(Radio Iowa) – Officials in a southwest Iowa city are asking residents to obey a local ordinance regarding signs in non-commercial areas. Councilman Craig Hill raised the issue during this week’s Clarinda City Council meeting, as a growing number of signs are popping up in residential areas, advertising job openings in Clarinda.  “I sympathize with the problem that they’re having, trying to find employees, but there are ordinances that people need to follow,” he says, “so I encourage the businesses or industries to come to City Hall, make sure that they know the rules, get a permit and then follow those before they just start putting things out.”

Clarinda Mayor Lisa Hull says residents must pay a fee and get a permit to placing any sort of sign on a property zoned as residential. “It looks kind of trashy if you have these signs all over everyone’s yard,” she says. Hull, who runs a manufacturing business in Clarinda, has paid fees to the city to put a flag in her yard when she’s hiring. Hull says if a sign is in the city right-of-way along the street, the city is technically liable for the sign. “We need to regulate, really, what those signs ’cause somebody could put a sign talking about their neighbor, you know, and say anything they want to say,” Hull says, “so that’s why when you put signs in your yard, especially if it’s residential, you need to get a permit so the city can regulate what those signs say.”

Officials in the city of Johnston have fielded complaints about a sign painted on a bar that, among other things, declares it the site of Trump 2024 National Headquarters and includes a slur against Vice President Harris. The Johnston City Council discussed the matter earlier this month and are considering their legal options, but say the sign is likely considered speech protected by the First Amendment.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – In addition to faculty and other staff, one of the most important persons in any school district, is the School Business Officer (SBO)/Business Manager/Finance Director. The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday, recognized Finance Director Sarah Sheeder for all the work she does to make sure the district stays in the black. Board member Nicholas Hunt suggested she deserves recognition. Superintendent Steve Barber agreed.

Sheeder said she appreciates the kind words. After she presented the District’s financial reports during Wednesday’s school Board meeting, Nicholas Hunt said people might not realize what an SBO does. He asked Sheeder to briefly talk about her job, and the job of an SBO in general.

(She mentioned the Iowa Association of School Boards recently issued a statement (Data Boost_June25_2021) about “What’s happening in your business office at the end of the year.” She said this is the busiest time of year for SBO’s, getting the past school year wrapped-up and getting ready for the new year that begins next month.)

And, Atlantic Assistant High School Principal/Activity Director Andy Mitchell, Wednesday, paid tribute to two local Sports Broadcasters and one area newspaper Sports Editor, for the spreading of positive messages, especially with regard to coverage of Trojan Sports. KJAN Sports Director Chris Parks was among the names he mentioned.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Page County have cited the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident, following an investigation into the incident. Authorities 37-year-old Aaron Duwayne Childs, of Shenandoah, was cited Thursday night, for Failure to Maintain Control and Failure to Provide proof of financial liability (Accident-related insurance). The citations were the result of a call about a vehicle in the ditch off 140th St., about seven-miles northwest of Clarinda.

Childs notified authorities shortly after the report came in. He told them he had been driving the vehicle when it went into the ditch. Childs stated that he had left the vehicle in the ditch and would get it out within a couple of hours. The investigation into this vehicle in the ditch conducted by the Sheriff’s Office indicated that Childs was operating a 2008 Nissan westbound on 140th in the 2300 block. Childs said that he swerved to miss a deer, lost control of the vehicle and went into the south ditch where the vehicle struck an embankment and damaged a driveway tube. Childs stated that he was not injured.

The vehicle sustained approximately $5,000 in damage. Damage to the driveway tube owned by Christopher Campbell of rural Clarinda, was estimated at $3,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors visited with Carrie Petersen, owner of CoffeeGirl, on Thursday, July 15th, 2021. The Ambassadors joined Carrie in celebrating the opening of her new location in Atlantic. CoffeeGirl is located on the corner of Chestnut Street and 5th Street.

Carrie started her coffee shop journey in Elk Horn in 2014. After finding success there, she decided to open a second location in Harlan in 2018 with a third location following later that year in Atlantic. Carrie left her smaller downtown location at the end of 2020 and began renovating a larger storefront with the help of property owner, Jan Kinnison. Carrie praised Jan for not only being a huge help and supporter with renovations, but for all the moral support she’s offered as well.

Coffee Girl ribbon-cutting ceremony, 7-15-21 (Chamber Photo)

Carrie and her husband worked around the clock to get the new location up and running before summer’s end. The building used to be the old post office in town. During renovations, they discovered the original flooring and tile, which happens to be 140 years old. They decided to lengthen renovation a little longer to restore the floor to its former glory.

CoffeeGirl is not just about coffee, they have many other options such as smoothies, frappes, muffins, pastries, espressos, teas, energy drinks, and more. CoffeeGirl also offers four different types of paninis and two different types of wraps for lunch.

