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Special investigation of spending by ex-director of Jones County Extension Service

News

February 10th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A special investigation by the State Auditor’s office has found the former director of the I-S-U Extension Office in Jones County was responsible for nearly 86-thousand dollars in improper and undocumented spending in the agency. The investigation covered a four year period when Jennifer Fischer was extension director in Jones County. Auditors concluded she bought thousands of dollars worth of personal items with the organization’s money, including an Xbox, pet supplies, alcohol and groceries. She also used Extension Service money to cover the costs of a trip she took to Texas with her daughter.

Auditors identified more than 30-thousand dollars worth of purchases that lacked documentation, so they couldn’t determine if the expenses were for the Extension Service or personal in nature. The special investigation concludes Fischer received 17-thousand dollars worth of unauthorized payments for travel expenses, paid time off and insurance. Fischer was placed on leave in August of 2020 after another employee raised questions about the purchase of airline tickets on the Jones County Extension Service credit card and she was fired 17 days later.

Executive Director of SICOG in Creston arrested on Theft/Forgery charges

News

February 10th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report 70-year-old Timothy J. Ostroski, of Creston, was arrested late Wednesday afternoon at the Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG) building located at 101 E. Montgomery Street. Ostroski was charged with Theft 1st Degree and four counts of Forgery. He was taken to Union County Jail and later posted a $30,000 cash or surety bond.

Authorities say Ostroski fraudulently obtained an excess of $10,000 from SICOG by creating multiple checks made payable to another individual for cleaning services that were never provided. He then deposited these checks into a personal checking account, resulting in personal enrichment. The Forgery charges stem from checks dated January 27, February 26, May 4 and 28, 2021, on which Ostroski admitted to fraudulently signing Tiffany Ossain’s name to the back of checks, without her permission. Ossain is not an employee of SICOG and not affiliated with SICOG.

Tim Ostroski (Photo from the SICOG website)

Ostroski has served as the Executive Director of the Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG) and the Southern Iowa Development Group (SIDG) since February 1984. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Southern Iowa COG Housing Trust Fund, Inc, a charitable foundation with its mission to improve housing in the area.

In an unrelated incident, 26-year-old Jacob Jack Davis, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday night for  Failure to Appear. Davis was taken to Union County Jail and held on a $500 cash-only bond.

Southwest Iowa Nature Trails to Receive $25,000 Annual Gift from Hoff Family Fund

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 10th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Council Bluffs, IA) – Officials with Southwest Iowa Nature Trails, Inc. (SWINT) announced Wednesday, that their organization has been selected to receive an incredible annual gift of $25,000 from Dr. Ted and Polly Hoff. Dr. Ted and Polly partnered with Pottawattamie County Community Foundation (PCCF) in 2013 to create a donor-advised fund as a way for their family to financially support area nonprofit organizations in a long-term capacity. The annual gift from the Hoff Family Fund to SWINT will support operational needs and infrastructure repairs for the Wabash Trace Nature Trail.

The Wabash Trace Nature Trail is a converted railroad right-of-way running 63 miles and over 72 bridges through the scenic Southwest Iowa countryside, beginning in Council Bluffs and ending at the Missouri state line. SWINT was established in 1988, and with the invaluable assistance of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and countless volunteers and community stakeholders, the railroad right-of-way was railbanked in 1989, and the trail was completed and dedicated in 1997.

SWINT President Rebecca Castle Laughlin says “The Hoff Family’s annual gift came as such a wonderful surprise to our organization. We operate on a small annual budget and depend upon trail pass fees and donations to fund basic operating needs. Annual planned gifts, such as the donation from the Hoff Family Fund, will become ever important to sustaining the Wabash Trace as the trail’s infrastructure continues to age. We are extremely thankful to the Hoff Family for their generosity. Their commitment will help ensure the public’s enjoyment of the Wabash Trace for many generations to come.”

The aging infrastructure of the trail means that new surfacing, bridge repairs, and tree trimming is a never-ending job. SWINT Board members are fortunate to be able to seek grant assistance for larger projects as they arise, but operational costs for anything from insurance to fuel for maintenance vehicles are dependent upon the organization’s annual fundraising campaigns and donations.

Laughlin added, “We greatly appreciate every donation to SWINT, no matter the size, but having the assurance that we will be receiving this generous contribution from the Hoff Family every year helps us more effectively plan our budget around larger upcoming costs that we know are looming. Dr. Hoff says he and his wife “Are excited about being a part of the future for this wonderful trail. It has so many uses for people of all ages.”

