(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – A collision last week between two SUV’s in Guthrie County resulted in possible/unknown injuries to both drivers. According to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, a 2020 Lexus RX 350 SUV and a 2012 Nissan Murano SUV were both traveling north on Highway 4 at around 3:30-p.m. on Oct. 13th.

As 68-year-old Margaret Marble, of Panora began slowing down for a vehicle turning east into a driveway, her 2020 Lexus RX 350 SUV was struck from behind by the Nissan, which was driven by a 15-year-old female from Yale. The Sheriff’s report said the teen was distracted, and her foot got caught between the brake and the gas pedal, and as a result was unable to maintain control before her vehicle struck the Lexus.

Damage from the collision amounted to a law enforcement-estimated $8,000 altogether. Deputies cited the teen for Failure to Maintain Control.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Officials with the Red Oak Fire Department report a little before 1-p.m., today (Tuesday), the Montgomery County 911 center was notified by Pottawattamie County 911, about a combine fire in the area of 490th x Pioneer Trail in rural southeast Pott County, within the Elliott Fire District.

Red Oak FD and Elliott FD were paged and while enroute, Griswold Fire & Rescue was requested for mutual aid due to smoke being visible from Red Oak of the fire. Additional support was requested from area farmers with tractors and discs due to high winds and an apparent ongoing fast-moving fire. (Red Oak FD Facebook photos)

Fire crews arrived on scene and found approximately 4-5 acres on fire, spreading moderately to the east with the wind into a waterway containing two large brush piles that were now on fire. Additional mutual aid was requested from Macedonia Volunteer Fire Department and Carson Fire and Rescue for water tankers due to the size of brush piles actively on fire. The field fire was quickly contained with on scene units as well as the use of tractors and discs who helped contain the fire as well as contain spot fires that flared up due to the wind. Stanton Fire and Rescue Department was requested for tanker support but cancelled as additional units arrived on scene.

The landowner was working with a contractor to bury and place soil on top of the brush piles and will continue to monitor the area until complete. No injuries reported. It is believed that a hot ember or spark ignited dry vegetation while the combine was in operation. Crews were on scene for roughly 2 hours.

MCEMA Drone Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0kTe2kzOBc&feature=youtu.be

Assisting agencies:

Montgomery County 911
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office – Red Oak, Iowa
Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency
Elliott Volunteer Fire Department
Griswold Fire & Rescue
Macedonia Volunteer Fire Department
Carson Fire and Rescue
Stanton Fire and Rescue Department

• Tuesday, October 28, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. – Montgomery County Courthouse, 105 E. Coolbaugh Street, Red Oak, Iowa
• Friday, November 7, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. – Shelby County Courthouse, 612 Court Street, Harlan, Iowa

• Avoid family conflicts by ensuring plans are clearly documented.
• Secure free, legally recognized guidance from qualified attorneys.

(Radio Iowa) – The salaries for several hundred people who work in state government are partly or entirely paid with federal funds. Governor Kim Reynolds says about 700 civilian employees of the Iowa National Guard and about 700 other workers throughout the executive branch of state government are not being paid due to the federal government shutdown. Reynolds says Democrats in the Senate need to end their blockade and approve a temporary plan to keep the government open through November 21st.

“Then they could sit down at the table and they could start to work on the different appropriations and get the government funded,” Reynolds said. Reynolds says about 67 employees in Iowa Workforce Development have been affected by the federal government shutdown.

“They typically deal with the Unemployment Insurance Labor Market Division,” she says. “Most, some have been completely been furloughed, so they’re not working, but some are working two days a week.” Those Iowa-based employees primarily collect data that’s used by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate job gains and losses. Reynolds says those furloughs won’t impact processing unemployment claims or issuing unemployment checks to Iowans. According to Iowa’s congressional delegation, there are about 18-thousand federal employees in Iowa who are affected by the shutdown.

(Radio Iowa) – Halloween is ten days away and Iowans young and old are preparing their costumes for trick-or-treating and for parties. Juanita Cameron, a spokesperson for the Theatrical Shop in West Des Moines, says this year’s hot items come from a Netflix movie that came out this summer. “The number-one thing that the kids are looking for is KPop Demon Hunters,” Cameron says, laughing. “I didn’t know what a KPop was until Halloween, but they’re looking for the costumes, they’re looking for the wigs and they’re looking for all the makeup that goes with it.”

