(Radio Iowa) – It could be a lucky Friday the 13th — for Iowa tow truck drivers and dent repair shops. The entire state is under a Winter Weather Advisory starting at 2 PM in western counties, while an Ice Storm Warning kicks in at 8 PM for a dozen east-central Iowa counties. National Weather Service meteorologist Donna Dubberke says this afternoon’s commute is liable to be trouble due to the mix of rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow. Oh, and the ice. “Most of the day itself isn’t going to be too bad, cold still, but the rain is going to be coming in later today,” Dubberke says, “and with all this cold air in place, that is going to fall as freezing rain and drizzle and we could see some accumulations. It’s really going to be a mess.”

Motorists statewide will likely have to contend with slick, ice-covered roads, though this evening’s Ice Storm Warning is for 12 counties in an area where getting traction could get especially dicey. “That runs kind of the I-380 corridor, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, and then back west to Grinnell,” she says. “That’s the area where we expect a little bit higher amount of ice accumulation, but everywhere is going to be slippery and messy.” On the plus side, she says any ice that accumulates shouldn’t be around too long. “We do have warm air coming up from the south, and as that warm air comes up, we’ll see the freezing part of it stop,” Dubberke says, “maybe in a little bit of mix, but as it exits, the temperature should climb above freezing by the end of the day on Saturday.”

The forecast calls for Sunday to be dry and warmer, with highs in the upper 30s and lower 40s statewide.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Two Glenwood residents were arrested on separate Mills County warrants, Thursday. The Glenwood Police Department says 39-year-old Micheal Hutfless, and 34-year-old Carly McCord were taken into custody and held without bond in the Mills County Jail, until seen by a Magistrate Judge.

And, the Glenwood PD says a woman from Glenwood reported Thursday an incident of Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. Additional details about the incident were not provided.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Corning Iowa Fire Department was called to the scene of a structure fire at Red Star Feeds (404 Davis Street) early this (Friday) morning. Once the extent of the blaze became clear, Corning Fire promptly request mutual aid from the Lenox Fire Department, Prescott Fire and Rescue, Creston and Red Oak Fire Departments. Creston’s ladder truck was requested at around 3:10-a.m.  Crews fought the fully engulfed blaze in near single digit temperatures. (Photos are courtesy of the Creston and Red Oak Fire Departments)

Fire officials say the structure appeared to be a total loss. Assisting crews were on the scene until around 6:15-a.m. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known.

ROFD photo

(Radio Iowa) – U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says it appears Farm Bill negotiations have gotten more complex. House Speaker Mike Johnson says a majority of House Republicans oppose a Senate plan to take nearly 10 BILLION in unspent funds from the so-called Inflation Reduction Act and use it on conservation programs. “It would have actually provided additional resources for congress to increase the level of disaster assistance and emergency assistance that could have been provided to producers in Iowa and across the country,” Vilsack says. Vilsack says current budget rules would allow that 10 BILLION dollar transfer. “The sad reality is, by not protecting those resources, potentially congress could redirect them from farmers and ranches towards some other priority,” Vilsack says.

Funding for federal conservation assistance was increased dramatically by the Inflation Reduction Act. “This is a historic opportunity for us to significantly reduce the backlog of farmers who have been waiting for a while for resources to be able to do on their land what they know needs to be done,” Vilsack says, “to protect it and to enhance it.” Neither the House nor the Senate brought a new Farm Bill up for a vote this year. If congress fails to reauthorize the 2018 Farm Bill this month, federal farm policies revert to laws passed eight decades ago. Vilsack says that would create chaos in the markets.  “I’m sure that something is going to get done, the question is whether it will get done in a way that provides the best benefit and the most opportunity for farmers and ranchers and producers who work so hard for the rest of us,” Vilsack says.

Lawmakers from states hit by Hurricane Helene in late September are seeking federal disaster aid for farmers who lost crops, livestock and farm buildings.

(Radio Iowa) – A southeast Iowa child is charged with making a threat on social media. Lieutenant Jason Bell of the Ottumwa Police Department says they were informed by the FBI on Monday of a post on TikTok that contained the phrase “shoot up the school” along with other concerning language. After an investigation, the minor responsible for the social media post was arrested on Thursday. The child was charged with terroristic threats, a Class D felony, and released to their parent.

