(Lenox, Iowa) — The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports a man was arrested Thursday after he failed to appear in court on a felony drug charge.Authorities say 36-year-old Samuel Chaney, of Lenox, was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on an original Class C felony charge of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. The warrant was the result of an ongoing investigation into narcotics distribution in Taylor County.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) – Authorities in Shenandoah report a woman from Aurora, Illinois faces numerous charges after leading authorities on a high-speed chase Friday that ended in Essex. The driver of the vehicle, 53-year-old Christine Farese Agostinelli is charged with fifth-degree theft, reckless driving, first-degree robbery, identity theft, forgery, second-degree theft, assault on a peace officer, second-degree criminal mischief, interference with official acts, assault while participating in a felony and felony eluding. She was also cited for multiple traffic violations.

Her arrest followed an incident that began with Shenandoah Police officers responding to Great Western Bank at around noon, Friday, for a report of a woman attempting to cash fraudulent checks. The woman – who was later identified as Agostinelli – fled in her vehicle, striking a Shenandoah Police vehicle in the process.

Her vehicle went east on West Thomas Avenue and north on Center Street before continuing onto Highway 48, reaching speeds of 120 miles per hour. Page County Sheriff’s Deputies deployed spike strips in Essex, disabling a tire. A short time later, the vehicle was disable by a Shenandoah Police vehicle in the 1300 block of Highway 48.

Agostinelli was being held in the Page County Jail on $65,600 bond. Deputies from the Page and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Offices assisted in her arrest.

WASHINGTON – Iowa Third District Democrat Representative Cindy Axne (IA-03) today (Friday) introduced new legislation that would provide Iowa with $15,000,000 to recruit and retain new teachers and invest in professional development for educators, as well as increase resources available to aspiring educators. The EDUCATORS for America Act, which was introduced in both the House and Senate this week, would provide funds to Iowa to help recruit additional educators at school districts statewide. The bill would also expand existing grant programs that help train teachers, administrative staff, and applicants interested in entering the teaching profession.

More than a million teachers are expected to retire or leave the education field over the next five years, a recent trend that has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Iowa’s education workforce has shrunk more than 5% since the beginning of the pandemic, according to state data. Staffing shortages have also prevented existing staff from taking advantage of professional development opportunities that would provide educators with more avenues to remain in their field.

Cindy Axne

According to the Iowa State Education Association, there is a staffing shortage in almost every school building across Iowa.

Background of The EDUCATORS for America Act:

• Provides $500 million a year for five years for grants to support states in developing and implementing a statewide strategy for meeting their educator workforce needs.Iowa is projected by the Congressional Research Service to receive $3 million a year for five years through this bill.
• Provides an additional $500 million a year for five years to support educator preparation programs and partnerships, including an expansion of the Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program.
• Doubles the maximum award from a Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant to $8,000, and ensures grants cannot count against other financial aid. These steps ensure Americans interested in a teaching career can get support to complete necessary certification programs.
• Changes the loan forgiveness offered to educators in high-need fields (e.g. STEM) from cumulative after ten years of service to repayment on a rolling basis as educators work in that field.

A one-page summary of the bill is available HERE. Identical legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA).

DES MOINES – Friday (today), Gov. Reynolds signed a new Public Health Disaster proclamation that extends some regulatory relief for an additional 30 days.  The proclamation can be found online here.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Officials with the Red Oak High School have announced that on Thursday, December 9th, the newest class of inductees were welcomed into the Oak Chapter of National Honor Society. The organization recognizes Juniors and Seniors who demonstrate high qualities of leadership, scholarship, citizenship, and service. They must also maintain at least a 3.5 GPA.

Current members Camryn Bass, Ashlyn Blackman, Nolan Blackman, Jordan Carlson, Aedynn Graham, Delaney Hall, Grayson Hewett, Reese Jackson, Kaila Larson, Julie Loftesness, Trinity LaMar, Lennon O’Neal, and Delaina Olson led the ceremony with special guest, Elaine Carlson, speaking with all students as to how the dedication they show to these qualities today will lead to further successes and their ability to be leaders among the community throughout their lives.

The 12 new members were then recognized for their accomplishments as they entered their name in our scrapbook as the inductees of the 2021-2022 school year. Congratulations to Taylor Bennett, Dawson Bond, Tory Carrick, Lainey DeVries, Madison Doyle, Sam Fields, Shelby Heitman, Ryan Johnson, Tessa Rolenc, Gannon Sallach, Hannah Smith, and Josie Vanderhoof.

Information & photo courtesy Cheri Klimek
NHS Advisor

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Cass County Abstract on Thursday, December 9^th, 2021, to celebrate Arlene Drennan’s career and retirement.

Arlene Drennan has worked at Cass County Abstract Company for 15 years and though she has thoroughly enjoyed her customers and work, she is looking forward to retiring December 31^st. Arlene is looking forward to slowing down and winning her battle with breast cancer.

Arlene introduced the Ambassadors to Alisha Wagner who will be assuming the Manager/Abstracter role in 2022. Alisha has been with the company for the last 3 years and has been learning from Arlene every step of the way. Alisha is taking these final weeks to complete the required education that will provide a smooth transition into her new role. The Ambassadors were also introduced to Dawn Thompson who has recently joined the team.

Cass County Abstract (Photo submitted by Kelsey Beschorner, Atlantic Chamber of Commerce Programs Director)

Cass County Abstract Company provides abstracting services for our customers which includes a complete set of tract indices and computerized title plant starting in 1858 to present day. For more information about Cass County Abstract Company, contact 712-243-2136 or visit http://www.cassabstract.com/ . Cass County Abstract is located at 518 Chestnut Street in Atlantic.

