(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports there were four accidents last week, one of which resulted in injuries. That accident happened at around 10:20-a.m. March 18th, in the 3100 block of Highway 25. Authorities say a 2014 Chevy Cruze driven by 18-year-old Conner Douglas Mumford, of Adair, was traveling northbound when the vehicle veered off the road to the right. Mumford over-corrected, causing the car to nose-dive into the ditch/embankment.

Mumford showed no signs of impairment or intoxication, according to the report. He was transported by EMS to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. The car sustained $15,000 damage, and was a total loss. Mumford was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

About two-hours later, a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 51-year-old Tammy Rae Wise, of Guthrie Center, was struck by a 2010 Ford Edge SUV, driven by 69-year-old Patricia Lynn McFarland, of Guthrie Center. The accident happened at the intersection of State and 5th Streets, in Guthrie Center. Authorities say When McFarland failed to yield from the stop sign, her SUV struck the Jeep on the passenger side, causing a total of $3,500 damage. No injuries were reported. No citations were issued.

On March 17th, a 2019 Volvo semi tractor-trailer driven by 44-year-old Nicholas Doe, of Des Moines, was traveling westbound on Highway 141 just east of Bagley, when Doe fell asleep at the wheel. The semi  began travel onto the left shoulder. Doe over-corrected, causing the rig to come to rest in the south ditch, where it flipped onto its passenger side. Doe refused medical treatment, but decided to get checked out once his family arrived to pick him up. The semi sustained $20,000 damage. No citations were issued.

And, on March 21st at around 9-p.m., 31-year-old Levertis Norwood, Jr., of Fort Dodge, was driving a 2017 BMW SUV northbound on Justice Road at 215th Street, when he fell asleep at the wheel. The vehicle entered the west ditch and struck an embankment, causing the SUV to roll over. Norwood wasn’t hurt. The vehicle sustained $20,000 damage and was declared a total loss. Norwood was cited for Failure to Maintain Control

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Auditor’s Office has released the list of names of those candidates who have filed their nomination papers to run for the various Adair County offices in the June Primary Election. (I=Incumbent)

Supervisor

District 1 –
Democrat – None Filed
Libertarian – None Filed
Republican – Matt Wedemeyer (I)

District 3 –
Democrat – None Filed
Libertarian – None Filed
Republican – Jerry Walker (I)

District 5 –

Democrat – None Filed
Libertarian – None Filed
Republican – Michael Christofferson

Sheriff –

Democrat – None Filed
Libertarian – None Filed
Republican – Jeffrey L. Vandewater (I)

Auditor
Democrat – None Filed
Libertarian – None Filed
Republican – Mandy Berg (I)

Recorder (To Fill Vacancy) –
Democrat – None Filed
Libertarian – None Filed
Republican – Kelly Mitchell

The Primary Election will be Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Voter pre-registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. Monday, May 20, 2024.
Pre-registered voters are required to provide an approved form of identification at the polling place before receiving and
casting a regular ballot. Voters who are not pre-registered – such as voters registering to vote on election day – and
voters changing precincts must also provide proof of residence.

A voter who is unable to provide an approved form of identification (or prove residence if required) 1) may have the voter’s identity/residence attested to by another registered voter in the precinct, 2) prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents, or 3) cast a provisional ballot and provide proof of identity/residence at the Auditor’s Office by 12:00 p.m. (noon), June 10, 2024.

Election Day Registrant attesters must provide an approved form of identification. For additional information about
providing proof of identity and/or residence visit: https://sos.iowa.gov/voterid or phone (641) 743-2546. Voters may
request an absentee ballot from the Auditor’s Office.

Voters may vote in the office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning May 15, 2024 and Saturday, June 1, 2024 or they may request a ballot be mailed to them. The deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed is 5:00 p.m. Monday, May 20, 2024. The last day to vote absentee in the Auditor’s Office is Monday, June 3, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Polls will open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day June 4, 2024.

RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Keg Creek Brewing of Mills County. Throughout this Congress, Ranking Member Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.

“I am proud to recognize the team at Keg Creek Brewing for creating a place where folks can ‘hop off the mainstream’ and enjoy award-winning craft beer in rural Iowa,” said Ranking Member Ernst. “The Keg Creek Brewing team’s hard work and dedication stands out and has helped them rise from a hobbyists’ home brewers club to a community hub with nationally recognized beers.”

Founded by friends Randy Romens, John Bueltel, Art Renz, and Grant Hebel in 2011 after homebrewing beers in their garages and basements, Keg Creek Brewing has grown into a thriving regional craft brewery with an avid following. Matt Kirsch joined the team in 2015 and became the primary owner while increasing distribution to new markets. Over the years, Keg Creek Brewing has maintained its Glenwood roots. The patio at their 15-barrel facility is a summer favorite, hosting live music, sports, and trivia.

Keg Creek Brewery is actively involved in the Glenwood community, hosting fundraising events for Relay for Life, the Mills County K9 Unit, and local libraries. Their taproom offers 20 taps with a rotating selection of award-winning beers. This year, the City of Glenwood will serve as the starting point of the RAGBRAI route, where riders and guests will have the opportunity to visit Keg Creek Brewery and enjoy a glass of their favorite beer.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – A Burn Ban that had been in-place for Guthrie County since February 24th, was lifted, effective 10-a.m. today (Monday, March 25).  Rescinding the Burn Ban came at the request of Jeremy Cooper, representing each fire department having all or part of their fire districts within Guthrie County, and was approved by Dan Wood with the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The only burn ban in effect for an area county, was in Harrison County, where the ban (which was implemented Sept. 29, 2023) remains in effect until further notice.

