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Third U-I finalist visits campus

News

April 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The third finalist in the search for a new University of Iowa president visited campus and held a public forum Monday. Wendy Hensel is currently the chief academic officer at Georgia State University — but says he has a Big Ten background — having graduated from Michigan State. She started her career in law, and took a job teaching law that she thought would be short-term until she decided what she wanted to do. “And it was not long before I realized that I had found my professional passion for the rest of my life. I love students. I love the mission of higher education,” Hensel says.

She says that would continue to be her focus at the U-I. “Students should be at the center of literally everything that we do. They’re the reason that we are here and their success is instrumental to our success,” according to Hensel. “I believe strongly, as I think all of you do too based on what I’ve heard today, that it is a moral imperative that anybody that we admit as sufficiently talented to be at this university — that we commit to get them through to graduation.” Hensel was asked about what appears to be a divide between the campus and the rest of the state on issues such as free speech.

Wendy Hensel

“We can come back to a respectful position in which everybody is on the team. Right now it feels very much like it is us and them. It’s the polar opposite. There’s very little in the middle, and I would pledge as president to commit to developing that relationship on a serious basis, ongoing and in advance of these serious disputes,” Hensel says. She was also asked about how she would deal with the Legislature and some of the bills targeting the universities. Handel says the first thing is not to stand up and say “No” to everything, but to find the issues where you can softly debate and talk about them. “If you take away tenure for example. That would be one that we’re never going to agree that it is acceptable to do that. That’s just fundamental to higher education, it allows the research enterprise to take on questions that otherwise would not be politically palatable,” she says. “Certainly in this environment it’s not hard to see how that might happen. most of it we can discuss as friends with data and common goals in mind”

Hensel will spend today (Tuesday) on campus meeting with more groups. The fourth and final candidate for the president’s job will be announced and visit campus later this week. The next president is expected to be hired on April 30th.

Man caught by northwest Iowa police dog 12 hours after chase

News

April 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A day-long manhunt following a pursuit that started in South Sioux City and ended up near Holley Springs ended when a police dog found the suspect. Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan says the man who was driving the vehicle was found in a creek bed Monday afternoon. He says the man was found just north of Hornick after they sent more deputies and a dog to the area, and the dog found the man.

The man is identified as 30-year-old Edgar Vanegas-Sanchez of Colorado. Police say he was driving with passenger, 24-year-old Zachary Broken Leg, after they fled the scene when an officer saw them trying to steal the catalytic converter from a car in South Sioux City. The car ran over the foot and struck the officer as they fled, and both men later abandoned the car after crashing near Holly Springs. Broken Leg was caught, but Venegas-Sanchez stayed hidden for 12 hours before being discovered in the creek. The Sheriff says he did the best he could to hide in the creek bed — but the dog found him — and he suffered some superficial injuries from the dog.

Vanegas-Sanchez is charged with second-degree theft, felony eluding, interference with official acts, possession of burglary tools, and drug paraphernalia. Broken Leg is charged with interference with official acts, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of meth, drug paraphernalia, and burglary tools. The police officer was treated and returned to duty.

First crop now in the ground

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The weekly crop report shows some seeds got into the ground for the first time this year. The U-S-D-A’s crop report says most of last week was favorable for fieldwork and once soil temperatures warmed up enough that work turned from the preparation of the soil to planting in some areas. The report says four percent of the projected corn crop is in the ground. There were scattered reports of soybeans planted. The most progress was made with oats — as two-thirds of that crop has been planted.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale has died at the age of 93

News

April 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Former Vice President Walter Mondale has died at the age of 93. Mondale’s campaign for the presidency that ended with a loss to President Reagan began with a 49 percent victory in the 1984 Iowa Caucuses. “I wouldn’t change one moment of it,” Mondale said in 1992. “I love public service. I love politics. I love being around people. I love to engage on issues. It is a blessing to be in public life.”

Walter “Fritz” Mondale (1928-2021)

During a debate in Des Moines just before the 1984 Caucuses, Mondale described Iowa politics as “open” and consequential. “On February 20, the Democrats of Iowa will be the most powerful citizens on Earth,” Mondale said. “…If there was ever a time that your country needed you, it’s this time.”

In 2015, Mondale told an Iowa P-B-S reporter that the Iowa Caucus system guarantees the candidates listen to Iowa voters. On Saturday, Mondale sent a note to former staff and campaign alumni, saying his time had come and urging them to continue the good fight. Mondale’s family announced he died Monday in Minneapolis.

OSHA sends ‘hazard alert letter’ to GOP leaders about Covid in Iowa Capitol

News

April 20th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration has sent Republican leaders at the state Capitol a letter, warning working conditions may be exposing legislative branch employees to Covid-19 hazards. The OSHA letter says no state law is being broken, but cited concerns about a lack of social distancing and that there is no requirement employees report Covid positive test results to leadership. The late January OSHA inspection of the Capitol did result in a 10-thousand dollar fine.

