(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), met the newly elected Mayor of Lewis. Christopher Jahnke was elected to fill the vacant position, on April 29th. He spoke with the Board about trying to bring the community together, in light of rumors and general civic distrust of the local government.

He said things have escalated to the point were a group has called the Sheriff’s phone number and taken other measures. Jahnke said efforts by some members of the community to discredit local government officials is taking its toll.

Jahnke said one of the ways he hopes the community will show it’s solidarity, is by participating in a celebration set to take place June 14th.

Cass Co. BOS mtg 5-20-25

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors heard from Vision Atlantic President Christina Bateman, with regard to the non-profit organization’s economic development project. Afterward, they held discussion with regard to using the County’s portion of the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) to help fund the project. Bateman said they hope the County can contribute $2.5-million toward the project. The City of Atlantic has already committed to the same amount.

Board Chair Steve Baier…

Cass County Auditor Kathy Somers said any qualifying funds wouldn’t be available until FY 27.

The project (as previously mentioned), is in partnership with the Community Foundation for Western Iowa and the Charles E. Lakin Foundation, and includes a 49-acre residential development designed to meet the growing housing needs, a child development center, and expansion of the Nishna Valley Family YMCA in Atlantic. According to their website, Vision Atlantic’s goal is to raise $39-million dollars for the childcare facility and YMCA expansion.

The Board took no action on a contribution of LOST funds at this time.

(Griswold, Iowa) – Members of the Griswold School Board, Monday evening, approved several changes with regard to personnel. Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN News approved resignations include:

The Board also approved new hires and a transfer.

The Board also approved a Middle School Volleyball Coach contract for Carla Wilson. The Griswold School Board passed the first reading of a policy pertaining to cell phone use in the classroom, based on state law.

The District’s policy says cell phones are not to be used during instructional time.

Cell phones are to be kept in the students’ lockers during class time, with certain exceptions, such as medical necessity.

Students who violate the policy would receive a warning for the first offense.

In other business, the Griswold School Board, Monday, awarded a bid for the Concession Stand Project. Dave Henrichs said there were two bids.

And, they established Activities Fees for the 2025-26 School Year, which are essentially unchanged, with the exception of a two-dollar increase in adult fees, from five-dollars to seven-dollars. That change is based on admission changes by the Corner Conference.

The District will continue to allow Griswold students to attend home games, free of charge. The Board also approved a renewal of an agreement with the City of Griswold for the mutual use of equipment, as needed.

(Radio Iowa) -A Bettendorf native who’s a Navy veteran is campaigning to be Iowa’s top election official. Democrat Ryan Peterman is a graduate of the U-S Naval Academy who served 10 years as a helicopter pilot. He returned to Iowa last year to help care for his father, who is also a veteran. “I realized I kind of had a void, public service being a central focus of my life, so I started volunteering for a couple of campaigns and that ultimately led me down the path to where I am now, which is announcing my candidacy for Secretary of State in Iowa,” Peterman says. Republican Paul Pate, Iowa’s current secretary of state, has not announced whether he intends to seek a fifth term. Peterman, who is 34, is making his first run for public office.

Democrat Ryan Peterman of Bettendorf kicks off his campaign for Iowa Secretary of State today. (Photo from Peterman campaign)

Peterman says his Navy experience has taught him how to lead under pressure. “It’s taught me how to build trust and it’s taught me how to get results,” Peterman says. “I think that’s exactly what we need from our elected officials, particulary in the secretary of state’s office.” Peterman says he’s troubled by Republican efforts that have shortened Iowa’s early voting period to 20 days. “I believe that if you’re here in Iowa and you’re a citizen, you have the right to vote and if you have the desire to vote, you have the opportunity vote and the secretary of state’s office should be making it easier to do so,” Peterman said, “and they should also be ensuring that folks know that our elections are safe, secure and that they can trust that when they show up at the ballot box to cast their vote, that vote is going to count.”

As a Naval Aviator, Peterman deployed to the Middle East and Asia as a helicopter pilot on an aircraft carrier. “I got a first hand experience of what real good service and real good leadership looks like. I took those experiences with me to my next job. I was lucky enough to be selected to be a legislative fellow and I worked in the senate for a year on defense policy and veterans policy for Senator Jeanne Shaheen,” Peterson says. “which was another eye opening experience where I learned a ton.”

After that experience, Peterman returned to the U-S Naval Academy in Maryland where he was an honor education officer teaching midshipmen and a speechwriter for the academy’s superintendent.

