(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst has just returned after leading a weekend trip to Germany and Poland where she and nine other U.S. Senators met with government officials, refugee organizations and U.S. military commanders in Europe. She says the U.S. must send more lethal aid to Ukraine. “There is no time to waste,” Ernst said. “Every second counts in war.” It’s the second bipartisan group of Senators to travel to the region in the past week. Ernst says the group met with Ukrainian refugees as well.

“There were rightly concerned by the pace and the flow of lethal aid that congress has passed and the president has been announcing over the past week,” Ernst said. “Washington bureaucracy is once again slowing the process down.” Ernst says the U.S. and its NATO allies must figure out a way to get the Russian made fighter jets Poland has offered to Ukraine and to then equip Poland with American-made F-16s.The delegation also discussed whether the U.S. should set up a speedier process to accept refugees from Ukraine, but Ernst says that doesn’t seem to be needed.

“Right now, what we have heard from many of those Ukrainian refugees is that they hope to stay close to Ukraine,” Ernst says. “…They are hopeful that the Ukraine will win this war and then they can return home or what may be left of their home communities. Many of them are very adamant about that. They wouldn’t have left if it had been safe.” Ernst, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, says Vladamir Putin is a war criminal and should be held to account by the International Criminal Court.

“He is targeting schools, hospitals,” Ernst says. “He’s killed innocent women and children.” But Ernst says the focus now should be on helping Ukraine win the war.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County, Iowa Master Gardeners (CCMG) are again offering a $1,000 scholarship to local students, with applications due April 1, 2022.  This scholarship is available to students who are graduating seniors or graduates of any of the following Iowa school districts, in which currently reside members of CCMG:  Atlantic, Clarinda, CAM, Exira-EHK, Griswold, or Red Oak. This scholarship is also available to graduates, of any age, of any of these school districts. Scholarship committee members want to emphasize that students of any age studying a horticulture-related field are encouraged to apply, regardless of the type of program they are studying, as long as they intend to obtain some degree or certificate in a horticultural field.

The goal of the Master Gardener program is to support horticulture education and community service.  CCMG members provide many hours of volunteer service and gardening education within their local communities.  Accordingly, this scholarship is intended to provide post-secondary funds to individuals who are studying, or intend to pursue a career in, a horticulture-related field.  The scholarship winner will be selected based upon academic success, history of community service, and career goals related to horticulture. Demonstration of past interest and experience in horticulture will be very helpful.

The scholarship is for those pursuing post-secondary education during the 2022-2023 school year. The recipient will be notified of their award on or before May 20, 2022 for planning purposes. A scholarship check will be issued in January 2023, in the student’s name directly to the academic institution, upon receipt of an official grade transcript for the completed Fall 2022 semester. A previous scholarship recipient may re-apply, but an individual may only receive a total of two scholarships from this program.

The application form is available through the high school guidance departments, or on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/.  Applications should be submitted to the Cass County Extension Office, 805 W 10th St, Atlantic, Iowa 50022, or emailed to keolson@iastate.edu on or before the April 1 deadline for consideration. Questions can be directed to the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests last week. 42-year-old Michael Scott Eubanks, Jr., of Greenfield, was arrested March 13th by Greenfield Police, following the execution of a search warrant at 323 NW 2nd Street, in Greenfield. In the residence, a green leafy substance, glass containers containing wax, and individual labeled packages of THC edibles were located. The substance tested positive for marijuana. Eubanks was arrested for a Controlled Substance Violation, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (glass pipes, grinders and a “bazooka” vape pen used to smoke THC wax). He was also arrested for Drug Tax Stamp violations. Eubanks was released the following day on his Own Recognizance.

And, on March 15th, 42-year-old Michael Lynn Huddleson, of Fontanelle, was arrested in Bridgewater, for Driving While Barred. Huddleson was cited and released from the scene.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce say Atlantic will find more people buzzing around town, shopping and dining on Saturday, April 2nd. Participating Atlantic businesses will, once again, offer special Spring deals during the Annual Girls Gettin’ Out shop local event that encourages customers to get out to enjoy the day and support local. According to Chamber Programs Coordinator Kelsey Beschorner, “We know the community is ready for Spring, and Girls Gettin’ Out is fun way to kick off the season.”

One lucky shopper will get the chance to win a basket of local gift certificates. Shoppers are encouraged to take pictures or selfies that answer the question, “What does shopping local look like to you?” Participants can then post the images to the Chamber’s Girls Gettin’ Out post on Facebook or send them to the Chamber’s email to be entered in to win the gift basket. The winner will be announced Monday, April 4th LIVE on the Chamber’s Facebook Page.

“This is a great way to thank and reward people for shopping local. It gives them that extra nudge to spend the day in Atlantic,” Beschorner said. For more information on Girls Getting’ Out and other Chamber events, visit atlanticiowa.com or contact the Chamber office at 712.243.3017 or chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

(Radio Iowa) – An eastern Iowa man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to dealing drugs. Prosecutors describe 62-year-old George Patrick Ashby as a large-scale meth dealer. Court records indicate Ashby was the leader of a drug ring that shipped large amounts of crystal meth — often called ice — from southeast Iowa to the Cedar Rapids area for redistribution. The drug ring also sold heroin. Ashby was arrested in Burlington in March of 2020 and he told authorities the gun in his possession could be linked to a 2019 murder in Cedar Rapids.

Ashby has at least eight previous felony convictions in state court. This case was prosecuted in federal court. There is no parole in the federal system, so Ashby would have to live until he’s 92 before being eligible for release.

The Glenwood Police Department reports a Montgomery County man was arrested Saturday, on drug charges. Authorities say 20-year-old Logan Eichelberger, of Elliott, was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance and poss. of drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,300. And, 62-year-old Joseph Raven, of Springfield, NE., was arrested Saturday for OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000.

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating an incident that left a man with a gunshot to his leg. Officers found the victim in the 3500 block of Avenue A at around 10:50-p.m., Sunday. The subject was transported by Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue to the hospital, for treatment of a non-life threatening injury.

Detectives with the Council Bluffs Criminal Investigation Division (CID) interviewed several people, but as of this report, no arrests had been made, and the incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 712-328-4728 (CB-PD CID), or Crime Stoppers at 712-328-STOP (7867).

A domestic incident last week in rural Page County resulted in the arrest of a juvenile. The Page County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded March 16th to an in incident in rural Page County north of Clarinda, for a Domestic situation. During the investigation, a male juvenile was removed from the residence and a criminal charge of assault was filed in Juvenile Court. The juvenile was placed with other family at another residence. His case is pending in Juvenile Court, for further proceedings.

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County, last week, arrested 32-year-old Timothy Ryan Eugene Betts, of New Market. He was taken into custody at the Page County Sheriff’s Office on a Page County Warrant for Violation of Probation. Betts was unable to post the $5,000 cash-only bond, and was booked into the Page County Jail pending further court proceedings.

Timothy Ryan Eugene Betts

(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two separate, weekend arrests. On Sunday, Deputies responded to a Domestic situation in rural Page County, north of Clarinda. Following an investigation, a resident, 40-year-old Joshua Daniel Woolsey, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault and Child Endangerment (both aggravated misdemeanors). Woolsey was transported to the Page County Jail where he was held without bond, pending an appearance before a Magistrate.

Joshua D. Woolsey

And, on Saturday, a traffic stop on Highway 2 about six-miles west of Clarinda resulted in the arrest of 43-year-old Michael Gene Landon, Jr., of Council Bluffs, for Driving while License Suspended. Landon Jr. was transported to the Page County Jail and held on $491.25 bond, pending further court proceedings.

A charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.