(Radio Iowa) – Greyhound racing is scheduled to end in Dubuque next spring and Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission Administrator Brian Ohorilko says the commission will be involved in deciding what’s done with the Iowa Greyhound Park property. “The commission would, ultimately, have to approve or reject any type of capital improvement project,” he says, “and at this point I know there are discussions and I expect that we probably will see some plans in the next year or two.”

The license for racing in Dubuque has been held by the Iowa Greyhound Association, representing kennel owners, but Ohorilko says the track’s property is owned by the City of Dubuque and leased by the Q Casino. “We have not seen any formal plans, but I expect that area will be developed in the near future,” Ohorilko says. Ohorilko made his comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program that airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.

The Dubuque Greyhound Park opened in June of 1985 and it was the first licensed dog racing track in Iowa. The greyhound track in Waterloo closed in 1994. The state’s other greyhound track was in Council Bluffs. It closed in 2015. The Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque is currently scheduled to hold an 18-day spring racing season and close in May. Once the Dubuque track closes, there will be just two greyhound racing facilities left in the U.S.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axnes, a Democrat from West Des Moines is backing a bill she says will help with supply chain issues at the country’s ports. She says it prohibits ocean carriers from unreasonably declining opportunities for U-S exports. “At any given point in time, we have about a ten percent lag in import-export where we don’t export as much — ten percent of our containers might go empty. But right now, we’ve been up to 70 percent. So, that’s what this addresses,” Axne says. Axne says the requirements could be enforced.

“There is certainly oversight over what happens in our ports, oversee maritime import-export business to ensure that we are moving products appropriately,” she says. The supply chain issues are one of the factors in the high inflation the country is experiencing. Axne says it’s not the main problem. “But what I would tell you is that the best way to get any inflationary issues under control is to put things in place like our Build Back Better Act — which addresses multiple areas. Whether it is helping families to have the financial means by reducing the cost of prescription drugs. Capping things like insulin at 35 dollars a month so that they could afford it. Making sure that child care doesn’t exceed seven percent of our income,” according to Axne.

Axne rejects the idea that the big-spending bills add to inflation. “No — because those two don’t even add up. If anything, I would have to say it’s the major tax breaks that have been given to the wealthy over the last several years that have limited our ability to bring in enough funding to support what America needs,” Axne says. Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson spoke with reporters today (Friday) on her weekly conference call and says spending more isn’t the answer.

“When we are seeing that inflation has accelerated at its fastest pace since 1982 –that’s longer than I have been alive. That’s hugely concerning to me. One of the things that I have been sounding the alarm on for months is slowing the spending down,” Hinson says. She says the spending bills pushed by Democrats are making things worse. “When you look at the American Rescue Plan Funds that surged into our economy, also with the Build Back Better plan that the Senate is considering right now. Not only is it a big government bill that will put our country on the wrong track — it has some provisions in it that will add to our inflation problems,” according to Hinson.

She is backing her own legislation to deal with supply chain issues. “I introduced a bill that will take a look at the supply chain and critical manufacturing — specifically for rural areas — what that supply chain pipeline looks like. Looking at the high-demand products and what that supply chain looks like and what we can manufacture, specifically focused on rural America,” Hinson says.

“We are seeing that because of the administration policies. I am hopeful we will have some common sense policies that will get our economy working again. Right now our economy is not working for working families.” Hinson is seeking re-election in the new Second Congressional District. Axne is seeking re-election for a third term in the new Third Congressional District.

(Radio Iowa) – Non-profits are having the same struggles as for-profit companies when it comes to finding workers. Recruiters have filled just a quarter of the 50 AmeriCorps assignments in Iowa that are to start in early 2022. AmeriCorps members must be between the ages of 18 and 25 and they receive health care coverage, a monthly stipend and more than 63-hundred dollars to cover student loan debt or pay college tuition. Rachel Wagner of Conservative Corps for Minnesota and Iowa says the job market is really competitive right now.

“There are so many hiring signs out there,” Wagner says. “When the job market is better, I think people are less likely to do an AmeriCorps program because it’s more of a service thing.” Most of the job openings in Iowa are for work on conservation-related projects outdoors. Wagner says the crews will be based in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls, but may travel outside Iowa to work in some of the National Parks in the Midwest.

“This is a really great opportunity for a young person who, whether or not they want to get into natural resources work or environmental work, they really can network, build their resume and try something new for just a year or part of a year before starting on another career path,” she says. Student loan payments are put on hold while an AmeriCorps member is on assignment, too.

A recent survey by the National Council of Non-profits found 80 percent of the organizations were finding it difficult to hire workers.

DES MOINES – Today (Friday), Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced appointments to Iowa’s boards and commissions.  They included two residents from each of Cass, Carroll and Dallas Counties, and one each from Page & Union Counties.

The following (Area) appointments are subject to Senate confirmation:

Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology
Caitlin McKenney, Dallas County

Commission on Tobacco Use Prevention and Control
Chad Jensen, Carroll County

Iowa Workforce Development Board
Mary Landhuis, Page County
Alicia Stafford, Union County

The following appointments are not subject to Senate confirmation:

Council on Agricultural Education
Ben Booth, Carroll County

Southwest Regional STEM Advisory Board
Misty Gray, Cass County
Katherine Somers, Cass County

State Historical Records Advisory
Joseph (Andy) Swanson, Dallas