(Area Counties) – There are very few contested* local races heading into Tuesday’s June 4th Primary Election. Candidates must receive 35% of the total votes cast in that race to be nominated in the primary election. Election results will be posted on the KJAN News page, when they become available. Unless otherwise mentioned, there are no Democratic or Libertarian candidate races in the following counties…

In Adair County, Republican candidate Michael Christophersen in unopposed in the District 5 Supervisor’s contest, and fellow Republican Jerry Walker is unchallenged for his District 3 seat. Republicans Jeff Vandewater, Mandy Berg and Kelly Mitchell are unopposed in their respective bids for Sheriff, Auditor and Recorder. Democrat Matt Wedemeyer is also unopposed in the District 1 Supervisor’s race.

In Adams County, there are no challenges on the ballot for Auditor, where Republican Becky Bissell is running, and Republican Sheriff Alan Johannes is unchallenged. Tony Hardisty is the only name on the Republican ballot for Supervisor in District 2 in Adams County, while Christopher Standley, another Republican, is the lone candidate in District 5.

In Audubon County, Republicans Donald Mosinski and Kent Grabill are running two seats on the Board of Supervisors. Nathan Wahlert’s name will appear on the Democratic ballot.

In Cass County*, incumbent Bernard Pettinger faces a challenge from fellow Republican J. Ford Lillard, in the 5th District Board of Supervisor’s race. Voters using the Democratic ballot will find Phyllis Stakey’s name listed for the Board of Supervisors in District 5. Republicans Stephen S. Green (I), Kathy Somers (I), and John Westring, are unopposed in their respective bids for District 1 Supervisor, Auditor and Sheriff.

In Guthrie County, Democrat Sheriff Marty Arganbright (I) is unopposed in his party during the Primary Election. He’s expected to face-off in November against the lone Republican candidate on Tuesday’s ballot, Matt Harmann. Republicans Mike Dickson (I), and Danielle (Dani) Fink (I), are unchallenged in their bids for re-election. Brian E. Johnson (I) is also unopposed for his District 2 Supervisor’s seat.

In Montgomery County*, where Republican’s Jill Cooper and Alex Burton are on the ballot for the Board of Supervisors in District 5, Cooper has withdrawn her name from consideration due to health concerns, and has thrown her support behind Burton. Donna Robinson chose to not run for re-election. Republican Sheriff Jon Spunaugle and Republican Auditor Jill Ozuna are unchallenged in Tuesday’s election, but incumbent Republican District 3 Supervisor Randy Cooper is being challenged by fellow Republican Bryant Amos.

In Pottawattamie County*, five Republicans are squaring-off for two County Board of Supervisor positions, and hope to move on to the November election. The candidates include Tim Wichman (I), Karis Crilly, Adam Houser, Charlie Johnson and Brian Shea (I). And, Republican Incumbent Melvyn J. Houser faces a challenge from fellow Republican Mary Ann Hanusa, in the Auditor’s race.

In Shelby County*, three Republicans are in the running for two seats on the Board of Supervisors: Alexis Carter, Mike Kolbe and Charles Parkhurst. Two Republicans have are running for County Auditor in Shelby County: Melissa Arkfeld and Taryn Knapp.

(I) = Incumbent

(Radio Iowa) – U-S Senator Joni Ernst’s annual “Roast and Ride” fundraiser has given Iowa Republicans a chance to restate their criticism of last week’s conviction of former President Trump. Ernst said the trial has solidified support for Trump. “Stop the political persecution of Donald J. Trump,” Ernst said. Ernst, who intends to seek reelection in 2026, has said she’s open to serving in Trump’s Administration if he wins in November. Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann kicked off Saturday’s fundraiser with a question.

“How many people in this room, right now, stand with Donald J. Trump?” Kaufmann asked. Every Republican office holder who followed Kaufmann on stage made their stance clear. Governor Kim Reynolds cited the donations the Trump campaign says were made after the verdict. “And $53 million in 24 hours is a pretty good indication of where the people in this country are standing,” Reynolds said. Senator Chuck Grassley called all the cases against Trump a distraction.

