(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Grow Another Row Committee is hosting a free event at Mollett Park (1020 E. 3rd Street Place, in Atlantic) on Tuesday, April 29^th at 5:30 pm.   “Spring into Growing” is a chance for local residents to learn about spring gardening in small spaces. Participants can plant greens and herbs in pots to keep on their porches or patios. This free educational gardening event will help participants learn how to plant, care for, and harvest early-season plants to enjoy this spring.

Participants are welcome to bring their own pots; otherwise, pots can be provided. The Grow Another Row Committee will provide seeds and soil. Extra pots will be available if needed, and attendees can also plant an extra pot to donate to the local food pantry. We’ll be planting lettuce, spinach, and herbs including basil, oregano, cilantro, and dill. Learn about seeds and planting tips for pots, raised beds, and other small food gardening spaces. Bring your own gloves and diggers if you have them, or we will have extras.

Container gardening is a way for people to enjoy the benefits of gardening. Shown here is an example of an herb and vegetable garden.

To get to Mollett Park, follow Mulberry Street north until it curves east (3rd St. Place), and proceed to the end of the cul-de-sac. All ages are welcome. There is no cost to attend due to local sponsorships. A “Seed” mix (trail mix) snack will be provided, along with a water cooler.

If you are interested in attending, registration is strongly encouraged by Monday, April 28. This will ensure that we have enough supplies. Please register by contacting Kate Olson at the Cass County Extension Office by email at keolson@iastate.edu or by phone at 712-243-1132.

(Radio Iowa) – The legislature has sent the governor a bill to let schools assemble “safety assessment teams” that could share information about students who might pose a threat. Senator Dan Dawson of Council Bluffs says people from the local, county and state offices could be part of these teams. “To try to identify potential problems sooner,” Dawson said, “and get the needed intervention.” Local police, juvenile court officials, mental health counselors and social workers could be part these teams alongside school officials. The bill also would let state agencies and schools share information on students they believe may pose a threat to others.

Republican Representative Henry Stone of Forest City says collaboration among educators, law enforcement and social service professionals is already happening, but there are some hurdles now to sharing information. “Threats directed toward the safety of our children at school are on the rise across the country,” Stone said. “…All this bill does is if a school chooses to participate, it will give that school a tool that they can utilize to break that communication barrier.”

Stone says schools must still adhere to laws that prohibit the disclosure of sensitive health information and student education records. The Iowa Department of Public Safety proposed the legislation, which is headed to the governor for approval. The bill cleared the Senate unanimously a month ago and the House gave it unanimously approval yesterday (Monday).

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors held a Special Meeting and Public Hearing this (Tuesday, April 22nd) morning. The hearing was with regard to the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-26 Cass County Budget. Afterward, the Board acted on passing a Resolution setting the Compensation Schedule for Elected Officials in FY 25-26. The vote was 4-to 1, with Supervisor Richter voting No. And, they passed a Resolution adopting the Fy25-26 Cass County Budget, along with the Certification of Taxes. The vote was once again 4-1, with Richter voting No.

Cass County BOS 4-2-25

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors passed a Resolution for the Secondary Roads Dept. 5-year Construction Program, and they acted on the appointment of Caleb Smith as a Cass County Sheriff’s Department Reserve Deputy, with a wage of $1.00 per year. Cass County Chief Deputy Spencer Walton…

The Board approved the appointment as requested.

(Lewis) One person was injured Tuesday morning in Cass County, during a collision east of Lewis between a semi tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle. The crash happened a little after 8-a.m. the intersection of Highway 71 and Oxford Road.

Authorities says the driver of the vehicle was transported by Cass EMS to Cass Health, in Atlantic. The accident happened when the vehicle that was traveling west on Oxford Road pulled out from a stop sign, and into the path of the northbound semi.

Following the collision, the semi ended up in the west ditch, while the other vehicle came to rest in the center of the roadway. No names have been released.

Crews with the Cumberland and Massena Fire Departments, Lewis Fire Department, Cass EMS, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded and assisted at the scene.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests that took place from April 15th through the 20th.

