(Walcott, Iowa) – A head-on crash on Interstate 80 in eastern Iowa Friday night claimed three lives. One other person was injured. The Iowa State Patrol says the crash happened at around 11:15-p.m. north of Walcott, in Scott County. The report says a 2014 VW and a 2014 Chevy collided head-on in the inside land of I-80 at mile marker 284.

The direction of travel for each vehicle was undetermined and under investigation as of the latest report. The three victims of the crash who were not wearing their seat belts died at the scene. The fourth victim was wearing a seat belt. They were transported by Medic EMS to the Genesis East Hospital in Davenport. No names were released.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Davenport Police, Iowa DOT, Walcott Fire assisted at the scene.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce issued a warning on Friday that they have been made aware of a scam that is targeting local businesses. An individual has reached out to a Chamber Member selling an “advertising opportunity” for a magazine that would go out four times a year to members of the Atlantic Golf & Country Club, Crestwood Hills, and the Griswold Golf Club. Be advised that this individual is very convincing.  If you receive this call, please ignore.

(Radio Iowa) – The pace of presidential campaigning in Iowa is accelerating, with former President Donald Trump due in Davenport Monday and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis there today.

DeSantis shared the stage with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. DeSantis touted how he and Reynolds responded to the pandemic by banning mask mandates and reopening schools. “Minnesota — they were fleeing lockdowns to come to Sarasota and Naples and these places, but when I meet Iowans in Florida, they’re happy,” DeSantis said, to laughter and applause. “They love their state because it’s well run.”

A large crowd cheered DeSantis as he listed several bills he’s signed into law, including one that dissolves a special taxing district for Walt Disney World that gave the Disney Company authority over things like roads, water systems, garbage collection on the property.

“Disney no longer controls its own government in Florida. There’s a new sheriff in town,” DeSantis said, to cheers.

DeSantis is here to promote his new book and is expected to enter the GOP’s 2024 presidential race later this year. He and Reynolds will make another appearance together early this evening in Des Moines.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst hosted an event in Clive today with former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley focused on foreign policy. Haley was appointed by Trump to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She’s on her second tour around Iowa after launching her presidential campaign in February.

“The United Nations, it’s a farce. I mean, that’s the first thing I’ll say,” Haley said as the crowd applauded and Ernst laughed. “The United Nations is not for the faint at heart. Every day, you know, it felt like I was putting on body armor because you knew you’d have a fight — you just didn’t know which country you were fighting that day.”

During a discussion of the war in Ukraine, a man in the audience yelled that Ukraine is not our ally and he was done with the Republican Party if it’s the war party. Haley responded.

“What I’ll tell you is we have no better ally at the United Nations than Ukraine,” Haley said. “There wasn’t one thing we voted for that they weren’t there. There wasn’t thing I fought that they weren’t standing beside us. There wasn’t any time that I had to ask Ukraine for anything. They were always there.”

Haley told the crowd winning the war in Ukraine sends an important message to adversaries like Russia and China and will prevent a world war. The man who raised the issue then left.

Trump’s event in Davenport Monday is his first event in Iowa since announcing he would run again for president. The Iowa Republican Party’s first in the nation Caucuses are less than a year away.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are reminded to set their clocks ahead an hour before hitting the hay Saturday night, as Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday morning at 2 o’clock.

As we spring ahead, home safety expert Andrew Beckett says it’s the traditional time to check the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, though it could also be time to change out the devices themselves. “Carbon monoxide detectors should really be replaced about every five years,” Beckett says, “and smoke detectors about every ten.”

Studies find the risk of dying in a fire is cut by 50% if there’s a working smoke alarm in the house. While you’re changing your clocks, make sure to give your other safety supplies a once over. Beckett says be sure to have some essentials stored away in an emergency kit in case the power or water goes out.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins 2-a.m. Sunday

“Make sure that it has essential items like nonperishable food, and enough water to support you and anyone else in your house for 72 hours,” he says. Check the fire extinguishers in the house to make sure they’re still fully charged and ready for action. Beckett suggests a few other items be placed in your emergency kit.

“Flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, making sure that all those things are there,” he says. “In addition to that, it’s a great time to go around and check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home and make sure that they’re working properly.” While we’ll lose an hour of sleep this weekend, consider this — we’re also gaining an hour of sunlight.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Brown Shoe Fit Co. on Thursday, March 9th, 2023. Ambassadors welcomed Avery Zakrzewski as the new Manager in Training/ Assistant Manager.

Avery grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska and graduated from Midland University with a degree in Human Performance with an emphasis in Strength and Conditioning. Avery started working at Browns Shoe Fit in 2020 after college and fell in love with the tight-knit business model and decided to move forward in the program to eventually own her own store.

Brown’s Shoe Fit’s program requires the individual to work under two managers. Avery has worked as the Assistant Manager in Columbus prior to moving to Atlantic in January 2023. Brian Ruge, owner, has encouraged Avery to take the reins and “learn by doing.”

Brown’s Shoe Fit Staff (Left to Right): Joyce Weiser, Avery Zakrzewski, Brian Ruge
Ambassadors (Left to Right): Kelsey Beschorner, Sue Liston, Krysta Hanson, Jo Beth Jensen, Julie Waters, Megan Sramek, Colt Doherty, Abbey Becker, Dr. Keith Leonard, John Bricker, Jim Kickland, Alden Harriman, Jeremy Butler, Anne Quist, Tori Gibson, Bailey Smith

When asked what goals Avery has for the store, Avery shared that she would like potential and existing customers to understand that Brown’s is not just a store for high quality shoes. Brown’s Shoe Fit can also help with dry-cleaning, tuxedo rentals, shoe inserts and more.

Brian Ruge, owner, shared that Brown’s Shoe Fit will be hosting “pop-up” events in Bedford and Red Oak in the coming months. These pop-up events consist of the Brown’s team loading a cargo trailer full of a variety of shoes and taking them to surrounding communities. Brown’s Shoe Fit will “set up shop” for a few days which allows the residents to shop Brown’s Shoe Fit’s great selection of shoes while staying close to home. Brian shared that he enjoys the pop-up events because he gets to build relationships with customers outside of the area.

Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. is located at 502 Chestnut Street; Contact 712-243-1336 for more information or visit http://www.brownsshoefitco.com/

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Assessor Mary Anstey reports the 2023 property assessments will be mailed to you by April 1, 2023. Almost all residential properties will see large increases in value. Iowa is a market value-based state, and the market is determined by the prices buyers are paying for houses. New construction or major remodeling on individual properties will affect the percentage of change differently than market indicated adjustments. For instance, if you added a new two-stall garage, your percentage of increase in assessed value will be higher than your neighbor that did not add anything new. Will your property taxes increase by the same percentage that the assessment increased? Anstey says “No, they will not.”

Anstey says there are two main reasons for the large increases for 2023. The first one being that the Iowa Department of Revenue requires every assessor to use the Iowa Cost Manual. There had not been an update of this manual since 2008, until 2020. Cass County implemented the 2020 Iowa Cost Manual beginning January 1, 2023. As you all know, construction costs have seen steep increases over the course of that 12-year period.

The second reason goes back to Iowa being a market value-based state. The Code of Iowa states that residential and commercial property must be valued at market value in odd numbered years. This will be happening throughout the entire state of Iowa in 2023. Based on sales of residential properties throughout Cass County in 2022, we learn how much we need to increase values and what areas need larger increases than others, to stay at market values. Currently the residential sales ratios in Cass County indicate that there needs to be an increase in value of 26%. Based on current commercial sales those properties classified as commercial will not see a drastic increase. It is important to note that if assessors do not increase values when the data shows that they should have, the Iowa Department of Revenue will increase them in the fall of 2023. If the Iowa Department of Revenue increases the values instead of the assessor, all properties will receive the same percentage increase. This is not fair to those areas that did not need that same high-level increase. It would also lead to a much higher increase in the future for those that need a higher increase.

