(Radio Iowa) – The Board of Regents discussed the search for a new Iowa State University president during their meeting today (Tuesday) with a member of the Washington, D-C search firm they have hired. Rod Davis of A-G-B Search discussed a variety of topics, including finding someone outside the academic community. “So what the what the search committee has to do is to not kind of get closed in to only looking for people that have come to the academic ranks. And oftentimes we have to remind folks on the search committee that don’t focus on where people have been, but focus on the qualities that they’re going to bring to you,” Davis says. He says if there is a good profile of the candidate for the job, it will guide the search committee in finding the right person.

“Let me assure you there are many non traditional folks that are out there that we think have a skill set that could be helpful to institutions like Iowa State, but the search committee has to has to be willing to kind of, first of all, talk with those folks and move them forward,” he says. Davis says the key to a good search is following the plan they set up ahead of time. “Where I have seen searches go off the tracks, is when you at the end of the process and all of a sudden either someone on the search committee or someone on the board wants to introduce another set of criteria,” he says. “So that is to say that what was written is no longer the primary criteria.”

A-G-B will be paid a fee equal to 25 percent of the annual base salary contract for the first year of the new president, plus expenses. The Board of Regents has appointed a search committee to work with the search firm. The only other information discussed was that the names of the candidates will be kept confidential until the finalists are named. The search will replace current I-S-U President Wendy Wintersteen, who is retiring.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak say two people suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries, during a collision late Monday morning at the intersection of Highway 34 East and North 4th Street.  Authorities say an investigation determined a 2012 Ford Fusion driven by 80-year-old Jane Waltz, of Red Oak, was driving north on 4th Street at around 11:45-a.m., when Waltz failed to stop at the northbound stop sign with Highway 34. Her car was struck broadside by a 2006 Nissan SUV driven by 53-year-old Frances Baughman, of Braddville, as she was traveling east on Highway 34.

Waltz had to be extricated from her car by Red Oak Fire. Both drivers were transported by Red Oak Rescue/EMS for treatment of their injuries. Waltz was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign. Damage from the collision amounted to $19,000.

Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by Red Oak Fire & EMS, Red Oak Emergency Management and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa tourism officials estimate there are about 25-hundred miles of paved bicycle trails in the state and a new stretch of trail in northwest Iowa is adding to that tally. The trail runs from Spencer, through rural Clay County and the city of Fostoria and to the Dickinson County line. Clay County Supervisor Barry Anderson was at Monday’s ribbon cutting. “There’s things that we can do as supervisors to help with the quality of life in Clay County,” Anderson said. “A bike trail, some people may not think that that’s a part, but it brings people together. A healthier society is good for anybody, so it was just a good project that the supervisors could get behind.”

Brian Schmidt was the engineer on both phases of the trail. Phase one started in Spencer and, for the most part, was built within a railroad right of way. He says construction on the second phase was a bit more challenging. “That included 2.2 miles of new trail and also 0.9 miles of on-street trail on the old frontage road in Fostoria,” he says. “That project involved a lot more cooperation with the DOT and it was challenging. We went through quite a few revisions in the design, just to try to make it fit, but overall we’re really happy with the results.”

Kathy Fueston of Spencer has been pushing to expand the trail system in northwest Iowa to — ultimately — connect to trails that reach Des Moines. Monday night’s event was an emotional moment for her. “Literally, I did almost cry. It’s been a lot of years,” she said. “We’re so forever thankful. We can finally cut the ribbon and have it open.” She says the newly-opened trail out of Spencer to the Dickinson County line is safer for bicyclists than city streets and stretches of rural highway.  “I have seen so many people on bikes that probably haven’t been on a bike in 20, 30 years that feel safe on the trail to ride it and to get their bike out of the garage and go,” she said.

A proposed four mile segment from Fostoria to Milford and an 11 mile stretch from Sac City to Lake View would complete the Iowa Great Lakes Trail project.

