(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says it’s critical to ensure Iowa has enough electricity and upgraded water treatment plants, to support business expansion. “Especially for rural Iowa, we need to figure that out,” Reynolds says. “We’ve got a lot of capacity in rural Iowa, but if you don’t have the load capacity or you don’t have the water treatment capacity, it’s hard for those existing businesses to expand or think about locating there.”

Water treatment plants are expensive. For larger communities, it can cost 12 million dollars for a plant that can handle an average of 10 million gallons per day. Reynolds says the cost for smaller communities, while less, cannot be easily borne by residents who’d pay higher utility bills to pay for it.  “The populations aren’t where they need to be to sustain it,” Reynolds says. The State Revolving Fund provides communities with low interest loans to finance drinking water systems, water treatment facilities and sewers, but Reynolds says she’s asked the director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority to review the range of state incentives that are available — and could be proposed for the future.

“We’ve just kind of delving into that right now and taking a look at how do we then project that for the next 10 to 20 years,” Reynolds says, “and how do I get in front of that and make us competitive when businesses are looking at locating and expanding in Iowa.” The E-P-A recently announced a dozen drinking water systems in Iowa need upgrades to remove so-called “forever chemicals” that are linked to sites where firefighters have used foam to quickly put out fires.

(The following drinking water systems are cited: Buffalo, Burlington, Camanche, Davenport, Dubuque, Muscatine, Osage, Sioux City and Tama as well as Bayer Crop Science near Muscatine, a mobile home park in Muscatine and the Peteschs campground near Bellevue.)

(Rural Greene County, Iowa) – One person died and another was injured during a single-vehicle, rollover accident Saturday night, west of Paton, in rural Greene County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the driver of a pickup truck, 31-year-old Kyle Shank, of Paton, died at the scene. His passenger, 30-year-old Sydney Shank, also of Paton, was injured and transported by ambulance to the Greene County Hospital. The crash happened a little after 10-p.m.

According to the report, the 2017 Chevy Silverado pickup was traveling east on 130th Street, when Kyle Shank attempted to pass another vehicle also traveling eastbound, at a high rate of speed. The pickup’s tires dropped-off the north shoulder of the road, causing the vehicle to go out of control. It entered the north ditch, hit a field drive, and became airborne before rolling several times end-over-end and coming to rest in a corn field.

Kyle Shank was not wearing a seat belt. He was ejected from the pickup and came to rest east of the vehicle. Sydney Shank was wearing a seat belt. A report on her condition was not available.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports a total of five arrests occurred between August 9th and the 23rd. Last Friday (8/23), Deputies in Adams County arrested 33-year-old Frank Sylvester Mills, Jr., of Merathon, NY. Mills was taken into custody at around 6:30-p.m. on an active warrant for Failure To Appear (FTA) on a previous, Domestic Abuse Assault, charge. Mills also had a second active warrant for Harboring a Runaway.  He was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond.

At around 1:20-p.m. on August 19th, Adams County Deputies arrested 29-year-old Jeffery Whitt, of Villisca, following a traffic stop for a window tint violation. Whitt was found to allegedly be in possession of marijuana. He was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS)  3rd offense, and held in the Adams County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond, until seen by a magistrate.

On August 11th, deputies arrested Noble John Murren, of Creston, for OWI/1st offense, and Driving Under Suspension. He was booked into the Adams County Jail and held on a $1,300 cash bond, until seen by the magistrate.

And, on August 9th, Deputies in Adams County conducted a traffic stop at Highway 148 & 200th Street. The driver of the vehicle, 27-year-old Aaron Johnson, of Creston, was arrested for PCS (A serious misdemeanor), and Possession of drug paraphernalia. His passenger, 34-year-old Tonya Tindle, of Creston, was arrested for PCS (A Class-D Felony), and possession of paraphernalia.

Adams County Deputies were assisted during their investigation, by Adams County K9 “Midge.”

Sheriff’s disclaimer: “Any potential charges identified above are merely allegations, and any defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say a hit-and-run property damage accident caused a reported $1,500 damage, Saturday afternoon. Authorities say a legally parked SUV was struck by a 2012 Chevy pickup at around 12:40-p.m., in a parking lot located off of Sheldon Street, in Creston.

According to the report, the pickup, driven by 91-year-old Harold Carr, of Greenfield, was traveling the wrong way, and attempted to park in an angled parking space, when the vehicle struck the SUV on the rear, passenger side, causing minor damage.

Carr left the scene, apparently unaware his truck hit the SUV. No citations were issued. No injuries were reported.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Iowa 3rd District Congressional candidate Lanon Baccam will be in Atlantic, September 7th. The Democrat from Des Moines is challenging incumbent Republican Zach Nunn of Bondurant, for the chance to represent the District in Washington, D.C. Nunn is seeking his second term in office. The third congressional district includes counties in central and southern Iowa.

