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Boone County Deputies arrest a man wanted on a warrant out of Indiana

News

February 21st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Boone, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Boone County reports the Boone County Communications Center received a call Tuesday from law enforcement officials in Indiana, who requested Deputies respond to an address within Boone County, and attempt to locate a wanted individual, 38-year-old Ronald Stevens, of Indiana. Stevens was wanted on an active arrest warrant issued by an Indiana court. Deputies responded to the address and observed a man fleeing into a motor home on the property.
After interviewing and speaking with other parties in the area, patrol Deputies positively identified the subject as Stevens. They learned the man was in the camper with a female party and two young children. Deputies attempted to communicate with the occupants of the motor home to ensure they were safe. Deputies did not receive clear communication with any occupants of the motor home.
Deputies summoned additional Sheriff’s Office resources to the property. After nearly six hours of efforts to negotiate and initiate communication; Deputies made contact with the female party inside. The female then exited the motor home with the two young children. Deputies assisted the female and children to safety and ensured they were uninjured. Deputies continued to attempt to negotiate and communicate with the wanted subject inside the motor home.
After an extended amount of time, Deputies entered the motor home and located Stevens, who was hiding in the vehicle. Stevens was taken into custody without further incident under the authority of the Indiana warrant, and was being held in the Boone County Jail pending extradition. The incident remains under investigation and may result in further charges at a later time.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Boone County Communications Center, Boone County Hospital, and Ogden first responders.

Dallas County stand-off Wednesday morning is resolved peacefully

News

February 21st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Adel, Iowa) – The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office reports a stand-off that took place this (Wednesday) morning in Waukee, ended peacefully. Authorities say just before 9-a.m., Dallas County Deputies arrived at 680 SE Jonas Circle in Waukee to execute a court ordered writ of removal on the property. Deputies knocked on the door to see if the resident had vacated the property, per the court order. After knocking on different doors with no answer, Deputies heard two loud noises that sounded like gunshots that came from inside the residence.

Deputies immediately backed off and set up a perimeter while contact was attempted with the resident. Phone contact was eventually made and lone occupant inside the residence was talked into coming outside where they were detained without incident. The resident was believed to be having a mental health episode and was taken for a mental health evaluation and treatment.

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, Waukee Police Department, and the West Des Moines Police Department were involved in the incident. The incident remains under investigation.

USDA Rural Development Invests $26 Million in Clean Drinking Water and Wastewater Sanitation Systems in Rural Iowa

News

February 21st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa Counties impacted: Buena Vista, Fremont, Pottawattamie and Shelby

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 21, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today announced that the Agency is investing $21,457,000 in loans and $4,695,000 in grants to provide clean, safe water and promote economic growth in rural Iowa communities as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.  The investments in Iowa are part of a larger national announcement made today by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack totaling $772.6 million for 216 projects. A full list of projects from today’s national announcement is available online.

The six investments for Iowa came through the  Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program. This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. In southwest Iowa….

City of Randolph in Fremont County received a $351,000 loan to provide additional financing to help improve the lift station and sewer collection and lagoon systems. The project will help reduce excessive infiltration and inflow levels which have caused hydraulic overload and discharges more frequently than allowed by permit. The project will help improve water service and promote the health and safety of community residents, businesses, and visitors.

Regional Water received a $4,324,000 loan to expand water service. This project will construct 12.25 miles of rural potable water piping infrastructure to two housing developments under construction in rural Pottawattamie County. The project will promote the health and safety of the rural community’s residents, businesses, and visitors.

USDA staff stand beside the East Nishnabotna River near Audubon, site of a 2020 USDA-funded water project

Harlan Municipal Utilities received a $2,644,000 loan to provide additional funding to improve the water system in the city of Harlan. This project will drill four new wells, construct four new well houses, install new raw water mains to connect the new wells to the existing distribution piping, and install new electrical conduit in the well field. The aged raw water transmission main currently limits available capacity to the treatment plant, which presents a health risk during an extended demand period. Once completed, the project will provide adequate water supplies and will promote the health and safety of the residents of the rural Shelby County community.

City of Elk Horn received a $2,739,000 loan to improve the controlled discharge lagoon wastewater treatment facility. This project will replace aged components and remove accumulated sludge. This project will slipline and seal sewers and manholes to reduce infiltration and inflow. Once completed, the project will mitigate an imminent health and sanitation hazard, enable the city to meet wastewater standards, and promote the health of residents of the rural Shelby County community.

Central Iowa teacher/coach charged with sexual abuse, exploitation & lascivious acts involving a minor

News

February 21st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

ANKENY, Iowa [KCCI] —An Ankeny teacher was booked Wednesday into Polk County Jail after being accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student. Rachel Whiteside, 34, of Ankeny, is facing several charges stemming from alleged exploitation of a student. Whiteside, a teacher and coach in the Ankeny Community School District, engaged in sexual conduct with a student in the district between 2015-18, according to Ankeny police. The victim recently reported the relationship to the district, leading to a police investigation.

