There’s a new policy in force at the Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City that limits who may carry weapons into the building. A new state law allows people with permits to carry concealed weapons in public buildings, but the chief justice of Iowa’s Supreme Court has declared that court-controlled areas in public buildings would remain “weapons-free” zones. In June, the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors voted to allow guns in the courthouse. Now, THIS WEEK, the chief judge in Iowa’s third judicial district banned the public from bringing weapons into the courthouse in Sioux City as well as the adjacent law enforcement center and the second floor of a nearby building where juvenile court hearings are held.

Woodbury County Board of Supervisors chairman Matthew Ung objects. “No one disputes the court’s right and responsibility to secure and set policy for their courtroom,” Ung says. “But when my courtroom becomes my eight-story courthouse and the law enforcement center and the second floor of Trosper Hoyt, you have judicial overreach.”

Law enforcement officers and members of the military who are on duty will be allowed to carry weapons in the complex, but off duty officials will have to surrender their weapons at the entrance. Ung objects to that as well. “I don’t think law enforcement is ever off duty and, indeed, there are many cases where they have prevented crimes and saved lives,” Ung says, “so I think to disarm people like that sends an extremely wrong message to our community.”

Ung says the issue is NOT on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors agenda for next Tuesday, but Ung says he wouldn’t be surprised if someone files a lawsuit challenging this new policy.

(Radio Iowa)

A Page County man turned himself-in to the Page County Sheriff’s Office this (Thursday) morning. Authorities say 40-year old Jeffrey Wade Bartles, of rural College Springs,  arrived at the Sheriff’s Office at around 10:30-a.m. to serve time for a previous sentence.  An active warrant had been issued for Bartles from Page County District Court for Violation of Probation (an aggravated Misdemeanor), with bond set at $2000 cash only.  Bartles was booked into jail for his sentence and will be held until the bond has been satisfied.

MCINTIRE, Iowa (AP) – Apparently it was a not-so-special election in the tiny town of McIntire, Iowa, where none of its 70 registered voters showed up to cast ballots. Tuesday’s ballot asked two questions: Should the term of the mayor be raised to four years from two, and should the terms of council members be raised to four years, staggered, from two years.

A Mitchell County deputy auditor, Barbara Baldwin, told the Mason City Globe Gazette that the poll workers didn’t even vote. None of them live in McIntire. McIntire, population 110, sits near the state line with Minnesota, 137 miles north-northeast of Des Moines. Baldwin says she’s seen low turnouts over her 28 years with the county auditor, but, “This is definitely a first.”

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has ordered a former Atlantic-based company to pay a $7,000 penalty for failure to clean-up soil contaminated with trade waste that includes waste oil, anti-freeze, fuel, and miscellaneous solid waste. The DNR also ordered Recycling Services, LLC (101 State St.) to conduct a site assessment and remediation, as necessary, to properly dispose of all remaining solid waste and contaminated soil. The order was with regard to the company’s failure to comply with their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

In June, 2015, the DNR received four complaints alleging that storm water run-off was leaving the property. A subsequent site visit and investigation confirmed the discharge issues. As of late last month, the DNR said the company had not complied with the Order. The company has not been in operation since late 2015 or early 2016.

More details about the Order can be found here: https://programs.iowadnr.gov/legal//documents/6363719605079993242017SW11.pdf

(Radio Iowa/Des Moines) — For the 18th straight year, Iowans can take advantage of tax-free shopping on certain items tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday. Nicole Watson, at the Iowa Department of Revenue, says the annual Sales Tax Holiday is a time to save cash, especially for parents who are stocking up on their kids’ school clothes. “It’s a very limited opportunity for folks as they get ready to head back to school to save paying sales tax on clothing items,” Watson says. “They’re intended to be any article of clothing or apparel and footwear that is worn and is under $100.”

Watson says the tax-free shopping period is popular with shoppers and merchants statewide. “We measure success on the number of taxpayers that take advantage of it,” she says. “The most recent information dates from August of 2015 where an estimated $60-million in sales were exempted during the sales tax holiday, so quite a lot.”

The Iowa Department of Revenue website details what items will be tax-free — and what ones aren’t — during the two day period. “What clothing items, like shoes, pants, t-shirts, your general back-to-school clothing items are covered,” Watson says. “Things that aren’t covered are going to be accessories, backpacks, things that aren’t actually clothing.”

