Atlantic, IA – Cass County Auditor Sara Harris reminds voters that some polling places have changed due to recent redistricting across the state. Iowans whose polling place has changed should be on the lookout for a postcard in the mail informing them of the new location.

Cass County will work with the Iowa Secretary of State to send a postcard to every registered voter in the county starting May 18. Under Iowa law, notices are required to be sent to impacted voters between 20 days and seven days prior to the primary election and again prior to the general election.

“If your polling place changed due to redistricting, you’ll be getting a card in the mail informing you of the new location,” Secretary of State Paul Pate said. “We want all eligible Iowans to make their voices heard by voting this year, and it’s important to have a plan if you’re going to the polls on Election Day. Step one is registering to vote. Step two is making sure you know where your polling place is located.”

Iowans can also look up their polling place online https://sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx. To check your voter registration status, register to vote or update your information, visit VoterReady.Iowa.gov.

(Radio Iowa) – The jury took around three hours today (Monday) to reach a verdict in the trial of 42-year-old Michael Lang of Grundy Center. Lang was accused of shooting and killing Sergeant Jim Smith during a standoff last April. Judge Joel Dalrymple…

Lang was also convicted on two other charges for shooting at a police vehicle and for the assault on a Grundy Center Police officer which started the who chain of events.

Lang will be sentenced to life in prison and will be held without bail until sentencing. The proceedings ended soon after the verdicts were read.

The attorneys will discuss a sentencing date with the judge. The trial was held in Hamilton County at the courthouse in Webster City due to publicity about the case.

(Radio Iowa) – The jury is now deliberating the fate of Michael Lang — the Grundy Center man accused of shooting and killing State Trooper Jim Smith last April. Prosecutor Douglas Hammerand said in his closing that this is a straightforward case. “This wasn’t an accidental shooting folks this wasn’t the defendant tripped and the gun went off — this was an intentional shooting. You don’t shoot somebody where the defendant shot them with a loaded 12 gauge shotgun if it’s not intentional,” he says. Lang is charged with first-degree murder in Trooper Smith’s death. Hammerand told the jury the shooting was premeditated.

“If you take a loaded shotgun with a slug and you shoot somebody in the chest Look at that. Is that a fifth purpose or designed to do some physical harm to another? Absolutely,” Hammerand said. “This has malice all over it. The defendant had malice aforethought.” He says there is ample proof Lang shot Smith intending to kill him. “You not only have the location of the shot, but you also have the number of shots, and his actions afterward, and you consider all those circumstances clearly the defendant has a specific intent to kill,” he said. Defense attorney Aaron Hawbaker argued the killing does not rise to first-degree murder.

“To premeditate is to think or ponder on a matter before acting. In contrast, quick, reactive actions are not premeditated, quick reactions to a circumstance you did not anticipate is not deliberative,” Hawbaker said. He said Lang could have shot at officers many times during the standoff — but did not. )”People walking by the windows. It wasn’t until the first shot that there was a concern about being in harm’s way that way, because if Mr. Lang wanted to during that hour and a half, he could have shot out a door. He could have shot out a window at any one of those law enforcement officers are rounded but he didn’t,” he said. Hawbaker said Lang was expecting a dog to come into the kitchen where he sat and reacted by shooting when Sergeant Smith appeared with a gun.

“A spontaneous act, a reaction to a circumstance he did not anticipate because it wasn’t a dog — but the most serious thing you can do to an individual — and that’s to point of gun at them. That is not murder in the first degree,” Hawbaker says. Lang is also charged with an attempt to commit murder for firing at a police vehicle, and assault on a peace officer for an attack on a Grundy Center officer which started the series of events that led to Trooper Smith’s death

(Radio Iowa) – The invasive insect that kills ash trees has been detected in all but eight Iowa counties. State officials have confirmed the emerald ash borer has been found in Dickinson and Humboldt Counties for the first time. Mike Kintner is the emerald ash borer coordinator for the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Kintner says emerald ash borer larvae was found just outside of Arnolds Park after getting a tip from a professional who works in the landscaping industry.  “Basically what he saw and a lot people see this time of year is the woodpecker activity on the tree,” he says. “…There was some woodpecker flocking and mobbing where the woodpeckers will come and feed on the emerald ash borer that’s underneath the bark.”

