(Radio Iowa) — A Sioux City businessman’s retirement from Iowa politics lasted about four months. Rick Bertrand retired in April after finishing his second term in the Iowa Senate — but was nominated Tuesday evening by Sioux City Republicans to run again for the District 7 Senate seat. Bertrand was nominated by Steve Stokes, the former G-O-P candidate who dropped out of the race earlier this month for family and business reasons. Several Republicans, including Governor Reynolds and Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver started asking Bertrand to reconsider his retirement.

“When you’re asked it’s a good feeling,” Bertrand says, “and the community asked. And when your governor asks and when the party asks, it’s a good place. It’s a good thing for Sioux City. And I think this is a win-win for Sioux City when we win this.” Bertrand says if he is re-elected, he will continue to be a champion for Sioux City.

“That’s probably the thing that excites me the most — not just going back, that you are wanted and the community supports you — but you are going to walk back with a nice bag of capital and that means leverage, and that is power,” according to Bertrand. “And there are some things that we need to get done around here. With Highway 20 getting completed, we are going to have some infrastructure opportunities.”

Bertrand was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2010. He was re-elected in 2014 by a 20 point margin. Former Woodbury County Supervisor Jackie Smith is the Democratic candidate for the senate seat. The Democratic candidate for Iowa’s District 7 state senate seat responded Wednesday to news about Bertrand.

Jackie Smith spoke at the Woodbury County Democratic Headquarters before a crowd of supporters, and says Rick Bertrand is going back on a promise he made. “His claim to fame is term limits. He had a farewell speech on April 17th — I encourage everyone to look at that — it’s on Youtube. It’s on the Senate Floor. And he actually talks about term limits and that it is time for him to go. I couldn’t agree more,” Smith says.

Smith served on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors for eight years and is making her first run for state office. She disputes Bertrand’s claim that he will bring political capital for Siouxland to the state senate and says by re-entering the senate race he is breaking a promise. Smith says she had a 96 percent attendance record on the county board, and says Bertrand missed more votes and meetings than any other state senator the past four years.

“Now wouldn’t we be fired if we didn’t show up for our jobs?,” Smith asks. “I think voters should fire him and keep him home and not in Des Moines.” She went on to say she supports the right for Iowans to collectively bargain with their employers for wages, benefits and basic working conditions. Smith also says she will work to increase funding for education, mental health and medicaid programs if she is elected.

A collision Wednesday afternoon in Greene County between a cargo van and a semi, left the driver of the van dead. The Iowa State Patrol reports the semi, driven by 21-year old Arthur Vanderwaal, of Hull, was turning southbound onto Highway 4 from 290th Street, when a northbound 2017 Chevy Express van driven by 71-year old Wesley H. Bunnell, of Glidden, began to drift left into the southbound lane.

Vanderwaal saw the approaching van and tried to avoid a collision by taking to the west shoulder of the road, but the van struck 2010 Peterbilt Model 389 on the driver’s side. Bunnell, who was wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. Vanderwaal was not injured.

The accident, which happened at around 12:20-p.m, remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Minnesota family sickened by eating pasta salad contaminated with salmonella is suing the Iowa-based grocery store chain that distributed the food.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday against Hy-Vee Inc. The suit alleges a woman, her daughter and her grandson became ill after eating pasta salad bought at a Hy-Vee store in Winona, Minnesota. The lawsuit says the mother and daughter required a doctor’s care.

Hy-Vee issued a recall for the product on July 17. Federal health officials say 79 people across nine states were sickened, including 18 who needed hospitalization. A Hy-Vee spokeswoman says food safety is the company’s top priority and that an investigation continues at the Nebraska facility where the pasta salad was made.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of money for medical costs, pain and suffering, and wage loss.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Missouri state trooper who was driving a boat when a handcuffed Iowa man fell out and drowned is suing to get his peace officers’ license back. Anthony Piercy filed a lawsuit this week against the Missouri Department of Public Safety and the agency’s director. The Kansas City Star reports he’s asking for a reversal of the decision that revoked his license.

Piercy was sentenced in September for misdemeanor negligent operation of a vehicle after the drowning of 20-year-old Brandon Ellingson, of Clive, Iow. Clive died in 2014 at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Piercy lost his patrol job. But earlier this summer, a Cole County judge ruled that the patrol’s leader didn’t have the authority to fire Piercy. Piercy cannot return to the patrol without his peace officer license.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa man has pleaded guilty in a case in which police say he sexually abused six children all under the age of 12. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that 30-year-old Tony Cue pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of sexual abuse and one count of lascivious acts with a child. Cue was sentenced immediately after his plea to 15 years in prison. He must also register as a sex offender.

Prosecutors say Cue abused children he was babysitting between 2012 and this year at his home and in woods near his home. Authorities say the mother of two of the victims was told of the abuse, but did nothing to stop or report it. She’s charged with child endangerment and being an accessory. She’s set to stand trial next month.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met 8:30-a.m., Wednesday, in a normal weekly session.  Auditor Dale Sunderman reports the Board approved the application for a Renewal Class C Beer Permit and Sunday Sales Privilege effective 10/18/2018, for the 21st Century Cooperative in Massena.

County Weed Commissioner Dennis Vogl reviewed current activity.  He reported there were 16 complaints filed this season.  Fourteen were resolved without using certified notice process.

Dale Sunderman reported that he and Board Chair Gaylord Schelling contacted Pipeline Foods on Monday, and informed them that the Code of Iowa does not permit the County to reduce existing assessment as had been requested (with regard to their planned purchase of the ADM Elevator, north of Atlantic).  Sunderman said a tax exemption/abatement is available only on an increase in valuation/assessment.

Representatives of Pipeline Foods were not in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office released details on Wednesday on three recent incidents.

On August 6th two people were arrested as the result of a traffic stop. Deputies arrested 52-year-old Michael T. Greve of Omaha on charges of OWI 1st Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Also arrested was 49-year-old Robin G. Flynn of Omaha on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine 1st Offense, Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Both individuals were taken to the Cass County Jail. Flynn was released the following day on $1,000 bond and Greve was released the following day on his own recognizance.

On August 10th Cass County Deputies responded to a call of a fight in progress. Deputies arrested 27-year-old Darren Lloyd Ruggles of Griswold on charges of Carrying a Weapon While Intoxicated, Assault While Diplaying a Dangerous Weapon, and Public Intoxication. 27-year-old Mikel Ann Erickson of Omaha was arrested on charges of Assault of a Peace Officer, Assault Causing Bodily Injury, Disorderly Conduct, and Public Intoxication. 53-year-old Michael Roger Martens of Lewis was arrested on a charge of Public Intoxication. All parties were taken to the Cass County Jail. Ruggles was released the following day on $3,300 bond, Erickson was released the following day on $3,600 bond, and Martens was released the following day after entering a plea of Guilty.

On August 15th Cass County Deputies arrested 27-year-old Scott Hallie Joseph Downer of Atlantic on a Monona County warrant. Downer was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $1,000 bond.

BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities investigating the disappearance of an Iowa college student are focusing on five areas in and near her hometown.

Twenty-year-old Mollie Tibbetts was last seen July 18, jogging in Brooklyn in central Iowa.

The areas of interest are: her boyfriend’s home in Brooklyn; a carwash; a truck stop; a farm more than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from downtown Brooklyn; and another farm more than 6 miles (10 kilometers) away.

Special agent Rick Rahn of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says officials hope mentioning those areas will jog residents’ memories. Investigators have asked anyone who was in any of those five areas when Tibbetts disappeared to remember that evening and leave tips on a website .

Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa says a reward fund has grown to more than $366,000.