(Breda, Iowa) – Iowa’s 2023 Legislative Session began Monday, January 9th. Following the start, broadband’s state association, Iowa Communications Alliance (ICA), co-hosted a Welcome Back Reception with other rural entities. Western Iowa Networks (WIN) attended welcoming Iowa’s legislators. The event allowed for connections to be made with both seasoned and new legislators and discuss the importance of ICA’s mission for broadband in Iowa.

Reliable broadband in Iowa is imperative to the state’s success. Not only for businesses but healthcare, schools, farming, and work-from-home employees. The WIN representatives in attendance discussed the importance of funding for rural broadband providers and the current legislative issues that may arise in the 2023 session. WIN is eager for Representative Best to dive into new laws benefiting the communities they serve.

Pottawattamie County, Iowa – The Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation presented an oversized check for $125,000 to the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, January 17th.

The ceremonial presentation took place at the weekly County Board meeting, recognizing partial repayment of a recent Pottawattamie County Conservation acquisition of 93 acres of land adjacent to Hitchcock Nature Center. The Board of Supervisors approved the purchase in November, with the agreement The Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation would commit $125,000 of its cash reserve towards the $1,175,000 investment.

“This was a parcel our department had been interested in for quite some time,” said Mark Shoemaker, Executive Director of Pottawattamie County Conservation. “It’s a beautiful piece of land, that we’ll be able to preserve and protect for years to come.”

Photo/story are courtesy Craig Carlsen; Public Relations Manager

Doris Ferguson, the previous landowner, had expressed interest in selling to the county when she could no longer take care of the property. Upon her passing, the land was gifted to the Doris Ferguson Estate and the long-term vision was kept alive by her son Mark Ferguson.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity Doris Ferguson and her family have provided our county,” said Shoemaker. “This wouldn’t have been possible without their support, the support from our Board of Supervisors, and the shared outlook towards the future with the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation. It’s rewarding to be a part of all of it.”

Prior to approaching the Board of Supervisors for assistance, Pottawattamie County Conservation drafted a funding strategy to pay back land acquisition funds used by the Board for the acquisition. The strategy identified several partners, grants, and internal funds to replenish the land fund for Pottawattamie County. Shoemaker says he hopes to repay those funds over the next nine months.

For more information and the latest news and events from Pottawattamie County Conservation visit PottConservation.com.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests and a non-injury accident. Authorities say at around 6:52-p.m. Monday, 39-year-old Travis Jack Davis, of Omaha, was arrested on an out-of-state/out-of-county warrants. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail. Saturday afternoon, 22-year-old Dylan Ray Janssen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation, with bond set at $10,000. And, on Jan. 18th, 36-year-old Zachariah Matthew Boyd, of Elk Horn (IA), was arrested on I-29 in Mills County, for Child Endangerment and OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $3,000.

Mills County Sheriff’s officials said also, 90-year-old Roland Albright, of Omaha, was driving a 2006 Chrysler southbound on 221st Street at around 10:24-p.m. Saturday, when his vehicle went out of control due to the extreme snow and slick road conditions. The vehicle went into the north ditch and struck multiple trees before it came to rest on its wheels. Albright was checked out by medics at the scene, but refused transport to the hospital.

(Radio Iowa) – A House committee has passed legislation that supporters say would equalize Iowa’s criminal sentencing guidelines. Representative Ann Meyer of Fort Dodge says when defendants accused of domestic abuse assault are sentenced, current law says any related conviction or deferred judgement in the past 12 years — in any state — may to be taken into consideration. “When determining whether the current violation is a second or subsequent offense,” Meyer says. That’s not the guideline in drug-related cases, when all previous conviction may be considered.

Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell of Ames is among the handful of Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee who voted against the bill. “I am concerned about completely eliminating this second chance,” Wessel-Kroeschell says. The organization that represents about one-thousand Iowa trial lawyers opposes the bill. County attorneys and the attorney general support it and the Iowa Organization for Victim Assistance backs the bill, too.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors have approved the resignation of a man who has served as the Grove Township Trustee for more than 25-years. Board Chair Steve Baier read from Robert Vernon’s letter of resignation.

Steve Bair thanked Mr. Vernon for his years of conscientious service as Township Trustee. The Board also approved the appointment of Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon as Zoning Administration. Once again, here’s Steve Baier.

Baier said Kennon has already stepped-up to the plate in a couple of recent Zoning matters.

In other business, the Board approved the appointment of Robert Kirchner to a Yardman’s position at a rate of $23.25/hour. The position was made vacant due to an internal Secondary Roads Dept. advancement. Kirchner currently serves as a truck driver. Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken said that in-turn, creates another opening within the Department.

They passed a Resolution awarding a contract for Bridge #319 on G-30/Highland Road over Indian Creek (west of Atlantic), in the amount of $1.861-million, to Murphy Heavy Contracting, out of Anita. Theirs was the low bid. Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken said the bids were very close to the estimate of $2.11-million. The Board discussed the future of Willow Heights. Some inquires have been made into making the former residential care facility into non-profit, Assisted and/or Independent Living-type apartments, or even a Veteran’s Home. Steve Baier said he’s received a lot of questions from attorney’s and others about the County-owned building and grounds. The facility failed to garner interest from bidders last Saturday, when the property and three other tracts were up for sale at an auction. The other tracts sold, but the building itself did not meet the minimum required bid of $250,000.

No action was taken on the matter during today’s (Tuesday’s) meeting.

(Radio Iowa) – What’s known as the Point in Time Count will be conducted tomorrow (Wednesday), involving community service agencies across Iowa who are working to gauge Iowa’s homeless population. Tanya Thielen is housing services coordinator for Upper Des Moines Opportunity, based in Graettinger. Thielen says the counts are required every year by the U-S Department of Housing and Urban Development. “The point behind the count is to get a good idea of how many people are out in our communities experiencing homelessness,” Thielen says. “The count that we get is entered into our Homeless Management Information System and those get streamed directly to HUD and that can help them determine how much and where the funding will be received throughout the state.”

The survey is done every year and Thielen says the Iowa numbers are continuing to rise. “Last year, when they conducted a Point in Time Count on a single night in January, there were 1,600 people experiencing homelessness,” Thielen says, “and 1,300 of those were residing in a shelter or another housing program, but there were still about 320 of those individuals who were literally homeless outdoors.” Upper Des Moines Opportunity serves a 12-county area in northwest and north-central Iowa and she notes, it seems like an uphill climb against homelessness.  “We do see some rises in the numbers but we’re doing the best we can with the funding we’ve got to try to fight that problem and get people housed,” Thielen says. “It’s definitely a basic need and that’s something that every human should have, so we’re doing our best to fight that battle.”

She says the results of the survey should be released in a few months.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood say two people have been arrested on separate charges. On Monday, 29-year-old Luke Sneed, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He posted a $1,000 bond, and was released. And, today (Tuesday), 30-year-old Hannah Sneed, of Glenwood, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Her bond was set at $300.

(Red Oak, Iowa) — Police in Red Oak report the arrest Monday evening on a drug-related warrant, of a Ringgold County man. 50-year-old Darold Eugene Bredberg, of Mount Ayr, was arrested on a Red Oak Police warrant for possession of a controlled substance third or subsequent offense — a felony — and possession of a controlled substance marijuana third or subsequent offense — an aggravated misdemeanor.

Authorities say Bredberg’s arrest was the result of an investigation that followed a traffic stop near 4th and Valley Streets in Red Oak. Bredberg was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $5,000 bond.