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Gov. Reynolds signs new Public Health Disaster proclamation

News

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES – Today (Friday) Gov. Reynolds signed a new Public Health Disaster proclamation that extends some regulatory relief for an additional 30 days. The proclamation can be found in its entirety, online here.

Polk County man arrested for allegedly making a fake bomb threat

News

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Authorities say a Des Moines man was arrested today (Friday) for calling in a fake bomb threat to Prairie Meadows Casino. KCCI reports 29-year-old David Bailey is charged with making a false report of an explosive or incendiary device.According to a criminal complaint, Bailey called Polk County 911 Thursday to report that “several individuals” placed explosive devices around the building. Police said Bailey reported being told by a friend at the casino that “money was falling from the sky,” which he b lieved meant the casino blew up.

Bailey is accused of fabricating information about explosives being placed at the casino, which caused Prairie Meadows to activate its bomb threat protocol. Police arrested Bailey following an initial investigation and transported him to Polk County Jail.

Another handgun found in carry-on luggage at Dsm Intl. Aiport

News

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials, today (Friday), announced that TSA officers stopped a loaded handgun from making it onboard a plane at the Des Moines International Airport.TSA officers located the gun around 4:15 a.m. Thursday while screening carry-on luggage via X-ray.
Iowa TSA Federal Security Director John Bright said. “We want to remind everyone planning to fly out of Des Moines to carefully inspect your bag before you pack it and head to the airport. This simple act could save you lots of time and money, along with avoiding possible arrest with local law enforcement.”Authorities confiscated the firearm and issued a citation to the passenger. Passengers may travel with unloaded firearms in checked baggage. Firearms must be packed separately from ammunition in a hardback case and declared at the check-in counter.

It is the fourth firearm detected at the airport in 2021.

Council Bluffs Businessman Convicted of Sex Trafficking

News

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFF, IA – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports that on Friday, July 23, 2021, 71-year-old Hershal James Ratliff, of Council Bluffs, a long time businessman and owner of Jimmy’s All American Malt Shop and Grill in Council Bluffs, was found guilty of four counts of sex trafficking minors, two counts of sex trafficking adults and two counts of distributing a controlled substance to a person under twenty-one years of age. The verdict came after a four-day trial in Council Bluffs U-S District Court.

Evidence presented at trial showed that RATLIFF, over the last ten years, would have minor girls come to his house an perform sex acts on him and with his friends in exchange for money, drugs, and other material things. The testimony showed that Ratliff provided the minor girls with alcohol, prescription Xanax, and marijuana both before and after they participated in sex acts at his residence.

In addition, the evidence showed that Ratliff obtained sex acts for his friends from adult women by the use of force and coercion. No sentencing date has been set. The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Olympic wagering is allowed in Iowa

News, Sports

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Olympics are getting underway and Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says they will give Iowa’s growing new sports betting industry a boost. “The Olympics will really be a good shot in the arm during this period of time for sports wagering. Sports wagering the summer is typically just a very slow type of period,” Ohorilko says. This is the first summer with the Olympics since the industry got up and running in Iowa. “It will be interesting to see how it impacts the numbers — I know the sportsbooks are excited,” Ohorilkoh says. “There are a number of wagers that they can offer.”

He says there are also a few things that are off limits for sports betting. “There are some wagers they cannot offer — individuals events for example where participants are under 18 cannot be on the board — but all team events can be,” according to Ohorilkoh, “and it likely will be very popular as we move into the summer. And should help the sports wagering industry during this typically slow period.”

The Olympics will fill some of the gap in the sports world before the fall college and pro football seasons get underway. More than one point-two BILLION dollars was spent on sports in Iowa in the first full fiscal year of betting that ended June 30th.

Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors visit City Hall

News

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassador’s were hosted by Atlantic City Hall on Thursday, July 22nd. Ambassadors heard from Mayor Dave Jones, and he thanked the community for the opportunity to serve as Mayor and he looks forward to his retirement with his wife Rosie. Mayor Jones spoke about his appreciation and pride in each department of the city and shared that he is optimistic about the direction Atlantic is headed. Mayor Jones shared that each City Hall staff member has great strengths that make the office run smoothly. John Lund, City Administrator, is a great asset when it comes to crunching numbers and researching ideas. Barb Barrick, City Clerk, and Amanda Martin, temporary Deputy City Clerk, provide great support to the department heads and city residents.

Ambassador’s Pictured: (Standing Left to Right) Heidi Hinman, Dawn Marnin, Nedra Perry, Rich Perry, Anne Quist, Bill Saluk, Arlene Drennan, Donnie Drennan, Dr.Keith Leonard, Ruth Sears, Krysta Hanson, Scott Bennett, Dolly Bergmann, Dianne Gipple McCurdy, Kelsey Beschorner.
(Seated Left to Right) Barb Barrick, Grace Garrett, John Lund, Dave Jones, Linda Hartkoff, Pat McCurdy, Amanda Martin, Hannah Richter. (photo courtesy the Atlantic Area CoC)

The Ambassadors learn more about Hannah Richter, temporary Administrative Assistant, as she prepares to head back to Northwest Missouri State University to continue her education in Agriculture Science and Music. City Hall is located at 23 E 4th Street, Atlantic Iowa. For more information about the City of Atlantic, please visit www.atlanticiowa.com or call 712-243-4810.

