(Radio Iowa) – A judge has set a cash bond of two million-dollars for the man accused of killing an Algona police officer last week. 43-year-old Kyle Lou Ricke of Algona is accused of shooting Officer Kevin Cram to death early on Wednesday, September 13th as Cram was attempting to serve a warrant for Ricke’s arrest. Ricke made his initial appearance in Kossuth County District Court this (Thursday) afternoon and Judge Mark Laddusaw announced he’s seen enough evidence for the case to proceed.

Rickie has been charged with first degree murder and the judge explained the penalty is a sentence of life in prison.

Assistant Iowa Attorney General Scott Brown asked the judge to set a cash-only bond of five million dollars.

Judge Laddusaw settled on two million dollars and stipulated the full amount had to be paid in cash before Rickie could be released. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Friday, September 29th at 1 p-m in Kossuth County District Court. Ricke, who was arrested in Minnesota, is being held at the Kossuth County Jail in Algona.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Three people were recently arrested in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office report 43-year-old Randy Dean Burton, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday afternoon at the Sheriff’s Office, for Child Endangerment. (Bond $2,000).

32-year-old Bernabe Hernandez Espinoza, of Des Moines, was arrested Wednesday in Polk County, on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear. (Bond: $10,000), and, 32-year-old Cody Robert Cunningham, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested Wednesday near Highway 34 and Levi Road, for Eluding and Reckless Driving. (Bond: $5,300).

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Auditor’s Office has released the final list of candidates for city elections who filed nomination papers for the Nov. 7th elections. The deadline to file was 5-p.m. Thursday (Sept. 21st). The latest candidates include, for:

Atlantic Ward 1- Emily Kennedy.

Massena City Council- Micah Lee;  Adam McCunn

Lewis City Council- Roy O Wheatley; Betty F Auten

Griswold City Council- Xavier Johnson.

As previously reported, here are the rest of the candidates:

Atlantic City Council – Ward 2: Jim Behrens.

Atlantic City Council – Ward 3: Pat McCurdy. Mike McDermott

Atlantic City Council – Ward 4: Linda Hartkopf; Shawn Sarsfield.

Atlantic City Council – At Large: Elaine Otte.

Anita Mayor: Kevin Littleton; Ben Daughenbaugh.

Anita City Council (Vote for 2): Roger L Huffman; Cheryl Sokol; Mark Harris.

Mayor – City of Cumberland: Nancy Virginia Coughlin.

City Council – Cumberland (Vote for 2): Sandra Eversole and Scott W. Becker

Griswold City Council (vote for 3): Brenda Tietz; Amanda Hansen.

Mayor- City of Lewis: Rick Sanny; Russell Hansen

Lewis City Council (Vote for 3): Ryan Lockwood; Leland M Baxter; Russell L. Miller; Larry W Perdue JR; Donna Roberts

Mayor – City of Marne: Randall I. Baxter

Marne City Council (Vote for 3) – Wayne Preister; Mark Opbroek; Zachary Schmitt

Massena City Council – Kevin McCunn.

Things to know:

• There are no candidates that filed for the two (2) positions for Wiota City Council or the Wiota Mayor
• Candidates now have until Tuesday, September 26, 2023 to withdraw by filing a written request to the Auditor
• Absentee ballots can be requested, they will be mailed on October 18, 2023 (last day to request a ballot by mail is October 23, 2023)
• In-person voting begins October 18, 2023 in the Auditor’s Office.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna has released the final list of candidates for city elections, who filed nomination papers for the Nov. 7th elections. The deadline to file was 5-p.m. Thursday (Sept. 21st).

Offices that will be on the ballot and Current Candidates Filed

Mayor – 2 year terms (Except Stanton & Coburg Mayor is 4-year term)
Council Member – 4 year terms (Except Grant Council is 2-year terms)

Red Oak City Offices- Candidates Filled
Mayor 2yr term—Vote for 1–Shawnna L. Silvius
Council Member Ward #1 4yr term—Vote for 1—John F. Haidsiak
Council Member Ward #3 4yr term—Vote for 1—Adam Hietbrink
Council Member At Large 4yr term—Vote for 1–Sharon Bradley

Elliott City Offices
Mayor 2yr term -Vote for 1– Michael Carson
Council Member At Large 4yr term—Vote for 2– Leta Rush, Lisa Jamison

Grant City Offices
Mayor 2yr term—Vote for 1—John J. Giefing, Emerson Hill
Council Member At Large 2yr term— Vote for 5– Chelsea Dvorak, Nancy Taylor, Greg Karwal, Clay Amos, Connie K. Giefing, Jeff Brown, Lyn Sliger

