(Radio Iowa) – The northwest Iowa community of Spencer continues working on the recovery from devastating flooding that hit in late June. Spencer Chamber and Foundation executive director Sheriffa Jones says 40 percent of all buildings were impacted by flood water. “It’s really going to be hard to make residents and businesses whole, but we’re going to try our best to do as best as we can with all of the agencies working together.”

Jones says the Chamber Foundation received more than 250-thousand dollars from almost 500 donors across the country and has awarded grants to 35 businesses and more than 170 residents throughout Clay County. “There’s always this huge outpouring of support initially, and we definitely saw that, and then it dissipates, and this is going to be a recovery effort that’s going to take years, three years, five years, ten years, 20 years,” she says. “Ultimately, Spencer and Clay County will never be the same.”

Jones estimates most property owners did not have flood insurance and are receiving federal, state and local help. But she admits not everyone will receive all the funding they need to recover. Some flood victims are living in 40 state-funded R-Vs at the Clay County Fairgrounds as developers work on rebuilding homes. Another 40 R-Vs will be filled soon. The R-Vs are not meant to be used during the winter, so residents will be moved into FEMA trailers or rental units.

City leaders have started meeting with developers about plans to rebuild homes through a recent state program.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is doing a “wonderful job,” despite growing frustrations among other Senate Republicans as the deadline nears for a solution to prevent a federal government shutdown.

Johnson is having trouble getting the votes needed to avoid the shutdown at month’s end, and while some in the Senate say if the House can’t act by Thursday, they’ll do it themselves, Grassley is offering Johnson a little more leeway. “He’s got very narrow margin, can only lose two or three votes,” Grassley says, “and in the House, if the majority party doesn’t stick together, you don’t run the show.”

Grassley fears the type of message it would send to voters if Congress can’t find a way to cooperate and prevent the shutdown, especially with the general election looming in November. “They should not show the disunity that they’re showing now on not approving appropriations for next year,” Grassley says, “or the public’s going to read it that they don’t know how to run the House of Representatives, so you might as well turn it over to the Democrats.”

Sen. Grassley

Grassley calls government shutdowns a “stupid idea.” “It costs money to shut down the government. Do you know what? Even costs money for 10 days before the government might shut down, for the government to get ready to shut it down, and then it costs money to open up the government,” Grassley says, “and then what’s the government for?”

Grassley says the federal government’s main purposes are to protect the people and to offer needed services, and it can’t do either one if it’s closed for business. He anticipates there will be a “continuing resolution” that would prevent a shutdown, or at least push back the anticipated date.

BLACK HAWK COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa State Patrol has identified a man killed Monday night in a crash involving a UTV in rural Black Hawk County. According to a crash report, 56-year-old Andrew Eric Clark, of Cedar Falls, a retired Waterloo Police Department Sergeant,  was operating a 2019 Polaris Ranger northbound on N Union Road and failed to yield while attempting to turn left onto W Cedar Wapsie Road. Clark’s UTV hit a 2013 Chrysler 200 that was traveling southbound on N Union Road.

Clark died from his injuries. A 41-year-old Ryan (IA) man driving the Chrysler was injured.

The July, 2023 groundbreaking at site of Dobson Pipe Organ Buildings in Lake City, Iowa. (Dobson Pipe Organ Builders photo)

(Radio Iowa) – After a devastating fire three years ago, Dobson Pipe Organ Builders — the western Iowa business that does work around the globe — celebrated the grand opening of its new facility in Lake City today (Tuesday). Dobson owner, John Panning, announced in 2022 that they were committed to rebuilding on the same site as their former headquarters, which was completely destroyed by a June 15, 2021 fire. Dobson staff continued building organs while their new facilities were under construction, working out of various open spaces provided by the community.

Dobson Pipe Organ Builders organs, known as opuses, are featured in cathedrals, churches, performing arts centers, and college campuses throughout the U.S. and world.

(Radio Iowa) – A health care provider in the Sioux City metro has agreed to pay over 12-and-a-half MILLION dollars to settle a federal investigation of alleged kick-backs. The U-S Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa says kickbacks make health care more expensive and create the potential for health care decisions that are not in the best interest of the patient. The Dunes surgical hospital in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota was accused of making significant payments to a non-profit affiliate of a physician group whose physicians made referrals to the facility.

Those payments allegedly funded the salaries of athletic trainers who generated referrals to the surgical hospital. The settlement also resolves allegations that the surgical hospital provided free or below-market-value clinic space, staff, and supplies to another group of physicians.

The news release from the U-S Justice Department indicates the Dunes surgical center cooperated with the government’s investigation and has taken a number of significant steps to reach a resolution to the case. The facility was also accused of false billings to Medicare, Medicaid as well as TRICARE, the health care program for active duty military, veterans and their families. As part of the settlement, the surgical center has agreed to pay the states of Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska will be paid nearly one-four-four MILLION for the Medicaid infractions.

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Griswold School Board met Monday evening. Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN News the Board officially approved the hiring of Cathy Brown as Middle School/High School Cook. He says she actually started on September 3^rd. Henrichs said the Griswold School Board approved a bid, under the Safety Grant, to install push button locks on classroom doors. The bid was awarded to Red Oak Glass, in the amount of $169.68 per door.

He said they’re still waiting to get bids for other items. The Board also approved a request for Allowable Growth and Supplemental Aid for 2023-24 Special Education Deficit in the amount of $411, 200.74. That’s down from last year’s approximately $420,000.

