(Radio Iowa) – The U-S Navy submarine that’s named after the state of Iowa is back at port in Connecticut after its first test drives — and test dives — in the Atlantic Ocean. Mat Tanner, a retired Navy Chief submariner and executive director of the U-S-S Iowa Commissioning Committee, says the 377-foot long nuclear-powered submarine has completed both its Alpha and Bravo levels of testing. “Alpha trials is the initial underway for the submarine. That’s the very first time they take it out and dive it and test it and run it through its paces for a couple days,” Tanner says. “They come back in and go back out with a different test group for Bravo, and they test different systems out for six, seven days, and then come back in, make any repairs, and then they’ll go out for an in-service trial here in a couple of weeks, probably.”

Once those in-service trials are finished, likely in mid-December, Tanner says the Iowa will be “delivered” to the U-S Navy. “That means it’s in full custody of the government until their commissioning date, which will be sometime in the spring,” Tanner says “We haven’t released the date yet, but we’re trying to make sure we have everything ready to go for all the guests from Iowa that want to come see it. We want to make sure we have all the hotels and everything blocked off and ready to go.” Officials say the three-billion-dollar submarine will have a crew of 120 enlisted personnel and 14 officers. During these tests, there are military and civilian personnel onboard the Iowa.

USS Iowa (Photos from the Iowa Commissioning Committee)

“It’s a combination of both. So the full complement of the crew that’s stationed aboard, plus we’ll take out additional shipyard riders that are test engineers for specific equipment, and make sure there’s no issues, no problems,” Tanner says. “It’s still under our responsibility to make sure there’s no issues.” The submarine will become the fourth U-S Navy vessel to be named after the state of Iowa and Tanner says all appears on schedule for commissioning and the start of full-service military duty early next spring. “So far, so good, no major issues, no major delays,” he says. “It’s been a long time coming for the boat to get out to sea, and feels like everything’s going on track and looking good. We’re excited.”

Earlier plans suggested the submarine might be commissioned in the Pacific waters of southern California, beside the retired World War Two-era Battleship Iowa, which is now a floating museum in Los Angeles Harbor. The plan now calls for the sub to be commissioned instead at the shipyards in Connecticut.

(Johnston, Iowa) – Fareway Stores Inc. and the Iowa Farm Bureau have partnered together to donate 26,950 lbs. of ground protein to food banks across Iowa in the ‘Meat the Need’ campaign. For every 10 lb. tube of ground beef sold at Fareway Sept. 16th – 21st, one pound of lean protein was donated to local food banks in partnership with the Iowa Food Bank Association and the Food Bank of Iowa.

The donation took place Tuesday, Nov. 19th, at the Food Bank of Iowa in Des Moines. Fareway Stores, Inc. President Garrett Piklapp, Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson, and Food Bank of Iowa CEO Michelle Book spoke on the importance of local food donations, food insecurity challenges, and the important partnerships through the ‘Meat the Need’ campaign.

“Food insecurity is something we take seriously, and we understand it requires a collective group of partners to address the growing number of Iowans who need access to quality meat products,” Fareway President, Garrett Piklapp said. “Thank you to our generous customers for participating, Iowa stores and meat markets, and our partners at Iowa Farm Bureau for helping secure lean protein for local food banks going into the holiday seasons.”

Brent Johnson – Iowa Farm Bureau president, Michelle Book – Food Bank of Iowa CEO & Garrett Piklapp – Fareway Stores, Inc. president

“As farmers, we take tremendous pride in growing and raising the food that sustains our communities,” Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson said. “Food insecurity is a harsh reality of the challenging times many families currently face, so Iowa Farm Bureau is proud to join Fareway again to help ‘Meat the Need’ by providing lean, high-protein ground meat to our neighbors in need across the state.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce report Henningsen Construction, Inc., of Atlantic, has donated $100,000 to Vision Atlantic’s transformative project, which will bring a housing development, new childcare center, and YMCA expansion to Atlantic. Henningsen Construction owner Brad Henningsen, says “We are grateful to Vision Atlantic for their commitment to our community. We are happy to support this important project because it addresses needs in our community that will help Atlantic grow and thrive.”

As we’ve mentioned, Vision Atlantic, through extensive research and surveying of the community and surrounding region, identified three areas that will help increase Atlantic’s population: expanded childcare, quality housing and quality of life amenities. Construction of the 144 mixed unit housing development, 300 capacity child development center and expansion of the current YMCA facility is slated to begin late spring of 2025. Infrastructure work for the housing development and child development center is currently underway.

With substantial monetary support from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation and local donors, $18.8 million has been raised in the past 11 months, over 61% of a $30 million goal. In addition to the Lakin Foundation’s $8.6 million grant, Vision Atlantic has also received an additional $23 million from the Foundation, which will act as a line of credit and help Vision Atlantic construct homes in the Camblin Hills Housing Development. As the dollars are paid back each year, the Foundation will donate 5% of those dollars back to Vision Atlantic, which will be used to help operate the child development center.

