Perry, Iowa – April 6, 2021 – Alliant Energy and the city of Perry have reached an agreement to install a 1-megawatt solar facility on a 7-acre site on the western edge of the city. On April 5, a lease for the project was approved during the City Council Meeting. Sven Peterson, City Administrator for the City of Perry, says “The City of Perry looks forward to hosting a solar energy project in our community,” said . “Our collaboration with Alliant Energy on this facility will provide financial, environmental and educational benefits to the city and area residents.”

By hosting the solar facility, the City of Perry will receive significant revenue from lease payments for 25 years. The city will also obtain renewable energy credits from the project to offset their greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions and help them progress toward their sustainability goals. Mason Adams, Alliant Energy key account manager, says “We are excited to partner with the city of Perry to support the community and bring more clean energy to our customers. This is the first Alliant Energy® Customer Hosted Renewables solar facility in the state of Iowa. This project is a win-win that will benefit the local economy and the environment for many years to come. It represents our vision to provide a clean energy future for our customers and the communities we serve.”

The solar facility will be located on a remediated brownfield site that the city of Perry has worked to put a renewable energy project on for several years. Alliant Energy will oversee construction of the solar facility and will own, operate and maintain it. There are no upfront, financing or other costs to the city of Perry. It is expected to be operational by mid-2022.

(Radio Iowa) – The man wanted for last week’s murder of a Mason City man was arrested on Monday afternoon after a standoff with authorities in Algona. The Mason City Police Department says at around 4 o’clock, 38-year-old Benjamin Gonzalez was taken into custody on a first-degree murder warrant.

Benjamin B. Gonzalez

He’s accused of the shooting death last Wednesday night of 36-year-old Michael Creviston in the area of 3rd Northwest and North Jefferson. Gonzalez is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $1 million cash-only bond pending an initial court date. If convicted of first-degree murder, Gonzalez would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the opportunity for parole.

Police are still seeking more information about the case, and if you have information, you are asked to contact the Mason City Police Department at 641-421-3636.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports six recent arrests.  Last Saturday (4/3/21), Deputies arrested 49-year-old Mario Santay-Hernandez, of Schuyler NE, following a traffic stop along Highway 191 north of Portsmouth.  Upon further investigation, Santay-Hernandez taken into custody for operating while intoxicated 1st offense, and failure to have a valid driver’s license.  He was transported to the jail without incident and released a few hours later after posting a cash bond.

Last Friday (4/21), 24-year-old Bret Michael Schutles, of Carroll, was arrested following a traffic stop in Shelby County.  Schultes was taken into custody after further investigation and charged with operating while intoxicated 2nd offense, speeding violation, no insurance, and failure to display license plate.  He was transported to the jail without incident and released the following morning after posting bond.

Authorities say three people were arrested on separate charges, March 30th:

• 38-year-old Cecil Leo Foster, of Shelby, was arrested following a traffic stop within Shelby City limits for window tint violation.   Upon further investigation, it was determined that Foster had a suspended license to operate a motor vehicle through the State of Iowa.   He was transported to the Shelby County Jail and was charged with driving under suspension, window tint violation and open container as a driver.  Foster was released a short time later after posting bond.
• 22-year-old Justin Michael Couch, of Bennington NE, was arrested following  a traffic stop for speeding, along Highway 59.  Upon further investigation, Couch was also charged with operating while intoxicated 1st offense, supplying alcohol to minors, open container as driver, and speeding violation. He was transferred to the Shelby County jail and held until being released on his own recognizance the following morning.
• And, 36-year-old Aubree Jasmine Cline, of Bellevue, IA, turned herself into authorities to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, March 30th. She was wanted on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear for probation violation charge.  Cline was processed into the jail and held until her court appearance on Monday (4/5). She was released after a plea deal, with credit for time served.

On March 29th, 35-year-old Bryce William Messinger, of Harlan, was taken into custody after a traffic stop along Highway 59 in Shelby County.   Upon further investigation, Messinger was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with prohibited acts, possession of controlled substance (marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while license suspended.  He was released on his own recognizance on the local charge, but transferred to another county upon release for an active warrant for failure to pay child support.

(Radio Iowa) – Faculty numbers at the three state universities are on the decline and the number of professors being considered for tenure is the lowest its been in five years. The board that governs the three public universities takes the final vote that grants tenure. Iowa State University officials are asking the Board of Regents to approve tenure for 59 faculty members. Tenure is recommended for 45 University of Iowa faculty members and University of Northern Iowa administrators recommend tenure for 17 faculty.

Republican lawmakers this year proposed and advanced bills to end the tenure systems at the state universities. While those proposals failed to clear last week’s procedural deadline, key Republicans say rather a ban on tenure, next year they may propose limitations or new guidelines for tenure.

The number of overall faculty at the University of Northern Iowa has dropped eight percent in the past year. At the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, faculty positions dropped three percent.