(Radio Iowa) – The U-S State Department is ending its support of the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program. A statement from the State Department says the University of Iowa’s program for authors from around the globe is no longer a priority for the agency and a nearly one MILLION dollar grant is being withdrawn. Christopher Merrill, director of the University of Iowa program, says it’s a devastating turn of events. “We had a 58 year long relationship with the State Department, a continuous relationship, a very productive partnership that with one stroke of the pen has ended,” Merrill says. The program typically hosts 30 writers from around the world for 11 weeks during the fall.

Merrill says they’ll cut that to about 15 writers. “I think we have enough money to host, as I said, a small cohort of writers this fall as a sort of placeholding opportunity,” Merrill said, “and then during these next six months, we’ll hope that we can figure out a different way to keep this storied program going.” Three past participants in the program have won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Last year, the U-S State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs launched a six-month mentoring program with the University of Iowa for writers from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Nicaragua and Myamar. That program is being cancelled, along with a summer
youth program.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Red Oak Police Department a Clarinda woman Failed to Yield from a Stop sign Thursday afternoon, resulting in a collision between her SUV and a car. No injuries or citations were reported, though. Authorities say at around 4:05-p.m. a 2018 Buick SUV driven by 46-year-old Melissa Mullins, of Clarinda, was stopped at the stop sign located at the intersection of E. Coolbaugh and N. 5th Streets, in Red Oak, and attempting to proceed south  through the intersection on N. 5th Street.

A legally parked vehicle on E. Coolbaugh obstructed Mullins’ view of a 2004 Buick LeSabre, driven by a 17-year-old female from Red Oak. When Mullins entered the intersection believing it was clear to do so, her SUV struck the Buick, which was traveling east on E. Coolbaugh, causing minor damage to both vehicles. Police estimated the damage at $2,000 altogether. Both vehicles were able to be driven away from the accident scene.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Board of Adjustment will hold a Public Hearing Monday evening at City Hall, with regard to a Conditional Use Permit for property located at 501 Chestnut Street. The building is owned by Randy Roy, and houses his business, Randy’s Computer. The hearing begins at 5:30-p.m.

Zoning Administrator John Lund said in his meeting agenda packet, that Roy wants a permit that will allow for a single-family residence on the first story of the building abutting Chestnut Street, north of 7^th Street, in the C-3 “Central Business” District, as allowed by the Zoning Ordinances, in Atlantic.

In his Conditional Use Permit Application, Randy Roy said the main floor of his building is 6,250-square feet. There is a 2,500-square foot mezzanine that has its own bathroom and shower, and that they would like to use as a one-bedroom apartment, so he can live on-site where his business is located. The living quarters will be completely isolated from the main floor working environment. As mentioned, Randy Roy owns the building.

The Board of Adjustment will hold the public hearing and discussion prior to taking action on the permit request. Their options are to: Accept the application without conditions; Accept the application and place conditions of operation attached to the permit, or, they may reject the application entirely.

Zoning Administrator John Lund notes “All requirements for a conditional use permit must be satisfied for the permit to be granted. Failure on any one requirement should result in a rejection of the application.” He did not offer his opinion on the matter for the Board to consider.

Board of Adjustment Agenda Packet 03-10-2025-min

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say a man from Polk County was arrested on a Harassment charge, Thursday morning. 21-year-old Rowan Davis Pope, of Des Moines, was arrested at around 11:45-a.m. in the 1700 block of Townline. He was taken into custody for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. Pope was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, pending an appearance before the Magistrate.

ESSEX, Iowa — A First Responder from Shenandoah will receive his final fire department and emergency medical services rites, following his funeral service on March 11^th. KETV in Omaha reports 56-year-old Blain Petersen, died Monday at his home in Essex. The City of Shenandoah confirmed Petersen’s death was not on the job.

Shenandoah Fire Chief Justin Marshall said Petersen was highly valued and respected for his service to his community as a firefighter and his role in emergency medical services. Marshall told KETV “He was a valued member of the community as a citizen and business operator. He will be deeply missed.”

A celebration of life funeral service for Blain Petersen will be held Tuesday, at the Shenandoah Elks Lodge #1122 (Find more information here regarding Petersen’s visitation, funeral and procession). The family requests those in attendance wear casual attire in honor of Blain. They suggest a racing shirt or something orange.

Less than a month ago, Atlantic Firefighter, Chris Towne, passed away at the age of 58. Chris was a member of the Atlantic Fire Department for over 25 years. He was also an EMT.

DES MOINES, Iowa [WHO-TV] — Two people have been charged after dozens of animals were found in unsanitary conditions at a northeast Des Moines motel. WHO-TV in Des Moines reports court documents state that on January 3rd, a law enforcement officer responded to a report of animal cruelty at a motel on the northeast side of Des Moines. The report claimed there were about 54 cats living in a unit in poor conditions, and that there was a foul odor emanating from the room. When Animal Services Officers arrived at the unit, they were told by one of the occupants, identified as 28-year-old Damon Lee Chaplin, that there were only two cats and one dog living inside, but the other occupant, identified as 46-year-old Melisa Sue Leverich, later told the officers that there were numerous animals inside, court documents state.