Whiteside is charged with third-degree sexual abuse, four counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee, and lascivious conduct with a minor. The charges of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation are felonies.

Whiteside is listed on the Ankeny Community School District website as a staff member at Northview Middle School and an assistant varsity softball coach at Ankeny Centennial High School.

Adair County Board of Supervisors news

News

February 21st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Adair County met in a regular session this (Wednesday) morning, and approved several items on their agenda. The Board approved Board Chair Jerry Walker’s signature on about a dozen letters with regard to Ag & Family Farm Disallowances. Auditor Mandy Berg explains.

The Supervisors also approved a Child Abuse Prevention Grant Draw-down, and Walker’s signature on the form. They also approved FY2025 Insurance renewal forms for Medical, Dental, and Vision, along with ISAC County plans for FY 2025 Elections, and Assured Partners Commission Disclosure and related administrative agreements.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater requested and was granted Board approval to begin the process of hiring a Sheriff’s Department replacement for a dispatcher/jailer scheduled to retire on April 8th. Vandewater said it takes three months (sometimes longer) to train an individual for the position.

In his report to the Board, Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman presented a proposal for repairs to the North 6/Grand River Bridge.

The proposal was accepted, and the repairs will be paid for through the Local Option Sales Tax. Kauffman said also, South Central Iowa Regional 9-1-1 contacted him about replacing street signs in Adair County.

Kauffman said new posts and mounting fixtures would amount to another $100-thousand dollars. He said the current signs are at least 20-years old. The materials would be purchased in the next fiscal year, with SCIR paying the invoice for the signs. Kauffman will have to make some adjustments to his budget to account for the extra expenditure.

He said it’s a good deal for the county, because some signs are damaged each year.

MARGARET VERMILLION, 91, of Carroll & formerly of Atlantic (Visitation 2/26/24)

Obituaries

February 21st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

MARGARET VERMILLION, 91, of Carroll (& formerly of Atlantic), died Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at Addington Place of Carroll. A visitation for MARGARET VERMILLION, with the family present, will be held 9:30-a.m. Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 at Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic, followed by a Prayer service at 10:30-a.m.

Burial will be in the SS Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to opportunityliving.org.

MARGARET VERMILLION is survived by:

Her daughters – Mary (Ben) Vermillion, of Iowa City, and Kathy (Greg) McCarthy, (Greg) of Sioux City.

Her sons – Jim Vermillion, of Lake City, and Joe Vermillion, of Carroll.

4 grandchildren, other relatives, friends, and her caregivers.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.

Heartbeat Today 2-21-2024

Ag/Outdoor, Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

February 21st, 2024 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with Atlantic FFA student leaders Colton Rudy, Lola Kommes, Lily Johnson and Charli Goff about National FFA Week.

Play

Cass County Extension Report 2-21-2024

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

February 21st, 2024 by Jim Field

w/Kate Olson.

Play

Atlantic City Council to hold a Budget Work Session Thursday afternoon

News

February 21st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic, will hold a Budget Work Session 3-p.m. Thursday (Feb. 22), in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. During their session, the Council is expected to receive a presentation by Produce in the Park President, Bailey Smith, and Produce in the Park Board Member Ciara Hoegh, on Produce in the Park. They’re also expected to receive a presentation from Christina Bateman, on Economic Development for 2024 and 2025.

The Council will discuss Economic Development Goals for 2024 and 2025 before acting on an order to enter into an Exempt Session (under Iowa Code), for Collective Bargaining strategy purposes. At 10-a.m. Thursday, City officials are expected to exchange Collective Bargaining proposals with the City’s Public Works’ Union of Operating Engineers Local 234.

Afterward, in open session, the Atlantic City Council will discuss the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST), including recommendations for a Local Option Sales Tax Allocation Formula. The discussion will also cover: LOST Streets Funds – West 22nd Street Project Update; LOST Progress Funds – City Coalition Update; and other Discussion regarding LOST Funds.

USDA to survey farmers’ planting intentions for 2024

Ag/Outdoor

February 21st, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(DES MOINES, Iowa) – As the 2024 crop production season begins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide to determine their plans for the upcoming growing season. “Each year, the agriculture industry anticipates USDA’s Prospective Plantings report, which provides initial survey-based estimates of U.S. farmers’ planting intentions for the year,” said Greg Thessen, Director of the NASS Upper Midwest Regional Field Office. “The March Agricultural Survey provides the data that underpin projections, making it one of the most important surveys we conduct each year.”

NASS will mail the survey to approximately 2,300 Iowa producers on Feb. 19 asking producers to provide information about the types of crops they intend to plant in 2024, how many acres they intend to plant, and the amounts of grain and oilseed they store on their farms. Producers can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. Those who do not respond by Feb. 27 may be emailed a reminder or contacted for an interview.

In accordance with federal law, NASS keeps responses confidential and publishes data in aggregate form only, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified.

The data will be published in the Prospective Plantings and quarterly Grain Stocks reports on Mar. 28, 2024. These and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications. For more information, call the NASS Upper Midwest Regional Office at 800-772-0825.