(Sac City, Iowa) – Sac County Sheriff Ken McClure reports a jailer and two Sac County Sheriff’s Deputies were assaulted last week while preventing the escape of a jail inmate. McClure said 36-year-old Artis Karazins, who was being held in the jail since May 31st on Criminal Mischief charges and leaving the scene of an accident, both in Lake View, was in the Jail holding cell. At around 3-p.m. June 4th, jail staff opened the 14-inch wide by 8-inch high food pass-through door to his cell (a standard procedure) to hand Karazins some paperwork. Karazins is seen on video surveillance grabbing the arm of a jail staff member and pulling her into the cell door. He released his grip on the jailer, but not before she suffered a bruise to her forearm.

Later that evening while serving meals, the same jailer is seen on video peeking through the cell window to see where Karazins was located in his cell. The inmate was laying on his bunk, naked. When the jailer opened the pass-through door to hand him a food tray, Karazins jumped-up from his bunk and was able to get his head and a shoulder through the pass-through door. When the Jailer called for assistance Karazins crawled out of the pass-through door before law enforcement could get to his cell. He was seen on video chasing the jailer down the steps to the exit to the booking area. The Jailer ran past two deputies, who were charged by Karazins. A physical altercation that took place between the inmate and deputies resulted in Karazins being subdued and placed in handcuffs. Additional law enforcement and Sac County EMS responded to the Jail.

Karazins was transported by EMS to Loring Hospital for evaluation. He was transported the following morning to the Woodbury County Jail. Sheriff McClure said Sac County “Jail staff followed protocol, and because of this, Karazins was not able to escape the building.” He said law enforcement’s presence in the building “most likely prevented further injury to [the] jailer in the stairwell, and prevented Karazins from leaving the building.”

The Sheriff said the incident is “Yet another reminder of the need to replace the 90-year-old, outdated [Sac County] Jail.” The incident also reflects past jail inspection reports, McClure said, “Which state that out jail is a safety hazard not only to the public but to staff and inmates as well.”

(Radio Iowa) – A state panel has approved payments to settle two malpractice lawsuits against University of Iowa Health Care. The family of Jeffrey Spahn of Dubuque sued after the 63-year-old died of a heart attack during surgery on a broken leg. The family alleged Spahn exhibited warning signs during surgery and the procedure should have been stopped. The State Appeal Board has approved a one-point-five million dollar settlement on that case and a two million dollar settlement with 60-year-old Sheryl Pruin of Argyle.

She sued after fluid from an I-V leaked into her leg during plastic surgery on her upper body. Her lawsuit alleged her leg is permanently damaged and she is unable to walk normally.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors held their regular weekly meeting today (June 10), in Red Oak. During their session, the Board received a regular weekly Montgomery County Secondary Roads report from Engineer Karen Albert, who mentioned an incident of weaponized vandalism to County property.

The Supervisors expressed their disgust at the act. Supervisor Bryant Amos was more direct….

Bryant suggested Albert post something on social media, in hopes someone will provide a tip on who may be responsible. The McGreer’s Hawkins Bridge (formerly the 250th Street bridge) was renamed in honor of the McGreer family, and dedicated on May 25th.

The Board then received a report from Montgomery County Recorder Carleen Bruning. They discussed and approved a Fiscal Year 2026 Solutions software license/support and Information Technology (IT) Statement Of Work (SOW) agreements. They also discussed and approved a FY26 tobacco products retail permit application for Cubby’s, and an application for the suspension of taxes on a parcel located at 401 Linden Street, in Elliott.

In other business, the Montgomery County Supervisors discussed and agreed to advertise the Highland-Annex space as being for rent, since the former occupant (Family Connections) moved out of the space some time ago. Auditor Jill Ozuna will begin the process of posting an advertisement.

And, they approved the adding of a Dorsey-Whitney Urban Revitalization proposal, and Schmuacher Elevator proposal, to next week’s (June 17th) meeting agenda.

(Radio Iowa) – This morning’s (Tuesday) scheduled launch of an Axiom Space mission — commanded by an Iowa native — is being pushed back to tomorrow. The launch was originally planned for liftoff this past Sunday morning, but stormy weather persists over Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Axiom Space will try again Wednesday morning, with the launch now slated for 7 AM/Central.

