(Radio Iowa) – World Food Prize events are underway in Des Moines as several thousand government officials, researchers and food producers from around the globe gather for panel discussions and recognition of this year’s World Food Prize winner. Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is C-E-O of the World Food Prize Foundation. “We are welcoming the world to Iowa and we are lifting up issues involving food, agriculture, and the serious challenge we face in terms of food insecurity here at home and around the world,” Vilsack said. Vilsack says the annual event is meant to showcase innovation and research that allows farmers to be more productive.

“An opportunity to have some really substantive conversation about food and food security,” Vilsack said. Tomorrow’s (Tuesday’s) schedule includes a discussion of hunger hotspots and a panel of people from the American Soybean Association. Vilsack says there’s a chance tariffs will be discussed. “But I think the focus is going to be, as it needs to be, on innovation and on science and on the extraordinary work that’s being done by researchers,” Vilsack said. “As Dr. Borlaug often said tell the farmer, give it to the farmer, give the tools the farmer and the farmer will respond by being extraordinarily productive. You know, we want to make sure that we’re true to that legacy.”

Cresco, Iowa, native Norman Borlaug won the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for his work improving wheat yields. He founded the World Food Prize in 1986 to recognize breakthroughs in improving the quality or quantity of food. The concluding event this week will honor this year’s World Food Prize laureate. “Dr. (Mariangela) Hungria has done extraordinary research that has led to ways in which soybeans can basically create this sort of self-fertilizing if you will so that you don’t have to have as much synthetic fertilizer, which is good for the environment,” Vilsack said, “and certainly good for the bottom line for farmers.”

A researcher was awarded the 1993 Nobel Price in physics and medicine for genetic research is scheduled to speak tomorrow (Tuesday). Sir Richard Roberts — knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2008 — is currently the chief science officer at New England Biolabs.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report the arrest Sunday evening, of 28-year-old Dylan Seth Harris, from Glenwood. Harris was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order – Domestic related. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

(An Iowa News Service story) – Beth Howard isn’t afraid of starting from scratch. “That is how I like to learn,” says Howard, who premiered PIEOWA, her first documentary film production, at age 63. “Just dive in and figure it out.” Producing and promoting a documentary about pie is the latest in a latticework of professional experiences that Howard says prepared her to showcase baked goods on the big screen. Howard’s desire to document the power of pie pre-dates her four books and a TEDx talk on the topic. Pie is a through-line in her personal narrative. The Ottumwa native once quit a stressful corporate job to become a pie baker in Malibu, touting her Iowa roots as her main credential.

In 2009, the sudden death of her young husband, Marcus, sent her to Iowa in search of solace. Howard began selling pastry out of the iconic American Gothic House in rural Eldon before sharing that story in “Making Piece: A memoir of love, loss and pie,” released in 2012. While writing through her grief, pie became both medium and muse. Four years of sharing slices proved Howard’s thesis: a hand-crimped crust is a shortcut to building community. “I think we’re lonely, and pie is this thing that brings people together,” Howard says. “Usually, if it’s a whole pie, you sit around and share it. You don’t just get one piece for yourself.”

During her first year as a widow, she and a TV producer friend set out in Marcus’s RV to make a pilot for a TV show about pie. Although she scrapped that original project, their quest returned Howard from the West Coast to her home state. More than a decade later, she still couldn’t shake the idea. In 2023, Howard formed “Camp Dough Productions” and decided to bootstrap an on-screen exploration of pie. Originally, she envisioned a coast-to-coast project that would satisfy her wanderlust. Working with a tiny budget, Howard would have to focus.

Seeing a postcard with RAYGUN’s “Faces of Iowa” design, which includes an outline of the state depicted as fresh apple pie, sparked a realization. “When I saw the word PIEOWA, I went, ‘That’s it!’” she says. “I’m going to do the State Fair, and RAGBRAI, and so many other stories.” Making a documentary challenged Howard to transform something raw into a finished product. This time, instead of flour and sugar, she was mixing footage. PIEOWA blends segments about beloved Iowa events with interviews of famous Iowans, including actor Tom Arnold and State Auditor Rob Sand. Amateur and professional bakers like Rachelle Long, whose Chellie’s Sugar Shack sweet potato pies make a mouthwatering cameo, also showcase their skills on-screen.

