CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police in Cedar Rapids are investigating the spray painting of a racial slur on the front of a vacant rental house as a hate crime. Police received a call about the vandalism Tuesday morning, eliciting an angry reaction from Police Chief Wayne Jerman, who told The Gazette he was “disgusted and furious that someone would do this.” Local police are working with the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office to see whether federal hate crime laws apply to the case.

The house has been a source of neighborhood complaints over the last year, with reports of everything from disturbances and car thefts to drive-by shootings at the home. Last year, the city declared the home a nuisance property.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, voted to extend for another 90 days, an Engineering Agreement with Union County. The two counties will continue to share the services of Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman, while Union County looks to get their own Engineer in-place. Kauffman has been serving as the Adair-Union County Engineer since mid-September, 2020, following the resignation of Union County Engineer Zack Gunsolley at the end of August, 2020. The original agreement was set to have expired March 3^rd.

Kauffman said also, he has received driveway applications from MidAmerican Energy for a Solar Farm. The driveway/culvert for the proposed farm would be at southeast of Stuart, near the intersection of Walnut and 130^th Street.

Discussion was once again held with regard to Solar Farms in Adair County. Supervisor Steve Shelley said he wanted to specifically learn about any health benefits the farms might cause, and not any gripes about MidAmerican Energy or questions regarding a perceived conflict of interest he may have. He gave each person who wanted to speak, five minutes – in order to say on time for the next agenda item.

As with their meeting on March 9^th, the Board heard from Adair County residents Curt Beane and Tammy Baier on the matter of Solar Farms. Tammy Baier sent each board member a copy of the Madison County Ordinance on those devices, prior to their meeting. She said her main concern goes back to the days when the Wind Turbines were introduced to Adair County.

She said the Supervisors should know and understand the extent of the project, the size and what kind of project it is.

Tammy Baier said also, Adair County was one of the largest producers of cattle in Iowa. The foot imprint for solar, she said, takes up a lot of land, and will affect ag farm production in the county. She said Solar will take away a lot of jobs if it becomes expansive, like the turbines.

She said concluded by saying she doesn’t want Adair County to become “A dumping ground” for Solar, farms, and she questioned if the County residents would realize a decrease in energy costs, as well as a reduction in taxes. Baier also doesn’t want Solar farms to get tax abatements, like the turbines did. They should have to start paying taxes, she said, just like any other big business coming into the county.

No action was taken. In other business, the Board voted to re-open the Adair County Courthouse to the public April 5^th, with the caveat that each department may set it own rules with regard to COVID-19 safety. The Supervisors will continue to hold their meetings by telephone conference call, until further notice.

The Glenwood Police Department reports a total of three arrests, two of which occurred Tuesday: 34-year old Jason Katusin, of Papillion, NE., was arrested for Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, a Controlled Substance Violation, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His total cash or surety bond was set at $30,300. And, 68-year old Joyce Germar, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. She was held without bond until seen by a Magistrate.

And, on March 19th, 46-year old Toby Blankenship, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Glenwood, for Driving While Barred and Possession of a Controlled Substance. His cash/surety bond was set at $3,000.

(Radio Iowa) – State officials say they made a mathematical error when calculating how many Iowans over the age of 64 have had a Covid shot. A week ago, Governor Kim Reynolds announced 95 percent of Iowans over the age of 64 had received at least one dose of Covid vaccine. State officials now say that figure is 82 percent of the 65-plus. The error was made because Iowa Department of Public Health staff were counting doses, not people. That means people who got both doses of Covid vaccine were counted twice.

The state’s vaccination figures do not match the Centers for Disease Control’s data, which shows 76 percent of Iowans over the age of 64 have gotten at least a first dose of vaccine. Iowa officials say they’re using the latest U.S. Census data and the C-D-C is using averages based on total population. The C-D-C ranks Iowa tenth among the states in the percentage of residents over the age of 64 that have had at least one Covid shot.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Tuesday, of 22-year-old Jeremy Rhoades, from Hamburg, for Stalking (in violation of a Protection Order), and Violation of a No-Contact Order. Deputies allege that on Monday (Mar. 22nd) and Tuesday (3/23), Rhoades drove past the victims’ place of employment numerous times, revving his engine, and on one occasion, circling the block around the business, making his presence known to the occupants of the business, causing the victims to be in fear for their safety.

Jeremy Rhoades

Authorities say Rhoades was previously released from the Fremont County Jail March 19th, after posting a $1,000 cash/surety bond, for Harassment 2nd Degree and Harassment 3rd Degree, and $13,000 cash/surety bond for Harassment 1st Degree, Harassment 2nd Degree, Stalking w/ a Dangerous Weapon, and Extortion.

Rhoades was being held at the Fremont County Jail pending an initial appearance with a Magistrate.

More area and state news, with Ric Hanson

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The Creston Police Department reports two arrests took place, Tuesday.  Authorities say 32-year-old Kian Cooper, of Creston, was arrested on the 900 block of N Sumner Ave for Driving While Barred. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond. And, 26-year-old Anna Wilson, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston Wal-Mart, for Public Intoxication. She was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $300 bond.

Creston Police said also, a woman residing in the 1300 block of Miller Street reported late Tuesday morning, that sometime over the past 24 hours, someone had stolen the rear license plate off of her vehicle while parked at her residence. The loss was estimated at $20.

Cass County Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle says if you are wondering about whether there is food insecurity and hunger in Iowa, the answer is yes. Toelle says while the Cass County Democrats cannot eradicate hunger in our county, they are trying to help meet some of the needs of our neighbors. In fact, over the past several months, they have donated $1200 in total to the four county food pantries, so that they can buy food items that are not donated to them, or buy special foods that some chronically ill people need, that are not usually donated to food pantries.

Toelle says the pantries are always very appreciative of donations, whether it be in actual food items or monetary donations. She said also,  “We encourage all other political and fraternal/civic organizations to also donate to the pantries”.

Terri Smith, Cass County Democrats Vice-Chair and the Lord’s Cupboard in Griswold Reps Barb Schroeder, Eleanor Tietz, and Joy Smith.

Kathy Kerns, Cass County Democrats Vice-Chair, and Anita Food Pantry Reps Pam Miller, JoAnn Poeppe, Jodi Irlmeier, Tracy Lett, and Teresa Chester.

Atlantic Food Pantry Reps Brad Osbourne and Ken Burkhart and Kathy Kerns, Cass County Democrats Vice-Chair.

Kathy Kerns, Cass County Democrats Vice-Chair; Cumberland Care & Share Pantry representatives Julie Brown, Becky Pelzer, and Diane Becker.

The news at 7:06-a.m., with KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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