Other tax exempt items include: caps and hats, socks, underclothing, uniforms for work and school, coats, bathing suits, leotards and tights, costumes and diapers. Other items that WILL still be taxed include: computers, school supplies, jewelry, fabric, athletic clothing and athletic footwear not usually for everyday wear. The holiday runs from 12:01 A-M on Friday though 11:59 P-M on Saturday. For more information, visit tax.iowa.gov

Officials with the Monsanto Corporation report the  America’s Farmers Grow Communities program has returned. The goal of the program is to give farmers in Cass County and across the State, an opportunity to enroll for a chance to win a $2,500 donation to direct to their favorite local eligible nonprofit organization. Through the America’s Farmers Grow Communities Program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, farmers across rural America will donate more than $3 million to nonprofit organizations in 2018 – helping farmers to give back to and support their local communities.

New this year, all farmers are now eligible to enroll in the program, as long as they meet the requirement of being 21 years old and actively engaged in farming at least 250 acres or more.

The funds being awarded are used to provide support to a variety of rural nonprofit organizations that reflect the makeup and character of their local communities, including food banks, emergency response organizations, youth agriculture programs and many others. Since the program began in 2010, the program has awarded more than $26 million to nonprofits in rural America, such as emergency response organizations, schools, and youth agriculture programs.

Farmer enrollment began August 1st and runs through Nov. 1, 2017.  Winners will be announced in January 2017. Iowa farmers can enter for a chance to win online at www.GrowCommunities.com or by calling 877-267-3332 toll-free.

About the American Farmers Campaign: The America’s Farmers campaign highlights the importance of modern US Agriculture through communications and community outreach programs that partner with farmers to impact rural America. To learn more, visit America’s Farmers at www.AmericasFarmers.com.

The Creston Police Department reports (9:30-a.m.) a missing boy was found safe this morning.  Earlier, officials had asked for your help in locating 10-year old Phoenix White. No other details were released concerning where the boy was found. Authorities thank the public for their help and tips.

Updated photo of Phoenix

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City man accused of punching his 12-year-old son and assaulting other family members has been sentenced to five years in prison. Court records say 36-year-old JT Ring pleaded guilty last month to child endangerment causing injury. Prosecutors dropped two related charges in exchange for Ring’s plea.

His plea agreement says the five years will be served at the same time he serves 15 years for a drunken driving conviction. Court records say his parole in the previous case has been revoked because of the assault case.

The board that oversees the three state universities gave final approval for the 2018 budgets during a meeting via telephone Wednesday. The presidents of the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and Northern Iowa each talked about the challenges they face in light of state budget cuts.  Board of Regents president Michael Richards says the university leaders are doing what they can to handle the state funding cuts. “I think that we have presidents that are willing to work together. There is stress obviously in the state on the budgets  and I believe that each school is sort of differentiating itself as having little bit different issues,” Richards says.

He says the board and the schools will continue working with lawmakers and the governor on the budget concerns. “We’re are focusing on what the students need, what the parents need, we’re open to obviously to the legislature. We’re working with them and working with the governor’s office to come up with a good solution — and I think our presidents are the leaders to help us do that,” according to Richards.

He says it’s not a fight between education and state government. “We’re all on the same side….and there’s always something more that we can do, and if we have the opportunity we will try to work with them,” Richards says.The Board of Regents put together a tuition task force to look at the future of tuition and how it fits into the budget picture. It’s meeting schedule last week where they were supposed to hear from legislative, economic development and business representatives was canceled. Richards says he’s not concerned about that.

“I think it was really a situation of timing this summer, it was hard to get everybody’s schedule together,” Richards says. “I know we have a great deal of interest at the universities. So, I think it was more schedules rather than a lack of interest, it was just getting everybody together.” The task force has meetings scheduled next week with each of the three schools where they will talk about their five-year tuition plans.

(Radio Iowa)

Three bicyclists were injured when they were struck by a van Wednesday evening, in Dallas County. The Iowa State Patrol says 36-year old Renae Deaver, of Dallas Center, was traveling south on Dallas County Road R-22 at around 7:45-p.m., when she failed to see four bicycles and struck them with her 2011 Toyota Sienna. The bicycle riders came to rest in the west ditch. All four riders were wearing their helmets.

Taken to Mercy and Methodist Hospitals respectively by Dallas County EMS, was 50-year old Todd Bidel, of West Des Moines, and 49-year old Brian Terhark, of Clive. A Dallas County Sheriff’s Deputy transported 45-year old Chad Roethler, of Urbandale, to Mercy West Lakes hospital. 36-year old Todd Bindel, of West Des Moines, was not seriously injured, according to the Patrol’s report.

The accident remains under investigation.