Since PIEOWA’s premiere, audiences across the state have been eating it up. Ben Godar, director of Des Moines Film and programmer of Varsity Cinema, credits familiar faces of Iowans and a heartwarming message with making PIEOWA one of the longest-running movies since the venue’s re-opening in late 2022. “I added a couple more [screenings], and a couple more, and a couple more,” he says. “People just kept coming.”

A September film festival screening at Hollywood’s famous TCL Chinese Theater was a ‘pinch-me’ moment for Howard, who started her career in Los Angeles. She’s grateful for the warm reception, especially during a polarizing political moment. “[Pie] is a subject that makes people feel so good, and they’re just hungry for that,” she says. “No pun intended.”

Here is the agenda for the 9-a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21st meeting in Guthrie Center, of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors:

Website: www.guthriecounty.gov

1. Call Meeting to Order, Pledge of Allegiance
2. Approve Consent Agenda

a. October 14, 2025 Minutes
b. Liquor License-5 Day-Old Fashioned Spirits

3. Public Comments: Board Chair will ask audience for comments, limited as described below.
4. Second Consideration of Resolution 26-10: A Resolution Declaring Emergency Medical Services (EMS) An Essential Service in Guthrie County, Iowa; Discuss/Action

5. Department Updates; Discuss/Action

a. Josh Sebern – Engineer

i. Annual Appointment of Weed Commissioner for 2026
ii. Annual Review and Approval of 2025 Weed Commissioner’s Report

b. Jamie Lindsay – Human Resources

i. County Health Insurance Effective Date

c. Brian Hoffman – IT Administrator

i. Guthrie County AI Policy

6. Supervisors Updates
7. Adjournment

Here is the agenda for the Montgomery County Board of Supervisor’s meeting at 9-a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21st, in Red Oak:

1. Call meeting to order

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Roll call of members

4. Approval of Agenda – Order at discretion of Chairperson

5. Read minutes as presented. Chairperson to call for any additions/corrections to said minutes.

6. Board chairperson will ask the audience for any comments, limited to two minutes per person.

7. Supervisors: Weekly committee/assignment updates

8. Secondary Roads Update

9. New Business
   1. Approve claims payable for Wednesday October 22, 2025, in the amount of $322,959.76
   2. Discuss and approve Resolution 2025-26 A Resolution Adopting the Montgomery County Multi=Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
   3. Schedule the 1^st and 2^nd Tier Canvass of the 2025 City and School Combined Election

10. 9:15 a.m. Public hearing- Proposed Montgomery County Floodplain Management Ordinance
    1. Public comment (Two minutes per person and must state name and address when addressing the Board)
    2. First reading of Ordinance 25-02 and action as necessary
    3. Waive 2^nd and 3^rd Reading if necessary
    4. Resolution 2025-28 Montgomery County Resolution of Intent with action as necessary
11. Discuss and start agenda items for the next meeting:
12. Announcements – The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday October 28, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
13. Adjournment

*Please note, this is a public meeting; however, it may be conducted via ZOOM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85039693411

Meeting ID: 850 3969 3411

Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 If you are calling in, Press *9 to raise your hand if you wish to speak.31

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday morning, are expected to act on a proposal for Juvenile Court Services, following a presentation from Chief Judicial Court Officer Curtis Hamstra, with the 4th District Judicial Court Services, and with regard to facility options in Shelby County. Their meeting begins at 9-a.m. In the Supervisor’s Board room inside the Cass County Courthouse, and is viewable through Zoom.

After Hamstra’s presentation, the Board will resume discussions with regard to the possible use of the County-owned Willow Heights building, as a residential facility. Earlier this month, Supervisor’s Board Chair Steve Baier mentioned there was an organization that was willing to sign a lease for the facility, that would potentially be used as a new addiction treatment center for persons who voluntarily commit themselves, or who are court-ordered to rehab. It would not, according to Board Chair Steve Baier, be used for persons who have committed serious crimes.

Supervisor Wendy Richter stressed the facility would not be used for persons with mental health issues. The facility would initially serve 10, but no more than 40 clients at any given time. The Willow Heights building previously served people who have a mental or intellectual disability, substance abuse or other disabling condition. It had been in operation since 1886, but was closed due to federal and State requirements.

In other business, a Public Hearing will be held at 9:30-a.m.with regard to the vacating of a section of Keystone Road in Cass County, established in 1910, that is 40-feet wide and encompasses about 2.4-acres. At approximately 9:35-a.m., a Public Hearing will be held regarding vacating a portion of Jasper Road, established in 1872, that is also about 40-feet wide, and contains a little more than 1.2-acres. Both hearings will be followed by action on separate resolutions to vacate the respective Secondary Roads. The Supervisors will receive a regular report from Engineer Trent Wolken, and an Annual Report from the Cass County Library Association, as well as a Quarterly Report from Cass County Conservation Dept. Executive Director Micah Lee.

