(Radio Iowa) – A guide to transportation regulations for farmers is now available from the Iowa Department of Transportation. The D-O-T’s Melisa Gillett helped create the farm guide. “There are many regulations that apply to agriculture operations, and it can be challenging sometimes for farmers to really understand those regulations that apply to them, or the exceptions that may apply at the federal and state level,” Gillett says. She says this should be a one-stop place to answer some of the questions.

“What we did was try to consolidate all of that into this specific guide for farmers. And I would say, this is something we worked on when I was in the Motor Vehicle Division, and kind of inspired by my dad, who’s a farmer in western Iowa, and his friends that he meets with at the at the coffee shop at the local gas station, you know, and they have these conversations. And so he helped to kind of test this,” she says. They gave the farm guide a test drive at last year’s Iowa State Fair. “We were visiting with farmers and talking with them about what information is helpful, and so it’s gone through some iterations and some revisions since then to gather that input directly from them,” Gillet says.

The DOT has released a farm guide to transportation regulations. (DOT photo)

Gillett says you can find the guide online or get a printed copy. “You know, I think about the farmers, they like the physical copies to have available to reference them,” she says. We also have it available on our website as well, but distributing them at our driver’s license locations. We’re working with Iowa State Patrol and the commercial motor vehicle unit as well to help help them distribute as well.” Gillett presented the finished guide at the Transportation Commission meeting Tuesday.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a man and woman were arrested on drug & child endangerment charges, Saturday morning. Authorities say 32-year-old Keegan Michael Johnson and 31-year-old Merri Lorynn Johnson, both of Stanton, were arrested at around 3-a.m. Saturday, in the 500 block of Prairie Avenue, in Stanton. Both face charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-1st offense, and Child Endangerment.

Keegan and Merri Johnson were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Three adults died in a house fire early Saturday morning in the small town of Lawton, which is seven miles east of Sioux City. Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan says the victims called 9-1-1 at about 1:15 a.m. Saturday to say they were trapped on an upper floor of their burning home.

“When deputies arrived at 1:22 a.m., they reported flames visible and heavy smoke. Two minutes later, Lawton Fire arrived on scene and began fighting the fire,” he said. “A call for mutual aid was put out and multiple area community fire and EMS units assisted.” Sheehan says the victims were a man and his wife and their adult grandson.

Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan speaks during news conference. (KSCJ photo)

“I’ve spoke to the family. The family certainly wants to express their appreciation for the outpouring of support from the community,” the sheriff said, “but as you might imagine they ask everyone to respect their privacy as they grieve this terrible loss.”

The State Fire Marshall has been called in to help investigate the cause of the fire.

(Radio Iowa) – Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner says it’s long past time for statehouse Republicans to decide how much per pupil funding Iowa schools will get from the state for the next academic year.  “Do your job and stop punishing our schools with wasted time and delays,” Weiner says. This past Saturday was the deadline for Iowa school boards to release a budget plan for the 2025-26 school year, so the public may comment on it.

Weiner says Republicans have blown past the February deadline in state law for letting schools know what per pupil funding levels will be. “Governance means being responsible to the people,” Weiner said, “being responsible to Iowans.” In January, Governor Kim Reynolds proposed a two percent increase in the state’s per pupil spending and Senate Republicans have voted for that level of funding.

Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner (D-Iowa City) (official photo)

House Republicans have voted for a slightly higher level of per pupil spending, plus extra money for transportation budgets and an additional 22-point-six MILLION to help schools deal with general expenses that are higher due to inflation. House Speaker Pat Grassley says there’s no deal to bring up for a vote on the House floor.

“If we can get in a position where we can negotiate some of those other things, we’d love to be able to get this settled and give some certainty,” Grassley says. Grassley says House Republicans intend to stand firm on their position after hearing from Iowans who favor the House G-O-P package. Iowa’s public school districts must submit a final budget for the nexts school year to the state by April 15th.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic is expected to discuss during a phone call with the City’s finance attorney Wednesday evening, a proposed $2.5-million dollar bond for the Nishna Valley Family YMCA. City Administrator John Lund (in his City Council agenda) notes Attorney John Danos has raised several issues with the proposed bond issuance, and suggested the Council may want to listen to those concerns and ask questions before proceeding on the matter. The phone call and discussion will take place during the Council’s regular meeting that begins at 5:30-p.m., at City Hall in Atlantic.

During their meeting on February 5th, the City Council received a request for a commitment to contribute more than $6 and a quarter million-dollars towards expansion of the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, in Atlantic. The request was made as part of a presentation by Vision Atlantic Committee members Christina Bateman, YMCA Executive Director Dan Haynes, and YMCA Board President Bob Sharp.

