(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors held a brief session this (Wednesday) morning. During their regular weekly meeting, the Board approved:

• A Township Clerk wage of $40 for Michael Sheeder.
• Liquor license renewals for the Greenfield Golf and County Club and 5-by-80 Country Club.
• A Burial Relief application.
• Auditor Clerk wage increase for Payroll Clerk Ruthie Smith, and
• Two new hires for the Secondary Roads Dept.:
  • Bret Gebhart (@ $24.49/hour) – starting Oct. 16th, and Robert Beatty (also @ $24.49/hour) – starting October 24th.

Board Chair Jerry Walker signed the front page of the W12 Harrison (Township) Reinforced Concrete Box (RCB) Culvert, Right-of-Way contracts for the N7 Eureka (Township) Bridge Project, and the Hungry Canyons Funding Agreement. Engineer Nick Kauffman explains.

Kauffman also updated the Adair County Supervisors on various Secondary Roads maintenance and activities.

He said also, his crews have been blading some roads, cutting brush around bridges and taking care of some county mowing projects.

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Noble Initiative foundation is hosting a toy drive for the child development center, to assist with their expansive need of toys for play, crafts, sensory, education, and more. The child development center in Griswold serves a wide age range of children from infants to school age. Officials say your generous donation will make a difference in the small hands and growing minds of each child that attends the development center.

By using this link , your donation will be shipped directly to the center Griswold Center. You can also capture the QR Code in this story link to the registered site.

American Association University Women (AAUW) Loess Hills Branch, a nonpartisan organization, is holding a legislative forum for the 2025 legislative session. As you prepare to vote on November 5, 2024, the members wanted to offer the voters an opportunity to learn more about where their candidates stand on issues. The AAUW has invited all the candidates who are on the ballot for Southwest Iowa House and Iowa Senate.

The district numbers include: House district 15, House district 16, House district 19, House district 20, Senate district 8, and Senate district 10. If you are uncertain of your district here are the links for district maps:

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/districts/house

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/senate

The event will take place on October 17, 2024 from 6:30 to 8:30-p.m. The forum will be held at the Council Bluffs Police Department, 1 Ezra Jackson Way, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A crop report shows one-quarter of the bean crop was harvested in the week that ended Sunday. That puts the soybean harvest at 81 percent complete — six days ahead of last year and ten days ahead of the average. The report says south-central Iowa farmers are behind the rest of the state, with only 54 percent of their soybeans done. The corn harvest more than doubled so 45 percent of corn is now out of the fields. That’s three days ahead of last year and six days ahead of the five-year average.

(Radio Iowa) – A central Iowa hospital will be the first in the state to offer a new program aimed at helping people with dementia stay in their homes. Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines was selected to get federal funding for the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience, or GUIDE. Dr. Yogesh Shah, medical director of Broadlawns’ Memory Clinic, says one main focus of GUIDE is to provide resources and respite for caregivers.

“We have patients and families, now, ‘I’m at the cliff. I can’t take it anymore. If I don’t get help, I’m going to quit my married life.’ It comes to that level,” Shah says. “So if we can provide that four hours of respite one time, that can resolve that problem.”

Shah says additional federal funding will allow the medical center to hire more care navigators to connect families with resources. “The GUIDE model not only supports patients, but also aims to reduce strain on caregivers,” he says, “offering them vital resources, a 24-7 support line, respite care, education.”

Broadlawns says it will launch the GUIDE program in July of next year. According to state data, more than 66,000 Iowans age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.

(Iowa DNR News) – Despite warm weather persisting in much of the state, roughly 6,000 deer have been registered so far through the youth and disabled hunter seasons, and the opening of the archery and early muzzleloader seasons, which is slightly higher than both last year and the five-year average. The crop harvest, cooling temperatures and approaching rut, should increase deer activity leading to greater harvest success. The long-anticipated rut, which will be in full swing by November, is when mature bucks spend much of their time actively tending and searching for does during daylight hours, creating opportunity for thrilling action from the tree stand at any hour of the day.

A major factor leading to Iowa’s world-renowned buck quality is the simple fact that hunting during the rut – when bucks are most vulnerable – is restricted to compound and traditional bows. The archery season runs through Dec. 6, then closes for the two regular gun seasons before re-opening Dec. 23 through Jan. 10, 2025. The early muzzleloader season closes Oct. 20.

Deer Disease Update:

Iowa’s deer population is in the midst of another outbreak of hemorrhagic disease, which tends to affect Iowa deer from late summer to early fall. Though outbreak severity varies annually, it began increasing in September, with roughly 750 related deer mortalities reported throughout the state, which is considered a moderate outbreak compared to past years. The DNR added new online tools to the Deer Hunting webpage that allow the public to report and monitor hemorrhagic disease activity. Hemorrhagic disease has been reported in at least 78 Iowa counties, though disease activity has generally been mild at the county scale at fewer than 50 mortalities per county.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) continues to increase in geographic spread and prevalence, though most Iowa counties have yet to detect their first CWD-positive deer. Last year, eight new counties were added to the list: Des Moines, Guthrie, Howard, Jones, Marshall, Monroe, Muscatine, and Tama, bringing the total number of counties that have had a positive deer to 23.

