(Radio Iowa) — A high-speed chase in Cedar Rapids on Sunday night left two police officers hurt and a suspect jailed. Police were called to a Walmart about 10:15 after a man stole a cart full of merchandise and assaulted a store employee. The suspect was in his car, hitting concrete posts in the parking lot when police arrived. He rammed the squad car, leaving both officers with moderate injuries, and sped away onto Interstate 380.

Police say he tried to ram other vehicles during the pursuit which ended in the Wellington Heights neighborhood. The suspect crashed the car into a garage and he was arrested. Police say there was already a warrant out on 51-year-old Charles Ford who now faces a string of new charges.

(Radio Iowa) — Registration is now open for the annual Give Back Iowa Challenge, an eight-week effort aimed at engaging Iowans in employer-supported volunteering. Jami Haberl, executive director of the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative, says this is the sixth year for the challenge which has encouraged thousands of Iowans to donate tens of thousands of hours of their time. “It’s really about getting recognition for tracking and reporting hours so employees can volunteer during the months of April 1st through May 31st,” Haberl says, “and those hours are tracked and then there are some winners at the end, just recognizing those organizations for doing great work.”

Employers in several categories with the highest average number of volunteer hours per employee will be singled out for a visit by the governor or lieutenant governor to their workplace.  “The Give Back Iowa Challenge is a way for us to recognize employers for giving back to the community and also to reinforce how important volunteering is,” Haberl says. “Research continues to show the connection between employer-supported volunteering and improved employee engagement. We also know that you make a difference in the community.”

Over the last five years of the challenge, Haberl says Iowans donated more than 83-thousand hours of service through the program.  “We need to recognize Iowans for the work that they’re doing,” Haberl says. “It can be subtle things. This is really an easy and great opportunity for employers to thank their employees for the work they’re doing. Just demonstrating how giving back to the community and by volunteering, that is one amazing resource you provide to non-profits here in the state of Iowa.”

A federal survey in 2018 ranked Iowa the number-four state in the country for volunteerism, with more than 40% of Iowans donating their time, well above the national average of around 30%. The Corporation for National and Community Service says Iowans are very generous with their giving, donating more than 75-million hours of their time with an economic impact of nearly two-billion dollars.

On the web at: https://volunteerchallenge.iowa.gov/volunteer-challenge-employer-registration

Page County IOWA Sheriff Lyle Palmer says his office has received several comments / requests from the public in reference to posts from the Page County VIRGINIA Sheriff’s Office. Palmer encourages the public to carefully read the address of the facebook page. He says “We have not posted anything regarding the COVID – 19 virus or anything about delivering lunches. We do not have the funds or manpower to do this at this time. These posts have ALL been from the VIRGINIA Page County Sheriff’s Office.”

Palmer stresses “Once again, please look at the address when reading your posts.”

Cass County Republican Attorney Vanessa Strazdas, who was appointed by the Board of Supervisors in Feb. 2019, has filed nomination papers to fill the County Attorney Vacancy Position. She was selected in 2019, after Governor Kim Reynolds announced the appointment of former County Attorney Michael Hooper to a District Court Judge seat, in the Fourth Judicial District. Strazdas is the latest to file nomination papers in Cass County. And, Ned Brown has filed nomination papers for the Non-Partisan Hospital Board. He joins previously announced Hospital Board candidates LeAnne Pellett and Linda Pelzer (There are 3 open seats.)

Others include: Steve Green – Republican incumbent Supervisor – District 1; Republican incumbent Supervisor Steve Baier – District 4; Democrat Russell Joyce and Republican Bernard Pettinger – District 5 Supervisor; Republican incumbents: Darby McLaren – Sheriff; Dale Sunderman – Auditor; and Delmar South has submitted his nomination papers for Union Township Trustee, which is also a non-partisan position.

