More area, and some State News, broadcast at 8:05-a.m.

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Coralville – The Iowa Department of Corrections today (Thursday) said 24-year-old Markez Fox, who was convicted of Assault While Participating in a Johnson County Felony, failed to the Coralville Residential Facility as required, Wednesday. Fox is a Black male, height 5′ 10″, and weighs 190 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on 9/15/21.

Markez Fox

Persons with information on Fox’s whereabouts should contact their local police department.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Founders of the Lullabye Foundation acknowledge we’re all aware of how much the Covid pandemic has affected most of our society. But despite Covid and its affects on businesses, schools, activities, and even our churches, from early in 2020 through today, Lullabye has still been able to help many children in need and at risk of slipping through the cracks of our society’s social service safety net. The Foundation serves children in both Iowa and Illinois.

Lullabye Board Members coordinate closely with schools, orphanages, Social Service Agencies, Park Districts, etc. who work with kids, identify needs and address those needs.  The non-profit partners with organizations that genuinely want to help kids and make sure the children they serve receive the goods and services needed to help them be the best they can be – without delay. CEO Pastor Sally Meyer says Lullabye has helped children in Iowa, through:

• Project Sweet Dreams
• Support of Groups of Kids associated with the Atlantic, Iowa, Community Schools
• Speaker’s Bureau—several members of our Lullabye Board are willing to speak at various organizations and events.
• Lullabye’s Jim and Gert Hunt Memorial Golf Tournament
• Bill Of Rights for Kids
• Lullabye’s Gallery of Kids

Other projects include:

+ Going International/ helping many children through the Malawi Orphan Care Project, by feeding, offering spiritual and educational guidance, and sports activities daily to 800 kids.

+ The construction of a playground for the Still Waters Kids Home, Inc, in the Philippines. Their previous playground had been destroyed in a typhoon. The new playground was received with great joy!

+ A substantial gift to CASA of Champaign County went to serve 380 children in Foster Care county-wide. CASA’s mission is to find these children safe, healthy, and permanent homes.

+ Through a school in northern Illinois Lullabye generously supported a family devastated by a fire which took the lives of two young girls and destroyed all the family’s belongings.

+ In Southwest Iowa, school personnel helped the Foundation assist a high school girl whose family could not afford her extracurricular activities. We helped. She then took part in her activities

+ A guidance counselor in a school in northern Illinois alerted Lullabye to a need for dollars to send a homeless and recently orphaned boy to a Park District-provided Summer Camp.

+ Working with one of the Foundation’s Northern Illinois partner schools, we provided dollars for playground equipment geared toward Special Needs Kids.

+ At present, Pastor Meyer says they are looking into the possibility of working with the Cunningham Children’s Home in Urbana, IL.

If you would like to learn more about the Foundation, got to https://www.lullabyefoundation.org/

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say a woman from Macksburg reported Wednesday evening, that her cash card was stolen from her vehicle, while it was parked outside the Casey’s General Store, at 102 W. Taylor. No monetary loss was ascertained at the time of the report.

The broadcast News at 7:07-a.m.

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DES MOINES, Iowa —The Iowa Department of Public Health released new COVID-19 data Wednesday that shows an additional 91 virus deaths. Health officials reported two additional deaths that occurred between May and July, and 89 deaths that occurred between Aug. 4 and Sept. 30. That brings the statewide total to 6,654 deaths since the start of the pandemic. The health department reported fewer positive tests over the last week. There were 9,198 positive tests in the last seven days, down from 9,841 positive tests reported on Monday. A total of 498,638 positive tests have been reported in Iowa since the start of the pandemic.

The state’s 14-day positivity rate dropped from 9.6% to 9.5% since Monday. Those under 18 continue to make up the largest percentage of positive tests in the state at 24%, but make up the smallest percentage of those hospitalized with the virus at 3%. The number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 also declined slightly from 629 to 626. Of those hospitalized with the virus, 74.1% are unvaccinated, while 85.8% of those listed in intensive care with COVID-19 are not vaccinated.

IDPH reports virus outbreaks in 31 long-term care facilities, up from 29 at last report Monday. There have been 3,500,405 vaccine doses administered in Iowa. That means 66.4% of all Iowans over the age of 18 have been fully vaccinated and 68.8% of all Iowans 12 or older have had at least one vaccine dose.

The Iowa Department of Public Health releases new virus data each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

(Radio Iowa) – Two teens have been charged with murder in the investigation of a body found Saturday along a roadway northeast of Estherville. Authorities executed simultaneous search warrants early Wednesday morning at homes in Rockwell City and Estherville which resulted in 19-year-old Connor Uhde and 18-year-old CeJay Van Der Wilt being arrested on first-degree murder charges. The victim was later identified as 20-year-old David McDowell of Estherville. The cause of death has not been released.

Uhde was taken to the Emmet County Jail and Van Der Wilt to Buena Vista County where both were held without bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says her trip to Texas with nine other Republican governors has given her a better understanding of the escalating humanitarian and security crisis caused by illegal border crossings. Reynolds was in McAllen, Texas, when she spoke with Iowa reporters by phone Wednesday afternoon. “Wouldn’t it be nice if the president of the United States and the vice president of the United States took the time to come down to the border to see and to listen to the border patrol agents, to listen to the Texas law enforcement, to listen to the families — the owners of the property that butt up against the border and the safety issues that they’re dealing with?” Reynolds asked.

