(Radio Iowa) – The U-S Navy submarine that’s named after the state of Iowa is back at port in Connecticut after its first test drives — and test dives — in the Atlantic Ocean. Mat Tanner, a retired Navy Chief submariner and executive director of the U-S-S Iowa Commissioning Committee, says the 377-foot long nuclear-powered submarine has completed both its Alpha and Bravo levels of testing. “Alpha trials is the initial underway for the submarine. That’s the very first time they take it out and dive it and test it and run it through its paces for a couple days,” Tanner says. “They come back in and go back out with a different test group for Bravo, and they test different systems out for six, seven days, and then come back in, make any repairs, and then they’ll go out for an in-service trial here in a couple of weeks, probably.”

Once those in-service trials are finished, likely in mid-December, Tanner says the Iowa will be “delivered” to the U-S Navy. “That means it’s in full custody of the government until their commissioning date, which will be sometime in the spring,” Tanner says “We haven’t released the date yet, but we’re trying to make sure we have everything ready to go for all the guests from Iowa that want to come see it. We want to make sure we have all the hotels and everything blocked off and ready to go.” Officials say the three-billion-dollar submarine will have a crew of 120 enlisted personnel and 14 officers. During these tests, there are military and civilian personnel onboard the Iowa.

USS Iowa (Photos from the Iowa Commissioning Committee)

“It’s a combination of both. So the full complement of the crew that’s stationed aboard, plus we’ll take out additional shipyard riders that are test engineers for specific equipment, and make sure there’s no issues, no problems,” Tanner says. “It’s still under our responsibility to make sure there’s no issues.” The submarine will become the fourth U-S Navy vessel to be named after the state of Iowa and Tanner says all appears on schedule for commissioning and the start of full-service military duty early next spring. “So far, so good, no major issues, no major delays,” he says. “It’s been a long time coming for the boat to get out to sea, and feels like everything’s going on track and looking good. We’re excited.”

Earlier plans suggested the submarine might be commissioned in the Pacific waters of southern California, beside the retired World War Two-era Battleship Iowa, which is now a floating museum in Los Angeles Harbor. The plan now calls for the sub to be commissioned instead at the shipyards in Connecticut.

(Johnston, Iowa) – Fareway Stores Inc. and the Iowa Farm Bureau have partnered together to donate 26,950 lbs. of ground protein to food banks across Iowa in the ‘Meat the Need’ campaign. For every 10 lb. tube of ground beef sold at Fareway Sept. 16th – 21st, one pound of lean protein was donated to local food banks in partnership with the Iowa Food Bank Association and the Food Bank of Iowa.

The donation took place Tuesday, Nov. 19th, at the Food Bank of Iowa in Des Moines. Fareway Stores, Inc. President Garrett Piklapp, Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson, and Food Bank of Iowa CEO Michelle Book spoke on the importance of local food donations, food insecurity challenges, and the important partnerships through the ‘Meat the Need’ campaign.

“Food insecurity is something we take seriously, and we understand it requires a collective group of partners to address the growing number of Iowans who need access to quality meat products,” Fareway President, Garrett Piklapp said. “Thank you to our generous customers for participating, Iowa stores and meat markets, and our partners at Iowa Farm Bureau for helping secure lean protein for local food banks going into the holiday seasons.”

Brent Johnson – Iowa Farm Bureau president, Michelle Book – Food Bank of Iowa CEO & Garrett Piklapp – Fareway Stores, Inc. president

“As farmers, we take tremendous pride in growing and raising the food that sustains our communities,” Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson said. “Food insecurity is a harsh reality of the challenging times many families currently face, so Iowa Farm Bureau is proud to join Fareway again to help ‘Meat the Need’ by providing lean, high-protein ground meat to our neighbors in need across the state.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce report Henningsen Construction, Inc., of Atlantic, has donated $100,000 to Vision Atlantic’s transformative project, which will bring a housing development, new childcare center, and YMCA expansion to Atlantic. Henningsen Construction owner Brad Henningsen, says “We are grateful to Vision Atlantic for their commitment to our community. We are happy to support this important project because it addresses needs in our community that will help Atlantic grow and thrive.”

As we’ve mentioned, Vision Atlantic, through extensive research and surveying of the community and surrounding region, identified three areas that will help increase Atlantic’s population: expanded childcare, quality housing and quality of life amenities. Construction of the 144 mixed unit housing development, 300 capacity child development center and expansion of the current YMCA facility is slated to begin late spring of 2025. Infrastructure work for the housing development and child development center is currently underway.

With substantial monetary support from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation and local donors, $18.8 million has been raised in the past 11 months, over 61% of a $30 million goal. In addition to the Lakin Foundation’s $8.6 million grant, Vision Atlantic has also received an additional $23 million from the Foundation, which will act as a line of credit and help Vision Atlantic construct homes in the Camblin Hills Housing Development. As the dollars are paid back each year, the Foundation will donate 5% of those dollars back to Vision Atlantic, which will be used to help operate the child development center.

Pictured left to right: Christina Bateman, Brad Henningsen, Brian Mixan and Debbie Waterbury (Photo submitted)

The $23 million is not part of Vision Atlantic’s $30 million fundraising goal. Vision Atlantic’s Project Committee is actively working to secure the remaining $11.6 million needed to meet the fundraising goal. If you are interested in helping transform Atlantic, whether it’s through monetary donations or acts of volunteerism, please contact Vision Atlantic at visionatlanticiowa@gmail.com. Follow Vision Atlantic on Facebook for behind-the-scenes access to project updates or visit www.visionatlantic.org.

Vision Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to empower growth, enhance lives, and build a thriving community together through the economic development of Atlantic, Iowa.

(Creston, Iowa) – A Union County man was arrested on drug and other charges, Tuesday afternoon. Creston Police report 33-year-old William Alwynn Darius Bell, of Creston, was arrested at around 12:35-p.m. at a residence in the 200 block of S. Maple Street. Bell was charged with Failure to Appear, Harassment 1st Degree, Possession of Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine, and Kidnapping 1st Degree. He was taken to Union County Jail and held without bond until seen by a Judge.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – An adult male and a juvenile were arrested Tuesday in Red Oak, following an investigating into a reported drug overdose. Red Oak Police report officers were called to a residence in the 200 block of N. 4th Street following a report about a drug-related overdose. Upon arrival, officers found two patients were being treated by Red Oak Rescue. Police also located a 9-year-old female in the home, under the supervision of the adult and a 14-year-old. Both patients were transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital.

Following an investigation, the 14-year-old juvenile was arrested for Child Endangerment (an Aggravated Misdemeanor). The juvenile was not identified because of their age. Officers also arrested 21-year-old Seth Michael Houser, of Red Oak. He was charged with two-counts of Child Endangerment, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. Houser was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond. The juvenile was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs.

Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, along with Red Oak Fire and Rescue.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A collision Tuesday in Red Oak resulted in a citation, but no injuries. Red Oak Police report the accident occurred at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Broadway Street. Authorities say a 2008 Ford Escape (SUV) driven by Gail Imogene Golden, of Red Oak, was stopped behind traffic at the intersection stop sign on Washington Avenue, heading westbound. For reasons unknown, the SUV began backing-up. The vehicle struck a 2017 Honda Odssey (van) driven by Lizzete Nolting,of Red Oak, causing an estimated $3,500 damage altogether.

Police cited Golden for Unsafe Backing.