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Hamburg-Mitchell Missouri River boat ramp to close June 30

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Hamburg, Iowa) – A popular boat ramp on the Missouri River, leased for public access by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), will close on June 30th. The Iowa DNR had been leasing the ramp and small parcel of land to provide river access since 1985. Known as the Hamburg-Mitchell Access, the land was sold recently and its lease terminated.

The Iowa DNR has been exploring options to provide river access in the area. The next closest boat ramp on the Iowa side is more than 25 miles away.

Cedar Falls will launch affordable housing trust fund

News

March 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Cedar Falls leaders are setting up an affordable housing trust fund which would allow the city to access some 200-thousand dollars in state aid. Brian Schoon, executive director of the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments, says a housing assessment that was done in Cedar Falls late last year spurred the city to act.  “People knew the need was there, but it just didn’t rise to the level of bringing people to the table,” Schoon says. “Now the City of Cedar Falls knows from that study where some of the needs are.”

Cedar Falls was one of the last communities in the state -without- such a fund. He says the city hopes the new nonprofit organization will be fully up and running by January of next year.

“They’re going to have to look at projects that would be categorized as the affordability side of things,” Schoon says. “That was one of the things that jumped up in the housing needs assessment was the cost of housing, the cost of land, the cost of development.” Schoon says the nonprofit will mainly focus on driving living costs down.

Community rally’s around Redfield business owners after fire devastates their building

News

March 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

REDFIELD, Iowa — The community of Redfield and others who care about a local business that was devastated by a fire last month, have come to together to support the owners as they plan to rebuild. Steve Roberts and his wife Kristy own the Dexfield Diner and Pub. The establishment sustained extensive fire damage February 26th. The cause remains under investigation.

An adjacent boutique owned by Kristy Roberts was also damaged. Since the blaze, the Roberts’ have received permission to begin demolishing and removing items out of the boutique part of their building.

In the nearly two weeks since the fire, Roberts said people have continuously reached out to help: whether it be by phone or on social media. There is a Facebook page focused on the rebuilding efforts, where Roberts updates people on what’s going and people volunteer to help.

In addition to physical labor, people have also been either donating via a GoFundMe page or through fundraisers people are putting on. Roberts and his family say they are very grateful.

CAM School Board meeting set for tonight

News

March 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM School District’s Board of Education will meet tonight (March 11, 2024) at the CAM High School Media Center, in Anita. Their session begins at 6:30-p.m. The agenda for tonight’s meeting is shown below:

Atlantic City Council to meet briefly this afternoon (March 11)

News

March 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic is expected to hold – what City Administrator John Lund, last week as a – “Gavel-in, gavel-out,” quick meeting. The 5-p.m. session in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, is for the passage of a Resolution “Endorsing the Use of TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) Funds for the West 22nd Street Trail Construction Project in Atlantic, Iowa.” Passage of the Resolution is necessary in order for the City to submit (Through SWIPCO), an application for the TAP grant. The deadline is Friday, March 15th.

The Resolution before the Council can be seen below.

Secretary Pate launches voter education videos as part of Civic Learning Week

News

March 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Des Moines, Iowa) – As part of National Civic Learning Week (March 11-15), Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has launched a new series of videos designed to give Iowa voters an in-depth look at Iowa’s voting process. The video series will cover a variety of topics about Iowa’s elections process, including voter registration, registration management, absentee voting, and more.

The launch of the video series is part of an ongoing effort to ensure Iowans turn to the Iowa Secretary of State as the trusted source of all things elections. Over the past few years, Pate’s office says there has been a rise of mis-, dis- and mal- information spread among social media and news sources. It is vitally important that Iowans understand Iowa’s elections process and to stay alert for cases of false claims.

At the time of its launch, the video series includes 18 separate videos about Iowa’s voting process. Additional videos covering topics like Election Day and the Tabulation Process will be released in the coming months. The videos can be accessed at VotingProcess.Iowa.Gov.

Civic Learning Week is a nationwide celebration of civic learning that unites students, educators, policymakers, and private sector leaders. Learn more about Civic Learning Week at CivicLearningWeek.Org.

Creston woman arrested Sunday evening

News

March 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports a woman was arrested Sunday evening, for Driving while Suspended. 40-year-old Alicia Ellen Lovell, of Creston, was arrested at the Iowa State Savings Bank at around 5:35-p.m., Sunday. Lovell was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $300 cash or surety bond.

