(Red Oak, Iowa) – Two public hearings will be held during Tuesday morning’s regular meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, in Red Oak. The Board’s meeting begins at 9-a.m. in their Courthouse Board Room.

The first hearing – at 9:15-a.m. – is with regard to a Proposed FY 24/25 Montgomery County Budget Amendment, followed by action on passing a Resolution adopting the amended budget, as proposed.

The second hearing – at 9:20-a.m. – is with regard to Proposed Wind Ordinance Amendments to the Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance. The Board set the hearing date and time during their meeting on May 6th. The wind ordinance hearing will be followed by the 1st Reading of the Ordinance, and possible waiving of the 2nd and 3rd Readings, if necessary.

In other business, the Montgomery County Supervisors will receive a Maintenance update from Maintenance Director Dan Wright, who will discuss a proposal to concrete the Courthouse parking lot, and a proposal with regard to the Courthouse Elevator.

The Board is expected to act on approving FY25/26 Public Library contracts for financial support, as follows:

• Red Oak – $17,820
• Stanton – $6,020
• Elliott – $6,020
• Villisca – $7,645.

(Marne, Iowa) – One person died following a single-vehicle rollover accident early this (Saturday) afternoon, southeast of Marne. The crash, involving a pickup, occurred just before 1-p.m., at Highway 83 (the Marne Road) and Fayette Road. Cass County Sheriff John Westering confirms the driver/lone occupant of the vehicle was ejected, and died from their injuries. The individual was a Cass County (IA) resident. Their name was not released.

Highway 83 was closed for about an hour, following the crash. All Marne units returned to their station a little after 3-p.m.

CLIVE, Iowa [KCCI] — Police in Clive are investigating, after a one-pound bag of marijuana was found at a discount store. The large bag was discovered by a man who was looking through the bins and opened a USPS box at the “Where ya Bin” store on University Avenue, the former “Toys R Us” building.

Authorities have not provided any further information. KCCI reports Where Ya Bin officials declined to comment on the matter.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, and that means swimming. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has released its first beach advisory this year. Swimming is not recommended at four including the beaches at Backbone, Beeds Lake, Black Hawk and Nine Eagle state parks.

Forty-one beaches were tested. E. coli levels were found to exceed the standard at those four. The DNR tests weekly through Labor Day.

https://iaenvironment.salsalabs.org/weeklywaterwatch-5-23-25?wvpId=84cddfd2-63c4-4a40-ad0b-c724fc23c4b7

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Memorial Day services in Atlantic will be held Monday in the Atlantic Cemetery, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The ceremony will begin with the firing of cannons, followed by the presentation of the National Flag, the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, a welcome address, a performance of God Bless America by the Atlantic High School Band, an invocation, an Armed Forces Salute, and keynote speaker, Mark McNees.

A new addition to the service this year, is a presentation by the Cass Health Nurses Honor Guard, who will pay tribute to those nurses in the military who have died in service to their country.

There will also be the traditional placement of the wreaths, a Benediction, an Atlantic Color Guard “Fall In”, and they will read the names of more than a dozen veterans who have passed-on since Memorial Day, 2024.

The ceremony will conclude with a salute by the Atlantic Color Guard Rifle Squad, and Taps.

The forecast calls for a 50% chance of rain. If there is inclement weather on Monday, the service will moved to another location to be announced. We will have live video on KJAN TV if you can’t make it to the service. The list of other Memorial Day Services around the area includes:

Brayton Legion Post #350 will hold their Memorial Day Services on Monday, May 26 beginning at 10:00 am at the Brayton Town Hall in Brayton.  After the service they will move to the bridge east of town to honor the Navy dead and then to Oakfield, Bowen and Oakhill cemeteries.

Anita American Legion Post #210 will hold their Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26 at 10:30am at the Anita Evergreen Cemetery. Members wanting to participate will need to meet at the Legion Hall by 9am.  Help with flags…Be at the Legion Hall Saturday, May 24 at 8am to put flags up and 3pm on Monday, May 26 to help take flags down.

Anita Congregational United Church Of Christ Annual Memorial Day Dinner takes place on Monday, May 26 from 11am-1pm. Serving Ham Balls, Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans, Salads, Roll, Pies and Drinks. Adults $13, kids 5 and under free. Carry-out is available.

