(Radio Iowa) – Former President Jimmy Carter is now in home hospice care, and his long years of dedicated work with a non-profit are being fondly remembered by the program’s Iowa leader. Lisa Houser is the executive director of Habitat for Humanity in Iowa and she says the 98-year-old was instrumental in helping the program succeed in building homes for families in need of affordable housing.

“President Carter and Mrs. Carter are some of our most famous volunteers with Habitat,” Houser says, “and they have an annual Carter Work Project every year and they’ve actually been doing that since 1984.” Houser says she had the pleasure to work on a home site with the Carters several years back. Habitat was founded in the 1970s but Houser says it didn’t really take off until the Carters got involved.

“They actually first volunteered on a house project near their home in Plains, Georgia, and then later that year, they went to New York City and volunteered on renovating an abandoned building,” Houser says, “from there, they fell in love with Habitat like so many of us do.” She says the Carters continued to be active with Habitat right up until the pandemic in 2020. Houser says Iowa’s Habitat program is thriving.

“Here in Iowa, we have 22 local Habitat affiliates that serve about 48 of the counties,” she says. “Last year, we worked with right about 550 families and that is through building new homes and selling homes with an affordable mortgage.” Habitat also works with existing homeowners who need help with repairs. Learn more at: iowahabitat.org.

(Radio Iowa) – Democrats in the Iowa House are proposing a framework for state licensed businesses that could sell marijuana to customers over the age of 21.

Referendums would determine if a marijuana business could be established in a county. A 10% state tax would be collected on the sale of marijuana products. “The revenue generated will go to Iowa schools, it will go to local mental health services, it will go to local public safety,” Representative Lindsay James, a Democrat from Dubuque, said during a news conference this afternoon5. “I will say this: in 2021 alone Colorado’s marijuana industry generated $423 million in tax revenue.”

James said marijuana businesses in Illinois are collecting taxes from Iowans who’re crossing the border to buy cannabis. House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights said it’s time to regulate a product some Iowans already use.

House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst. (RI photo)

“Legalizing marijuana for adult use keeps Iowans safe, stops our tax dollars from going to neighboring states, improves the quality of life for Iowans who are suffering from chronic illnesses,” Konfrst said, “and it stops us from wasting state resources to unfairly punish Iowans.”

Non-violent, low level marijauna possession convictions would be erased from a person’s record after two years under the proposal from House Democrats. Republicans are in the majority in the legislature and GOP leaders have said they have no interest in legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

(Radio Iowa) – It’s a farmer versus farmer debate over proposed rules for developers planning to build three carbon pipelines through Iowa. Under a bill that’s cleared a House subcommittee, landowners along 90 percent of a pipeline’s route would have to grant voluntary access before developers could get state officials’ permission to seize the rest of the land. Kevin Kuhle, a lobbyist for the Iowa Farm Bureau, says the organization backs the bill. “We believe that infrastructure projects and property rights can coexist,” Kuhle says. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association opposes the bill, arguing it would kill the pipeline projects intended to make ethanol carbon neutral. Devon Mogler represents Green Plains, which operates ethanol plants in Shenandoah and Superior.

“Our downstream customers that we reduce carbon intensity and now there are federal incentives in place that can not only benefit us, but farmers as well.” Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison is the bill’s lead sponsor. “I have no problem with the pipeline. I do have a problem with the blunt force of government being used to seize other people’s land for this project,” Holt says. “That is my concern. That is the reason we wrote this legislation.” Jake Ketzner, a lobbyist for Summit Carbon Solutions, says it would be devastating for Iowa if the pipelines don’t get built.

“In Iowa, over 60% of the corn produced in our state goes to ethanol production,” Ketzner said. “Can you imagine and rural Iowa or our state in general with reduced ethanol plants and 60% of the demand for corn gone?” A large group of landowners who oppose the pipelines rallied on the Iowa Capitol steps this (Tuesday) morning.  “We cover every corner of this state and we’re here to say it’s time that our elected officials work for us and stop these carbon pipelines,” she said. That’s Kim Junker. She and her husband farm near New Hartford and they’re unwilling to voluntarily let the Navigator pipeline pass through their property.

Senator Jeff Taylor, a Republican from Sioux Center, has proposed five different bills that would limit carbon pipeline development. He spoke to rally goers. “Even though my bills are stalled on the Senate side right now, the House bill would not have happened if not for you guys lighting a flame under we legislators here at the Capitol,” Taylor said, to cheers. “I know that’s true.” Three companies have proposed pipelines through the Midwest to capture carbon from ethanol plants and store the material underground in North Dakota.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. Monday afternoon, 35-year-old Myles Dustin Longcor, of Henderson, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Contempt of Court. He remains in the jail, held without bond.

