COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Two men were sentenced Thursday, for their involvement in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl which resulted in serious bodily injury to two victims.

According to public court documents, 23-year-old Curclund Jackson VanAernam, of Atlantic, and 31-year-old Luis Alberto Hernandez, of Omaha, distributed fentanyl pills in Omaha and the surrounding areas, including Atlantic, Iowa. At least two victims overdosed after ingesting pills containing fentanyl that VanAernam and Hernandez distributed. Both victims survived after receiving doses of Narcan.

VanAernam was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison and will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release following his prison term. Hernandez was sentenced to 22 years in prison, to be followed by a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement (SWINE) Task Force, Atlantic Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Omaha Police Department investigated the case.

Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced Thursday, to five years in federal prison for possession of a firearm a felon and possession of cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute it.

According to public court documents, 58-year-old Terrance Tethur Yager was on probation when probation officers visited his home and found cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, mushrooms, and prescription pills in his garage and a loaded pistol in his truck. After completing his prison term, Yager will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Council Bluffs Police Department investigated the case.

(Radio Iowa) – Triple-A reports the price of a gallon of unleaded gas in the state dropped five cents in the last week and sits at two-dollars, 82 cents a gallon. Triple-A Iowa spokesman, Brian Ortner, says the current gas price trend will see prices at or below what they were last year as people hit the roads for the holiday. “Across Iowa last year on Christmas Day, we were looking at two-dollars 86, cents on an average across the state, on New Year’s about three-oh-two,” he says.

He says the drop in the cost of oil is a big reason for the drop in gas prices. “Over 50 percent of that cost when you’re filling up at the pump is the cost of what a barrel of crude oil cost,” Ortner says. “And right now that’s trading around 70 dollars per barrel today. You look at a couple of months ago, we were trading at that 90 dollars a barrel. So seeing those numbers go down is a great thing. ” He says prices could even drop a little more.

“As we look towards the Christmas holiday and New Year’s holiday, we expect that you’ll see numbers stay flat, or maybe even decrease a little bit as we move into the holiday travel period, those 10 days of the 23rd through the through January 1st,” Ortner says. Ortner says the drop in gas prices is important as most Iowans who are traveling during the holiday will be driving.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie Center Community School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday evening (Dec. 13,2023), activated the District’s Licensed Employee Early Retirement Policy. Superintendent Josh Rasmussen explains the incentive is being offered to those teachers who are at least 55 years of age with 10-years of experience.

He said “The Board is using [the incentive] as a tool to reduce some expenses in the General Fund.” Applications for the Early Retirement Program are due-in by January 3rd (2024). Rasmussen said there is a limit on the number of applicants who will be selected for the benefit, based on the availability of replacement teachers .

Superintendent Rasmussen said also, the Guthrie Center School Board approved the submission of an application to the SBRC (School Budget Review Committee) for a modified supplemental amount, with regard to the district’s enrollment numbers.

The Board also approved the resignations of High School Custodian Tom Bates, and High School Night Custodian Renee Baier, along with contract recommendations for High School Cheer Sponsor Christina Wilson, and HS Cheer Volunteer, Beck Wahl.

(Atlantic & Audubon, Iowa) –  Officials with the Omaha Community Foundation report their affiliate foundations in Cass and Audubon Counties are now accepting Spring Grant applications are now being accepted from organizations providing charitable services in Audubon and (separately) Cass Counties. As part of this spring grant cycle, approximately $135,000 is available to support Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects, and approximately $135,000 is available to support Cass County nonprofit organizations and community projects, in each county, respectively. The deadline to apply for funds in either county, through the online application process, is February 1, 2024.

