(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, late Wednesday night, arrested a man on a trio of charges. Authorities say 49-year-old Michael Lee LaFollette, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 11:55-p.m. in the 1600 block of E. Summit Street, on Simple Misdemeanor charges that include: Harassment in the 3rd degree; Trespass/3rd offense, and Interference with Official Acts. LaFollette was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

[New York, NY] – ByHeart a next-generation baby nutrition company, has announced an expansion of its voluntary recall, to include all batches of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula cans and Anywhere Pack™ nationwide. Company officials says their action was being taken in close collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

At least 15 babies in 12 states were hospitalized since August, according to federal health officials. All products by the brand have been recalled, and parents are advised to stop using the formula and to dispose of it.

ByHeart produces formula powder at a plant in Allerton, Iowa, along with facilities in Oregon and Pennsylvania. It is canned in Portland and distributed from there. No deaths have been reported. No cases of infant botulism have been reported in Iowa so far.

Consumers who have purchased ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula cans and Anywhere Pack™ should immediately discontinue use and dispose of the product.

If your infant is experiencing symptoms related to infant botulism, contact your health care provider immediately.

(Radio Iowa) – The four Iowans who serve in the U-S House have voted for the spending plan to reopen the federal government. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, who represents Iowa’s second district, released a video statement. “Democrats kept us shutdown for over 40 days. They left our military and their families in the lurch. They forced air safety officials to go without pay,” Hinson said,” …all while attempting to use people’s health care as ‘leverage.'” Democrats had been pushing for a deal to include health care subsidies for Americans with higher incomes who live in states with where insurance costs are high.

“Health care should never be used as leverage, in my mind, because I know this is not a game to Americans. To Iowans it’s not a game,” Hinson said. “…Now that the government is reopening, I think we should all be working together on some bipartisan solutions and reforms that will actually lower premiums.” Congressman Randy Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s fourth district, says Democrats were pushing an out-of-touch agenda and the shutdown was a political stunt that caused unnecessary harm to Iowa families, farmers, seniors and small businesses.

Congressman Zach Nunn represents Iowa’s third district. Nunn says the deal the president signed last (Wednesday) night was on the table more than a month ago and his Democratic colleagues need to understand the gridlock of the past 43 days cost Iowans who missed paychecks, lost access to services and worried about how to feed their families. First district Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says she voted to keep the government open because in a shutdown, nobody wins and the American people lose.

The top Democrat in the House says House Republicans are burying their heads in the sand and have failed to address the affordability crisis faced by millions of Americans buying insurance policies for next year. The Senate’s Republican leader has promised to hold a vote — in the Senate — on that issue by the second week of December.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has announced flags flying at half staff today (Thursday) on state owned facilities are being lowered to honor former Vice President Dick Cheney as well as a Marshalltown lawyer who served in the Iowa Senate for a dozen years.

Former state Senator Larry McKibben died Sunday at the age of 78. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1970 with a political science degree and earning a law degree from the University of Iowa in 1972, McKibben returned to his hometown of Marshalltown to practice law. He was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 1996 and served three terms before retiring from the legislature in early 2009. McKibben later served six years on the Board of Regents and led a task force that examined tuition costs at the three state universities.

Former State Senator Larry McKibben (R-Marshalltown) (Board of Regents photo)

McKibben’s funeral will be held at one o’clock this (Thursday) afternoon at the First Methodist Church in Marshalltown. Flags nationally will remain lowered until sunset on November 20th, the day of former Vice President Cheney’s funeral.

(Delaware County, IA) – One person was injured during a collision Wednesday morning just west of Delaware, in northeastern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports a car driven by 37-year-old Erin M. Conners, of Manchester, was traveling east on Highway 20 at around 9:45-a.m. A semi, driven by 65-year-old Joseph L. Green, of Cascade, was traveling north on Delaware County Road X-47 and stopped for the posted stop sign. When the truck turned eastbound onto Highway 20, it  was struck from behind by car.

Conners was transported to the Manchester Regional Medical Center for treatment of her injuries.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Dyersville Police, Earlville and Dyersville Fire Departments, and BI County EMS.