Baccam will meet with Cass County Democrats at the County’s Democratic Headquarters, located at 704 Walnut Street, Suite 2, on Saturday, September 7th, from 3:30-until 4:30-p.m.

There is no cost to attend, but organizers say donations are welcome.

Democratic candidate Lanon Baccam (Official campaign photo)

Reservations may be made HERE.

Baccam is a former Iowa National Guardsman who was born and raised in Mount Pleasant (IA). His parents came to the U.S. from Laos. He joined the Iowa National Guard at the age of 17 and, in 2004, he did a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Baccam also worked for former Governor Tom Vilsack at the USDA.

(Creston, Iowa) (Corrected for the day of the accident) – A collision in Creston Friday afternoon caused a police estimated $4,500 damage, but no one was injured. According to the Creston Police Department, 45-year-old Jessica L. Libby, of Creston, was cited for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign/Failure to Yield, after the 2011 Nissan Sentra she was driving struck the passenger side a 2012 Toyota Scion XB, driven by 18–year-old Caleb Bunner, of Creston.

The accident happened at around 2:30-p.m., at the intersection of E. Howard and N. Elm Street, when Libby stopped, but then proceeded into the intersection, as she was eastbound on E. Howard, and the Toyota was southbound on N. Elm. The collision caused the airbags on the Toyota to deploy.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A regular monthly meeting of the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department Advisory Commission will take place Wednesday (Aug. 28), at the Parks & Rec Office located just off Sunnyside Lane. The meeting begins at 3:30-p.m.

The only item of New Business on the agenda, is “Playground evaluation,” plus any other matter of new business that may come before the Commission.

Old Business/discussion items include:

• An update on the model solar system for the Schildberg Recreation Area. During their meeting last month, Parks Coordinator Jeff Christensen said he was still trying to find a business that would make different-size metal spheres.
• Splash Pad Update: Concrete for the pad near the Sunnyside Pool was poured on August 15th.
  

  The concrete base for the SplashPad in Atlantic was poured on Aug. 15, 2024 (Atlantic Splashpad Facebook page photo)

• Guidelines for donations – relocating, removal, etc.
• Signage for the Bull Creek entrance. At last report, Commission Chair Kevin Ferguson had presented the cost ($600) to Junior Federated, and was waiting for a response. He was assured by the Atlantic Junior Federated organization representative Jamie Joyce, that the sign would be stable and able to withstand the elements.

(Red Oak, Iowa)  – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular, weekly meeting Tuesday in their Board Room at the Courthouse, in Red Oak. Their session, as always, begins at 8:30-a.m.

New Business/Action items on their agenda include:

1. 1. Approve Weed Commissioner contract

   2. Discuss/appoint two supervisors to meet with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Commissioners to discuss the watershed structure maintenance for Montgomery County

   3. Approve claims payable for Wednesday August 28, 2024, in the amount of $427,543.07

   4. Approve Resolution 2024-33 Approving Public Measure for the Placement on the November 5, 2024, General Election Ballot, for Appointment of Township Officers

   5. Approve Snyder & Associates, Inc., Supplemental Agreement for Additional Services #001

Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna notes also, members off the Board of Supervisors may be attending the Summit Carbon Pipeline informational meeting at the Red Coach Inn. The meeting begins at Noon on Tuesday. And, the Board may attend a Montgomery County Safety Action Plan Workshop on Wednesday, at 8:30-a.m., in the Emergency Management Conference Room (1906 N. Broadway St.) in Red Oak.

During both meetings, there is a possibility that there will be a quorum of Supervisors, but NO OFFICIAL COUNTY BUSINESS by the Board of Supervisors will be acted upon during the meetings.

ALGONA, Iowa (KCAU) — An Iowa priest affiliated with the Catholic Diocese of Sioux City has been accused of misappropriating nearly $70,000 in funds. The Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that Father Steven McLoud, 65, of Fort Dodge, has been charged with first-degree theft and first-degree fraudulent practices, both felonies.

McLoud is accused of knowingly falsifying expense documents such as receipts and reimbursements of nearly $70,000 while serving as a priest in the Bancroft and Algona parishes.  Earlier this year, the Catholic Diocese of Sioux City requested that the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office investigate allegations of misappropriated funds within the two parishes.

Steven McLoud (Courtesy: Lumen Media)

“The Diocese of Sioux City has turned over this matter to the Kossuth County Attorney,” the diocese’s communications office stated. “Father Steven McLoud is assigned to limited ministry in Webster County, Iowa. Due to pending legal action, the diocese cannot comment further.”

McLoud is set to appear in court on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 9 a.m.