Red Oak, Iowa – Officials with ISU Extension and Outreach in Montgomery County said Monday (Today), Sadie Graham has accepted the position of Program Coordinator with the County Extension Office. As Program Coordinator, Graham will provide leadership to the Montgomery County 4-H and Youth program, develop local programming based on county needs, and build community collaborations. Graham will begin her new duties on a part time basis in mid-March, and start full time on May 9.

Graham holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Science from Northwest Missouri State University and will be completing her Master’s in Business Administration from Northwest this Spring. She brings experience with business, agriculture and event coordination to Montgomery County Extension.

Sadie Graham

Of her new position, Graham said “I am inspired by the opportunity to work with a team that promotes agriculture to the youth in the community. ” Mike Thomas, Chairperson of the Montgomery County Agricultural Extension Council, said “In addition to her passion for agriculture, Sadie will bring communication and relationship building skills to the position. We congratulate and welcome her to Montgomery County Extension.”

ISU Extension and Outreach brings research-based programming from Iowa State University directly to local counties in four educational areas:

4-H & Youth Programming
Ag & Natural Resources
Human Sciences
Community & Economic Development

For more information about ISU Extension and Outreach in Montgomery County, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/montgomery.

(Winterset, Iowa) –The Iowa State Patrol, Monday evening, released the names of the victims of Sunday morning’s crash in Madison County. The Patrol reports the driver of the 2003 GMC Sierra pickup, 16-year-old Jacob Ryan Short, of Indianola, was trapped in the vehicle and died at the scene.

The accident happened as the pickup, which was traveling at excessive speeds in the 2400 block of 195th Trail at around 2:30-a.m., Sunday, went out of control, entered a ditch and struck a tree. The driver, who was trapped, died at the scene.

Three passengers in the pickup were injured: 15-year-old Halley Renee Brown, and 17-year-old Blake Charles Feuring, both of Winterset, along with 18-year-old Cameron Ryan Johnson, of Lorimor. None of the victims were wearing their seat belts. The Patrol says Brown was transported by personal vehicle to the Madison County Hospital, in Winterset. Feuring and Johnson were not transported to the hospital.

Alcohol is a suspected contributing factor in the crash. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office and Madison County EMS assisted the Patrol at the scene.

(Radio Iowa) – The superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district will be stepping down at the end of this school year – a year earlier than expected. Last spring, the Des Moines School Board voted not to extend Superintendent Thomas Ahart’s contract beyond June 2023. Ahart now says he plans to resign June 30th of this year.

“Des Moines Public Schools is in a really good place right now considering especially the record low funding that we’ve had over the last decade,” Ahart said, “and so I feel it’s a good time for me to take a step away to reevaluate where I want to go with my career.” At the start of school in the fall of 2020, Ahart led the Des Moines district’s defiance of state rules requiring in-person attendance. Republican lawmakers reduced state support for the district in early 2021 in response.

“The last two years didn’t feel like two years,” Ahart said. “You know, it felt more like, you know, four or five years.” Ahart, speaking at a news conference this (Monday) afternoon, told reporters the work has been tough. He sent school employees an email before the news conference to announce his departure, saying there’s a fine line between a groove and a rut.

Ahart has been the district’s superintendent since 2012. The school board will appoint an interim superintendent for the upcoming school year and conduct a nationwide search for Ahart’s replacement.

(Radio Iowa) – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst says it’s astounding that — in less than a decade — two Republican women from Iowa have been chosen to deliver the G-O-P’s response to a Democratic president’s State of the Union address. Ernst spoke in 2015 after President Obama’s speech to congress. On Tuesday night, Governor Kim Reynolds is scheduled to deliver the Republican rebuttal to President Biden’s State of the Union address.

“I just think she has an incredible story to tell about how she has led Iowa through so many different challenges,” Ernst says, “and she can do a direct comparison to Iowa, our strong economy, how we’ve led through COVID-19 and compare that to President Biden’s disastrous time thus far in office.” Ernst had been a senator for just days when she gave the televised address shortly after Republicans took majority control of both the House and Senate in 2015. Eight years later, Ernst says she is not offering an advice to Reynolds about what to say.

