(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Atlantic Municipal Utilities (AMU) say they have awarded a $3,000 Powerline Scholarship to Gunner Kirchhoff, son of Corey and Laura Kirchhoff of Atlantic. Gunner will graduate from Atlantic High School this month, and was accepted at Northwest Iowa Community College (NCC) in Sheldon, to partake in their Powerline Technology program. The purpose of the program is to provide training for students interested in becoming line workers in the electric power industry. The NCC program has produced highly qualified graduates, who finish their “educations” through apprenticeship within the industry. AMU currently employs nine Certified Line Workers.

Gunner Kirchhoff (Photo submitted)

The electric utility industry is facing shortages of skilled workers of various kinds, including line workers. AMU’s challenge is to identify workers who want to work in this challenging and rewarding field. The AMU Powerline Scholarship is available to students whose families are customers of AMU. Students or parents interested in learning more about the AMU Powerline Scholarship should contact the AMU Business Office, or the AHS guidance counselors.

The City of Audubon’s newly redesigned website is online and ready for use. The site, cityofauduboniowa.com, allows the public to take care of online, just about anything you would normally have had to go to City Hall in Audubon, to accomplish.

You also have the opportunity to get your own portal to interact with the city. Simply click on “My Front Desk” to get signed in, once you’ve set up your account. While there, you can view your utility bill and history, fill-out permit forms, and other transactions, that would normally have been handled in-person.

The broadcast news at 8:09-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

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The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday, report an investigation is underway into an incident of Criminal Mischief/Vandalism in Council Bluffs that took place May 6th, but wasn’t reported until late Monday morning. Authorities say a 12-year-old juvenile male was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, for damage amounting to at least $300, but less than $750. The damage reportedly occurred to a 2013 Ford Escape, and was witnessed by two individuals. Additional information was not released.

Authorities report also, 43-year-old Matthew John Hecker, of Oakland, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse, on a State of Iowa warrant for Violation of a No Contact or Protective Order. He remained in the Pott. County Jail, Tuesday.

And, two inmates at the Douglas County, Nebraska, Jail, were transported to the Pott. County Jail to face charges in Pottawattamie. 24-year-old Maria De Garcia-Alvarado was wanted on a State of Iowa felony warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree, for Larceny amounting to not less than $1,500 or not more than $10,000. And 41-year-old Raul Uranga Villareal. Jr., was wanted of an Iowa warrant for two-counts of Credit Card Fraud, amounting to less than $1,500.

The Creston Police Department reports 24-year-old Emily L. Maxfield, of Melcher, was arrested Tuesday morning at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Maxfield was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. She was being held for Union County, in the Adams County Jail, where bond was set at $1,000.

A Creston man was cited Tuesday evening, for Allowing an Animal to Run at Large. 40-year-old Alberto Aguirre was issued a Summons to Appear in court, and released.

Creston Police said also, a woman residing in the 1100 block of Patt Street, reported Tuesday morning, that sometime between 11-p.m. Monday and 7:30-a.m. Tuesday, someone stole her purple, 2007 Ford Edge. The vehicle was taken from a driveway near the residence. The loss was estimated at $5,000.

The broadcast news at 7:07-a.m., with News Director Ric Hanson.

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The CAM School Board, Monday, approved a contract agreement with the CAM Education Association for the 2021/2022 school year. It calls for a 2.5% package increase and some positive tweaks with regard to insurance, for teaching staff, support staff, and the administration. The School Board also agreed to continue with the district’s current mask mandate through the end of the school year.

The mandate says students are required to continue to wear face coverings in the classroom, in the building, and on the bus or other forms of district transportation. Officials say there will be no bleachers at the baseball and softball fields this summer. Attendance will be unlimited, and those attending can bring their lawn chairs. Social distancing and masks will not be required at outdoor events.

(Radio Iowa) – As part of National Police Week, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s introducing a number of pieces of legislation designed to help those who dedicate their careers — and too often their lives — to protecting and serving our communities. “This week, I’m pushing several bills in the Senate Judiciary Committee to improve the mental health resources for cops,” Grassley says, “and to insure that those disabled in the line of duty receive the assistance that they’ve been promised.”

While the past year of COVID-19 has been hard on everyone, Grassley says the pandemic has been especially difficult for law officers who, day in and day out, have repeatedly been exposed to the virus throughout the course of their duties. “Our law enforcement supports our communities each and every day,” Grassley says. “These bills are a way to give back to the people in blue.”

There’s been a law on the books since the 1970s that provides federal grants to front-line workers who are harmed in the line of duty. Grassley says that needed to be updated with his bill, the Helping Families of First Responders Act, so the families of police officers and others will still be covered, regardless of how COVID-19 may’ve been contracted. “If they die of the virus, they will still get the money from the federal treasury, the family will, because it’s just impossible to show where you got the virus,” Grassley says. “You may’ve got it in church on Sunday when you weren’t on duty or you may’ve got it when you were helping people that had the virus.”

Grassley, a Republican, says efforts must be made to “back the blue,” as he says the number of applications being submitted to join several of Iowa’s largest police departments are down dramatically in recent months.

(Radio Iowa) – Republicans on two Senate committees have approved what’s described as a proposed compromise on tax policy, but Republicans in the Iowa House have their own alternative. Senator Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, is chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and he spoke before the panel voted on the Senate G-O-P’s bill.

“I have higher hopes for more tax policy reforms next year, but I can certainly say this today…if this was the only piece of policy that we did in the entire two years here in this chamber, it would be a hell of a bill,” Dawson says. “It’s something we can take back to all of our constituents and say: ‘We did a damned good thing.'” Senator Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, is wishing Dawson good luck in the coming weeks.

“I’m hoping you and your House counterparts can end this family feud,” Jochum said, “and we can come to some kind of conclusion on a tax policy that will garner bipartisan support.” Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, says Republicans should consider erasing the sales tax on period products, something Republican Governor Kim Reynolds proposed a year ago.

“The House and Senate are still a long way away from reaching a compromise…and if we are going to do a tax package that is this large, I hope that you will look at some of Governor Reynolds’ gender equity issues.” Republican Senator Amy Sinclair of Allerton says the Senate G-O-P’s bill takes the right approach. “Solid, comprehensive, common sense, lowered tax policy is best for all people, whether they’re male or female,” Sinclair said, “and to carve out women or men as better or worse in this tax conversation is just a silly thing.”

Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee have approved the same tax plan, so the bill is eligible for debate now in the full Senate. The legislature is in a holding pattern, however, and Republican leaders in the legislature and the governor will continue negotiations in private until a final agreement is developed that can pass both the Senate and the House.