All criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law.

 On August 13, Cass County Deputies arrested Hilary Frances Steinhoff, 31, of Griswold, for OWI 1^st offense.  Steinhoff was transported to Cass County Jail and later released on her own recognizance.

On August 14th, at approximately 6:29 p.m., the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a one vehicle rollover accident near 640^th St. and Tucson Rd near Griswold.  Zachary Tyler Olson of Atlantic was travelling west bound on Tucson Rd driving a 1997 Ford Taurus when he lost control on the gravel.  The vehicle overturned and came to rest in the south ditch.  Olson was uninjured in the accident.

On August 14, Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kyle Christopher Archibald, 38 of Atlantic for OWI 3^rd offense and child endangerment-no injury.  Archibald was held at Cass County Jail and was later released on bond.

On August 15, Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Robin Lynn Troxel, 42, of Atlantic, for OWI 1^st Offense.  Troxel was transported to Cass County Jail and was released later in day on her own recognizance.

On August 16, Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested John Duane Anderson, 47, of Cumberland for violation of a no contact order, arson 2^nd degree and assault.  Anderson was transported to Cass County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

On August 16, Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sean Thomas Lambson, 38, of Atlantic on a Cass County warrant for sexual abuse 3^rd degree.  Lambson was transported from Delaware County to Cass County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

On August 17, Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Mathew Clay Mitchell, 51, of Brayton for OWI 1^st offense.  Mitchell was transported to Cass County Jail where he was later released on his own recognizance.

Grinnell College President Anne Harris says the school has decided to require students to be vaccinated for the fall.
“We did so after much, much, thinking. Much consultation with legal counsel. We believe we are in compliance with House File 8-8-9 — which is the prohibition of a vaccine passport bill,” Harris says. Harris says they don’t require public disclosure of a student’s vaccine status, so they can comply with the state law. She believes Grinnell College is the only higher education institution in the state that will require vaccinations — and says it sends a message to students.
“I want you to know you’ll be living with a student population that is 99 percent vaccinated,” according to Harris. “And I think that is going to matter a lot for the school staying open, for the college staying open, I think that is going to mean a lot for the community health of the town of Grinnell.” Harris says the vaccination requirement is one of the key steps they are taking.
“We’re combining that with masking in our buildings — and those two things very effectively should really cut down on transmission,” Harris says. Harris says you will not be required to show you are vaccinated to visit the Grinnell College campus.

As COVID-19 hospitalizations rise in Iowa, nurses remain the health care workers who are vital to caring for the sickest patients. A year and a half into the pandemic, many of those nurses are at risk of burning out. Bridget Otto, a nurse in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, says she dreads watching her hospital’s COVID unit fill up again.
“The last shift that I was there, we lost several people that were very young,” Otto says. “There were multiple times on our shifts that we just bawled. We just gave each other a hug and cried.” Otto says the pandemic has strained her love of the profession and she’s decided to go back to school this fall to pursue a degree as a family nurse practitioner. Lisa Caffery, president of the Iowa Nurses Association, says nurses are used to seeing death but not in the numbers they’ve seen during this pandemic.
“It’d be like walking into a mass casualty event every day and that’s kind of what it’s like,” Caffery says. “That’s a difficult thing to sustain over a long period of time.” Caffery says she’s heard of many Iowa bedside nurses quitting or retiring early in the last year. She says that’s pushed some of those remaining to work extra 12-hour shifts amid the waves of sick patients.
“Normally, you only do that three days a week,” Caffery says. “Well, they’re doing that seven days a week in some situations, and they’re just simply exhausted.” Even before the pandemic, nurses nationwide were in short supply, and Iowa has one of the lowest average rates of pay for R-Ns in the country. Kylie Olson graduated from nursing school last summer and got her first job working in the COVID unit at the Pella Regional Health Center. Olson calls it “baptism by fire.”
“It was one of those things where I felt like I wasn’t necessarily the most qualified person to be able to take care of these patients who were really, really sick,” Olson says, “but there was no one else there who could do it.” Olson says if she hadn’t been transferred to the hospital’s labor and delivery unit in February, she may have quit nursing. While applications to nursing programs have increased during the pandemic, retaining new nurses past their first year can be tough. According to one report, nearly a quarter of all new R-Ns leave within a year.

