(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who spend a lot of time on social media likely know someone who’s been put in “Facebook Jail” for posting something administrators deemed inappropriate, but most wouldn’t think Senator Chuck Grassley would be part of that club. The Republican says his Grassley Works campaign shared a Fox News article on its Facebook page about the investigation into the 2016 presidential campaign last week and it was censored as “false information.” Grassley says, “It’s an example of censorship that a lot of Iowans face or a lot of Americans face, from censorship of political speech, censorship of medical information, censorship of just investigations, and mine is an example of that.”

Grassley says the article referenced federal court filings and analysis from a former congressional investigator in regards to allegations of Russian collusion. Grassley says it shouldn’t have been considered “fake news” by Facebook. “We just think that censorship is wrong,” Grassley says, “and we presented enough facts that the public should be notified about it and that the designation that Facebook gave to it was unreasonable.”

Grassley says censorship in social media isn’t new, and in a written statement said: “…the rules used to only pertain to obscene or threatening material. Now, woke Big Tech monopolists are censoring news that undermines their preferred worldview and preference for Democrat political candidates.” Grassley says the “Silicon Valley liberals” should not be allowed “to silence conservatives and decide what topics we are allowed to discuss.”

(Radio Iowa) – The House has voted to increase state incentives for school districts that share operational staff, like superintendents. Districts that share human resource managers, custodians and social workers qualify for state incentives, but a dozen districts had exceeded the maximum number of shared staff. The bill adjusts the formula, so those schools will see larger state incentive payments. Representative Cecil Dolecheck, of Mount Ayr, is the bill’s floor manager. “There are 124 of our small school districts in the state of Iowa who share a superintendent,” Dolecheck, “so this is much needed for those school districts that rely on that shared operational function.”

The bill also lets small schools enter into sharing arrangements with an Area Education Agency, so an A-E-A staff member could also serve as the special education director for a small district.

(Loveland, Iowa) – Four people, including a Trooper with the Iowa State Patrol were injured during a collision that happened at around 1:05-a.m. today (Tuesday), in Pottawattamie County.
State Trooper Adrian Long, from Denison, was assisting at the scene of a previous accident when his Dodge Charger Patrol Cruiser with its emergency lights on was struck while sitting on the shoulder of Interstate 29 southbound near Loveland. .

The accident happened when a southbound Honda Civic driven by 29-year-old Elizabeth Braun, of Omaha, went out of control on the ice covered road as she approached the Trooper’s vehicle. Her car struck a cable barrier. A Ford Fusion SUV driven by 27-year-old Cha’Ron Thompson, of Omaha, was approaching the Honda, which was partially on the road, when the vehicle went out of control and struck the rear of the Honda. It then spun across both lanes of traffic and hit the Cruiser, which came to rest in the west ditch.

Trooper Long, Thompson and Braun were injured in the crash, along with a passenger in the SUV, 21-year-old Dallas Thompson. Cha’Ron and Dallas Thompson, along with Elizabeth Braun, were transported by ambulance to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha. The Patrol says Trooper Long’s injuries were minor. Cha’Ron Thompson suffered minor  injuries, but Dallas Thompson suffered life-threatening injuries.

The three motorists were wearing their seat belts. Trooper Long was transported by law enforcement personnel to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. The accident remains under investigation.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Republican Iowa Senator Charles Grassley will be in Atlantic this coming Wednesday, Feb. 23rd. Grassley will tour Henningsen Construction and answer employee questions. The event is open to the employees and members of the media, but is not open to the public.

Grassley is also set to hold a Town Hall-style meeting in Audubon, Wednesday.  The events takes place as part of the Audubon County Economic Development Corporation’s meeting.

(Radio Iowa) – Freezing rain, snow and sleet are making for a challenging day for Iowa drivers — and walkers. Forecasters say it’ll only get colder, with highs tomorrow (Wednesday) in single digits and teens, and more snow likely on Thursday. Meteorologist Alex Krull, at the National Weather Service, says this morning’s wintry mix should end by midday for west-central and southwestern Iowa. “Areas in east-central Iowa and northeastern Iowa will a little bit longer before conditions start to improve,” Krull says. “That won’t likely be until later in the afternoon as we have some more freezing drizzle that’s going to start moving off towards the east. In terms of far northern Iowa, we’re expecting snowfall accumulations of anywhere between two to three inches.”