There are no tax implications. Henrichs explained the reasons why there was an increase in the deficit.

Dave Henrichs said also, the Griswold School Board authorized Transportation Director Jeff Peck, to purchase two buses coming off from a lease in another school district, in the amount of $125,000 for both buses.

The Board approved the first reading of various 100-, 500- and 900-series Board Polices, and they received an open enrollment report, which shows a net change of six students (11 more open-enrollments in, and five more open-enrollments out.). Henrichs says the net open-enrollments is negative 65 (-65), but the district is “Trending in the right direction.”

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests over the past week. Most recently, Monday night, 53-year-old Dennis Paul Archer-McLain, of Malvern, was arrested for Domestic Abuse. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

Saturday afternoon, 45-year-old Jolyn Morales-Padilla, of Carter Lake, was arrested for Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Bond: $500.

There were three arrests in Mills County last Friday:

• Glen Alan Kroll, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense. Bond: $2,000.
• 36-year-old Jose Timotoe Espinoza Morales, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Bond: $1,000.
• 24-year-old Reajean Ann Byers, of Branson, MO, was arrested on a warrant for Contempt – Other Act or Omission of District Court. She was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond.

And, on September 12th, Mills County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 66-year-old John Michael Brown, of Tiptonville, TN, for OWI/1st offense – Speeding. Bond: $1,000.00

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Cass County (IA) today (Tuesday), received a monthly report from Cass/Guthrie County Environmental Health Sanitarian Mike Stringham. He mentioned the costs associated with well plugging and rehab’s recently increased.

He recommends homeowners at least get their well(s) tested.

Cass County BOS meeting, 9-17-24

The Board discussed giving consent for an extension of the division of revenue in the urban renewal area for the City of Atlantic, from 10-to 15-years, with regard to the Camblin Hills Subdivision Project. Their discussion was followed by approval of the extension as presented.

The Board set October 1^st, and 8:30-a.m., as the time and date for a public hearing on a zoning change request by Farmer’s Electric Cooperative for  proposed electrical substation at Highway 148 and Jackson Road.

Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken provided the Board with his regular, Secondary Roads Department report.

And, the Board opted to appoint Wendy Richter to the Southlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery Commission. She said the Commission is working on getting all the shared records between the City of Atlantic, the County and the Township, sorted and organized, with regard to the Cemetery’s finances. A court order is currently in-place that stipulates those responsibilities are to be shared equally.

DES MOINES, Iowa (Sept. 17, 2024) – Food Bank of Iowa CEO Michelle Book, who has led the state’s largest hunger-relief organization for nearly nine years, has announced she will retire Dec. 31, 2024. Book transformed Food Bank of Iowa from once underperforming to a premier Feeding America food bank, receiving awards of excellence in 2022 and 2023. Food Bank of Iowa also is consistently voted among the metro’s most influential nonprofits. Today, Food Bank of Iowa serves more Iowans facing food insecurity than ever before, distributing more than 25 million pounds of food annually to 700 partners across 55 counties.

‘Exceptional progress’
“During Michelle’s tenure, Food Bank of Iowa has made exceptional progress in its mission,” said Terri Vaughan, chair of Food Bank of Iowa’s board of directors. “She took an organization with financial and operating challenges and turned it into one recognized as best in class. Thanks to her leadership, the food bank has been able to dramatically increase the amount of food distributed while improving financial stability. We have increased space for food storage, added partners, implemented efficient distribution plans and provided support for food pantries in schools. The board is grateful for Michelle’s leadership in enabling this amazing transformation.”

Michelle Book

With Book as CEO, Food Bank of Iowa:

• Increased food distribution by 230%, expanding food assistance to children, older Iowans, veterans and immigrant populations
• Acquired then-Food Bank of Southern Iowa in 2018 and later completely renovated the facility. This became Food Bank of Iowa’s Ottumwa distribution center, which supports 13 southeast Iowa counties.
• Modernized transportation from three old trucks to a fleet of 20 vehicles, including three semi tractor-trailers.
• Devised a delivery schedule providing free delivery to all partners
• Raised $20 million to renovate and expand the Des Moines facility twice
• Created volunteer centers of excellence, increasing volunteerism by more than 600%
• Opened 162 school pantries to serve children and their families

Book became Food Bank of Iowa’s third CEO in 2016. She previously led global community relations for DuPont Pioneer (now Corteva) and global compliance at John Deere Financial.

‘Extraordinary privilege’
“It has been an extraordinary privilege to make a difference in the lives of neighbors struggling to make ends meet,” Book said. “On this journey I have been honored to walk beside a community of individuals who care – my passionate teammates, stalwart partners, generous donors and energetic volunteers. Together, we fight hunger every single day to achieve our shared vision of a hunger-free Iowa.

“This role opened my eyes to the difficult choices people must make when money is short. Although the next chapter will bring more time to enjoy my family and outside interests, I will continue to seek opportunities to improve the human existence. As Maya Angelou said, when we know better, we can do better.”

The board of directors will conduct a national search for Food Bank of Iowa’s next leader.

About Food Bank of Iowa
Established in 1982, Food Bank of Iowa provides nutritious food for children, families and older Iowans to live full and active lives, strengthening their communities. Serving 55 of Iowa’s 99 counties, Food Bank of Iowa delivers more than 25 million pounds of food (21 million meals) to 700 partners annually. Learn more at foodbankiowa.org.