(Radio Iowa) – The fund that provides Iowa veterans with financial help is out of money for the fiscal year. The Iowa State Veterans Trust Fund provides emergency assistance for things like medical care and equipment, home and vehicle repairs, and counseling. Karl Lettow, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs, says it’s the first time the fund has run out of money. That’s because in January 2021, the veterans commission increased who could qualify in response to rising costs. “These changes adapted the program to increase eligibility to funds for veterans and military families,” Lettow says. “The increased need subsequently created an unprecedented influx of application requests for assistance.”

The Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs won’t be accepting applications for the fund until it’s replenished. Its entire allotment of 500-thousand dollars has already been spent. “This has been a great fund,” Lettow says. “It’s done a lot of people a lot of good and anything we can do to keep it flowing is going to be helpful to veterans.”

Lettow says the commission will likely ask state lawmakers to increase the amount allowed in the fund annually in the upcoming legislative session. The fund is financed through the Iowa Lottery, not taxpayer funds. He says they’re looking for alternate solutions to add more money to the trust fund until the new fiscal year starts next July.

(by Catherine Wheeler, Iowa Public Radio)

(State/Atlantic, News) – Last week on KJAN, we told you about how workforce shortages are affecting Iowa Fire Departments. Firefighters are retiring in droves and new recruits are needed to join the ranks. Members of the Iowa Firefighters Association say they plan to appeal to state lawmakers in the upcoming session to help get more people interested in volunteering. The association’s past president Jason Barrick, who serves on the Iowa Falls Fire Department, says new incentives are needed at the state and local level.

Atlantic City Councilman Jim Behrens is the Council’s liaison to the Atlantic Fire Department. During the Council’s meeting last Wednesday (Dec. 7), Behrens said the A-F-D wants to lower the minimum age for firefighters from 21, to 18. An similar proposal that came before the Council several years ago was turned down.

Behrens pointed out that the Police Department has Reserve members that are 18 years of age.

City Clerk Barb Barrick said they would have to check with the IMWCA (Iowa Municipalities Workers’ Compensation Association), first, to see if the change would be allowed. Behrens said other fire departments are allowing older teens to serve in a specified capacity.

Some fire departments, such as Des Moines, will not hire anyone under the age of 21. In general though, persons in Iowa wanting to become a firefighter:

• Must be minimum 18 years of age.
• Must have at least a high school diploma (HSD). If not, then the equivalent GED certificate will suffice too.
• Must have a valid Iowa driving license.
• Must have legal citizenship of the US, either by naturalization or birth.
• Must not have any criminal record in Iowa or the rest of the United States.
• Must clear the initial written exam.
• Must get an acceptable score on the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT). Different departments in the state may have different thresholds. Therefore, you should try to score as high as possible on this test.
• Some fire departments in Iowa also make it compulsory for their firefighting staff to hold a certification such as an EMT (EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) or a CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation).

Unless you are in excellent physical shape, and/or want to become a full-time, certified firefighter in Iowa, persons who are 18 (and under) who want to become a firefighter, should acclimate themselves to intense physical training by building stamina and lifting weights, so that the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) doesn’t seem so hard to navigate successfully.

You also also study for the Civil Service Exam.

(Radio Iowa) – The application process for a new state program that awards grants to help workers get training for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) opens Tuesday. Iowa Workforce Development’s, Mike Cockrum, says they are looking to fill a void for employers.”It provides grants to employers, nonprofits in their and consortium’s who need to hire drivers, it gives them some some financial assistance in order to to recruit someone and be able to put them through entry level driver training,” he says. That entry level driver training is now required before you can take the C-D-L exam. Cockrum says the grant can be used in several ways.

“They could potentially work with a third party training provider, or they could become certified themselves. And the grant would then assist them with the costs of that which could be associated with curriculum materials, wages for the for the instructor, the maintenance of the pad that they have to use in order to do the driving training, or potentially a dedicated vehicle that they would use for it as well,” he says. Some businesses have already become trainers so they can work with their employees.

“The hope would be to open up more avenues with more employers that are offering that — and also to help the ones who currently are,” Cockrum says.” And then of course, if someone wanted to go through or wanted to send someone to a third party training provider who is already doing that training, they can help pay down the tuition for that person as well. So they can they can come at it from two different ways. But we’re certainly hoping to grow the list of potential trainers across the state.” The grant process will open on December 13th.

“They can learn more right now when they go to futurereadyiowa.gov. There’s a banner at the top providing a link to information about the grant itself,” he says. “Also, we’re going to have a webinar next Tuesday, December 13th, at 3 p-m where we’re going to walk through the programs.” The deadline to file for the grants is February 3rd.

(Radio Iowa) – Some lakes and ponds in northern Iowa already have ice thick enough to support ice fishing, while elsewhere, you can still see open water. Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa D-N-R Fisheries Bureau, says it’s early in the season and Iowans who love ice fishing have to be patient — or head north. Larscheid says Iowans are a hardy people and despite the frigid temperatures, they love ice fishing. He calls the sport “the great equalizer.”

“You don’t need any special equipment,” Larscheid says. “Using the maps that are online at our DNR website, you can find the habitat and the deep-water spots and all of that stuff in ponds. You don’t need a boat. You can go right out to those spots, use your phone to find the exact spot, drill a hole and you’ll be right on top of the fish.” It’s still technically fall, as the first day of winter this year is December 21st. Especially when it’s this early, ice anglers need to make sure safety is their top priority, and there are a few simple rules to follow.

