(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa lawmaker is suggesting the Iowa Utilities Board lacks the authority to grant Summit Carbon Solutions permission to seize property along its proposed pipeline route from unwilling landowners. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says eminent domain authority is reserved for projects that have a clear public use and public benefit.

Holt, who is chairman of the Iowa House Judiciary Committee, says he’s not opposed to pipeline projects that developers argue would benefit farmers by making corn-based ethanol carbon neutral.

Holt was one of two Republican lawmakers who testified today (Tuesday) at the Iowa Utilities Board hearing reviewing Summit’s application for a permit to build and maintain a carbon pipeline in Iowa. Senator Sandy Salmon, a Republican from Janesville, says Summit’s request to seize about a third of its route across Iowa is breathtaking.

Salmon says private property rights are essential for prosperity and must be preserved.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Five people were arrested on warrants over the past week, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 43-year-old Jennifer Rae Wake, of Glenwood, was arrested Sept. 13th on warrant for Violation of Probation – Bond: $5,000.

Last Friday, 37-year-old Rebecca Lyn Earlywine, of Omaha, was arrested in Mills County on an Out of State Warrant – Bond: $6,500.

Three people were arrested Monday, in Mills County: 27-year-old David Gene Barrett, III, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear. Bond: $5,000; 31-year-old William John Lewis, Jr, of Glenwood, was arrested at the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation – No Bond; and, 47-year-old Joseph Duane Uhlmann, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Sarpy County, NE. Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Bond: $5,000.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) –  The Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Agency is hosting their 3rd annual Preparedness Fair. The event takes place Sept. 28th, from 5-until 8-p.m.,  at the Pottawattamie County Emergency Operations Center.

The event will focus on increasing awareness for disaster preparedness, services, and relief programs available to the public from local / area organizations. Pottawattamie County Public Health will be available for flu shots. There will also have free hot dogs, raffle prizes, kids games and more!

CRESTON, Iowa – Sept. 19, 2023 – The Iowa Dept. of Transportation’s Creston Construction Office reports that if you are driving on northbound Iowa 25 near the interchange with Interstate 80 in Guthrie County, you will now be able to travel north to reach Menlo and Guthrie Center.

Construction crews have completed their project of removing and replacing the pavement on Iowa 25 north of I-80. The latest traveler information is available anytime through the Iowa DOT’s 511 system.

(Radio Iowa) – More than 110 University of Iowa pharmacy students are taking shifts and volunteering to provide flu vaccinations at Iowa City-area drug stores and grocery stores over the next few months. Organizers of the effort say the students are helping immunize the community while easing the strain on our healthcare system by providing convenient and accessible options. Kelly Vu (VOO), a third-year U-I pharmacy student from Sioux City, says she looks forward to providing the service.

Vu learned how to give shots in her first year in the College of Pharmacy and heard stories of how decades ago, students practiced their syringe skills using a piece of fruit, like a peach.

Second-year pharmacy student Jacob Kooko-Ludemann (co-co LOOT-ah-mun), who grew up in northern Wisconsin, says he sees this program as providing an important community service.

This project is offering pharmacy students valuable lessons they can’t get in the classroom, like how to try and put someone at ease before sticking them in the arm.

This in-store training started at the U-I in 2004. The C-D-C recommends a yearly flu shot, as research shows it can reduce influenza illnesses by 40 to 60 percent, and if we get the vaccine sooner rather than later, we can avoid a strain on our healthcare system.

(Radio Iowa) – The head of the Iowa Utilities Board says there’s a limit to the questions that can be asked by attorneys for landowners who don’t want the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline on their property. The Utilities Board hearing on Summit’s application to build the pipeline is in its fifth week. Board chairman Erik Helland is citing a district court ruling about a previous pipeline hearing — and he says it gives the board authority to limit cross examination of witnesses that is repetitive.

Helland said “…We have clear authority to limit unduly repetitious testimony.” Bret Dubinsky, an attorney for the company, says not everyone is going to get the last word on every point that’s raised during the hearing.

Brian Jorde (JOR-dee), an attorney for landowners, objects.

Pipeline opponents had planned to have the director of the Science and Environmental Health Network testify today (Tuesday) through an online platform, but the Utilities Board recently ruled all those who testify have to do so in person. David Skilling of Algona took the stand this (Tuesday) morning air his objections to having the pipeline on his property. He’s concerned about a rupture and a lagging emergency response.

