IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The historically close race for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District seat has gotten even closer. Democrat Rita Hart has cut Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ lead to eight votes out of more than 394,400 cast, with recount boards in all but one of the district’s 24 counties reporting the results of their recounts.

On Wednesday, Hart netted 26 votes in Scott County and another vote in Jasper County after their recount boards adjourned. Clinton County’s recount board will meet on Saturday to finish reviewing about 5,000 absentee ballots.

The Harlan Police Department reports two recent arrests. On Monday, 54-year old Roxanne Mare Poorker, of Harlan, was arrested on three charges, following a traffic stop. She was taken into custody for OWI, Violations of a restricted license, and failure to use headlamps when required. And, on Nov. 20th, 19-year old Randi Lynn Hess, of Harlan, was arrested on an Assault charge.

The H-PD says there were also two accident, one on Nov. 21st, the other on Nov. 23rd, neither of which resulted in any injuries. The accidents involved vehicles driven by: Jacqueline Larsen, of Avoca, and Tyler Thompson, of Harlan; and, Allan Watts of Harlan, along with David Benak, of Council Bluffs, respectively.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska is creating the nation’s largest tribal national park on a forested bluff overlooking the Missouri River and a historic site of its people. The tribe says the 444-acre park will allow it to tell the story of the Ioway people and provide a rustic getaway where people can hike, camp and bird-watch.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Ioway Tribal National Park will overlook a historic trading village once used by the Ioway people to barter for buffalo hides and pipestones with other tribes. That site includes three burial mounds that date back 3,000 years.

Montgomery County Auditor Stephanie Burke reports Absentee voting will begin on Monday, November 30, 2020 for the December 15, 2020 Special Election to elect a Board of Supervisor in District One to fill a vacancy. The Auditor’s office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. for in-person voting. The last day to request and vote an absentee ballot in-person at the Auditor’s office is Monday, December 14, 2020. You must provide proof of identification before voting.

Eligible Electors must live in District One. District #1 map can be viewed at www.montgomerycountyia.gov or at the Auditor’s office. Only those voters living in District One can cast a vote in this election.

Absentee Request Forms are available on the County Website at montgomerycountyia.gov or at the Auditor’s office. Request forms will have to be completed prior to receiving an absentee ballot. Return your request form as soon as possible.

Request forms and ballots can be mailed, dropped off at the county Auditor’s office or in the official county drop box located at the courthouse. The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. If anyone has questions about voter registration, absentee ballots, or voting, call the Auditor’s office (712)-623-5127.

Three suspects were taken into custody Wednesday morning, in Council Bluffs, in connection with an investigation into a stolen vehicle. Council Bluffs Police report two of the suspects have multiple felony warrants. Items in possession of the suspects, at the time of arrest, were four loaded handguns (one was reported stolen Wednnesday morning) and two trucks that were stolen within the past 24 hours (one was taken this [Wed.]morning). The suspects were identified as 25-year-old Joshua Holmes, of Council Bluffs, along with 29-year-old Dalton Holland and 22-year-old Javon Smith, both of whom are from Omaha.

Javon Smith

Joshua Holmes (Top photo) & Dalton Holland.

Authorities say at around 8:30-a.m., Wednesday, Officers received information about a stolen vehicle in the 1800 block of Avenue C. Officers coordinated an approach while three subjects were outside the suspected stolen truck. Upon arrival, suspect Joshua Holmes entered the driver’s seat of a 2005 Chevy Silverado, and attempted to flee. The Chevy was blocked-in by Police vehicles and could not leave. Suspect Dalton Holland jumped from the bed of the truck and ran on foot. The third suspect, Javon Smith, ran from the passenger side of the Silverado. He was located about two blocks away and apprehended. Authorities say Holmes had two loaded handguns on him, and was wearing a ballistic vest. Two more handguns were found in the Silverado. A second truck, a 2018 Dodge RAM 1500, was on location and confirmed stolen.

Holmes was charged with: Theft in the 1st Degree; Possession of a controlled substance/meth; Felon in possession of a firearm; fugitive from justice; interference with official acts, and Possession of paraphernalia

Holland was charged with: Theft in the 2nd Degree; Felon in possession of a firearm; eluding a police officer, and interference with official acts.

Smith faces charges that include: Felon in possession of a firearm; eluding a police officer, and interference with official acts.

Atlantic High School Agriculture Instructor and FFA Advisor Eric Miller reports the Atlantic FFA Chapter placed 4th in the annual Iowa FFA Farm Management Career Development Event virtually on November 12th. Members of the first place team included: Drey Newell, Caroline Pellett, Gunner Kirchhoff, and Garrett Reynolds.

Drey Newell, Caroline Pellett, Garrett Reynolds, Gunner Kirchhoff

FFA teams from 26 chapters participated in this year’s Career Development Event designed to provide the student an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of Farm Management. The 95 individuals who participated in the event each completed an objective test which had three sections: economic principles, records and analysis, and risk management. All team members worked together to solve a problem related to break even analysis.