Early Saturday morning, 24-year-old Gustavo Felipe Solis-Sanchez, of Bellevue, NE.,was arrested in Mills County, following a property damage accident. Solis-Sanchez was charged with OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. And, Saturday afternoon, 45-year-old Joseph Ryan Bredberg, of Malvern, was arrested in Mills County, for OWI/1st offense. His bond was also set at $1,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors held their regular weekly meeting this (Tuesday) morning, in Atlantic. The Board approved a Class B retail alcohol license for the Griswold Dollar General Store, and they approved an adjustment to the status of Secondary Roads Department employee James Stokely, from “Probationary,” to regular full-time employee, for the Operator 1 position. Stokley’s promotion is effective March 1, 2023.

In other business, the Board received a regular weekly report from County Engineer Trent Wolken. He mentioned like most of the other County Department Heads, he’s been busy working on his budget, and he has interviews scheduled this for an Equipment Operator 1 position. Wolken said also, there are problem spots crews are trying to hit with spot road rock until they can a better layer down.

He said also he’s working with Mid-American Energy to close out the Wind Mill repower project, which he calls “A process,” including a couple of other meetings, with regard to road & bridge damage.

HCA’s John Thomas addresses the Cass County BOS

The Supervisors also heard from Hungry Canyons Alliance representative John Thomas, whose office is in the Golden Hills R C & D building, in Oakland. The Alliance represents 19 counties in southwest Iowa. Thomas said Cass and other alliance members pay a fee of $5,000 per year. He discussed efforts to control stream bed degradation.

He says on the downstream side of the bridges, HCA cost-shares on building those projects known as “weirs.

They also build culverts and other structures to control erosion and bank degradation. EWP (Emergency Watershed Protection) and HCA combined to complete 67 projects in 2020 and 2021, he said. The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, a federal emergency recovery program, helps local communities recover after a natural disaster strikes.

In Cass County, there were three recent projects, including one each along Turkey Creek and the West Nodaway River.

(Radio Iowa) – A Marion man who has been missing for more than a month has been found dead. Information from Marion police says the body of 81-year-old Ted Wolf was found by a person walking their dog in rural Linn County. Police say Wolf’s body and his car were located a significant distance from the roadway and obscured in some trees, and there were no signs of foul play. Wolf had last been seen on January 16th around 12:30 p-m and it is believed he was headed to Lisbon for an appointment.

Police had released photos from surveillance video of him stopping at a gas station in Walford on that day.

(Griswold, Iowa) – Members of the Griswold School Board, Monday evening, acted to approve two new hires, a transfer, and one resignation. That’s according to District Superintendent Dave Henrichs.

Henrichs said also the Board spent a lot of time discussing benefits for non-certified staff retirement benefits, but took no action. The story was different, however, when it came to two other staff members.

As a part of that Resolution, Hendrichs says, the Griswold School Board decided there will be no more early retirement packages for non-certified staff members until policy revisions can be made. The Board had deactivated the early retirement policy for certified staff, last Fall. The Board considered, but then took not action on Track maintenance bids due to having received only one bid.

They approved a bid from Bob’s Mowing for Chemical Application and Mowing. The Griswold School Board accepted the FY 22 Audit Report, which notes the need to improve segregation of duties, as auditors often note with school districts and small cities.

The Board held continued discussion with regard to Girl’s Wrestling, which is being evaluated, and a four-day school week. He said with regard to the four-day week, District Administrators will be in contact with other Districts to see why they took that route, what’s working for them and not working,

The Griswold School Board concluded their meeting with an Exempt Meeting for the purpose of a collective bargaining strategy session.

(Radio Iowa) – After unseasonable warmth on Monday in the low 50s, forecasters say light snow is likely later today (Tuesday) in northern Iowa, the first part of a two-part winter wallop. Meteorologist Cory Martin, at the National Weather Service, says this first round won’t cause much trouble, but the second round promises to be a doozy. “We’re only expecting maybe some really light snow near the Minnesota border today into tonight,” Martin says. “Possible minor travel impacts, but really we’re not expecting that to have a whole lot of bite to it. Most of the attention is on a much more significant system that’ll be crossing through Wednesday and into Thursday.” Winter weather advisories and warnings are posted for much Iowa’s northern half for Wednesday and Thursday, while a Blizzard Warning is in effect for Lyon and Osceola counties. Martin says a fast-moving system will arrive tomorrow.

“We’re looking at precipitation overspreading much of the state beginning Wednesday morning and into the afternoon,” he says. “Varying temperatures are going to lead to a whole mixed bag of precip types from north to south across the state. We’re looking at highest probabilities for snow, potentially quite heavy near the Minnesota border where they could see possibly up to 10 inches.” The forecast for the Estherville area calls for nine to 13 inches of snow, though it could taper off to just rain in southern Iowa, while central Iowa may be facing a combination of rain, sleet, snow and ice. Martin says the roads could be treacherous in parts of the state.

