(Atlantic, Iowa) – Police Chief Devin Hogue reports the Atlantic Police Department and Atlantic Police Reserves will be holding their annual Christmas Programs the weekend of December 17th and 13th 2022.

On December 17th, the Atlantic Police Reserves will be holding their “Family Dreams Christmas” program. This program is available to Cass County Residents and consist of taking the entire family shopping locally in Atlantic. Families are paired up with Atlantic Police Reserves and taken around town to purchase items of need and a few items on their wish list. The Reserve officers are currently accepting applications for participation in this program. Families can fill out an application for themselves and individuals can fill out an application to nominate a family as well. Applications can be picked up at the Atlantic Police Department between 8AM-4PM, Monday Through Friday. Applications must be turned in by December 7th at 4:00PM to be considered.

On December 13th, the Atlantic Police Department will be hosting their annual “Shop with a Cop” program. This program consist of pairing up children from Cass County with members of the APD and surrounding agencies and spending an afternoon shopping at the Atlantic Wal-Mart store. There is no application for this program and officers will contact individuals directly and invite them to join. (Pics are from last year’s programs, courtesy of Chief Hogue)

In 2021, these two programs helped 73 children and 17 adults from 25 different Cass County families to have a much more enjoyable Holiday. The APD is gladly accepting donations at this time to help support these two programs. Feel free to reach out and set up a donation 01· stop by our office to do so. Checks can be made to APCCO (Atlantic Police Community Charitable Organization.)

Chief Hogue says “We can’t express how important the community is in ensuring these programs continue to be as successful as they have been and continue to positively impact lives in Cass County. Thank you to everyone who has donated in the past and is considering a donation this year!”

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says by the end of her new four-year term, she hopes to get rid of Iowa’s state income tax. “I’ve got South Dakota to the north of me, so we’ve got to get to zero,” Reynolds says, “so we’re going to keep working on that, too.” Reynolds made the comment on a Republican Governors Association panel. Her comment made South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem chuckle.

South Dakota has no personal income tax or corporate tax and mainly relies on property taxes and sales taxes to fund government operations. Reynolds has just been elected chair of the Republican Governors Association for the next two years. Reynolds reviewed her education priorities for the group.

“We did open enrollment, we expanded charter schools and I’m really excited about implementing ‘school choice’ this next election cycle, so that’s my top priority,” Reynolds said, “so hopefully we’ll get that done.” Reynolds has tried in each of the past two years to get the Republican-led legislature to approve state scholarships for some students who switch from a public to a private school.

During the 2022 campaign, Reynolds has said her goal is for all parents to have the choice of sending their child to a private school, but she has not outlined the details of this new plan. House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says Democrats will oppose any bill that shifts money from public schools to private schools. It’s not clear yet whether Reynolds has enough Republican votes in the Iowa House to pass her latest plan. Some House Republicans who oppose the school choice concept either did not seek reelection or were defeated in G-O-P primaries.

(DES MOINES, IA) – Today (Friday), the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board approved awards for five companies, which will assist in the creation of 266 jobs and result in $202 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Charles City, Council Bluffs, Creston, Fairfax and Fort Dodge. The board also approved innovation funding in support of two startups located in Coralville and Des Moines.

In this area:

IceCap Cold Storage to increase warehouse/distribution facility in Council Bluffs
IceCap Cold Storage is a subsidiary of US Property, a development group creating mixed use facilities across the country. In late 2021, IceCap began construction on its first facility at the Council Bluffs site. Seeing continued growth in the industry, the company is moving forward with an expansion of the warehouse/distribution facility, additional dock doors and equipment such as racking, freezing and transportation components. The project, representing a nearly $70 million capital investment, is anticipated to create 146 jobs, 96 of which are incented at a qualifying wage of $24.42. The board awarded the company tax benefits through the Targeted Jobs Withholding Tax Credit program.

Benson Hill to add extrusion facility in Creston
Benson Hill is a food technology company with a processing location in Creston that currently converts proprietary soybeans into high-protein soymeal and high-oleic oil, as well as food-grade soy white flake, flour, and grits. Benson Hill acquired the business through the acquisition of ZFS Creston, LLC in December 2021. This project will include a 15,000-square-foot building expansion and the purchase of equipment to create an extrusion facility to foster product innovation and increase manufacturing scale. The resulting high-protein soy ingredients will be marketed industry-leading consumer packaged goods companies. In addition to food applications, Benson Hill also serves the domestic and Northern European aquaculture markets. The project represents a $28 million capital investment and is expected to create 11 jobs, nine of which are incented at a qualifying wage of $19.83 per hour. The board awarded the company tax benefits through the HQJ program.

Read about the other awards, HERE.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Glenwood Police, Thursday, arrested a man for Domestic Abuse Assault. 39-year-old Kyle Zeigler, of Glenwood, was transported to the Mills County Jail and held without bond, until seen by a magistrate judge.

Atlantic, Iowa November 2022 -The Atlantic Police Department has taken a pledge to keep tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products out of the hands of Atlantic underage persons.

Known as I-PLEDGE, the program is a partnership with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) to educate local retailers and to enforce Iowa’s tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product laws. Since the program’s inception in 2000, the statewide tobacco compliance rate has grown to 91%. By participating in the program, the Atlantic Police Department has committed to do its part to increase the compliance rate even more this year.

I-PLEDGEplaces emphasis on retailer training. Clerks who successfully complete an online training course and then pass an exam will become I-PLEDGE certified. This allows a retail establishment to use an affirmative defense against a civil penalty if the certified clerk makes an illegal sale.

“1-PLEDGE’s retailer training is a great way for clerks to prepare themselves to refuse illegal tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor product sales, “Chief Hogue said. “The training also assists retailers to ensure they maintain a compliant and responsible establishment.”

Officers will also be conducting compliance checks on local establishments as part of the I-PLEDGE program. Underage customers, under the supervision of law enforcement officials, will enter establishments and attempt to buy tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products. Clerks who make the illegal sale will be cited on the spot.

Criminal penalties for selling tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products to a minor include a $135 fine for a first offense, a $325 fine for a second offense and a $645 fine for third and subsequent offenses. However, handing out citations is not the intent of the I-PLEDGE program.

“By partnering with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, we hope to educate clerks and maintain a compliant retail environment in our community,” Chief Hogue said. “Moreover, we pledge to help keep tobacco, alternative nicotine and vapor products out of the hands of underage persons in Iowa.”

To take the I-PLEDGE training or search certification records go to https://abd.iowa.gov/.

(Radio Iowa) – A federal jury has ordered former Congressman Steve King’s campaign to pay 750 dollars for using a copyrighted image in online fundraising. The Florida mother who took the photo of her young son in 2007 sued King and his campaign a year and a half ago, seeking at least 75-thousand dollars. She got a copyright for the image in 2012 as it became known as the “Success Kid” meme on social media. The jury in Sioux City decided King’s campaign must pay Laney Griner 750 dollars for using the boy’s image, but King owed the Griners nothing. The Sioux City Journal reports Griner left the courtroom in tears. King had said the lawsuit was politically motivated and he told the newspaper he had been vindicated by the jury.

King had used the “Success Kid” meme to raise money for his unsuccessful campaign for a 10th term in the U.S. House. King lost to Randy Feenstra in a Republican Primary. Feenstra was then elected to congress in November of 2020 and reelected to a second term in the U.S. House earlier this month.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston arrested a woman early this (Friday) morning. Authorities report 47-year-old Carrie Ann Johns, of Creston, was arrested at her residence, on a charge of Driving While Barred. She was cited and then released at the scene, on a summons to appear in court.