Beginning December 15, application details, a fact sheet, and a link to the application form can be found online by selecting either Audubon County or Cass County under the County Listing at www.swiowafoundations.org. Applications will only be accepted through the online system. Both the Audubon and Cass County Community Foundations aim to improve the quality of life in their respective counties, by supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. The objective of the grant program is to fund projects that will have a lasting impact in Audubon and Cass Counties. Only organizations providing services in Audubon County or Cass County are eligible to apply in their respective county, only. They must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and be an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity, a local municipality, or a fiscally sponsored project.

This cycle of grants is made possible through the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program (CEFP). The Audubon County Community Foundation received $158,914 in 2023 from its participation in this program. The Cass County Community Foundation received $158,914. Most of the funds are available as part of the Spring 2024 Grant Cycle, with the rest held in an endowment for future years.

Created in 2004 by the Iowa Legislature, the County Endowment Fund Program is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue, which currently does not include online sports betting revenue. These funds are distributed annually to participating community foundations located in the 84 counties without a state-issued gaming license. The 15 counties with a state-issued gaming license benefit from their local casino’s Qualified Sponsoring Organization, which distributes a portion of gaming revenues in their area. CEFP was designed by the Legislature to ensure the benefits of gaming tax revenues were felt statewide.

In the 84 CEFP counties, 75 percent of each county’s annual allocation is directed to foundation grantmaking activities for that year, and 25 percent is added to their permanent endowment fund, which provides support for nonprofits now and in perpetuity.  This two-pronged approach has provided thousands of dollars for local projects each year, plus ensured a savings account for future needs.

Please contact Sunni Kamp (sunni@omahafoundation.org) at 800-794-3458 with application-related questions. All completed grant applications will be considered at the March board meeting, with applicants being notified of funding decisions by the end of March.

*Advisory board members of the Audubon County Community Foundation are Chair Pat Kaiser of Audubon; Vice Chair Gina Benton of Exira; Secretary/Treasurer Megan Wagner of Audubon; Bob Blomme of Audubon; Travis Nelson of Exira; Donna Olson of Kimballton, and Doug Carter of Audubon.

**Advisory board members of the Cass County Community Foundation are Chair Kristi Burg, in Massena; Vice Chair Gaylord Schelling, in Atlantic; Secretary/Treasurer Sue Hunt, in Atlantic; Sandy Bierbaum, in Griswold; Justin D. Hockenberry, in Anita; and Mike Tibken, in Anita.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say no injuries were reported following a collision at around 1-p.m. Thursday, at Highway 34 and Wyoming Avenue. Police along with the Creston Fire Department were dispatched with Medic 1 to the scene. According to the Police report, a 2015 GMC SUV driven by 32-year-old Emilie Anne Blankenship, of Creston, was leaving the stop sign on Wyoming Avenue, heading southbound across Highway 34. Blankenship told police she thought a 2019 GMC SUV (driven by 16-year-old Aydin M. Gaiser, of Massena), was turning, but it was heading westbound on Highway 34.

Hwy 34 & Wyoming Ave. accident photo via the Creston F.D Facebook page.

Emilie Blankenship’s SUV struck Gaiser’s SUV, causing a total of $9,000 damage. No citations were issued, but the police report noted Blankenship failed to yield the right-of-way from a stop sign.

(Atlantic, Iowa) — Produce in the Park’s Christmas Market 2023 takes place December 23rd at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, in Atlantic. The event will be held from Noon until 3-p.m. Organizers say this holiday market offers local and handmade foods and crafts, with local favorite Pim’s Thai being on site for lunch needs.

Produce in the Park is accepting vendor applications for Christmas Market, and additional holiday markets planned for winter and spring 2024. Vendor applications can be found online at www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com; printed copies of the application are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 50022). Produce in the Park seeks vendors selling handmade or homegrown products, including local foods, as well as beauty products, candles, crafts, art, and decorations.

Christmas Market 2023 is sponsored by Cass Health, Gregg Young of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust, Meyer & Gross Real Estate, Nishna Valley Family YMCA, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Atlantic.

For the latest information on Christmas Market and all Produce in the Park markets, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/).

