DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports more than 3,200 acres of Iowa land in 22 counties with an estimated value of more than $11 million was permanently protected through donations for conservation. The donors associated with 26 donations of land or land value will be recognized during a ceremony on March 24, from 1 to 2 p.m., in the first floor rotunda, at the State Capitol, in Des Moines.

Among the southwest/western Iowa landowners who will be recognized, is:

• Marcia Buresh, who donated a conservation easement on and title to 280 acres of mixed habitat near Crescent in Pottawattamie County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF). Marcia wanted to permanently protect the remnant prairie, diverse bur oak woodland and Cresent Creek, which flows through the property’s southern portion. A history of organic and sustainable farming practices has improved wildlife habitat and will support ongoing ecological restoration efforts. The site will contribute to INHF’s land stewardship efforts throughout the Loess Hills.
• Marily and Bob Caddy donated a conservation easement on 53 acres of remnant and reconstructed prairie and oak woodland in the Loess Hills in Monona County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The property has been a retreat and reunion site for the Anderson-Caddy family for decades. The Caddys have put significant work into native habitat restoration. The conservation easement ensures it will remain in its natural state for future generations.
• Renate Harker bequeathed 20 acres of mixed habitat near Sac City in Sac County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Prairie restoration will enhance existing wildlife habitat, reduce erosion and promote water infiltration in the North Raccoon River watershed.
• Janice Niemann donated seven acres of remnant tallgrass prairie near Underwood in Pottawattamie County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. Its permanent protection provides refuge for wildlife in an area with little native habitat. Prairie seed collected from this site will be used to expand and restore other regional prairies.
• Eric Roberts and Stephen Prime donated 10 acres of Loess Hills remnant prairie in Missouri Valley in Harrison County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The property has been transferred to Harrison County Conservation, which stewards the Hoary puccoon, ground plum, lead plant and other conservative prairie species that dot the hillsides. The property’s proximity to a population base offers potential hiking, birding, picnicking and more recreational opportunities.

Landowners who are in attendance will be honored individually for their donation. For more information about individual donations, visit the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/landdonors.

(Clarinda, IA) – Page County Attorney, James L. Varley, today (March 10th) reports the following activities in the Iowa District Court for Page County for the week of February 23, 2026. The Honorable Margaret Reyes, District Court Judge of the Fourth Judicial District presided. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Gerardo Moses Ray Buttry, age 25, Shenandoah, Iowa, appeared with counsel and pled guilty to Conspiracy to Deliver a Controlled Substance. The defendant was granted a deferred judgment and placed on probation for a period of 2 years. As a condition of probation, the defendant is to obtain a substance abuse evaluation and follow all treatment recommendations. Defendant was ordered to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $1,025, plus surcharges and penalties.

Lorenzo Davila, age 37, Shenandoah, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Under the Influence-1st Offense. The Defendant was sentenced to 30 days in jail, with all but 2 days suspended and placed on probation for 1 year. As a condition of probation, the defendant is to obtain a drug/alcohol evaluation and attend and successfully complete the Drinking Driver’s School. The defendant was ordered to pay court costs, surcharges, and a $1,250 fine.

Jerry Dewayne Easley, age 55, Braddyville, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Under the Influence-1st Offense. The Defendant was sentenced to 2 days in jail and fined $1,250. Defendant has completed the Drinking Driver’s School and obtained a drug/alcohol evaluation and is to follow through with treatment recommendations. The defendant was ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

Quintyn James, Gray, age 19, Clarinda, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Attempted Burglary in the Third Degree. The defendant was granted a deferred judgment and was placed on probation for 1 year. As a condition of probation, the defendant is to obtain a drug/alcohol evaluation and follow through with any recommendations. Defendant was ordered to pay court costs, surcharges, court-appointed attorney fees and a civil penalty of $430.

Hannah Jean Hall, age 20, Clarinda, Iowa, appeared with counsel and admitted to violating the terms and conditions of probation. Probation was revoked and the defendant was ordered to serve 21 days in the Page County Jail. Defendant was also ordered to pay court costs, fines, fees and court-appointed attorney fees.

Travis Leroy Holman, Jr., age 24, Fort Madison, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations. The defendant was sentenced to a term of incarceration not to exceed 2 years that will run consecutive to the sentence the defendant is currently serving. Defendant was fined $855, suspended, and ordered to pay surcharges and penalties.