“I know she is going to do a great job,” Ernst says. “No pressure coming from me.” The Republican leaders in the U.S. House and Senate select the person who’ll speak after a Democratic president’s State of the Union address. Ernst, who is among the G-O-P leadership in the U.S. Senate, says she had no role in lobbying for Reynolds to get the slot. “I didn’t have to make a recommendation because she shines all on her own,” Ernst says. “Leader McConnell and Leader McCarthy came to that conclusion all on their own. She’s just an outstanding leader.”

Twenty-eight states are led by Republican governors, but Reynolds is one of just three Republican women who’re serving as governors today. Ernst says speaking on behalf of the national party tomorrow (Tuesday) night will bring national attention to Reynolds, who is seeking reelection in 2022. “And that will help in that race, but it also raises awareness of Iowa, our First In The Nation status, the fact that we do turn out tremendous leaders like Governor Reynolds,” Ernst says, “and it brings attention to our legislators in the statehouse and at the federal level.” Republicans hold five of the six spots in Iowa’s congressional delegation and Republicans in the state legislature have just sent Reynolds a big tax cut package.

Reynolds will sign that into law tomorrow (Tuesday). After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it’s unclear how much of President Biden’s speech will be spent on domestic issues. Ernst says Reynolds can cover it all in her speech, regardless of what Biden may say beforehand. “In my estimation, he’s failed on the economy, he’s failed on COVID, he has failed on foreign policy and Kim will be able to cover of of that within one speech,” Ernst say, “just how we’ve been so supportive of our military men and women in the state of Iowa and really done quite well through COVID and the overall economy.”

Iowa Democrats like Senate Minority leader Zach Wahls have been saying Reynolds needs to thank President Biden for the pandemic relief he and Democrats in congress approved for the State of Iowa. Wahls says Reynolds was publicly opposed to the spending, but has been happy to take credit for doling out the dollars.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who want a crash course in severe weather can be a part of the storm spotter classes starting next month. Meteorologist Allen Curtis, at the National Weather Service in Johnston, says COVID-19 threw a wrench in their training efforts in recent years, but they’re getting back on track now. “We are actually reintroducing some of our in-person spotter training this year,” Curtis says, “but we will also be continuing to do a handful of virtual classes, for people who want to do that.” All sorts of people of all ages can sit in on the courses.

“Whether you have an interest in severe weather, a casual interest in weather, or even if you have a fear of weather and you just want to get more familiar with it,” Curtis says, “this is the kind of class we recommend to the public.” The classes include a multimedia presentation containing information about identifying and reporting severe weather, spotter safety, severe weather climatology in Iowa, thunderstorm structure and threats, and more. Students will learn about derechos, too.

“We’re going to cover a number of things, ranging from recent severe weather — so if people remember December 15th, that’s a big one that we’ll cover,” Curtis says. “We’ll transition into things you can do to stay safe, individually, traveling with your family, things to look for in the sky, and things like how you can prepare at home, what items to have ready.” The courses run about an hour, they’re open to anyone and they’re free.

The first class will be held on March 15th in Adel, with more to follow in cities including: Hampton, Creston, Eldora, Corning, Fort Dodge and Grinnell, in addition to several virtual classes. Learn more at: www.weather.gov/dmx and click on the Storm Spotter link.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Monday, said there were four arrests that took place over the past few days, and one accident investigation. Sunday night, 28-year-old Dakota Shawn McDonald, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a warrant for Theft in the 1st Degree. His bond was set at $10,000. Early Sunday morning, 30-year-old Catalinia Virginia Domingo, of Omaha, was arrested on Bunge Avenue, for Theft in the 1st degree and Assault. Her bond was also set at $10,000.

Saturday evening, 31-year-old Kayla Leigh Wood, of Malvern, was arrested for Ongoing Unlawful Criminal Conduct, and Theft in the 1st Degree. Her bond at the Mills County Jail, was set at $30,000. And, late Friday morning, 37-year-old Tyanna Karee Monrreal-Robles, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear on drug charges. Her bond was set at $10,000.

Sheriff’s officials said also, a woman from Bellevue, NE., was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, following an accident that occurred at around 1:15-p.m., Thursday. Authorities say 34-year-old Ashley Horn was driving a 2012 Honda westbound on Highway 34, when she lost control of the vehicle. The car entered the eastbound ditch and struck a tree. The sheriff’s report said “The driver [Horn] was in an altered state of mind, so no other information was available.”

