(Radio Iowa) – A group has formed with the intent of removing the name Columbus from Waterloo Columbus High School. Group member John McCoy says they are concerned about the history of the explorer Christopher Columbus. “I first became aware of it in the summer of 2020. John Farley, a sociologist, professor, had started a group that was investigating the history of Christopher Columbus. The concern was that the history as taught to us in grade school and high school was not accurate,” McCoy says.

Mccoy says that as they began to research the voyages of Columbus troubling information began surfacing. “This group was concerned that what was not disclosed was the inhuman treatment of Native Americans,” McCoy. The group presented its case to the Cedar Valley Catholic School Board and the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

Waterloo Columbus logo

“The board denied the name change, also said our faith has never been identified holiness with perfection of behavior,” McCoy says. “And we are saying we are not criticizing Christopher Columbus because he wasn’t perfect — it was because he was involved in human slavery. sexual abuse, mutilation, and killing of Native Americans. McCoy says since their request has been denied, the group is looking to raise awareness of the issue.

(Radio Iowa) – A single-vehicle rollover accident Monday morning in rural Emmet County has claimed the life of a Graettinger woman. According to Emmet County Sheriff Mike Martens says a 2011 Toyota Tundra was traveling southbound on a county road when it entered the east ditch then struck a field approach before flipping onto its top. The driver, 66-year-old Kim Driftmier of rural Graettinger, was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated by personnel on the scene.

Driftmier was transported to Avera Holy Family Hospital where she later died from her injuries. The Emmet County Medical Examiner’s Office has ordered an autopsy as part of the investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says congress likely cannot ban private companies from requiring Covid vaccinations among employees. Grassley cites the lawsuit challenging a vaccine mandate for staff at a Houston hospital that was dismissed in June. The federal judge said the hospital was making a choice to keep staff, patients and their families safer. “I imagine you’re going to have more employers, both hospital as well as other private employers, mandate it now that FDA has given permanent approval to some of the vaccines,” Grassley says.

Earlier this week, a California senator said she’s looking into how the federal government can encourage more Americans to get vaccinated. Grassley says he’d oppose any mandate. “I would not want to vote to make vaccinations mandatory,” Grassley says.  Grassley, who is 87, tested positive for Covid last November, but the senator says he did not suffer from any of the symptoms of the virus. Grassley was vaccinated earlier this year and has encouraged Iowans to get the shot, calling it the only way to we’ll beat the virus and get back our way of life.

(Davenport. Iowa) – The Department of Corrections reports Justin Antonio McGowan, who was convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter and Going Armed with Intent in Scott County, failed to report to the Davenport Facility as required, Tuesday.  Officials say McGowan is a 34-year-old Black male, height 5′ 8″, and weighs 245 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on May 6, 2021. Persons with information on McGowan’s whereabouts should contact local police.

McGowan

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, learned the County Fire Association had received a Department of Homeland Security grant for the purchase of mobile radios used for communication between departments and the Cass County Communications Center. Former Fire Chief and volunteer firefighter Mark McNees, is the project manager.

The project period and the budget period for the grant started August 23^rd and continues August 22, 2023. McNees said the radios will be distributed to most of the County Fire Departments.

Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon explained, it’ll bring more County emergency personnel and equipment into the 700-megahertz frequency band, so they can better facilitate communications.

Mark McNees was looking for 100-percent of the matching grant from the Board. It’s possible (American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funds could be used for the purpose. Board Chair Steve Baier said he would look into it. Action on the request for matching funds is expected to take place at a future Board’s meeting.

In other business, the Board set Sept. 14^th as the date for a Public Hearing on amending the Cass County FY22 Budget, which is necessary due to the inclusion of CARES ACT funding. And, the Board approved the appointments of James Stokley, from Anita, to the County Conservation Board, as well as Patricia Ostrus and Ray Ostrus as Franklin Township Clerk and Trustee, respectively, for the remainders of those office terms. Stokley will fill a seat on the Conservation Board until 12/31/2022.

Page County Sheriff’s Deputies, Tuesday, arrested a man at the Pottawattamie County Jail. Authorities say 30-year-old Thomas Jeffrey Engstrand, of Braddyville, was taken into custody on a Page County warrant for Controlled substance violation and Possession of a controlled substance – 3rd or subsequent offense.  He was transported to the Page county Jail and held on $10,000 bond, pending further court appearances.

Thomas Jeffrey Engstrand

In an update to our report Tuesday afternoon from Audubon County Emergency Management Coordinator Philip Mennenoh, officials with the City of Kimballton say the City is currently in a brown out situation. Not all residents are effected. There is an issue with the transformer at the substation, and repair means are being sourced. This issue was discovered Tuesday.

Officials say the city is working as hard as possible to alleviate the problem and get full power back, but it is unknown the duration this outage. There will be a cooling center located at the town hall and will be open 12pm to 8pm if residents are needing a place to go to cool off. As more information is known it will be passed on.

(Radio Iowa) – A challenge to California’s looming law on animal confinement is being thrown out by a federal judge in Iowa. What’s known as Proposition 12 will go into effect in January. It bans California businesses from selling pork from pigs that were confined in what it calls “a cruel manner,” or pens with less than 24 square feet of space for each breeding hog. Iowa pork producers argued compliance would sharply boost costs, but Judge C-J Williams ruled there was no proof California intended to harm Iowa producers when voters passed Prop 12. He sided with the motion from California officials and dismissed the case.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office today (Wednesday), reported three arrests. At around 10:30-p.m. Tuesday, 34-year-old Amber Lynn Pike, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension ($300 bond). Monday afternoon, 20-year-old Alexia Dianna Alvarez, of Omaha, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Violation of Probation ($1,000 bond). And, 70-year-old Jeffrey Kent Stark, of Eagle Grove, was arrested Monday afternoon at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation ($5,000 bond).

The broadcast News at 8:07-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

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