“This political lynching of Donald Trump,” Grassley said, “…they think they could prosecute Biden into the next White House, but I think they’re going to prosecute Trump into the White House.” Texas Congressman Wesley Hunt, the event’s keynote speaker, has campaigned for Trump often. Hunt suggested the verdict has awakened a sleeping giant. “For those of you that are fearful of a revenge tour that’s exactly what we need,” Hunt said, “and on day one we need a man to step into office — on day one — to turn this whole thing around.”

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst and Governor Kim Reynolds at Ernst’s 2024 “Roast and Ride” fundraiser.

Two of the four Republicans who represent Iowa in the U-S House also spoke at Ernst’s fundraiser. Second district Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion told the crowd Trump’s conviction will backfire on Democrats. “I think angry voters are motivated voters. Are you angry? Are you motivated? I think so,” Hinson said, to cheers. Third district
Congressman Zach Nunn of Bondurant told the crowd Republicans need to win a majority of seats in the U-S House in November, or Democrats will impeach Trump again.

“Do you want a country where you can be proud not only to salute the flag, but to know that you’ve got a president and a government that have your back, not come after your back?” Nunn asked.

About 700 people attended Saturday’s fundraiser for Ernst’s campaign. Ticket sales from the motorcycle ride beforehand were donated to the Iowa Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation.

DES MOINES – Today (Sunday), Gov. Kim Reynolds authorized a disaster proclamation for Cherokee County, Iowa effective immediately through July 2, 2024. The USDA has confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock. 

This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites. 

The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. 

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will meet this Wednesday morning (June 5th), beginning at 8:30-a.m. in their Board Room at the Courthouse in Red Oak. During their session, the Board will hear from Marielle Anne Alipio, with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). She will present information with regard to Disaster/Recovery Assistance.

The Board will also hear from Laura Kyndesen, with the 4th Judicial District Court Administration, with regard to office space for Magistrate Mensen. And, they will discuss RAGBRAI participant camping on the property of the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center (LEC), with action as necessary.

The final order of business for the Montgomery County Supervisors, is action on passing a resolution with regard to the 2024-25 Sheriff’s schedule of fees.

(Massena, Iowa) – Democrat Phyllis Stakey has officially announced her candidacy for the Cass County Board of Supervisors in District 5. The District includes Anita, Wiota, Massena, and Cumberland. The District 5 seat is currently held by Republican Bernard Pettinger.

Phyllis describes herself as a lifelong resident of Cass County with a history of community involvement. She is running for Cass County Supervisor because she believes it is important for elected county officials to manage our monetary resources efficiently, and she wants to help promote and further develop thriving communities in Cass County.

Phyllis served on the Cass County Hospital Board of Trustees for 18 years, where she was a member of the finance committee. She also worked as a realtor for 23 years. While serving on the Cass County Board of Review, Phyllis gained experience with tax assessments. Phyllis says the combination of these responsibilities gives her insight into taxation and finance, at both the personal and county level.

Phyllis Stakey (Photo & information submitted)

Phyllis is quick to point out that she knows how much Cass County has to offer, and says she is committed to spending the time and doing the hard work to position the county for long-term success. Phyllis believes all County Supervisors should be actively engaged in supporting and promoting their communities. Through the years, Phyllis has been active in Cass County
tourism, various housing committees, Massena Historical Society, Massena Chamber of Commerce, and other various community organizations.

Phyllis and her husband Jim, a rural mail carrier, raised their three children in Massena. Jim passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2014. Phyllis is an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Massena. Phyllis can be reached at 712-779-0291.

(Bellevue, Iowa) – A head-on collision this (Sunday) morning in eastern Iowa’s Jackson County left one person dead and another injured. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2019 Ford SUV was traveling north on Highway 52 north of Bellevue, at around 3:30-a.m., when it crossed the center line and collided with a 2001 Chevy passenger car that was traveling southbound.

The names of both crash victims was being withheld by the Patrol, pending notification of family. Multiple agencies assisted at the crash scene.

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – Drake University and CBS News will work together to provide educational lessons on having good character to teachers free-of-charge through a new partnership. The collaboration will bring together CBS News’ “Kindness 101” series and the Character Counts program, housed within the Robert D. and Billy Ray Center at Drake, according to a news release. Both are centered around teaching about good choices and character.

Developed in 1992 by the Josephson Institute, Character Counts is aimed at instilling six pillars of good character — caring, citizenship, fairness, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness. Character Counts moved to Drake in 2019.