The Griswold American Legion Auxiliary will be holding their annual Memorial Day Service and Lunch on Monday, May 26th at 10:30 at the Griswold Community Building.  The speaker for the event will be Mitch Holmes – Cass County Director of Veterans Affairs.

Prescott United Church Memorial Day Dinner and Quilt Bazaar will be held on Monday, May 26 from 11-1 at 405 6th Avenue in Prescott. Menu includes Homemade Chicken & Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Green Beans, Rolls, Assorted Salads, Pies and Desserts. Carry out is available by calling 515-669-5375 or 641-202-4222. Adults $12. Kids 5 t0 12 years of age are $8 and under 5 years are free. If you are unable to attend but wish to donate, send payment to Venmo: @Prescott-Church.

Cumberland Fitness Center will host a free breakfast on Monday, May 26 at 9:00 am at the Cumberland Community Building and the Memorial Day program will follow at 10:30 am.

The Massena Memorial Day Service will be held at 10:30 am at the CAM Elementary School commons.  Refreshments will be served before and after the program.

Audubon Memorial Day services sponsored by American Legion Post #120 will be held at 10:00 am at the Arlington Heights/Maple Grove Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Guest speaker is Command Sgt. Major Matthew T. Strasser.

Elk Horn Memorial Day Services will begin at 9:00 am at the fire station and proceed to Clay Township Cemetery, the Monroe Church and end with services and salute at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church followed by a free lunch.

Kimballton Memorial Day Services will begin at 9:30 am at the Jacksonville Cemetery, move to the Bethany Cemetery at 10:15 and then to the Kimballton Cemetery at 11:00 am.

Exira Memorial Day Services will begin at 9:45 am at the cemetery with the band playing and the service at 10:00 am.  Pastor Glen Meyers will be the speaker.  After the services at the Exira Cemetery, they will travel to Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery, St. John’s Cemetery west of Exira and then to the river to honor the Navy dead.

Des Moines – The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is reporting a confirmed case of measles in central Iowa in an unvaccinated adult. The case tested positive through the State Hygienic Laboratory and is the first confirmed case of measles in Iowa this year, and the first case in Iowa since 2019.

Iowa is among 31 other United States jurisdictions in an evolving measles outbreak that has been responsible for 1,024 confirmed measles cases and 3 confirmed measles deaths this year. A thorough investigation has been completed. Public health officials will be reaching out to identified contacts, and no widespread public exposure is anticipated.

“The best time to prevent measles is before an exposure occurs and the best tool we have is getting the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine,” said Dr. Robert Kruse, State Medical Director. “Getting vaccinated not only protects you but also protects people in your community who can’t get vaccinated, like infants too young to begin the series and those who are immunosuppressed. We ask Iowans to review their vaccination records and medical records to ensure they are protected and to reach out to their healthcare provider if they have questions.”

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that is spread through the air when an infectious person coughs, sneezes, or breathes. Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, red/watery eyes, runny nose, and a rash. Measles can cause severe complications. About 1 in 10 people in the U. S. who get measles will be hospitalized, and 1 to 3 out of 1,000 children with measles will die even with good medical care.

The MMR vaccine series is 97% effective against measles. The first MMR does is given at 12-15 months and the second dose is given at 4-6 years. Currently 84% of 2-year-olds in Iowa are vaccinated, which is below the 95% threshold required to prevent outbreaks. There are no age limits for Iowans on Medicaid who wish to receive preventative MMR vaccinations.

If you think you have been exposed to a measles case and have symptoms call your medical provider or nearest emergency room ahead of time and tell them that you have been exposed to measles and have symptoms before arriving. Visit https://hhs.iowa.gov/center-acute-disease-epidemiology/disease-information for more information on measles.

(Radio Iowa) – The most recent rains do not figure into the U-S Drought Monitor report this week, which shows nearly 47 percent of Iowa was drought-free. The Iowa D-N-R’s Jessica Reese-McIntyre says things have been heading in the right direction. “When you compare it to a year ago in like mid-May of last year, we are sitting a little bit better statewide,” she says. Reese-McIntyre says this weeks rains will help build up groundwater as we enter a time when the crops are growing and water use overall increases with warmer temperatures. She says it’s not certain if the wetter trend will continue.