• Sunday afternoon (April 20), 21-year-ol Justin Adre Coates, of Hastings, was arrested in Hastings, for Driving Under Suspension. (Bond $300)
• Early Saturday morning, 33-year-old Zachary Dale Fly, of Aurora, MO, was arrested on I-29 near Pacific Junction, for Possession of Marijuana/1st offense. (Bond $1,000)
• Thursday morning (April 17), 48-year-old Patrick Bryan Lynam, of Omaha, was arrested by Mills County Deputies, for Theft in the 2nd Degree (an amount greater that $1,500 but less than $10,000). (Bond $5,000)
• On April 16th, 52-year-old Joseph Michael Lewis, of Plattsmouth, NE, was arrested in Emerson, for Possession of a Controlled Substance, 3rd or subsequent offense. (Bond $1,000); and, 31-year-old Devon D. Walker, of Chicago, Il, was arrested in Emerson, on an Out-of-County/State warrant.
• And, on April 15th, 56-year-old Kasey Clark Anderson, of Malvern, was arrested in Hastings, for Driving While Barred. (Bond $2,000)

Des Moines – The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors recently awarded $25,000 to the City of Sioux City to support the creation of the state’s first Homeless Court Program (HCP). The program, funded through IFA’s Emergency and Innovative Housing Fund, is designed to help individuals experiencing homelessness resolve legal barriers that prevent them from securing stable housing and employment.

HCPs bring together courts, local shelters, service agencies, prosecutors and public defenders to provide a community-based alternative to the traditional courtroom. The program allows participants to resolve outstanding misdemeanor offenses, infractions, and warrants by working with a case manager from a local supportive services agency who will work directly with the person experiencing homelessness to develop an individualized self-sufficiency plan and secure supportive services specific to their needs. If the participant successfully completes the program, court cases may be dismissed and fines and fees that were unlikely to be collected may be removed, reducing barriers to housing and employment. The HCP model builds trust, promotes community engagement and enhances overall public health and safety.

“The Homeless Court Program is a powerful initiative that fosters collaboration across the community in an effort to end the cycle of homelessness,” said IFA Director Debi Durham. “This investment will support those in need and strengthen the services provided by the City of Sioux City.”

Since 2001, the American Bar Association Commission on Homelessness and Poverty has helped establish similar programs in more than 70 jurisdictions nationwide, and they will provide technical assistance for the Sioux City program. The Sioux City HCP will be the first HCP implemented in the state of Iowa.

“The creation of the Sioux City Homeless Court Program is an important step in breaking down legal barriers that prevent individuals from achieving stable housing and jobs,” said Jill Wanderscheid, Neighborhood Services Manager. “With 206 households, consisting of 286 individuals, currently on the Sioux City’s Coordinated Entry list waiting for housing resources, this program will play a crucial role in addressing homelessness in our community.”

The IFA Board of Directors established the Emergency and Innovative Housing Fund in 2024 to effectively respond to emergency housing needs related to natural disasters or other housing crises within Iowa and to participate in creative and innovative initiatives related to supporting affordable housing. The IFA Board annually evaluates the Fund’s balance and approves additional funding deposits each year as part of the agency’s fiscal year budgeting process.

(Griswold, Iowa) – Following separate public hearings Monday night, the Griswold School approved the proposed FY26 Budget and 2025-26 District Calendar. Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN the budget includes a reduction in the tax levy from the current $12.78/$1,000 of assessed valuation to $12.72/$1,000, or six-cents less than the 24-25 levy. Another method of reducing the tax burden for district patrons, is with regard to the district’s bond.

Superintendent Henrichs said the 2025-26 District Calendar is essentially unchanged from the current year.

The Griswold School Board approved some personnel matters during their meeting Monday evening.

The Board approved Registration Fees for 2025-26, which is unchanged at $30. They also approved a Transportation Director Sharing Agreement with the Atlantic School District, a School Business Official (SBO) Sharing Agreement with the Riverside School District, and a two-year Superintendent Sharing agreement with the Lenox School District. In other business, the Board approved a Volleyball Net system purchase.

