(Atlantic, Iowa, 12/12/22) – This fall, the Atlantic Lions Club pancake supper and bake sale raised $2,500 for free mental health support groups in Cass County organized by NAMI Southwest Iowa (the Southwest Iowa affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, otherwise known as NAMI). Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh says NAMI Southwest Iowa currently offers in-person peer support groups at 2:00 PM on the first and third Thursdays of every month at the United Church of Christ in Atlantic (1607 Hazel St., Atlantic, IA 50022), as well as virtual peer support groups at 10:00 AM every Monday and 6:30 PM every Thursday. NAMI Southwest Iowa also offers a virtual family support group at 6:30 PM on the first Tuesday of the month. Additional NAMI Southwest Iowa in-person support groups are available in Clarinda and Council Bluffs.

NAMI Southwest Iowa Executive Director, Anna Killpack, who attended the pancake supper with her son and his friends, said “This donation means so much to us,” said . “NAMI support groupsprovide community and understanding to people struggling with mental health challenges. Connection with others is so important for all of us – we need to know that we are not alone. The recognition from such a prominent community club, such as the Lions Club, speaks volumes in our effort to normalize taking care of our mental health.” Atlantic Lions Club Member Vicki Nordskog commented, “The Atlantic Lions Club cares about people in our community, and we know mental health support is a huge need for many.”

From L to R, NAMI Southwest Iowa Board President Jason Swain, NAMI SWIA Executive Director Anna Killpack, Brigham Hoegh, and Atlantic Lions Leon Hodges and Vicki Nordskog (Photo supplied)

Mental health was identified as the top health need in Cass County in the 2021 Cass County Community Health Needs Assessment. NAMI peer-led support groups are free and for any adult who has experienced symptoms of a brain health condition. No diagnosis is required to attend. NAMI Family Support Groups are free, peer-led support groups for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms. Participants of both groups gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others, and groups are led by trained leaders.

As their website states, NAMI believes the battle against mental illness is something that doesn’t have to be fought alone. In addition to free support groups, NAMI Southwest Iowa offers free educational classes and presentations on mental illness. For more information on all NAMI Southwest Iowa services, visit https://namisouthwestiowa.com/ or contact info@namisouthwestiowa.com or 712-542-7904.

Each NAMI Southwest Iowa support group costs approximately $3,000 a year to fund. Program costs include print and digital marketing, staff time to coordinate and promote the groups,
program leader stipends and mileage, supplies such as resource materials, and group snacks. Thanks to an annual commitment of $500 from Cass Health, and the donation of free meeting space at the United Church of Christ in Atlantic, NAMI Southwest Iowa has now secured funding to offer the peer support group in Cass County through 2023. If sufficient funding is raised, there could also be an in-person family support group offered in Cass County, in addition to the peer support group. Individuals and organizations interested in contributing funding for these support groups can contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or 712-249-5870 for more information.

Healthy Cass County is a community-focused volunteer network formed to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. For information on community wellness events or
resources, follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty. Healthy Cass County welcomes participants from across Cass County. Reach out to Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or call 712-249-5870 for more information.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa will receive more than 70 million dollars in an opioid settlement with the two largest pharmacy chains in the country. Attorney General Tom Miller released information that says the money is coming from a nearly 11 BILLION-dollar nationwide agreement with C-V-S and Walgreens. Miller and Attorney’s General from other states accused the two chains of ignoring red flags on opioid prescriptions and failing to detect and prevent the abuse and diversion of the drugs.

C-V-S is paying five BILLION dollars and Walgreens five-point-seven BILLION. Both have agreed to monitor, report, and share data about suspicious activity related to opioids. Iowa’s now part of opiod agreements that are expected to bring the state around 320 million dollars.

(Radio Iowa) – The Minority Leader in the Iowa Senate says Democrats will do what they can to push back on the governor’s goal of sending more state tax dollars to private schools. Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls says the plan is a threat to rural schools. “Who have already seen the effects of cuts to funding, the results of school consolidation and who I think are terrified that will accelerate under this voucher scheme,” Wahls says, “and the challenge is that once you lose your school, you can lose your town.”

Last year, Governor Reynolds proposed giving the parents of 10-thousand kids state scholarships to cover private school costs. During the campaign, Reynolds said her goal was to give every Iowa parent the choice of where their child attends school. “What we can see clearly with the governor changing her position publicly like this is that what Democrats have been warning from the beginning is obviously potentially poised to come to pass,” Wahls says.

Wahls suggests a plan to let tens of thousands of Iowa parents get state money after enrolling their child in a private school would divert hundreds of millions of dollars from public schools. “That should be a concern to every Iowa parent, child, family, community. It doesn’t matter if you’re Democrat, Republican, independent, Libertarian — your political affiliation has nothing to do with it,” Wahls says. “I mean, you’re talking about an existential threat to public education.”

The governor’s previous school choice plans have failed to pass the Republican-led House, but some G-O-P opponents were defeated in primaries and a number of new Republican members were elected to the House in November. The 2023 Iowa legislature starts in a month — on Monday, January 9th.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – With the passage of the new storm water ordinance and accompanying resolution last Wednesday, officials with the City of Atlantic are informing residents and businesses that new Ordinance [#1027] states:

“Storm water shall be billed annually on or about the first business day in January beginning [January 1, 2023]. Bills shall be due and payable by February 15th of each year.”

