Atlantic, IA – The Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund (SWIHTF), a non-profit administered by Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO), was recently awarded a $125,000 grant from the Iowa West Foundation for 2024, to be used for housing repairs. Officials says SWIPCO was able to leverage the grant funds along with other grant monies, to complete wide ranging housing repairs across the region.

As an example, projects completed in the past year have included a bathroom remodel and plumbing fix, new air conditioning unit and installation, and a foundation repair, just to name a few. Sixteen projects were completed in 2023 with Iowa West funds and SWIPCO has completed or is finishing 44 home repair projects from 2023 funding. The repairs are completed for income qualified recipients and can address both long term and urgent needs.

SWIPCO Community Development Director Erin Hudson described the importance of the funding, saying “Iowa West Foundation grants make immediate differences. They are owner centered, so SWIPCO places the needs of the homeowner first and foremost. We work with the homeowner and contractors to assure everything works out to everyone’s satisfaction. Iowa West Foundation monies assist SWIPCO to help in home repairs that we may not otherwise be able to accomplish.”

Photos of the completed bathroom project and of the resident; Cynthia Samuel in the updated room. (Photos & info. courtesy SWIPCO Communications Coordinator Chris Parks)

The mission of the Iowa West Foundation is to improve lives and strengthen communities for current and future generations. Partnerships with local casinos Ameristar, Harrah’s, and Horseshoe make it possible for the Foundation to continuously award outcome-focused grants in southwest Iowa communities. Fees from gaming and income from Foundation investments provide funding for programs and projects that benefit the residents of 14 counties in southwest Iowa.

SWIPCO is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

(Radio Iowa) – The wet spring is expected to impact the pheasant population in some areas of the state, but D-N-R wildlife biologist Todd Bogenshutz says Iowa’s quail should be okay. “I’m getting pretty positive reports on quail and so it could be that our quail numbers will go up,” he says. “I mean you know we’re on the northern fringe of the range so winter really affects our quail numbers probably more than anything and it was a pretty mild winter.”

Bogenschutz says that’s due in part to their background. “You know quail actually are native to the state and so they’re more adapted to our climate here than peasants,” Bogenschutz says.

bobwhite quail

He’ll find out more about both quail and pheasants during the annual roadside counts in August.

(Radio Iowa) – Vice President Kamala Harris is making an Iowa law that took effect this (Monday) morning part of her campaign against former President Donald Trump. “Today Iowa put in place a Trump abortion ban, which makes Iowa the 22nd state in our country to have a Trump abortion ban,” Harris said in a campaign video, “and this ban is going to take effect before many women even know they’re pregnant.” Iowa’s law bans abortion after fetal activity can be detected, which is around the sixth week of a pregnancy.

“One in three women of reproductive age in America lives in a state with a Trump abortion ban,” Harris said, “so what we need to do is vote ’cause I’m going to tell you something, when I am president of the United States, I will sign into law the protections for reproductive freedom.”

Trump held a rally in Minnesota on Saturday and called Harris “an absolute radical on abortion.” Trump appointed three of the six U-S Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v Wade in 2022 and Trump has said the ruling leaves it up to states to decide abortion policy.

For the past 40 years, the G-O-P’s national platform had called for federal restrictions on abortion, but Trump’s campaign led development of the party platform for 2024 that says the abortion issue should be left to the states.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Union County was arrested on Assault charges Sunday night, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, 35-year-old Clinton Harold Overton, of Creston, was arrested after officers were called at around 8:40-p.m. to the 400 block of Grimes Street, in Red Oak, for a reported domestic assault that had allegedly occurred. Officers found – outside a residence – a “very intoxicated male subject and two victims, who had minor injuries.”

Following an investigation, Overton was arrested for two counts of Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. He was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted Red Oak Police at the scene.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests occurred over the past week. At around 3:20-a.m. Saturday (July 27), 36-year-old Larry Dwight Yeager, of Anita, was arrested by Stuart Police, following a traffic stop on the Interstate 80 westbound ramp to S. Division Street North. Following an investigation, Yeager was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Possession of drug paraphernalia (marijuana pipe and THC vape). He was transported to the Adair County Jail and released soon afterward on a citation.

Friday afternoon, 20-year-old Ryan James H. Cook, II, of Anita, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault-Injury or Mental Illness/1st offense. He was released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.  Friday morning, Adair County Deputies arrested 53-year-old Robert Charles Hughes, of Greenfield, on an Adair County warrant for two-counts of Sex Offender – Area/Activity Violation – each a 1st offense. Hughes was later released on a $2,000 C/S bond.

