COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – March 26, 2024 – If you are driving on U.S. 59 one mile south of Avoca in the coming weeks you need to be aware of a lane closure that may impact your trip.

Crews will begin replacing the other half of the bridge on U.S. 59 beginning on Monday, April 1, weather permitting. The roadway will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot lane width restriction. Trucks with wide loads traveling north of the work zone will be directed to use Iowa 83 and trucks with wide loads traveling south of the work zone will be directed to use U.S. 6.

You will be directed across the bridge with temporary signal lights.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Personnel and Finance Committee is slated to meet 3:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall, to discuss a couple of matters. The first is with regard to applicants for the position of City Clerk. Former City Clerk Barb Barrick has resigned and accepted a position in Huxley. The City Council last week, appointed Rich Tupper as Interim City Clerk until a permanent replacement is found.

The Committee will also discuss and make a recommendation to the full City Council during their next meeting, with regard to contract services with the City of Marne.

The meeting takes place in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall, in Atlantic.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say no injuries were reported following a collision at around 12:35-p.m. today (Tuesday), at the intersection of Elm and Summit Streets. According to the report, a 2012 Chrysler Town & Country van driven by 20-year-old Destani Rose Richardson, of Creston, was traveling east on Summit Street, and was approaching Elm Street.

North-and south-bound traffic on Elm does not have a stop sign. Police say Richardson failed to yield the right-of-way to a northbound 2012 Infiniti QX56 SUV, driven by 29-year-old Jenna Leigh Crago, of Creston. Richardson told police she didn’t see the SUV. Crago told authorities she saw the van approach the stop sign and thought it was going to stop, but the van entered the intersection and struck the SUV on the left rear side tire.

The van sustained minor damage ($2,500), and the SUV sustained disabling damage (estimated at $5,000). Creston Police cited Richardson for Failure To Yield.

(Radio Iowa) – A state panel has rejected challenges that sought to disqualify two candidates for a northwest Iowa House seat from the June Primary.

The Republican from Onawa who’s currently serving in Iowa House District 13 is not seeking reelection. Republicans Noah Wieseler of Sioux City and Travis Sitzmann of Le Mars are running for the seat in the June Primary. The secretary of state’s office received challenges alleging neither candidate was qualified to run because they don’t live in the district.

The State Objection Panel rejected those claims and cited both the Iowa Constitutions and state law. Both say a candidate only has to live in the legislative district they intend to represent for 60 days before November’s General Election.

“While the law says you’ve only got to be in the district 60 days before the General Election, a lot of folks aren’t aware of that and assume as soon as you declare, you’ve got to be there, so it’s not an uncommon objection,” said State Auditor Rob Sand, a member of the State Objection Panel.

State Objection Panel members, left to right: Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, State Auditor Rob Sand, Secretary of State Paul Pate (RI photo)

Candidates for the Iowa legislature do have to be Iowa residents for at least a year before the General Election, but only have to live in the district they’re running in for 60 days before he November election. Iowa candidates the U-S House of Representatives have to be Iowa residents, but do NOT have to live in the congressional district they seek to represent.

(Radio Iowa) – With the college basketball tournament underway and enormous jackpots in the Powerball and Mega Millions games, temptations abound for Iowans to dip their toes in the gambling pool, though some will have trouble staying afloat if they jump in.

Andrew Gerodias, outpatient supervisor for the Rosecrance Jackson Center in Sioux City, says gambling can be a fun pastime, but for certain people, it can be highly addictive and lead to serious problems.

Andrew Gerodias (Rosecrance photo)

“It usually starts off small and then grows bigger,” Gerodias says. “The way that it usually starts is sort of those very innocent brackets, like we’re doing right now, fantasy football leagues, you know, just throwing in 20 bucks here and there.”

Playing a two-dollar lottery game may not seem like a particularly risky financial expenditure, but Gerodias says gambling can be a very strong lure for those who may be more prone to addiction.