The destructive beetles were also found outside of Dakota City. In addition to woodpecker activity, Kintner says a thinning leaf canopy at the top of an ash tree is a clue because the insects attack the top third of the tree first and then progress downward. “Bark splitting is one thing, too,” Kintner says. “There’s vertical splits on some of the larger branches and even smaller branches if you look up into the tree. That’s caused by the larvae feeding on the bark and sometimes the bark will split.”

Kintner says if you have an ash tree on your property and you live within 15 miles of a confirmed emerald ash borer infestation, now is the time to consider whether you’ll start treating the tree. “Preventative insecticides do work and those can either applied as a homeowner if the tree is under a certain amount of size,” he says, “…or basically you can go with a certified applicator, a professional method, too.”

The pest was first discovered in the United States in 2002, in southeast Michigan. It was confirmed in Iowa eight years later. The eight Iowa counties where emerald ash borer infestations have not yet been identified are Emmet, Kossuth, Mitchell, Monona, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth and Woodbury.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports six arrests from over the past week. On May 8th, 36-year-old Rossi Byron Lundy, JR., of Cedar Rapids, was arrested for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, following an investigation into an assault at the I-80 eastbound rest area. At around 2:18-a.m., a caller reported multiple motorcycles and a U-Haul box truck were traveling together, and continued eastbound from the rest area. The victim said he was shot at during the altercation. Stuart Police located the group of motorcyclists and the box truck on the I-80 entrance ramp. The motorcycle continued eastbound but the box truck went to the Kum and Go and was parked by the gas pump. The driver, identified as Rossi Lundy, JR., and female passenger were detained. Lundy confirmed there was a firearm in the vehicle. It was found in the center cup-holder. A records check indicated he was convicted felon. Lundy was later released from the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

At around 11-p.m. that same date, 40-year-old Stormy Crawford, of Fontanelle, was arrested in Greenfield for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense – Marijuana, following a traffic stop for non-illuminate tail lights. The woman was later released on a $1,000 bond. On May 9th, at around 3-a.m., 42-year-old Michael Wayne Byles, of Racine, WI., was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol on I-80 westbound near mile marker 95, following a traffic stop for speeding. Byles was charged with Possession of drug paraphernalia and PCS/3rd subsequent offense – marijuana. While at the jail, it was learned Byles had multiple previous convictions out of Wisconsin, for Possession of THC.  Bond was set at $1,000.

May 12th, at around 9:40-p.m., 32-year-old Stephen Joshua Wilson, of Des Moines, was arrested in Greenfield, on Adair County warrants for Disarming a Peace Officer, Interference with Official Acts, Harassment/3rd Degree, and Assault. His cash-only bond was set at $5,000. That same night, 38-year-old Taycey Nichole Post, of Creston, was arrested near Greenfield, for OWI/1st offense. Her BrAC came back at .143%.  Post was released the following morning on $1,000 bond.

And, 33-year-old Brett Allan Westfall, of Adair, was arrested at around 12:20-a.m. May 14th in Adair County, for OWI/2nd offense. His BrAC was .212%. Bond was set at $2,000.

Officials with the Glenwood (Iowa) Police Department report two, separate arrests. Today (Monday), 34-year-old Myles Longcor, of Henderson, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, until seen by a magistrate.

On Saturday, Glenwood Police arrested 26-year-old Kameron Myers, of Glenwood, on a Pottawattamie County warrant. His bond was set at $5,000.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report the arrest Sunday night, of 63-year-old Carla Sue Trumbauer, from Council Bluffs. The woman was arrested following the alleged assault of her daughter-in-law. Trumbauer was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault and Child Endangerment with substantial risk. She was being held in the Pott. County Jail on $2,300 bond. And, a traffic stop Sunday night near Oakland, resulted in the arrest of 46-year-old Harold Leonard Hoffman, JR., for OWI/1st offense. A sheriff’s deputy saw Hoffman’s 2019 Chevy pickup cross the center line several times before a traffic stop was conducted.