Another landowner testified Summit had moved its proposed route on his property in response to his suggestions, but moved it back when he did not agree to sign an easement giving the company access to his property.

(Avoca, Iowa) – A 15-year-old from Shelby was flown to the UNMC in Omaha, Monday, following a single-vehicle  accident. The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office reports Grace Pauley was driving an SUV westbound on West High Street at around 7:23-p.m., when she lost control of the vehicle and over-corrected. The Chevy Trailblazewr went off the road to the right and into the ditch. Pauley was ejected from the vehicle when it crashed and flown by LifeNet to the hospital.

Grace Pauley is a sophomore at AHSTW.

Sheriff’s officials in Page County report the body of an individual was found following a fire, early Monday morning. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says at 2:46 am, Page County Communications received numerous calls of a structure fire in Shambaugh Iowa. The Clarinda Fire Department, Clarinda Regional Health Center EMS personnel and Deputies from the Page County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to that fire.

Upon arrival crews located the residence located at 409 Cinder Alley fully engulfed in fire. Fire crews went to work on putting the fire out. Deputies began looking for the owner of the property.

Deputies were unable to locate the owner of the property. Fire crews eventually extinguished the fire. A search of the fire scene was conducted. A body was discovered in the remains of the house. The body was sent to the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office for identification and autopsy.

More information will be released when available.

Department that were on included:
Braddyville Iowa Fire Department
Clarinda Iowa Fire Department
Clarinda Regional Health Center EMS
Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office
Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office
Page County Sheriff’s Office

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors heard two presentations during their meeting this (Tuesday) morning, in Atlantic. Board Chair Steve Baier kicked-off the meeting with a “public service announcement.” Baier said with the harvest season getting underway, people need to be cautious, especially on the county and rural roads, of slow-moving farm equipment. He also said there are several contractors in the county trying to get road and bridge projects completed. With the evenings getting shorter and darkness coming sooner, Baier said “People be careful out there on the roads,” as you will be sharing them with heavy equipment, not to mention deer who will be “evicted” from their traditional hiding spots within fields and woodlands. “We want everybody to stay safe,” he said.

Suzanne Watson, with Southwest Iowa Mental Health & Disabilities Services Region (SWIA MHDS), provided the Board with updates to the 28-E agreement. SWIA MHDS services a nine-county area that includes Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby in the State of Iowa.

Watson said the 28-E agreement changes are with regard to human services, as explained in House File 471, and the make up of SWIA-MHDS Governing Board. The agency’s newest representatives include a Deputy from Fremont County and the Juvenile Courts. She mentioned also, Cass Health has done a good job of working with families whose members need mental health services, as well as cooperating with local law enforcement to address individuals with mental health needs.

Sheriff Darby McLaren said they began utilizing the services about a year ago. On a separate note, Sheriff McLaren, representing the McLaren family, requested permission to plant a memorial tree in the courthouse yard, to replace a tree that fell during a high-wind event that took place earlier this year. He said his grandfather – who was the Cass County Assessor over 50-years ago – grandchildren and others, planted the original memorial tree and commemorated the event with a photo. Darby McLaren said they would like to hold a similar event, preferably in the northeast corner of the courtyard. The Board approved the request as presented.

The Cass County Supervisors received an update from County Environmental Health Executive Director Jotham Arber. And, County Auditor Kathy Somers discussed the impacts of HF-718 (relating to local government property taxes, budgets, information to be provided to property owners, and modifying bond procedures). Those impacts will be in effect beginning with the budget year for FY 2025.

In other business, the Board approved employment for John Johnson as Equipment Operator II, District 4 (in the Griswold area), at a probationary wage of $25.75 per hour. His employment is effective Oct. 2nd. Engineer Trent Wolken said with the resignation of a truck driver, a job notice has been posted to fill the position. Wolken also updated the Board on various bridge and box culvert projects in the County.

And, the Board acted on approving a letter of support for Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) to offer a CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) program at each of the sites operated by the college (Atlantic, Clarinda, Harlan, Missouri Valley & Shenandoah). The letter and application will serve to help the college obtain a CDL Infrastructure Grant for the program. Trent Wolken said it’s been getting “harder and harder” to find employees with CDL’s, and cooperating with IWCC would help to fill the need for those qualified individuals.