“There are a lot of people who are struggling when it comes down to finances, and even a smaller win provides that level of relief,” he says. “That ends up becoming a positive reinforcement for, ‘This is possibly the way that I can get out of these troubles,’ and so more time, more energy and attention is spent trying to get that win.”

If a person’s had a win, they’ll focus on the fact that they have a chance for a big payout, despite astronomical odds, even if they’ve also had multiple, expensive losses.

“There’s always that risk. The question is, is the risk worth the reward?” Gerodias says. “Sometimes, you have individuals who are using rent money, food money, things like that, to try to get that extra windfall boost.”

Not everyone who gambles will develop an addiction, Gerodias says, and people with a good understanding of their finances, who take care of their bills, are unlikely to fall into a trap. However, for those who spend a lot of time and money gambling, quitting is more than just avoiding different forms of gambling — it requires effort.

Rosecrance is Iowa’s largest addiction treatment provider. Gerodias says they help more than 7,000 teens and adults each year at outpatient treatment clinics in Sioux City, Cherokee, Davenport, Le Mars, Spencer and Sheldon.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate has given final approval to a bill that makes changes in Iowa’s Area Education Agencies, raises teacher pay and increases general state education spending. Governor Reynolds says she’ll sign the package into law.

The starting salary for teachers will rise to $50,000 within two years. There are raises for paraeducators along with a 2.5% increase in the state’s per pupil spending for public school students as well as the thousands of private school students who’ll get state-funded Education Savings Accounts this fall.

Republican Senator Lynn Evans, a retired superintendent from Aurelia, added up all
additional spending in the bill. “So when you look at this in its totality: $180 million,” Evans said. “That is a commitment.”

Governor Reynolds proposed an major overhaul of AEAs in January. The legislature’s plan does not go as far as the governor’s, but does shift AEA oversight to the Iowa Department of Education. Schools eventually will have the authority to spend funding for special education, teacher prep and other AEA services outside of the AEA system.

Senator Cherielynn Westrich, a Republican from Ottumwa, said the bill provides needed transparency and accountability for the AEAs. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t stand and say: ‘I did campaign on this subject,’” Westrich said. “…I believe what we’re doing here today is what I had hoped to accomplish and set out to do.”

A dozen Republicans joined Democrats in the Iowa House and Senate to vote against the package because of the AEA changes. Republican
Senator Charlie McClintock of Alburnette said he’d been holding out hope there might be enough votes to block it. “The very idea of dismantling and defunding the Area Education Agencies has upset and offended the people of Iowa to a whole other level,” said McClintoch, who called the bill universally unpopular.

Senator Molly Donahue, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, is a special education teacher. “This is worse for our kids, it’s worse for our school districts,” Donahue says, “and it’s really going to hurt a lot of your rural districts.”

Under the bill, 43% of Iowa school districts will get less state support for the next academic year because enrollment is shrinking in those districts.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has been called in to investigate after a man was shot to death by a Waterloo police officer.

The D-C-I says officers were called to the Victory Motors car dealership Monday afternoon on the report that 41-year-old John Piazza put a gun to an employee’s face and fired at the property. Employees told police that Piazza, who lived nearby, left and said he was returning with a rifle. Officers arrived at Piazza’s home and say he pointed a rifle out of a window at officers.

One of the officers fired at Piazza and they entered the home and found him dead inside.

Atlantic, IA – The April session of Healthy U will focus on common foot problems and diabetic foot care, presented by Dr. Michael Egertsen. The session will be on Thursday, April 18 at noon in Conference Room 2.

A native of Laurens, Iowa, Dr. Egertsen graduated from the University of Iowa and the Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery. He completed his residency with the Department of Veterans Affairs — Maryland Health Care System. Before arriving at Cass Health Dr. Egertsen worked for the Washington DC VA Medical Center providing foot and ankle surgery, advanced wound care, limb salvage, sports medicine, and more.

Dr. Egertsen is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, a board-certified Diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, an Associate of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and board-qualified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Dr. Egertsen

Space is limited! A free boxed lunch is provided for all attendees, so reservations are required. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat. For more information about Healthy U, visit casshealth.org/healthyu.