(Radio Iowa) – Monday’s storms brought large hail, high winds and heavy rain to wide sections of Iowa, mostly the state’s southern half. National Weather Service meteorologist Alexis Jimenez says at least one rainfall record was set. “Des Moines had officially recorded 3.74 inches of rain yesterday,” Jimenez says. “Places up north of there, like Ames, recorded close to two inches. Generally, central and southern Iowa recorded one to three inches.” Two-inch diameter hailstones were reported in Clark and Decatur counties in Monday afternoon’s storms, while peak winds were clocked at 66 miles an hour in Dallas and Hamilton counties.

Some areas just south of Des Moines report rainfall since Sunday night at nearly five-inches, and she says the rain will continue to fall. “North-central Iowa and eastern Iowa will get that steady rain for much of the day,” Jimenez says. “It could be up to an inch in Webster City and places north of there, and maybe some thunderstorms will be possible in portions of eastern Iowa in the afternoon hours.”

No severe weather is forecast today (Tuesday) in Iowa and the forecast calls for the rain to gradually come to an end by Wednesday.

(Radio Iowa) – Leaders of the student governments at the three state universities talked about the impact of the proposed tuition increase during the Board of Regents’ meeting Monday. Resident tuition would increase by three percent at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, and two-point-seven percent at U-N-I. University of Iowa student body president Thomas Knudsen. “We know these decisions are not made lightly and we understand that maintaining a high quality education requires resources. But it’s essential to remember that behind these numbers are real students,” Knudsen says. Knudsen says the tuition increase adds to the burden of past increases.

“An additional 279 dollars for the University of Iowa each year for might not seem overwhelming at first glance. For many of us, it’s not just the number, but if this trend continues, it’s the difference between pursuing a four-year degree or pursuing some sort of alternative option,” he says. Knudsen says tuition has gone up 12-hundred dollars, or 12 percent in his time at the U-I. U-N-I student body vice president Gabriel Salazar also talked about the long-term impact. “Yes, there is a need to raise tuition, but how far can we increase these costs until it becomes inaccessible? It is paramount to keep the cost of our tuition down so that future Iowans can grow and succeed,” Salazar says. He pointed out that a majority of U-N-I graduates stay in the state.

“On behalf of the students of U-N-I and the students of the state of Iowa, I ask you to invest in us, help us make our education accessible to all, with scholarships, grants, expanding programs, anything that contributes to the student success so that graduates from our Iowa universities can strive and make a difference in the world. Let us fuel Iowa’s economy and let Iowa stride into the future with pride,” he says. I-S-U student body president Colby Brandt says he understands the need for the tuition increase.

“But we have thousands of students becoming increasingly concerned about affordability, access and the burden of student debt over the long term,” Brandt says. “For many of us, even a modest tuition increase creates real financial strain. It’s another shift at work, another loan application, another question about whether we’ll be able to afford textbooks, housing, or simply stay enrolled.” Brandt says some students feel the burden more than others. “This is especially true for students who are working class, fist generation students, and students who come from rural areas,” he says. “These students who are coming to our public universities seeking opportunity, and they’re the students who are most likely to feel the impacts of the proposed tuition increase.”

The proposal to resident tuition also comes with an increase in mandatory fees by three percent at the U-I, two-point-seven percent at U-N-I, and one-point-seven percent at I-S-U. The Regents will vote on the tuition and fees increases at their June meeting.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council has a full agenda for their meeting Wednesday evening in their Chambers at City Hall. Several of the agenda items pertain to City streets:

• The Council will act on an Order approving the closure of 6th Street between Poplar and Chestnut from 3:30-until 7-p.m. every Thursday, from June 5th through Sept. 25th, for “Produce in the Park” (PIP), at the downtown Atlantic City Park. Chesnut Street will NOT be closed for the events, except on August 7th, when a firetruck will hold water games for PIP from 4-until 6:45-p.m.; The Order also will allow a “Produce in the Park” banner to be stretched above Chestnut Street from late May through mid-October.
• The Atlantic City Council will act on a request by Councilwoman Emily Kennedy, to hold discussion with regard to a proposed 4-way Stop Sign at 29th and Palm Streets (with regard to Ordinance 1052), followed by the 2nd Reading of that ordinance adding a 4-way stop sign at 29th & Palm. The 1st reading was passed by the Council during their meeting May 7th. That ordinance, and the following amended ordinances are intended to slow traffic in the area, for public safety purposes:
  • The 2nd reading of Ordinance 1050, which calls for No Parking on 10th Street from Locust to the east alley to the north side of the road.
  • The 2nd reading of Ordinance 1051, which reduces the speed limit on Chestnut Street from 29th to the southern City Limits, from 35-mph to 25-mph.
  • The 2nd reading of Ordinance 1053, which reduces the speed limit on 29th St. from Chestnut to Palm, from 35-mph to 25-,mph.
  • The 2nd reading of Ordinance 1054, which reduces the speed limit on 29th Street between Palm St. and the 700 block of W. 29th, from 50-mph to 35-mph.
  • and, the 2nd reading of Ordinance 1055, which reduces the speed limit on 22nd St. between Palm and Chestnut, to 35-mph.