As for adults, Cameron says they’re selling fewer full costumes and more accessories so people can create a unique appearance for fright night. “I don’t know what it is but they’re doing a lot of DIYs,” Cameron says. “Some are making up their own scary or fun looks. We have a lot of wigs, a lot of mustaches, a lot of makeup that we’re selling.”

Cameron says she’s also chatted with some customers who are buying costumes for Halloween-themed weddings that are being planned for the weekend of October 31st.

(UPDATED by Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds is reviewing the report from a task force of business leaders she appointed to review state government operations and will submit some of the proposals to the legislature in January. “I have always believed that it is important that we never settle, that we continue to look for ways to be more effective, efficient and accountable to the taxpayers of Iowa,” Reynolds said. “It makes us better and it’s what business does every single day.” Reynolds may recommend incentives that encourage local governments to share more services as part of a property tax reduction strategy, but the governor says those incentives must be short-term rather than permanent.

“The only way I think we can really reduce the property tax burden is to maybe find new ways, maybe find better and more efficient ways for government at all levels to deliver services to our citizens,” Reynolds says. Reynolds appointed a “Department of Government Efficiency” or DOGE task force in February and the group of business leaders submitted its report to the governor at the end of September. The 100 page report was released to the public today (Tuesday). The group made 45 recommendations, some of which the governor indicated are already being done, like the legislature’s review of the pay and benefits for state employees every other year. And Reynolds says a task force member’s discussion of changing the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System or IPERS to something similar to a four-oh-one-K (401k) investment plan isn’t going to happen.

Screenshot of the Governor’s press conference, 10-21-25

“There’s been a lot of public speculation, not to mention misinformation about the potential changes to state benefits that state employees, law enforcement officers, teachers and others rely and you can rest assured that IPERS will be there for your retirement just as you’ve planned and we’ve promised,” Reynolds said, “and that, by the way, was the intent of the task force from the very beginning.” Emily Schmitt, chief administrative officer and general counsel for Sukup Manufacturing, was the group’s chair. She says they focused on trying to create an ecosystem where all levels and agencies of government collaborate. “In successful businesses, we do not keep blinders on and we operate not in a pull-me, push-you manner between our departments,” she said. “We work together.” The governor appeared to endorse one proposal in the report today (Tuesday). It would let private sector businesses directly assess workforce-related programs and recommend changes.

“There should be an expectation…this is the metric, the outcome that we expect and if that doesn’t happen, then it needs to go away,” Reynolds said. “I think maybe by having business leaders at that table, reviewing these programs, will be very helpful.” Reynolds says the state spends 400 MILLION dollars a year on workforce programs and the task force report shows something’s not right in that area.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, this (Tuesday) morning, continued previous discussion, with regard to a lease agreement for the County-owned Willow Heights building located about two-miles west of Atlantic. Board Chair Steve Baier shared they must comply with the Iowa Code with regard to the facility being used as a Residential Treatment Facility (RTF).

Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services, we learned today, is interested in leasing the building, because their current building lease expires at the end of June, 2026. Zion Director Billie Butler said they are looking at other options for their residential substance abuse and disorder facility and services, and Willow Heights fits the bill.

ZION Integrated Behavioral Health Services, Inc. is a non-profit corporation formed in Southwest Iowa in 1973 to assure delivery of services for substance use disorder treatment and related problems to six (6) counties. These counties include Adair, Cass, Dallas, Fremont, Montgomery, and Page. Their headquarters is located in Atlantic. Steve Baier said the general consensus of the concerns he’s been hearing about the proposal, are with regard to operational procedures and the individuals who are voluntarily treated there and the level of their commitment to treatment. Billie Butler addressed the latter concern.

Zion Recovery Services Director Billie Butler (pictured on the right) addresses questions about Willow Heights as an RTF

She said a lot of the people they work with have job and families, who simply want treatment for their addictions so they can lead a better life free of addiction.

Those individuals will be there for at least 30 days, she said, depending on their level of treatment. Wendy Richter said the facility will not house violent criminals. Zion would assume responsibility for the building’s maintenance and upkeep. Richter said a lot of the rumors and concerns about the building are unfounded.

And, Supervisor Mark O’Brien addressed concerns about mold in the building.

