(Radio Iowa) – First district Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Davenport says Democrats making abortion a key issue in their campaigns have nothing else to run on. “They have high gas prices, high food prices, high interest rates so young people can’t buy a house and don’t think they can get ahead in the United States,” Miller-Meeks said yesterday during a campaign stop in Mount Pleasant. “They have open borders with record amounts of fentanyl coming across the border.”

Christina Bohannan, the Democrat running against Miller-Meeks, has just released a campaign ad accusing Miller-Meeks of “pushing to ban all abortions nationwide with no exceptions for rape or incest.” On the campaign trail, Bohannan cites Miller-Meeks’ previous support of a constitutional amendment that says life begins “at fertilization,” which would ban all abortions. Miller-Meeks did not sign on as a co-sponsor of the proposal during the current two-year session of congress. “I am pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother,” Miller-Meeks said. “I’ve been very consistent on that.”

Last year, Miller-Meeks voted to set five-year-old prison sentences for health care providers who do not try to save the life of a baby that’s born alive during an attempted abortion. The bill was opposed by Democrats. “That is an extreme position such as North Korea and China have,” Miller-Meeks said. “That is not in keeping with the majority of Americans and the majority of Iowans.”

A 2003 federal law bans so-called “partial birth” abortions and it is considered murder to kill a baby that is born alive.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors met Wednesday morning (Aug. 7), and approved certain Township Clerk wages. They acknowledged receipt of the Fiscal Year 24 Veteran’s Affairs Director and Commissioners report, and approved a Longevity Raise for Secondary Roads Dept. Employee Nathan Jensen. In his report to the Supervisors, Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman said bid letting will be held August 20^th on crack-sealing projects. He mentioned also a couple of posted bridge weight reductions will be in effect soon due to deteriorating bridge pilings.

The Board will act next week on a Resolution to update all the bridge weight postings. Kauffman said they will try to get replacements for both bridges within the next couple of years, because repairs are just too expensive. Other projects include those affecting the Henry Wallace Road, and a bridge deck pouring.

Kauffman said also, they will receive a check next week from FEMA on tornado damage clean-up (such as tree grinding, etc.), and the County’s insurance company has agreed to let the Secondary Roads Department replace some of the equipment that was destroyed. FEMA representatives are expected to be on-site Friday to take a look at the clean-up efforts and costs incurred so far.

That includes the cost of equipment and personnel labor-rate hours. Kauffman said he’s had a good working relationship with FEMA officials since the EF-4 tornado destroyed a good part of Greenfield and sections of the Adair County.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Department say six people were arrested between July 27th and August 1st.

On August 1st, Atlantic Police arrested: 19-year-old Ryder Burk, of Atlantic, for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and Theft in the 1st Degree; and, 34-year-old Justin Hay, of Atlantic, was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree.

On July 30th, 33-year-old Sean Chamberlin, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI (Operating While under the Influence). 32-year-old Gage Ray, of Atlantic, was arrested July 28th, for Domestic Abuse Assault, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and on two-counts of Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon.

And, on July 27th, Atlantic Police arrested 26-year-old Jeff Edgar and 37-year-old Rinanten Amo, both of Atlantic. They were charged with Public Intoxication and Interference with Official Acts. Amo was additionally charged with Disorderly Conduct.

Each of those individuals were taken into custody and transported to the Cass County Jail, where they were booked-in. The Jail Roster shows none of the aforementioned persons remained in jail as of August 7th.

The Police Department reports also, two women were cited into court on shoplifting charges. 62-year-old Julie Peck, of Walnut, was cited July 25th, and 43-year-old Stacie Hansen, of Atlantic, was cited August 5th. In addition, 44-year-old Dawn Theisen, of Atlantic, was cited for Child Endangerment.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken provided his regular report to the Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning. That included an update on storm damage and related clean-up, RAGBRAI and upcoming projects.

Wolken reminded the Board about the Cass County Safety Action Plan workshop, which takes place August 27^th.

Once the County gets it’s Safety Action Plan put together, the County will be eligible for funding. Wolken said intersections and curves are some areas where he wants added safety measures installed that is provided by the funding.

Wolken says they’ll look at crash data to determine where additional illumination of intersections, sight-distance issues, and other measures would make it safer for drivers, but there’s not a whole lot of incidents in the county that are caused by those type of problems. “A lot of them are paved intersections with State roads, for some reasons.”

He said also, the Secondary Roads Department is looking at obtaining some additional equipment, such as boxes for trucks that are on-hand, and three pieces of equipment that are on-order.