The Council will discuss and possibly act on a recommendation from Police Chief Devin Hogue, for 2025 Fireworks dates, as: July 3rd, from Noon-until 11-p.m.; July 4th, from Noon-until Midnight, and July 5th, from Noon until 11-p.m. That’s the same 3-day schedule the City has had for multiple years, prior to the last two years. when the 4th was during the week, and the City allowed fireworks for 4 days instead of 3.

On Monday (May 19th), Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law Senate File 303, which prevents Iowa cities and counties from prohibiting or limiting the use of fireworks on July 3, 4 and Dec. 31.  Iowans must still follow state laws regulating the use of fireworks, like a ban on fireworks sales to minors or the use of “display” fireworks without local permission, during these three days. However, other further restrictions could not be set by local jurisdictions.

View the full Atlantic City Council Agenda here: City Council Agenda Packet 05-21-2025-min-compressed

(Radio Iowa) – Another dry week allowed farmers to spend a lot of time planting. The U-S-D-A report shows the corn planted jumped from 76 to 91 percent in the last week. That’s 12 days ahead of last year and four days ahead of the five-year average. The north-central region, with 97 percent, and the northwest, with 96 percent, lead the way in corn planting. Soybean planting moved from 64 to 84 percent complete, eight days ahead of last year and six days ahead of normal.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 1-p.m. Monday, of 32-year-old Cody Dean Johnson, from Red Oak. Johnson was taken into custody for Theft in the 5th Degree. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested on separate charges, Monday night. At around 8:20-p.m., Deputies arrested 36-year-old Bryceton Lee Flathers, of Red Oak, on an active Montgomery County warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Driving While Barred. Flathers was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

And, at around 11:30-p.m., Deputies in Montgomery County arrested 46-year-old Melissa Marie Schebaum, of Shenandoah, for Harassment in the 2nd Degree. She was arrested in Red Oak and posted a $1,000 bond before being released.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans aren’t imagining things if they think they’re seeing more cars being pulled over along the state’s roads by law enforcement lately. A Special Traffic Enforcement Program, or STEP, is underway now through June 1st. Iowa State Patrol Trooper Paul Gardner says this STEP focuses on making sure people are belted in, and that drivers aren’t impaired or driving distracted.

“We’ve got graduations, a lot of last-minute school events that come out because school will be out for the summer, a lot of events going on,” Garnder says. “So this is the gateway to summer and this is definitely one of our busiest travel times throughout the year. We’ll see more vehicles on the road. They’re estimating an increase in travel not only in Iowa but nationwide.” Distracted driving is becoming a larger problem in Iowa, Gardner says, and he urges motorists to concentrate on the road.

“Typically, we think of distracted driving involving a cell phone, but there’s so many other distractions. You may be looking at billboards, talking to passengers, changing the radio station, all kinds of things that can take your attention away from the road,” Gardner says. “Cell phones are definitely a hybrid version of distracted driving, especially now, because everything is done on the cell phone it seems.” Gardner says cell phones are the focus of much attention during this STEP, and phones will be even more top-of-mind later this summer.

Iowa State Patrol photo

“We’re going to be enacting a hands-free bill that has been passed through the Iowa legislature,” Gardner says, “that will make holding a cell phone or communicating on a cell phone, whether it be a phone call or a text while you’re physically holding a cell phone and you’re behind the wheel, that will be illegal across the board coming July 1st.” Law officers will only be able to give you a warning for now, but starting January 1st, holding a cell phone while driving may bring a 100-dollar fine.

Gardner, who’s based in Fort Dodge, urges anyone who may be drinking during holiday weekend events to find a safe way home, whether it’s through a designated driver, a taxi or a ride-sharing service. Also, he reminds, seat belts save lives. “My advice to those who are traveling, make sure everyone’s buckled up in your vehicle, no matter how long of a trip you’re taking, whether it be just a few blocks down the street or if you plan on taking a longer trip across the state or regionally, make sure that you and your passengers are completely buckled up,” Gardner says.

“Those who are under 18, if you have children in there, even teenagers under 18, no matter where they’re seated in the vehicle, have to be restrained.” A report from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau finds 44-percent of the people who died on Iowa roads last year were unbuckled, which translates to 108 lives lost. In a G-T-S-B survey of Iowans, 88% reported always buckling up in the front seat, while 67% say they always buckle up in the back seat.