Billie Butler said the State will conduct regular building inspections to make sure the facility meets the permit requirements. If the lease is approved, it would become effective December 1^st, 2025, but it would not immediately by occupied by staff and residents until repairs and/or updates are completed. No action was taken on the proposed lease during the meeting.

In other business, and following separate public hearings, the Cass County Supervisors approved vacating two Secondary Roads, one in Grove Township (Keystone Road), the other in Washington Township (Jasper Road), as previously described. The latter is currently not maintained by the County. There were no objections to either course of action.

(Griswold, Iowa) – A regular monthly meeting of the Griswold School Board was held Monday evening (Oct. 20th). Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN the Board accepted the resignation of Jason Reynolds as the Co-Assistant High School Softball Coach.

The Board also authorized the purchase of a couple of vehicles, including a 2023 12 passenger van for $45,650, and a car to replace one that had a run-in with a deer.

Dave Henrichs says the Board also discussed their Strategic Plan, including ways their para-educators can become certified teachers.

The district, he said, through the leadership of Griswold Elementary School Principal Nigel Horton is in the process of raising funds to provide tuition assistance for para’s who want to become certified teachers.

And Mr. Henrichs reported on the District’s Certified and BEDS enrollment numbers. The Certified enrollment numbers were required to be submitted to the State by October 15th. The Certified enrollment showed a decline of 28 students from last year, for a total of 414. Those are the number students who reside within the district, no matter where they attend classes. The more important number, he said, is the BEDS count. Those are the number of students who attend a school regardless of where they reside.

Dave Henrichs said also, the Board decided to continue to activate the Early Retirement policy for the certificated and classified staff.

The Classified staff eligibility qualifications are similar.

And, the Board renewed an annual agreement with the Corner Conference for school activities.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Vermeer Charitable Foundation has awarded $20,000 to Vision Atlantic’s transformative project, which will bring a housing development, new child development center, and YMCA expansion to Atlantic.

“At Vermeer, we like to find a need and fill it,” shared Tricia Vermeer, Vermeer Charitable Foundation executive director. “When Vision Atlantic, in conjunction with the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, presented the need for a new childcare development center in Atlantic, Iowa, Vermeer Charitable Foundation was on board. The opportunity to partner in bringing a new childcare center to the Atlantic area resonated with our directors and we are delighted to be a part in making that vision a reality. This center will allow our team members, and the greater community, to do their work well, knowing their children are safe and well cared for.”

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. Infrastructure for the 142 mixed-unit Camblin Hills housing development and 300 capacity child development center is almost complete, with construction of 48 homes currently underway. Construction of the child development center and YMCA expansion is slated to begin early 2026.

Vision Atlantic has a fundraising goal of $39 million, which will be used to construct the YMCA expansion and child development center. To date, they have raised $26.9 million of that goal, thanks to an $8.6 million lead grant from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation and significant support from local donors. In addition to their grant support, the Lakin Foundation has created a separate investment fund of $23 million that will be used to construct homes in the Camblin Hills housing development. The capital will be used as a line of credit, and as the dollars are paid back, the Foundation will donate up to 5% of the interest paid back to Vision Atlantic, who will use those dollars to operate the child development center.

Vision Atlantic’s Project Committee is actively working to secure the remaining $12.1 million needed to meet their 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. Visit www.visionatlantic.org and follow on Facebook for behind-the-scenes access to project updates and in-depth information of the project scope.

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.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs say a teen operating a motorcycle who was critically injured late Saturday evening when the cycle was struck from behind, is not expected to survive. Family members have acknowledged that statement is true. 17-year-old Hayden Baker, of Council Bluffs, remains at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Baker was critically injured when the motorcycle he was operating was hit at around 7-p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18th, in the 1200 block of North Broadway Street. The driver of the truck fled the scene but was later located by responding CBPD officers.

Charges are currently pending against the driver of the truck, 52-year-old Jason Lee Evans, of Council Bluffs. A preliminary investigation revealed the motorcycle was stopped facing northbound on North Broadway and preparing to make a left turn onto Hunter Avenue, when it was struck by a 2003 Chevrolet truck driven by Evans. Evans failed to stop and render aid. Instead, he drove to his home, and later contacted the dispatch center about the crash.

Jason Lee Evans

Authorities say a search warrant was granted for Evans’ blood, as he was allegedly showing signs of impairment. Warrants will be issued for his arrest once the toxicology results are obtained.