“We could see some hazardous travel conditions develop, especially going into Wednesday night,” Martin says. “If we do see any change over to snow, with how strong the winds are going to be, that’s going to blow around quite a bit. Check ahead on travel conditions and on the latest weather conditions, especially if you’re going north up into Minnesota. It looks like they get a whole heap of snow up there.” Moving forward, there is a chance of light snow for Friday, but the weekend ahead to looks to be dry for much of Iowa.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports eight arrests took place from Friday through Monday. At around 11-p.m. Friday, Officers arrested 23-year-old Bradford Guy Boyer, of Kent, on a Union County Warrant for Failure To Appear (FTA) on an original charge of Disorderly Conduct-Fighting/Violent Behavior. Boyer was also charged with Interference with Official Acts and Public Intox. He was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on $900 cash or surety bond.

Early Saturday morning, 54-year-old Shellie Joe Adams, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC), for OWI/1st offense. Adams was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond. At around 2:30-p.m., Saturday, 45-year-old Travis Quinn Wambold, of Fontanelle, was arrested in Creston on charges that include three Union County Warrants for: Harassment 1st an Aggravated Misdemeanor. Fail to Serve Jail Time. No Bond Must serve balance of sentence; FTA for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia a Simple Misdemeanor, and FTA on a Felony Theft in the 2nd Degree charge. Wambold was being held in the Union County Jail on a $5,000 cash only and $300 cash or surety bond.

At around 3:55-p.m., Saturday, 43-year-old Julio Cesar Villalpando Castro, of Creston, was arrested at Saint Malachy on a Union County Warrant for Theft in the 5th. Castro was taken to the Union County Jail where he later was released on $300 cash or surety bond.

Sunday afternoon, 23-year-old Noah Alexander Young, of Creston, was arrested at a pharmacy in the 400 block of S. Sumner Street. He was charged with Interference with Official Acts, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Marijuana 3rd or subsequent. Young was taken to the Union County Jail. He was later released on a $2,600 cash or surety bond. And, at around 10:15-p.m. Sunday, 23-year-old Sanden Kenneth Cheers, of Afton, was arrested in Creston. He was charged with OWI 1st offense. Cheers was transported to the Union County Jail and  later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Late Monday night, 21-year-old Kelli Sabrina Romero, of Diagonal, was arrested at the intersection of Cherry and Buckeye. Romero was charged with OWI 2nd Offense. Romero was released on $2000 cash or surety bond. And, 39-year-old Christopher Earl Baker, of Afton, was arrested at the Creston Union County LEC. Baker was charged with OWI 1st Offense. He was transported to the Union County Jail and was being held on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

(Radio Iowa) – A University of Iowa researcher is studying what he calls “boomerang employees,” those people who quit their jobs and later return to their former employers. The phenomenon is surging now as those who left careers during the so-called Great Resignation early in the pandemic are now rethinking their decisions. Chad Van Iddekinge, a U-I professor of management and entrepreneurship, says rehiring former workers is something of a safe bet. “Boomerangs are a known quantity and because of that, they’re thought to be a less risky hire than someone who’s completely new,” Van Iddekinge says. “Boomerangs also tend to require less onboarding and training than first-time hires who are completely new to a job.”

Still, U-I studies have found boomerang employees are more likely to quit a second time, often for the same reasons they left initially. “One study we did, we were looking at retail managers who returned to a former employer,” Van Iddekinge says. “We found that although rehires initially performed better than first-time hires, the first-time hires eventually began to outperform rehires after they got into the organization and trained and got accustomed to their jobs.”

Indications are that the Great Resignation is still underway and hasn’t let up since the onset of COVID-19. People who were unfulfilled in their positions quit under the “you only live once” creed to forge a new path, but he says many have found early retirement isn’t for them, or they may simply need the money. “A big one that we hear about is thinking that the grass is greener on the other side, and that moving to a different organization will be better,” Van Iddekinge says. “I think what people often find is that the grass isn’t greener and they actually had it pretty good where they were before, and that leads them to pursue returning to a former employer.”

It reinforces the importance of keeping good performance review records so employers can best assess the potential of a rehire. “We’re finding that if people were solid performers before they left, they’re likely to be solid performers again,” Van Iddekinge says. “If they were below-average before, it’s unlikely that they’ve suddenly turned a new leaf and will be a lot better this time around.”

While conventional wisdom indicates people gain experience when they leave for a new job and come back better than before, he says for most it will evoke the adage: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”