(Radio Iowa) – State officials may get rid of a limit for how long a student who’s being home schooled, but monitored by a licensed teacher, may also attend classes in a public school district. It’s called “dual enrollment” under “competent private instruction.” Current state rules say those students may attend their local public district for 75 percent of the school day. Iowa Department of Education legal counsel Thomas Mayes says comments made at a public hearing have persuaded the agency to at least think about changes.

“It was an individual family talking about their individual situation,” Mayes said. “…Because they are doing competent private instruction, they are subject to the 75% cap. A family that does independent private instruction is subject to no cap at all and the comment was made: ‘Why does a family that is going through and has some ties to the school district have less access than a family that is, air quotes, ‘off the grid?'”

Home schooling parents in Iowa have the option of being independent, with no oversight by licensed educators. Home school parents who do meet with a licensed teacher regularly and dual enroll their child in a public school are also asking for access to teacher’s guides. Under current rules, they are entitled to the same textbooks being used in public school classes. Mayes says there are concerns about test security and licensing agreements with publishers.

“We would like to accommodate as much as possible, but still understand that school districts when they adopt textbooks they have responsibilities to the publisher they must follow,” Mayes says. “They own the physical copy of the book, but they do not own the intellectual property.”

According to Mayes, agency staff considering these issues have the power to make changes through the state’s administrative rules process.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests took place last week. On March 17th, an Iowa State Patrol Trooper arrested 32-year-old Carlie Rae Wright, of Clive, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Wright was taken into custody following a traffic stop for speeding on Interstate 80 near mile marker 91, at around 4-p.m., March 17th.

While speaking with Wright, the Trooper noticed an odor of marijuana coming from the 2005 Ford Taurus Wright was driving. The woman admitted during questioning, that marijuana was in a red pouch on the passenger side floor board. Inside, was a jar about half full of a substance that looked and smelled like marijuana. A lighter and metal pipe used for smoking marijuana was inside the pouch, along with a grinder. Wright was transported to the Adair County Jail and released a couple of hours later on a $1,300 cash or surety bond.

And, at around 12:50-a.m. on March 20th, Stuart Police arrested 41-year-old Antonio Cartez Evans, of Ames, following a traffic stop on a 2005 Ford Taurus that was reported to have been “all over the road on Interstate 80, and unable to maintain highway speeds. The Stuart Police Officer located the car, and after seeing the vehicle cross the fog and center line’s of the road multiple times, initiated a traffic stop. Upon further investigation, Evans was arrested for PCS/Marijuana – 1st offense, and OWI/1st offense.

Evans was released from the Adair County Jail the following day on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Spring is in the air, and plans are underway for gardening projects in Cass County. Local groups planning community gardening, beautification or education programs will again be eligible for assistance from the Cass County Master Gardeners. The group is offering grant money to be used in the 2024 growing season, to encourage gardening to grow food for donation, for gardening education, and/or for gardening projects to improve local communities. The Cass County Master Gardener Memorial Grants are offered in remembrance of the many years of service to the community provided by long-time Master Gardener volunteers who have passed. Funds are raised by Master Gardeners at events like their spring plant sale, set for May 11, and summer events such as a bus trip and garden walk.

Any Cass County not-for-profit group may apply. Schools, churches, libraries, 4-H clubs, Scouts, or other organizations/individuals working to improving their communities can apply for money to begin or improve gardens or landscaping for community benefit, or to provide education for their members or the public. To ensure the money is helping a wide variety of community organizations, those who were funded by 2023 grants will not be eligible to apply in 2024. Each grant has a maximum value of $300. Applications must include plans for teamwork and sustainability. All grant recipients will be expected to submit a report at the end of the growing season, detailing how the money was spent. Recipients will also be given a sign to place in their garden area for the 2024 growing season.

Applications must be received by 4:30 PM on Monday April 22 for guaranteed consideration. They may be submitted by mail or email. Grant recipients will be informed of their application status no later than Monday, May 8 so they can make plans for the growing season. For more information, or with questions, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or email  keolson@iastate.edu. Application forms can be printed from the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. You can also call or email the office to request a form be mailed or emailed to you, or stop by 805 West 10^th Street in Atlantic to pick one up.

The Master Gardener program trains volunteers to develop their knowledge and skills in horticulture. These volunteers then give back to their communities through gardening service and education. The program is available in all 50 states and Canada through land grant university Extension programs such as Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. For more information on the program, contact Cass County Extension Director Kate Olson, at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu. You can also follow the Cass County Master Gardeners on Facebook (@CassCoMG) for gardening tips and information on upcoming events!

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Gas prices are up in Iowa. The latest survey from AAA, shows the price of regular unleaded gasoline rose 15 cents this past week, to an average of $3.33 in Iowa (as of March 25th). That’s up 15 cents from a year ago. The national average on Monday (March 25th) was $3.52, up 11 cents from last week’s price.
Retail diesel prices in Iowa rose 1 cent this past week, with a statewide average of $3.79. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.87 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel price is 26 cents lower than the national average of $4.04.

Propane prices averaged $1.59 per gallon statewide. Home heating oil prices averaged $3.20 per gallon statewide. Natural gas prices rose 2 cents at $1.70.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood, Saturday, arrested a man for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. 20-year-old Seth Houser, of Glenwood, pled guilty to the charges, and was released.

And, 21-year-old Austin Jepsen, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday, for OWI/1st offense. He posted bond, and was released.