The inspector said the legislative branch wasn’t keeping records of workplace illnesses or injuries and employees were handling chemical disinfectants without proper training. The most serious citation, though, was about electrical outlets in a Capitol meeting room that posed a shock or burn hazard. A spokeswoman for House Republicans called it a politically-contrived investigation and said G-O-P leaders had taken what she described as extensive efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver says the inspection was the result of a politically motivated complaint from union leaders. He said while the OSHA report noted it’s possible to contract Covid at the Capitol, that’s true of nearly every other activity in the world. So far this year, 10 cases of Covid-19 among people associated with the House and Senate have been publicly announced. One legislator has revealed she still has symptoms. Representative Amy Nielsen tested positive for the virus in late January.

Grow Another Row Cass County Hires Program Coordinator for 2021

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 19th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic) – Grow Another Row, a program started last year to encourage, support, and network local growers for food donation, is back in 2021 with plans to expand! Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh says grow Another Row Cass County is a Healthy Cass County campaign started in 2020 by a group of local growers to encourage residents to grow and share more food. Grow Another Row Cass County invites local farmers and gardeners to plant a few more rows of produce to share again this year.

Hoegh said expansion started with filling a dedicated coordinator role. This temporary position is made possible through AmeriCorps funding.

2021 Grow Another Row Coordinator Claire Smith.

New Grow Another Row Coordinator, Claire Smith, said “I am extremely excited to get started and I love the mission of this program.” Smith is currently a student at Northwest Missouri State University where she is majoring in agronomy with an emphasis in horticulture and a minor in adapted & recreational gardening. She said she has always loved gardening and has her own home garden where she grows a variety of flowers and vegetables such as petunias, zinnias, roses, marigolds, tomatoes, peppers, and more!

In high school, Claire was active in FFA and 4-H and showed in the Iowa State Fair FFA Floriculture show for four years.
All growers—large and small—are invited to share food with others as part of Grow Another Row. According to Brigham Hoegh, “Even just a few tomato plants can end up producing a lot more than a household can consume, so we encourage all growers to join us.” Sign up for the Grow Another Row newsletter by emailing Grow Another Row Coordinator Claire Smith at claires2@iastate.edu or visiting https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/content/grow-another-row-cass-county.

Not sure what to grow to share with others? According to ISU Extension, the 13 best produce donations are: tomatoes, winter squash, zucchini, potatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers, melons, broccoli, cabbage, sweet potatoes, carrots, and beans. The Grow Another Row leadership team requests additional potatoes, carrots, melons, and green beans in 2021 because these items were in highest demand last year. Grow Another Row Cass County 2021 donation sites are being
finalized and will be publicized at a later date, but Cass County food pantries are sure to be included in the line-up.

  • Cass County Food Pantry Information:
    Anita Food Pantry:
    Phone: (712) 762-3645
    Address: 208 Chestnut St, Anita, IA 50020
    Hours: 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9:00am – 11:00am
    Produce donations: Tracey Lett (712)249-4996
    Monetary donations: mail checks to “Anita Food Pantry” (PO Box
    96, Anita, IA 50020)
  • Atlantic Food Pantry:
    Address: 19 W. 4th St., Atlantic, IA 50022
    Hours: Thurs., drive-through 1:00pm – 2:00pm (or until line
    ends)
    Produce Donations: Pre-bagged produce requested. Contact:
    (712)243-1820
    Monetary Donations: mail checks to “Atlantic Food Pantry” (19 W
    4th Street. Atlantic, IA 50022)
  • Cumberland Care & Share Pantry:
    Phone: (712) 774-5818
    Address: 317 Monroe St, Cumberland, IA 50843
    Hours: 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 4:00pm- 5:30pm
    Produce Donations: contact (712) 774-5818
    Monetary Donations: mail checks to “Cumberland Care & Share”
    (317 Monroe St, Cumberland, IA 50843)
  • Lord’s Cupboard of Griswold
    Phone: (712) 778-4178
    Address: 100 Cass St., Griswold, IA 51535

For information on Cass County food pantries, farmers markets, and other locally-driven food initiatives, follow the Cass
County Local Food Policy Council on Facebook @CassCountyLocalFood. Healthy Cass County is a community-focused volunteer network formed to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. Follow Healthy Cass County on Facebook @HealthyCassCounty (https://www.facebook.com/HealthyCassCounty/). Reach out to Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or call 712-249-5870 for more information.

Atlantic Parks & Rec discusses Summer Programs & Dog Park success; Issues arise over parking at the Little League/Soccer complex

News

April 19th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors met via Zoom, Monday evening. Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen said he plans on meeting with a contractor to get the bathroom for the Sunnyside Park Tennis Court opened-up, soon. There were issues with the facilities that required it to be closed, last year.

Rasmussen said some of the dog park equipment that’s been in storage for the Winter, was installed over the past week or so. He said “Everything that’s out there, we were able to [put into place] because of the donations that came in through the donation post” located at the dog park. The only piece of equipment that has yet to arrive, he said, is a hoop that is being built by Curtis Welding. There are numerous tires of various heights and styles that are partially sunk into the ground for dogs to play on. They’ve been painted in a colorful and whimsical way, to make them attractive and fun to look at.

