Palo, IOWA (Iowa DPS Press Release):  Officials with the Iowa Department of Public report that on Friday, July 15, 2022, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a welfare check at the Jodie Bevans residence, 3397 64th Street Palo, IA. Upon arrival, law enforcement officials located Bevans (58) inside her residence, deceased. Based on the condition of the scene and the suspicious nature of her death, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Criminalistics Laboratory were called to assist with the investigation.

On Sunday, July 17, 2022 the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy. Autopsy results are pending and the Cause of Death and Manner of Death is yet to be determined. The incident is being investigated by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Criminalistics Laboratory, Benton County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Benton County Attorney’s Office.

The investigation is ongoing and no additional information will be released at this time.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v Wade is “only the beginning” of a policy agenda. “For nearly five decades we fought for this moment and none of it was easy,” Reynolds says, “…but with Dodds…the Lord reminded us…to the one that knocks, it will be opened.” Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says over the past 40 years as a member of the Judiciary Comittee, he’s helped shape the Supreme Court’s six-to-three conservative majority. “Judicial confirmations do matter and elections matter,” Grassley said, “and 2016 made a big, big difference.” Grassley says unelected judges shouldn’t be deciding when life begins.

“I cast my first pro-life vote in 1972, a year before Roe v Wade,” Grassley said. “There was a big attempt to repeal Iowa’s law banning abortions and it failed in the Iowa House of Representatives on a 44 to 44 vote.” Grassley was elected to the U.S. House in 1974. A Des Moines Register “Iowa Poll” released this weekend shows Grassley leading Democratic challenger Mike Franken by eight points, suggesting may be the closest race Grassley has faced since his first senate race in 1980. Grassley and Reynolds spoke late Friday at an annual event hosted by The Family Leader. It’s a Christian evangelical organization that lobbied for the six-week abortion ban Governor Reynolds signed into law four years ago that is in limbo in Iowa courts.

“It helped kick off a wave of pro-life legislation across this country that ultimately led to the fall of Roe,” Reynolds said, to cheers and applause, “and when that injunction is lifted the will of the people, the decision to protect life, will be restored in Iowa.” Reynolds did not outline new state policies on abortion she’d pursue if she’s reelected governor this November, but the governor called on the crowd to support women with unplanned pregnancies. “Our job is far from done,” Reynolds says. “…Let’s also resolve together to continue to devote that same energy to helping these mothers and their babies as we did in reversing Roe.” Reynolds also pledged to keep pushing to send state money to parents enrolling their children in private schools.

“When it comes to education, one size really doesn’t fit all,” Reynolds says. “Some families may want an education for their children that conforms to their faith and to their moral convictions.” The keynote speaker at the day-long Family Leadership Summit was FOX News host Tucker Carlon. Carlson, who has said he’s NOT running for president, urged the crowd to critically assess the G-O-P candidates who will be begging for your votes in the 2024 Iowa Caucuses. “It’s easy to let your own side slide when the other side is a literally unacceptable option,” Carlson said.

Carlson says there’s a “pretty much open field” of candidates competing for the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nomination. He suggests Iowa voters ask candidates questions focused on domestic issues like the economy and education.

(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa Department of Public Safety Special Agent In Charge is the first chief of the new School Safety Bureau Governor Reynolds announced in June. Special Agent Don Schnitker says the goal of the Governor’s School Safety Bureau is to be a new resource.  “We’re not mandating the schools changed their protocols, we’re not telling local law enforcement have to do anything different than they’ve been doing in the past,” Schnitker. “We’re just here to provide them better resources, in our law enforcement community in our schools are prepared. I think our schools in Iowa are safe. But we’re in a position now to provide services that I think can help them do it better.”

The governor has allocated 100 million dollars to the program. Schnitker has been in law enforcement 21 years — including the last 17 years as part of the D-C-I’s Major Crime Unit. He knows from experience that these issues are not going away. “We can, might not be able to prevent everything, but I think we can train for the worst and hope for the best. And the better prepared we are to respond, the better hardened our schools are to deter the threat, the better our teachers and our local partners are trained on recognizing concerning behavior early on will help prevent these,” according to Schnitker. His first step is hiring the team that he’ll lead.

Don Schnitker

“A team of analysts to analyze some of our data, we’re gonna get a full-time training specialist to help provide that training to schools and our local partners. We’re excited about a new, anonymous reporting tool — it’ll probably be an app that some of our students can use, and parents can use to report concerning behavior,” he explains. One of the first things they plan to do is provide training. “We’re going to be working with Homeland Security and the Department of Education on vulnerability assessments. For our bureau, we’re hiring training a specialist specifically that will help train our first responders and teachers in the alert training,” he says. “That’s the training program, we think, nationally is, is the best training program out there. It teaches law enforcement how to respond to active shooter incidents.”

