(Radio Iowa) – A new study finds about one in three Iowans have hypertension or high blood pressure. Dr. David Goff, director of Cardiovascular Sciences at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, says Iowa ranks 27th in the nation. “Iowa is about in the middle of the pack with blood pressure and you might say, ‘Well, that’s not so bad,’ but that’s not good either,” Goff says. “Having a third of us with high blood pressure is way too many, given how much trouble high blood pressure causes.”

The treatable condition can lead to kidney problems, heart attacks, stroke and death. Two years of pandemic living has raised stress levels for nearly everyone, Goff says, and we need to take action to improve our self-care. “All of us need to follow a healthier diet, eat more vegetables and fruits and whole grains, less salt in our diet,” Goff says. “Get more activity, that means usually about 30 minutes of something like brisk walking most days, try to stay lean.”

Iowans who are stressed need to find ways to decompress and manage that stress, what Goff says is invoking your “relaxation response.” “For some people, it’s breathing exercises. For some people, it’s meditation. For other people, it’s prayer. Some folks work out their stress by going to the gym,” Goff says. “Whatever works for the individual that’s going to be a healthy way of coping with stress would be really helpful in improving heart health as well as overall health.”

Some Iowans have picked up bad habits during the pandemic, like alcohol, smoking, overeating and binge-watching television. You won’t be able to tackle them all at once, Goff says, but start with something. “Maybe you start with just cutting back a little bit on the alcohol. Then you’re probably going to feel better, and then you can try to increase your activity — and then you can try to improve your diet,” Goff says. “Trying to do them all at the same time can sometimes seem overwhelming. Making small changes and building on them over time can be more successful.”

Whether it’s everyday deadlines, financial struggles, or COVID-19, we all face some degree of stress and our bodies react to it. With chronic stress, Goff says you’re more likely to have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and poor sleep. Find tips on getting healthy at: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ourhearts

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings starting next week. D-N-R wildlife biologist, Todd Gosselink says it’s a chance to recap the previous year and plan for the next. He says it’s a chance for hunters to tell the D-N-R what they like and don’t like and to suggest ideas for changes. Gosselink says each year has a few changes to the rules — with the deer seasons often seeing adjustments. “We’re tweaking those quotas and things like that for deer season. We have Chronic Wasting Disease in certain parts of the state — so we’ve changed deer regulations to allow for extra seasons — like a January antlerless season to try and harvest more deer in those areas that have C-W-D or Chronic Wasting Disease,” he says.

He says they will have a final meeting after all the others to talk about what they learned. Gosselink says they will reveal the changes they came up with based on public input, and then have a second round of input on the proposed changes. Gosselink encourages you to find a meeting in your area and give your input. “It really helps us gather a lot of information from the hunters out in the field,” Gosselink says. “And it definitely helps us in the decision-making process, it’s a big factor of what needs changed and addressed to.”

Here are some of the Meeting dates, times and locations:
Creston, Feb. 21, 6 p.m., Multi-Purpose Room, Southern Prairie YMCA, 1201 West Townline Street
Sac City, Feb 22, 6:30 p.m., Sac County Conservation Center, Hagge Park, 2970 280th Street
Onawa, Feb. 23, 6 p.m., Lewis and Clark State Park visitor center banquet room, 21914 Park Loop
Council Bluffs, Feb. 24, 6:30 p.m., Council Bluffs Fish & Game Club, 531 Comanche St.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill that would override business policies that prevent employees from having guns in their vehicles in the company parking lot has cleared initial review in the Iowa Senate. Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, is the bill’s sponsor. “The employee, I believe, has a fundamental right on their way to work…on their way home after work to have a weapon as a means of well-being and security,” Schultz says.

Schultz says his bill wouldn’t affect businesses that do not allow employees to bring guns into the workplace, but he says leaving a gun in a locked, parked vehicle should be allowed. Rita Carter of the United Methodist Church Advocates says she’s concerned because the bill also applies to the employees AND volunteers of non-profits. “So what’s to prevent an employee from — even though they’ve lawfully locked their gun and ammunition in their car — from going out, getting it, coming back in and wreaking havoc?” she asks.