Agriculture values are set by the State using a 5-year productivity formula. For the January 1, 2023, assessment, the five crop years of date include 2017-2021.

“To summarize,” Anstey says, “there are two substantial drivers for these valuation increases. The first being the conversion to the state mandated 2020 Iowa Cost Manual and the second being increased property sales prices. Remember, your property taxes will NOT increase by the same percentage as your property assessment.

You will not pay taxes on your new value until September 2024 and March 2025. You can research your property value by going to the assessor’s website at: beacon.schneidercorp.com.

If you have any questions, feel free to stop in or call the Assessor’s office. Office hours are 8:00a.m. – 4:30p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number is 712-243-2005.

ELK HORN, IOWA — Residents of the Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School District approved both a voted Physical Plant & Equipment Levy and a Revenue Purpose Statement on Tuesday, March 7. As a result, the district will be able to prioritize the most urgent and required repairs throughout its school buildings. These include updating facilities, roofing repairs, safe and secure entrances, technology, transportation, and more.

The PPEL is a levy that generates funds the district can use only for infrastructure and equipment repairs, purchases and improvements. On March 7, voters renewed the PPEL that had been in place for the district over the past 10 years. The Revenue Purpose Statement, meanwhile, will enable Exira-EHK to use statewide one-penny sales tax dollars (through a program called SAVE) toward construction projects.

Both measures passed with more than 86 percent approval. Neither will result in a property tax increase for the community. Superintendent Trevor Miller said “We would like to thank our community for their overwhelming support of these two important items that were on the ballot March 7.

The fact that they were both approved means we will be able to repair systems and facilities throughout our schools, thereby helping us ensure a safe and secure learning environment for our students. We appreciate the incredible engagement and great questions we received from our community throughout this process.”

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report three men have been arrested on OWI/1st offense, charges. 51-year-old Brian Kelly, of Glenwood, was arrested Thursday. Nate Mohr, of Glenwood, and 39-year-old Benjamin Haynes, of Plattsmouth, NE, were arrested today (Friday), also for OWI/1st offense.

Kelly posted a $2,000 cash or surety bond. Mohr and Haynes each posted a $1,000 c/s bond and were released.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak have cited and then released a woman for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 18-year-old Hannah Marie Dahlberg, of Red Oak, was found to be in possession of paraphernalia Thursday afternoon, at the Red Oak High School. Officers transported her to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center. She was issued a citation at around 8:45-a.m. today (Friday), in violation of Iowa Code.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Arts Council is encouraging all Iowans involved in building creative communities, including artists, filmmakers, and cultural organizations, to attend its grant information sessions this month. Iowa Arts Council staff will make stops in Cedar Falls, Creston, Ottumwa and Storm Lake to visit with community members about current grant funding opportunities ahead of a May 1, 2023, application deadline for most programs.

During the one-hour workshops, staff will highlight important points and share tips on how to strengthen applications. Attendees are also encouraged to bring ideas to share and discuss with staff. There is no cost to attend, but advanced registration is highly encouraged.

The schedule for the grant workshops follows:

• March 21, Noon, Witter Art Gallery, 609 Cayuga St., Storm Lake
• March 22, 11 a.m., Bridge View Center, 102 Church St., Ottumwa
• March 23, 11 a.m., Creston Arts Center, 411 W Adams St., Creston
• March 28, 11 a.m., Hearst Center for the Arts, 304 W Seerley Blvd., Cedar Falls

As a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, the Iowa Arts Council invests in projects that positively impact the vitality of the arts, demonstrate public value and excellence, and help Iowans across the state create cultural vibrancy in their communities for residents and visitors. Funding for Iowa Arts Council grant programs is provided by appropriations from the Iowa Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, to the department.

In addition to the workshops, the Iowa Arts Council has shared informational grant webinars on the department’s YouTube channel and is offering applicants the opportunity to schedule a meeting with program managers before May 1. More information is available at iowaculture.gov.