(Radio Iowa) – The United States Army Reserve Center in Dubuque was named Sunday in honor of a local soldier who died during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Ronald D. Rennison was assigned to the 14th Quartermaster Detachment after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Rennison was one of 26 people killed in Saudi Arabia on February 25th, 1991 by a Scud missile. He had only been there six days.

The ceremony honoring Rennison in Dubuque. (KCRG TV photo)

Ronald’s brother Randy spoke with KCRG TV about the naming of the Reserve Center. “Oh, it’s a great honor knowing that, you know, the community comes together and wants to pay their respect to a fallen soldier,” Ronald Rennison said. Rennison had joined the U.S. Army in 1987. He served in South Korea as a motor transport operator including missions along the demilitarized zone. He was then assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and completed missions in Honduras and Egypt.

Rennison’s awards include the Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, Overseas Service Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal from the Government of Saudi Arabia. His father and brother both also served in the U.S. Military.

(Radio Iowa) – A 73-year-old man rescued from a burning home in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona early this (Monday) morning, has died.

Altoona’s Fire Department got the report of a house fire at 2:40 a.m. and when fire crews arrived, a 71-year-old woman had already been rescued from a first story bedroom window by a neighbor. Firefighters rescued a 73-year-old man from inside the home and both victims were taken to a hospital, where the man later died. No names have been released.

The State Fire Marshal’s website shows 10 Iowans died in fires during the first half of this year.

(Radio Iowa) – Public health officials in Iowa’s largest county have confirmed the first case of monkeypox in Polk County.
According to a news release from the Polk County Health Department, the patient was likely infected during travel within the United States, is isolating and receiving outpatient care. Iowa’s first case of monkeypox was confirmed on July 1st in an adult from north central Iowa.

Public health officials say the virus does not spread easily and most who are contracting the virus in the U.S. have had inmate, sexual contact with someone who has the virus. People with direct close contact with a monkeypox patient are offered a vaccine series that can prevent symptoms or serious illness.

Monkeypox symptoms can first appear up to 21 days after an exposure. While some patients only develop a rash or lesions, others get enlarged lymph nodes and a fever in addition to a rash.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  Members of the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold their regular monthly meeting Wednesday, in the High School Media Center, following a 12:30-p.m. Lunch. At 1-p.m., a Public Hearing will be held, during which the Board will consider the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract, and estimate of cost for the Achievement Center roof improvement project. The public may comment and/or object to the plans, specs and form of contract, or to the estimated cost of the improvements. Bids for the project will be opened Tuesday afternoon. (The proceedings may be viewed at this link: https://youtu.be/GhbE9FGWvK4)

Following the Public Hearing, the Atlantic School Board will receive reports from school administrators, including High School Asst. Principal/Athletic Director Andy Mitchell. In his notes, Mitchell says: the Atlantic Booster Club annual golf outing is this Friday, at the Country Club (AGCC); the High School Gym Floor is finished except for the last layer of sealant, and the new sound system for the HS gym will be installed next month; Mitchell reports also, to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the 2002 State Championship football team, a recognition will be held for the team prior to the varsity football game on Sept. 15th, vs. Ballard.

The Board will act on approving the following resignations: Matt Smith, Boys Head Soccer Coach; Joseph Brummer, Head Baseball Coach, and Julia Hansen, Washington Paraeducator. They will also act on Contract Recommendations for: Chase Roller, Asst. HS Wrestling Coach; Michaelin Juhl, Volunteer Cheerleading Coach; Adam Roberts, Vol. Archery Coach, and Laurie Fell, Washington Grade Level Teacher.

Other, action items on their agenda for Wednesday afternoon, include: Spring 2023 Coaching Recommendations; 2022-23 Teacher Leadership Contract Recommendations (Total $105,966.45 from the General Fund); 2022-23 Workers Comp/Liability Insurance Renewal (which is experiencing another significant price increase, according the District’s agent); Fuel Bids for ethanol blends unleaded, #1 & #2 diesel, and propane.

The Atlantic School Board will also act to approve 2022-23 Adult/Student Meal Prices, which calls for an increase in adult lunch meals to $4.13 (breakfast $2), and leaving the student prices unchanged for at least the last four years (Breakfast $1.80 & lunch $2.55 at WA, $2.75 at SE & MS, and $2.80 at the HS). The final order of business, is to accept a bid for the Achievement Center roofing project.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Iowa Courts Online records show an Atlantic man, 20-year-old Michael Gehling, was sentenced today (Monday, July 11), to five-years in prison in connection with a stabbing that took place April 4th. Gehling’s sentence was on a charge of Willful Injury. He had previously pleaded guilty to the charge, after the court, in early May, agreed to dismiss a more serious charge of Attempted Murder.

Michael Gehling (Booking photo courtesy the Cass County Jail)

His sentence will run concurrent with another case in which Gehling was sentenced to a total of nine-years in prison on charges that include Burglary in the 3^rd Degree, Criminal Mischief in the 2^nd Degree and Theft in the 3^rd Degree. Those charges are with regard to an incident in February, when Atlantic Police were called to investigate a broken store window at 200 Chestnut Street.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Officials with the Glenwood Police Department report four separate arrests occurred over the past week. On Sunday, 40-year-old Ellen Pankievicz, of Malvern, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Cash/Surety bond was set at $300. On Thursday, 40-year-old Kevin Petersen, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear. His bond was set at $300 cash only.

On July 5th, 28-year-old Ashten Horner, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense ($1,000 cash/surety bond). And, on July 4th, 21-year-old Preston Clark, of Glenwood, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Cash or surety bond was set at $300.