Tracey Kennedy is an Iowa chapter leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense. “There are legitimate reasons employers choose not to have firearms being stored on the property, including the risk of guns being stolen from cars,” she says. “Research actually suggests that nearly one quarter of guns are taken from cars and other vehicles.” The legislature’s website shows the Iowa Association of Business and Industry is opposed to the bill, while a number of other business groups are monitoring the legislation.

Richard Rogers of the Iowa Firearms Coalition says about two dozen states have similar parking lot laws. “What we believe is that employers have rights, but employees and citizens have rights, including a right to an expectation of privacy in their vehicle, just as they do in their home,” Rogers says, “and that the place to draw the line between those rights is at the locked door of a private vehicle.”

The bill is tentatively scheduled for debate in a Senate Committee this week. Policy bills like this one must be approved by a Senate or a House committee by the end of NEXT week — or the bill is tabled for the year. That deadline does not apply to spending or tax-related bills.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department is pairing up with the Atlantic Public Library to promote recreation and “I love my library” month. There will be 15 pairs (of things like Salt and pepper shakers, socks and shoes, milk and cookies, etc.) hidden in City Park and 15 pairs hidden in Cedar Park. Find both hearts which pair up, take a picture with both, and show either the pictures to the Atlantic Library Staff OR the Atlantic Parks and Rec Department, to earn a prize. Pairs vary, but there are pairs specific to Cedar Park and pairs specific to City Park.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Sunday (Today), released a report on an arrest and an incident. At around 7:12-p.m., Saturday, 55-year-old Matthew Eric Browning, of Council Bluffs, was arrested by Greenfield Police, on an Adair County warrant for Violation of a Protective Order, and on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Violation of Probation. He was being held without bond on the Adair County warrant until making an initial court appearance, and on a $2,000 bond on the Pott. County warrant.

On Feb. 1st, Stuart Police arrested 50-year-old Scotty Lee Coe, of Stuart, for Driving While Barred. He was released the following day on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

(Sidney, Iowa) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports eight arrests took place from January 24th through February 5th.

Donald Ryan

David Ryan

Bobbie Jo Cristo

Three of the arrests took place on Saturday (2/5): 45-year-old Donald Ryan, of Shenandoah, was arrested on a Fremont County Warrant for Operating While Intoxicated 1^st Offense; 48-year-old David Ryan, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine, 3^rd Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving while Barred, Habitual Violator, and 39-year-old Bobbi Jo Cristo, of Shenandoah, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine 2^nd Offense, Possession of Marijuana 2^nd Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On Feb. 2nd, 30-year-old Cassandra Rodriguez, of Sidney, was arrested for Simple Assault, and 25-year-old Brianna Kelley, of Sidney, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

There were two arrests on Jan. 29th, in Fremont County: 49-year-old Timothy Fantroy, of Omaha, Nebraska was arrested on a Fremont County warrant for Forgery; and 23-year-old Brandon Logan, of Sidney, was arrested for a Fremont County warrant for Child Endangerment.

Rodriguez

McKinstry

Fantroy

Kelley

Logan

And, on January 24th, 20-year-old Cory McKinstry, of Hamburg, was arrested for a Fremont County warrant for Child Endangerment.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police, early this (Sunday) morning, arrested 32-year-old Mildred Helenora Douglas. The woman was taken into custody at around 4-a.m., in the 1700 block of N. 4th Street, on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Harassment in the 3rd Degree, and Public Intoxication. Douglas was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash-only bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Iowa Senator Tom Shipley from Nodaway, and Tom Moore, from Griswold, appeared on Zoom, Saturday morning (Feb. 5th) to answer questions from their constituents. The two men were part of a legislative coffee hosted by the economic development organization P.R.I.D.E (Progressive Rural Iowa Development Enterprise).

A number of southwest Iowa residents, including Atlantic Superintendent Steve Barber, Denise O’Brien, SWIPCO’s C.J. Petersen, and others, joined in on the electronic forum. One of the last questions posed to the legislators, was with regard to the “Back the Blue” law, and how it’s structured, relative to how law enforcement is paid. Senator Shipley said he had not heard anymore about the bill, but added to his knowledge, “it does not have to be a one-year deal.”