He says that training isn’t just tailored to law enforcement — it can also better prepare educators. “Whether that being secure in their rooms better or evading the threat. Those are kind of the resources we want to get out so that if something like this happens, you know, the teachers in the local community has a plan,” he says. One other resource is a dedicated emergency radio that will be offered to any district that wants one. “I think that radio will be a good tool for schools to have that resource available that if they have a concern or there’s a threat on the property, they can get that communication which is so vital to local law enforcement immediately, Schnitker says.

Schnitker says all students should know that Iowa schools are very safe and this isn’t a response or a fear that something’s going to happen. He compares it to wearing your seatbelt in the car — you don’t expect to get into an accident — but you are prepared and safer with a seatbelt if it does. Schnitker is working to get many of these things in place and ready for the start of the school year this fall.

(Radio Iowa) – Officials say construction of a large wind farm in central Iowa is on schedule to be finished by November. James Stovall, site manager for Apex Clean Energy, says the Great Pathfinder wind project will stretch into both Boone and Hamilton counties. “All of our public roads are completed,” Stovall says. “We’ve cement-stabilized the roads in both counties which will give you a good sub-base going forward to be able to maintain those roads and you’ll have some really nice roads to to use whenever we’re finished.”

Stovall says trenching operations for the turbines began last week, while deliveries of the turbines and blades will begin early next month and conclude by October. “We’re just over halfway done on our turbine foundations,” Stovall says. “We’re almost 100% complete on our excavations for those foundations and we anticipate being finished with all the concrete foundation work probably within the first week of August.”

Apex says up to 200 people are working on the project site in both counties. When complete, the turbines will have a capacity of 224 megawatts, enough to power 56-thousand homes.

Officials with the Creston Police Department report a teen from Stuart suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries, during an accident that took place at around 4:30-a.m., Saturday, on Highway 34 at Chestnut Street. 16-year-old Zachary J. Wignall, of Stuart, was driving a 2013 Chevy Cruze, when he fell asleep at the wheel. The car left the road and entered the ditch, where it continued for quite some time before exiting the ditch and becoming airborne across Chestnut Street. The vehicle narrowly missed a pole and a sign, before partially striking a secondary sign.

Wignall left the scene in the vehicle because, he said, his phone was not charged, and he didn’t know what to do. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $6,000. No citations were issued.

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Griswold School Board will meet 5:30-p.m. Monday, July 18th, in the High School Conference Room. During their regular, monthly meeting, the Board will act on several matters during the “New Business” portion of their agenda. Here’s their agenda for the meeting (Final agenda will be posted in the Central Office no less than 24 hours before the meeting)….

• Call Meeting to Order
• Reading of Mission Statement: The mission of the Griswold Community School District, in partnership with our families and communities, is to provide leadership for positive change to ensure the best learning opportunities for everyone in a safe and caring environment.
• Approval of Agenda (D.R.)
• Public Input
• Superintendent’s Report:
  • Thank You Card(s) (I)
  • The Month in Review – Administration (I)
  • Board Learning Opportunities (I)
    • IASB Convention
    • Discuss Board Self-Evaluation
• Consent Agenda (D.R.):
  • Approval of Minutes
  • Approval of Financial Statements
  • Approval of Bills
• Personnel
• Gifts, Memorials, Bequests

Old Business:

6. Board Policies – Second Reading (D.R.) – 200.3, 401.7, 407.2, 504.1, 504.2, 504.4, 504.6, 504.7, 710.1E1, 710.1E2, 710.1R1, 802.4

New Business

• Approval Of Girl’s Wrestling Sharing Agreement (D.R.)
• Consider Approval Of Return-To-Learn Plan Review (D.R.)
• Appointment Of Business Manager / Treasurer (D.R.)
• Appointment Of Board Secretary (D.R.)
• Appointment Of District Attorney (D.R.)
• Approval Of Bakery Bids (D.R.)
• Approval Of Trash Removal Bids (D.R.)
• Approval Of Dairy Bids (D.R.)
• Approval Of Snow Removal Bids (D.R.)
• Approval Of Warewash Bids (D.R.)
• Appointment Of Affirmative Action Coordinator (D.R.)
• Board Policies – First Reading (I) – 402.2, 501.14, 501.15, 504.5, 504.5R1, 505.1, 505.2, 505.3, 505.4, 505.5, 505.6, 505.7, 505.8, 505.8R1, 507.2, 507.2E1, 607.2, 704.6, 804.5, 804.7, 804.7R1, 901
• Annual Review Of Policies 711.3 and 711.5 (I)

• Adjourn

(D.R.) = Decision Required; (I.) = Informational

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Police in Des Moines, Saturday, released the identity of an 11-year-old girl who drowned in the Raccoon River, Wednesday evening. The body of Diamond Mathis was recovered at around 12:20-p.m., Friday in the river, north of 5600 block of Park Avenue.

Police and water rescue personnel responded at around 6-p.m. Wednesday to the scene of the incident, where the girl suddenly went under the water after she gott off the inflatable raft she was on with two other children. On Thursday morning, police said the girl was presumed to have drowned.

