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Pheasant numbers show best harvest in 16 years

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa hunters took more pheasants last fall than they have in the last 16 seasons D-N-R wildlife biologist, Todd Bogenschutz says there was a 62 percent increase in birds taken.

Bogenschutz estimates more than 83-thousand hunters took to the fields — which is up 32 percent — and is probably due to surveys that showed bird numbers up.

He says hunting seems to follow cycles.

The drought that had spread across Iowa the last couple of years actually benefited pheasant numbers.

Bogenschutz says the 2024 roadside survey concluded on August 15th and the results are expected to show a pheasant population slightly lower in some areas due to spring flooding.

Glenwood woman arrested for Willful Injury & Child Endangerment

News

August 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman was arrested last Thursday for Willful Injury-Bodily Injury, and Child Endangerment. 41-year-old Rachel Christine Cruz-Davila, of Glenwood, was being held in the Mills County Jail on $7,000 bond.

Early Friday afternoon, Mills County Deputies arrested 35-year-old Krista Jo Lynn McKee, of Malvern, on a warrant for Failure To Appear. Her bond was set at $1,000.

Sunday afternoon, 40-year-old Colby Wayne Racine, of Essex, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, with bond set at $1,000.

And, Monday night, 74-year-old Terry Lee Stanley, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. His bond was also set at  $1,000.

Kingsbury Earns Scholarship for 2024-25 Season

Sports

August 20th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Redshirt junior Carter Kingsbury has been awarded a scholarship with the University of Iowa men’s basketball program for the 2024-25 season, head coach Fran McCaffery announced Tuesday.

“Carter has earned this scholarship,” said McCaffery. “He has been a valuable member of our program the past three seasons both on and off the court. He has done an exceptional job on our scout team and has performed well when called upon.”

The Ponca, Nebraska, native has appeared in 13 games during his Hawkeye career, where he has scored 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting with three 3-pointers. Off the court, the guard is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.

“It means a lot to my family and me to earn a scholarship at the University of Iowa,” said Kingsbury. “I am grateful to coach McCaffery and the entire coaching staff for giving me this opportunity. I am excited to get back to work for the upcoming season.”

Miles Greig Announces Addition of Kaia Bochow

Sports

August 20th, 2024 by Asa Lucas

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head gymnastics coach Ashley Miles Greig has announced the addition of Kaia Bochow (Bo-ho), who will join the team for the 2025 season.

Bochow, a Golden, Colo. native and all-around gymnast, will arrive in Ames after beginning her collegiate career with the West Virginia Mountaineers. She did not compete during her time in Morgantown.

Bochow, a redshirt sophomore, will mix in with five freshmen signees – Aubree Guinee, Haylee Hardin, Emry Clasen, Rachel Goldstein, Frederique Sgarbossa – making up the team’s six newcomers.

“We are so excited to be adding Kaia to the roster this year as a Cyclone,” says Coach Greig. “She has all the qualities we look for in a student-athlete that will be a part of what we’re building here at Iowa State. Cyclone Nation should expect to see some great gymnastics from Kaia, especially on bars which is one of her strongest events.”

Kaia was a five-year Level 10 gymnast for coach Melissa Luedtke at Airborne Gymnastics as part of her club competition in high school. In 2022, she qualified for the Junior Olympic Nationals, where she placed sixth on the uneven bars. Bochow also won the 2022 Colorado State Championships bars title.

Coming off the largest national rankings improvement in the country, Iowa State’s season will kick off in early January of 2025, with home competitions happening at Hilton Coliseum.

Iowa’s Deontae Craig previews the season

Sports

August 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa defensive end Deontae Craig says it is a new season and a new challenge for a veteran Iowa defense. The Hawkeye defense finished fourth in the nation in points allowed in 2023 and with eight starters returning another banner season is expected.

Craig had 54 tackles and three sacks last season. He is working in fall camp to become more consistent.

Craig says a focus in fall camp has been building depth on the defensive line. That has been a strength in recent years.

The Hawkeyes open the season on August 31st against Illinois State.

Fort Madison gas line breach cited in state lawsuit

News

August 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The state is accusing a southeast Iowa man of failing to check for underground utilities before hitting a natural gas line as he was digging a trench. Iowa’s so-called “One Call” law requires anyone planning an excavation to provide 48 hours advance notice, so underground utility lines can be marked.

The state’s lawsuit accuses Eric Fortune, Junior, of failing to make the call and using equipment that hit and damaged a one-inch natural gas line in Fort Madison that’s owned by MidAmerican Energy.According to the lawsuit, Fortune tried to repair the gas line himself rather than report the breach.

The Iowa Attorney General’s Office has recently settled two other lawsuits with contractors who failed to follow Iowa’s “One Call” law.

State Auditor’s Office reviews Zearing finances after clerk failed to file budget on time

News

August 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The state auditor’s office has examined operations in the town of Zearing after the city’s former clerk missed two deadlines and the city was unable to collect property taxes for a year. Zearing City Clerk Karen Davis was fired in July of 2022 after she failed to file the city’s budget with the State. It was a 191-thousand dollar hit to the budget for the town of about 500 residents, because no property taxes could be collected. Residents of Zearing asked the State Auditor’s Office to review how their town’s finances are handled.

