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Adair BOS to hold their regular weekly meeting, Jan. 5th

News

January 4th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting beginning 9-a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 5), in their boardroom at the Adair County Courthouse in Greenfield. On their agenda are Fiscal Year 2023 requests for funding from: The Adair County Library Association; Southern Iowa Trolley; Midwest Partnership; and the Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG).

The Board will discuss and/or act on: A letter pertaining to wind turbine noise; The SICOG Housing Trust Fund; Homestead and Military Disallowances. They are also expected to act on approving a Treasurer Clerk appointment, and a resignation from the Condemnation Commission. County Auditor Mandy Berg will discuss an FY 23 Budget Amendment, with regard to ARPA Funds, and the Board will set the date for a Public Hearing on the amendment.

Grassley feels ‘very secure’ at Capitol, applauds anti-trust efforts in meatpacking

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 4th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – With the approach of the one-year anniversary of the January 6th attack on the U-S Capitol, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s satisfied with his safety in the building and he has no fears there will be any sort of repeat attempt to storm the capitol on Thursday. “I feel very secure,” Grassley says, “and I don’t expect anything to happen because of the increased security and particularly bills that have been passed where very quickly, National Guard can be called out.”

A U-S Attorney’s Office report says that over the past year, more than 725 people were charged with participating in the riot, several of them from Iowa. The incident left four rioters dead and more than 150 law enforcement officers hurt. One officer died of a stroke shortly after the riot while several more took their own lives in the following weeks.

Senator Grassley is applauding Biden Administration efforts to combat anti-competitive practices in the meatpacking industry. Up to 800-million dollars in loans and grants will aid small-scale beef, pork and poultry plants while setting up a new hotline for whistleblowers. Grassley, a Republican, says his response to the move is “Hallelujah.” “The big four packers control 85% of the daily slaughter,” Grassley says. “They can and, in fact, do abuse the market power while the retail price of meat has gone up, independent producers are getting less and less.”

Grassley says he fully supports administration efforts to bring fair prices to both producers and consumers, though he recognizes it will also take legislation. Grassley says he has a bi-partisan bill in the works. “It’s called the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act,” Grassley says. “It’ll create fair market conditions for independent producers and reign in some of the bad behavior of the big packers.”

If the administration wants a solution for small producers and for consumers, Grassley says the president should endorse the bill and lobby for its swift passage.

Atlantic City Council to act on approving ELAINE OTTE to the vacant At-Large seat

News

January 4th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) [updated] – The City Council in Atlantic will hold their regular bi-weekly meeting beginning 5:30-p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 5), in their chambers at City Hall. On the agenda, is an Order to appoint Elaine K. Otte to the vacant, At-Large Council seat created by the election of Grace Garrett as Mayor. Otte will be brought before the Council Wednesday to be confirmed, followed by administering of the Oath of Office.

In other business, the Council will hear from SWIPCO Community Development Director Alexsis Fleener, with regard to the submission of applications for the following:

  • A Downtown Housing Grant application by Paul Gude for 300 Chestnut Street. The grant requires a 25% local match provided by the property owner – not the City – and is for a 24-month period.
  • and, a Community Catalyst Building Remediation Program Grant for 207 Chestnut Street, from Peter Hopley.

Fleener requests the Council support the applications in writing, so that they may be submitted to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). The Council is expected to pass a Resolution approving the transfer of funds from one the City’s 65 separate funds, for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2021-22, which is a routine matter, and “reconciles accurate cost-accounting, while creating transparency on what is being spent in each line item in each fund,” according to City Administrator John Lund.

The Atlantic City Council will also act on passing a Resolution “Establishing the use of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Special Fund.” Lund notes legislation expressly forbids the money to be used for debt payments or tax relief of any kind. He says one of the purposes for the funds, is for investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure, which would include the Bull Creek restoration/reconstruction project to help eliminate erosion on properties nearest the creek. The cost of the project was budgeted at more than $985,331, which according to Lund, makes the $974,157 from ARPA able to finance 98.87% of the project.

The Council’s final order of business, is to approve the City’s Official Newspaper for legal publications, and the official bank for the City’s checking account.