Teen dies in rollover crash in NW Iowa

News

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Authorities in northwest Iowa are releasing more information about a fatal one-vehicle accident on Thursday morning. Emmet County Sheriff Mike Martens says at around 5:40 A-M, his office received a call from a motorist reporting a vehicle on its top about three miles north of Estherville. Upon investigation at the scene, it was determined that the 2002 Ford pickup was traveling southbound on 400th Avenue when the driver lost control causing the vehicle to skid. The vehicle began rolling on the roadway before coming to rest on its top on the east shoulder and ditch of 400th Avenue.

The driver of the vehicle, 16-year-old James Dean Woodyard, of rural Estherville, was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fatal collision in eastern Iowa Friday morning

News

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

A collision between an SUV and a pickup truck in eastern Iowa, early Friday morning, resulted in a death. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2012 Nissan Rogue driven by 40-year-old Seth Sanderson, of Denver (IA) was westbound on 280th Street in Butler County at around 4:35-a.m., when he failed to stop at the posted intersection with Temple Avenue. The SUV collided with a northbound 2012 Ford F-150 driven by 58-year-old Denis Morrow, of New Hartford.

Sanderson, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. The accident remains under investigation.

Cass County Sheriff’s report, 7/23/21

News

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, today (Friday), released a report on arrests and accidents. On Thursday, July 22nd, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Jason Richard Tasto, of Marne, for OWI/1st offense, and interference with official acts.  Tasto was being held in the Cass County Jail. And, on Tuesday, July 20th, 18-year-old Chance Eldon Kline, of Shenandoah, was arrested for public intoxication.  Kline was transported to Cass County Jail, later plead guilty, and was released.

There were two accidents in Cass County this past week. On Monday (July 19), at approximately 2:42 p.m., Cass County Deputies responded to an accident on 620th St. and Lansing Road, near Atlantic.  Mauro De Avila, of Des Moines, was traveling north bound on 620th St., driving a 2007 Volvo Dump-Truck, when he met a south bound 2011 Chevrolet Silverado Pick-up driven by Michael Louis Leeper, of Atlantic.  The vehicles met at the crest of a hill, sideswiped with the pick-up coming to rest in the ditch. No injuries were reported.

And, as we’ve previously reported, one person was seriously injured during a motorcycle accident that occurred on July 17th. Authorities say Cass County Deputies responded to the accident scene on the Lewis Road, between 580th and Quincy Rd.  Officials say Andrew Jensen, of Atlantic, was riding a 2011 Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound at around 5:21-p.m., when he failed to negotiate a curve and lost control.  Jensen was thrown from the motorcycle and landed in the ditch.  He was transported by EMS ground to Lewis, and then transported by EMS air to Des Moines Methodist Hospital.

Pork producers push for year-round visas for foreign born farm workers

News

July 23rd, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – An Ankeny woman who is president of the National Pork Producers Council is urging members of the U.S. Senate to reform the visa system so immigrants working as farm hands or in meat packing plants can stay permanently.  “Our foreign born workforce is an essential part of our supply chain and we need visa reform to reflect our year-round needs.”  Jen Sorenson is also the communications for Iowa Select Farms, the largest pork producer in Iowa and the 8th largest in the United States. “Unfortunately the U.S. is suffering from a serious labor shortage negatively impacting our farms and our processing plants,” Sorenson says. “As any pork producer will tell you, there is no pork season. It requires a full time, hard working and dedicated workforce on our farms and in our processing plants.”

The current H-two-A (H-2A) visa program allows agribusinesses to fill temporary positions with foreign-born workers. Sorenson says that’s designed for seasonal agriculture, like vegetable and fruit farms, not for livestock operations which need a workforce all year long. “If the labor shortage is not addressed, it could lead to farms and packing plants shutting down,” Sorenson says. “As a result, pork production would be constrained, leading to higher food prices for consumers and the United States becoming an unreliable trading partner for the many countries around the world that rely on our pork.”

In March, the U.S. House passed a bill to make changes in the visa program for temporary farm workers. Sorenson says the bill is an excellent solution — if the bill’s cap on the number of visas in the bill is eliminated, so an unlimited number of visas for farm workers is available. “We would not want to find ourselves in situation where we are competing against our fellow livestock farmers for a specific number of workers,” Sorenson says, “and that is why we ask for an uncapped H-2A program and also a year-round H-2A program.” Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley invited Sorenson to testify before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee this week. Grassley also invited Leon Sequeira, an assistant U.S. Labor Secretary in President Bush’s Administration and the former legal counsel to the Senate’s Republican leader.

“The worker shortage on our farms continues to get worse with each passing year and it is threatening the future viability of labor-intensive agriculture in America,” he said. “Farm work is honest, honorable and necessary work, but there are simply not enough U.S. workers willing to do it.” The National Pork Producers Council president told senators the labor shortage in the pork industry is exacerbates by continued population decline in rural areas of the country, where most pork production and processing is located.