One weather expert says continued heat with little rainfall now in late summer could be a contributing factor to an early frost. Meteorologist Dennis Todey (TODD-ee), director of the U-S-D-A’s Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, says the long-running drought could prompt a potential crop-damaging frost sooner than expected.
“If we get some more moisture in the air, that could delay some of our frost potential,” Todey says. “When you have very dry air, very dry conditions, you can cool down a bit more quickly at night and maybe instead of getting to 35 or 34, we get down to 31 or 30 degrees.” Todey says early dry down of crops could also contribute to the frost risk.
“Dry conditions are a potential risk because the soils are dry,” Todey says. “If the crops dry down sooner, they’re not transpiring much more moisture, so it could be a risk, but if crops are mainly past their potential for damage, it may not be a big issue overall.” Normal frost dates over the northern plains become a factor in late September and into October. Fall arrives September 22nd.

Nicole Poole Franklin attempted to kill two children because of their race and national origin
DES MOINES, IA – Nicole Poole Franklin, age 43, of Des Moines, was sentenced to 304 months in prison by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose after pleading guilty to two hate crime charges for attempting to kill two minors because of their race and national origin. The federal sentence will run concurrently with the 25-year sentence imposed in the Iowa District Court for Polk County on May 28, 2021, for two counts of attempted murder. Poole Franklin was ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow her prison term and pay a $200 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
On the afternoon of December 9, 2019, Poole Franklin drove her Jeep Grand Cherokee on Creston Avenue in Des Moines, where the first child-victim and a minor family member were walking on the sidewalk. Upon seeing the children and believing the victim was of Middle Eastern or African descent, Poole Franklin intentionally drove her vehicle over the curb, striking one of them. She then drove away from the scene. The child victim suffered cuts, bruising, and swelling. Poole Franklin later stated she believed the child was “ISIS” and was going to take her out. Approximately 30 minutes later, Poole Franklin drove her vehicle near Indian Hills Junior High School in Clive, where the second child-victim was walking on the sidewalk. Poole Franklin, drove her Jeep over the curb and struck the victim, causing serious injury, including a concussion, bruises, and cuts. Poole Franklin later told law enforcement that she believed the minor victim was Hispanic, and was “takin over . . . our homes, and our jobs,” and “wasn’t supposed to be in our country.” Poole Franklin again left the scene but was apprehended by law enforcement later that day.
Acting Southern District of Iowa United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal wrote in his sentencing memorandum to the district court, “Nothing can be more devastating to the American dream of equal rights than the actions of Poole Franklin on a hate filled December 9,
2019, as she callously attempted to run over and kill a 12 year old boy, and a 14 year old girl. Two minors who had done nothing wrong other than innocently walk on a street, and happen to be of a different race and skin color from Poole Franklin. Her actions temporarily shattered, but did not permanently defeat this dream. Because these two courageous victims, and their amazing families, continue to epitomize the hopes of what our society can be. Holding Poole Franklin accountable, not only for her intentional actions, but for the malicious beliefs behind them, is what our justice system should be, and a must to provide just punishment, afford adequate deterrence, and protect the public from further crimes by this defendant.”
Following today’s sentencing, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel stated, “Nicole Poole Franklin committed a despicable crime. She targeted and seriously injured two children because of the color of their skin. FBI Omaha will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate hate crimes and seek justice for the victims. We encourage everyone to report such crimes to the FBI.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Des Moines Police Department, the Clive Police Department, the West Des Moines Police Department, and the Polk County Attorney’s Office. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, in conjunction with the Department of Justice-Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.