The Board approved the Master Contracts for the coming school year.

Henrichs said as far as staff for the coming school year is concerned, they’re in pretty good shape.

He says they feel good where they are right now with the staffing situation.

Red Oak, IA – Officials with the Red Oak Police Department report, that on Saturday, April 26th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Red Oak Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will host DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at locations across the country. DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. For more than a decade, the event has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often become a gateway to addiction. Take Back Day offers free and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at close to 5,000 local drop-off locations nationwide.

Details on the Red Oak Prescription Drug Take Back Day:

• When: Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Where: 106 W Coolbaugh St, Red Oak, IA 51566

Other sites include:

• The Audubon Police Department
• Council Bluffs Walgreens store
• Mills County Sheriff’s Office

The Atlantic Police Department has a drop-box at the Police Station, inside the City Hall building.

In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed 19.2 million pounds (9,600 tons) of medication from circulation since its inception. Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.

For more information and to find a collection site near you, visit www.DEATakeBack.com. Check back frequently. New sites are added daily.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports five people were arrested Monday, on separate charges:

• Late Monday morning, 40-year-old Jamie Lee Barrans, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County Warrant for 4-counts of Theft in the 5th Degree. Barrans was taken to the Union County Jail where he later bonded out on a bond of $1,200.
• Monday afternoon, Creston Police arrested 28-year-oldArmain Marguis Pazmino,of Greenfield, for Driving While Suspended. Pazmino was cited and released on a promise to appear.
• Monday evening, 43-year-old Mika Marie Luddington, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and on 3-counts Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or Subsequent offense. Luddington was taken to the Union County Jail where she later bonded out on a bond of $15,300.
• Monday night, 39-year-old Holly Renee Donehoo, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. Donehoo was cited and released on a promise to appear.
• And at around 11:15-p.m., Monday, Creston Police arrested 18-year-old Chase Edward Cassini, of Hampton City, IL, on charges of Eluding, and Theft in the 1st Degree (Possess/Control Property valued at $10,000 or more). Cassini was taken to the Union County Jail where he is being held on a bond of $10,000.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Education’s Community College Bureau Chief, Amy Gieseke says there were 119-thousand-310 students enrolled in the 15 schools in 2024. “This is a slight uptick, one-point-eight percent (1.8%) over the previous year, but we know that credit enrollment has annually declined an average of one-point-six percent (1.6%) over the past five years,” Gieseke says. She says enrollment has started to turn around after the drop during the pandemic. “Prior to the pandemic in 2019, our community colleges were enrolling over 128-thousand students. So peak COVID, we saw that number drop as low as 116-thousand, and then slowly start to recover. So while we’ve seen a slight uptick, we are still not yet to pre-pandemic levels,” she says.

Gieseke says the number of credit hours has increased. “We do appear to have turned a corner, we’re starting to uptick, with credit hours up two-point-seven hours (2.7%) this year over last year,” Gieseke says. Joint enrollment of students in high school and community college makes up nearly 46 percent of the students, and almost 31 percent of the credit hours. Gieseke says the makeup of the student body is 56-and-a-half percent female and 43-and-a-half percent male. “That’s very consistent with ratios over the past 20 years. And I think that’s important to watch because we know that nationally, post-secondary education numbers among males is declining. But at least in Iowa’s community colleges, that number is holding mostly steady,” Gieseke says. She says enrollment has gone down in general study programs.

“Data shows us that our top three programs on the credit side are Health Sciences, with over 95-hundred credits enrolled, Business Management and Administration, with nearly 47-hundred students enrolled, and then Law, Public Safety, and Security, this number three, with over 32-hundred students enrolled,” she says.

Nine of the schools saw enrollment increases, with the largest uptick at Des Moines Area Community College with one-thousand-257 more students. Eastern Iowa Community College lost the most students at 276. Gieseke released the annual community college report last week.