Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports that from November 29th through December 23rd (2019), the Page County Sheriff’s Office is taking gift requests for Operation Blessing. The Page County Sheriff’s Office program will cover children in the communities of Shambaugh, Braddyville, College Springs, Yorktown, Coin, Blanchard, Northboro, and Hepburn as well as the rural areas, of Page County. Ages of children covered by this program are Birth to 15 years of age.

The requests must come from a parent or guardian of the child and can be called into the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193, or reported in person by the parent or guardian at the Page County Sheriff’s Office located at 323 N 15th Street in Clarinda. Each child will be given a first and second choice. It is suggested that a toy and clothing be requested.

Operation Blessing was started in the mid 1980s by the Page County Reserve Deputies to ensure that every child in the rural areas of Page County has the opportunity to receive a gift at Christmas. It has continued every year since for over 30 years. This year the Sheriff’s Office and Reserve program will continue this tradition of ensuring that children in Page County receive a gift for Christmas. Anyone wishing to donate to the Page County Sheriff’s Office Operation Blessing program can either stop by the Page County Sheriff’s Office or mail the monetary donation to the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 323 North 15th Clarinda, Iowa, 51632. Monetary donations are taken year round at the Office.

The Sheriff’s Office will again this year be delivering the gifts to the children. That will take place on December 22nd, 23rd, 24th & or 25th if necessary. The date depends on staffing, call load, and of course weather. Sheriff Palmer thanks everyone for their donations and support of the program throughout the years, for without monetary donations, the program would not be able to continue. He also thanks our staff at the Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in everything they do with this program. They go above and beyond with the call taking, shopping, wrapping and organization of this program. They along with the organizations, businesses, and individuals who donate make this program a success every year. Palmer wishes everyone a joy filled and safe Holiday season.

(Radio Iowa) — California billionaire and Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer just wrapped up a two-day campaign swing through north-central Iowa, touting plans to boost the amount of affordable housing in America.  “So many things depend on where you put your head down at night,” Steyer says, “and I think that solving and addressing this housing shortage and this housing crisis is something that’s critical in terms of addressing inequality around the country.”

Steyer says the federal government should invest more than six-hundred-25 BILLION dollars ($625 billion) over ten years in existing housing programs — to create three-and-a-half million units of affordable housing. Steyer says an additional six-hundred BILLION ($600 billion) should be used to develop “climate-smart” housing in cities that’s affordable. Steyer says there’s no state in the US where a minimum-wage worker can afford a market-rate two-bedroom apartment. “Des Moines has gentrification problems like the gentrification problems across this country,” Steyer says. “I’ve been to Council Bluffs to see the flooding. I know that they are the issues about rebuilding houses and I know there is enough housing stock in rural America.”

Steyer says leaders at the local, state and federal level need to show leadership in addressing housing issues.  “We’re going to have to deal with our homelessness problem across the country explicitly,” he says. “We’re going to have to help people to the traditional American wealth generation through home ownership…because that has gotten to be very problematic and particularly in red-lined areas.”

Steyer made stops in Mason City and Osage on Sunday, and Charles City and Northwood on Monday.

(8-a.m. News) COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Some business owners at a western Iowa mall say they’re upset at being forced out of the building by the end of the year. Officials say the Mall of the Bluffs on the east side of Council Bluffs is being acquired so Menards can demolish it and build a new home improvement center.

Bryon Beins co-owns Madness Haunted House, and he told The Daily Nonpareil that he received a letter from Woodsonia Real Estate Group of Omaha, Nebraska, on Nov. 18, telling him that he had to move out of the mall by Dec. 31. He says he intends to fight the eviction. Beins says there isn’t enough time for him and his business partner to find a new location, tear down everything at the mall and move.

Spokesmen for Woodsonia and Menards were not immediately available for comment.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City officials have repealed an 11-year-old ban on pit bull ownership, saying a city ordinance is unfair and likely difficult to defend against court challenges. The Sioux City Journal reports the City Council voted 4-to-1 Monday to overturn the ban, effective Saturday. The ban adopted in 2008 prohibited residents from keeping dogs that are 51% or more pit bull. Those who owned dogs before April 2009 could keep them if they were registered each year.

The ban was spurred by concerns the dogs were inherently vicious, but pit bull advocates argued each animal should be judged independently. City lawyers recommended the council adopt a “breed neutral” ordinance.