A donor advised fund at PCCF is a type of charitable giving fund created to support a cause (or causes) that the donor cares about. The fund allows a donor to remain involved and active in charitable giving by recommending how the funds should be granted. In 2021, donors and investors at PCCF recommended 269 grants totaling more than $1.9 million. Grants were allocated to projects in a variety of focus areas, such as: Arts & Culture, Community Betterment, Education, Environment and Animals, Health, Human Services, and Youth.

Pottawattamie County Community Foundation is your connection to creating a lasting legacy and ensuring our communities are strong, vibrant, and attractive for generations to come. PCCF works with donors to maximize their charitable gifts, which can include, but are not limited to the following: cash gifts, financial investments, bequests, gifts of grain, stocks and securities, livestock, real estate, and vehicles. For individuals interested in creating a fund, please contact PCCF at 712-256-7007 or visit www.ourpccf.org for more information.

Key Democrat asks for extension on evictions for DNR staff in 23 state parks

News

February 10th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The top Democrat on a key committee is calling for extensions on the eviction notices sent to employees who live in state-owned housing INSIDE 23 state parks. The Department of Natural Resources estimates it would cost a million dollars to fix code violations and deferred maintenance — so park rangers, managers and other staff who live in the homes have been told to move out by November 30th. Representative Timi Brown-Powers of Waterloo is the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee. She says some of these parks are in remote areas and it’s a safety issue.

“Having a person on the park site is, really, ultimately helpful in case there’s an emergency,” she says. The agency says radios and cell phones can quickly summon on-call staff and two-thirds of state parks, forests and preserves do not have on-site housing for staff today. Brown-Powers says the 26 employees who are impacted should be given longer grace periods to find other housing, especially since applicants for these jobs were rejected if they did not agree to live in the homes within the parks.

“Our staff at our parks don’t make a lot of money. These people do what they do because they love what they do,” Brown-Power says. “I think if we can humanize it and take it step by step for each park, I think that we would be better off.” Brown-Powers says the D-N-R is using a million dollars to buy new signs for the parks rather than fix the dilapidated housing for park employees, and that’s demoralizing for the staff. Representative Sharon Steckman, a Democrat from Mason City, says a park ranger told her he sold his classic car to come up with the down payment for a home outside the park where he works.

“This is the worst time to be trying to find a house to live in. The housing market is awful,” Steckman says. “They’re required to live within 20-30 miles of the park, so for some of them, that puts them in a really tough situation.” An agency spokeswoman says the D-N-R’s decision was not taken lightly and officials took into consideration the condition of the houses as well as the future of the State Park system as a whole.

Here’s the list of parks where on-site housing is to be vacated by DNR staffers by November 30th: Beeds Lake, Bellevue, Big Creek, Brushy Creek, Dolliver, Geode, George Wyth, Green Valley (Creston), Honey Creek, Lacey Keosauqua, Lake Keomah, Lake Manawa (Pott. County), Lake of Three Fires (Taylor County), Ledges, MacBride, Maquoketa Caves, Nine Eagles, Palisades-Kepler, Pikes Peak, Red Haw, Rock Creek, Union Grove, Viking Lake (Stanton).

2 arrested following a pursuit in Mills County

News

February 10th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Authorities in Mills County report two people were arrested following a traffic stop that resulted in a pursuit last Friday. Sheriff’s officials say 38-year-old Christina Marie Stockstill, of Riverton and 39-year-old Jeffrey Dale Hankins, of Tabor, were arrested on Child Endangerment and other charges.

At around 4-p.m., Friday, Mills County Deputies tried to stop a vehicle traveling 85 mph on Waubonsie Avenue, near the intersection of 290th St. The vehicle sped-off through a corn field, at a high rate of speed. The pursuit continued through multiple fields before the suspect vehicle became disabled in a ditch.

Hankins & Stockstill (Mills County S/O photo)

Hankins, who was driving the vehicle, was arrested on charges of: Eluding; OWI/2nd offense; and 3 counts of Child Endangerment. His bond was set at $13,000. Stockstill was arrested for: Possession with the intent to deliver/methamphetamine; a Drug Tax Stamp Violation; possession Contraband in a correctional facility; Child Endangerment, & Interference with Official Acts. Her bond was set at $100,000. Both remains in the Mills County Jail.

Mills County Deputies were assisted during the incident, by the Mills County K9 Unit, Iowa State Patrol, and Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies.

