Two people were arrested Wednesday night in Red Oak. Authorities say 29-year-old Kody James Syverson, of Stanton, and 29-year-old Olivia Margaret Kruse, of Red Oak, were each charged with Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. They were taken into custody at around 10:30-p.m. in the 1600 block of Summit Street, and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where the pair was being held without bond, pending an appearance before a magistrate.

(Radio Iowa) – A new security director will be installed in the Iowa Department of Corrections in response to the March 23rd attack by inmates at the Anamosa State Penitentiary that killed two staff members. In addition to the internal investigation underway, Governor Kim Reynolds says an external investigation is planned. “We’ll address any issues the investigations may reveal and we’ll do what’s necessary to protect our people. Nothing is more important than that,” Reynolds says. “Changes may require additional investment, something that I am fully committed to doing, and this includes making sure that the department and its facilities are adequately staffed.”

Reynolds says 93 percent of full-time positions in the prison system are currently filled. Hiring is underway to fill another five percent, but there is no money in the current year’s budget to cover the remaining two percent of positions. House Republicans are preparing a budget plan that would provide nearly 20-and-a-half million more dollars to the Department of Corrections. Representative Ross Wilburn, a Democrat from Ames, says 20 million seems like a lot, but it doesn’t adequately address the security situation exposed by the attacks at Anamosa. “This entire budget is one that’s been woefully underfunded,” Wilburn says.

Republican Representative Gary Worthan of Storm Lake defends the plan. “We have gotten this budget to the point where maybe it’s not 100% optimal,” Worthan says, “but it’s getting dang close.” Worthan says there is no way to eliminate 100 percent of the risk of working in a prison. “Unfortunately, people are trying to make political hay out of that tragedy. Anamosa is approved for 311 positions; 288 are filled as of the last pay period and 15 are in the process of hiring,” Worthan says. “Anamosa, by any stretch of the imagination, was not understaffed.”

Representative Chris Hall, a Democrat from Sioux City, says the Anamosa incident highlights the dire need for more staff and better security in an overcrowded prison system. “To say that we are playing politics is unfortunate and I would just say it seems to be a two-way street,” Hall says, “so we should all be careful of what we are saying when we point the finger if we have not looked at ourselves directly in the mirror first.”

In January, Governor Reynolds recommended a five million dollar increase in the state prison system budget, for salaries and staffing. Last month, Senate Republicans said they had settled on a four million dollar increase.

(Radio Iowa) – Uber Eats, Door Dash and other services that deliver food would be allowed to deliver beer, wine and liquor from a restaurant, grocery store and other retailer if a bill that’s cleared the House becomes law. Under current state law, bottles of alcohol may only be delivered by people employed by the retailer and that person must be driving a vehicle owned by the store or restaurant when making the delivery. Representative Mike Sexton of Rockwell City says most restaurants and grocery stores that sell wine, beer and alcohol just don’t have enough employees to make home deliveries.

“We’re working through the end of Covid, I hope, if it helps people from staying out of a grocery store, if it helps with an employee shortage that we have in the state of Iowa,” Sexton says. “These are some of the little things we do that I think we make life better for Iowans and, ultimately, that’s the reason why we’re here.”

The legislation requires delivery services and retailers to have written agreements in order to allow a third-party to deliver alcohol. Those agreements, listing names and addresses of the businesses and the delivery services involved, would have to be submitted electronically to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division. “We were doing Zoom calls with people in California and all over the place in order to make sure we got this right,” Sexton says.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. A year ago, Governor Reynolds temporarily allowed restaurants and bars to sell carry-out cocktails as part of her public health emergency proclamation. Then, last summer, Iowa became the first state in the country to pass a law making to-go cocktails legal.

The Atlantic City Council managed to get through their packed agenda in about an hour, Wednesday evening. Following separate public hearings, the Council unanimously passed Resolutions. Among them:

1. Authorizing Third-Quarter Budget Transfers (a standard practice)
2. Agreeing to apply for financial assistance to USDA Rural Development for a grant to purchase 25 units of 1 1/2-inch diameter fire hose, at $110 per unit. If approved, the USDA will cover 35% of the costs, or nearly $963. The City’s Fire Equipment Reserve fund will provide almost required match of nearly $1,788.
3. The Council passed a Resolution Authorizing an application to be filed with the Rural Iowa Housing Assessment Grant Program, and agreed to commit matching funds in the amount of $5,000, for housing data to be compiled, and for an ISU Extension and Outreach Rural Housing Assessment Readiness Workshop.
4. They passed a Resolution for the Appointment of Bob Camblin as Housing Committee Chair and Committee members.
5. A Resolution Declaring the Bull Creek Restoration Project a Community Priority.” The deadline to apply for federally funded local projects, including Bull Creek, is April 16th.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council approved an application from SHIFT ATL for a Rural Innovation Grant. The organization has proposed a project that would partner SHIFT ATL with the City and Atlantic School District, to rehab a City acquired property at 1310 Chestnut Street. The grant funds would pay for the materials to build a garage on the property. High school tech class students would furnish the labor to build the garage, as part of the coursework.

The Council passed by votes of 6-to 1, the First Reading of Ordinances calling for a limit of 24-hours to remove snow from sidewalks and the moving of vehicles so plows can clear the streets. Pat McCurdy, who owns rental properties, objected because he felt it wouldn’t give his renters enough time to clear their sidewalk. The current Ordinance allows 72 hours to clear sidewalks and move vehicles after the snowfall ends.  And, the Council approved a request from Mike Klocke, with Massena Telephone Company, to begin the process of installing fiber optic line on parts of Atlantic’s east side, and they approved a bid of $215,422 from Henningsen Construction, for construction of the Atlantic Animal Shelter building addition.

A collision early this (Wednesday) afternoon in western Iowa’s Monona County resulted in one person being transported to a hospital. The Iowa State Patrol reports 63-year-old Shirley Klein, of Little Sioux, was transported to Mercy Hospital-Sioux City, by Burgess Rescue, after her 2004 Ford was struck by a 2017 Ford pickup, at the intersection of Monona County roads E-54 and K-45. The crash happened at around 12:03-p.m.

When the driver of the pickup, 24-year old Jerritt Hummel, of Elgin, failed to stop, his vehicle struck the passenger car broadside. Authorities say Hummel was not injured in the crash. The Patrol says Klein was wearing her seat belt when the crash occurred.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests so far this week. On Wed., April 7th, Matthew Dean Brown was arrested at the Page County Courthouse in Clarinda, on an active warrant for Failure to appear on April 7, 2021 for Violation of Obstructed Snow Removal.

On Monday April 5th, Elsa Antonino Vincent and Paige Jamie Ruthe Vincent, were arrested at 2616 Sumac Ave in Clarinda. Both were taken into custody on warrants for Fraudulent Practice 2nd degree, Ongoing criminal conduct (unlawful activity) and Conspiracy to commit an non-forcible felony. Paige Vincent also faces a Tampering with records charge.