(Radio Iowa) – The Republican leader in the Iowa Senate says there is gaming fatigue in the state Capitol and that’s why a temporary moratorium on new casino licenses was quickly passed last week. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver says “Please just said, ‘We want a pause and see how this shakes out over the next couple of years.'” Whitver notes there was zero push back during Senate debate of the moratorium. “There were a couple of changes that the casinos wanted to make this year that really aren’t that drastic of changes, but one thing that our people wanted to see is they don’t believe we need another casino right now,” Whitver says.

There are 19 state-licensed casinos operating in Iowa today. The moratorium on new licenses would last until July of 2024 — if the governor signs the bill into law. In August of 2019, sports betting became legal and Whitver says that was a factor. “Especially after the sports gaming bill that passed, there’s so many ads, so much talk about gaming, that people said: ‘We just need to put a pause on this,'” Whitever said.

And legislators this year tabled the casinos request to allow wagering on video game competitions, often called E-sports. “Over the last few years there’s been a lot of changes to our gaming laws in the state of Iowa, and then there have been changes that will affect Iowa, like Nebraska bringing casinos on board,” Whitver says. “And so there’s a little — a lot of gaming fatigue within the Capitol.”

Whitver made his comments during last weekend’s “Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S. On Monday, dozens of local investors and Cedar Rapids officials said they intend to apply fo a casino license as soon as state law allows. The plans for a 250 million dollar casino and entertainment complex in downtown Cedar Rapids include flood control measures.

Sheriff’s officials in Dallas County report a Union County man was injured during a collision Saturday between his motorcycle and a deer. The accident happened on I-80 near mile marker 110. Authorities say Anthony Hoadley, of Creston, was traveling westbound when the accident occurred. Hoadley was transported to Methodist by Dallas County EMS. Damage to the motorcycle was estimated at $10,000.

Police in Red Oak, Tuesday morning, arrested 58-year-old Rhonda Joann Sperber, of Red Oak. The woman was taken into custody at around 10:35-a.m. in the 800 block of Broadway, for Public Intoxication. Sperber’s bond was set at $300.

Davenport, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 29-year-old Samantha Ann May, who was convicted of Burglary 1st Degree in Muscatine County, failed to report back to the Davenport Work Release Facility as required Sunday morning, May 29, 2022.

May is a white female, height 5’3″. She weighs 140 pounds. The woman was admitted to the work release facility on May 25, 2022. Persons with information on May’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Samantha May (IA DOC photo)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Tuesday) morning, unanimously agreed to adopt/pass Resolutions awarding ARPA (Covid recovery) funds in the amount of $50,000 for specified improvements to the Anita Child Care Center, and $120,000 for the Cass County Fire Association. Both requests had previously been discussed at length with the respective organization representatives.

Cumberland Fire Chief Jason Rouse appeared before the Cass County Board of Supervisors this (Tuesday) morning, to request ARPA funds for the purchase of new firefighter air packs and possible an air compressor, at an estimated total cost of $92,000. Rouse said currently, only nine out of the 11 airpacks they have, are fully functional. The age of their airpacks has also exceeded the industry norm.

The oldest airpack tank is dated 1988, while the newest is 2004. The other issue they have with the packs, aside from aging air bottles, is the pressure regulators. He brought one of the devices in for a demonstration…

He said the bottles would have to be replaced if they replaced the regulators with higher capacity pressure system. Rouse said they would like to replace their metal tanks with newer, lighter weight and extremely durable, carbon-fiber bottles. He said they only have one fundraiser per year (The Pork Chop Super), which, if they used all the funds from, would only allow for the purchase of one airpack.

Due to COVID, they couldn’t hold the supper in 2020, and in 2021 it was on a drive-thru pickup basis,which fortunately, “went very well.” Rather than fund all 11airpacks at once through the ARPA funds, the Supervisors favored staggering the purchases and allocation of funds over the course of three-years. The Board requested Rouse come back later with more details on cost and a plan to acquire.

In other business, the Board agreed to table any action on the hiring of a new employee or employees for the Treasurer’s Office, until the publication standards are met. It’s expected the Supervisors will be able to take action on the matter during their meeting on June 7^th.

The Board also agreed to enter into a joint participation agreement with SWIPCO, with regard to the Rural Transit System, but they tabled entering into a Business Service agreement with Mediacom for a DHS phone line, pending more detailed information and clarification.

Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken reported to the Board, an asphalt resurfacing project is underway on County Road M-56, southwest of Atlantic. A total of six-miles will be completed between today and tomorrow. Other projects, such as roadway pipe, are waiting on the ground to dry out a bit before work can continue or in some cases, begin.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Stephanie Burke reports, “In early May, the Montgomery County Courthouse sustained roof damage to the center most cupola as a result of strong significant wind. On Monday May 30th, several additional pieces of the cupola fell as a result of continued strong winds, damaging a nearby parked car.

“The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors have been working with a contractor as well as the county insurance carrier to remedy the issue as quick as possible. Due to the location of damage, height and complexity of the issue, an immediate fix is not possible but every effort is being made to mitigate it from being a further problem.”

Photos via the Montgomery County EMA Facebook page

Burke says “Once a complete plan is made, it will be released to the public as well as any necessary building or road closures should they be needed.” The County is also aware of the condition of the American flag at the top of the clock tower. Much like the cupola, due to the height of the flagpole and the amount of it that is torn and wrapped around the base, it will most likely require the service of the roofing company and crane service.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests from May 19th through the 30th.

• On May 30th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 43-year-old Todd Glade, of Atlantic, on a Cass County Warrant for Failure to Appear.  Glade was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.
• On May 28th, 19-year-old Collin Clarken, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.  Clarken was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release. And, 20-year-old Gage Mundorf, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.  Mundorf was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release.
• On May 27th, 21-year-old Mikayla Waldron, of Atlantic, was arrested on warrants for Theft 2nd Degree and Unauthorized Use of Credit Card.  Waldron was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held. And, 19-year-old Dante Watkins, of Council Bluffs, on Warrants for Violation of Probation.  Watkins was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.
• On May 22nd, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 49-year-old Dwayne Rollins, of Atlantic, on charges of OWI 1st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Rollins was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.