(Radio Iowa) – Members of the 185th Iowa National Guard in Sioux City have been in Woodbine, building a giant tension fabric structure (tfs) that is a precursor to an Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) mission soon to take place at the Woodbine High School. Woodbine Schools Superintendent Justin Wagner, is also a colonel with the 185th, and says the fabric structure will initially house teams of U-S. military members traveling to the area to help construct a new Ignite Pathways building already under construction in Woodbine.

“And they’ve done exactly what they’ve done overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq. They took something completely bare just like this field. And they’re building this and these folks have been up in the morning at 7. They’re working to 7 p-m,” he says. “I’m not sure I’ve seen a better example of the Iowa National Guard connecting with the community for a value added project.” Wagner requested the support of the Department of Defense I-R-T program to help construct the new ignite building as well as the accompanying structure.

“It’s called Ignite Pathways it’s a 45-thousand square foot facility completely focused on Career and Technical Education. And so it’s the skills kids learn by doing and so that process to get approved as a D-O-D I-R-T project is taking about 18 months,” Wagner says. This is the first ever I-R-T in Iowa. As part of their annual training, Iowa guard members from the 185th Air Wing set up the privately donated 30-thousand square foot structure in woodbine. Wagner says when construction on the adjacent Ignite building is complete, the school plans to use the tfs building as an indoor athletic facility.

“It combines two really important things, the governor’s push on current technical education and our future-ready Iowa initiative which is really on the school side what we’re really trying to push, and then that D-O-D I-R-T push being the first ever in the state of Iowa is pretty special to us,” he says. The Ignite building project is scheduled to be completed at the beginning of the 2023 school year. Colonel Wagner also serves as the vice wing commander with the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City as a traditional guard member.

(Radio Iowa) – A security breach at one of the nation’s largest health systems has affected hospitals in Des Moines and Omaha. Officials at Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health say an I-T security incident happened on Monday. Some MercyOne facilities in central Iowa have been affected. A MercyOne spokesman says some I-T systems have been taken offline and that may include electronic health record systems.

The Omaha World Herald reports the Creighton University Medical Center and two other C-H-I hospitals in Omaha have taken steps to respond to the security incident as well. It’s unclear how extensive the hack may have been. News reports in other states indicate hospitals in Tennessee and Georgia have rescheduled some surgeries and doctors’ appointments.

Firefighters and Cass EMS personnel were dispatched to the scene of what was initially described as a barn fire west of Atlantic this (Tuesday) evening. The call about the fire at 58935 Indian Creek Street went out at around 5:30-p.m.

Atlantic Fire Chief Tom Cappel told KJAN the fire didn’t amount to much. “A little fire started in the back of a small goat barn. The homeowners got the goats out and started throwing buckets of water on the barn. We finished putting it out when we arrived on the scene.” Cappel said there was “Very minimal damage.”

(Radio Iowa) – A report from the Iowa Attorney General’s office finds 12 people have died from domestic violence statewide so far this year, a list that includes nine women and three bystanders. Sandi Tibbetts Murphy, director of the Crime Victim Assistance Division, says the majority of domestic violence homicides are committed with firearms.

Tibbetts Murphy says, “Until we have a better system for maintaining proper and safe firearm possession, making sure that those who should not have firearms, those who are a threat to their families have those taken away, I think we’re going to continue to see this.” The report documents eight instances of domestic violence committed in the first eight months of 2022, including high-profile shootings at the Cornerstone Church in Ames and the Taboo nightclub in Cedar Rapids.

“It points to the easy access of firearms,” Tibbetts Murphy says, “the lack of verifiable, effective means of retrieving firearms from those we know are dangerous to their partners and their families.” According to the report, 375 men, women and bystanders have been killed in Iowa as a result of domestic violence since 1995.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Des Moines, Iowa – October 4, 2022) – Kirk Tyler, the long-time leader of Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, announced to employees yesterday (Monday), that Rob Feeney and his wife, Jessica, have become majority owners of the company. Rob will become the CEO and Kirk will remain Chairman of the Board. Tyler, who succeeded his own father, Jim, as leader of the family-owned company, is a 48-year veteran of Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

Feeney said “My previous position as President and COO has provided me with valuable insights and experience regarding the company and our team, so I know we are well-positioned for continued growth. Feeney has served as an executive in the company for the past seven years. He said “I am excited about the future and am confident in what we can accomplish, but I also want to thank Kirk, the board and the Tyler family for giving me the opportunity to lead the company. I am both grateful and humbled by this opportunity.”

Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, which was originally founded by Kirk Tyler’s grandfather in 1909 in southwest Iowa, now boasts well over 100 years of success. Feeney and his wife, Jessica (Tyler) Feeney, represent the fourth generation of the family to run the business, which now has more than 800 employees and nine distribution centers that supply customers with a wide variety of products in five states.

“It is hard to believe it has been 42 years since I moved to the Des Moines area to help lead the company my grandfather started, but I am very proud of what we have accomplished, as the company has quadrupled in size and we have even bigger plans in-store,” offered Tyler. “But I know it is time for the next generation to step-up and move the company forward, just like my dad gave me the opportunity to do years ago.”

For both Tyler and Feeney, continuing to have strong family involvement in the company is important, so several members of the family currently work for or serve the company in various capacities. “I plan to continue visiting our various locations as a representative of the family. I will also stay active in industry affairs and serve on other boards, including continuing my role as Chairman of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and Chairman of Southeastern Container Corporation,” he said.

Feeney said he is focused on continued growth by reinvesting back in the business, employees and the communities which they serve. Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company will focus on growth, while maintaining the company’s position as a private, family-owned, independent bottler and distributor for all Coca-Cola products. “Succession planning is a part of every successful company, and Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company is no different. Kirk and I have been working on these long-term plans for several years and I cannot thank him enough for the confidence in me and our team,” offered Feeney.

“Kirk’s dedication and commitment to our business has led to impressive levels of growth and success, so I want to personally thank him for his many years of service and leadership and congratulate him on his career.”

(Radio Iowa) – Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with third district congressional candidate Zach Nunn to tout the House GOP’s “Commitment to America” agenda. Nunn emphasizes the pledge to reduce government spending. “Every dollar the government spends is a dollar they’ve taken away from you,” Nunn said. Gingrich flew to Iowa to campaign with Nunn in Des Moines this (Tuesday) morning. Gingrich unveiled a similar “Contract with America” in 1994 — just before Republicans took control of the U-S House. Gingrich is predicting Republicans will easily recapture a majority of House seats this election. “I think big things are happening and…this race is a good example,” Gingrich said. “It’s a very close race. I suspect in the end we’ll win it.”

Nunn is running against Congresswoman Cindy Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines who is seeking a third term in the U.S. House. Gingrich advised Nunn to emphasize economic issues to reach independent voters. “I say to every candidate of every background: ‘You start with prices,'” Gingrich said. “High prices affect every person in Iowa. They affect every Latino. They affect every African American. They affect every Native American. They affect young people. They affect old people. They affect small towns. They affect Des Moines.”

Former Iowa Congressman Greg Ganske was at the event, too. Ganske showed the crowd a poster of the 1994 “Contract with America” he campaigned with before defeating a 36 year Democratic incumbent.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has issued a report on arrests covering September 16th through the 27th.

• On Sept. 27th, 24-year-old Jacob Austin Wingert, of Panama, was arrested after a call for service in Panama. Wingert was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st and Domestic Abuse Assault.
• On the 23rd of September, Deputies in Shelby County arrested 20-year-old Maria Rosa Salazar, of Council Bluffs, on an active Shelby County warrant for Violation of Probation.
• On the 22nd, 33-year-old Lacy Jean Christensen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant for Violation of Probation.
• There were two arrests on Sept. 21st in Shelby County:
  • 32-year-old Sara Elizabeth Koester, of Harlan, was arrested on a Forgery charge, following an ongoing investigation.
  • 21-year-old Isela Jasmin Mendoza, of Denison, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 59. She was charged with Driving while License is Suspended, and Speeding.
• On Sept. 18th, Deputies in Shelby County arrested 35-year-old Ashley Joe Cibic, of Harlan, on two counts of supplying alcohol to persons under the legal age. Her arrest was the result of an ongoing investigation.
• One the 17th, 29-year-old Robert Douglas Fauteux, of Shelby, was arrested for Driving While License Revoked or Denied.
• And on the 16th, 33-year-old Guillermo Perez Sanchez, of Harlan, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, No Valid Driver’s License, Failure to provide proof of insurance, Open Container, and Failure to Maintain Control.