(Radio Iowa) – Governor Reynolds has signed a budget bill that includes 100 million dollars for state grants to companies that extend broadband to areas of the state that don’t have service today — or to significantly improve slow broadband speeds in other areas.  “Areas of the state with the least connectivity today will soon experience a significant improvement in high speed internet,” Reynolds said recently, “and gain access to high tech, high touch services that come along with it.” Reynolds says there’s a glaring need and this money, along with another bill that outlines grant specifications, addresses it. “The state of Iowa’s broadband infrastructure is about to reverse quickly and dramatically,” Reynolds says.

The move got bipartisan support in the legislature. However, Representative Chris Hall, a Democrat from Sioux City, says the state COULD have used 100 million in FEDERAL pandemic relief money rather than state tax dollars. “We know that the use of those funds for broadband expansion is accepted and that it is the best ways that we can keep our General Fund dollars also flexible,” Hall says.

Governor Reynolds had asked legislators for 150 million dollars and she plans to use 50 million in pandemic relief money along with 100 million in state money to reach that goal. Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls unsuccessfully sought to create a new state commission, similar to the Iowa Transportation Commission, to review grant applications. “To facilitate strategic plan to rapidly connect Iowa households and evaluate grant applications for the new broadband program,” Wahls says.

Republicans say the state’s Office of the Chief Information Officer has handled previous rounds of broadband expansion grants and it makes sense to keep that office in charge of this next round of funding. Reynolds plans to ask the 2022 Iowa legislature to provide an additional 300 million MORE state dollars for the program in each of the next two years.

Adair County Sheriff Vandewater, Monday night, released a report on activity dating back to May 18th. On Sunday, May 22nd, 27-year-old Amanda Jo Herring, of Atlantic, was arrested at around 12:13-a.m. by police in Adair, for Interference with Official Acts, following a traffic stop. She was arrested after becoming upset at hearing the vehicle she was a passenger in, would be impounded because the driver had no insurance. She told police she wouldn’t let that happen, and would go with the vehicle. She then attempted to roll the window up. She was removed from the vehicle without injury, and placed under arrest. She was cited and released from the scene.

On May 20th at around 5:30-p.m., police in Greenfield arrested 40-year-old Donna Marie Ott, of Des Moines, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense, after allegedly placing her hands around her grandmother’s throat and pushed her down. She was released that same evening on her own recognizance.

Sheriff Vandewater says at around 5:30-p.m. on May 19th, Greenfield Police arrested 29-year-old Veronica Viola Lee Elwood, of Greenfield, for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, for allegedly using a blunt object to puncture the tires on two vehicles in the Greenfield Fareway Store parking lot, causing damage The vehicles were owned by the manager and a Fareway employee. The acts were caught on surveillance video. Elwood was released the next day from the Adair County Jail, on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

And, on May 18th, at around 8:11-a.m., 20-year-old Jordan Benjamin Andrus, of West Des Moines, was arrested in Adair County on a Clive Police Department warrant. He was turned over to the Clive P-D. At around 2:10-p.m., 46-year old Mindy Jo Knapp, of Perry, was arrested by Stuart Police, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense, Possession of a Controlled substance/Methamphetamine – 2nd or subsequent offense (she had a previous conviction in 1998 from Greene County), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Knapp was taken into custody at a motel in Stuart, following the execution of a search warrant, during which a purse was located in a shared bathroom of a motel room.

The purse contained two clear plastic baggies of meth, two containers of marijuana, two torches, and a glass pipe. Knapp was cited for the offenses and released at the scene.

(Radio Iowa) – The state medical examiner who conducted the autopsy on the body of Mollie Tibetts testified this (Monday) afternoon in the trial of Cristhian Rivera, who is accused of killing her. Medical Examiner Dennis Klein says Tibetts’ body had deteriorated in the July heat — but he was able to find nine stab wounds — and there were possibly 12 overall wounds to her body. Defense attorney, Chad Frese, asked if Klein determined one knife was used.

Frese asked about how the wounds occurred.

Klein said he could also not say if the killer was standing over Tibetts. Investigators say Rivera killed Tibetts after following her while she ran in her hometown of Brooklyn and then put her in his trunk before taking the body to a cornfield. Frese asked what other information Klein found from the autopsy.

