GREENFIELD, Iowa — [KCCI] – Greenfield is celebrating homeowners and businesses rebuilding after an EF-4 tornado devastated the town back in May. Seven groundbreaking ceremonies were held Sunday across town for six homes and one business who are rebuilding, according to the Greenfield Chamber Main Street. The business breaking ground is Super Suds Auto Wash.

Organizer Gina School said her home and business were ok from the storm so it’s important to be able to give back to people who need it. The chamber says this is just the first round of groundbreaking ceremonies. School said they saved dirt from each house and will use it to plant trees in public places next year.

Pam and Dean Wiggins’ family did start fundraising for new trees in town. The hope is to use the dirt to plant one of the trees. School says she’s also planning another project ahead of the holiday season. She’s raising money to buy Christmas decorations for people who lost their homes so they can have a new tree and decorations.

(Radio Iowa) – Texas Governor Greg Abbott says the Iowa National Guard and state law enforcement officers Iowa’s governor deployed to the southern border earlier this year denied illegal entry to countless migrants.  “Thank you to Governor Reynolds. Thank you to your state legislature. Thank you to the taxpayers of the incredible state of Iowa for sending your National Guard and law enforcement officers to our border to help us secure our border and protect our sovereignty,” Abbott said.

Abbott was the keynote speaker Saturday in Des Moines at Governor Kim Reynolds’ annual campaign fundraiser.  “I invited Governor Abbott tonight so he can give us a real, raw account of the mess Kamala Harris has made at the southern border,” Reynolds said, “and share how he’s been fighting back.” Abbott says there’s been total chaos at the Texas border during the Biden-Harris Administration and he’s been forced to call upon other states for help.

“I cannot count the number of illegal immigrants who tried to get into the United States, but were denied by the help of the Iowa National Guard,” Abbott said, to cheers. Reynolds has deployed Iowa State Troopers, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agents and the Iowa National Guard to Texas on three occasions, starting in 2021.

Governor Kim Reynolds at her annual campaign fundraiser on Oct. 5, 2024 (Radio Iowa photo)

Reynolds, the first speaker at her fundraiser, drew cheers from the crowd when she mentioned the tax cuts and teacher pay raises she’s approved. She also recognized Iowa native Caitlin Clark, who was named the W-N-B-A’s Rookie of the Year late last week. “How great is it that kids around the country and around the world are learning from this example of Iowa character. And let’s be honest, it’s not just something that kids can learn. It’s something that all of us can learn from her example,” Reynolds said. “This is a political event, but the funny thing is I don’t even know Caitlin’s politics and frankly I don’t care. It doesn’t matter. She’s doing amazing things and we are lucky to call her one of our own, so let’s give her a big round of applause that shows just how much we appreciate her and all that she represents.”

Last month, Clark said this is the second election she’s been able to vote in and she encouraged people to register to vote. Reynolds and other top Iowa G-O-P leaders used this weekend’s event to repeat their calls for Iowa Republicans to vote early. Iowans may start voting at county auditors’ offices on October 16th.

(Creston, Iowa) – An accident in Creston early Friday night resulted in a woman being transported to the hospital. According to the Creston Police Department, the accident happened at around 7:40-p.m. on North Division Street, just north of the intersection with West Irving Street. Authorities say a 2016 Dodge SUV was legally parked, when a 17-year-old female from Shannon City, attempted to turn the car she was driving, around. The 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis was backing up, when it struck the SUV.

The teenage driver said she looked but didn’t see the Dodge. The owner of the Dodge, 28-year-old Crystal Whitney Jacobe, of Creston, was in the process of putting her children in the vehicle at the time of the accident. The impact caused her to be struck by the door of her vehicle, causing an injury to her right hip. Jacobe was transported to the Creston hospital by ambulance.

Both vehicles sustained minor damage and were driven away from the scene. The damage amounted to $1,500 altogether, according to the police report. There were no citations issued. The report only noted contributing factors in the accident were starting or backing improperly.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, during their meeting Tuesday morning (Oct. 8^th), are expected to approve an Informal Resolution with regard to a complaint to the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB), about an alleged violation of Iowa’ Open Meeting Law, by the County Supervisors. On a related note, the Supervisors are expected to acknowledge the IPIB opinion found after the complaint that was filed following a Supervisor’s meeting in July, 2024.

In September, the IPIB scolded Montgomery County for what a complainant called “egregious” violations of the state’s open meetings law. In September, the Montgomery County Supervisors accepted a complaint filed by West Township resident Jan Norris against the Board of Supervisors. The IPIB says Norris’ complaint alleged the supervisors violated chapter 21 of the Iowa Code by conducting an open session requirement in a closed session. In written comments last month accepting the IPIB’s findings, the Supervisors noted violations were unintentional, and in no way intended to conceal information from or mislead the public in any manner.

In other business, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors are expected to approve: Board representatives for the County Compensation Board; Oct. 9^th claims; and, Recorder’s and Sheriff’s Department fees for Sept. 30^th. Tuesday’s meeting will be held in the Montgomery County Courthouse Supervisor’s meeting room in Red Oak, beginning at 8:30-a.m.

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