DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for Carroll County in response to Dec. 15 severe weather. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather.

In addition, the proclamation activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program, for Carroll County. The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery.

The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website at https://dhs.iowa.gov/disaster-assistance-programs. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.

The Disaster Case Management Program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. Disaster case managers work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice, and referral to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation.

For information on the Disaster Case Management Program, contact your local community action association or visit www.iowacommunityaction.org.

DES MOINES, Iowa – As the holiday travel season continues, local, state and federal agencies within the Southern District of Iowa are working together to ensure the safety of commercial airline passengers, flight crews and flight attendants.
Federal law prohibits assaults, intimidation and threats of violence that interfere with flight crews and flight attendants, as well as other enumerated criminal acts that occur during flight. Passengers who commit assaults against other passengers are also subject to federal prosecution.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland directed United States Attorneys to prioritize the prosecution of federal crimes occurring on commercial aircraft. To assist in the investigation and prosecution of in-air crimes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Justice have created an information-sharing protocol, resulting nationally in the referral of numerous incidents by the FAA to the FBI for investigation.

A statement from the Des Moines Police Department indicated that officers from the Des Moines Police Department’s Community Outreach and Protective Services Airport Section will be available throughout the holiday season to support and collaborate with federal partners to provide for the safest travel experience for all.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal said “Holiday travel should be accomplished in the same spirit as celebration of the holiday itself. We support our federal, state, city and airport security partners in assuring safety for passengers, flight crews, and flight attendants, in the air and on the ground. In assistance to these partners, and for those crimes that have singular federal jurisdiction, we are committed to hold accountable those who engage in criminal behavior during air travel.”

FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel stated, “The FBI continues to work with the FAA and other partners to combat violence aboard commercial flights and ensure the safety of all passengers. We remain committed to investigating all incidents that meet the threshold of a federal crime and fall within FBI jurisdiction.”

(West Des Moines, Iowa/KCCI) – West Des Moines Police today (Friday) announced five students will be charged in a series of threats made at Stilwell Junior High (in W. Dsm). Since Dec. 10, police have been investigating several social media and spoken threats of possible violence. According to police, two students have been charged with felony terrorism and three more have been charged with first-degree harassment.

In a West Des Moines P-D news release, authorities said “Although these threats were not carried out, the seriousness of the crimes and the disruption of the school and the learning environment were factors taken into account when criminal charges were filed. On Friday specifically, these social media threats quickly caused parents to be concerned which led to an overwhelming amount of phone calls made to the school and parents arriving at the school to remove their children. Accordingly, the School Resource Officer from the West Des Moines Police Department worked directly with staff at Stilwell to investigate these threats as quickly as possible in order to maintain order and the safety of the students and staff.”

Police said the students charged are all under the age of 18, so none of their names will be released.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Public Health released new COVID-19 data Friday. Iowa has surpassed 601,531 total positive tests since the start of the pandemic. Also on Friday, the IDPH reports 9,087 positive COVID-19 tests in the last seven days. This is up from 9,012 positive tests reported on Wednesday. The state’s 14-day positivity rate dropped from 11.3% to 11.1%.

The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Iowa decreased from 823 to 810 people. IDPH reports that of all the people hospitalized with COVID-19, 81.1% are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19. In Iowa, there have been 4,461,143 total COVID-19 vaccines administered. 69.8% of Iowans 18 and older are fully vaccinated, and 73.4% of Iowans over the age of 12 have at least one dose of the vaccine. Long-term care facilities recording COVID-19 outbreaks increased from 16 to 19.

On a related note: The Polk County Health Department announced a case of the COVID-19 omicron variant detected in Polk County, Friday. Health officials said the case occurred in a vaccinated individual over the age of 18. The individual has not received a COVID-19 booster shot. The Polk County Health Department states that “the individual has mild symptoms and has not traveled.”

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced Tuesday, December 14, in United States District Court, to 15-months in prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. According to court documents, 42-year-old Matthew Michael Loth plead guilty to the methamphetamine and firearm offenses in July of 2021.

Authorities say that on March 4, 2021, Loth was parked at a gas station and law enforcement stopped to talk to him after noticing the car did not have a front license plate. Communications advised the officers Loth had a warrant for his arrest for a violation of supervised release. A trained and certified narcotics-sniffing dog alerted and indicated to the odor of a controlled substance in Loth’s vehicle and police searched the car. A firearm with a loaded magazine and 109 grams of  methamphetamine were located.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Douglas County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Rising and volunteers could be seen out delivering food boxes on Thursday, December 16th in the evening. The organization began collecting donations and nominations in early November and completed another successful program. Atlantic Rising Social Chair, Kelsey Beschorner says “We anticipated to see a continued increase in nominations due to the sustained challenges of COVID-19. We were over-joyed to see the constant support of our community in both donations and volunteers.”