Jose Manuel Huerta, age 41, Clarinda, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance, Marijuana-3rd Offense. The defendant was sentenced to 2 years of incarceration, suspended, and placed on probation for 1 year. As a condition of probation, the defendant is to reside at the Residential Correctional Facility until maximum benefits have been achieved. Defendant was ordered pay a fine of $855, plus court costs and court-appointed attorney fees.

Gary Lynn Kent, age 69, Clarinda, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Intoxicated-1st offense. The Defendant was sentenced to 45 days of incarceration with all but 2 days suspended. Defendant was placed on probation for 1 year and ordered to complete a substance abuse evaluation. The Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of $1,250, surcharges and penalties.

Rico Osby, age 35, Fort Madison, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations Causing Bodily Injury. The defendant was sentenced to 5 years of incarceration which will run consecutively to the sentences the defendant is currently serving. Defendant was ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

Keaton Ray Osthoff, age 34, New Market, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Operating While Under the Influence-1st Offense. The defendant was sentenced to 2 days in the Page County Jail and fined $1,250. Defendant previously completed the Drinking Driver’s School and obtained a drug/alcohol evaluation. The Defendant was ordered to pay court costs, surcharges and court-appointed attorney fees.

Evan James Welsh, age 19, Clarinda, Iowa, appeared by counsel and pled guilty to Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations. The defendant was sentenced to a term of incarceration not to exceed 2 years that will run consecutive to the sentence the defendant is currently serving. Defendant was fined $855, suspended, and ordered to pay surcharges and penalties.

(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa school district plans to provide more training after community complaints of racism from students. During the school board meeting M-O-C Floyd Valley student Itzel Benitez says her sister and other Latino students have faced racism in school. “All I’m expecting from this school is to do better for their students, for their staff and their community, and to stop looking the other way,” she says.

Superintendent Mike Mulder says he’s heard from concerned parents and citizens in the Orange City district, and he will do something about it. “Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that our students, when they walk through our doors, feel safe, feel supported, and prepared for their success. So this is the work that we’re committed to today, and the work that we need to continue moving forward,” he says. The district wants to hire a third party to provide additional training for staff on cultural and bias-awareness training. One board member says some of the issues raised by the public are out of the school district’s control.

About 25 percent of students who attend M-O-C-Floyd Valley are minorities, and some say some students who were told to “go back to their home countries,” and a high schooler wearing a shirt that said “ICE, ICE, Baby” with a photo of President Trump.

(Atlantic, IA) – A regular monthly meeting of the Atlantic School Board will take place Wednesday (March 11) beginning at 6-p.m., in the High School Media Center. View the entire agendabelow:

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Welcome Visitors:
5. Special Presentation: Cass County Hospital
6. Reports
a. Student Activities/Athletics Report
b. Student Services Report and presentation
c. Curriculum Report
d. Building Principals’ Reports: PK-3rd, 4-5th, 6-8th, 9-12th
e. Superintendent Report
f. Board Updates
g. Financial Report
7. Consent Items* Note: Any item may be removed from the consent agenda by a board member and considered separately.
a. Meeting Minutes from February 11 and 25, 2026
b. Monthly bills and prepaid bills Late Bills-added 3/9/2026
c. Open Enrollment Applications
i. The deadline to submit open enrollment applications for the 2026–2027 school year was March 1, 2026. Applications received by the District have been processed by Janet Nicklaus and reviewed by Superintendent Beth Johnsen. The Board will consider and take action on these applications at the March 11 meeting.
d. Special Education Contracts, not applicable
e. Resignations/Retirements
i. Megan Andersen, High School Para, effective end of school year
f. Recommendation to Hire
i. Roger Warne, Assistant Track Coach
ii. Mark Andersen, Boys Assistant Soccer Coach
iii. Bryce Casey, JV Baseball Coach
iv. Transfer of Faye Dreyer to Title 1 Math position for 26-27 school year
g. Gifts, Grants and Donations from February
h. Upcoming Fundraising Request(s), not applicable this month
8. Discussion
a. District Career Academic Plan discussion with Heather McKay
b. Technology Bids for FY27 presented by Roger Warne
9. Action Items
a. Out-of-State Travel Requests
b. FY27 Cooperative Purchasing Nutrition Agreement
c. FY27 Technology Bids approval Bid 1 Bid 2 Recommendation 1 Recommendation 2
d. FY27 Green Hills MOU
e. IASB Policy Update: Civil Rights Complaints Special Release, First reading
f. Budget Guarantee Resolution
g. Set Public Hearing Date for FY27 Budget hearing #2
10. Upcoming Dates
a. Board Meeting including public hearing for 26-27 School Master Calendar and Budget hearing #1, March 25, 2026, 6:00 p.m. High School Media Center
11. Adjournment