(Follow-up to a previous story; Radio Iowa) – A top Republican in the Iowa Senate says a Government Oversight Committee investigation of Iowa’s nursing home industry would be a distraction for state officials who inspect the facilities. Senate President Amy Sinclair, a Republican from Allerton, says in the past 12 months the state issued over 28-hundred citations for abuse and neglect that state inspectors found in nursing homes and an investigation would distract from that important work. Senate Democrats like Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, of Dubuque, say an investigation by the legislators would shed light on troubling reports of inhumane situations in some Iowa nursing homes.

“As legislators, we have also received numerous emails and phone calls from our constituents who have expressed to us concerns about the care of their loved ones in nursing facilities in their communities,” Jochum says. “This is a very serious issue and we must act now to address it.”

Senate Democrats say they will push to increase state funding for home based care and for hiring more nursing home inspectors. A spokesman for Governor Kim Reynolds says while Reynolds has been governor, she’s approved boosting Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing home care by a total of 165 MILLION dollars and initiated other state programs to train health care workers.

Kollin Cromptom, the governor’s deputy communications director, says the governor believes that is the path to resolving the workforce shortage in nursing homes.

DES MOINES, Iowa – It’s hard to have a happy holiday if you’re arrested for drunk driving. The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is partnering with law enforcement across Iowa to urge drivers to think twice before drinking and driving. From now (December 15) through January 1, 2024, drivers will see officers working on a special high-visibility enforcement campaign to spread the message about the dangers of drunk driving.

As of the latest data released Thursday (Dec. 14, 2023), the Iowa Department of Transportation said 358 people had died on Iowa roadways this year, that’s the highest amount of deaths recorded in the past five-years, and 31 more than last year at this same time. So far this month, 15 people have died as the result of an automobile accident. The GTSB says more parties and festivities celebrating the season bring out more drunk drivers. In 2022, preliminary data shows 35% of Iowa’s fatal crashes involved an impaired driver. Last December, almost 1,100 drivers were charged with OWI on Iowa roads. About 25% of those were 2nd and 3rd offenses. Impaired drivers endanger both themselves and others. GTSB and law enforcement urge drivers to always plan before heading out to celebrate.

“Drunk driving isn’t just dangerous, it’s illegal,” says Impaired Driving Program Administrator Todd Olmstead. “Drivers have a choice: follow the law and respect their fellow drivers by refraining from drunk driving, or make the choice to drive drunk, put others at risk, and risk their own mortality. We need a commitment from every driver to keep the roads free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe holiday.”

There are many options available to help impaired drivers get home safely, such as designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or rideshare. If available, use your community’s sober ride program. Remember: a few dollars spent on a ride is a lot cheaper than an OWI conviction, which can cost up to $10,000. Plan before you head out for the evening. If you see an impaired driver on the road, do not hesitate to contact law enforcement.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say no injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident Thursday evening on McKinley Street. Authorities report a 2012 Hyundai Sante Fe SUV driven by 19-year-old Bryan Andrew Jones, of Creston, was traveling south on McKinley Street at around 5:17-p.m., when the vehicle left the road on the right and drove with its passenger side tires in the grass. The SUV then struck City of Creston steel posts located near a driveway. The vehicle re-entered the road and eventually stopped.

When Jones contacted police, authorities say he initially told them the incident was a hit-and-run event, with a black SUV hitting his vehicle. During an investigation, however, Creston Police determined there was no other vehicle, and that Jones’ SUV had left the roadway under his control. There were visible tire tracks in the grass before the accident scene, and freshly moved dirt around the posts that were hit. Both posts had scratched and paint transfer on them that was consistent with the damage on the blue SUV Jones was driving.

The vehicle sustained $2,000 damage. No citations were issued. The Police report stated Jones “Failed to keep in [the] proper lane” (Failure to Maintain Control), and “Operator inexperience” was a factor in the accident.