DES MOINES, Iowa, July 25, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today (Tuesday), announced that USDA is investing $6,209,900 in ten grants to expand access to healthcare and food security in Iowa. Today’s investments are funded through the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants program.

“As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, USDA quickly delivered economic relief during one of the most critical times in our nation’s history,” said Director Greenfield. “The grants announced today will increase access to rural healthcare, help stabilize rural hospitals financially, and fight food insecurity in rural neighborhoods across Iowa by supporting the food pantry distribution system.”

Today’s news is part of a larger announcement. USDA is awarding $129 million in Emergency Rural Health Care Grants to improve health care facilities in rural towns across the nation. The Iowa investments are:

–Decatur County Hospital in Leon is receiving a $274,600 grant to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. This project will replace lost revenues caused by pandemic-related challenges. Once completed, the project will provide the hospital with financial resources to better serve the residents of this rural community and the surrounding rural areas.

–Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City is receiving a $1,000,000 grant to purchase and install heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. This project will provide energy-efficient air handling units to enhance air quality and infection control inside the hospital. Once in operation, the new HVAC systems will help eliminate airborne pathogens, including COVID-19 threats, increase the comfort of patients, staff, and visitors, and promote the health of residents in this rural community and the surrounding rural areas.

–Food Bank of Iowa is receiving a $1,000,000 grant to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. This project will reimburse the food bank for operating expenses associated with pandemic-related food distribution which took place on or after March 13, 2020, through September 30, 2022. The food bank, a non-profit organization based in Polk County, partners with other entities to distribute food to hungry Iowans. Once completed, the project will help fight food insecurity in rural areas across the state.

–Greene County Medical Center is receiving a $1,000,000 grant to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. This project will replace lost revenues caused by pandemic-related challenges. Once completed, the project will provide the hospital in Jefferson with financial resources to better serve the residents of this rural community and the surrounding areas.

–Humboldt County Memorial Hospital in Humboldt is receiving a $249,900 grant to construct a new outpatient therapy and mental health clinic. This project will expand health care services, including services for mental health needs. Once completed, the project will implement preventive pandemic services and promote the health of residents of this rural county and surrounding rural areas.

–Knoxville Community Hospital is receiving a $699,900 grant to recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This project will replace lost revenues caused by pandemic-related challenges and mitigate the expenses of staffing and testing. Once completed, the project will provide the hospital with financial resources to better serve the residents of this rural community in Marion County.

–Lee County is receiving a $974,000 grant to construct a public health building in Fort Madison. This project will provide a public health facility with a main office, workspace for staff, ambulance bays, as well as space for testing for COVID-19 and future pandemics. Once completed, the project will better serve the health care needs of residents of this Lee County community and the surrounding rural area.

–Sioux Center Health in Sioux County is receiving a $125,200 grant to construct an infusion center. This project will build a separate entrance to the hospital for infusion foot traffic and will provide dedicated treatment bays to accommodate all types of intravenous treatments including those for chemotherapy, inflammatory bowel diseases, and infections. Once completed, this hospital expansion in Sioux County will improve medical services and promote the health of Sioux Center residents and residents of the surrounding rural areas.

–Van Buren County Hospital in Keosauqua is receiving a $419,700 grant to recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This project will replace lost revenues caused by pandemic-related challenges. Once completed, the project will provide the hospital with financial resources to better serve the residents of this rural community and the surrounding rural areas.

–Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton is receiving a $466,600 grant to recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This project will replace lost revenues caused by pandemic-related challenges. Once completed, the project will provide the hospital with financial resources to better serve the residents of this rural Benton County community and the surrounding rural areas.

(Radio Iowa) – A dozen Republican presidential candidates have agreed to have Governor Kim Reynolds interview them at the Iowa State Fair. Reynolds is calling the 12 interviews Fair Side Chats. Former President Donald Trump has not accepted the governor’s invitation to join her on the fairgrounds, but the news release announcing the schedule indicated it is subject to change. Last week, the governor told reporters at the statehouse that she plans keep the questions consistent rather than tailored to each candidate.  “We might put together some fun ones that we think would be interesting to ask them,” Reynolds says. Her staff has set up a website, so Iowans can submit questions, too.

Reynolds says she’s glad for the opportunity to introduce her party’s presidential candidates to Iowans at an event that’s near and dear to her heart. “I think it’s a great way to see a different side to the candidates,” Reynolds says. “Who wouldn’t want to come to the Iowa State Fair? They were all planning on being there.” Reynolds says the state fair is the perfect venue for the candidates.

On the first day of the fair — Thursday, August 10th — former radio talk show host Larry Elder will appear with Reynolds. On the first Friday of the state fair, Reynolds will interview North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former Vice President Mike Pence and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. On Saturday, August 12th, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are on the schedule. Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Texas pastor Ryan Binkley and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott will speak with Reynolds on Tuesday, August 15th. On the last Friday of the fair — August 18th — Michigan businessman Perty Johnson and former Texas Congressman Will Hurd will join Reynolds on a stage at J-R’s Southpork Ranch, a food and beverage hall on the fairgrounds, near the Dairy Barn.

Donald Trump has campaigned at the Iowa State Fair before. In 2015, he flew a helicopter over the fairgrounds and later walked through the crowds on the same Saturday Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were making appearances at the state fair.