**The meeting may be viewed via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/live/fUoO3pgyuhk

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’ll try, try again to make the case in a Senate Ag Committee hearing this (Tuesday) afternoon for the year-round sale of the blend of gasoline that contains 15-percent ethanol. Grassley says, “We’re trying to get E-15 by law, not by presidential waiver that we’ve had for the last seven years, E-15 nationwide year-round.” The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association says E-15 is frequently sold under the name Unleaded 88, and it contains five-percent more ethanol than E-10, which is the most common fuel used in the U-S. While ethanol is made from corn, biodiesel comes from soybeans, which Grassley reminds are two of Iowa’s top commodities.

“The Office of Management and Budget is reviewing EPA rulemaking on renewable volume obligations, or what we call RVOs,” Grassley says, “and we’re hoping to get a five-and-six-tenths billion gallon mandate to get rid of biodiesel compared to four years of only three-billion in the Biden administration.” Grassley says cementing the sale of E-15 year-round would be a tremendous win for Iowa producers. “If we can get by law E-15 nationwide year-round,” he says, “Corn Growers Association economic advisors tell them it’s going to increase farm income by $14 billion.”

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry plans to meet at 2 P-M/Central on the topic of “Increasing Domestic Consumption of U.S.-Grown Agricultural Products.”

(Red Oak, IA) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, during their regular weekly meeting today (March 10th), held a public hearing on proposed FY Montgomery County Budget Amendment #3, during which there were no comments received. The Board proceeded to pass a Resolution approved the amendments as presented. Supervisor Mark Peterson…

Afterward, the Board approved a contract with Midwest Alarm Service, for fire alarm monitoring of the Courthouse in Red Oak, and the costs associated with the service, which include an initial payment of $700 and an annual payment of $900 for an initial 36-month contract. Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna…

MC BOS 3-10-26

The Montgomery County Supervisors passed a Resolution regarding the non-renewal of software and managed IT services for FY2027, with a Recorder’s Office exception. The Board, Tuesday (today), also heard a request from County Veteran’s Affair Director Ed Young, with regard to the Iowa Legislature, and funding to counties for Veterans Affairs.

The proposal means legislators would redistribute the funds by population, which in Montgomery County’s case would mean a loss of $7,451, or about three-quarters of what they currently receive.

Young says the cut-back in funds would mean less money for Veterans Outreach, and other local services. He said the legislature has tabled action for now, but he says they should get rid of the idea altogether, and not kick it around or take action that would affected Veterans’ services on the State and local level.

(Atlantic, IA) – The Cass County (IA) Auditor’s Office, today (Tuesday), reported three candidates have officially filed their nomination papers with the proper number of signatures, in advance of the March 31st Special Election to fill a Vacancy position on the Atlantic School Board. Those candidates include: Jordan Zarbano; Chase B. Roller, and Dianna Blake. The deadline to file for the March 31st Special Election, a petition for which filed in February, to fill the seat left vacant by Laura McLean, who moved out of the area.The deadline to file nomination papers was March 6th.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports also, four Republicans have filed to run in the June 2nd, 2026 Primary Election. The latest is County Treasurer, Tracey J. Marshall. As we’ve previously mentioned, other candidates (all incumbents) who have filed papers for re-election, include: District 2 Supervisor Mark T. O’Brien; Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdas; and County Recorder, Mary Ward.

(Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Partisan County Office candidates have until March 20, 2026 (5:00 p.m.) to file their nomination papers with the County Auditor’s office. Candidates must file an affidavit of candidacy and nomination petition with the required number of signatures during the appropriate filing period. Forms are available at the Cass County Auditor’s office, 5 W 7th Street, Atlantic, IA.