“Go out with a person that you know and trust, and drill a lot of holes as you venture out onto the ice and verify that it’s at least four to six inches thick of clear, hard ice,” Larscheid says. “I, personally, won’t go out until it’s six inches, but four inches of clear, hard ice is considered safe.” He’s quick to add, no ice is 100-percent safe, while new ice is usually stronger than old ice. The D-N-R says river ice is 15-percent weaker than lake ice, while ice with a bluish color is safer than clear ice. Larscheid says ice anglers should never go out alone, and always let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll return.

“It’s good to have a ‘throwable,’ an inflatable thing so if you do fall through, you won’t sink,” he says, “and a rope that a buddy can toss you in case something happens.” The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of clear ice for fishing and at least five inches for snowmobiles and ATVs. Larscheid also suggests wearing a life jacket, bringing a whistle to call for help, and an extra set of clothes, including gloves. The D-N-R offers a weekly fishing report that’s online at: www.iowadnr.gov.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports three, weekend arrests. At around 12:51-a.m. Sunday, Officers arrested 37-year-old Randy Clay Bolt, of Texas, at a bar in Creston. Bolt was charged with Disorderly Conduct-Fighting/Violent Behavior. He was later released on bond. And, at around 2:13-a.m., Sunday, 38-year-old Jackie Lynn Miller, of Idaho, was arrested at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center, for Public Intoxication/1st offense. Miller was later released on bond.

At around 2-a.m. Saturday, Creston Police arrested 30-year-old Diego Richardo Manzanarez, of Creston, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense – Marijuana. He was later released on bond from the Union County Jail.

Officials with the Council Bluffs Community School District recently put out a message to parents outlining the dangers of pellet / airsoft guns in the school environment. Council Bluffs Police shared the message on social media, and warned parents “Officers treat all weapons as real until they can safely prove otherwise.” Police urge parents to “Please make sure your child uses these devices wisely and safely.”  (Read the letter to parents, below)

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Red Oak Police Department says no injuries were reported following a collision that occurred at around 1:10-p.m., Sunday. Authorities report a 2020 GMC Acadia (SUV) driven by 65-year-old Phillip B. Johnson, of Essex, was stopped at the flashing stop signal at Broadway and Corning Streets. A 2021 GMC Canyon (Pickup) driven by Michael K. Thomas, of Red Oak, was following too close, and ran into the back of the SUV.

Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000. Police cited Thomas for following too close.

(Radio Iowa) – The only Democrat to win a statewide race this year says it’s time to give independent voters a voice in choosing General Election candidates. State Auditor Rob Sand supports open primaries. “I mean the bottom line is we have a system that disenfranchises a third of Iowans,” Sand says. “If you’re a registered independent, you’re told that you don’t get to participate in the primary.” State law requires Iowans to be registered as a Democrat or a Republican to vote in the June Primaries that determine the top two candidates listed on the General Election ballot.

“Here we are in a country that celebrates Independence Day every year, and yet we tell actual independents that they’re not allowed to participate equally,” Sand says. “I think that’s ridiculous.” In an open primary, voters choose the top two candidates for each race. Sand also supports ranked choice voting, with voters ranking the list of candidates for each office. Sand says Alaska’s system of open primaries AND ranked choice voting is promoting bipartisanship.

“Look at this, you had Mary Peltola, who’s the Democrat who holds the congressional seat, and Lisa Murkowski, the Republican who holds the Senate seat, endorse each other. A Democrat endorsed a Republican and a Republican endorsed a Democrat…That’s the sort of focus that we need,” Sand says. “We need to be focused on who the people and whether or not they’re actually interested in public service as opposed to just being interested partisanship and games.”

A candidate who wins a majority of the vote is automatically declared the winner in a ranked choice system. However, if no candidate reaches that threshold, the second and third choices of voters are tabulated to determine a winner.

(Creston, Iowa) – A tire blow out on one vehicle caused $2,000 damage to another vehicle, Friday morning, in Union County. The Sheriff’s Office says a 2002 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 55-year-old Chris Ray Pickering, of Phoenix, AZ, was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 7:30-a.m., when the left front tire blew out. The tire flew off the truck and struck the driver’s side of a westbound 2019 Dodge RAM pickup, driven by 60-year-old Thomas Aaron Day, of Creston.

No injuries were reported. The damage amounted to $2,500 altogether. Pickering was cited for failure to show proof of insurance, and a verbal warning for not registering his vehicle after having bought it on October 24th.

(Belle Plain, Iowa) – A head-on crash between a car and a semi left one person dead Sunday evening, in eastern Iowa’s Benton County. The Iowa State Patrol says the collision happened on Highway 30 near 14th Avenue, northeast of Belle Plain, at around 6:20-p.m.

Authorities say a 2004 Honda CRV was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of U-S Highway 30, when it struck an eastbound 2014 Freightliner, driven by 52-year-old John J. Schaufenbuel, of Fredericksburg. Both vehicles came to rest in the south ditch.

The driver of the Honda died at the scene. Their name was being withheld by authorities, pending notification of family.