Veteran AHS Alumni and Post Secondary photos/stories needed for “Living Wall of Honor”

News

February 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – An ongoing project for an Atlantic High School “Living Wall of Honor” needs your help to expand. Assistant AHS Principal Andy Mitchell said the online “Wall of Honor” can be viewed at atlantic.touchpros.com, any time. It contains most high school yearbook photos dating back to the 1920’s. Mitchell said since it’s still a work in progress, there are some areas where they need more photos and information about AHS alumni. Especially those who are veterans (past/present) and who have made notable post-secondary achievements in athletics and otherwise.

If you have photos or information you would like to share for the project, e-mail them to amitchell@atlanticiaschools.org. He added that “We’re not even close to being done” with the project. In addition to the Wall of Honor being online, a video touchscreen TV is being installed in the high school commons for viewing during the school day. There are sections in the program devoted to Activities/Athletics, Alumni and Trojan Pride, and multiple sub-sections within those choices.

In his report to the Board, Superintendent Steve Barber said of the District’s COVID-19 numbers, they are the lowest since January 3, 2022. “Over this period, we know of 30 staff members and 63 students who tested positive for the virus,” he said Barber. He says many staff and students missed days in January “There were days when staffing levels were low, and building Principals worked at creating the least amount of disruption as possible. As of Tuesday, February 8, two staff and students tested positive for COVID-19”.

Atlantic School Board Zoom meeting (2/29/22)

He said also, the process to find a replacement Middle School Principal has begun. “We will send the job posting out tomorrow [Thursday] morning, listing that we’re in need of a 6-8 Middle School Principal. Interested applicants will need to complete their paperwork by March 4th, 2002. We’ll set up interviews for March 14th through the 16th.” The candidates will be interviewed and a Special Board meeting will be held to consider the interview committee’s recommendation. The person selected for the position will replace Josh Rasmussen, who was recently chosen to become the Superintendent for the AC/GC School District, effective July 1, 2022. Barber said also, because of the Atlantic/CAM win

In addition to the previously mentioned resignations and contract recommendations, the Board Wednesday night approved the hiring of Gentri Meier as Schuler Elementary School Counselor. According to her professional page, she currently serves as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at Turning Point Evaluation, Inc., in Winterset. Meier has an MS in Mental Health Counseling/Counselor from Drake University, and a BA in Psychology from Wartburg College.

In other business, the School Board set March 16th at 5:30-p.m., as the date and time for a Public Hearing on the 2022-23 School Calendar. The date was changed from March 9th due to numerous board members having a scheduling conflict. The Calendar Committee has been working on the proposal to be presented. There were also some changes to the current calendar. Since the Atlantic/CAM Wrestling Team has advanced to the State Dual Team Tournament, there will be no school on Wed., Feb 16th.  Andy Mitchell, he said, is working on a Pep Bus for transport to Des Moines. Fans are required to purchase a ticket, but they won’t be charged much for transportation.

That change means the Feb. 16th & 17th Parent-Teacher Conferences will be moved to Feb. 15th and 17th, from 5-until 8-p.m.  The Atlantic School Board approved Superintendent Steve Barber’s recommendation to provide all employees (Full- or part-time), a stipend based on continuous years of service at the conclusion of the 2021-22 school year. Payment will be made to staff on Sept. 1, 2022. The stipend amounts were mentioned in a previous story.The name “Retention pay” will be referred to instead, from here on out, as “Hero Pay,” since the Board feels the teachers and staff are heroes for dealing with COVID and the many struggles it brought and continues to bring to education.

Southwest Iowa Area Residents Invited to Provide Input on Statewide Food Plan

News

February 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Local Food Policy Council, Cass County ISU Extension, and Golden Hills Resource Conservation and Development invite people from Southwest Iowa to participate in one of two upcoming sessions to discuss Iowa food needs and opportunities. The Iowa Food System Coalition is gathering input to understand needs and opportunities throughout the Iowa food system—from farms and grocery stores, to restaurants and consumers. Participants will discuss Iowa food challenges, strengths, and goals for the future.

Iowa Food System Input Sessions for Southwest Iowa:

  • Feb. 15, 9:30-11 AM, Virtual. Register for the Zoom link at: https://www.goldenhillsrcd.org/swiffi.html.
  • Feb. 24, 6:00-7:30 PM, Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th St. Atlantic, IA 50022). No registration is required.

All people have experience with food, and everyone in Southwest Iowa is welcome to participate. However, people who work in food-related jobs and people who are passionate about local food are particularly encouraged to attend.

