout the night as we expect these efforts are going to have to continue through Wednesday,” he says.  Mid-American Energy anticipates power to be restored to most Quad Cities customers by Wednesday.

(By Grant Winterer,Iowa Public Radio)

Gov. Reynolds announces FEMA’s approval of Disaster Recovery Temporary Housing Program, opens applications

News

July 16th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Governor Reynolds today announced that the state’s Disaster Recovery Temporary Housing Program has received approval from FEMA and applications are now open. “In the course of eight weeks, Iowa was hit with three extreme weather systems, impacting more than 5,000 homes, of which, it’s estimated that more than 2,000 were destroyed,” said Governor Reynolds. “There is no more urgent need than ensuring displaced Iowans have temporary housing in the communities they call home while they recover and rebuild.”
As the governor announced last week in a press conference, the program provides temporary housing, which may include recreational vehicles and travel trailers, for up to six months at no cost for Iowans whose homes were majorly damaged, destroyed, or deemed not habitable in counties currently under a federal disaster declaration.
The following counties are currently eligible: Adair, Adams, Buena Vista, Cedar, Clay, Emmet, Jasper, Lyon, Montgomery, O’brien, Plymouth, Polk, Sioux, and Story. The recovery process and damage assessments are still ongoing and additional counties may become eligible.
Iowans whose primary residence is in a qualifying county must first apply for FEMA disaster assistance to be eligible for the program. You can register for FEMA Individual Assistance in the following ways:
  • Call FEMA directly at 800-621-FEMA (3362)
  • Download and use the FEMA app
  • Visit any Disaster Recovery Center to apply or get application assistance
Homeowners must also have filed a claim with their insurance company and have received final approval or denial of their claim. Applicable FEMA and insurance documentation is requested as part of the application process, including, but not limited to their FEMA Individual Assistance case number.
Applications are open now at DisasterRecovery.iowa.gov. Additionally, a call center will be open beginning Wednesday, July 17, at 3 p.m., to assist Iowans who may not have access to a computer and those who may need general assistance. Beginning Thursday, July 18, the call center will be open daily, including Saturday and Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. TTY and translation services are available.
To apply for the Disaster Recovery Temporary Housing Program:
  • Go to DisasterRecovery.iowa.gov to complete an application
  • Call Center: (608) 480-8808 or toll-free at (833) 307 6030
    • Hours of Operation: 7:00 AM -8:00 PM; 7 days a week
    • TTY and Translation services are available
For more information on disaster-related programs and resources available to Iowans, visit DisasterRecovery.iowa.gov.