(UPDATED; Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors held a closed session during their meeting this (Tuesday) morning, to discuss with legal counsel, matters in litigation or where litigation is imminent, and its disclosure would likely prejudice or disadvantage their position. Jan Norris, a resident and property owner in Montgomery County, who’s a proponent of establishing an Ordinance pertaining to the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions carbon capture pipeline project, which would run through the western third of the County.

Jan Norris speaks with the Montgomery County BOS

Following the closed session, and by unanimous vote, the county’s board of supervisors passed a resolution NOT to take action on a proposed ordinance regulating carbon capture projects. County Attorney Drew Swanson said the supervisors opted to table the ordinance following a federal judge’s recent ruling granting Summit an injunction preventing Shelby County from enforcing its own ordinances regulating the pipeline.

Although the supervisors have postponed a decision to act on an ordinance, it is still possible either the Iowa Legislature or the federal government could take action. The Iowa Utilities Board plans an evidentiary hearing on Summit’s application for the project in August.

In other business, the Board received a weekly update/report from Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert.

The Board approved claims payable on Wednesday, in the amount of $203,143.20, and, authorization for name changes to Jill Ozuna and Tammy Hall for the Montgomery County Safe Deposit box at Houghton State Bank.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, this (Tuesday) morning, held a Public Hearing on the previously explained, and proposed, amendment to the County Zoning Ordinance, changing a small portion of land in Pymosa Township along Eagle Avenue, from General Agricultural, to Light Industrial. The change was requested by Ron West, who has a federal firearms license to repair, manufacture and sell firearms.

Cass County Zoning Administrator Mike Kennon said the Zoning Commission, as previously reported, approved the request and recommended the Supervisors follow suite.

Ron West appeared before the Board, to explain most of what he wants to do, deals with the repair of firearms from a home-based business.

Ron West addresses the Cass County BOS (7/25/23)

Much of his business, he said, comes from trap shooters, who tend to break firing pins and want their stocks modified. No forging (hot metal work) will take place. He plans to use the extra income from his business to supplement his income for retirement. Following the Public Hearing, the Board unanimously approved the change in zoning request.

The Supervisors also discussed and passed a resolution cancelling three outstanding warrants (Checks) issued by the County, that are over one-year old. And, a resolution to allocate ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act, re: covid relief) funds to the CAM School District, was passed, in order to improve election polling place accessibility. The funds will not exceed $10,000. Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns explains the issue boils down to ease of accessibility and security.

Karns said after exploring the options with the Massena Middle School faculty, officials learned there are issues with the outside doors being wide enough, and there’s a slight lift which needs to be leveled-out, so that it’s more of a ramp. She said they currently bids for the wider door, which are around $3,000, but they don’t have a bid on the concrete, yet. That’s why they established a $10,000 ceiling for costs and materials. Parking on election day, she said, won’t be an issue, because they faculty will park in a separate lot.

In other business, the Board received a quarterly report from Cass County Veteran’s Affairs Director Mitch Holmes, and a report from the Cass County Secondary Roads Department Senior Technician Dennis Vogel. Vogel spoke about the ongoing bridge projects.

He also spoke about a couple of current and upcoming Fall concrete box culvert projects, as well as other maintenance and improvement activities.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – On Friday, July 21, 2023, a former professor at the University of Iowa was sentenced to 25 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine which resulted in the death of a victim, and 20 years in prison for possessing child pornography. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently, or at the same time.

According to court documents, since sometime in 2020, Dr. John Robert Muriello, 66, conspired with Eric Hojka of Iowa City, and others, to obtain and distribute methamphetamine in and around Iowa City. In May 2021, first responders went to Hojka’s apartment in Iowa City based on a report that a victim who had lost consciousness. Paramedics were unable to revive the victim and he was pronounced dead. An autopsy showed the victim ingested methamphetamine which caused his death. The investigation revealed the victim received that methamphetamine from Hojka. Hojka obtained the methamphetamine from Muriello, who had obtained the drugs from a supplier in California. When the police conducted a search at Muriello’s Iowa City residence in May 2021, they discovered methamphetamine and a large collection of child pornography.

In addition to the 25-year prison term, Muriello was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $12,000, a fine of $50,000, and assessments of $22,200. Muriello’s Iowa City residence was also forfeited. After his prison term, Muriello was also ordered to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa City Police Department and the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office investigated the case.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie County report a man from Polk County was injured Monday evening in Bayard, when he was struck by an SUV while he was putting air in the tires of his SUV. Authorities say 26-year-old Justin Lee Kaltved, of Des Moines, was transported by Panora EMS to the Greene County Hospital following the accident, which happened at around 7:30-p.m., Monday.

According to the sheriff’s report, 28-year-old Rodney James Blackmon, of Bayard, was driving a 1999 Subaru Forester westbound on 2nd Street in Bayard. He told authorities he looked to his left to see kids in the park, and when didn’t see Kaltved until it was too late. Justin Kaltved was in the open doorway of his 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was parked illegally at the end of the driveway to 202 2nd Street, and working to put air in a tire, when he was hit. A report on his condition was not released.

Blackmon told deputies in addition to being distracted, the sun in his eyes also contributed to his not seeing Kaltved. Blackmon was cited for Failure to Stop in an Assured Clear Distance. Damage from the collision amounted to $5,000.