Pictured left to right: Christina Bateman, Brad Henningsen, Brian Mixan and Debbie Waterbury (Photo submitted)

The $23 million is not part of Vision Atlantic’s $30 million fundraising goal. Vision Atlantic’s Project Committee is actively working to secure the remaining $11.6 million needed to meet the fundraising goal. If you are interested in helping transform Atlantic, whether it’s through monetary donations or acts of volunteerism, please contact Vision Atlantic at visionatlanticiowa@gmail.com. Follow Vision Atlantic on Facebook for behind-the-scenes access to project updates or visit www.visionatlantic.org.

Vision Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to empower growth, enhance lives, and build a thriving community together through the economic development of Atlantic, Iowa.

(Creston, Iowa) – A Union County man was arrested on drug and other charges, Tuesday afternoon. Creston Police report 33-year-old William Alwynn Darius Bell, of Creston, was arrested at around 12:35-p.m. at a residence in the 200 block of S. Maple Street. Bell was charged with Failure to Appear, Harassment 1st Degree, Possession of Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine, and Kidnapping 1st Degree. He was taken to Union County Jail and held without bond until seen by a Judge.

(West Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Farm Bureau said Tuesday, a sharp downturn in the agriculture economy is causing a ripple effect throughout the state resulting in the loss of up to 11,400 jobs and $1.5 billion in value-added economic activity (GDP) and a $100 million loss to the state and local tax base. The data comes from an exclusive Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) economic analysis, and says 23 businesses in Iowa announced layoffs for 4,097 individuals working in production agriculture and adjacent industries from the first of the year through Sept.18, 2024, but IFBF’s analysis finds those numbers balloon when taking broader impacts into consideration.

IFBF economics and research manager Christopher Pudenz says “Ultimately, this starts with depressed incomes at the farm gate that have ripple effects on the Iowa economy,” said Christopher Pudenz, Iowa Farm Bureau economics and research manager. “For example, because farm incomes are down, farmers aren’t making the same machinery purchases they’ve made in previous years which means manufacturers, suppliers and retailers slow down production and are forced to lay people off.”

Iowa’s ag-related layoffs have occurred during a prolonged period of economic hardship and uncertainty for farmers. USDA’s September 2024 farm income forecast projects another challenging year for farmers, who are expected to lose nearly a quarter of their income in just two years due to slumping commodity prices and stubbornly high input costs.  Net farm income, a key measure of profitability, is projected to decline 4.4% from 2023, following a record year-over-year drop of 19.5% from 2022 to 2023.

IFBF photo

Pudenz said that the downturn is particularly impactful in Iowa, considering agriculture accounted for more than 22% of Iowa’s total economic output in 2022, according to a study commissioned by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers. Nearly one in every five Iowans are employed due to agriculture and ag-related industries, accounting for more than 385,000 jobs. “Agriculture is the heartbeat of the Iowa economy, and when agriculture struggles, those pains are felt throughout the state,” Pudenz said.

IFBF President Brent Johnson says “This analysis underscores why a farm bill is so important – farmers need assurances as they try to balance economic uncertainty. A farm bill extends beyond the farm and protection of our food supply; it also provides access to nutritional programs for families facing hunger, advances conservation efforts and spurs innovation through research. If a new farm bill isn’t passed, many critical programs will face significant interruptions.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass/Guthrie County Environment Health Executive Director Jotham Arber, Tuesday, presented his monthly report to the Cass County Board of Supervisors. In his report, Arber said the main thing he wanted to note, is “This weird thing going on with a few septic systems” in Audubon and Cass Counties.

He said there are around 9 or 10 septic systems that have the same weird, greasy substance. He said in Audubon County, the septic systems were installed by the same contractor, but in Cass County there were four different contractors, so it doesn’t appear to be an installation issue. Samples will be taken and sent to the State Hygienic Lab for breakdown and analysis, so see if there are commonalities in the substance.

Jotham Arber said also the Environment Health Department is finishing-up water test sampling in Cass County. The test results will be analyzed and made available during the Board of Supervisors meeting in December.

He said there has been a huge increase in people who are taking the opportunity to contact the EHD and getting their private wells rehabbed. That’s something he’s happy to see.

By “rehab,” he means those wells that were installed more than 40-years ago, both shallow and deep, that used technology that incorporated bricks, and which deteriorates over time, as well as those where the pumps ave gone bad, etc. Those issues can be corrected allowing the wells to be accessed safely.

He said “A lot of folks want to keep their wells, and if we can help them keep it, it’s not bad to have good drinking sources of water.” Arber said also, they’ve seen an increase in the number new wells being drilled in Cass County. Most of the newer wells are drilled deep, because more is known now about nitrates and how to make those wells more secure from bacteria.

The Environmental Health Department, he says, can help property owners better position new wells that are less prone to run-off, and in incorporating better structural features.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – An adult male and a juvenile were arrested Tuesday in Red Oak, following an investigating into a reported drug overdose. Red Oak Police report officers were called to a residence in the 200 block of N. 4th Street following a report about a drug-related overdose. Upon arrival, officers found two patients were being treated by Red Oak Rescue. Police also located a 9-year-old female in the home, under the supervision of the adult and a 14-year-old. Both patients were transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital.