CBS News Correspondent Steve Hartman will work with Drake University to create educational programming centered around good character. (Photo courtesy of Drake University)

In a news release, Drake University President Marty Martin said “We are proud to partner with CBS News to bring new, inspiring resources to educators through Kindness 101. We seek to transform lives and strengthen communities, and our Kindness 101 partnership provides a unique and powerful platform to achieve those goals.”

The programs will develop short videos containing lesson plans and activities surrounding pillars of good character for K-12 teachers. They will be available and free for K-12 teachers to utilize at Kindness101.com starting in August.

“Kindness 101” is a video series created by CBS News Correspondent Steve Hartman and his children during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the news release stated, covering stories of people demonstrating kindness and character and featuring sections from Hartman’s “On the Road” series. It is now a weekly series that airs as part of “CBS Mornings.”

“This has been a dream of mine for a very long time,” Hartman said in the release. “The people I’ve met ‘On the Road’ have given me so many important life lessons. I’m beyond grateful to now have this opportunity to share those lessons with school children across the country.”

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are seeking Chronic Wasting Disease Ambassadors in southern Iowa, for a collaborative education program between the agency and Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach, that seeks to help Iowans address the challenge of chronic wasting disease.

Hunters, landowners, and conservationists interested in learning more about chronic wasting disease are encouraged to attend a course offering June 11, 18, and 25 at the Rathbun Fish Hatchery, in Appanoose County.

The course will cover best practices for preventing spread of the disease, how to collect tissue samples for testing, and how to educate others within their community, all in an effort to better educate Iowans on how to manage a healthy deer herd and slow the spread of the disease. The goal of the program is to develop a small, connected, and well-educated network of local leaders to effectively communicate about the management and mitigation of chronic wasting disease.

“Partnerships are key to the effective management of chronic wasting disease,” said Tyler Harms, biometrician for the Iowa DNR and co-organizer of the course. “We need hunters, landowners, and interested conservationists working together to slow the spread of this disease.”

The course includes three in-person meetings from 6-9 p.m. and two online lessons completed between the in-person sessions. In-person sessions will include instruction and hands-on exercises related to the ecology of chronic wasting disease, sampling for the disease, and effective communication strategies. Participants will also have the opportunity to network with area wildlife biologists. Graduates of the course will be given resources to help spread the word regarding effective chronic wasting disease management in their communities.

Registration is available at https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ebL4dhDJanzAbFs or by contacting course facilitator, Adam Janke, at ajanke@iastate.edu or 515-294-7429 and is open until the week before the course starts, or until the class is filled (25 participants). There is no cost to participate. A light meal and refreshments will be served at each of the three sessions.

Chronic wasting disease is always fatal to deer and has been found in wild deer in 23 Iowa counties. To learn more about the disease and its management in Iowa, including ways to help slow the spread of the disease, go to www.iowadnr.gov/cwd.

(Washington, D.C) – Officials with the U-S Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced on Friday, the results of the most recent, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. According to the report, this spring, DEA and law enforcement partners collected 670,136 pounds of unneeded medications at collection sites across the country. Since 2010, DEA, along with its partners, has collected nearly 18.6 million pounds of old, unwanted prescription drugs.

In Iowa, 66 law enforcement agencies participated in the event. There were 68 collection sites which gathered a total of 5,077-pounds of unwanted prescription drugs, for an All-Time Total of 207, 201-pounds.

National Details:

• Total Law Enforcement Participation: 4,607
• Total Collection Sites: 4,869
• Total Weight Collected:  670,136 lbs. (335 tons)
• Total Weight All Time: 18,570,487 lbs. (9,285 tons)

If you missed DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, don’t worry! You can drop off your old, unneeded, or unused medications at one of the 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses working to help clean out medicine cabinets throughout the year. In addition, many police departments provide year-round drop boxes.

In southwest Iowa, the list of drop-off sites (within 50-miles of Atlantic) can be found HERE. Additional information can be found HERE.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 2:40-a.m. Sunday (Today, June 2nd) in Montgomery County resulted in the arrest of a man on an OWI charge. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 19-year-old Nathan Adam Vangelder, of Lenox, was taken into custody and booked into the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on a $1,000 bond.