Two more Republicans have filed nomination papers for the June 5th Primary election in Cass County. According to the Cass County Auditor’s Office, current Cass County Treasurer Tracey Marshall is running for re-election. And, Mark T. O’Brien has submitted his papers to run for the Cass County Board of Supervisors in District 2.

O’Brien will be in a race against fellow Republican Pat McCurdy for the District 2 seat. Tracey Marshall is currently unopposed. The deadline to file completed nomination papers with the County Auditor’s Office, is 5-p.m. March 28th.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Officials say about 40 jobs will be lost with the closing of a Goldman Sachs call center in Cedar Rapids. Station KCRG reports that Goldman Sachs spokesman Andrew Williams confirmed the company is consolidating the work at its Salt Lake City operation. He also says the Cedar Rapids workers will be able to transfer to the Utah office.

The Cedar Rapids center will close April 13. Goldman Sachs took over the center in 2016 as part of an acquisition from GE Capital.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Trump administration is withdrawing a federal rule that would have required organic meat and egg producers to abide by stricter animal welfare standards.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday it has withdrawn the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule published in January 2017 by former President Barack Obama’s administration.

The regulation was to ensure that organically grown livestock had enough space to lie down, turn around, stand up, fully stretch and had access to fresh air and proper ventilation.

The USDA says the rule exceeds the department’s statutory authority and could increase food costs. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says nearly two decades of collaboration between farmers and consumers have been reversed and millions of animals will continue to suffer each year.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office released details on two separate arrests on Sunday. The first arrest occurred at 5:15pm. Deputies arrested 35-year-old Michael Patrick Artwein of Des Moines for Driving While Suspended. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on full bond.

At 6:48pm Sunday Montgomery County Sheriff’s Officials arrested 24-year-old Jesse Dean Uhlmann of Red Oak on charges of Possession of Marijuana and a valid Montgomery County Warrant for Theft 4th Degree. Uhlmann was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on full bond.

The top leader in the Iowa Senate says he’s resigning after a video posted on a liberal news website purportedly showed him kissing a statehouse lobbyist. Senate Republicans released a statement Monday announcing that Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix was resigning effectively at 2 p.m. from his leadership post and as a state senator. Republicans in the GOP-controlled chamber plan to elect a new majority leader on Wednesday.

The incident caps a swift response from Republicans in the chamber after the liberal website Iowa Starting Line published video and photos showing Dix and a woman together at a bar. The video allegedly showing the married Republican kissing a statehouse lobbyist. The website says the incident was recorded March 1.

Governor Kim Reynolds told reporters Monday she was “disappointed” about the allegation against Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to meet with the state Senate’s top leader after a website posted photos and video allegedly showing the married Republican kissing a statehouse lobbyist.
Reynolds told reporters Monday she was “disappointed” about the allegation against Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix. The liberal website Iowa Starting Line published video and photos showing Dix and the woman kissing at a bar. It says it was recorded March 1.

Neither Dix nor the lobbyist responded to requests for comment from The Associated Press. Senate Democrats released a statement calling it a “serious matter” and accused Dix of failing to take responsibility after a former Senate staffer filed a lawsuit claiming sexual misconduct in the workplace. Reynolds said she would meet with Dix Monday afternoon but declined further comment.

The Danish Mill Corporation, in Elk Horn, reports that reconstruction of the Wind Mill has seen some setbacks, but crews are planning to arrive in Mid-April to hopefully finish the project. With national news showing the massive flooding along the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky, Mill Manager Lisa Riggs became concerned because that is where the Millwright and his warehouse are located and where the parts are being crafted for the 1848 Danish Windmill. She made a quick call to B.E. Hassett Millwrights, and was assured by Ben Hassett that the lumber is safe and dry.

Fantail shutter by Tim Andersen

Fantail assembly by Tim Andersen

Complete fantail

Tim Andersen and grandson

The Mill’s restoration project met with delay after one of the two 67-foot timbers for the new sails that had been air drying for over a year, turned out to be of inferior quality and could not be properly shaped. It was determined that replacing only one of the sails with a good timber instead of the two that are really needed would not be a prudent course of action based on the existing structural deterioration of the old timber. As a result, a new 67-foot fir timber was ordered at no additional cost to the Mill. The board decided to replace a few of the spars on the fan tail.