Rasmussen said the response has been phenomenal, and “The donations keep coming, so we’re starting to look at what other things we can continue to add out there.” He said also, he was contacted by the City of Creston late last week. They were looking for advice on putting in a dog park, as well, and wondered how the attractions for the Atlantic Dog Park were obtained. The Park Board members praised the way the Dog Park has turned out. Park Board Member Jolene Smith said “It was really used Sunday,” when the weather was just about perfect.

Rasmussen said he and Foreman Kyle Welter are working on plans for summer programs, including the possibility of incorporating “Jazzercise” into the parks through Jazzercise, Atlantic. “Hopefully this summer we’ll be able to roll [that] out,” and maybe hold the class three or four times over the Summer.  Rasmussen said they’re looking to have the cost of most Summer Programs the same as last year, except for Slow Pitch softball. There is also the possibility of Co-Ed slow pitch, since it wasn’t available last year. The final decision on SP will come later this Spring. Swim Team, Tennis and Pickle-ball would all be the same, and some events will be free.

In other news, the Campground Kiosk at the Schildberg Rec Area has been updated to include the requirement that campers have evidence of having paying for your spot. That must be with you at all times, whether that’s in the window of your camper, or whether Parks Staff knock on the door and ask for proof of payment. Rasmussen said they’re trying to eliminate “The go-between that we get into, running back to City Hall,” to see if a person had actually paid and then running back to see if the camper has evidence for it if they haven’t paid for their spot. Rasmussen said the Campground Hosts are in-place. They will help to make sure spaces are being used by PAID campers.

Rasmussen said there are some questions that have been raised with regard to parking at the Little League/Soccer Complex (across from KJAN), which the City rents from AMU. The question, he said, boils down to “How that area is used. The issues right now is, during Little League days, they don’t have enough parking, so they are wanting to have overflow parking go onto the soccer fields.” He said the Soccer Association obviously doesn’t want that to happen, “Because they’re wanting to make sure their fields aren’t getting torn-up.”

Parks Board member Ashley Hayes said the problem is that people aren’t parking smartly out there. “You should be able to get four rows of parking on the west side, and two rows of parking on the east side.” There really hadn’t been an issue with parking until Soccer began to grow in popularity over the past five-years, the Board said. The complex is owned by AMU (Atlantic Municipal Utilities). Rasmussen will try and coordinate a meeting between the respective parties and AMU, to come to some sort of compromise on the matter of parking.

The Parks and Rec Board voted to return to City Hall for their regular monthly meetings, beginning May 17th at 5:15-p.m. Up until now, their meetings had been held electronically, due to concerns over COVID. Increased vaccinations and a reduction in Cass County cases prompted the decision to return to in-person meetings for the foreseeable future.

Central Iowa man sentenced to prison on child pornography charge

News

April 19th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A Central Iowa man will spend 12 years in prison for receiving child pornography. Court information shows the F-B-I got a tip in December of 2017 that 33-year-old Joseph Cerwick of Urbandale received pornography from the internet.

The F-B-I executed a search warrant and found hundreds of images of child pornography and a video of child pornography. Cerwick was ordered to pay nine-thousand dollars in restitution along with his 144-month prison sentence.

Bluffs woman received 4-year sentence for Meth offense

News

April 19th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

A Council Bluffs woman was sentenced Monday (April 19) in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, to serve slightly more than 4-years in prison for Possession with the Intent to Distribute/Methamphetamine. As part of her 50-month sentence, 21-year-old Destiny Marsh was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow her prison term and pay a $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund. There is no parole in the federal system.

On March 3, 2020, Marsh was found unresponsive in her motel room at the Deluxe Inn in Council Bluffs. The Council Buffs Fire Department was dispatched to the scene and upon arrival saw a large bag containing approximately 800 grams of methamphetamine and cash next to Marsh. She pleaded guilty to the offense on November 6, 2020.

The investigation was conducted by the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force and the Council Bluffs Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

UPDATE: Freeze Warning replaces Freeze Watch for much of southwest Iowa Tue-Wed.

News, Weather

April 19th, 2021 by Ric Hanson

Area Counties: Dallas-Cass-Adair-Madison-Adams-Union-Taylor-Ringgold  (256 PM CDT Mon Apr 19 2021)

…FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 12 AM until 9 AM TUESDAY…
…FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 12AM Wednesday until 9 AM WEDNESDAY

Area Counties: Pottawattamie-Mills-Montgomery-Fremont-Page:

…FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM MONDAY until 9 AM TUESDAY…
…FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TUESDAY TO 9 AM WEDNESDAY…

* WHAT…For the first Freeze Warning, sub-freezing temperatures as low as the upper 20s expected. For the second Freeze Warning,sub-freezing temperatures as low as middle to upper 20s  expected.

* IMPACTS…Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above- ground pipes to protect them from freezing.