(Radio Iowa) – As the nation remembers the 20th anniversary of the Nine Eleven attacks, the memories are especially vivid for an Estherville woman. Cindy Hood was an air traffic controller at the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center on September 11th of 2001. Hood wasn’t on duty but she was at the control center for a training session when the class was told an airplane had hit the World Trade Center.

Several days after the towers fell, Hood took a group of Girl Scouts to Ground Zero to volunteer at a soup kitchen feeding the recovery crews. Between serving meals, they were able to observe something very solemn near the wreckage.

Hood and her husband, Mark, lived in the town of Deer Park on Long Island. A neighbor was among the firefighters who was killed when the towers collapsed.

Nearly three-thousand people died in the attacks with another six-thousand injured. It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in world history.

(Atlantic, Iowa) — Officials with Cass Health report Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions team is hosting a free community walk in support of Suicide Awareness Month. The event takes place Wednesday, September 29, 2021 beginning at 6:30 pm, at the Rotary Shelter located at the Schildberg Recreation Area. The event is being co-hosted by Healthy Cass County and Cass County Iowa State University Extension.

Karmen Roland, RN, Program Director of Senior Life Solutions, said “We welcome participants of all ages to join us to show support for those who have been impacted by suicide. Showing up to community events like this is one small way that each of us can help normalize mental health care and show our neighbors that we’re here for them.” The event will kick-off (at 6:30 pm) with local speakers, Noelle Whitney and Christal Sullivan, who will share their story on how suicide has touched their lives. The walk portion of the evening will begin around 7 pm. Participants will walk the trail loop at the Schildberg Recreation Area. Information about mental health services and community resources as well as light refreshments will be available at the Rotary Shelter.

Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh says “People across the county identified mental health as the number one health need in the recent Community Health Needs Assessment. It’s so important to have events like this where we can come together and show our support. It’s OK to not be OK. We want to end the stigma in Cass County.” For community members who would like to contribute their own experiences and stories about how suicide has impacted their lives, an anonymous form is available at casshealth.org/suicideawarenessevent

Roland says “We want to share stories from our own community members. We’ll post their comments on the night of the event for all participants to read, but we will keep it anonymous.” For more information, go to casshealth.org or check out the Facebook event.

EAGLE GROVE, Iowa — An employee at a northern Iowa pork production plant died early this (Friday) morning. Officials with Prestage Foods of Iowa, in Eagle Grove, said a mechanic, 57-year old Jeffrey Leonardini died while he was performing routine maintenance duties during the third shift. The man had been with Prestage Foods of Iowa since March of 2019, when the plant opened.

Plant officials say the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was notified, and that the company is working in full cooperation with OSHA Iowa. An internal investigation is also underway. Prestage Foods is providing support to its employees, through their Assistance Program.

In February, an employee was killed in a stabbing at the plant. DCI officials said that 50-year-old Wayne Smith, of Fort Dodge, died in that incident. Lukouxs Brown, of Fort Dodge, is charged with first-degree murder in the case.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Heritage House on Thursday, September 9th to celebrate new staff. Executive Director, Peter Gray, introduced the Ambassadors to Julian Bedolla who came on board in May as the Executive Chef/Food & Beverage Director. Julian is originally from California and has an extensive background in country club dining across the US and is experienced in a large variety of cuisines. Julian enjoys creating experience through food and encouraging those around him to try new combinations of flavors.

Diane Funk has been with Heritage House for many years and has recently taken on the role of Director of Nursing in the Health Center. Diane has rich knowledge and experience in long-term care and infectious disease control. The Ambassadors were also introduced to Sarah Lindeman as the new business office manager.

Pictured Left to Right, Standing: Peter Gray, Kelsey Beschorner, Jim Kickland, Heidi Hinman, Dr. Keith Leonard, Bill Saluk, Dawn Marnin, Dolly Bergmann, Donnie Drennan, Kathie Hockenberry, Rich Perry, Krysta Hanson, Lana Westphalen, Haley Kickland.
Pictured Left to Right, Seated: Julian Bedolla, Diane Funk, Sarah Lindeman and Kennedy Freund. (Photo submitted)

Heritage House’s mission is to support the independence, health, and well-being of older adults wherever they call home. Heritage House provides multiple lifestyle options including independent living, assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, memory support, and long-term care.

For more information on Heritage House visit https://www.wesleylife.org/heritage-house or at 1200 Brookridge Circle in Atlantic.

(Radio Iowa) – YouTube and Facebook users have started seeing a new ad touting Iowa as a destination for tourists and for workers. The “This Is Iowa” ad that debuted this week on social media platforms will soon be running on Midwest television stations and five national cable networks. A spokeswoman for the Iowa Economic Development Authority said $3.7 million in federal pandemic recovery funds are being used for the multi-media campaign. “This is part of our ‘This Is Iowa’ initiative,” said the IEDA’s Staci Hupp-Ballard, “which is really about encouraging people to visit, live, work and do business in Iowa.”

The project was started in 2019. “It was built on research around the perceptions of Iowa which showed that most people simply don’t know enough about the state to form an accurate opinion,” Hupp-Ballard said. “That’s a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity for us.” The latest survey from a national market research firm called Destination Analysts shows about half of Americans are planning an overnight trip somewhere this fall. Hupp-Ballard said this regional campaign is meant to build on that, to attract more visitors from surrounding states.

“Most people need to explore a place before they’ll seriously consider moving there,” Hupp-Ballard said, “and so what’s great about ‘This Is Iowa’ is it brings…our tourism and our workforce and business marketing together.” At the start of the 30 second ad the words “adventure, unexpected, vibrant and a secret worth sharing” flash on the screen. Some of the images that flash on the screen are of a hiking trail, a sailboat on a lake, and the Des Moines skyline at night.

“This is Iowa, we just haven’t been properly introduced,” the narrator says at the six-second mark of the ad. The advertisement ends with an aerial view of the High Trestle Bridge near Madrid lit in blue lights at night.

The broadcast News at 8:07-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

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The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Wednesday, Sept. 8th, Deputies arrested 64-year-old Terry Dean Calhoun, of Anita, for possession of controlled substance 3rd or subsequent offense, possession of drug paraphernalia and felon in control of a firearm.  Calhoun was transported to Cass County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

On September 4th, Cass County Deputies responded to an accident at the 400 block of Maple St. in Anita.  Marianne Martha Fann, of Atlantic, was driving at 2018 Chrysler Pacifica traveling east bound on Maple St., when her vehicle sideswiped a parked 2011 Chevy HHR owned by 3 Bee Farms of Griswold.  No one was injured in the accident.

On August 27th, Cass County Deputies responded to an accident on Hwy 92 west of Massena.  Clifford Dean Schaffer, of Corning, was traveling westbound driving at 2014 Chevy Silverado pick-up.  Schaffer’s rear wheel and tire came loose striking a 2018 Cora Predator Semi driven by Bradley Allen Ruth, of Orient, who was traveling in the eastbound lane.  The tire then came off of the semi and struck a 2018 Nissan Rogue driven by Joshua Vaden Hall, of Waukee, who was traveling westbound.  No injuries were reported.

And, on August 26th, Cass County Deputies responded to an accident at 10th and Plum Streets in Atlantic.  John Francis Dvorak, of Atlantic, driving a 1997 GMC Jimmy was northbound stopped at the intersection at 10th and Plum Streets.  Thomas Jordan Frederickson, of Atlantic, was driving a 2005 Chevy pickup traveling northbound when he failed to stop, striking the rear of Dvorak’s vehicle.  Dvorak was taken by private vehicle to Cass County Memorial  Hospital for treatment of unknown/possible injuries.

(Williamsburg, Iowa) – An arson investigation at a large park led state conservation officers to an Iowa man. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 49-year-old Jereme Goltz, of Williamsburg, faces charges including two counts of third-degree arson, felony possession of a controlled substance- methamphetamine (3rd or subsequent offense), and littering following a two-month long investigation by Iowa Department of Natural Resources conservation officers.

During the months of July and August, DNR officials noticed an uptick in the number of illegal fires being set in parking lots, fields, and woodlands located within the 14,000-acre Hawkeye Wildlife Area. The fires damaged trees, fields, and parking lot posts and destroyed multiple hay bales owned by a farmer leasing a portion of the state land.

Jereme P. Goltz

As a result of the investigation, DNR conservation officers, along with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa State Patrol executed a search warrant at Goltz’s residence in Williamsburg. There, officers seized electronics, evidence relating to the fires, as well as methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

In 2019, Goltz led an Iowa conservation officer in a vehicle pursuit at the Hawkeye Wildlife Area. During the chase, Goltz left his vehicle and fled on foot into flood waters of the Iowa River where he climbed a tree. A lengthy rescue effort by Iowa DNR officers, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, the Iowa State Patrol and local fire departments to remove Goltz from the tree. Goltz was charged and convicted of eluding, carrying weapons, and possession of methamphetamine.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) data released Thursday, indicates this past week saw continued improvement in conditions across drought-stricken areas of the Central and Northern Plains states as well as in Iowa and Minnesota, where light-to-moderate rainfall accumulations were observed. On this week’s map, widespread one-category improvements were made in drought-stricken areas in northern Iowa and western Minnesota, which received another round of beneficial precipitation this week. In those areas rainfall accumulations ranged from 1 to 4 inches. In areas of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, percentage of normal precipitation has ranged from 150% to 300% of normal for the last 30-day period.

Likewise, light rainfall this week led to trimming back of small areas of Moderate Drought (D1) in northwestern Illinois and west-central Indiana. Conversely, dry conditions during the past 90-day period led to slight expansion of areas of Severe Drought (D2) in northern Wisconsin as well as areas of Moderate Drought (D1) in Upper Peninsula Michigan.

In the immediate KJAN listening area, the Drought Monitor map shows Abnormally dry conditions remain over most of Cass, Adair, Audubon, Montgomery and Madison Counties, along with small sections of Mills, Adams, Fremont and Page Counties. Under those conditions, corn shows drought stress and the soil is dry  The southeast quarter of Guthrie and most of Dallas County, is in a Moderate Drought. In a moderate drought: Soybeans abort pods; corn test weights are struggling; Grasses are brown; more grass fires occur; burn bans are issued, and pond levels decline.

The NWS Precipitation Forecast calls light precipitation accumulations (generally under 1 inch) during the week ahead.