The Board will consider and act on approving: A promotion and pay raise for County Treasurer’s Clerk Stacie Linfor, and, a promotion/pay raise for County Treasurer’s Clerk Amanda Darrow, who had completed her probationary period with the office.

(Radio Iowa) – This is school bus safety awareness week. State Trooper Paul Gardner says drivers need to remember the buses are out there every week day through the school year. “Be aware of how frequent these buses stop. They’re obviously carrying precious cargo, so when you’re having children that have to cross the street to get on or off a bus, we really want to emphasize how important it is to stop,” he says. Gardner says be aware of the signals the buses are sending.

“Amber lights come on warning drivers that they are needing to stop. And once the red lights come on, it is in violation to be passed or go past the school bus. When you have those red lights flashing,” Gardner says. The Iowa State Patrol does the bus inspections for the state to look for any problems. “Make sure the red lights are working. Any kind of any kind of safety equipment such as first aid kits, fire distinguishers. Also things on the bus such as brakes, tires, anything that would become a safety hazard, we inspect those,” Gardner says.

National School Bus Safety Week is held during the third week of October every year.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Officials with theRed Oak Police Department report a woman from Mills County was arrested late Sunday morning on a federal warrant.

Officers arrested 38-year-old Derek Jo Barbour, of Malvern, around 10:45 a.m. Sunday in the 100 block of East Valley Street. She was taken into custody on a warrant from the U.S. Marshals Service for violation of probation.

Barbour was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held pending transfer to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.

(Story from Radio Iowa) – Organizers say there were rallies in at least 45 Iowa cities and towns on Saturday — part of a nation day of protest against Trump Administration policies. State Representative Rob Johnson of Des Moines greeted thousands at the state capitol in Des Moines.”In 10 years our children will look back and say, ‘You did something to protect our future, and I think thank you for it,'” Johnson said, to cheers. It was the second time this year a national coalition of progressive groups organized “No Kings” rallies.

“They told me that this wasn’t patriotic,” Johnson said, “but I’m here to tell you this is the most patriotic thing we’re going to do today,” Johnson said, to cheers. Renee Lietz is with Operation Grassroots, which helped organize a protest in Maquoketa that drew dozens of people.

There have been two ‘No Kings’ rallies at the Iowa Capitol this year.

“We’ve got our small group here and if you start getting a small group everywhere, pretty soon you’ve got a big group,” she said. Republican lawmakers criticized the gatherings. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the events “Hate America Rallies” and on Sunday during an appearance on A-B-C Johnson said if Trump were a king, the government would be open.

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(Atlantic, Iowa; KJAN) – Cass County Democratic Party Chair Denise O’Brien, Sunday issued a statement to the media, saying: “Saturday morning brought nearly 200 people together to celebrate their right to assemble and to free speech. People gathered at the Atlantic City Park on both sides of Hwy 6. There were also events in Red Oak, Creston, Clarinda, Shenandoah, Oakland and Council Bluffs. Southwest Indivisible, one of the sponsors stated that the number of protests increased from two in June to 7 on Saturday.”

O’Brien said also, “The No Kings protests took several weeks to plan and implement. Online training was provided covering topics of safety, know your rights and making sure that the actions were peaceful. Prior to the protest several news outlets and politicians stated that the attendees were paid protesters. Hamas, antifa, marxists and socialists. Most protests were peaceful, joyful and family oriented with people wearing costumes while marching through the streets. There were very few arrests and acts of violence during the October 18^th events.”

The statement quoted one participant as saying “We are not paid to be here today. We are concerned about the direction our country is taking. I was present at the June event and will participate in future gatherings if necessary. On my own time.”

O’Brien’s news released concluded by saying “The First Amendment of the Constitution protects the freedom of speech. The No Kings rallies across the United States was an expression of that right.”

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County, today (Sunday), said one person was arrested following an incident Saturday afternoon, in Villisca. Deputies responded at around 4:50-p.m. to an alleged assault in the 400 block of 5th Street, and following an investigation placed 62-year-old Eddy Lavon Keppler, of Villisca, under arrest for Assault – a Simple Misdemeanor, and Assault with intent to inflict serious injury–an aggravated misdemeanor.

Keppler was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.