Photos submitted by Kelsey Beschorner

This year, Atlantic Rising was able to provide a holiday meal to over 165 individuals and families all throughout Cass County. The donations received from the community totaled over $5,500, which allowed each box to contain more items and each nomination to be fulfilled. Atlantic Rising also teamed up with the Cass County Creators, a local 4-H group, who helped assemble, pack, and load the vehicles with the Christmas boxes which made the process run smoothly. Beschorner said “Atlantic Rising is proud carry on and continue to grow this tradition of the Christmas Box program, and we are so thankful that we are able to partner with HyVee who makes this big project the success that it is.”

If you are interested in joining Atlantic Rising and finding out what they are involved in throughout the year, you can contact Kelsey at 712-243-3017 or kelsey@atlanticiowa.com. The membership application can also be found at www.atlanticiowa.com.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The second jury trial an Anita woman facing 1st Degree Murder and Child Endangerment resulting in Death, charges, has been continued. A hearing in the case of Iowa vs. Alison Dorsey is scheduled for March 22nd at 10-a.m., with trial set for 9:30-a.m. June 20^th , instead of the previously announced date of Jan. 31, 2022. It’s not clear if the trial will be held once again in Atlantic. A motion requesting a change of venue was filed by Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdus on Nov. 11th.

Dorsey’s first trial ending in a mistrial on Nov. 4th, after the jury deadlocked and failed to reach a verdict. The trial was in connection with the death of an infant that was in her care, in October of 2019.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a Council Bluffs man was sentenced Tuesday, December 14th, to10-years in prison for being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. According to court documents, 58-year-old Clarence L. Woolsoncroft, plead guilty to the firearm offense in August of 2021. Woolsoncroft will serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.

In April of 2021, the Council Bluffs Police Department received an anonymous telephone call reporting Woolsoncroft, who was a convicted felon, used drugs and had firearms. The caller
also reported Woolsoncroft threatened them. Council Bluffs Police Department began an investigation which led to a search warrant being served on Woolsoncroft’s residence and the
subsequent recovery of two handguns and three shotguns with a large amount of assorted ammunition. The investigation also developed Woolsoncroft regularly used methamphetamine, and an incident in which after Woolsoncroft had used methamphetamine, he pointed an unloaded handgun at a person and pulled the trigger, before telling the person the firearm was not loaded.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Council Bluffs Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives investigated the case. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Iowa.

DES MOINES – Iowa is receiving more than $24.5-million ($24,547,901) in new federal funding for its airports from a bipartisan infrastructure law signed earlier this year. The funding administered by the Federal Aviation Administration is part of more than $5 billion that is projected to reach Iowa over the next five years.

In our area, the following airports will received $159,000 each: Atlantic; Clarinda; Council Bluffs; Creston; Red Oak, and Winterset. The Greenfield and Guthrie Center airports are receiving $110,000 each.

Iowa 3rd District Representative Cindy Axne says “Iowa relies on its airports – both big and small – to transport our goods to market and our people to where they need to be. This investment will help our airports develop vital infrastructure to keep them safe. I’m proud to have voted to ensure our airports received this much-needed funding so they can meet our needs for years to come.”

Rep. Axne previously announced the state will receive over $650 million in the first round of new funding for Iowa’s roads and bridges and $110 million to upgrade Iowa’s aging water infrastructure from the bipartisan infrastructure law.

US Property, Inc. constructs new division in Council Bluffs:

US Property, Inc., a real estate development company based in Lincoln, NE that develops and manages both industrial and mixed-use commercial properties across North America, created a cold storage division that will support the local and regional protein manufacturers. The company will construct a 160,000 square foot facility to include racking, freezing and transportation components to serve the modern cold storage distribution industry. The project represents a $49.3 million capital investment and is expected to create 58 jobs, of which eight are incented at a qualifying wage of $23.56 per hour. The board awarded the company tax benefits through the Targeted Jobs Withholding program.

Iowa State University’s College of Design approved for Strategic Infrastructure Program grant:
The board approved a $1.4 million grant to Iowa State University’s College of Design for the 3D Affordable Innovation Technologies Housing Project, which will support the development of a 3D printed housing industry in Iowa. To meet a strong housing demand and identify a cost-effective and thoughtful labor strategy, the project will design an innovative 3D construction printing program that combines advanced technologies for the construction of affordable, resilient housing. Iowa State University will use the funding to acquire a 3D Construction Printer, materials, and a vehicle for transportation of the printer and equipment, which will help establish the infrastructure necessary to develop the suite of tools, research and curriculum.