(Radio Iowa) – Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was scheduled to have a campaign event in Perry about an hour after today’s shooting at Perry’s high school, so Ramaswamy said he prayed with the people who showed up and opened up a conversation about what happened.

“There were a lot of emotions expressed, a lot of tears had in that room,” Ramaswamy said. “…My heart goes out to the families. I can’t imagine the parents who have to suffer what they did, their kids being in a high school as something like that happened.”

During a campaign stop in Mason City later in the day, Ramaswamy said every school in the country should have three armed guards. “I’ve been saying that since day one of this campaign: for less than a quarter of the Department of Education’s budget we could actually dissolve the Department of Education and for 20% of that, put three armed security guards (in every school),” Ramaswamy said. “We have to get serious about protecting our children.”

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy campaigning in Mason City.. (KLSS Radio photo)

During an interview with the Des Moines Register and NBC News, Ron DeSantis said gun violence should be addressed at the state and local level and there should be no new federal restrictions on firearms. Nikki Haley was campaigning in New Hampshire and posted a statement on social media, saying “no parent, student or teacher should have to wake up and face news about a school shooting.”

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, gravely injured during a shooting 17 years ago and founder of the national anti-gun violence group GIFFORDS, issued a written statement early this afternoon.

“Students shouldn’t have to worry about being shot at school. We know that stronger laws prevent gun violence, yet Iowa has some of the weakest in the country,” Giffords said. “My heart goes out to the Perry community, we stand with you and won’t stop fighting to keep our kids safe.”

Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart, in a written statement, called what happened today in Perry “a nightmare” that is happening all too often in the U.S.

“The Perry community deserves better,” Hart said. “Iowa deserves better.”

State Auditor Rob Sand, the only Democrat elected to statewide office in Iowa, said he was “sickened by today’s horrors.

“…Every Iowan can offer thoughts and prayers for the Perry community, but elected officials with the power to reduce senseless violence must do more.”

DES MOINES, Iowa – Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff immediately on Thursday, January 4, and remain at half-staff until sunset on Sunday, January 7, 2024, in support of students, families, teachers and staff at Perry High School and the Perry community.

“Our hearts are heavy today, and our prayers are with everyone in the Perry community,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds. “This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to its core. I want this community to know that every Iowan stands with you.”

Flags will be flown at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be at half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

(Radio Iowa) – Authorities say a 6th grader was shot to death and five other people were wounded during a shooting this (Thursday) morning in Perry High School — and the 17-year-old suspect, who was a student at the school, died of a self-inflicted gunshot. Four students and a school administrator are hospitalized. One of them is in critical condition, but is expected to survive. During a news conference this (Thursday) afternoon, Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn was emotional as he praised teachers, staff and students for acting bravely and heroically during a tragic situation.

Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, says the suspect has been  identified as Dillon Butler and he was armed with two weapons — a pump action shotgun and small caliber handgun.

Mortvedt says all evidence t this time suggests the 17-year-old acted alone.

Mortvedt said he had not seen a TikTok video allegedly recorded this (Thursday) morning by Brooks that has been reposted on social media platforms. A reporter at the news conference asked Mortvedt if investigators have determined a motive for the shooting.

Governor Kim Reynolds opened this (Thursday) afternoon’s news conference with a message to the Perry community.

Reynolds has ordered all flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Sunday in support of the students, families, teachers and staff of Perry schools and the Perry community.

(Corning, Iowa) – Adams County Auditor Rebecca Bissell will serve as the Iowa State Association of County Auditors this year. ISACA membership is made up of County Auditors and their staff from all 99 counties in Iowa. The full membership meets at least three times a year and there are also six ISACA districts within the state that meet regularly. The organization focuses on the key areas which Iowa auditors are responsible for including budgets and audits, elections, real estate and valuations and taxes.

Ms. Bissell began her time with ISACA District 4, serving as President of the district for three years and then transitioned to the ISACA Board where she has served as Secretary, Treasurer, and last year, Vice-President. She received the gavel of President at the ISACA Business meeting in August 2023 and will serve for calendar year 2024.

Rebecca Bissell

ISACA’ s goals are to maintain a permanent organization to promote cooperation among Iowa counties which in turn will help to identify common problems and assist in developing solutions to promote standardization of practices to increase efficiency and reduce costs in offices across the state. The organization provides a platform for continuing education and networking of ideas and assists in identifying and seeking legislation necessary to provide sound local services. ISACA advises and shares information with the Iowa General Assembly on matters important to members as well.

“I am honored to serve this year as the ISACA President. I have seen the great work that ISACA has done in improving practices of Auditors’ offices across the state and I am proud and excited to carry that tradition moving forward,” stated Bissell.

The state of Iowa is expanding a water quality program to clean up a northwest Iowa river, one of the state’s most polluted waterways. The Deep Creek Water Quality Initiative Project was launched in 2014 with a focus on adding cover crops along the Floyd River and tributaries in four counties — Plymouth, Sioux, O’Brien and Cherokee. Ben Brady, a conservationist with the U-S-D-A’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, helps oversee the project.

Brady says a high number of livestock confinements in the region contributed to the Floyd River’s high pollution rates, but he says the water quality initiative is working.