Officers discovered 37 cats and one dog inside the single-bedroom motel room. According to a criminal complaint, the room contained excessive animal waste and the animals were suffering from flea infestations and ear mite infections, and some of the cats had hair loss and upper respiratory infections. In addition to the 37 cats and one dog, the officers also discovered nine dead cats who were in various stages of decomposition, a criminal complaint states.

At the time, officers took custody of 32 cats and allowed Leverich and Chaplin to keep five cats and the dog so long as the animals received vet care, court documents state. When the officers followed up six days later they found additional cats in the motel room that weren’t accounted for during the initial call, and learned that none of the animals had received vet care, according to court documents. All the animals — 20 cats and one dog — were impounded. According to court records, ownership of the cats and the dog has been transferred to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.

On Wednesday (March 5th), Leverich and Chaplin were arrested and charged with one count of animal neglect with serious injury or death and two counts of animal neglect with injury. Both were being held in the Polk County Jail on $4,000 cash/surety bonds. Their Preliminary hearings were scheduled for March 17th.

(Radio Iowa) – March is National Problem Gambling Awareness Month and Iowa Problem Gambling Office program director Katie Bee says the first step is recognizing the issue. “Problem gambling means participation in any form of gambling activity that creates one or more negative consequences to the individual experiencing problems with gambling their family or loved ones, employer or community,” Bee says. Bee talked about some of the signs of problem gambling in a presentation to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. “Some of them are an individual may need to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement that they initially had when participating in the behavior,” She says. “They may have had repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop their gambling behavior. They’re often preoccupied with gambling.” Bee says there are a couple of ways to get help.

“We have ‘Your Life Iowa’ and 1-800 Bets Off. Iowans can call 1-800 Bets Off, or they could visit Your Life Iowa helpline, there’s a website, that website offers calls, online chat, as well as text options,” Bee says. “In state fiscal year 2024 there were over 13-hundred calls to 1-800 Bets Off. And in addition, in state fiscal year ’24 there was just over 74-thousand visits to Your Life Iowa, to the gambling page, specifically,” she says. Bee says those who called were evaluated and then directed to the help they need. “A little over 14-hundred Iowans received an evaluation, and they were recommended to gambling treatment,” she says.

Bee says the programs are free and confidential.

(Radio Iowa) -0 Surveys find 98-percent of all adult Iowans now own a cell phone, and while the technology has changed many aspects of our lives for the better, it’s also sometimes good to take a break from it. Today (Friday) is what’s known as the Global Day of Unplugging, as people are encouraged to leave their devices in a pocket or purse. Joel Burt, an agent development manager at U-S-Cellular in metro Des Moines, explains how he sees the day’s goal. “Our devices are great and they do a lot of great things for us, but sometimes they can become a distraction,” Burt says. “It’s really just to bring awareness to the idea of putting down your phone and your devices and spending time with the people that mean the most to you.” Unplugging is easier said than done for some of us, especially if you make your living off of cell phones, but Burt says he has a plan.

“I still have some things that I’m going to have to complete and get done with work, but my kids and I have a really great routine,” Burt says. “After the work day is done, we’re going to put up all of our devices, maybe play some board games, do a little rough-housing, and if it’s nice out, maybe go outside for a little bit.” Why would a company that deals in cell phones encourage people not to use them, even if only for a day? Burt says he’s in business to help connect people to what matters most to them.  “We do that with technology, whether it be tablets, or you’re FaceTiming grandparents, or staying in contact through phones and text messages,” Burt says, “but that also means having a healthy relationship with those devices and being able to understand when it’s time to take a break and be present in the moment.”

A survey from 2024 finds 90% of parents say they monitor their children’s phone usage, up from 82% in 2023. The same survey found 59% of youth feel they are on their phones too much, while 33% of adults said they could use time away from their devices.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak say the female juvenile driver of a SUV escaped injury Thursday morning, after the vehicle she was driving left the road and struck a utility pole. Authorities say the vehicle was traveling north in the 600 block of Boundary Street at around 10:15-a.m., when the (unidentified) driver took her eyes off the road to reach for something. The 2006 SAAB SUV drove off the road to the right and struck the utility pole. The vehicle sustained damage estimated at $7,000. The juvenile was issued a written warning for Failure to Maintain Control.

SHENANDOAH, Iowa [KCCI] — A western Iowa priest is accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the church he served. According to KCCI, The Rev. Thomas Thakadipuram, of Shenandoah, is charged with six counts of first-degree theft and one count of second-degree theft.

Court records say that on Jan. 2, Thakadipuram went to three different banks, where he allegedly removed seven certificates of deposits, or CDs, belonging to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shenandoah in cash funds and deposited the money into a bank account for a fake missionary group. He’s then accused of transferring the money from the fake missionary group account to his personal account.

In total, law enforcement alleges Thakadipuram swiped $164,000. Court documents say Thakadipuram told church trustees that he had been defrauded and refused to speak to law enforcement. The criminal complaints say that on the same day law enforcement attempted to talk to him, Thakadipuram attempted to close the accounts and move the money again.

Thakadipuram has pleaded not guilty.

The Diocese of Des Moines told KCCI that Thakadipuram resigned from his position at St. Mary’s in Shenandoah and Hamburg, adding that the diocese has “arranged for the pastoral care of the parishioners” until a new priest is placed.