(Podcast) KJAN News, 1/4/22

News, Podcasts

January 4th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

The 8:05-a.m. broadcast News from Ric Hanson.

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Nearly one-third of Iowa’s 99 Counties declared 2nd Amendment Sanctuaries

News

January 4th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Cherokee, Iowa via KCCI) -Another Iowa county is a Second Amendment Sanctuary. KCCI reports the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution Monday morning. Their action means law enforcement in Cherokee County there can’t enforce future laws the county believes violate the Second Amendment.Cherokee County is now the 31st Iowa county to do it. Many counties have copied their resolution nearly word for word from a template on the Iowa Firearms Coalition website. County supervisors in these area Counties have also declared their counties as 2nd Amendment Sanctuaries:

  • Adams
  • Carroll
  • Dallas
  • Guthrie
  • Madison
  • Mills
  • Page
  • Pottawattamie
  • Ringgold
  • Taylor
  • Union

Heartbeat Today 1-4-2022

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

January 4th, 2022 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with ISU Adjunct Assistant Professor of Sociology Samuel Mindes about a recent study showing self-employed workers were hardest hit by the COVID pandemic.

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3 arrested in Creston for Violation of a No Contact Order

News

January 4th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Three people from Creston arrested on court orders, late Monday. Taken into custody for Violation of a No Contact Order, was:

  • 38-year-old Lee Ryan Fowler
  • 42-year-old Robert Todd Jackson
  • and 44-year-old Deanne Michelle Jackson.

All three were being held without bond pending an appearance before the Magistrate. Fowler and Robert Jackson were being held in the Union County Jail. Deanne Jackson was being held in the Adams County Jail.

(Podcast) KJAN News, Jan. 4 2022

News, Podcasts

January 4th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

The 7:07-a.m. News from Ric Hanson.

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Atlantic Parks & Rec Board delays action on agreement w/NV YMCA

News

January 4th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Board of Directors, Monday night, voted to table action on a facility programs/services plan agreement with the Nishna Valley YMCA. At the beginning of the meeting, Parks and Recreation Director Bryant Rasmussen and Board member John Krogman mentioned that at recent meeting with YMCA representatives, discussion revolved around the possibility of having a consulting firm conduct a study on factors affecting what projects are most feasible, how much it could cost, and the means to fund those projects.

Rasmussen said the YMCA has proposed splitting the cost the study with Parks & Rec.

That was Board member John Krogman, who made the motion to table any action. City Council Liaison Gerald Brink said one of the things that needs to be addressed before any improvements or additions are made to Park and Rec attractions, is an increase in the Hotel/Motel tax, which some local hotel and bed/breakfast owners have been in opposition to since the tax was first debated.

(That’s Parks Board member Jolene Smith) Additional discussion and possible action on the agreement is expected to be on the agenda for Parks and Rec Board’s regular meeting at 5:15-p.m. On January 17th. That meeting will be held in the City Council’s Chambers at the City Hall.

Adams County Sheriff’s report, 1/4/22: Bridgewater man arrested for assault

News

January 4th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests occurred from Dec. 22nd through Jan. 3rd. Most recently, on Monday, Deputies arrested 38-year-old Mandy Marie Knapp on a valid Adams warrant, following a traffic stop. Knapp was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

On Dec. 26th, Adams County Deputies responded to a fight at the Casey’s store in Corning. Upon further investigation, Juan Antonio Gonzalez, of Bridgewater, was arrested for Assault Causing Bodily Injury. Also during the incident, Gregory Dale Welcher was arrested for Harassment in the 1st Degree, Assault while Displaying a Dangerous Weapon, and Disorderly Conduct. Welcher was transported to the Adams County Jail. Gonzalez was transported to the Adams County Jail, also, and later released after posting bond.

And, on Dec. 22nd, a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle resulted in the arrest of 42-year-old Nicholas Lee Huston, of Grand Island, Nebraska. Huston was taken into custody on numerous arrest warrants from eastern Iowa agencies. He was also charged with Possession of Marijuana/3rd offense, Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, and two counts Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Huston was also cited for speeding 74 in a 55 zone. He was transported to the Taylor County Jail and held on a $12,300 cash-only bond.