The ten governors are calling for a surge in federal agents along the border. “They need to dedicate federal resources to stop the human and drug trafficking that is taking place at the border,” Reynolds says. “…It is unbelievable what they’re seeing.” In July, Reynolds sent more than two dozen Iowa troopers to Texas and she’s not ruling out another deployment if the Republican governor of Texas again asks states for assistance at the border.

“The president has a constitutional responsibility to protect the border and to protect Americans and he is not doing that,” Reynolds says, “and so if he doesn’t step up and do what he needs to do, then you know we’re going to have to step up and do what we need to do.”

The governors are also calling on the Biden Administration be more transparent when migrants detained at the border are sent elsewhere. Reynolds says state officials were not notified when a flight carrying 19 unaccompanied girls landed at the Des Moines airport late one night in April. “They need to let governors know when they are sending illegals, migrants as well as unaccompanied children into our state because I become responsible for that,” Reynolds says. “My number one priority is to protect the health and safety of Iowans.”

Leaders of the Iowa Democratic Party’s Latinx Caucus called on Reynolds to welcome those seeking a new home. The Iowa Democratic Party’s chairman says the governor’s trip was a political stunt meant to detract from her own record. “No it’s not a political stunt. This is the real thing,” Reynolds told Iowa reporters. “Biden owns this. This is a self-inflicted crisis. He overturned all the politics that worked.”

Reynolds says fentanyl seizures have jumped dramatically in Texas and the illegal narcotic is being added to drugs like marijuana and opioid pills, leading to overdose deaths. “So if you think this is a political stunt, then people had better wake up because this is what’s coming across the border,” Reynolds said. “This is what’s coming into our states.”

The Republican Governors Public Policy Committee covered transportation costs for the group. The State of Iowa is paying about 500 dollars for lodging in Texas for Reynolds and her staff.

(Grinnell, Iowa) – A 19-year-old man from Harrison County died Wednesday night during a rollover accident south of Grinnell, in Poweshiek County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, Bryce C. Hudnut, of Logan, was driving a 2016 Nissan Titan pickup, traveling south on Highway 146 at around 11:40-p.m., when the vehicle went out of control.

The truck rolled over and came to rest in the west ditch. Hudnut, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. The Patrol was assisted at the crash site by Deputies with the Poweshiek and Mahaska County Sheriff’s Departments, and Searsboro Fire/Rescue.

[Updated 10/7] (Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, approved a fireworks display contract, an exemption for chickens within the City limits, and an Order approving a 28-E (Cost sharing) Agreement with Cass County, for the rehabilitation of a bridge.

Following discussion with regard to a 2022 4th of July fireworks display, and presentation from two local men who wish to put on a fireworks show, the Council voted 5-to 2, to award a contract to Wild Wayne’s owner Jason O’Brien, contingent upon his getting ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) approval and passage of what’s called an “Igniter’s class,” which is coming up in a few weeks.

He has not yet received his license/permit. O’Brien has proposed having a 20-minute show for $10,000. Another local provider, Dan Vargason, had offered to conduct a 20- to 40-minute show for $8,800. Vargason also sells fireworks locally.

Vargason is also awaiting approval from ATF approval, which typically takes about 90 days once the application is filed. Both shows would use an electronic firing system. On a side note, the Council approved Wild Wayne’s shooting off fireworks whenever there is a touchdown by the Atlantic Trojans, during their homecoming game Friday night, against Knoxville.

The Council considered, and approved by a vote of 5 to 2, a request for an exemption to allow chickens within City Limits. Brad and Sara Strouth live at 1609 E. 22nd Street. The couple has eight laying hens on their 2.35-acres of land just south of East Ridge Park.  The City’s Code Enforcement Officer, Kris Erickson, said she had received two complaints from neighbors, but the complaints were with regard to the chickens being in violation of City Code, not because of an odor. A clause in the Ordinance does allow for the Council to use its discretion in granting exemptions. If someone wishes to have those types of animals in the City, they must show her proof of the Council’s approval, such as a permit.

The two councilmen who opposed the exemption, Dick Casady and Gerald Brink, both stated they were against it because the Ordinance already prohibits chickens and other farm animals inside the city. Council woman Grace Garrett said the decision to allow or disallow, should be on a case-by-case basis.

Brink said the Ordinance is clear, but it should have been amended long ago.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council approved an Order to close certain streets on Friday, Oct. 8th, between 2:15-p.m. and 3:30-p.m., for the Homecoming Parade. The parade line’s-up and begins at 10th and Linn. From there it proceeds west to Chestnut Street, then north to 3rd Street. The participants will then proceed east to Walnut, and south to 6th Street before the event concludes.

And, in his report to the Council, City Administrator John Lund addressed complaints the City has received with regard to vulgar political signs on private property. He said the under the First Amendment, the City cannot legally order such signs to be removed, but it can strongly suggest it or ask the signs be re-worded to be less offensive. Kris Erickson said she approached the property owner(s) in question, and asked them to consider removing their sign(s), but they refused. The only way signs can legally be removed from private property, according to Lund, is if it incites violence against a person (especially a government official), or if it is deemed to be pornographic.

Dick Casady alluded to possible future consequences persons with vulgar signs may face…