Frese also asked if the attack on Tibetts appeared to be frenzied, and Klein said he could not determine that from the wounds — he could only tell the location and number of wounds. Frese also asked about wounds to Tibett’s neck that would have severed arteries and veins.

Investigators had said they found a small amount of blood in the trunk of Rivera’s car which matched Tibetts’ blood. The prosecutor followed up with Klein — and asked him if blood from the killing could have been on the ground and deteriorated.

The prosecution rested their case, and the judge denied a motion by the defense to dismiss the case. The trial will resume at 8:30 a-m Tuesday.

The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on Saturday, of 20-year-old Kali Logan. The Glenwood woman was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Her cash/surety bond was set at $1,000.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra went to Van Horn, Texas, this weekend to tour what’s called the “Big Horn” sector of the U.S./Mexico border. Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s fourth congressional district, says illegal border crossings are at crisis levels and the Biden Administration needs to secure the border. Feenstra, who met with law enforcement officers in Texas, says fentanyl seizures have dramatically increased.

Republican Congresswomen Ashley Hinson of Marion and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa also have been to the southern border. All three Republicans from Iowa who are members of the U.S. House have called on Vice President Kamala Harris to visit the border.

President Biden has asked Harris to address the root causes of migration out of Honduras, Guatamala and El Salvador and he’s assigned the secretary of Homeland Security to address issues along the U-S/Mexico border.

(Radio Iowa) – A Fort Dodge woman has been sentenced to two years in prison for stealing an elderly relative’s life savings. 40-year-old Janice Jurgensen of Fort Dodge pleaded guilty to wire fraud. At her sentencing hearing, Jurgensen admitted stealing more than 120-thousand dollars from her relative, an elderly veteran who had suffered a severe stroke.

After getting power of attorney for the man, prosecutors say Jurgensen used his debit card to buy food, gas and even pay the fees for a dating website. Jurgensen drained the victim’s life savings and he was unable to pay for his nursing home care.

The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting, beginning at 6-p.m. on Wed., May 26th, in the High School Media Center. During the meeting, they will discuss:

1. An Instructional Framework Plan
2. Health and Safety Modifications
3. A Phone System Upgrade

The Board will also act on resignations, including:

• Susan Wedemeyer, High School Art Teacher
• Jeff Ebling, MS Soc. Studies Teacher & Head HS Boys Basketball Coach. (Ebling submitted his resignation after accepting the Head Coaching job at Indianola.  His hiring is contingent upon approval by both the Atlantic and Indianola Boards of Education.)
• Erin Ebling, MS English Language Arts Teacher & Student Council Sponsor.

They are also expected to act on approving the following contract recommendations:

• Vanessa Perkins and Sara Rose, MS Summer Teachers.
• Minden Jones, Washington Elem. School Secretary.

(12-p.m. news) The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports seven arrests dating back to May 19th. Most recently, at around 2:23-a.m. Sunday, 46-year old Michael Leo Pickens, of Shenandoah, and 40-year-old Haley Ann Haynes, of Clarinda, were arrested following a traffic stop on 195th Street, in Mills County. Pickens was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS), and Interference with Official Acts. His bond was set at $10,300. Haynes faces a PCS charge. Her bond was set at $10,000.

Saturday evening, 44-year-old Shane Michael Searl, of Clarinda, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 34 in Mills County. He was charged with PCS, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving While License Denied or Revoked. Bond was set at $2,300. At around 11-a.m. Saturday, 33-year-old Tyler Ehren Simmons, of Pacific Junction, was arrested at a location on Ingragam Avenue, for Domestic Abuse Assault and on for two counts of Child Endangerment. Simmons was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail. And, at around 1:30-a.m. Saturday, 19-year-old Ian Eric Kermoade, of Omaha, was arrested following a traffic stop on I-29, and charged with OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000.

Thursday evening, 47-year-old Jerry Lee Dawson, of Silver City, was arrested for Driving While Barred, with bond set at $2,000. Wednesday morning, Mills County Deputies arrested 38-year-old Dustin Lee Harriman, of Council Bluffs. He was taken into custody at the Pott. County Jail, on a warrant for two counts Violation of probation. Bond was set at $20,000.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office said also, no injuries were reported following an accident that took place at around 8:45-a.m. Friday, at 288th Street and Highway 34. Authorities say 37-year-old Sarah Johnson, from Omaha, was driving a 2017 Chrysler eastbound on Highway 34, and following a dump truck, when a large rock kicked up from under the dump truck and shot through the Chrysler’s windshield. The rock traveled through the windshield, narrowly missing Johnson. It landed in the back seat of her vehicle. The impact caused the entire windshield to shatter, leaving Johnson covered with shards of glass.