St. Charles, Ill. – Aug. 20, 2021 – A new 10-minute video featuring ag editors Willie Vogt, Farm Progress editorial director, and Holly Spangler, executive editor of Prairie Farmer, offers an editorial perspective on can’t-miss moments and hot topics at this year’s Farm Progress Show 2021. Vogt and Spangler discuss the stories and news they are watching and covering, as well as share the new product introductions, technology features, demos and other solutions they anticipate making the biggest impact with farmers when the show reconvenes in-person in Decatur, Ill., Aug. 31-Sept. 2.

“Farmers come to Farm Progress Show to get answers to the burning questions that are bugging them about their operations,” said Vogt. “They’re facing any number of challenges on the farm, but there are tons of opportunities for them in the coming year, too.”

“There will be something – probably a few things – at the Farm Progress Show that farmers have never seen before,” said Spangler. “The show exists for farmers to get a look at new solutions, technology and products, and consider what could work well for their operation. Farmers have an opportunity to see just about everything they might think of adding to the farm next year.”

Vogt and Spangler also discuss a likely hot topic at this year’s show – supply chain challenges and related pricing impacts.
“It seems that every company is scrambling to address these issues,” said Vogt. “If farmers have questions about the supply chain or product availability – whether crop protection or equipment – this is the place to ask tough questions to your suppliers.”

“It’s time to be planning for planting,” said Spangler. “It’s not too early to be asking questions about available planter parts, or working with your dealer. This is the place to come get those answers.”

Watch the video online to hear more from Vogt and Spangler, including their discussion around ethanol uses, farm data and supply chain shortages. Stop by the ADM Stage, Prairie Farmer Hospitality Building, Lot 643, at Farm Progress Show, either day from 11-11:30 a.m. CT, to meet the Farm Progress editors. From Tech to Food Policy, Willie Vogt covers a wide range of ag topics as editorial director at Farm Progress. As editor of Prairie Farmer magazine, Holly Spangler brings meaningful production agriculture experience to the topics she covers, including a variety of production, management and issue-oriented stories.

There are many more must-see moments at Farm Progress Show 2021. Check out the detailed show scheduleand be sure to mark your calendar for:

• ​​5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1: Case IH presents Lee Brice in concert
• 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday, 10 a.m. on Thursday: Friendly Competition at the Bags Tournament!
• 10-11 a.m. both days, FBi Buildings Qlyft system demonstration

About Farm Progress

As part of Informa Markets, Farm Progress is the largest, most diversified agriculture information business in North America. Through a robust network of live events, digital products, data, marketing services, broadcasting and local and national publications, Farm Progress enables the nation’s most economically significant farmers, growers and ranchers to connect and do business. It serves 80% of the 2 million farms and ranches in the U.S., and an estimated 85% of the nation’s annual agricultural gross domestic product. Visit our website at https://Marketing.FarmProgress.com.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a veteran of the Global War on Terror and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is urging President Joe Biden to fulfill his “solemn responsibility to evacuate all American citizens and Afghan partners without respect to arbitrary timelines dictated by the Taliban.” Ernst joined 15 of her Republican colleagues on a letter to the president.

 “We are extremely concerned that, despite our recommendations, your administration failed to establish a coherent plan to get all American civilians and Afghans who have aided us out of the country as quickly and safely as possible. This must be our top priority,” the senators wrote. “Not only should we protect American citizens in Afghanistan, we must also uphold our promise to the thousands of Afghans who put their lives on the line to work with us to advance our shared security goals.”

 “You must devote all means necessary to ensure every American citizen and all eligible Afghan partners are successfully evacuated. In addition, you must make it clear to the Taliban and every other terrorist group that they will face severe consequences if they attempt to interfere with this process,” the senators continued.

 Background:

This letter reinforces Ernst’s call for the Biden Administration to authorize the U.S. military to guarantee safe passage for Americans to Hamid Karzai International Airport, and commit to evacuating every American from the country before again withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan at or beyond the end of August.