Bateman told the Council that if an initial budget appropriation of at least $2.5-million dollars is approved by the Council, Vision Atlantic would like to further “engage in discussions [with the City]…to work and find a way to contribute the remaining $3.77-million dollars.” Dan Haynes said if the City doesn’t agree to contribute toward the fundraising effort, it risks losing a grant from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation for an new Day Care Center and project. Haynes said the YMCA Board and staff have raised about $2-million dollars over the past 21-years to upgrade and renovate the YMCA to keep it current and maintained.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council, this Wednesday, will act on passing a resolution approving the final plat for the Camblin Hills Development Subdivision. The preliminary plat was approved in July, 2024. The final plat was reviewed and adopted by the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission last week, and recommended for approval by the Council. The Council will also act on passing a resolution approving the job description, FY25 compensation, and posting of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Assistant Superintendent position.

Current Wastewater Superintendent Tim Snyder is planning to retire, and wants to train an individual capable of managing the plant. The city’s Personnel and Finance Committee has reviewed the job description of Assistant Superintendent and approved a wage of $33.10/hour for FY 2025. They also recommend the position be posted immediately and for Snyder to set the date of hire at his discretion.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, is expected to approve “A professional services agreement with (former City Clerk) Barb Barrick, to temporarily provide Consulting Services” to the City, since those services are not currently available from Teresa Rotschafer, who is with the Iowa League of Cities, and who helps with necessary reporting, Treasurer’s Report and bank reconciliation. The City’s Personnel & Finance Committee met March 7th and concluded it would be beneficial to have Barrick provide temporary professional City Clerk services and finish the training that is necessary for the new City Clerk, Laura McLean, to do all the aspects of her job effectively.

The P&F, Mayor, City Administrator and Rotschafer are all in agreement that Barrick is the only person with current experience using the City’s accounting software, as it relates to reconciling data with the City’s bank records. Barb Barrick has agreed to come on-board for McLean’s in-person training and remote work from Barrick’s home in Huxley. She has also agreed to work every weekend except for two weekends in May, due to family commitments. City Administrator John Lund recommends the Council approve the agreement since timing is critical, in light of the need to publish the Public Hearing for the budget by no later than April 5th.

The final order of business for the Council, Wednesday, is to approve amending the City’s Personnel Handbook, with regard to “Meal Reimbursement.” The Personnel & Finance Committee has proposed a 20%  maximum for reimbursable tips, whereas before there was no such policy in-place, and, a $5-dollar increase for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The City will also ban the purchase of alcohol through the city’s credit cards. If the amendments are approved, any alcoholic beverages will need to be paid for out of the employee’s own pocket, and on a separate bill.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say no injuries were reported after an SUV struck a semi tractor-trailer, Friday afternoon. The accident happened just before 3-p.m. as a 2019 Chevy Trax driven by 92-year-old Lorin Eilers, of Creston, was exiting the Tractor Supply store parking lot, in Creston. As the vehicle was turning onto Highway 34, Eilers looked, but failed to see a 2019 Kenworth semi pulling a trailer that was traveling west on Highway 34.

The front end of the small SUV struck the semi’s rear trailer tires, causing minor damage to the SUV ($2,500). No damage was sustained by the semi, which was driven by 32-year-old Jose Duran, of Clarion (IA).

Authorities say once he was released from the accident scene, Eilers drove eastbound in the westbound lanes before he was stopped by police officers. Eilers denied being in the wrong lane. No citations were issued.

(Onawa, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Monona County say an arrest was made early this (Sunday) morning in connection with a homicide investigation. Deputies were dispatched at around 12:05-a.m. to a residence in rural Whiting following a 9-1-1 call. Upon arrival, deputies found a man who was unresponsive.

A joint investigation by members of the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and Monona County Sheriff’s Office was conducted, and as a result, a resident of the home, Veronica Kluge, was charged with 1st Degree Murder.

Additional details were not immediately released.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A woman from Cass County (IA) was arrested Saturday evening in Red Oak, following a traffic stop. Red Oak Police stopped a vehicle driven by 18-year-old Kylie Rynea Miller, of Atlantic, at the intersection of N. Broadway and W. Elm Streets, at around 6:07-p.m.  Miller was taken into custody for Driving While Revoked for OWI- A Serious Misdemeanor. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Sioux County, Iowa) – The two people were injured Saturday evening during a crash in northwest Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2004 Honda and a 2016 Subaru collided head-on at around 6:15-p.m. south of Orange City, when the Honda went out of control and crossed the center line of the road. Both vehicles came to rest in the north ditch.

The driver of the Honda, 38-year-old Henry Manuel Esquivel Villanueva, of South Sioux City, NE, and a passenger in the Subaru, 26-year-old Ashley Renae VanBeek,, of Sioux Center, were injured and transported by Orange City Ambulance to the hospital in Orange City.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office and Orange City Fire/Rescue.