(Clarke County, IA) [updated with suspect vehicle information]  – A horse-drawn buggy operated by a teenager, was struck by an unknown vehicle south of Murray Wednesday evening.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office reports the suspect vehicle was a silver or gray Chevy or GM sedan. The vehicle will have front, right-side damage, and potential damage to the windshield and/or roof of the vehicle. If you have any information related to the incident, please call the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office at 641-342-2914.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board held their regular monthly meeting Wednesday evening in the High School Media Center. Board President Laura McLean thanked voters in the Atlantic Community School District for approving the $22.5-million General Obligation bond, during the Nov. 4^th City/School elections, and she noted the significance of that approval as compared to other districts in the State with G.O. Bond referendums.

The bond measure passed by a margin of 69-percent. District officials have said the bond funds will be used to build, furnish and equip classroom additions and a new secure entrance at Washington Elementary, a new skybridge and commons area between Schuler Elementary and the Middle School, and classroom additions at the High School, with related building and site improvements at each facility; and to remodel, repair, improve, furnish, and equip existing educational facilities, including additional secure entrance improvements, media center and common area improvements at the High School, and site improvements.

The Atlantic School Board approved the Consent Agenda as presented, including the resignation of Benjamin Cordova, ELL Paraeducator; And Contract Recommendations to hire:

• Aidan Wendt, Industrial Arts Teacher (Starting with the 2nd Semester, and replacing Dexter Dodson).
• Emma Webb, ELL Para (Replacing Benjamin Cordova).
• Anna Wieser, Junior Class and Prom Sponsor.
• Skyler Handlos, 9th Grade Basketball Coach.

The Board discussed the 2022-23 Audit, with an overview conducted by School Finance Director Lisa Jones. They also reviewed Staff BEDS (Basic Education Data Survey) report results; and they discussed the unofficial results of the General Obligation Bond vote from Nov. 4th.

A Special, Organizational Meeting of the Atlantic School Board will be held 6:30-p.m. Nov. 18th, and will include the selection of Board President/Vice President, SBO/Treasurer, and the swearing-in of new At-Large Board Member Chet Meneely, as well as re-elected At-Large Board Member Josh McLaren.

(Atlantic, IA) – Officials with the Cass County Extension office are once again hosting continuing instructional courses (CICs) for local commercial pesticide applicators, but they want to remind anyone who has yet to attend the training, that all CIC training must be completed by the end of December to keep a license current. To avoid conflicts with year-end scheduling, Cass County Extension is requiring that all training dates be scheduled by Wednesday, December 17^th.

Cass County Extension Director Kate Olson says ‘Year end is a busy time for all, but we don’t want anyone to miss the opportunity to attend their annual required training, as time to meet those annual requirements is getting short. We do offer trainings on a first-come, first-serve basis, and our hours will be slightly different during the holidays, so we’d like to remind folks to call and get their classes scheduled before our year-end calendar fills up.”

According to Olson, reshow dates can occur after December 17^th, as scheduling allows, but they must be on the calendar before then to be honored. To ensure a spot on the training schedule, applicators needing to complete CIC for the year are asked to call as soon as possible if they have a preferred training date, but no later than Wednesday, December 17^th at 4:30 PM. Applicators calling after this date will NOT be placed on the training schedule.

Training dates can be scheduled locally by calling the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or by emailing Olson at keolson@iastate.edu. For more information on the Commercial Pesticide Applicator program or the CIC classes, please visit www.extension.iastate.edu/psep/.

(Malvern, IA) – Officials with the City of Malvern, this (Wednesday) evening, said that the City received a call this morning, from a farmer stating that they had standing water in their field, in proximity to the City’s force main which carries wastewater to the lagoons.

Upon investigation, the City discovered that an air relief valve on the force main had ruptured and was allowing wastewater to flow out of the force main. A repair has been made and the situation has been contained. During the bypass, wastewater flowed into a nearby unnamed tributary, eventually making its way to Silver Creek between Lytle Avenue and 310th Street.

The City has been in contact with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources regarding the incident. No dead fish have been observed in Silver Creek and residents are advised to avoid the area temporarily.

If you have any questions regarding this incident, please contact Joe George at (712) 624-8282.