Villisca City Offices
Mayor 2yr term—Vote for 1—Marilyn Halda
Council Member At Large 4yr term—Vote for 3– Robert Tripp Narup, Marsha S. Shepherd, Gabrielle Jackson, Vince Abraham

Stanton City Offices

Mayor 4yr term—Vote for 1—None Filed
Council Member At Large 4yr term-Vote for 2– Pier Osweiler, Greg Hampel
Council Member At Large – TFV 2yr term—Justin R. Rhamy
Coburg City Offices Council Member At Large 4yr term—Vote for 3—None Filed

As farmers in many parts of Iowa launch into the harvest, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says there’s good news for producers who might need to dry their grains using heaters fueled by tanks of liquid propane. While L-P supplies have been tight in recent years, Naig says that doesn’t appear to be the case this season, as fall arrives on Saturday.

Propane prices are averaging around a dollar-77 a gallon in Iowa, which is down from around two-16 a year ago.

Naig remains optimistic prices will hold steady as we head into the cold weather months.

It’s also a plus for Iowans who heat their homes with L-P. Estimates show about 67% of Iowans use natural gas to heat their homes, 15% use electricity, and 14% use liquid propane.

Red Oak Police conducted a traffic stop Thursday morning just before nine o’clock at 2404 North 8th Street.  After investigation, officers arrested 27 year old Tori Shanelle Bergerson of Red Oak on a charge of possession of a controlled substance.  Bergerson was held at the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Coca-Cola Days is coming to Atlantic Friday, September 22nd and Saturday, September 23rd.  Atlantic Chamber of Commerce Program Director Kelsey Beschorner says the community and Atlantic Bottling have been a great partnership.

Iowa Chapter of Coca-Cola Collectors Club President Kurt Roberts, a Cass County native, says the relationship between the community and the Tyler family help to make the event special.

Roberts says his interest in Coca-Cola collectibles began in high school.

Beschorner says they have t-shirts for sale and some raffle items for this year.

Friday evening’s events include the tailgate party from 5:30 to 6:30 and the Coca-Cola Collectors sneak peek from 6:00 to 8:00.  Saturday will include the Show, Swap and Sell from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and the newest addition, the Classic Car Show and Shine from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.  All the events will be held at the Cass County Community Center.

Investments will impact Appanoose, Audubon, Carroll, Clayton, Crawford, Decatur, Fremont, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Harrison, Jackson, Poweshiek, Sac, Union, Van Buren, and Washington counties

DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 21, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today announced that the Agency is investing $4,782,800 in loans and $268,500 in grants to 13 rural Iowa projects to help communities and businesses improve critical community infrastructure and promote economic development.

“These investments will help our rural neighbors establish and operate vital services, such as health care facilities, volunteer fire departments, and school transport,” said Director Greenfield. “Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA has made improving communities and expanding access to capital for small business top priorities. When we address these needs with grants and loans, we help uplift rural Iowa.”

Among the USDA Funded Projects:

-The City of Randolph in Fremont County received a $22,000 grant from the Water and Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants program to prepare a water facility improvements plan. This project will produce a facility plan created by professional engineers that includes alternatives and recommendations to meet the rehabilitation needs of the entire water system. Once completed, the project will help guide the city’s planning efforts and will promote the safety of the local water supply for the residents of this rural community.

–Region XII Council of Governments in Carroll received a $1 million loan from the Intermediary Relending Program to expand the lending capacity of its revolving loan fund. This project will enable the organization, a voluntary association formed to facilitate multi-community collaboration, to finance development projects by providing loans to businesses in their seven-county region. Once completed, this project will promote economic progress and increase employment opportunities for residents in rural Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie, and Sac counties.

Community Facilities Grants were awarded to:

-The City of Coon Rapids: a $45,600 grant to purchase equipment. This project will provide 14 air packs and related materials to facilitate firefighting and rescue operations. The project will replace the fire department’s expired air packs. Once in service, this equipment will help safeguard the lives of the city’s fire volunteers during the dangerous situations they may encounter while serving the emergency needs of this rural Carroll County community.

–Woodbine Community School District: a $35,700 grant to purchase a vehicle. This project will provide an 11-passenger van to transport small groups of students. Once in operation, the vehicle will increase operational efficiencies and promote the safety of school district passengers in this rural Harrison County community.

-The City of Creston received a $28,600 grant to purchase a law enforcement vehicle. This project will replace an aging patrol unit with a new model for the city’s law enforcement department. Once in operation, the new vehicle will increase operational efficiency and promote the safety of residents and law enforcement personnel in this rural Union County community.