Iowa’s secretary of agriculture recently announced a new grant for a larger area. Almost 700-thousand dollars is available for farmers to add buffers and bioreactors to help filter water from fields.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s elected officials are responding to the shooting in Perry. Governor Reynolds posted a statement on social media, calling the shooting a senseless tragedy. Senator Grassley said the appalling violence at Perry High School is heartbreaking. Senator Ernst said she’s praying for the safety and recovery of those involved.

State Representative Carter Nordman, a Republican from Adel who represents Perry in the Iowa legislature, said he’s devastated by the news and thankful for the first responders who are handling the situation.

Congressman Zach Nunn, a Republican from Bondurant who represents Perry in the U-S House, said he is beyond angry and — in his words — “we have a duty to protect our children, families and educators.”

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was in Perry for an event right before this morning’s shooting. Ramaswamy posted on social media that someone at the event remarked that it was just a matter of time before something like this happened in Iowa — and Ramaswamy said there’s a psychological sickness at the core of our country right now. The top two Democrats in the Iowa legislature spoke at a statehouse forum after first reports of the shooting where made. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said it was too soon to talk about any policy response to what happened in Perry.

The Iowa State Education Association’s president and vice president issued a joint statement, saying words cannot express the sorrow they feel for the victims and the pain that everyone in Perry feels.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon County Board of Supervisors has reorganized its leadership for 2024. During the Board’s meeting Tuesday, the Supervisors nominated and approved Heath Hansen as Chairman for 2024. Doug Sorensen, who has chaired the board for the past two years, takes over as Vice-chairman. The board also appointed Chase Petersen and Abby Rasmussen to the Board of Health, and Susan Osvald to the Planning and Zoning Committee.

In other business, the Supervisors set mileage reimbursement rates as 67-cents per mile for the Sheriff and 58 cents per mile for all county employees conducting Audubon County business. The Board established the Audubon Advocate as the County’s official newspaper for legal notices, and appointed Heath Hansen as Safety Director.

The board voted to leave their meeting dates and times unchanged. They will continue to meet on Tuesdays in the Courthouse Board Room, beginning at 9-a.m.

Atlantic, IA — Officials with Cass Health, in Atlantic, have announced the arrival of the first baby of 2024. Scarlett Jean was born on January 1, 2024 to parents Chelsea and Eli Williams, of Atlantic. Surprising her parents by coming four weeks early, Scarlett now shares her birthday with older brother Silas who was born on January 1, 2022.

Chelsea and Eli Williams & daughter Scarlett Jean. (CCHS photo)

The Cass Health obstetrics team presented the family with a 2024 embroidered baby blanket and a year’s supply of diapers.

(Perry, Iowa) (updates with audio from Radio Iowa) – Officials with the Perry Community School District confirm the first day of classes after the Winter break were cancelled today (Wednesday), following a shooting incident. A large law enforcement presence was seen at the school, along with numerous ambulances and at least two medical transport helicopters. Radio Iowa reports Raccoon Valley Radio interviewed Perry High School Teacher Lori Meinecke, who said she heard about six to seven gunshots followed by the voices of several school coaches encouraging everyone to evacuate the area.

The Dallas County Sheriff says they’ve identified the person who fired several shots inside Perry High School about 15 minutes before school was to start this morning. The individual reportedly died from a self-inflicted gun shot wound. Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante spoke with reporters at the scene shortly after 10 o’clock. He said there are multiple victims.

One of the victims is reportedly a school administrator. The sheriff says an officer was at the scene within seven minutes after the emergency call that there was an active shooter in the school.  Sheriff Infante said also, that there were very few students and staff in the building at the time of the incident. One of the hospitals in Des Moines has confirmed its medical helicopter and ambulances were dispatched to Perry. The LifeServe Blood Center announced it was “actively sending blood and blood products to Des Moines area hospitals in response to the shooting.”

Perry is a Dallas County town with a population of about 8,000, located nearly 40 miles northwest of Des Moines. The school district has about 1,800 total students, with about 575 in grades 9-12.

(Radio Iowa) – The leader of Iowa’s largest food bank is urging Iowa lawmakers to provide state funding for the six major food banks in Iowa. Michelle Book is president and C-E-O of the Food Bank of Iowa, which distributes food in 55 counties.  “Many states provide line item budget funding to Feeding America food banks,” Book says. “…Today we’re funded by private donors, but going forward we would like to embrace a public-private partnership to ensure that we are able to feed all hardworking Iowans and Iowans that have retired or live on disability.” Book made a direct appeal to Governor Kim Reynolds during an online forum yesterday (Wednesday). Book also made an indirect reference to the governor’s decision to turn down federal funding for summer food assistance to low income households with children.

“As federal poverty benefits become more difficult for Iowans to access, I would like to encourage you to consider providing funds to help Feeding America Food Banks procure food for the over 1200 pantries and feeding sites which we support across all 99 Iowa counties,” Book said. Reynolds responded briefly, but did not commit to the idea of a public-private partnership with Iowa’s six Food Banks. “I appreciate you and what you do on behalf of those in need, so thanks a lot,” Reynolds says. “And I appreciate your recommendation.” Reynolds recently notified federal officials Iowa would no longer participate in a program that provides 40 dollars a month for each child in a low income family, to help pay for food while school is out for the summer.

In a written statement released December 23rd, Reynolds said COVID-era cash benefit programs are not sustainable and this program did nothing to promote nutrition at a time when childhood obesity has become an epidemic.