(Radio Iowa) – Eight members of Minnesota’s Incident Management Team are in the tornado-tossed southwest Iowa town of Greenfield, at the request of Iowa officials through a multi-state emergency aid compact. Jacob Beauregard, with Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management says they definitely feel for the people in Greenfield, where four people were killed by the E-F-4 twister last Tuesday. Another 35 people were hurt and dozens of homes were destroyed.

“As you know, we’re no strangers to severe weather and tornadoes,” Beauregard says, “so our hearts go out to those folks and we’re certainly happy to help.” Beauregard says when neighbors are in need, you have to respond.

“When the call comes in, we’re certainly more than willing to step up and help our neighbors,” he says, “and especially the folks in Iowa.” Beauregard says the Minnesota group will assist with managing volunteer resources, cleanup logistics and the disaster declaration process. He expects they’ll be in Iowa for about two weeks.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – (Clarification*) – A man from Atlantic was transported by Lifeflight helicopter to the UNMC in Omaha, Tuesday, following a motorcycle accident near 560th Street and Highland Road. According to Cass County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jon Westering, 33-year-old Joseph Schelle suffered severe injuries, when his 2005 Kawasaki motorcycle, for reasons unknown, left Highland Road and entered the south ditch, just west of 560th Street. The accident happened a little before 5-p.m., on Atlantic’s west side.

Westering said Schelle was leading a group of three motorcycles eastbound on Highland Road when he lost control*, left the road, and entered the ditch. Schelle’s motorcycle  flipped end-over-end about three-t0 four-times, causing Schelle to be ejected from the machine.

Agency personnel on the scene following the crash included those from the Atlantic Fire Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic Police Department, Cass EMS, and Unity Point Lifeflight.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested early this (Wednesday) morning on warrants for Child Endangerment. Authorities say 41-year-old Chasidy Leann Roberts and 47-year-old Scott Earl Eblen, both of Creston, were arrested at around 6-a.m. at a residence in the 900 block of N. Division Street, in Creston. Both face charges that include four-counts each, of Child Endangerment.

Both were later released from the Union County Jail on $8,000 bond (cash or surety), each.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  The Cass County Auditor’s Office is reminding voters that they will be open this Saturday, June 1, 2024, ahead of the June 4, 2024 Primary Election. The Auditor’s Office will be open on Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The office will be open for absentee voting and any other election business. The Auditor’s Office would also like to remind voters that they can vote absentee at the office during regular business hours through Monday, June 3, 2024, for the Primary Election.

The Auditor’s Office encourages those who have received mailed ballots to make arrangements to have them returned to the Cass County Auditor’s Office. Due to recent legislation, absentee ballots must be in the Auditor’s Office before polls close at 8:00 p.m. on June 4, 2024 to be counted.

Vote Early

For more information about the 2024 Primary Election contact the Cass County Auditor’s office at 712-243-4570. More information can be found on the Cass County elections website at https://www.casscountyia.gov/county-government/elections/primary-elections/.

FORT DODGE, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections, Tuesday, reported 47-year-old Andrew James Nielsen, who was convicted in Webster County on charges of Burglary 1st Degree in Webster County, Prohibited Acts — Manufacture, Delivery, Possession in Fayette County, and Voluntary Absence (Escape) in Polk and Webster counties, failed to report back to the Fort Dodge Residential Center as required, Monday.

Nielsen is a 5-feet nine-inch tall, 172-pound white male. He was admitted to the work release facility on March 6, 2024. Persons with information on Nielsen’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Andrew J. Nielsen (Iowa DOC photo)

DES MOINES — U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) has announced the winners of the Iowa Third Congressional District Art Competition. The top three vote receivers from the public voting option will have their art on display in each of the Iowa Third Congressional District offices, and the winner selected by a panel of three art judges will have their art on display in the U.S. Capitol.  The Overall Winner was Blake Foster, with the Griswold High School, for his piece entitled “Through My Eyes,” which will be on display at the United States Capital. Griswold High School Student Kailey Swain was a People’s Choice Award recipient, for her piece entitled “A Walk Through Show Season,” which will be on display at Nunn’s Creston Field Office.

Through My Eyes (Blake Foster)

(Other Art Competition winners are listed below)

Rep. Nunn said “I’m so impressed by the talent displayed in this year’s art competition. In each of the more than sixty submissions, students showcased creativity and perspective. Thank you to every student who participated in this year’s competition. Iowa is a special place, and these amazing students are just some of the many reasons why.”

Other recipients:

Student: Addisyn Marvin 
School: Bondurant-Farrar 
Location of Display: Des Moines Field Office
Name of Artwork: “Iowa’s Daughters”

Student: Noelle Craver 
School: Centerville High School 
Location of Display: Ottumwa Field Office
Name of Artwork: “Circle of Life”

WASHINGTON — As part of its ongoing effort to replace diesel-fueled school buses, the Biden administration today (Wednesday), said it will provide about 530 school districts across nearly all states with almost $1 billion to help them purchase clean school buses. The initiative, part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, will give funds to school districts in 47 states and the District of Columbia to help them buy over 3,400 clean school buses. Alaska, Hawaii and Nevada are not part of this round of funding.

In Iowa, seven school districts requested a total of just over $3.17 million to replace a total of 18 buses, according to the White House. Locally, the Tri-Center Community School District is receiving $820,000 towards the purchase of four electric school buses.

Nearly all of the clean school buses purchased will be electric, at 92%, according to the administration. Low-income, rural and tribal communities — accounting for about 45% of the selected projects —  are slated to receive roughly 67% of the total funding, per the administration. The Clean School Bus Program has now collectively awarded nearly $3 billion to fund about 8,500 electric and alternative fuel buses for over 1,000 communities across the United States, according to the administration.

The program started through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden, which includes $5 billion over five years to transform the country’s existing school buses with “zero-emission and low-emission models,” per the EPA. Among many negative health and environmental effects, especially for communities of color, diesel exhaust exposure can lead to major health conditions such as asthma and respiratory illnesses, according to the EPA.

Exposure to diesel exhaust can also “worsen existing heart and lung disease, especially in children and the elderly,” the agency said.