(Atlantic, Iowa) – In an update to their previous report, the Iowa State Patrol, today (Tuesday) said a juvenile from Atlantic who was struck by a vehicle late Monday evening, died from their injuries after being flown by LifeNet to Methodist Children’s Hospital in Des Moines. The crash remains under investigation.

The collision happened at around 7:50-p.m., Monday, as a 1999 Chevy Suburban driven by 22-year-old Todd Schwab, of Atlantic, was traveling west on West 6th Street near the intersection with Birch Street. An -as yet unidentified- 8-year-old child ran out onto the road from 401 West 6^th and was struck by the vehicle.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by Atlantic Police and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

(Atlantic, Iowa)  – The August session of Healthy U will be presented at Cass Health in Atlantic, by Cass Health Pharmacist Sara Arnold. The session takes place at Noon on Thursday, August 21st, in Conference Room 2 at the hospital. Arnold will be presenting on over the counter medications and supplements. Her main points will include what to look for when buying over the counter as well as what medications and supplements work best for treating certain conditions.

Space is limited! A free boxed lunch is provided for all attendees, so reservations are required. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat. For more information about Healthy U, visit casshealth.org/healthyu.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Montgomery County held a brief meeting this (Tuesday) morning. The Board received comments from West Township resident Jan Norris, with regard to recent developments in the proposed Summit Carbon Pipeline project.

Norris said also…

Jan Norris speaks to the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, 8-12-25

She added, “The conditional permit the ICU granted for Phase 1 is being appealed. Response briefs were filed last week asking the permit be thrown out. One concern is that landowners are left in limbo for what could be years until the company finds a viable path forward. As you know, there is no way for them to meet the condition of getting a permit in South Dakota. In fact, Summit has no application pending – they never filed a new one after being denied by the South Dakota PUC – twice.”

After acknowledging her comments, the Montgomery County Supervisors heard a regular, weekly update from County Engineer Karen Albert.

The Board’s next regular meeting is at 9-a.m., on Tuesday, August 19th.

(Creston, Iowa) – No injuries were reported following a collision Monday afternoon, in Creston. According to Creston Police, vehicles driven by 68-year-old Rodney Cottrell and 39-year-old Daisy Redd, both of Creston, collided at the uncontrolled intersection of Harsh and Vine Streets, at around 3-p.m., Monday. Authorities say both drivers’ view was blocked by an illegally parked SUV on Vine Street. When Redd slowed down, but then proceeded into the intersection, her vehicle was struck in the middle of the intersection by the vehicle being driven by Cottrell.

Police said damage to the vehicles amounted to $3,500 altogether, but were able to be driven from the scene. Daisy Redd was cited for Failure to provide proof of insurance (financial liability).

(Radio Iowa) – An expert on insects says it’s been a great summer in Iowa for mosquitoes, and a lousy summer for people who are getting nipped by the flying pests. Entomologist Lyric Bartholomay says mosquitoes are thriving in Iowa and all across the Midwest due to heavy rains and hot weather, which may also bring a rise in insect-borne diseases like West Nile virus. “In a situation like this year where we’re experiencing record rainfall and record high temperatures, it becomes kind of a perfect storm for mosquitoes to have ample places to lay their eggs and for their immatures to develop,” Bartholomay says. “I think we’re heading into what could be a serious West Nile virus year with a lot of cases.”

Mosquito-USDA-photo

She says climate changes could be leading to a rise in cases of various diseases carried by mosquitoes, as seasonal changes are impacting mosquito activity. “Maybe folks have noticed, too, that the last date of frost is coming later and maybe the threat of frost in the spring is wearing away sooner,” Bartholomay says, “and so in many parts of the country, mosquito season is just lasting longer.” Bartholomay says there are a variety of ways to try and control mosquito populations, including eliminating anything with standing water in your yard which might become a mosquito hatchery. Plus, there are several effective chemicals.

“For immature stages, we have an arsenal of controls that includes all kinds of microbials, things like hormone mimics that disrupt how they grow, and then more traditional insecticides,” she says. “For adults, we have a few kinds of insecticides that can be used either from a backpack fogger or a truck or an airplane.”

She notes, a community’s capacity to use those tools depends on its investment in controlling the insects. Bartholomay is an entomology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

CORNING, Iowa – Aug. 12, 2025 – The Iowa Transportation Commission today (Tuesday), approved $9.6 million for the Fiscal Year 2026 State Aviation Program, which includes several subprograms. The sub-programs include:

The Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which will fund $6.7 million for a variety of aviation safety initiatives, system planning, and air service development activities. It will also provide funding for airport development projects at 25 airports in Iowa. And, Aviation vertical infrastructure programs will provide $2.9 million for projects at four general aviation airports and eight commercial service airports throughout Iowa. These programs provide funding for the maintenance and development of airport facilities such as terminal buildings, maintenance facilities, and aircraft hangars.

In southwest Iowa, the following Airport Development Projects were approved:

• Atlantic Municipal Airport: $91,000 toward the $130,000 total cost of the East Taxilane Extension.
• Council Bluffs Municipal Airport: $82,500 toward the $130,00o total cost of Hangar Apron construction/
• Creston Municipal Airport, $158, 100 toward the $186,000 total cost of new General Aviation (GA) Terminal site improvements.

General Aviation Vertical Infrastructure project funding includes:

• Council Bluffs Municipal Airport, $300,000 toward the $1-million total cost to construct a Box Hangar.
• Creston Municipal Airport, $135,720 toward the $226,200 total cost of the new GA Terminal Bldg.

Additional information can be found HERE.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports 32-year-old Brent Monta Munger, of Glenwood, was arrested early this (Tuesday) morning at a location on N. Hazel Street, in Glenwood. According to the Glenwood Police Department, Munger faces charges that include Domestic Assault/Bodily Injury-1st offense, and Interference with Official Acts. He was being held in the Mills County Jail on a $300 bond.

(Creston, Iowa) – Two men from Creston were arrested on separate charges, Monday. According to the Creston Police Department, 70-year-old Daniel Leo Hayes was arrested at around 10:34-a.m. at his residence. Hayes was charged with Harassment-2nd Degree/Threaten Bodily Injury. He was transported to the Union County Jail and later released on bond.

And, just before 5-p.m., Monday, Creston Police arrested 36-year-old Blake Joseph Gunter at his residence. Gunter was arrested one two-outstanding warrants on original charges for Parole Violation. He was being held without bond in the Union County Jail.

(An Iowa Capital Dispatch report by Robin Opsahl) – Several Iowa Republican lawmakers have assured Iowans there is not significant interest in making changes to the state’s public retirement system after the idea was suggested last week by members of a task force appointed by the governor. The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Terry Lutz, who chaired a work group within the Iowa DOGE task force, said at a meeting Wednesday that one of the recommendations under consideration was “doing away with the current defined benefits program and going to a defined contribution program” for public employees. This change was recommended because compensation packages for government workers through IPERS, the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System, are “way out of whack” with private sector compensation, he said.

The proposal on IPERS and other benefits would apply to new employees, while the compensation would remain the same as it currently exists for current employees, Lutz said. Gov. Kim Reynolds created the task force, modeled after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) program in the Trump administration, to seek government cost-cutting and efficiency measures at the state and local levels. The proposal has sparked significant backlash from public worker groups and others, who have rallied using the slogan “Hands off IPERS” while urging supporters to contact Reynolds and lawmakers to voice their opposition to the recommendation.

Since the DOGE task force meeting, several Republican lawmakers have made posts on social media stating it is unlikely the Republican trifecta will pursue changes to the public retirement system in the upcoming legislative session. Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, wrote in a Facebook post Saturday Republicans are committed to finding “innovative ways to make government smaller and smarter” — but this work will likely not involve modifying IPERS. “I have discussed this issue with the House Speaker and other legislators,” Holt wrote. “While I recognize concerns about IPERS, I want to reassure Iowans that there is virtually no interest in making changes to it. We have one of the best funded retirement systems in the country.”

(Logo courtesy of the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System; photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

A handful of other House Republicans, including Reps. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars, Jason Gearhart of Strawberry Point and Mark Thompson of Clarion, made social media posts, saying they had received questions about the task force’s IPERS recommendation and wanted to reassure constituents the Legislature was unlikely to take up the issue. Though several Republicans have voiced opposition to the proposal, several Democrats have called for Iowans who oppose the cuts to speak out in support of government employees. Rep. Molly Buck, D-Ankeny, wrote on Thursday this means contacting lawmakers and joining advocacy groups, as well as voting “for candidates who will protect retirement security.”

Iowa Auditor Rob Sand, who is running as a Democratic candidate for governor in 2026, criticized the proposal in a statement, saying the best way to make government more efficient was to “restore the State Auditor’s power to find misspent money,” not make changes to IPERS. Sen. David Sires of Cedar Falls wrote on Saturday there was “misinformation” being spread about changes to IPERS by Democrats. The recommendation — which would have to be approved by the legislature — would only impact new employees, and “there is very little interest in the legislature to take up this idea at all.”

Though the recommendation was discussed in a public meeting earlier in August, the DOGE task force has not officially recommended changes to IPERS to Reynolds and lawmakers yet. The task force is scheduled to meet again on Sept. 24 before submitting its final report.