The search was suspended Thursday evening. Authorities have previously stated that swimming in the river is dangerous, adding that even divers were having a difficult time in the water’s current.

(Audubon, Iowa) -The Audubon School Board is expected to meet in a regular monthly session, 7-p.m. Monday (July 18), in the High School Board Room. Here’s what’s on their agenda:

7:00 Board Work Session – Policy Review – 200.3, 710.1, 802.4

1.0 Call to Order

2.0 Approve Agenda

3.0 Approve Consent Agenda

3.01 Minutes:

• 3.01.1 June 20th Regular Meeting
• 3.01.2 June 29th Fiscal Meeting
• 3.01.3 July 7th Special Meeting

3.02 Warrants and Financial Reports

4.0 Public Comments – Please contact the Supt. or Board President (Board Policy #213)

5.0 Action Items:

• 5.01 Approve Ahlers Cooney as Board and District Legal Counsel
• 5.02 Approve Courtney Walter and Kelsey Wiese as Equity Coordinators
• 5.03 Approve Cass Muzney as Asbestos Manager
• 5.04 Approve Level I and II Investigators: Level 1 – Eric Trager, Quentin Stanerson, Sam Graeve, Jill Hermansen; Level 2 – Coby Gust
• 5.05 Name Banking Depositories and Limits:
• Depositories – Audubon State Bank, Landmands Bank, Iowa School Joint Investment Trust (ISJIT).
• Limits – $3,500,000 Total – Maximum Withdrawal/Transfers of $325,000
• 5.06 Approve Two-Year Ash Tree Removal Plan
• 5.07 Approve Milk Bid Renewal
• 5.08 Approve Elevator Electric Quote
• 5.09 Approve South Gym Bleacher Quote
• 5.10 Approve Policy Revisions – 200.3, 710.1, 802.4
• 5.11 Personnel

6.0 Communication & Updates:

• 6.01 Superintendent Report
• 6.02 Principal’s Reports

7.0 Possible Closed Session – Board Policy 212. Iowa Code 21.5:  “To discuss strategy with legal counsel in matters presently in litigation, or where litigation is imminent, if disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the board.”

8.0 Possible Board Action on Litigation

9.0 Adjournment

Next Regular Meeting: Monday, August 15, 2022; “Our Mission is to provide a quality education in a positive, equitable & respectful environment that encourages & prepares all students to become life-long learners & responsible members of a rapidly changing society.”

(Harlan, Iowa) – The bulk of the activities during the Shelby County Fair in Harlan take place today, with the big Livestock Sale set for Monday evening. Here’s today’s schedule and & peek at Monday’s short slate…

SUNDAY, JULY 17
7:30 am……………….Market Beef Exhibitors Meeting
8:00 am……………….Pen of Three Judging by Pens  4-H/FFA Market Beef  to follow in Show Ring
9:00 am……………….Church Service – Tent
9:00 am-4:00 pm……Antique Tractor/Machinery Show
10:00 am-2:00 pm…Little Hands on the Farm Exhibit
11:45 am…………….4-H Style Show Exhibitor Meeting 12:00 Noon-Style Show Begins in the tent
12:45 pm…………….Share the Fun, Public Speaking and Extemporaneous Exhibitor Meeting –
Tent Contest at 1:00 pm
3:00 pm……………….Pedal Tractor Pull
4:00-5:00 pm………..Release 4-H/FFA Static Exhibits NOTHING REMOVED BEFORE 4
(must be removed by 5:30 pm.)
Release Open Class Exhibits NOTHING REMOVED BEFORE 4 (must be removed by 5:30 pm.)
Release 4-H/FFA Horses and all Livestock not being sold
4-H & Open Class Buildings open 10:00 noon-4:00 pm
Nishna Valley Model Railroad open 1:00-4:00 pm

MONDAY, JULY 18
5:30 pm………………..4-H/FFA Livestock Auction

(Audubon, Iowa) – The last day of the 2022 Audubon County Fair is today, in Audubon. Here’s a rundown of the schedule for today:

SUNDAY, JULY 17
8:00 AM Clover Kids Goat Show
4-H/FFA Goat Show
Pee Wee Goat Show
8:00 AM Open Class Horse Entries at Announcer’s Stand North of Horse Arena
8:00 AM Tractor Drive Check in
9:00 AM Open Class Horse Show
9:30 AM Tractor Drive
12:00 PM Antique Tractor Pull – Grandstand
12:00 PM Beef Feed – Audubon T-Bone
12:30 PM Bingo-Exira Lions – Agrihall
1:30 PM Pie Contest – Agrihall
2:30 PM Open Class Exhibits and Commercial Booths released
3:00 PM 4-H Recognition – Show Barn
4:00 PM Livestock Support Sale-poultry, rabbits, sheep, goats, swine, beef
4:00 PM 4-H exhibits released
4:45 PM 4-H Building Clean Up