Early Saturday morning, 33-year-old Juan C. Perez-Vasquez was arrested following a traffic stop on a possibly intoxicated driver. Perez-Vasquez was pulled-over on I-80 westbound near Shelby, and following an investigation, charged with OWI/1st offense. Friday evening, a Pott. County Sheriff’s Deputy dispatched to a civil situation in Silver City, arrested 50-year-old Timothy Jess Paulson-Abboud, for Possession of a Controlled Substance (7.3 grams)/methamphetamine – 1st offense, and Possession of drug paraphernalia (Smoking devices with residue).

(Radio Iowa) – Many of the challenges Iowa restaurants faced during the pandemic are behind us, but another perfect storm is brewing that’s creating havoc in the food service industry. Jessica Dunker, CEO and president of the Iowa Restaurant Association, says finding reliable workers is just one of the major hurdles they’re now trying to cope with. “At just the time we’re trying to get back up and running at pre-COVID levels, we’re facing an average of 15% increase in labor costs and 15% increase in cost of goods on the products we use to create those great experiences,” Dunker says. “We’ve never seen inflation hit in both directions like that.” 

While revenues for some restaurants are up, she says in many cases, profits are down. The association is addressing the issues with its members, trying to help them ride the waves.

Jessica Dunker

“Some of the things that we are recommending is size down the menus so that you can have quantity of scale on the products that you serve,” Dunker says. “From the consumer experience, what that translates into is some of your favorite novelties might not be available on menus.”

She also recommends restaurant owners brainstorm to find ways to make due with smaller staffs, while being prepared to raise wages. While one in three Iowans of a certain age will say their first job was in the restaurant industry, Dunker says it’s no longer the case for the new generation. The industry is struggling to find younger workers, droves of whom are now being lured by a host of other entry-level jobs in areas where restaurants never before had to compete.

“Also, pre-COVID, workers that were aged 55 and older were our fastest growing work demographic and that pool of people is not coming back to our industry,” Dunker says. “They simply have left the workforce or they’re not coming back into restaurants and we miss those workers.”

She implores Iowans to, “Be patient, be kind, and still come out to appreciate and enjoy all the hospitality scene has to offer.

(Ames, Iowa) –  Airmen with the 168th Cyber Operations Squadron, Iowa Air National Guard, along with personnel from the Innovation Center Kosovo and the University of Pristina, Kosovo, will participate together for the first time in the recurring Cyber Defense Competition at Iowa State University on May 18, in Ames. Officials say global threats to cyber security are increasing. The Cyber Defense Competition is an opportunity for Iowa Airmen, Kosovars, and Iowa students to demonstrate their capabilities and develop their skills.

Iowa State University has held the Cyber Defense Competition for 17 years. High school and college students from around the country converge on Iowa State’s campus to compete regularly.
In the days leading up to the competition, teams will build and secure a notional wealth management company. During the competition, teams will be challenged with defending their company against skilled adversaries.

(File photo) Spring 2016 ISU CDC in Coover Hall on the ISU campus

The Airmen and their Kosovo partners are planning, strategizing and building team communication skills in preparation for the competition. The skills they are learning today translate to what they are doing every day to protect Iowans and Kosovars from online threats. Iowa State University invited service members from the Iowa National Guard and Kosovo to participate in the cyber exercise after recognizing the importance of the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program.

More than a dozen teams will compete to be named best cyber defense team. The top three teams will be recognized during the event conclusion.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 24-year-old Jose Armando Gallardo-Garcia, of Omaha, was arrested Saturday night on a Public Intoxication charge. His bond was set at $300. And, no injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident in Mills County Sunday morning. Authorities say 20-year-old Anita Coates, of Malvern, was driving a 2009 Ford in the area of 290th St./Noyes Avenue, and was toward the center of the road, when she met a vehicle coming from the opposite direction.

Coates swerved, lost control and rolled the vehicle into the south ditch, through a fence and into a planted field. The woman admitted she was driving too fast, and was tired. She was shaken-up but otherwise okay.