Last Wednesday (July 24), 48-year-old Tommy Dwayne Watters, of Lorimor, was detained in Adair County, following a traffic stop. Watters was subsequently charged with Driving While Barred. He was also issued written warnings for Improper rear lamps and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability. Watters was issued a citation and released at the scene of the traffic stop.

And, on July 21st, an Iowa Department of Natural Resources officer arrested 63-year-old Steven Leroy Sweny, of Elk Horn, NE, following an investigation into a reported motorist that was pulled over on I-80 eastbound at mile marker 77 in Adair County. State Radio Dispatch had taken several reports of a 2011 Toyota Corolla that was swerving all over the road and almost hitting the guard rails and other vehicles. The DNR officer located the vehicle described and spoke with Sweny, who displayed signs of impairment. Testing at the Adair County Law Enforcement Center indicated his level of intoxication to be .172%, or slightly more than twice the legal limit.

Sweny was charged with OWI/1st offense. He was released later that night on a $1,000 C/S bond.

(Correction issued 7/30/24 by law enforcement officials w/regard to Brown’s arrest)**

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Two women from Glenwood were arrested over the past few days on separate charges. 42-year-old Catherine Brown was arrested Friday (July 26) on a Mills County warrant for Contempt of Court. She posted a $130 cash-only bond, and was released.

And, 60-year-old Rebecca Donnelly was arrested Saturday. She posted a $5,000 cash or surety bond before being released.

Farm tenants and landowners are encouraged to attend August 7 in Atlantic

Atlantic, Iowa – Cass County Extension is hosting a farmland leasing meeting on Wednesday, August 7 at 2 PM, at the Cass County Community Center, 805 West 10^th Street in Atlantic. The annual meeting is offered to address questions that landowners, tenants or other interested individuals have about leasing farmland. The average reported rate in the 2024 cash rental survey for the state is $279 per acre of corn and soybeans, which is the first time rates have not increased in five years. Topics covered during the meeting will include land values and cash rent trends, cost of production, methods for determining a fair rental rate, legislative updates regarding leases, and communicating with tenants or landlords.

Ann Johanns, a program specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, says “More than half of Iowa’s farmland is rented, and strong landlord/tenant relationships are important for the long-term viability of Iowa’s valuable farmland. While the trend in rental rates is fairly steady, individual agreements vary and attending a workshop is a great way to learn more or ask questions on specific aspects of farm lease arrangements.”

The 2.5-hour workshop is designed to assist landowners, farm tenants and other agri-business professionals by sharing information on current issues and topics related to farmland ownership, management and leasing arrangements. Attendees will gain a better understanding of current cash rental rate surveys and factors driving next year’s rents such as market trends and input costs. Each registrant will receive a 100-page workbook with resources regarding land leasing agreements such as surveys, sample written lease agreements and termination forms, along with many other publications.

Photo credit: Lisa Scarbrough

Registration for the August 7 meeting is $20 per individual or $30 per couple if sharing a book. Preregistration is encouraged for materials planning. To register contact the Cass County Extension Office by calling 712-243-1132 or email Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu.

Leasing meetings are being held across Iowa throughout the month of August, facilitated by farm management specialists with ISU Extension and Outreach. For out-of-state landowners or those unable to attend a meeting in person, a statewide online webinar will be offered on Monday, August 26 at 9:00 am. This meeting is available for a $20 registration fee, with virtual access provided to the Farmland Leasing Arrangements book. Visit the Ag Decision Maker events page to find other leasing meeting locations or register for the online meeting, at https://go.iastate.edu/AGDMEVENTS or visit the Ag Decision Maker home page at www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm.

The Ag Decision Maker website provides useful materials for negotiating leases, information on various types of leases, lease forms and newly updated Decision Tools.

(Creston, Iowa) – Two people were arrested on separate charges, Sunday, in Creston. According to the Creston Police Department, 43-year-old Robert Benjamin Girard (who has no known address/homeless), was arrested at around 10:40-p.m., Sunday, in the area of Division/Lucas Streets. Girard was charged with Theft 5th – Possess/Control Under $300 as well as Possess Drug Paraphernalia. He was taken to the Union County Jail and held on a $600 bond.

And, at around 6:45-p.m., Sunday, Creston Police arrested 35-year-old Kyler Ray Wiece, of South Salt Lake City, UT. He was taken into custody at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center, on Union County warrants for Failure to Appear on a Public Intoxication charge, and for Possession of Controlled Substance – Marijuana 1st offense. Wiece was being held without bond until seen by a judge.