The new lumber will be kiln-dried to speed up the drying process. The lumber is expected to arrive at the Millwright’s warehouse within about a week and it will take at least two weeks to craft it into a sail stock. After Millwright Ben Hassett and his crew complete the reconstruction, a crew will install new shingles on the old Mill cap. The Mill House and Morning Star Chapel will also get matching shingles. The shingle contract was let as a joint collaboration of Fajen Lumber and Modern Roofing both of Elk Horn and will be funded in part by an insurance reimbursement for hail damage, Mike and Lou Howard Endowed Iowa Fund and two pending grants.

Riggs says a special thanks goes to Mill Board Member Tim Andersen of The Cabinet Shop who just completed eight new shutters to fit the eight spars that lead up to the fan tail assembly to help save on time. Tim donated his labor and materials resulting in an estimated savings to the Mill project of $2,600. To find out more about the historic Danish Windmill, visit danishwindmill.com.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on recent arrests. Sheriff Jeff Vandewater says 21-year old Way Mu Htoo, of Omaha, was arrested March 7th by the Iowa State Patrol, after authorities received multiple calls about a vehicle “all over the road” on Interstate 80, from the 83 mile marker. Another caller said the vehicle was a Saturn Vue that had stopped at near mile marker 82. Troopers made contact with the driver, identified as Htoo. They determined he didn’t have a valid driver’s license, and was in possession of a partial bottle of brandy, which was found on his person. The man was arrested for OWI/1st offense and held in the Adair County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Also arrested last March 7th, was 24-year old Mason Cole Hasty, of Stuart. He was taken into custody at around 8:15-p.m. for Driving While license denied or revoked, and having no SR-22 insurance. Hasty was released about an hour later, on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

And, on March 4th, 38-year old Melissa Ann Keleher, of Sioux City, was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol on a warrant out of Woodbury County. She was being held without bond, in the Adair County Jail.

Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II (R-Greenfield) filed papers last week for the Iowa House District 20 race. Iowa District 20, which is currently represented by Clel Baudler who recently announced his retirement. The district includes the counties of Adair, Guthrie, and portions of Dallas and Cass. Sorensen says “My priorities are to work for the district by providing reliable constituent services and giving the people a voice in our legislative process. As a small business owner and lifelong resident of the district, I can be an advocate for rural Iowa with a common-sense approach.”

Ray and Maria Sorensen & family

“Bubba” is a life-long resident of Adair County where in Greenfield he operates his business, Sorensen Studios, with his wife Maria. They are the parents of two children. A graduate of Bridgewater-Fontanelle (now Nodaway Valley), he was active in sports and showing cattle in 4-H. Engaged in local, state, and national politics, Sorensen served as an intern for former Iowa State Senator JoAnn Johnson and clerked for former Representative Steve Olson.

Sorensen is well known for painting the Freedom Rock® just south of Interstate 80 near Menlo, Iowa. Painting the original Freedom Rock® each year as a volunteer effort, he is now commissioned to paint the smaller Freedom Rocks® in every county in Iowa. He currently has sixty-nine of the county Freedom Rocks® completed. He said “It was great to get up to our capitol building, getting to see some familiar faces and meeting the House leadership. I want to thank Representative Baudler for showing my family around, my kids are still talking about it!”

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports one person suffered unknown/possible injuries, following a single-vehicle accident Friday evening. 55-year old Ronald Dale Brammer, of Afton, complained of pain following an accident that happened at around 7:15-p.m., Friday. Officials say Brammer was traveling north on Adams/Union Avenue, when he lost control of his 2000 Ford Contour. The vehicle crossed the intersection with 140th Street, and entered a ditch. It also crashed through a fence before coming to rest in a field. Brammer was transported by a Union County Sheriff’s Deputy to his mother’s residence.

Damage from the accident amounted to $2,600, including $100 damage to a barb wire fence owned by Allen Tanner, of Creston. Brammer was cited for Driving While License Suspended, Failure to Maintain Control, and Failure to provide proof of insurance.