These events are part of the Iowa Food System Coalition’s All Iowa Talks About Food. The Coalition is a broad spectrum of local food & farm leaders across Iowa working to better coordinate statewide work, to further invest in, and develop, enduring local/regional food supply chains that are fair, equitable, and lead to the economic vitality of all involved.

For more information on these events, contact Kate Olson, County Director of Cass County Extension at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu.

3 fire departments battle the wind & field fire flames Wed. afternoon

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

February 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Area) – How dry is it outside you ask? Very dry! Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman reports it took several agencies including the Griswold Fire Department, roughly two hours this (Wednesday) afternoon to contain what started out as a small ditch fire but turned into a large field fire by the time it was put out.The incident happened in an area near I Avenue and Highway 48. (All photo’s are courtesy of Brian Hamman via the Montgomery County Facebook page)
Hamman says “Without the help of our mutual aid partners and area landowners, this fire could have been much worse. The fire was contained to approx. 45 acres.”
Dry, warm and windy conditions are forecast for the next several days with minimal chances of precipitation. Hamman said “should conditions continue down this road and as fires become more frequent, a burn ban will most likely be placed. Please use extreme caution with ANY open burn and DO NOT discard of smoking material from your vehicles.”

Bill to require cameras in Iowa classrooms has been tabled in Iowa House

News

February 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A bill that would have required Iowa public schools to install cameras in classrooms so parents could watch the livestream has been tabled in the Iowa House. Representative Ray Sorenson, a Republican from Greenfield, says it lacked the votes to clear a House subcommittee. “This bill will not be moving,” Sorenson said.  “I was never in support of it. I think it needs a lot better fencing if we’re going to do something like that and a lot better explanation and a lot more time, honestly, to hear from the public on what something like that would look like strictly from a fiscal standpoint on what would it cost to put cameras in classrooms.”

(R) Rep. Ray “Bubba” Sorensen

Sorenson had intended to hold a subcommittee hearing to let the bill’s sponsor and others discuss the bill, but one member of the panel was absent due to illness and rescheduling the hearing before a February 18th deadline was difficult.) “I think we’ve got next year and this campaign bill to visit about this bill,” Sorenson says, “whether the public likes it or not.”

Republican Representative Norlin Mommsen of DeWitt, the bill’s sponsor, says he’s disappointed the hearing was cancelled.

Norlin Mommsen. (IA Legislature photo)

“I what is important is the conversation takes place and that’s what I was trying to provoke here was a conversation,” Mommsen says, “because when I look at like the remote learning, it did spark parental interest in what was going on in the schools and that’s what I was trying to nurture and continue on was that, take what we learned and expand upon it.” Mommsen was hoping to testify about his bill.

“We need parents involved. I think that’s one of the issues we have today,” Mommsen says. “I’m a little disappointed have that conversation because then all ideas get thrown on the table and that was the goal here.” Mommsen says after he introduced the bill, the superintendent of Central DeWitt, his local school district, has promised to provide more transparency to parents.

“I believe my home district is looking basically down the same road I was trying to go down, maybe a different method, but you know that’s why we’re here,” Mommsen says. “…It’s a big meat grinder and who knows what comes out the other end.” In addition to the cost of installing cameras in classrooms and upgrading livestreaming capacity in schools, opponents of the bill raised privacy concerns about showing students on camera. Mommsen says his intent was to have the camera point to the front of the class.

“I would not want anybody’s children to be shown on the camera. I think that’d be wrong. When I look at the security issues, we had remote learning. I look at it like remote learning, but one way, you know,” Mommsen says. “I did not hear any security issues there. I mean, couldn’t the parents see the children? I thought that was the case.” Mommsen, a farmer, has been a member of the Iowa House since January of 2015 and is seeking reelection to a fifth term.

Tickets Available for the Wild, Wild West Gala

News

February 9th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

Atlantic, Iowa—Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic report the Cass Health Foundation is hosting their annual gala on Saturday, March 26th at the Atlantic Golf & Country Club, and several table sponsorships are still available for the western-themed event.

The gala is a fundraiser for the Cass Health Foundation’s 2022 campaign to purchase a mobile tele-medicine stroke system. The evening includes dinner, dessert auction, and entertainment. Attendees are encouraged to wear western wear like boots, hats, jeans, etc.

For more information, please call Dawn Marnin at 712-243-7409 or visit casshealth.org/donors/2022-gala to view the details or pay online.