Bell says that while the child did not have the means to carry out the threats posted on TikTok and the threat was not directed to a specific school, this type of communication will not be tolerated.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans in six cities will be able to celebrate the music of the Christmas season in an unusual way this weekend. Tuba, sousaphone, euphonium and baritone horn players of all ages and abilities will be playing in “TubaChristmas” concerts. Nationwide, it’s the 51st year that such displays of Christmas music have been happening. The first was in 1974 at the Ice Rink Stage of New York City’s Rockefeller Center as players gathered to honor the memory of world-renowned tuba player and Iowa native William Bell, who was born in Creston on Christmas Day 1902. The concerts in Iowa will be among the more than 200 similar concerts given throughout the United States and in several foreign countries this year.

This weekend’s performances include:
Dubuque — December 13 — 6:30 PM — University of Dubuque Heritage Center
Mason City — December 14 — 1:00 PM — Principal Pavilion, Southbridge Mall
Des Moines — December 14 — 2:00 PM — Drake University Performing Arts Hall
Cedar Rapids — December 14 — 3:00 PM — Downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library
Orange City — December 14 — 7:00 PM — Christ Chapel, Northwestern College
Ottumwa — December 15 — 4:00 PM — Indian Hills Community College St. John Auditorium

Photo by Bob Fisher

There’s one final performance in Perry on December 21st at 1 PM at First United Methodist Church. Performances were held earlier this month in cities including: Ames, Creston, Estherville, Oskaloosa, Sioux City and Spencer.

(Radio Iowa) – State Treasurer Roby Smith says more than 68 million dollars of unclaimed property has been turned over so far this year to the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. “This is the largest amount that’s been turned over to us. It brings our total amount to 586 million dollars that we’re safe keeping, that we’re looking back, looking to get back to Iowans,” Smith says. The record amount easily surpasses the previous record of nearly 43 million. Smith believes the large amount of unclaimed money and property is linked to the chaos of the pandemic. “Don’t know exactly, but we have spoken to other states, and what we’ve kind of come up with is businesses keep the money for three years, and it’s turned over,” he explains. “Three years ago we were coming out of the pandemic, so we believe it was dealing with the pandemic where you had businesses that were closing, transferring ownership, being sold.” Smith says.

He says all those transactions likely led to the money not being claimed and its now been turned over. Smith says the average amount claimed is 150 dollars, but it can be a lot more and a lot less. “I gave a check away to someone for 317-thousand dollars in November, we had a record amount of over four million dollars given away a year ago, or given back, I should say, not giving away four million dollars, so you just don’t know, sometimes it’s 25 dollars and sometimes it’s ten-thousand dollars,” Smith says. Smith encourages everyone to go to GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov and search for your name. “They can check for themselves, a family member, a friend, a business, a nonprofit. And we, like I said, we have 586 million dollars that we’re looking to reunite with Iowa and all across the state,” Smith says.

He says you may have found unclaimed property on the site already, but you check again as new items come in every year.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman from Red Oak was arrested Thursday evening on an active Montgomery County warrant for Interference with Official Acts. 33-year-old Brianna Marie Wagoner was arrested at around 6:30-p.m. in the 700 block of N. 5th Street in Red Oak. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

ATLANTIC, IA (December 12, 2024) – Produce in the Park’s Christmas Market is being held at the Nishna Valley Family YMCA (1100 Maple St. Atlantic, IA 50022) on Saturday, December 21 from noon to 3:00 PM. There is no cost to enter Christmas Market. During the market, kids can enjoy free bounce houses inside the YMCA, and Zipp’s Pizzaria will be selling pizza in the YMCA’s parking lot.

This holiday farmers market is held just days before Christmas so shoppers can celebrate with local foods, decorations, and gifts. Christmas Market will offer lots of local vegetables including fresh greens, potatoes, squashes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and spinach, as well as honey, beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and farm-fresh eggs. The holiday market will also offer Christmas cookies, gourmet cupcakes, kringle, and other baked goods and desserts.

In addition to local food, Christmas Market offers shoppers an opportunity to purchase local and handmade holiday decor and gifts. Shoppers can expect to find candles, soaps, crocheted toys, earrings, artwork, lavender products, wood crafts, seasonal hand towels, and more.

Vendors at Christmas Market 2024 will include:
● Food Truck: Zipp’s Pizzaria
● Bridgewater Farm – Lots of produce including greens, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots,
kale, mixed greens, and cilantro, farm-fresh eggs, beef, pork, pasta sauce, salsa.
● The Eye of Nebula – Baked goods including cookies and muffins, canned jellies, crochet
toys, candles, soaps, and skincare products
● Wings of Love Sweetly Crafted – Cinnamon rolls and dessert breads, reusable paper
towels, wipes, and burp cloths, and other various crafts
● Frosting Inc. – Gourmet cupcakes, peanut butter balls, and other baked goods
● KookieNow with Mrs. Phippen – Christmas Cookies in Triple Chocolate Mocha
Peppermint and White Chocolate Peppermint
● Paige’s Pieces – Earrings, signs, car hangers, keychains
● Brun Ko Farm – Chicken, lamb, eggs, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, spring
mix, garlic, honey, Gift Baskets
● Juj’n Juj’n and Mike Souder Original Art – Leather work, artwork
● Ter-Bear Honey – Honey
● The Kringleman Pastries – Danish kringle, Danish letters, eclairs, krispies, cream
horns, and other pastries

