(Radio Iowa) – This spring will be the first time in about two centuries that the U-S will see the emergence of two different broods of cicadas. One brood of insects emerges from the ground every 17 years and the other every 13 years. University of Iowa biology professor Andrew Forbes stood in a forested area near Coralville and told K-C-R-G T-V that the cicadas will emerge sometime within the next month. “They’ll be swarming up all of the trees, and eventually making an amazing noise. Really, really loud. It’ll be hard to talk where we’re standing right now,” he said. Forbes says Iowa is only going to see one brood emerge and Illinois is about the only place in the Midwest that will see both at the same time.

Forbes is still excited, even without the double emergence in eastern Iowa. “For biologists like me, this is my eclipse,” he said. Forbes said it’s unlikely you’ll see too many cicadas in a suburban area. They’re mainly going to be in places that have been a forest and stayed a forest. “Even if a forest was removed and then replanted, the cicadas aren’t there because they went with the trees,” Forbes explained. You will have to travel a bit if you want to hear the full effect of the double emergence. Forbes tells K-C-R-G T-V it’ll be worth it.

“I recommend people do go and see them because it is an amazing natural phenomenon that happens only in the eastern part of the United States and nowhere else in the world,” he said. The Cedar Rapids area will see those 17-year cicadas. The very far southeastern part of the state will see the ones that emerge every 13 years. The last time both cicada broods emerged at the same time was in 1803 when Thomas Jefferson was President.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage criminal sexual activity. According to public court documents and information presented at sentencing, Prya Reh, 24, met a 12-year-old Minnesota child online in the fall of 2022.  Reh knew the child was 12.  In November 2022, Reh drove from Des Moines to Minnesota where he picked the child up from middle school, drove to a local motel, and sexually abused the child.  About a week later, Reh drove back to Minnesota, brought the child to Des Moines, where he secreted and sexually assaulted the child in a basement bedroom.  In addition to the in-person sexual abuse of the child, Reh also created an image of child sexual abuse material depicting the child and repeatedly asked the child to text him sexually explicit pictures.  Reh also possessed a firearm as a felon.  When police searched Reh’s residence, police located a loaded pistol in Reh’s bedroom.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Reh will be required to serve five years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Reh was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $5,000.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department, Austin (Minnesota) Police Department, FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, and Iowa DCI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday) voted to table two resolutions allocated ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act [Covid relief]) Funds, pertaining to the purchase of a Drone for the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, and a new radio system for the Secondary Roads Department. In both cases, the Supervisors wanted more information on those items, but no later than May 21^st.

In other business, the Board approved referring to the Cass County Condemnation in Eminent Domain Proceedings Board, as instead, the Cass County Eminent Domain Compensation Commission.

The Board set the date for a Public Hearing to vacate approximately 400-feet of Chicago Road west of 770 Street (North of Anita & South of Interstate 80). The hearing will take place during their next meeting, on April 23^rd, 9:15-a.m.

The Supervisors discussed with Anita Food Pantry Representative Tim Miller, a request to use the Local Option Sales Tax (Betterment) funds for improvements to the Pantry’s concrete parking lot. Miller requested funds for materials, not to exceed $25,000. Previously, the Anita Street Department had indicated its staff were willing to do some in-kind work on the project. The City has applied for a grant to help with the project, but they won’t know how much money they will receive until after the beginning of the new fiscal year that starts in July.

The Board voted to table a decision on the funds until July 16^th, by which time the grant picture should become clearer. The Supervisors then went on to accept the resignation of Tonia Larsen, as Brighton Township Clerk, and appointing her as a Brighton Township Trustee. They approved also, the appointment of Kathleen Pace as Brighton Township Clerk, and, they approved the appointment Alice Williams as Victoria Township Trustee. The Board approved the appointment of David Williamson to the Cass County Eminent Domain Compensation Committee.