For additional information regarding election for county offices, contact the Cass County Auditor’s Office at 712-243-4570

(Atlantic, IA) – There’s been yet another delay in a trial for the former Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. According to online court records, the trial for Bailey Linn Smith will now take place April 28th in Cass County District Court. Her trial was previously set to have taken place March 24th. Smith, who faces multiple felony charges, has had her trial continued (delayed) three times since she was charged with a Class-B Felony charge of Ongoing Criminal Conduct – unlawful activity, and Class-C Felony charges that include Theft in the 1st Degree, Fraudulent Practice in the 1st Degree, and Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card over $10,000. Smith entered a written plea of not guilty back in November, and waived her right to a speedy trial.

As we’ve mentioned previously, Smith resigned from the Chamber on September 15th. She turned herself in to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office on October 8th and was released on bond. According to a criminal complaint, between January 2020 and August 2025, Smith allegedly made 761 personal transactions with Chamber funds totaling $26,913.22, of which $6,632.38 was admitted by Smith. She was charged with Theft in the First Degree for allegedly misappropriating over $10,000. Smith also allegedly orchestrated a scheme from November 2022 to August 2025, making 47 fraudulent transfers between Chamber bank accounts to cover up her theft. The loss amounted to $76,215, and resulted in the charges of Fraudulent Practice in the First Degree and Ongoing Criminal Conduct.

Additionally, Smith allegedly used Chamber-issued credit cards for approximately $25,065.71 in personal expenses, with $6,632.38 acknowledged by her in a letter to the Chamber Board. She was charged with Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card over $10,000.

(Radio Iowa) – A company based in central Iowa has found a way to recycle the giant blades from wind turbines, using their ground up parts when making concrete traffic barriers that are popular around construction sites. Nick Wylie, founder of Renewablade, headquartered in the Des Moines suburb of Bondurant, says they have a growing list of clients who want the ten-foot-long barriers, which weigh about 33-hundred pounds each. “We’re significantly cheaper than what a DOT-certified barrier would be with the recycled material we have in ours,” Wylie says. “A normal ‘jersey’ barrier with the DOT would be around $1,200 to $1,500 a piece, and our ten-footers, we actually sell them for $500 a piece.”

Wind turbine blades are made of things like fiberglass, balsa wood, resin, foam, and steel. The average blade is 116 feet long, though some approach 200 feet, and Iowa is one of the nation’s top producers of energy from wind turbines. Wylie says they’re never lacking for raw materials. “There’s pretty much an endless supply,” Wylie says. “We’re getting a fair amount every year and we’ve been recycling them. We’ve taken blades in from Maine and we’ve taken blades in from Washington, so there’s an awful lot.”

Renewablade can go to the site where a turbine is being retired and cut the blades into sections and haul them away, or customers bring in blade sections to recycle, for a tipping fee. The blade parts are shredded and combined into a ready-mix concrete blend, for a product Wylie says is 30-percent lighter than traditional concrete. “From what we know, we’re the only people that really have an end game for them,” Wylie says. “There’s a few other people that are bringing them in and shredding them, but nobody has a finished product that we know of, where we actually can see it all the way to a new product.”

In addition to the barriers, the company also makes landscaping blocks for retaining walls and other large-scale concrete construction products.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division reports it handled more than four-thousand complaints last year, marking the second straight year with an increase. Attorney General Brenna Bird says complaints involving used cars and car repairs topped the list at 783 complaints. “Whether it’s faulty repair work or a car that wasn’t what they thought it would be,” She says. One person called after they said they had the oil changed in their car, but the shop forgot to put the new oil in and the engine was wrecked. Complaints about imposters pretending to be someone they aren’t were second on the list.

“Everything from a fake job offer that you won the lottery, but you have to pay some money to collect the prize,” she says. “And there’s even some that run a long con, is what I’m going to call it, con artists doing a romance scam. So they target someone and then build a relationship with them all online, never in person. And what they do is eventually get that person to give them money.” A-G Bird says be wary of unsolicited messages and avoid sending money electronically to someone you don’t know. Cryptocurrency A-T-M’s have become another way people try to scam you out of your money.

“These are machines that you put cash into and it goes into a crypto wallet, scammers are using that,” Bird says. “Sometimes they’re in a foreign country, so you put that in their crypto wallet and they get your money right away. In fact, it got so bad and we found so many people that had been ripped off in Iowa, we are suing those machines, and the legislature passed a law to make it easier for people to get their money back.”

Bird says if you think you have been a victim of fraud you can call her office at 1-888-777-4590 or you can file a complaint online at IowaAttorneyGeneral.gov.