● J.W. Lavender Farms at Quakerdale Farms – Lavender plants, bags, and bundles, as
well as pillow sprays, candles, soaps, and more
● Imagine Garden Gift – Holiday decor and gifts
● Dragonfly Creations – Candles, soaps, crafts, and artwork
● RaMakes Home Decor – Seasonal decor, wood products, towels
● She Shed Designs – rustic home decor, purses, signs, dishcloths, repurposed antiques
● A Witch Crafts – artwork and crafts
● Resin for Reason – Resin art, keychains, magnets, jewelry, trays, jars, and more
● Jackalope Custom Design – Car coasters cups pens ornaments
● 6 Sisters Creations – Christmas candy, Christmas crafts, and chalk painting art

As with all Produce in the Park farmers markets, local organizations will be at the farmers market sharing information. Cass County Tourism will have a booth with a “Winter Recreation” theme, and Healthy Cass County will be sharing resources from various community organizations.

All Produce in the Park farmers markets accept SNAP EBT, otherwise known as food stamps, for all qualifying food items.

Christmas Market 2024 is sponsored by Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, Cass County Tourism, Cass Health, City of Atlantic, First Whitney Bank & Trust and Nishna Valley Family YMCA.

Produce in the Park continues to accept vendor applications for Christmas Market, and additional holiday markets planned for winter 2024-2025. Vendor applications can be found online at www.ProduceInTheParkAtlanticIowa.com; printed copies of the application are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 50022).

Produce in the Park seeks vendors selling handmade or homegrown products, including local foods, as well as beauty products, candles, crafts, art, and decorations. For the latest information on Christmas Market, and all Produce in the Park markets, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is proposing a constitutional amendment to give judges authority to allow children to provide closed circuit testimony against an alleged abuser. It’s a response to a recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling that said defendants have the right to confront their accusers in the courtroom.

“When a child is testifying in court, they’re between six and 10 feet away from their abuser. Imagine testifying in that scenario. It’s scary even for an adult. How much more for a child who’s been hurt?” Bird said. “…Unless something changes, we will see fewer prosecutions of crimes against children, particularly those that are brutal. Kids will be too scared to testify and those cases will get dropped. Criminals will walk free.”

Deputy Attorney General Susan Krisko prosecuted the case that was overturned by the court’s ruling. A therapist told the judge the 10 year old siblings of a toddler who was severely beaten could not testify against their father in the courtroom. “Without that accommodation, those two little boys would not have been able to come in and we would have had to let that man walk and not prosecute the case. That two-year-old little boy would not have gotten justice,” Krisko says.

Sheriffs and prosecutors joined a statehouse news conference to express support for the constitutional amendment that would allow children to testify via closed circuit in certain cases. Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks recently prosecuted a case involving a 13-year-old girl he calls “A” who’d been molested by her dad for years. “Although we respect the decision of the Iowa Supreme Court and their authority to interpret the Iowa Constitution, we also have a choice,” he said, “and that choice is to enact a constitutional amendment to protect victims like A.”

Iowa Attorney General Brenna bird speaks at a statehouse news conference on Dec. 12, 2024. (RI photo)

Dallas County Attorney Matt Schultz says the court’s ruling creates a real problem for prosecutors pursuing child abuse cases and the constitutional amendment would let voters fix it. “I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in the outcome of the court decision from this summer. These are real crimes,” Schultz said. “…If the institutions of our government won’t protect those who are most vulnerable — our children, then it’s up to us as a people.”

Wayne County Sheriff Keith Davis — president of the Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association — says it’s important to protect children, who are the most vulnerable in these situations. “It’s hard enough to get people to come forward, especially a five year old or a 10 year old when they’ve been a victim of violence, sex abuse,” Davis says. “Even in our small county we see plenty of that.”

The process of amending Iowa’s constitution takes a few years, so this fix would not be immediate. Legislators have to approve the language of an amendment twice and 2028 is the earliest it could be presented to voters in a General Election. Legislators COULD schedule a statewide special election on a constitutional amendment sometime in 2027, but the last time that happened was in June of 1999 — and both proposed amendments on that special election ballot failed.