The Board however tabled accepting the resignation of Duane Ortgies as Victoria Trustee, effective April 16^th, because the paperwork had not been filed in-time. They will take action on his resignation during their next regular meeting.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Malvern man was arrested late Monday night. 41-year-old Jeffrey Dale Hankins, was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, and False Imprisonment. Hankins was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is calling on the Biden administration to stand with Israel after the weekend attack that saw Iran launch some 300 missiles and drones into Israeli territory. Grassley, a Republican, says America needs to stick by its commitment to help Israel maintain its peace and security based on the long-standing Camp David Accords, signed in 1978. “First, it’s in the United States’ interest to support democracy in the Middle East,” Grassley says, “and secondly, it’s necessary to our own national security that we have a friend in such a foul region of the globe.” Grassley says the reasons those accords were enacted years ago are still very true today. For the large part, he says, the U-S has chosen peace for decades and earned international credibility.

“Now in this administration, the Biden administration, it’s trying to tell Israel how to run its government, even when to have an election, and how to fight — or not fight — its wars,” Grassley says. “This posture risks our relationship with Israel.” The White House response sends a signal to other allied nations, Grassley says, that may question how far the United States can be trusted.

“Israel has a right to demonstrate to Iran that Saturday’s attack won’t be tolerated again,” Grassley says. “The United States wouldn’t stand for some other nation telling us how to fight our wars. The United States must stand with Israel to maintain that credibility.” The weekend airstrike was unprecedented and marks the first time there’s been direct military action between Iran and the Jewish state.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), held a Public Hearing on the vacating of an unimproved alley in the unincorporated town of Stennett. Having heard or received no written, objections, the Board approved Resolutions to vacate the alley as described, along with a Quit Claim Deed to the alley property.

Supervisor Donna Robinson…

Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert updated the Board on Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities.

The Board approved a Title 6 Non-Discrimination Agreement (renewal) between the County and Iowa Department of Transportation, changes to the Montgomery County Personnel Handbook, as described by County Auditor Jill Ozuna.

And, the Supervisors approved moving their June 4^th regular Board meeting to June 5^th, due to the Primary Election being held on June 4^th.

(Creston, Iowa) – A Montgomery County man was arrested Monday night on OWI and other charges, in Creston. According to Creston Police, 47-year-old Donald Lee Gay, of Villisca, was arrested a little before 10-p.m. at 809 W. Adams, in Creston. Gay was charged with Operating While Under the Influence 1st Offense. He was posted a $1,000 cash or approved surety bond, but was being held without bond until seen by a judge on additional charges of Assault and Public Intoxication.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Adair-Casey CSD Board of Education will meet 7-p.m. Wednesday, April 17th, in the Guthrie Center, AC/GC High School Media Center. Here’s their agenda:

I. Open Public Hearing – 2024/25 Certified Budget
II. Receive Written and/or Oral Comments
III. Close Public Hearing
IV. Roll Call/Call to Order (Regular Meeting)
V. Approve Meeting Agenda
VI. Welcome Visitors/Public Comment
VII. Special Presentations
A. Senior Trip
VIII. Principal Report
IX. Superintendent Report
X. Board Report
XI. Financial Reports
A. Cash Balances & Bank Reconciliation
B. Student Activity Fund: Monthly Report
C. All Other Funds: Monthly Report
D. General Fund: Line Item Budget Monthly Report
E. General Fund: Year-to-Date Revenue/Expenditure Summary
F. General Fund: Salaries & Benefits Comparison Report
XII. Consent Items
A. Board Meeting Minutes
B. Monthly Bills
1. Prepaid
2. General Fund
3. Student Activity Fund
4. Nutrition Fund
C. Open Enrollment
D. Resignations
1. Matt Dahl, 2nd Grade Teacher (end of 2023-24 school year)
2. Julie Parker, Preschool Teacher (end of 2023-24 school year)
E. Contract Recommendations
1. Ashley DeWitt, Food Service
2. Jocelyn Jesko, Paraeducator
3. Dean Chesnut, Day Custodian
F. Gifts, Grants & Bequests
XIII. Discussion Items
A. School Safety – School Safety Grant
B. AEA Classroom Rental
XIV. Upcoming Dates
A. May Regular Board Meeting – Adair-Casey (TBD)
B. May Regular Meeting – Guthrie Center (TBD)
C. Baccalaureate & Awards Night- May 15- 6:00 PM
D. Commencement – May 19th- 1:00 PM
XV. Action Items (AC/GC)
A. Approve 2024-25 Certified Budget
B. Set Public Hearing for 2023-24 Certified Budget Amendment – May 15th @ 7:00pm
C. 2024-25 Winter Sports Coaching Contracts
D. 2024-25 Employee Benefit Program
E. 2024-25 Equipment Breakdown Insurance
XVI. Action Items (AC)
A. Purchase/BIdding Policies- – 705.01, 705.01 (R1), 705.01 (R2)
XVII. Action Items (GC)
A. Class of 2024 Graduate List
B. Purchase/Bidding Policies- – 705.01, 705.01 (R1), 705.01 (R2)
XVIII. Adjourn Meeting

