(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report a man was arrested today (Wednesday) following a reported armed subject in a bank. Officers were called at around 9:50-a.m. to the Glenwood State Bank, where they arrested 66-year-old Ricky Schnackel, of Glenwood, on a Class-B Felony charge of Robbery in the 1st Degree, and an Aggravated Misdemeanor  Use of a Dangerous Weapon in the Commission of a Crime, charge.

Schnackel was being held in the Mills County Jail on a $27,000 bond. The incident remains under investigation.

Disclaimer: “A criminal charge is merely and accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate convened a gathering of state and federal officials at the Iowa National Guard’s headquarters today (Wednesday) to tout security measures surrounding the General Election.  “It is because of numerous checks and balances and many, many layers in place that help us ensure Iowa elections are safe and secure,” Pate said. Iowa Public Safety Commissioner Stephen Bayens says his agency will be a hub for collecting information from three-thousand law enforcement and intelligence agency partners.

“Our duty and focus for the upcoming election is to alert Iowans as to any false information that may circulate through email, social media or telephone calls,” Bayens said, “as well as an physical threats on election day or the days that follow.” Bayens says false information about the election typically centers around fake notices that polling sites have moved or are closing, as well as false allegations of election intimidation to spark fear about voting.

“Please also be mindful of scam artists claiming you can register a ballot or voting on online or over the phone. These fraudsters are attempting to obtain your personal information so they can either steal your personal identity or trick you into believing you have already voted,” Bayens said. “We encourage all Iowans to be mindful of such efforts and to only rely on trusted information sources such as state or local election officials.”

Cyber security staff from state government and the Iowa National Guard are monitoring election offices in Iowa 24 hours a day now. Phil Kirk of the U-S Department of Homeland Security is regional director for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency or CISA. He says Iowa has key election safeguards, like testing of all election equipment before it’s used to count paper ballots and, after the election, results in randomly-selected precincts are audited for accuracy.

“The 2024 election cycle is facing arguably the most complex threat environment ever,” Kirk said, “but the nation’s elections infrastructure is more secure and the election community more prepared than ever.” Kirk emphasizes that every voter in Iowa will be casting a paper ballot that enables counts, recounts and audits.

“I want to address Iowa voters directly: thanks mostly to the hard work of your state and local election officials, their partners and CISA security experts across this region I have confidence we are doing everything we can to ensure a safe and secure election,” he said, “and that you should be confident, too.”

The F-B-I is the primary agency in charge of investigating election-related crimes and the special agent in charge of the F-B-I’s Omaha office says an “election command post” has been set up there to coordinate a state and federal response to any threats related to this year’s election.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says if Donald Trump becomes president again, he will dramatically reduce the size of the federal government. “The waste has to be just — and you all know it — astronomical,” Reynolds says. “…I’m excited they talk about maybe an Elon Musk getting in there and thinking about how we can restructure. I’m excited about those kind of opportunities because that’s invigorating and that creates a really awesome culture that really drives even more innovations.”

Reynolds spoke early this (Wednesday) morning to the Westside Conservative Club in Urbandale, touting her own reorganization of Iowa’s government as an example of what could happen in a second Trump term if Republicans are in the majority in the U-S House and Senate. “First of all, you’ve got to go in there and blow it up. We need to start operating more like a business and we need to approach government like that, Reynolds says. “It is ridiculous — no metrics, no KPIs, nothing — nothing is based on outcomes or data.” Reynolds suggests more federal spending should be delivered to states as block grants and governors and state lawmakers should have greater authority and flexibility to decide where that money is spent.

Reynolds spoke for about 45 minutes this (Wednesday) morning, answering questions from the crowd of Republicans. The governor asked a question of her own, too, and nearly everyone in the audience raised their hands when she asked who had already voted. “Six more days until we take this country back. Who’s excited about that? Holy cow. Unbelievable,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds told the crowd Iowa’s early voting numbers show Republicans are competitive with Democrats, who have historically emphasized voting early. The governor says that allows Republicans to focus their resources on reaching Iowans who do not vote in every election.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors met this (Wednesday) morning (Oct. 30), in Greenfield. During their regular weekly session, the Board acknowledged a Manure Management Plan (MMP) update from Rose Acre Farms, and approved a Child Abuse Prevention Grant draw-down. The Board accepted the 2024 Annual Weed Commissioner’s report from Nathan Jensen. And, the Adair County Supervisors approved a request from Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, to advertise for a opening being created as of January 1st, due to the retirement of a Sheriff’s Department employee.

In other business, the Board approved Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman’s request for a new hire, effective November 4th, along with a $4.00/hour wage increase for Assistant to the Engineer, Sawyer Hansen. Kauffman made the request so that Hansen’s salary can be brought closer in-line to what other counties are paying persons in similar positions.

The Board authorized Chair Jerry Walker to sign two (updated) front pages for the N-7 (Eureka Township) and W-22 (Lee Township) bridge projects. Engineer Nick Kauffman then presented the Supervisors with his weekly report on Secondary Roads Department maintenance and activities. That included storm damage updates.

He said also, they’re working on a right-of-way agreement for a box culvert project, and a bridge project. The N-16 Washington (Township) Bridge is being designed, and drilling for soil samples will be taken care of later this week, so the bridge will be temporarily closed. Work on the bridge itself is expected to begin in Sept, 2025.