While parts of Iowa saw unseasonably warm temperatures Monday with highs near 60 degrees, Krull says the state will only be seeing highs in the single digits and teens tomorrow. “For the next couple of days, temperatures will be very cold, especially in northwestern Iowa,” Krull says. “We do anticipate the need to have wind chill headlines at least a wind chill advisory for northern and northwestern portions of Iowa, likely for Wednesday morning and perhaps again on Thursday morning, and there is the potential for more snow to occur across most of Iowa on Thursday.”

For Iowans who are looking forward to the spring thaw, any snow that does fall this week should melt soon. “Next week, we’re looking for a weather pattern change across most of the Midwest that should help to bring in warmer temperatures across most of the region,” he says.

Highs back in the 40s and 50s are in the long-range forecast, starting around next Tuesday.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports two separate arrests took place Sunday. Authorities say 32-year-old Jamie Ward, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. And, 41-year-old Billy Jo Monson, of Glenwood, was arrested for driving while revoked. Bond for both men was set at $1,000 cash or surety, each.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, accepted “With regret,” the resignation of long-time County Auditor Dale Sunderman, effective April 15, 2022. The Board then acted on approving the method of finding a successor. They determined it would be best to appoint a person rather than go through the cost and tight timeline for a special election. A posting (Advertisement) for the open position will go out today (Tuesday) in the local papers for publishing in the earliest edition, the County’s website and professional websites within Iowa (such as ISAC).

Application will be accepted until 4:30-p.m. March 7^th. Interviews will be tentatively be conducted between April 9^th and 14^th. It’s anticipated a selection will then be made by April 18th. Allowing for time to whomever the Board selects to give a two-weeks notice to their employer, Board Chair Steve Baier said it’s hoped to have someone on-board by April 1^st, training with Sunderman until his last day in office.

In his report to the Board, Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken said his crews were out early trying to keep the roads safe after the freezing drizzle/mist fell. A snow squall that came across not long afterward didn’t help their efforts, but things began to get a little better by mid-morning, Tuesday.

As far as other Secondary Roads activities are concerned…

He said prices on concrete box culverts keep going up. They were up 43% last year alone.

Prices for pipe are also up this year. Wolken said they’ve finished-up their five-year program, and will have a report ready in March. In the mean time, crews continue clearing brush and ditches, as necessary. In other business, the Board tabled action on appointing a Brighton and Massena Township Trustee, for lack of candidates. (Read the official “Notice of Intent to fill the vacancy in the Office of Cass County Auditor by Appointment,” below…)

“Pursuant to Iowa Code, the Cass County Board of Supervisors intends to make an appointment to fill the vacancy in the office of Cass County Auditor at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, April 18, 2022, in the Board of Supervisors meeting room at the Cass County Courthouse in Atlantic, Iowa. The person appointed will conduct the duties of that position until the seat appears on the General Election ballot in November 2022 or earlier if a Special Election is ordered. Persons interested in the appointment must submit a letter of interest and a resume no later than March 8, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. Requirements must be sent to the Cass County Auditor’s Office, 5 W 7^th Street, Atlantic, Iowa, 50022. They can be mailed, hand-delivered or put in the drop box located at the Courthouse.

Notice is further given that the electors of Cass County have the right to file a petition in accordance with Code of Iowa 69.14A requesting a Special Election. Said petition shall be filed with the County Auditor within 14 days after the vacancy is filled by appointment. The petition shall meet the requirements of Code of Iowa 331.306, which, in part, states the petition must be signed by a number equal or greater than at least 10 percent of the votes cast in the County for the office of President at the proceeding General Election which equals to 734 signatures.”

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak Police say a former Red Oak Schools para-educator was arrested Monday evening, for Felony 3rd Degree Sexual Abuse. 33-year-old Angela Marie Kruze, of Red Oak, was taken into custody following an investigation into a report received February 15th, from the Department of Human Services. The DHS alleges Kruze had sexual relations with a juvenile.

Angela Marie Kruze

She was later released from the Montgomery County Jail after posting $10,000 bond.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report two arrests over the past few days. On Friday (Feb. 18). 41-year-old Justin Alan Robertson, of Greenfield, was arrested at a residence in the 200 block of N. Birch Street, in Creston. He was charged with Violation of a no contact order. Robertson was taken to the Union Co Jail and later released on his own recognize after seeing the Magistrate.

And, late Sunday night, 70-year-old Timothy Lynn Siefkas, of Creston, was arrested at a residence in the 200 block of S. Lincoln Street, in Creston. Siefkas was charged with OWI 1st and Interference with Official Acts. He was transported to the Union Co Jail and held on $1,300 cash or surety bond.