The general conclusion from the State Auditor’s report is that the Zearing City Council needs to exercise additional oversight of the city’s finances. The review found the city’s balance sheet was not kept up to date and one city employee was responsible for the city’s payroll, for handling cash and checks paid to the city and for paying all the city’s bills.

The State Auditor’s staff also reviewed when city funds were used to buy fuel and other items from a business owned by a member of the city council. The report concludes 72 charges were not properly supported with an invoice.

Beware! Scammers can copy your voice from social media videos

News

August 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are being warned to be very careful when posting videos of themselves on social media. Jim Temmer, with the Better Business Bureau, says criminals are using audio from online videos to fake people’s voices in scam calls.

Scammers are banking on people’s trust of you to trick them into other scams, he says, like sending money transfers or giving up personal information.

The best way to prevent this from happening is to only share your videos with your friends and family, and Temmer warns, keep a close eye on friend requests to make sure they’re not from phony accounts.

Riggs files for Cass County Ag Extension Council

News

August 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns today (Tuesday), released an updated list of candidates who have filed to run for county offices in Cass County. Sue Riggs has filed to run for one of four seats on the Cass County Ag Extension Council, in advance of the November 5th 2024 General Election.  The last day to file is Wednesday, Aug,, 21st.

County Office candidates (I= Incumbent, R= Republican, D= Democrat)

Supervisor – District 1

Stephen S. Green (I); R – from Atlantic

Supervisor – District 4

Steve Baier (I); R – Griswold

Supervisor – District 5

Bernard Pettinger (I); R – Anita

Phyllis Stakey (D) – Massena

County Auditor

Kathy Somers (I); R – Atlantic

County Sheriff (vote for 1)

John Westering (R) – Atlantic

Non-Party Political Organization (NPPO)

Cass County Ag Extension Council (Vote for 4)

Marcy J. Dorsey (R) – Atlantic

Sue Riggs

Soil & Water Conservation District (Vote for 3)

Terry Langan (R) – Griswold

Hospital Board (Vote for 3)

Leanne Pellet (I) (R) – Atlantic

Linda L. Pelzer (I) (R) – Griswold

Ned Brown (I) (R) – Atlantic

Union Township Trustee

Delmar South (R) – Cumberland

PUBLIC MEASURE A: EMS FUNDING via Local Option Income Surtax & Assessed property valuation tax

Shall the Cass County Board of Supervisors, upon recommendation by the Cass County EMS Advisory Council, for the purpose of funding emergency medical services in Cass County, including, but not limited to, ambulance service, personnel, and equipment, be authorized, for a period of 15 years, to 1) levy and impose a local option income surtax of one percent upon the state individual income tax of each individual taxpaper who is a resident of Cass County on December 31 for each calendar year commencing with the calendar year 2025, and 2) levy and impose an ad valorem tax not exceeding seventy-five cents per one thousand dollars of assessed valuation on all taxable property within Cass County commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026?

PUBLIC MEASURE B: CAM CSD General Obligation Bond issuance

Shall the Board of Directors of the CAM Community School District in the Counties of Adair, Adams, Audubon, and Cass, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $22,500,000 to provide funds to construct, furnish and equip a classroom addition to the High School building; to remodel, repair, improve, furnish and equip exterior and interior portions of the existing High School building, including mechanical, electrical, and fire systems improvements, secure entry improvements, and technology and security improvements; and improve the site?

Due to recent legislation and House File 718 public notice is required for any question of issuing bonds or other indebtedness.  The Cass County Auditor’s office will be sending out these notices on Public Measure B to all registered voters in the CAM School District.  The notice will have the full text of the public measure and will be sent out in October (10-20 days before the election).

Both Public Measures need 60% to pass.

Gov. Reynolds awards $7.2 million to build 175 homes in disaster-impacted communities

News

August 20th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES) – Governor Reynolds today (Tuesday), announced the first round of awards through the State Disaster Recovery New Housing Grant Program. More than $7.2 million has been awarded to support the construction of 175 single-family and multifamily homes across eleven projects in disaster-impacted communities, including Cherokee, Crescent, Minden, Rock Rapids, Rock Valley and Spencer.  (See the chart below for specific details)
“Today’s awards are about more than building housing,” said Gov. Reynolds. “They’re about restoring the sense of home that is vital to these disaster-impacted communities. This support will help them begin to heal and find stability once again.”
The State Disaster Recovery New Housing Grant Program provides financial assistance for the development of new housing in communities significantly impacted by the disasters in counties eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance under a federal disaster declaration. It offers developers grant funding of up to $1 million per project to assist in the development of housing units for sale and rent, with a preference given to single-family detached units, duplex and townhouse style developments.
The program had a total of $10 million available and applications are being accepted and scored on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted or December 31, 2024.  The program is administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). More information about the program as well as other disaster-related programs and resources, visit disasterrecovery.iowa.gov.
Iowans are encouraged to be on the alert for disaster scams. State of Iowa disaster recovery programs do not charge a one-time or monthly fee to apply for assistance. To report a disaster recovery scam, contact the Office of the Attorney General of Iowa’s Consumer Protection Division at 888-777-4590 or by visiting iowaattorneygeneral.gov.