(Radio Iowa) – Twenty-seven-year-old Joe Mitchell of Des Moines is the youngest Iowa delegate at the Republican National Convention. Mitchell, a former state legislator who took office at the age of 21, said GOP vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance, who is 39, will appeal to younger voters. “Senator Vance is clearly incredibly talented,” Mitchell said during an interview with Radio Iowa. “….Growing up with a single mom, working class, in the ‘Rust Belt’ — that background is just going to play greatly towards people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin — states you have to win to win the election.”

Mitchell said the attempted assassination of Trump has changed the focus of delegates at the convention, even those who were not necessarily huge Trump fans. “I’ve seen so many people across all walks of life, you know on my social media and even here at the convention walking around after Saturday (saying), the ballgame has changed,” Mitchell said.

Joe Mitchell of Des Moines is the founder of Run GenZ (Run GenZ photo)

Mitchell is cautioning other Republicans from getting complacent and thinking the election’s over, but Mitchell said things are
“beginning to snowball” for the Trump campaign. “We’ve had game changer after game changer from the conviction to the debate,” Mitchell said. “…I don’t know how much of a better month or season President Trump could be having.”

Mitchell is the founder of Run GenZ, a national group that encourages young conservatives to run for office. He’ll be part of a focus group on CNN tonight during the network’s coverage of the Republican National Convention.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Police Department report one person was taken into custody on a felony charge, following an incident that occurred Monday evening. Authorities say just before 6-p.m., the Cass County Communications center received a report of an assault at 1600 Bryn Mawr Blvd. in Atlantic. The initial report indicated that a man had been stabbed at the residence.

Upon arrival, officers with the Atlantic Police Department determined that the victim had not been stabbed, but had been assaulted, and struck using items in the home. The man suffered  from lacerations and bleeding. As a result of this investigation, Michael Brownsberger was charged with Willful injury, causing serious injury (a Class C Felony.) Brownsberger was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Cass County Jail, where he was booked and held.

The Atlantic Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Cass EMS, and Atlantic Fire & Rescue. No other details are being released at this time. If you have information regarding the incident, please call the Atlantic Police Department at 712-243-3512.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Attorney General’s Office has issued rulings in two police shootings in eastern Iowa. One report involves the shooting of John Carl Piazza by a Waterloo officer after a standoff at his home in March. The report says the shooting was legally justified after Piazza pointed a shotgun at an officer. Police were called after Piazza had visited a hospital seeking help for anxiety and then left saying he wanted to kill someone. Police say he fired a gun at an automotive shop before going to his home.

The other shooting happened in April 20204 in Cedar Rapids. Police say David Vanderhamm pointed a gun at an officer and was shot. It was later found the gun was an airsoft rifle. Vanderhamm had called 9-1-1 requesting officers come to his home after previously being taken to the hospital and refusing treatment.

The A-G’s office says that shooting was also legally justified.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A rural Montgomery County resident, Tuesday (today), claims the Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County, violated Iowa’s Open Meetings law, during their session on July 2^nd,. West Township resident Jan Norris said the violation was due to a closed session that was held without prior public vote.

Norris said minutes from the July 2^nd meeting do not reflect a vote, because none was taken.

Norris said “the threat of imminent litigation can be disputed. Dickinson County has not been sued since passing a pipeline ordinance in May, and even this Board wants to move forward with a hazardous pipeline ordinance, it will be months until a vote.”

Jan Norris speaks during the July 16, 2024 Montgomery County BOS mtg.

She said the Board’s actions are “Unfortunate,” and she has not yet decided what her next steps will be.

In other business, Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman provided the Board with damage repair updates, as they pertain to the May 2024 tornado and storms.

Brian Hamman

Hamman said as for Hacklebarney Woods Park, which sustained a great deal of damage, a number of issues are keeping the park closed.

Things still need to be cleaned-up he said, and that will take some time. Hamman said they won’t be holding another clean-up day because most of what’s left is heavy debris, especially in the picnic and camping areas. The bigger issue is communications, and the microwave tower that was destroyed.

A temporary fence was installed, mainly to keep animals out. The County’s deployable communications unit is at the radio shop, getting some equipment installed. In other business, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution authorizing a temporary road closure and detour on H-34, for a Hot Melt Asphalt, widening and overlay project.