Cass County Democrats to Hold County Convention March 23

News

March 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Democrats are hosting their County Convention at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce meeting room on Saturday, March 23rd, from 10-a.m. until Noon. Registered Democrats residing in Cass County are invited to attend. Individuals eligible to vote may register as Democrats at the event. Youth age 13+ who will not be 18 by Election Day 2024 may participate as Youth Delegates and also have the opportunity to participate in the Youth District and State Conventions. Press and observers are welcome, as long as they do not
interrupt or interfere with the Convention.

At the county convention, Cass County Democrats will finalize their county platform, and elect delegates to represent the county at the Democrats’ district and state conventions, on
May 4 and June 15, respectively. Cass County’s delegates to the state and district conventions will represent Cass County in two areas: developing Iowa’s state democratic platform, and representing the county’s presidential candidate preferences.

A political platform is a set of goals, strategies, and principles designed to address current political issues. The Cass County Democrats began developing this year’s county platform during the caucuses held on January 15. Platform resolutions developed at the caucus covered topics including affordable childcare, food access, senior housing, gun control, reproductive freedom, environmental sustainability, and more. Delegates elected at the county convention will represent Cass County’s values and platform while assisting with the development of the Iowa Democrats’ state platform.

In addition to platform development, delegates to the state and district conventions also represent Cass County’s presidential candidate preferences. Starting this year, instead of selecting presidential candidates at the caucus, Iowa Democrats indicated their preferred presidential candidate via presidential preference cards sent through the mail. Presidential preference cards were mailed to those who requested them (via mail or internet form) by February 19, 2024. The cards were required to be returned by March 5, 2024. All 50 votes cast in Cass County were for President Biden.

For more information about the county convention or the Cass County Democrats, contact County Chair Denise O’Brien at 712-249-3197 or casscountyiadems@gmail.com or follow
the Cass County Democrats on Facebook @CassCountyIADems.

Law officers plan crackdown on drunk drivers on and around St. Patrick’s Day

News

March 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A week-long, statewide traffic enforcement program will be launched this Wednesday as Iowans plan to celebrate the upcoming Saint Patrick’s Day weekend. Brett Tjepkes, chief of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, is reminding Iowans to take it easy on the green beer, lest they make a potentially-deadly mistake by getting behind the wheel. “St. Patrick’s Day is one of our nation’s most popular holidays. There’s a lot of festivals, parades, parties, and drinking alcohol comes with that,” Tjepkes says. “The amount of alcohol that’s consumed is higher than average around Patrick’s Day, so we’re just encouraging people to make good decisions and that includes to refrain from driving while intoxicated.”

Tjepkes says law enforcement officers across the state will be on the lookout for lawbreakers. “The Iowa State Patrol, sheriff’s departments, and police departments across Iowa are going to be looking for intoxicated drivers,” Tjepkes says. “We want people to make good decisions and we want them to have fun, but we don’t want that day of fun to turn into a tragic or devastating time by driving while intoxicated and injuring themselves or others.” If you find yourself drunk and stranded with your vehicle, Tjepkes says to give the keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you home. And if you have a friend who is about to drive drunk, he says to take away their keys and help them get home safely.

“Last March, there were 26 traffic fatalities on Iowa’s roads and almost 40% of those happened the week of St. Patrick’s Day. We know that there’s an increased amount of drinking, and drinking and driving,” Tjepkes says, “and so planning ahead, designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or an Uber or Lyft service would really be a good decision if somebody’s had too much to drink.”

Tjepkes says to be on watch for pedestrians, as an increase in alcohol consumption and pedestrian traffic can be a dangerous combination. If you’re on foot, he says, cross streets in well-lit areas and use the crosswalks.

AARP Foundation providing free tax help

News

March 11th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The A-A-R-P Foundation is again providing free tax help. Foundation vice president, Mioshi Moses says it’s the largest volunteer-based tax assistance and preparation program in the country. “We focus on helping older adults with low to moderate income, complete their tax returns and also secure tax refunds,” Moses says. She says they have several locations in Iowa.  “We provide service both in person and virtually so you can go to our website at AARP foundation.org/tax aid and find our site locator tool on our website where you can enter your zip code and you’ll be directed to the site nearest you,” she says.

Moses says they know that tax time can be stressful for many people. “Last year in Iowa, we serve more than nine-thousand people and we’re able to help secure more than eight million dollars in refunds for them,” Moses says. She says older Americans may see some changes when they file their returns. “For some taxpayers when they turn 65 they are eligible for an additional standard deduction,” she says. “They may find that they face a reduction in income or no longer qualify for other deductions.”

The A-A-R-P Foundation tax help will be available through April 15th.