Ax-4 crew (Axiom Space photo)

Ax-4 will carry Peggy Whitson and three crewmates to the International Space Station for a two-week stay. Considered America’s most experienced astronaut, Whitson, who grew up on a farm near Beaconsfield, has spent 675 days in orbit, more time than any other woman astronaut. It’ll be her 5th trip to the orbiting space station.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture says he doesn’t yet know how proposed cuts of billions of U-S-D-A dollars might affect Iowans. Agencies that would be impacted include the Farm Service Agency and Rural Development programs, and likely the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps low-income families purchase food. Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says he trusts U.S. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins.

“I know that Secretary Rollins has said many times she wants to bring USDA back to its core mission and to be farmer-focused,” Naig says. “We’re going to take them at their word, and so there’s everything from, how is USDA reorganized and rightsized and does it continue to put farmers first?”

Mike Naig (Iowa PBS photo)

Naig says he’s hopeful countries will continue trade negotiations after the U.S. recently signed a deal with Vietnam in which Iowa farmers will receive 800-million dollars for ag products — mostly corn, soybeans, and pork.

(Radio Iowa) – A series of events in Iowa this summer are designed to give kids between the ages of eight and 17 their first free airplane ride — and mentoring if they decide to train to be a private pilot. Jett Korver, president of the Sheldon Chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, says the “Young Eagles” program launched in 1992. “The sole mission is to introduce and inspire kids in the world of aviation,” he says, “and as of today, 2,431,634 ‘Young Eagles’ have been flown since the beginning of the program.”

On Wednesday, starting a six p.m., Korver and another licensed pilot will be at Sheldon’s airport to meet with up to 24 kids who are interested in flying. “A parent or guardian does need to be with the youth to sign a waiver and once that’s done we kind of have a time of ‘ground school,’ if you will, where we kind of show them an aviation sectional and a map of kind of what route we’re going to fly,” Korver says, “and then we’ll go out and do a pre-flight inspection and have a 20 minute airplane ride after that.”

Forty-eight kids took their first flight during a similar event last summer in Sheldon. “I got interested in aviation because I took a ride with a local pilot and I kind of got the bug,” Korver says. “The Young Eagles program offers a lot more than just a free airplane ride.” Kids who sign up get access to online educational materials, plus the Experimental Aircraft Association will cover the cost of an initial flight lesson and the association will pay the fee for the F-A-A’s written test to obtain a private pilot’s license.

Over 130 kids are registered for a Young Eagles event Saturday at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids. There are Young Eagles program coordinators in 13 Iowa cities, at the following airports: Ankeny, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Clarinda, Clear Lake, Davenport, Dubuque, Marshalltown, Muscatine, Rockwell City, Sheldon, Spencer and Waterloo.

(Radio Iowa) – A major plan is in the works to enhance a recreational area in western Iowa’s Loess Hills. A ski hill has been in operation since the 1960s at Crescent Hill at Hitchcock, north of Council Bluffs, an area that includes a 15-hundred acre nature preserve. Jeff Franco, executive director of Pottawattamie County Conservation, says they’re working to raise at least 25-million dollars for a project that could include a new tubing hill, cabins, an amphitheater, and plenty of public spaces. “It’ll take a little bit for us to work through this plan to ensure that we’re doing this in a sustainable manner,” Franco says, “but we’re confident that once we finally get there with all of this, this is going to be something great for the state of Iowa.”

Hitchcock Nature Center (Photo by Michael Leland, Iowa Public Radio)

Franco says his county and the state lack public spaces for recreation, and studies rank Iowa near the bottom in the nation. “We’re really kind of falling behind,” he says, “so this is an opportunity for us to better serve the citizens of this county and its visitors.” Pottawattamie County owns and operates Crescent Hill and the nature area, which includes some of the largest remaining sections of prairie land in Iowa. Franco says, “We also want this to be a place where we leverage our mission in a way that recreation, conservation, and education, kind of all come together in one space.”

Franco says the upgrades to make the property a four-season destination may take five to ten years to complete and will be funded without using taxpayer money.