DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and six other Midwest Governors, today (Thursday) sent a joint letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan requesting immediate guidance on how Iowa and other states can continue to sell year-round E-15 without restriction. (The Governors’ letter can be found HERE.)

In a statement, the Governor says “The disappointing DC Circuit Court ruling earlier this year again shows the inconsistency we continue to see from Washington, DC and the EPA on renewable fuels, and it is time for states to stand up and take action. As the Governor of the top renewable fuel-producing state, I am proud to lead a letter with my colleagues to send a clear message that we will pursue every avenue to ensure that consumers can have unrestricted and increased access to less expensive, cleaner-burning E-15.”

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw said “We all hope either Congress or EPA will take action to preserve nationwide access to E15 on a year-round basis. But if no timely national solution is found, governors have the authority to implement a state-by-state solution. We heartily applaud the Midwest governors for putting oil refiners on notice that their market obstructionism will not stand. The oil refiners may have created this problem, but all 50 governors can fix it”

(West Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Association of Realtors (IAR) report Byron Menke, of Treynor, was recently installed as the 2022 President of the Iowa Association of REALTORS® along with the rest of the IAR Officers. Per the IAR Bylaws, Byron and the 2022 IAR Leadership members will begin their terms at the conclusion of the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors meeting on November 15.

Menke has been in real estate for over 24 years and an auctioneer for 43 years. He was inspired by his grandfather’s knowledge of construction which led him to earning his construction degree from Northeast Community College of Nebraska. Shortly after high school, he went to auctioneering school and developed his love for the business. He started auctioneering with local auctioneers and in the local sale barns. As he grew his auction business, he decided to obtain his real estate license. He worked for several years in the Council Bluffs area as a Realtor® and achieved his broker’s license in 2005. Since then he has grown his business and now has 10 agents at Menke Auction & Realty in Treynor, Iowa.

Menke has been very busy at both the local and state REALTOR® associations. He was President of the Southwest Iowa Association of REALTORS® (SWIAR) in 2007 after serving on numerous committees and the Board of Directors. He was named SWIAR’s REALTOR of the Year in 2009. He was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by SWIAR. Menke was a Regional Vice President for the Iowa Association of REALTORS® (IAR) for 5 years. He also served on the IAR Executive Committee and continued to serve on every major IAR Committee during his career. Byron received IAR’s highest honor in 2017 as a recipient of the O.G. Powell/Joan Ballantyne Distinguished Service Award, to recognize his many years of outstanding service to the real estate industry. For the past 3 years, Byron has served on committees with the National Association of REALTORS®.

Byron and his significant other, Julie Eden, live on a timbered acreage in the Loess Hills. He has two adult children and four grandchildren. Another western Iowa man, Mike Franey, of Carroll, was installed at IAR Region 2 Vice President.

More area/state News from the broadcast at 8:05-a.m., from Ric Hanson.

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DOWS, Iowa – Authorities in northern Iowa are investigating a homicide in Dows. According to a report from the Department of Public Safety, on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, Wright County Communications received a call requesting assistance at 305 Park Avenue in Dows for an unattended death. General Hospital EMS arrived and discovered an unresponsive male, later identified as Mario Salvador Lopez. The Wright County Sheriff’s Office was notified, which requested the Wright County Medical Examiner. The Sheriff’s Office began conducting an investigation into Lopez’s death and requested the assistance of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Lopez’s body was sent to the State Office of the Iowa Medical Examiner for an autopsy and his death is being listed and investigated as a homicide. The Wright County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation continue to conduct an on-going investigation.  If you have information related to this incident, know anything about Mario Lopez, or have had contact with him, please contact the Wright County Sheriff’s Office at 515-532-3722.

Mario Salvador Lopez

The News broadcast at 7:07-a.m. from News Director Ric Hanson

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(Radio Iowa) – While temperatures are forecast to climb back into the 60s for much of Iowa in the coming weekend, the National Weather Service is reminding us of — the inevitable. Meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff says today (Thursday) is Winter Weather Awareness Day and Iowans need to take note and start stocking up on supplies. “Whenever we have a winter storm that comes, we don’t want to be scrambling last-minute to make sure we have the things we need,” Hagenhoff says. “This is an opportunity for us to make sure Iowans are prepared for the winter weather that’s coming. Living in Iowa, we know that sooner or later we’re going to get that big winter storm that’s going to cause problems.”

Hagenhoff says much of the weather across the continent is being influenced by the current La Nina pattern, which may have a minor impact on Iowa. “There could be a chance for some slightly warmer-than-average temperatures and maybe slightly wetter-than-average precipitation amounts across Iowa,” Hagenhoff says. “It’s a pretty weak signal in Iowa. The best thing Iowans can do is just be prepared for whatever winter throws at us.”

She warns that does NOT mean we will entirely avoid extreme cold snaps or significant snowfalls. Hagenhoff directs Iowans to the National Weather Service website for the Des Moines area office to learn more about winter weather safety. “We have materials up there for people to start taking those actions like creating winter preparedness kits to keep in the car, things to stay warm, maybe some food in case you’re stranded,” she says, “and ways to prepare your home as well so you’re ready whenever those conditions arise.”

(That website is weather.gov/dmx.)

A traffic stop at around 1:50-a.m. today (Thursday), in Montgomery County at 140th Street and Highway 148, resulted in the discovery of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 58-year-old Elton Dean Chandler, of Denison, for Possession of: Methamphetamine, Marijuana, and unlawful possession of prescription medication. Chandler was also charged with Driving While Barred. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Chandler

Police in Red Oak, Wednesday evening, arrested a man at the intersection of 1st Avenue and W. 4th Street. Authorities say 42-year-old Kim Jack Douglas Trost, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 5:40-p.m., for Public Intoxication, and Domestic Abuse Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. Trost was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

Trost

Des Moines, Iowa/KCCI —The Iowa Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported 104 additional COVID-19 deaths. The additional deaths happened between Aug. 29 and Oct. 30. That brings the statewide total to 7,069 since the start of the pandemic. The number of Positive tests have also increased over the last week. IDPH reports 6,816 positive tests, up from 6,652 at last report on Monday. The state’s 14-day positivity rate is up from 8.1% on Monday to 8.2% on Wednesday.

The number of patients hospitalized in Iowa is also on the rise once again after declining for several weeks. There are 483 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, up from 467 on Monday. Of those hospitalized with COVID-19, 74.8% are unvaccinated, while 82% of those listed in intensive care with COVID-19 are unvaccinated.

There have been 3,771,944 vaccine doses administered in Iowa, with 68% of those 18 and older fully vaccinated and 70.5% of those 12 and older with at least one dose.

(Urbandale, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Polk County, Wednesday, said a man from southern Iowa’s Ringgold County has been charged with first-degree murder in the death and disappearance of woman from southwestern Wisconsin. Deputies 30-year-old Rachel Reuter, of Cassville, Wisconsin, was reported missing by her father to the Urbandale Police Department on June 16th.

In a News Release, authorities said “The Urbandale Police Department requested assistance from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations, and both agencies worked conjointly to investigate the reported missing person. Evidence in the case eventually lead investigators to a residence in Bondurant, IA. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and began to assist with the case,” deputies said through a news release. “Information and evidence gathered shifted this incident from a missing person investigation to a homicide investigation.”

Investigators believe 46-year-old James Shiloh Klever, of Mount Ayr, killed Reuter at the Bondurant residence on June 13. Deputies said her remains have not been located. Klever is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a controlled substance. He’s currently being held in the Polk County Jail in lieu of a $1 million cash bond.

Authorities say the case remains an ongoing and active investigation that is being conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the DCI. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 515-286-3334.