“According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, the month of June outlook for precipitation looks to be equal chances of precipitation, so there’s no real clear signal, but it will be one way or the other. So we could likely see just normal precipitation, which is good, because May and June are the wettest months,” she says. Reese-McIntyre says one issue looming is the amount of rain the driest areas of the state in western Iowa will get. “It looks like the western third of the state will see the chances of precipitation are leaning below normal more significantly than the rest of the state,” Reese-McIntyre says.

She says that is just a forecast for now, and she is hopeful those areas will get rain to help with their deficits.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Supreme Court today (Friday) ruled the families of four employees of the Tyson meatpacking plant in Waterloo who allegedly died after contracting COVID-19 at the plant can continue a lawsuit. The Supreme Court ruling says families cannot sue the company itself, but can sue a Tyson executive and supervisors.

The ruling says there are sufficient facts that those company officials recklessly disregarded a substantial and unnecessary risk that the workers would be exposed to COVID-19 if they kept working. Court information says the Tyson plant in was the largest in the U-S with three-thousand workers.

The Supreme Court ruling reverses a district court ruling that said Iowa’s Workers’ Compensation Act was the only remedy for the estates of the four to make claims, and it dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says it’ll be after the holiday before the Senate reviews the so-called Big Beautiful Bill that passed the House earlier this week, incorporating many of President Trump’s major political goals. It includes $140 billion for mass deportations and immigration enforcement, eliminating taxes on workers’ tips and overtime, extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, and increasing the debt ceiling by $4 trillion.

Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says senators are aware of most of the bill’s contents, but she believes they can improve on it. “I think there’s so much in it right now,” Ernst says. “We just need to take the time, hear from our constituents about it, and then make those decisions as we come back. I hope that we can strengthen the bill. I hope that we can really make sure that our federal spending is actually going to the areas where we need to be spending, and maybe some of the extra-type programs we can scale back on those, or eliminate unnecessary spending.”

Other provisions include nearly $700 billion in federal spending cuts for Medicaid, and a $267 billion funding reduction for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — or SNAP. The bill also institutes new work requirements for SNAP recipients. Ernst expects a close review of the Medicaid and SNAP content.

Senator Ernst. (Photo from Ernst’s office)

“If we’re looking at Medicaid,” she says, “making sure that those that are not part of that vulnerable population that we want to protect are moved out of Medicaid. Otherwise, having those work requirements, making sure that it meets the needs of Iowans, I think that will be critically important.”

Ernst challenges the Congressional Budget Office report which indicates the measure would increase the nation’s deficit by more than $3 trillion. “Anytime you hear a number like that, you are concerned,” Ernst says, “But, I would say the CBO was absolutely wrong when we did the 2017 bill. What we saw, actually, from the 2017 tax bill — which this is basically a replication of that — was extremely growth in revenue in the federal government, because with the tax provisions for individuals, and small businesses or so forth, we saw a lot more growth within the economy.”

The senator also supports Trump’s 2017 tax cut package, which was due to expire at the end of the year.

(Radio Iowa) – The USDA has given the State of Iowa the go-ahead to prohibit Iowans from using federal food assistance to buy candy, salty snacks or sweetened drinks like pop, starting in January.

During taping of this week’s “Iowa Press” program at Iowa PBS, Governor Kim Reynolds said current data shows 20% of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits are being used to buy those items. “This really lines up with what the intent of what SNAP was designed for in the beginning,” Reynolds says, “and they can use those dollars to purchase healthy foods.”

Gum, marshmallows, sweetened coconut and dried fruit that’s rolled into strips for snacking are also on the soon-to-be-banned list. Reynolds said the state will work with food retailers to recalibrate their systems so SNAP benefits may no longer be used to buy items on the list. “I mean they’re saying right now that 40% of students — kids — have at least one chronic illness. One in six children nationally are obese,” Reynolds said. “We’re not a healthy population and, again, we’ll get back to the original intent of SNAP and that was a supplement low income families with nutritious foods.”

Governor Kim Reynolds on the “Iowa Press” set on May 23, 2025. (Iowa PBS photo)

The American Heart Association sent a statement to the USDA supporting Iowa’s plan to “reduce the consumption of sugary drinks.” The group said the soda industry’s long-time opposition to enacting similar policies nationwide is “outrageous.” Iowa Hunger Coalition board member Sheila Hansen said  the goal should be “to make sure all Iowans have greater access to nutritious food” rather than to “punish low-income Iowans and deny kids a candy bar when they want a treat.”