The Iowa FFA Farm Business Management Career Development Event was made possible with support from the Iowa Farm Business Association through the Iowa FFA Foundation. Dr. Ron Deiter, Professor of Economics at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, was the Career Development Event coordinator and prepared the test.

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The Iowa FFA Association is a youth organization of over 16,100 student members as part of 246 local FFA chapters across Iowa. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The Iowa FFA Association was organized by delegates from 23 schools at Iowa State College on May 17, 1929 and is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The Iowa Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the Iowa FFA Association online at IowaFFA.com, on Facebook, and Twitter.

Atlantic, IA —Cass County Health System (CCHS) officials have announced increased visitor limitations for patients will begin on Monday, November 30. CCHS Chief Nursing Officer Amanda Bireline says “We truly believe that visitors are good medicine. While we know that many hospitals and clinics are not allowing any visitors, we continue to make it a priority to put ourselves in the shoes of our patients and their loved ones. We will keep allowing visitors as long as it is reasonable and feasible to do so. With increased COVID-positive patients, allowing visitors around the clock becomes a challenge.”

Bireline added “These patients need a higher level of care, which can strain staff who are juggling more than ever these days. Because of the increased spread in our community, and the increased hospitalizations, we felt it was the time to dial up our visitor limitations.”

Beginning on the 30th, the visitor policy is as follows:

• All visitors must be 18 years of age or older and in good health.
• All visitors must always wear a mask over their nose and mouth; additional PPE may be required dependent upon the patient’s diagnosis.
• Outpatients may have one visitor with them during their appointment.
• Inpatients may have one designated visitor.
• Daily visiting hours will be between 3 and 6 pm only.
• Emergency Department patients may have one designated visitor with them; visitors may be asked to leave at any time if staff deems it necessary for the health and safety of either the patient or visitor.
• Obstetrics patients will have two designated visitors/support persons who are 18 years of age or older and in good health.
• Special exceptions may be made in all departments on a case-by-case basis for pediatric patients, end-of-life patients, or other unique situations.

All visitors will be screened at the entrance before being allowed to proceed. CCHS encourages friends and family to use technology to keep in contact with their loved ones.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a theft that occurred in Exira. Authorities said Wednesday (today) the theft occurred between November 14th and 19th. The suspect(s) took several Dewalt brand tools and Dewalt accessories (20V, 40V, and 60V; no 18V).

Dewalt stolen items include: a chain saw, 40V battery chargers, 40V batteries, 60V Flex 2.5gal portable air compressor, 60V grinder, fast charger, 20V batteries, 20V to 18V converter, 20V impacts, circular saw, 20V compact blower, 20V grease gun and battery in a case, 20V drills, 16-piece drill bit set, 20V MAX LED flashlight, and a hand held buffer.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The historically close race for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District seat could be approaching a tie. Democrat Rita Hart has cut Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ lead to 35 votes out of more than 394,400 cast, with all but three of the district’s 24 counties reporting the results of their recounts. The race is the closest in the nation, and both sides expect it to tighten further as Scott, Jasper and Clinton counties finish their recounts in the coming days.

A single-digit victory for either candidate is a possibility, as is a tie, which would result in a winner’s name being drawn from a receptacle such as a hat or bowl.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday (Today) provided information about an injury accident that took place Saturday, Nov. 14th. Authorities say at around 7:38-a.m., a Guthrie County Deputy responded to a head-on collision at the intersection of Highway 4 and 141, east of Bagley. An investigation determined a 2014 Ford Explorer driven by 43-year old Sara Marie Anderson, of Templeton, was traveling east on Highway 141, while a 2000 Ford Windstar van driven by 34-year old Codey Allen Savage, of Jefferson, was traveling westbound.

Anderson, and her 13-year old passenger, Haley Nelson, told authorities they saw the van in their lane of travel. Anderson tried to avoid hitting the van by going into the westbound lane, but Savage swerved into the west lane at the same time before the vehicles collided head-on. Savage told authorities afterward, he could not accurately recall how the accident happened. A witness to the collision corroborated Anderson’s account of the story.

Sara Anderson suffered suspected minor injuries. Haley Nelson complained of pain and possible injury. A third passenger in the SUV, 43-year old Sara Ferneding, was trapped in the vehicle and suffered suspected minor injuries. She was extricated by mechanical means. Ferneding and Anderson were transported by Panora EMS to Mercy Hospital in downtown Des Moines, while Nelson went to the Dallas County Hospital by Dallas County EMS. Savage was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to Mercy downtown, for treatment of suspected serious injuries.

The vehicles were totaled in the crash, with an estimated $40,000 damage altogether. An Iowa DOT highway sign sustained $1,500 damage.