(Atlantic) A 34-year old man from Atlantic who was charged with Attempted Murder and Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury and originally plead Not Guilty, has instead entered a plea of guilty to the lesser, Willful Injury, charge. The case against Richard Doss was set to go to trial on March 22^nd. Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdas explains why they moved to dismiss the charge of Attempted Murder.

The charge he plead guilty to, Strazdas says, is a forcible felony, which offers no option for probation, or any suspended sentence.

Doss was sentenced Monday (today) to 10-years in prison (indeterminant), meaning he will be eligible for parole before the sentence is completed, most likely within a couple of years, depending on his behavior. Strazdas said Doss and the victim knew each other, and may have worked together. The victim’s name was never publicly released. When asked why Doss accepted the plea agreement, Strazdas said it likely was because he was not being “Hit with a mandatory minimum.”

If the weapon had been a gun, it would have automatically been considered a dangerous weapon. Strazdas said since they couldn’t find the knife to identify, it could not automatically be considered a dangerous weapon.

The incident that resulted in Doss’ arrest happened during the late night hours of December 5th. Doss was arrested without incident a few hours later, following an investigation.

(Stuart, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Stuart was arrested Feb. 21st by Stuart Police. Authorities say 46-year-old Shawn Robert Clark was arrested following an investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a woman. The incident reportedly took place at a residence in Stuart the night before. Clark faces charges that include Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree for sex acts that were considered forcible, and two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, after a search warrant executed at Clark’s residence resulted in the recovery of two shot guns, and numerous boxes of loose ammunition.

As a convicted felon – with convictions in Johnson, Linn and Greene Counties – Clark was not legally allowed to own firearms. The weapons and ammo were seized as evidence. Clark was released from the Adair County Jail on Feb. 22nd, after positing a $50,000 cash or surety bond.

Atlantic, Iowa – In conjunction with the Health Resources and Services Administration, officials with Cass Health announced today (Monday), the facility has received its first shipment of free at-home COVID-19 tests for the public. Beginning March 1, individuals can receive up to four free test kits per household. Each test kit includes two tests. Test kits can be picked up from the entrance screeners in Atlantic, or from Registration staff members in Anita, Griswold, and Massena.

The tests can be used by individuals who are mildly to moderately ill but do not feel like their symptoms need to be evaluated by a healthcare professional. If their symptoms and condition worsen, patients are advised to seek care.  These antigen tests can also be used by those who have been exposed to COVID-19 but do not have symptoms.

These at-home tests may be appropriate for some travel-related requirements, but antigen tests are not always the required method of testing. Travelers are urged to check with their airlines and destination regarding testing requirements.

For more information, please visit casshealth.org/covidtesting.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Sunday evening, of 25-year-old Zachary Dean Sindt, of Neola. He was arrested on an outside agency warrant, when a Pott. County Deputy was making a routine warrant check at an apartment, in Neola. Sindt was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Pott. County Jail. A little after sunrise, Sunday, an inmate at the Pott. County Jail, 39-year-old Anthony Joseph Moreno, of Council Bluffs, was charged with Felony, Possession of Contraband (A weapon) in a Correctional Facility. Bond on that charge was set at $5,000. Moreno was also being held on $300 bond for a previous charge of Domestic Abuse Assault.

Friday afternoon, a man who came into the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office to retrieve some Civil Papers, was arrested on a Council Bluffs Police warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. 29-year-old Jeffery Lee Harris was subsequently turned over to Corrections Staff. Early Friday morning, a Deputy dispatched to the scene of a person sleeping at the wheel on I-80 eastbound, at Exit 34. When the Deputy arrived, a man was seen trying to wake the female driver.

As the Deputy approached, he noticed the vehicle’s engine was still running and the driver had an odor of alcoholic beverage on her breath. After she was told to move her vehicle off the traveled portion of the road, the woman, 30-year-old Jasmine Marie-Diamond Saunders, was transported to Love’s Truck Stop just around the corner, and given a Field Sobriety Test. Afterward, Saunders was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and Driving While License Suspended, Canceled or Revoked.