 In May, Ernst teamed up with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) to lead a bipartisan bill to express widespread support in the Senate for the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for Afghans, and to urge continued support from the administration to uphold the integrity of the program. Their bipartisan bill to provide immediate improvements to and strengthen the efficiency of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program was signed into law.

Earlier today Ernst and Shaheen led 53 of their colleagues in urging the administration to address the quickly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and implement the Ernst-Shaheen SIV bill.

DES MOINES—Iowa’s public water systems deliver ample clean water, according to the 2020 Annual Drinking water Compliance Report.

Over the last 10 years, Iowa public drinking water facilities have increasingly complied with all health-based standards for water we drink. In 2020, 96.8 percent of public water supplies and a vast majority of people served by these facilities (98.9 percent) received drinking water that complied with state and national standards.  

Despite the challenges of COVID-19 last year, Iowa’s 1,848 public water systems produced safe drinking water for 98.9 percent of Iowans. In fact, the number of systems meeting all health-based standards was the highest in 25 years, since 1996. Both the percentage of systems (96.8 percent) and the percentage of population receiving drinking water compliant with all health-based standards were the highest achieved in the past 10 years.

Most systems (83.8 percent) met all major monitoring and reporting requirements, the best since 2014. Most important: last year, there were no disease outbreaks or deaths attributed to drinking water from an active public water supply.

Like a statewide report card, the annual compliance report measures how well nearly 1,900 public water supplies meet national standards. DNR gathers information from each public water supply to prepare the report, and then submits it to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The report includes maps of the public water supplies, and locations of systems that had violations of health-based standards, or major monitoring or reporting requirements.

People who want more information about their drinking water can ask their public water source for a Consumer Confidence Report. Public water sources must compile the reports, informing their customers and submitting the reports to DNR annually. The reports include any violation of standards for contaminants or reporting requirements.

Des Moines – The Iowa Department of Education today announced the Build Iowa’s Future Design Challenge, an opportunity for K-12 students to create innovative projects, connect them to careers and compete for up to $1,000 awards for their schools.

The Iowa Clearinghouse for Work-Based Learning and the Home Builders Association of Iowa (HBA of Iowa) are hosting the challenge to engage more students in authentic professional experiences that transform education for the workforce. The Iowa Association of Community College Trustees, Kreg Tool Company and Pella Corporation are sponsoring the challenge awards. The challenge is in keeping with the Future Ready Iowa goal of 70 percent of the workforce having education or training beyond high school by 2025.

“The Build Iowa’s Future Design Challenge will help students see how subjects like math and science can be applied in the real world while cultivating creativity, problem-solving and other critical skills,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Ann Lebo. “Through work-based learning opportunities, students see the connection between the classroom and the workplace where they can explore and prepare for careers that fit them. The challenge is available to all students in rural and urban communities across Iowa, and I’m excited to see the projects they produce.”

“With approximately 7.5 million construction jobs projected nationwide by 2026, and ongoing industry expansion, we want students to explore those opportunities for great-paying jobs. This project makes that introduction in a creative way,” said HBA of Iowa Executive Officer Jay Iverson. “Our members are excited to see what students are able to come up with.”

Elementary and middle school students can participate in the Iowa Home Design Challenge by constructing a model home using toy plastic construction bricks, wood blocks or other materials of their choice. High school students can participate in the Iowa Dream and Design Challenge, which involves conceptualizing and designing a project that could improve their community, such as a school athletic storage facility, a ramp for a disabled person’s home or a prairie birdhouse. Students will seek feedback about the project’s feasibility from people who would be impacted, but students will not actually build the project.

Teachers are invited to submit a form letter of intent to participate on the Clearinghouse website by Sept. 29, 2021. Submission of the form letter by the deadline is required. On May 4, 2022, three awards – $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place and $300 for third place – will be made to schools in each of the K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 grade bands for projects scored and selected by reviewers. Outstanding designs may be shared on Clearinghouse and HBA of Iowa websites and through other publications and events. Learn more about the design challenge at: https://clearinghouse.futurereadyiowa.gov/challenge.