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie Center Community School District’s Board of Education will meet 7-p.m. Wednesday, in the AC/GC High School Media Center (in Guthrie Center). The meeting begins with a Public Hearing on the 2024-25 Certified Budget, followed by action later on during the session, on approving the Budget as presented. The Board is also expected to set May 15th at 7-p.m. as the date & time for a Public Hearing on a 2023024 Certified Budget Amendment. Other action items during the meeting include approving:

• 2024-25 Winter Sports Coaching Contracts
• 2024-25 Employee Benefit Program
• 2024-25 Equipment Breakdown Insurance
• Purchase/Bidding Policies, and
• 2024 list of graduates.

The full agenda includes:

I. Open Public Hearing – 2024/25 Certified Budget
II. Receive Written and/or Oral Comments
III. Close Public Hearing

IV. Roll Call/Call to Order (Regular Meeting)
V. Approve Meeting Agenda
VI. Welcome Visitors/Public Comment
VII. Special Presentations
A. Senior Trip
VIII. Principal Reports
IX. Superintendent Report
X. Board Report
XI. Financial Reports
A. Cash Balances & Bank Reconciliation
B. Student Activity Fund: Monthly Report
C. All Other Funds: Monthly Report
D. General Fund: Line Item Budget Monthly Report
E. General Fund: Year-to-Date Revenue/Expenditure Summary
F. General Fund: Salaries & Benefits Comparison Report

XII. Consent Items
A. Board Meeting Minutes
B. Monthly Bills
1. Prepaid (Prior to Board Meeting)
2. General Fund
3. PPEL/SAVE Fund
4. Student Activity Fund
5. Nutrition Fund
C. Open Enrollment
D. Resignations
1. Ethan Lensch, AC/GC High School Principal (end of 2023-24 school year)
2. Colin Shawgo, HS Teacher & Instructional Coach (end of 2023-24 school year)
3. Justin Keck, HS Assistant Basketball Coach
4. Kris Lehman, Assistant HS Wrestling Coach
E. Contract Recommendations
F. Gifts, Grants & Bequests
G. Fundraisers

XIII. Discussion Items
A. School Safety- School Safety Grant
B. AEA Classroom Rental

XIV. Upcoming Dates
A. May Regular Board Meeting – Adair-Casey (TBD)
B. May Regular Meeting – Guthrie Center (TBD)
C. Baccalaureate/ Awards Night- May 15- 6:00 PM
D. Commencement – May 19th- 1:00 PM

XV. Action Items (AC/GC)
A. Approve 2024-25 Certified Budget
B. Set Public Hearing for 2023-24 Certified Budget Amendment – May 15th @ 7:00pm
C. 2024-25 Winter Sports Coaching Contracts
D. 2024-25 Employee Benefit Program
E. 2024-25 Equipment Breakdown Insurance
XVI. Action Items (AC)
A. Purchase/Bidding Policies. – 705.01, 705.01 (R1), 705.01 (R2)
XVII. Action Item (GC)
A. Class of 2024 Graduate List
A. Approve the current graduate list pending the completion of all school board graduation requirements.
B. Purchase/Bidding Policies- 705.01, 705.01 (R1), 705.01 (R2)
B. Approved the first reading of policies 705.01, 705.01(R1), and 705.01 (R2), waiving the second reading.

XVIII. Adjourn Meeting.