Following an investigation, the 14-year-old juvenile was arrested for Child Endangerment (an Aggravated Misdemeanor). The juvenile was not identified because of their age. Officers also arrested 21-year-old Seth Michael Houser, of Red Oak. He was charged with two-counts of Child Endangerment, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. Houser was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond. The juvenile was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs.

Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, along with Red Oak Fire and Rescue.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A collision Tuesday in Red Oak resulted in a citation, but no injuries. Red Oak Police report the accident occurred at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Broadway Street. Authorities say a 2008 Ford Escape (SUV) driven by Gail Imogene Golden, of Red Oak, was stopped behind traffic at the intersection stop sign on Washington Avenue, heading westbound. For reasons unknown, the SUV began backing-up. The vehicle struck a 2017 Honda Odssey (van) driven by Lizzete Nolting,of Red Oak, causing an estimated $3,500 damage altogether.

Police cited Golden for Unsafe Backing.

(Iowa News Service) – A nonprofit group that tracks oil and gas development has created an interactive map to show how close CO2 pipelines in Great Plains states come to environmentally and ecologically sensitive areas. The map includes Indigenous land that hasn’t been included in similar previous projects.

Ted Auch, Midwest program director for the FracTracker Alliance, said it focuses on Indigenous areas but goes further, showing in detail how close proposed CO2 pipelines would come to soybean and ethanol facilities, for example, but also to private land. He said the interactive map is an improvement over existing ones.

“Which is to say that you could look at it as a static image, but you can’t interact with or manipulate the data in terms of, like, scrolling in, scrolling out, finding addresses – you know, that kind of thing,” said Auch. “It’s available as a PDF or a JPG. So, what we’ve done is, we’ve taken that stuff and we’ve digitized it and we’ve included it on this map, so that people can actually – spatially and in real time – interact with the data itself.”

The Great Plains Action Society says CO2 pipelines pose risks that disproportionately affect Indigenous communities and people of color.  Auch said FracTracker is working on another version that takes a deeper look at the proximity of pipelines to the Winnebago reservation south of Sioux City. Energy companies say the pipelines are a safe and effective way to capture carbon from industrial processes, and store it underground, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Auch said the interactive map will give farmers and other landowners near the proposed pipelines what they need to understand what’s happening on their land, leveling the information playing field with corporate interests. “You have these large, multinational corporations, and then on the other side of the ledger are small, medium-sized frontline or Indigenous groups that either have small budgets or no budgets,” said Auch, “and don’t have the capacity, the time, or the expertise to develop maps to inform their organizing activism or advocacy.”

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in Omaha is making a livestream available as it hears oral arguments today in a case involving Iowa landowners affected by CO2 pipeline proposals, some of whom face seizure of their property by eminent domain if the Summit Carbon Solutions project moves forward.

(Radio Iowa) – State officials are offering advice about the finances of a small northwest Iowa city where five officials were accused of bilking Armstrong out of thousands of dollars and destroying financial records. State Auditor Rob Sand has issued a report citing 22 accounting issues in the City of Armstrong during its last budgeting year.

“When you’re coming from a situation where you have had a number of people commit crimes while active in city government and leave city government, you’re going to have quite a period of clean up,” Sand says. “We’re here identifying the issues that are presently there for new leadership and hopefully they will take of these issues in the process of cleaning up city government.”

In 2017, a special investigation of Armstrong city accounts found at least 100-thousand dollars worth of deposits and payments had been mishandled. The town’s former mayor, three former city clerks and its former police chief were all accused of wrongdoing and have pleaded guilty to misconduct, but none were sent to prison. The state auditor says C-P-As in his office have raised concerns about how checks written to the City of Armstrong AND checks written on city accounts are handled.

“Two of the three people who can sign the checks aren’t elected officials. They are not city employees,” Sand says. “You’ve got to ensure you have direct accountability for those people so you know the checks going out are people who are involved in doing that business.” One of the city’s debit cards was opened in the name of a city employee, using that employee’s Social Security number.  “It’s important that you have prior approval for purchases, which in this case Armstrong wasn’t doing,” Sand says. “You want to make sure that before you go out and use it that it’s OK to buy that.”

The state auditor’s office reviewed three sets of minutes from Armstrong City Council meetings that did not list city receipts or bills the city owed. “What we need to have are minutes that reflect the reality of finances as well as the reality of the proceedings of what’s going on in town,” Sand says, “so that people who aren’t at a meeting can still review what’s going on and have a good understanding of it.”

Last month, a former mayor of Armstrong was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to tampering with records and misconduct in office. His son-in-law, the former Armstrong police chief, got a deferred judgement and the case against him will be dismissed once he completes probation. A former city clerk also received a deferred judgement and two former city clerks pleaded guilty to misconduct and agreed to testify against the others.