CoffeeGirl is located at 422 Chestnut Street in Atlantic. For more information about CoffeeGirl, call 712-250-1539 or visit their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Coffeegirl-300541443489756

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests took place this week. On Wednesday, 24-year-old Connor Nathaniel Burg, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI 1st and driving under suspension.  Berg was transported to Cass County Jail and was later released on his own recognizance. Also arrested Wednesday, was 36-year-old Trevor Kyle Benge, of Stanton, who was taken into custody on a Cass County warrant for violation of probation.  Benge was transported to Cass County Jail and is currently being held on bond.

And, on Monday, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 26-year-old Edward Lee Roy Burton, Jr., of Atlantic, on a Cass County warrant for controlled substance violations.  Burton was transported to Cass County Jail where he was being held on bond.

Our broadcast news at 7:06-a.m., from Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Four young ladies from Audubon were vying for the title of Audubon County Fair Queen. When their scores were tabulated, Kennedy Rohe was crowned Queen. Kennedy is the daughter of Derrick and Jessica Rohe. Runner-Up went to Madi Steckler, the daughter of Toby and Pam Steckler. Abby Brooks and Abigail Zaiger were also in the running for Audubon County Fair Queen.

(Left to right) Madi Steckler, Runner-up, & Kennedy Rohe, 2021 Audubon County Fair Queen. (Photos via the Audubon County Fair Facebook page)

Audubon County Fair Queen candidates

(Radio Iowa) – Barbara Wilson took office Wednesday as the 22nd president of the University of Iowa, the third woman to hold the position. Wilson replaces Bruce Harreld, who retired after taking the office late in 2015. Wilson is a communications scholar and academic administrator who previously served as the second in command at the University of Illinois system. U-I Undergraduate Student Body President Regan Smock says she hopes campus mental health will be a priority for Wilson. “COVID illuminated a lot of what some people were living in silence about,” Smock says. “I really hope that we can try to push more funding towards mental health services in general. I think, especially for students of color, students of underrepresented and underserved backgrounds.”

Smock said she anticipates one of Wilson’s biggest challenges will be earning trust across a diverse range of constituents on campus. “There are students who will never think about who’s making decisions about stuff, but those who do, do not feel heard in what they need and what they want,” Smock says. “Part of that is that you have constituents with different demands and different things they need and that makes it difficult.”

Wilson has also spoken about her goals to expand diversity, equity and inclusion and improve graduation rates. Reports say Wilson received a five-year contract with an annual salary of 600-thousand dollars as well as a five-year deferred compensation plan with an annual contribution of 400-grand.

(By Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) – Former Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to visit Des Moines and Sioux Center today (Friday), his first stops in the state since leaving office. Bob Vander Plaats is president and C-E-O of The Family Leader, the organization that’s hosting one of the events where Pence is scheduled to speak. Vander Plaats considers Pence one of a handful of front-runners for the G-O-P’s 2024 presidential nomination — if Donald Trump doesn’t run. “If Trump were to get in and secure the nomination, because he has a very vibrant base, all of a sudden it becomes: ‘Who is going to be the VP?'” Vander Plaats says. “Now you could see a Kristi Noem get raised, a Tim Scott get raised and even people who aren’t running for president, like Governor Kim Reynolds.”

Vander Plaats would NOT expect Trump to offer the V-P slot to Pence again, nor does Vander Plaats think Pence would accept it. A week ago during an appearance on Iowa P-B-S, Vander Plaats was asked if Pence did the right thing in certifying the Electoral College outcome in January. “The question I ask to people who push back on that is…’Do you want Vice President Harris in a few years to be able to do what Mike Pence was asked to do?’ And I think common sense would say: ‘No,'” Vander Plaats said.

Polls show a segment of Republicans, though, believe Pence should have refused to certify Joe Biden as the 2020 victor. At a recent conservative conference in Florida, chants of “traitor” rose from the some in the crowd as Pence started speaking. “He will not be booed at our event,” Vander Plaats says. “I read an article about when he spoke in Orlando…when he got heckled. When he spoke in New Hampshire, it was a sold out crowd and recorded eight standing ovations.” Vander Plaats suggests continuing to focus on the 2020 election outcome is unwise for the G-O-P. “We need to keep our focus on 2022 as well as 2024,” Vander Plaats said.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will also speak at today’s (Friday’s) Family Leadership Summit in Des Moines. Vander Plaats describes both as presidential candidates of the future, although, Noem has said she doesn’t plan to run for president. Pence is due to headline a midday fundraiser in Sioux Center for Congressman Randy Feenstra. Early this (Friday) evening, Pompeo will speak at a fundraiser in Ottumwa for Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks.