(Atlantic, Iowa) – Transit agencies across the country have been battling a major shortage of available new buses to replace aging fleets. Officials with the Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) in Atlantic, say record ridership combined with a lack of replacement vehicles has put SWITA at the top of the list for oldest fleets in the state and near the top nationwide. SWITA says this month has brought some good news to help alleviate the problem, with the arrival of five new buses.

SWITA recently took delivery of five 2024 Ford Glaval 18-passenger cutaway buses from Hoglund Bus Company. The vehicles were originally ordered in 2021 but have only now just arrived. A multitude of factors have contributed to this bus shortage and delay nationwide, but the issue was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of bus manufacturers in the country had already started to dwindle with consolidation but the pandemic caused the industry to shrink to two major manufacturers. Supply chain issues combined with reduced capacity further delayed production. Starting from the lack of available chassis to start with all the way up to high demand for competing products like campers. An added layer that has slowed things down is manufacturing requirements for the Build America, Buy America legislation. Stakeholders in the transit industry have been working with legislators and manufacturers to try to break through the logjam.

The pandemic also resulted in record investment in public transit infrastructure, so it’s been a bit of a catch-22 to see results. Cost is another factor that has made procurement a big challenge. Back in 2021 these buses would have cost about $86,000, but continued cost increases and inflation have ballooned that figure all the way up to over $160,000 per bus today. Cost adjustments require contract changes, further slowing the process. That’s why SWITA says it is a big deal to see some new vehicles show up on the lot. Ideally, officials say, SWITA should take delivery of 10 new vehicles a year to keep up with wear and tear. Until that pace returns SWITA will continue to invest heavily in maintenance of existing buses and purchasing used buses where they make sense.

SWITA officials say they are excited to get the new vehicles rolling, and will continue to put effort into improving the bus ecosystem.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court has reversed a multi-million dollar judgment in a dispute involving the construction on the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports.

(as said) – Modern Piping was awarded nearly 13 million dollars after alleging the U-I wrongly benefited from an injunction to delay arbitration in a construction dispute so they could gain early access to the Children’s Hospital. The Iowa Supreme Court says Modern Piping led the district court astray when it convinced the court the wrongful injunction entitled it to recover all the money made by the U-I after taking over the building early. The Supreme Court says the nearly 22 million dollars awarded Modern Piping in costs and fees to fight the temporary injunction is all they can collect.

(Radio Iowa) – Starting July 1st, police won’t have to get a warrant to enter vape shops and stores that sell tobacco products AND let customers use the products in the store. The change is included in a bill that passed the legislature and has been signed into law by the governor. Representative Taylor Collins of Mediapolis says lawmakers heard concerns about potential underage drinking in lounges in the Iowa City area that do not have a liquor license, but do have a license to sell tobacco products.

Representative Eric Gjerde of Cedar Rapids says the law will provide a new measure of safety to neighbors of these shops.

A warrant would still be required for a police search of private records, the shop’s office or any living quarters that might be attached to the business.

Harlan, Iowa — A former Harlan Community School District sixth grade social studies teacher charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and with the purchase/possession of a depiction of a minor in a sexual act, has plead guilty to lesser charges. 32-year-old Eric Robert Croghan, of Harlan, also served as the 7th Grade Boys’ Basketball Coach and Middle School Girls Cross Country Coach. He entered his voluntary/negotiated plea March 29, 2024, to charges that include Nonfelonius Misconduct in Office (A Serious Misdemeanor) and Purchase/Possession Depiction of a Minor in Sex Act 1st Offense (An Aggravated Misdemeanor). He was sentenced to time served, and received a suspended prison sentence, along with two-years probation. Eric Croghan was also placed on Iowa’s Sex Offender Registry April 1st, and must pay fines amounting to $1,285, and a Civil Penalty of $260.

The original charges against Eric Croghan were filed May 8, 2023. According to court documents, a search warrant had been issued February 20, 2023 on Croghan’s person, property, and vehicles. The warrant stemmed from online contact Croghan had in December 2022 via private message on Kik Messenger with an Online Covert Employee (OCE) who was a member of the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in Jacksonville, FL.

Eric Robert Croghan (IA Sex Offender Registry photo)

Harlan Community School District officials initially placed Croghan on administrative leave in 2023, but then he submitted his resignation for all teaching and coaching positions within the district. The school board approved his resignation.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – On Thursday, April 25th, 2024, the Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were on hand to celebrate the opening of a new business, Holy Grail Antiques, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The Ambassadors had the opportunity to meet with the owners and view the unique retail space located in an old church.

Alan Guttenfelder, part-owner of Holy Grail Antiques, began collecting antiques in college around 1996. Alan’s passion for antiques grew throughout the years, and from 2007-2011, he owned and operated a store in St. Paul Minnesota. In 2013, Alan moved back to Iowa to care for his mother and became a vendor in various area shops. Alan always had dreams of opening another store in Atlantic, and in 2023 the Templeman Family showed Alan the church, and he fell in love with the stain glass windows and endless possibilities.

Fast forward to today, Alan and his nine vendors feature multiple styles of antiques from farmhouse to high-end, mid-century modern in both levels of the church. Alan looks forward to being a part of the Atlantic business community and is especially excited for Christmas in Atlantic as he enjoys large municipal Christmas décor and a lot of lights. Holy Grail is currently open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 AM – 5 PM. Alan and his team continue to renovate the basement of the church in hopes of one day hosting parties and book clubs on occasion.

Pictured from Left to Right (Front Rows): Rebecca Clarken, Cheryl True, Tom Cristo, Cathy Lamer, Alan Guttenfelder, Diane Martens, Tracy Hansen, David Swain, Lana Westphalen, Kelsey Beschorner
Pictured from Left to Right (Back Rows): BJ Hart, Jeff Christensen, Angie Johnson, Mel Newton, Dolly Bergmann, Anne Quist, Krysta Hanson, Emily Kennedy, Bill Saluk, Jennifer McEntaffer, Jim Kickland, Kathie Hockenberry, Chris Parks, Julie Waters, Colt Doherty, Megan Sramek, Sue Liston, Rod Hansen;

Holy Grail Antiques is located at 801 Chestnut Street in Atlantic. For more information visit their Facebook page or call 612-743-777.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A collision in Red Oak, Thursday afternoon, caused $11,000 damage, but no injuries were reported. According to Red Oak Police, the accident happened a little after 2-p.m., at the intersection of N. 8th and E. Coolbaugh Streets. The Police report says 79-year-old Jane Roberta Waltz, of Red Oak, was driving a 2016 Chevy Equinox on E. Coolbaugh Street, and attempting to turn north onto 8th Street. When she stopped at the intersection and then pulled-out, Waltz failed to notice a 2020 Toyota Corolla traveling northbound on 8th, and driven by 52-year-old Christina Marie Gresham, of Red Oak.

The right front side of Waltz’ SUV struck the car on the left rear side, causing the Toyota to slide into a street sign and scrape a fire hydrant. Red Oak Police cited Waltz for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign and Yield the Right-Of-Way. The report also noted Waltz should have a reexamination of her driving skills, due to “poor driving skills possibly due to eyesight and age.”