DES MOINES, Iowa (June 17, 2024) – Food Bank of Iowa has received a $25,000 grant from State Farm to support mobile food distribution, helping Iowans to recover from the May tornadoes. The funds will provide the equivalent of 41,667 nutritious meals, supporting families recovering from these tragic storms.

“This generous grant from State Farm will help us to provide additional food assistance as we respond to the needs of residents in some of our hardest hit counties,” said Food Bank of Iowa CEO Michelle Book.

Food Bank of Iowa serves 11 of the 18 counties with disaster declarations: Adair (Greenfield), Adams, Clay, Dallas, Hardin, Jasper, Kossuth, Marshall, Palo Alto, Warren and Webster. The food bank stocks the shelves of more than 700 community and church pantries, school pantries and meal sites across 55 counties, as well as provides food assistance through mobile distribution and the elementary BackPack Program.

“At State Farm part of our mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life and recover from the unexpected,” said Apsara Sorensen, State Farm corporate responsibility assistant vice president. “State Farm is proud to team up with Food Bank of Iowa to help Iowans recover faster from these devastating storms.”

Food Bank of Iowa operates 46 mobile pantries across 30 counties. Families who need food assistance, including those recovering from disaster, receive a variety of shelf-stable and fresh foods, including produce, protein and dairy. Food is distributed at a prearranged site farmers market-style or in some cases, in a drive-through format.

In addition to mobile pantries, the food bank has been offering more frequent distribution, extra routes, additional distribution and other assistance to partners in the affected areas. Food Bank of Iowa also delivers and loans generators to partners to ensure food is kept safe and distribution can continue without interruption.

(Radio Iowa) – Sioux City Parks and Recreation dedicated its new Cone Park mountain bike trails this weekend. Spokesman John Byrnes says the trails are designed for riders of any age.

He says the Cone Park bike trails set Sioux City apart from anything else that’s available.

The city held a Trails Fest this weekend to introduce the new park.

Cone park already had splash pads for kids and walking trails. It also has winter tubing and the mountain bike trails are expected to bring in many more people to the area.

(Radio Iowa) – Delegates at the Iowa Democratic Party’s state convention adopted a resolution calling for a cease fire in the Israel-Hamas war. The statement calls for the immediate and safe return of all Israeli hostages being held by Hamas and the release of over nine-thousand Palestinians who’ve been jailed under Israeli martial law.

The Iowa Democratic Party resolution calls for delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza as well as an immediate, permanent and bilateral ceasefire in Israel and Palestine.

The decision from delegates was not unanimous. Some objected to the last part of the statement which calls for a halt to the sale or transfer of arms to Israel that may be used in contravention of international law. During debate on the topic, one delegate said the party shouldn’t chicken out on taking a stand on U-S military aid to Israel.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests were made and two citations were issued. Friday afternoon, 28-year-old Joshua James Jost, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Barred, after he was pulled-over for having too dark of a tint on his pickup’s windows. He was released from the scene with a citation. Friday night, 28-year-old Dereck Lorenzo Mitchell Elliott, of Stuart, was arrested near Menlo, for Driving While License is Denied or Revoked for OWI. His arrest followed an investigation into a non-injury accident at 110th Street and Pinewood Avenue in Adair County. Elliott was released later that same night on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Wednesday afternoon (June 12th), 20-year-old Anthony Arnold Anderson, of Prescott (IA), was arrested near Greenfield, for Driving While License is Denied or Revoked for OWI. He was issued a citation and released from the scene of his traffic stop. Anderson was also issued a written warning for Possession of Nicotine by a person under the age of 21.

And, On June 11th, 40-year-old Lindsay Lee Hommes, of Adair, was arrested by Sheriff’s deputies following an incident outside of the Subway Store in Adair. Following an investigation, Hommes was taken into custody for Assault with Bodily Injury, and Interference with Official Acts for allegedly lying to law enforcement about the circumstances surrounding the incident. She was released later that same day on a $1,000 cash-only bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold two public hearings during their meeting at 9-a.m. on Tuesday, June 18th, in Atlantic. The first is with regard to Declaring Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as an Essential Service, under the Code of Iowa. During a meeting last month, the Board held the first public hearing and passed a Resolution Declaring EMS as an essential service. A second public hearing on the matter was held May 31st.

