Author: Yorke Prough

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and state and federal partners are reassuring voters of the many steps taken to provide a secure election. The State of Iowa has received national awards for its election cybersecurity efforts and was named one of the top three states in the nation for election administration.

“In Iowa, we take a holistic approach to election integrity and security – pre-election testing, paper ballots, post-election audits, enhancing cybersecurity measures, and partnerships with our Election Security A Team make that possible,” said Secretary Pate. “The public should be reassured that we are protecting the integrity of their vote in all 99 counties.”

Secretary Pate also reassured Iowans that their votes are cast safely and if anyone tries to impede that process in any way, election officials have local law enforcement on speed dial.

“Intelligence and law enforcement communities at all levels of government have been tasked with ensuring our elections are safe and secure,” Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens said. “Iowans respect and actively exercise their right to vote and do so with civility and integrity. We take our responsibility to protect this right seriously and will be aggressive in deterring any criminal effort to compromise our system of government.”

Secretary Pate also partners with fellow state agencies to ensure top level cybersecurity protections.

“In support of this year’s election, the Department of Management, Division of Information Technology, formerly the Office of the Chief Information Officer, will be monitoring cyberthreats. The State of Iowa Security Operations Center will provide 24-hour-a-day cyberthreat monitoring and heightened support during this year’s elections,” said Shane Dwyer, State of Iowa Chief Information Security Officer.

Secretary Pate and other speakers also urged Iowans to be leery of election misinformation and disinformation. Instead, turn to trusted sources for election information, which are the Secretary of State and county election officials.

*This endangered person advisory has been canceled effective 10am November 6th, 2023.*

An endangered person advisory is being issued for 9-year-old Billy Hernandez-Alvarado and his 8-year-old sister, Ashley Hernandez-Alvarado, from Tama, Iowa. They may be traveling throughout the state of Iowa.

Billy and Ashley were reported missing on the evening of November 5, 2023. They are believed to be with their mother, 33-year-old Ciria Alvarado-Argueta, and 28-year-old Alexis Alvarez-Gomez in either a gray 2014 Nissan Quest (Iowa license plate NVB078) or a white 2022 Kia Sorento (Iowa license plate LLS086).

Based on information discovered during the investigation, law enforcement considers Billy and Ashley to be endangered. Billy is a Hispanic male, 5 feet, 80 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He wears prescription glasses. Ashley is a female, 5 feet, 80 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. She wears prescription glasses. She sometimes goes by “Nicole”.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Billy or Ashley is asked to call 911 or the Tama County Communications Center at 641-484-3760 extension 1.

There is an opening on the Lee County Conservation Board for a new five-year term. Individuals, who are a resident of Lee County and are interested in being appointed by the Lee County Board of Supervisors to this voluntary term on the Conservation Board, should submit an application to the Lee County Auditor’s Office at 933 Ave H, Fort Madison 52627.

A board member has many duties assigned to them, and they must work well within a five member board. Conservation Boards are responsible to the taxpayers of the county to provide the best, diverse conservation/outdoor recreation program possible with the natural resources and funding available.

This is a five year term and the member will be selected based on how they demonstrate interest in conservation matters, as well as other criteria. This is an unpaid duty, but certain official county duties may be reimbursed.

Once appointed, county conservation board members become county officials and should work to address the conservation needs of the county in a positive, responsible manner. Conservation boards receive county tax money and other funds to carry out their duties.

For more information: www.LeecountyIowa.org

For an application: here

The deadline for applications is December 1^st, 2023.

The staff of Senator Chuck Grassley will hold traveling office hours in 21 Iowa counties from November 6 through November 17. Iowans seeking assistance regarding a personal issue with a federal agency or wishing to share views on matters of federal policy may stop by during the scheduled hours. The Senator will not be in attendance.

Grassley’s state offices regularly help constituents contact federal agencies to address problems with Social Security payments, military service matters, immigration cases, veterans’ benefits, IRS challenges and other issues. Iowans can also seek assistance via Grassley’s website.

“Serving the people of Iowa is my top priority. Traveling office hours held by my staff ensure Iowans’ concerns are heard and problems are solved,” Grassley said. “Throughout the year, my regional staff help Iowans navigate federal agencies and find solutions to a variety of issues regarding the federal government. I encourage anyone needing assistance to stop by my staff’s office hours in their area. Iowans can also reach out directly to any of my offices throughout the year.”

The traveling staff will host a town hall in Lee County and Henry County on Tuesday, November 7^th. The regional director, Penny Vacek, will take charge at the West Burlington City Hall Council Chambers from 9:00am-10:00am, then head to the Donnellson City Hall Council Chambers from 11:30am-12:30pm. Afterwards, you will find them at 307 E Monroe St in Mt. Pleasant at 1:30pm for one hour.

On October 18^th, 2023, the Burlington Police Department were alerted of a possible sex offender registry violation by Benjerman Talbott.

An investigation showed that Talbott was in violation of his sex offender registry requirements and a warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest.

On November 1^st, Talbott was located and arrested by the Burlington Police Department on the arrest warrant for an exclusionary zone violation.

A public link to all Iowa registered sex offenders can be found at www.iowasexoffender.gov/

The Henry County Conservation Board will hold their November 2023 Board meeting on Wednesday, November 8th, 2023, at 4:30 pm in the conservation board meeting room at the office in Oakland Mills.

Items on the agenda will include: South-Shore Sanitation System Update, Foot Bridge Discussion,  Director Update, and Naturalist Reports.

Please contact the conservation department if you have any questions, 319-986-5067.

The City and School Elections will take place on November 7^th, with polls open from 7:00am through 8:00pm. Qualified electors may vote, but they must present themselves as well as identification at the polls.

Depending on where you live, you may not vote in the same place as your friends. There are nine different precincts for citizens of Henry County.

If you live in the Trenton, Marion, or Jefferson Township (including Wayland, Olds, and the portion of Coppock within Henry) you will be voting at Wayland City Hall, 218 W Main St.

For those who live in the Canaan and Scott Townships (including Winfield and the part of Wayne Township*) you will vote at Winfield City Hall, 115 N Locust St, Winfield.  *(that part of Wayne Township residents living east of James Avenue to 140th Street and south of 140th Street east of Highway 218 and south to the township line.)*

Voters who live in the Tippecanoe Township, Salem Township, as well as Salem, Hillsboro, and Center Townships, will cast their ballot at the Emergency Management Building, 900 W Washington St in Mt. Pleasant,

Precincts 4 through 7 will all vote at the Veterans Hall of Mt. Pleasant, 300 W Monroe St. If you are unsure which ward you live in, head to https://henrycounty.iowa.gov/election/ which lists out the wards and provides additional details.

New London voters will split between precinct 8 and 9. Jackson and Baltimore Township residents will be at New London Christian Church, 2770 New London Road.

Those in New London Townships (including the city of New London) will vote at 103 W Washington St, the New London Community Center.

Pre-registered voters are required to provide an approved form of identification at the polling place before receiving and casting a regular ballot. Voters who are not pre-registered – such as voters registering to vote on election day – and voters changing precincts must also provide proof of residence.

A voter who is unable to provide an approved form of identification may have their identity/residence attested to by another registered voter in the precinct, or prove their identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents.

For additional information about providing proof of identity and/or residence visit: https://sos.iowa.gov/voterid or phone (319) 385- 0756.

Any voter who is physically unable to enter a polling place has the right to vote in the voter’s vehicle. For further information, please contact the County Auditor’s Office at 319-385-0756 or e- mail sbarber@henrycountyiowa.us. For TTY access, dial 711 + (319)-385-0756