The organization which trains Iowa firefighters has moved from Ames to new facilities at Camp Dodge in Johnston. Fire Service Training Bureau Chief John Kraemer, says the new facility is 95-hundred square feet and houses their offices, equipment and has classrooms. “In addition, the Iowa National Guard has allowed us to utilize some acreage west of our facility in which we can conduct live-fire training,” Kraemer says. The National Guard has an area known as “container city” where they can train. “There are multiple storage containers that are set up to simulate buildings. And within each of those containers are doors and rooms that have been constructed for us to practice dry or wet evolution’s,” Kraemer says. “In those containers we are not permitted to burn — be we can conduct live-fire training outside in our burn cells.”

Fire Service Training Bureau Chief John Kraemer

He says the Fire Service Institute outgrew its facility in Ames as the types of training required expanded from basic firefighting techniques. “The types and numbers of calls placed to fire departments has also increased. And so, a lot of communities now rely on fire departments to not only provide fire protection, but to also provide emergency medical services, to respond to motor vehicle accidents and perform extrication of patients from the vehicles. Fire departments are now trained in hazardous materials release response,” according to Kraemer.

He says they hold an annual fire school that got started through a need for more training. “In 1923 there was a small group of firefighters who approached Iowa State College at the time and said ‘hey we need more training in fire prevention and extinguishing fires.’ So, that became the impetus — especially nationally — to provide state-based training and education for firefighting and emergency services,” Kraemer says.

Kraemer says it’s particularly important for a state where the majority of firefighters are volunteers. “We have approximately 15 to 16-thousand firefighters total in Iowa. And about 15 to 16-hundred are career or professional firefighters,” Kraemer says.  Kraemer says the new site also allows them space to store the various trailers and displays that are used for firefighter education. The new facility was celebrated with a ribbon cutting last week.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday), approved an agreement with officials in Adair County, with regard to defining the duties and responsibilities of Adair and Cass Counties as they pertain to the construction of a locally funded grading project located on County Road G-61, about two-miles west of County Road N-51. The Adair County Board of Supervisors are set to consider approval of the agreement during their meeting Wednesday morning, in Greenfield.

The agreement stipulates the construction project will be added by resolution into each County’s fiscal year 2021 secondary road construction program, as required. The total estimated cost of the construction project is $833,778, with approximately $531,109 in Cass County and $302,669 in Adair County. Actual project development, design, and administration costs shall be split between Adair and Cass Counties. The County Engineer of each County will be the administrator of his respective County and responsible for consultation with the respective Board of Supervisors in matters related to the Agreement.

The Board today (Tuesday), tabled action on CARES Fund allocations. Cass County has been allocated up to $162,734.90 (based on population) for COVID19 related expenses (reimbursement for eligible costs). Auditor Dale Sunderman said they’re waiting on uploading the necessary information until the administrative process is available from the State. The first claim is due by Sept. 15th for March 1st thru July 31st, 2020. The next claim will be for Aug-Sept. 2020.

The Cass County Supervisors also agree to allow/disallow new Business Property Tax credit applications, as recommended by the Assessor and in accordance with Code of Iowa, for taxes collectible FY2021-22. And, they approved an application for a Renewal Class C Beer Permit and Sunday Sales Privilege (effective 10/18/2020) of 21st Century Cooperative, in Massena.

Mills County Public Health and Emergency Management officials today (Tuesday), issued their weekly report on positive COVID-19 cases. The report shows nine, new confirmed cases, for a total of 97.Contraction of the Coronavirus this past week was through community spread, according to officials. The age range of the affected persons are as follows:

• 0-18, 0
• 19-40, 3
• 41-60, 3
• 61-80, 3
• 81+, 0

MCPH says 58 of those persons have recovered. Officials said also, “As we transition back to school and look to the fall season with scheduled events in Mills County, MCPH continues to recommend residents be discouraged from holding and/or attending large events and mass gatherings until the threat of COVID-19 has diminished, and continue previously mentioned social distancing, hand washing and sanitizing, along with the wearing of a mask or face shield.

The Griswold School Board met Monday evening. Superintendent Dave Henrichs said they discussed the District’s Return-To-Learn plan, but there wasn’t much new report, except the number of students who have elected to be educated virtually. He said 41 students have decided to have virtual classroom instruction.

They also discussed Corner Conference Fall guidelines. Last Wednesday, the governing body of the Conference put together a set of guidelines for Fall sports, one of which in particular applies to volleyball.

Henrichs says they understand the purpose is to encourage social distancing, but it also means Griswold’s goal of engaging students, staff and community, would be limited. The District asked the conference to reconsider that piece, and they will address it at a later date. The Griswold School Board Monday, approved one resignation and several new hires.

The Board will meet at Noon on Wednesday in a Special Session, to approve the purchase of a bus.

They were unable to act on the matter Monday, because it wasn’t on the agenda as an “action” item.

LeCLAIRE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in eastern Iowa are seeking information on a boat crash in the Mississippi River near LeClaire that killed an Illinois woman. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the collision of two boats on the river happened Sunday evening. The crash killed 52-year-old Anita Pinc, of Moline, Illinois, an obstetrician and gynecologist with The Group Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists in Davenport, according to a statement from the clinic. A 61-year-old man also suffered critical injuries in the crash; investigators say he was in the same boat as Pinc. A woman in the other boat suffered minor injuries.

One person was injured during a collision Monday afternoon, in Red Oak. Authorities say the accident happened at around 1:30-p.m., at the intersection of Highway 34 and N. 4th Street, where a 2006 GMC pickup driven by 20-year old Garrett Leighton, of Griswold, was stopped at the controlled intersection on the north side, and a 1998 Toyota Avalon driven by 49-year old Shauna Berendes, of Red Oak, was traveling east on Highway 34.

As the car approached the intersection, the pickup – registered to Gary Leighton, of Griswold – proceeded to head south across the intersection, into the path of the car. Berendes was unable to avoid the truck, and struck the vehicle on the passenger side door. Berendes suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries, and was transported by Red Oak Rescue to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Damage from the collision amounted to $13,000. Police cited Leighton for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign and Yield the Right-of-Way.