State law allows counties to initiate the process of implementing a tax levy for the services, but it must receive a super-majority of at least 60% from the county voters. The Board has stated in past meetings, that one reason for proposing the levy is to ensure a more transparent process rather than the current pool of money compiled between the county, city of Atlantic, and Cass County Health for one of the county’s few paid services in Atlantic. Another potential benefit is allowing EMS services in the county to better budget for equipment purchases and training.

If the third reading of the Resolution is passed, the measure will be included on the ballot for the November General Election. Following Tuesday’s hearing, if the Resolution is approved, the Board will act on passing a Resolution establishing an EMS Advisory Council and directing the Council to advise both the cost and funding for EMS services.

Assuming the measure it placed on the ballot in November, there must be a 60% majority of the voters in favor of it in order for it to pass. If it does, counties such as Cass, can implement up to a 75 cent levy on property taxes, a 1% income surtax, or a combination of the two to help fund local EMS providers.

The second hearing is with regard to Vendor Regulations in Atlantic for the July 22nd overnight RAGBRAI event. In other business, the Cass County Supervisors will act on authorizing the County Auditor to withhold $120,607 in a TIF rebate over-payment to Elite Octane over a two-year period. They will also discuss and possibly act on, a Vision Atlantic request for ARPA funds, and act on approving County employee wages and benefits for FY 2024-25.

The meeting is viewable in-person, electronically via Zoom, and over the phone.  (See connection details below)

Join Electronically https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2899195216?pwd=R0hSa2FOOTh0NUdra1ZSdVhVW
HpMUT09
Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
Passcode: 012064

Call In 312-626-6799, press *9 to indicate you wish to speak.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports six recent arrests:

Last Thursday night, 36-year-old Isreal Arbeduk, of Glenwood, was arrested for Violation of No Contact Order. Arbeduk was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

Friday night, Mills County Deputies arrested 61-year-old Gene Edward Jerome, of Glenwood, for Domestic Abuse Assault. Jerome was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

There were three arrests Saturday in Mills County:

33-year-old Alissa Elizabeth Smoot, of Omaha, NE., was arrested Saturday morning at the Sheriff’s Office on a Warrant for Violation of No Contact Order (Held without Bond);  25-year-old Triston James Maurer, of Hastings, IA was arrested for Eluding. His bond was set at $1,000; and, Saturday night, 30-year-old Zane Christian Carter, of Thurman, was arrested for Public Intoxication, with bond set at $300.

At around 1:15-a.m. Sunday, Mills County Deputies arrested 35-year-old Victor Adolfo Ramirez Contreras, of Omaha, for Open Container. His bond was also set at $300.

Des Moines , IA — Marco Battaglia has declared his candidacy for US House Iowa District 3. Battaglia was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa and he currently resides with his family on the South Side of Des Moines. He experienced the last 5 years from the front lines working with incarcerated Iowans and taking them in and out of hospitals for medical appointments. Prior to this Battaglia had over a decade of experience working to keep Iowans safe from financial crimes.

Battaglia, who will run as a Libertarian, will focus on taking back the “people’s house” for the citizenry. “We should elect our representatives to be Iowa first, and more specifically in this case, district 3 first,” Battaglia said during his campaign announcement in Des Moines. His platform includes standing for the inherent liberties and concerns of the people of district 3, promoting agricultural and medical freedom, and addressing inflation head on by “leading on sound money and sound economic reasoning”. Battaglia firmly believes that current Representative Thomas Massie “needs more allies in congress that support voluntary exchanges, based in honesty and transparency, that invite reciprocity and trust.”  Battaglia often invokes the memory of former Iowa Governor and Senator, Harold Hughes, whom Battaglia calls, “one of the true pioneers in the field of alcohol and other drug abuse.”

Battaglia intends to highlight the people of district 3. Next week Battaglia will be touring Greene and Guthrie counties followed by a public event, Thursday June 20 2024 in Dallas County at 6:30 pm at The Handlebar. 1607 Sugar Grove Ave, Dallas Center, IA 50063. Battaglia encourages press and public to attend, to bring any concerns that they want to voice, and for anyone interested in getting involved locally to show up.

Battaglia will engage with constituents through public events, social media interactions, and grassroots action. Battaglia has pledged to only accept donations from individual Iowans. Battaglia’s announcement comes on the heels of U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Engineer, Charles Aldrich’s, announcement to run for US House for Iowa’s 4th district and  U.S. Marine Corps veteran and current Lone Tree Iowa City Council member,  Nicholas Gluba’s, announcement to run for US House for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District.