Nominations are still open for Democrat candidates who may desire to seek these positions on the primary ballot: Supervisor – Districts 1and 4;  County Attorney; County Sheriff; County Auditor, and, one non-partisan position on the Hospital Board.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports six arrests from Feb. 16th through March 10th. On the 10th, 23-year old Andrew Allen Malloy, of Audubon, was arrested on multiple Audubon Police Department warrants.  Malloy has been charged with Felony Burglary 3rd degree, (2) counts of Attempted Burglary, and Criminal Mischief – 3rd degree.  These charges stem from a burglary at the M and M Car Wash and Laundromat in Audubon.  The investigation continues, and additional charges are pending.  The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest.  Malloy was transported to the Audubon County Jail and is being held on $11,000 cash bond. And, 47-year old Sheri Lynn Mutum, of Audubon, was arrested the same day, on a warrant for Permitting Unauthorized Person to Drive.  Mutum was transported to the Audubon County Jail where she later posted $300 cash bond.

On March 8th, 34-year old Adam Roy Meyer, of Plattsmouth, NE, was arrested in Audubon, for Driving With a Suspended License.  Meyer was released at the scene, on promise to appear in court. On Feb. 27th, 36-year old Kathyrn Rose Yager, of Audubon, was cited for allowing a Dog to run at Large.  Yager was issued a citation and released on promise to appear. Feb. 21st, Audubon Police arrested 31-year old Charles Arnold William Bybee, of Audubon, for Driving With a Suspended License. Bybee was released at the scene on promise to appear. On the 17th of February, 41-year old Tiffany Lyn Densmore, of Carroll, was arrested on a Violation of Parole warrant.  Densmore was transported to another agency.

And, on Feb. 16th, 23-year old Andrew Allen Malloy, of Audubon, was arrested on a warrant for Driving With a Suspended License.  Malloy was transported to the Audubon County Jail and held.

The Atlantic City Council has a relatively short agenda for their meeting this coming Wednesday evening. There will be three public hearings followed by action on approving related resolutions. There will also be a slight re-arranging of the Council’s Chambers, in accordance with IDPH and CDC recommendations for a three-foot separation between individuals. The Chamber will be arranged so that Councilpersons are not in close proximity to each other. In addition, any council members who feel uncomfortable attending the meeting, will be allowed to call in.

The Public Hearing during their session cover: Adoption of the Final, Fiscal Year 2021 Budget for the City of Atlantic; Adoption of the FY 2021 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP); and on a “Proposal to Enter into a General Obligation Refunding Loan Agreement (#2), and to Borrow Money Thereunder.”

The Atlantic City Council will also act on Resolutions “Combining Loan Agreements, Authorizing a Loan Agreement, authorizing a Bond Purchase Agreement, and Authorizing the Call of Bonds; and setting the date for a Public Hearing (as April 1st, 2020) on designated the Expanded North Urban Renewal Area, and on an Urban Renewal Plan Amendment.

Their final order of business, prior to regularly scheduled reports, is to act on setting April 1st as the date for a Public Hearing on replacing Chapter 148 in the City Code of Ordinances (entitled Property Maintenance Codes) with “The International Property Maintenance Code.”

The Council’s March 18th meeting begins at 5:30-p.m.

[Atlantic, Iowa, March 16, 2020] The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has awarded the City of Atlantic a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in the amount of $493,997 for improvements to Atlantic Municipal Utilities’ (AMU) water plant and distribution system. The grant funds are part of a $1 million improvement project including repair of two pressure water filters, clear well maintenance, and 1,250 linear feet of water main to provide redundant crossing under the Nishnabotna River. The project will benefit the entire community but especially low to moderate income residents of both Atlantic and Marne, who rely upon the service. The City of Atlantic and AMU worked jointly with the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) to secure the grant funds and the project will commence in the near future.

Atlantic Municipal Utilities General Manager Steve Tjepkes said “This grant goes a long way to ensure that we continue to provide great service to our customers while keeping user costs low. We’re thankful to the State of Iowa for awarding this and for SWIPCO on their hard work in going after these funds.”

SWIPCO is a council of governments and designated EDA economic development district based in Atlantic supported by the cities and counties of an eight county region including Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Montgomery, Mills, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby Counties. CDBG funds are used for a variety of projects with varying application deadlines. Communities with needs are encouraged to contact SWIPCO staff early in their project development to work on a successful funding strategy.