(Radio Iowa) – The defense attorney for the man accused of murdering 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts in Brooklyn, Iowa, in 2018 has focused his questioning today (Monday) asking about other suspects. Chad Frese, the defense attorney for Cristhian Bahena Rivera, questioned Special Agent Trent Vileta, of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. “Would you agree with me given your experience that this was a violent death for Mollie Tibbetts?” Frese asked. Vileta replied: “Yes, it was.” Frese continued: “Somebody stabbed her multiple times…Would you agree with me that she was stabbed with a significant amount of force?” Vileta said: “That would be a better question for the pathologist.”

Prosecutors are planning to call the State Medical Examiner to testify. The defense attorney has asked questions about Tibbetts’ boyfriend and brought up tips to law enforcement about the man who lived near the field where Tibbetts body was found.”You didn’t find it a bit ironic that this man you’d received at least two tips on, her body was found a quarter mile from his house?” Frese asked. Vileta replied: “No, not at all.”

Agent Vileta testified that Rivera’s confession had cleared the neighbor to the field where Tibbetts had been buried under corn stalks.

(Greenfield) – In honor of Memorial Day, Ray “Bubba” Sorensen is repainting a 12-foot tall, approximately 60-ton boulder located south of Interstate 80 and just east of Highway 25, in Adair County. The boulder is painted each year in order to pay tribute to our military men and women. Sorensen started painting the original Freedom Rock® the first week of May and plans to be finished by Memorial Day 2021.

Ray “Bubba” Sorensen works on the 2021 rendition of the “Freedom Rock,” in northern Adair County.

According to Sorensen, “This year’s front side features an up-close look at the grief of losing a loved one in service. A lady sits at the base of her loved one’s headstone at Arlington, while the ghosts of those who made the ultimate sacrifice come to console her. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is in the distance, with a folded American flag faintly visible in the sky, with a portion of the Mrs. Bixby letter, that President Lincoln wrote. On the south side, the Twin Towers and a fireman (in honor of the 20th anniversary) paired with Pat Tillman, who was inspired to forgo his 3.6-million-dollar NFL contract to join the Army Airborne Rangers.

On the east side is Major General John Clem, who joined the Army at the ripe old age of 9. Making him the youngest non-commissioned officer in Army history. On the Northeast side is Oscar Austin, a Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for throwing his, already injured, self between his fellow soldier and an enemy’s attack. The north side features the Huey Helicopter in which the paint contains the cremains of over 120 Vietnam Veterans from around the country. On the northwest side is Bud Schultz, a local WWII Veteran
who was a MIA and a POW until the end of the war.”

Sorensen is not commissioned for his work on the original Freedom Rock® near Menlo, but works as an independent mural artist on the Iowa Freedom Rock® Tour. Sorensen is only able to complete about ten rocks per year, due to scheduling and weather. Sorensen says “I always say I have three goals with ‘The Freedom Rock® Tour’ and that is to honor America’s Veterans,
promote Iowa tourism and provide for my family.”

“The Freedom Rock® Tour in Iowa will be concluding soon and the Sorensens will be auctioning off the 100th Iowa Freedom Rock to cap the end of the Tour soon,” Sorensen and his wife, Maria said. Until then, the Freedom Rock®Foundation, a non-profit to care for and upkeep and create the Freedom Rocks® and Veteran’s memorials across the state and country, is up and
running at www.FreedomRock.Foundation. For a list of complete counties booked for the Tour and locations of already existing Freedom Rocks®, please visit www.thefreedomrock.com.

Although it is Sorensen’s 23rd year of painting the original Freedom Rock®, this is Sorensen’s eighth year on the Freedom Rock® Tour across Iowa. This also marked the fourth year since Sorensen began the 50 State Freedom Rock® Tour with rocks already painted in Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Washington. Freedom Rocks® have been booked for the states of North Dakota Nebraska. Sorensen plans to be at The Freedom Rock® over Memorial Day weekend, including Memorial Day to meet with visitors. Calendars as well as other merchandise are also available to help offset costs for the project. Social distancing practices will be implemented.