The accompanying Resolution [#53-22] to the Ordinance says:

“Bills that remain unpaid as of February 16th shall be assessed a flat penalty of $10 per unpaid bill. If bill remains unpaid as of March 1st of each year, property owner shall receive notice to pay within 30 days. Should bill remain unpaid after 30 days of notice, a $25 administrative fee shall be applied to the bill and the entire amount due shall be assessed to property to be collected in the same manner as property taxes.”

(Rural Adair, Iowa) – A Senior at the Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center High School was critically injured during a single-vehicle accident Friday morning, north of Adair. According to the Iowa State Patrol’s report filed with the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, 18-year-old Jaya M. Fever, of Adair, was driving a 2022 Buick LaSabre Custom northbound in the southbound lane of Frontier Road, at around 8-a.m., when she apparently corrected her steering, and over-corrected, resulting in a loss of traction.

The car left skid marks from the southbound lane through the northbound lane, and continued through the grass in the ditch, south of 320th Street. Eventually, the vehicle struck a utility pole on the passenger side B-pillar. The car came to rest just northeast of the utility pole, facing southwest.

Jaya was unconscious when rescue crews arrived. She was transported to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, where she was being treated for life-threatening injuries. At last report, Fever was in critical condition. A Prayer Vigil was held for the young woman Sunday night, at the High School in Guthrie Center.

Stuart and Adair EMS and the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene. Damage to the car was estimated at $5,000. Damage to the utility pole, owned by Guthrie County, was estimated at $1,000.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, today (Monday), reports two arrests occurred last week. On Dec. 5th, 70-year-old Raymond Edison Faulkner, of Tacoma, WA, was arrested on westbound Interstate 80, by Stuart Police. Faulkner was pulled over for speeding 88 mph in a 70 mph zone. During an investigation to followed, Faulkner was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense – Methamphetamine, and Interference with Official Acts, after he allegedly ate a substance he described as Eucalyptus Menthol Mint candy, but tested positive for meth. Faulkner was released from the Adair County Jail about six-hours later, on a $300 cash or surety bond.

And, Police in Adair, arrested 43-year-old Ryan James Cook, of Casey, a little after 11-p.m. last Tuesday, following an attempted traffic stop and pursuit, into the City of Adair. Cook was being pulled over for an expired registration plate and a plate that was too dirty to read. When he was finally stopped, Cook refused orders to exit his car and was forcibly removed. Authorities say he had a heavy odor of alcohol coming from his person. A K9 search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a pipe used to smoke marijuana, and some residue.

Cook faces charges that include: OWI/3rd offense; Eluding; Driving While Barred; Possession of drug paraphernalia; Operating without a registration plate; Open Container – Driver over the age of 21, and Failure to maintain registration plates. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors are expected to hear from four area representatives who are requesting monies from the County’s share of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Funds. Brigham Hoegh, Kenner Baxter, Jennifer McEntaffer and Baily Smith, will ask the County to pony up $130,000 for a full-time Cass County Tourism Director. The Supervisors will consider their request as part of their Budget appropriation process.

In other business, the Supervisors will act on approving appointments to the Cass County Local Food Policy Council Board, and accept the resignations of: Jennifer Saathoff, from the Compensation Board – effective immediately; Donald D. Edwards, as Trustee of Victoria Township and Linda K. Edwards, Clerk of Victoria Township, both effective Feb. 28. 2023.

Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken will provide the Board with his weekly report. The Cass County Board of Supervisors Meeting begins at 9-a.m., Tuesday, in their Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse, in Atlantic.

(Radio Iowa) – A police officer in central Iowa was arrested over the weekend in a neighboring community. A news release from the Des Moines Police Department confirms one of its officers was arrested in West Des Moines on Sunday. Senior Police Officer Angel Danniel Aguilar Perez is charged with drunk driving as well as possession of a dangerous weapon while under the influence.

Aguilar Perez was placed on administrative leave. He’s been on the Des Moines force for five years.

(Radio Iowa) – The fund that provides Iowa veterans with financial help is out of money for the fiscal year. The Iowa State Veterans Trust Fund provides emergency assistance for things like medical care and equipment, home and vehicle repairs, and counseling. Karl Lettow, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, says it’s the first time the fund has run out of money. That’s because in January 2021, the veterans commission increased who could qualify in response to rising costs. “These changes adapted the program to increase eligibility to funds for veterans and military families,” Lettow says. “The increased need subsequently created an unprecedented influx of application requests for assistance.”

The Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs won’t be accepting applications for the fund until it’s replenished. Its entire allotment of 500-thousand dollars has already been spent. “This has been a great fund,” Lettow says. “It’s done a lot of people a lot of good and anything we can do to keep it flowing is going to be helpful to veterans.”

Lettow says the commission will likely ask state lawmakers to increase the amount allowed in the fund annually in the upcoming legislative session. The fund is financed through the Iowa Lottery, not taxpayer funds. He says they’re looking for alternate solutions to add more money to the trust fund until the new fiscal year starts next July.

(by Catherine Wheeler, Iowa Public Radio)