Representative Moore said he too is not aware of any committee movement on the subject, but is aware of a situation in Cass County (IA), where Moore says “The Chair of their Compensation Board is saying that they [The Supervisors] have acted illegally by reducing all of the salaries by half. And I don’t believe the Back the Blue bill affected their ability to do by law, what they’re capable of doing, which is if they reduce one branch of the government salary, they have to reduce al branches by the same amount.

Rep. Tom Moore on Zoom (Ric Hanson photo, 2/5/22)

So I believe what Cass County did was reduce that 26% that they were asking for the increase in the Sheriff’s salary [but] reduced that by half, I believe, to 13% and did the same for all the others. And so, I think they’ve acted legally.” Moore said he received a call about the matter Friday, when he got home, and that he will be checking on that the first of this week (Feb. 7-11), “just to make sure that is a part of the Back the Blue Bill, but I don’t believe it is.”

Cass County Board of Supervisor’s Chair Steve Baier also attended Saturday’s Zoom meeting. He confirmed what Rep. Moore said “In good faith, our Compensation Board, with very little guidance in the bill, took what they thought was ‘comparable,’ and that’s how the 26-percent raise for the Sheriff came about (as well as the 6-percent for the other, County-elected officers).” Baier said “We did cut the 26% proposed raise to 13% and cut the other departments (Treasurer, Auditor and so forth) by 50% to 3%.”

Cass County Board of Supervisor’s Chair Steve Baier on Zoom, 2/5/22. (Ric Hanson photo)

He went on to say, “Because of the structure of how we pay road deputies, chief deputies and so forth, the salary raise for the sheriff ended-up being about $12,000 at that reduced rate – a one-year jump of $12,000 – and our other chief deputy, investigating deputy, road deputies ended-up getting in the range of Seven-to Nine-thousand dollar increases. So the pot  for law enforcement went up considerably.”

“Although the Back the Blue didn’t spill over into jailers and dispatchers,” Baier said, “They also got – again, because of the way things are structured – considerable raises. Maybe some of these were justified, because of where we were, comparable to – again, whatever comparable means – so that part of county government got much larger increases in salaries, than the others.” Bair added, “The budget process isn’t over, but we had to settle those things to meet deadlines, really from a practical standpoint, by the end of [Feb. 4th]. So, that’s where we are with that, locally.”

We’ll have more on this weekend’s legislative coffee Monday, on KJAN. The next legislative coffee will take place Saturday, March 5 at 9:30 a.m., hosted by P.R.I.D.E. Vice-President, Clarke Gerlock, at the Cumberland Fire Station for an in-person gathering. The final coffee will take place Saturday, April 2 at 9:30 a.m. at a location TBD. Save the date!

The Progressive Rural Iowa Development Enterprise is an economic and community development nonprofit whose purpose is community growth and engagement through education.

A Council Bluffs man was arrested after a pursuit ended with him flipping a stolen vehicle on it’s top on Friday evening.

Council Bluffs Police report they were called to the Speedee Mart gas station at 2301 S. 24th Street at 4:11 p.m. on Friday for an attempted theft of a pick-up truck. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the vehicle. Then at 5:15 p.m. Officers were called to the area of Grace Street and East Pierce Street for a vehicle matching the description and a man trying to steal a motorcyle. Detectives found the Chrysler truck and tried to initiate a traffic stop but the vehicle fled southbound on Bluffs Street.

When the vehicle attempted to turn westbound on 9th Avenue it hit a patch of ice and flipped on its top. The driver, 27-year-old Joseph Cias Smith Jr. of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody and suffered no injuries in the accident.

Smith Jr. was interviewed by Omaha detectives, as he is the suspect in possible additional charges in Omaha. He was eventually booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail on charges of Fugitive from Justice for a warrant for Sarpy County, Theft 1st (Possession of stolen vehicle), Burglary 3rd, Disobedience to sign and sign (4 counts), Eluding (Speed in excess of 25mph over the speed limit), Reckless Driving, and Unsafe Passing.