Testing of hunter-harvested deer is available in each county by contacting the local DNR wildlife or law enforcement staff. Hunters can help limit the spread of chronic wasting disease by refraining from feeding/baiting deer and transporting deer carcasses across counties. The Iowa DNR primarily manages the disease in areas with moderate-to-high deer densities by adding antlerless tags within special Deer Management Zones.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) administers the State of Iowa’s allocation of federal highway safety funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. For the 2025 federal fiscal year, GTSB announces $11.5 Million in grant funds awarded to over 300 traffic safety partners across Iowa.

“GTSB is pleased to allocate these funds to support traffic safety partners,” says Bureau Chief Brett Tjepkes. “Since 2019, 10,000 people have died or been seriously injured on Iowa roads. Lack of seat belt use, impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, and other risky driving behaviors continue to wreak havoc. These funds will be used to increase public awareness, collect data, train, and enforce. The goal is to improve safety for all road users.”

Money will be distributed to law enforcement partners for equipment, education, and enforcement projects.

“These partnerships are crucial,” says GTSB Law Enforcement Liaison Randy Kunert. “Enforcing Iowa’s traffic laws is the strongest countermeasure to deter risky driving behavior. It’s vital these agencies have necessary resources to make traffic stops.”

GTSB also awards funds to support community partners in traffic safety. The Iowa Restaurant Association uses grant funding to offer ServSafe Alcohol responsible server training. This year they’re expanding the program to include courses in Spanish. GTSB partners with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to facilitate a dedicated program coordinator in Iowa. Iowa’s Child Passenger Safety program is executed through a partnership with Blank Children’s Hospital and GTSB.

Every year, traffic safety advocates seek funding through grant applications. Agencies meeting the required data driven criteria and highway safety standards are awarded funds to support GTSB’s mission to reduce death and injury on Iowa roads. Those interested in applying should look for funding opportunities late January in Iowa Grants.

(Ankeny, Iowa) – The Iowa Cancer Registry reports that for the third straight year, Iowa as the second highest rate in the country, of new cancer diagnoses. The information was presented to the medical community gathered at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny. The data show:

• 21,000 new cases of cancer (estimated)
• 6,100 Iowans will die from cancer (estimated)
• 168,610 cancer survivors in Iowa (estimated)

The Iowa Cancer Report points out that there is no one reason why the state is only one of two in the country with rising rates of cancer. But the report highlights the high use of alcohol. Iowans have the fourth highest rate of alcohol-related cancers and the fourth highest rate of binge drinking. The research shows that Iowans who are between 25-34 have the highest binge drinking rate of any age group. And Iowans making more than $100,000 annually binge drink more than those who make less money.

Learn more here: cancer-in-iowa-2024-compressed

(Atlantic, Iowa) – An Atlantic woman who is a veteran of the U-S Navy (and former Elk Horn resident), was presented with a Quilt of Valor ® Tuesday evening, at Chestnut Place.

Jan Snyder received a Quilt of Valor, which is a quality, handmade quilt that is machine or hand quilted. It is awarded to a Service Member or Veteran who has been touched by war and is intended as a means of healing. Judi Olson and Pat Engemann, representatives of the Southwest Iowa Quilts of Valor Worker Bees, presented the Quilt of Valor to Janet Snyder, who served in the United States Navy from 1974 to 1984, during the Vietnam Era. (Photos by Asa Lucas/KJAN)

Snyder attained the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer during her active duty, and accumulated multiple honors such as the Good Conduct Medal and Armed Forces Medal. The Navy gave Snyder various responsibilities during her service years.

Snyder’s time in the navy took her all over the United States from Chicago, to Philadelphia, Virginia, and eventually the Roosevelt Roads Puerto Rico Naval Hospital. What sparked Snyder’s initial interest in the navy was the way the uniform looked.

Snyder noted that the recognition from Quilt of Valor was humbling, and emotional for her.

According to the The Quilt of Valor, the quilt says unequivocally, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.” To use the term Quilt of Valor, Quilts of Valor or QOV, the quilt must be a specific size, must have a label with required information, it must be awarded (it is not a gift). It must also be recorded.

More information on the organization is available at https://www.qovf.org/

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – An Exira, Iowa woman was sentenced on October 10, 2024 for a federal felony charge of straw purchasing a firearm.

According to public court documents, Leslie Nicole Moton, also known as Leslie Caniglia, 24, purchased a firearm in August 2023 for her significant other, Rey Moton, 23, of Elk Horn. Leslie Moton knew Rey Moton was a felon at the time she purchased the handgun for him and falsely represented at the time of the purchase that she was acquiring the firearm for herself. Less than a week later, Rey Moton possessed the handgun in Atlantic, Iowa and used it during a burglary.

Rey Moton was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. In March 2024, Rey Moton was sentenced to a 63-month prison term, followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

Leslie Moton received a five-year term of probation.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and the Atlantic Police Department.

This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.