DES MOINES, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds, today (Friday), announced $12.9 million in grant funding for three projects through Destination Iowa. The $100 million program, announced in April, invests in transformational attractions that will bolster the quality of life in Iowa communities and attract visitors and new residents. The City of Council Bluffs and the Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collaborative Impact have been awarded $4,900,000 toward phase four of the Iowa Riverfront Development project. This phase includes a treetop walk, a pier and a 138-foot-tall observation tower with an adventure course. The award represents 15% of the total project investment of $32,827,000.

The Great Outdoors Foundation has been awarded $7,000,000 for the Scott Avenue site portion of the Iowa Confluence Water Trails project. The project is creating a regional water trails network in central Iowa with more than 80 planned improvements across 150 miles of waterways. The award represents 13% of the Scott Avenue site investment of $53,500,000.

The Val Air Ballroom has been awarded $1,000,000 toward the overhaul of the historic ballroom into a music venue that can host up to 2,400 patrons. The project proposes to rehabilitate elements of the facility that are historically significant, such as signage, dance floor, and exterior features, while bringing more modern amenities to the facility. The award represents 8% of the total project investment of $12,718,138.

IEDA began accepting applications on May 9 and will continue to review applications as they arrive through December 31 or until funding runs out.  Applications are scored based on eligibility, completeness, and the project’s ability to meet the program goal of creating transformational tourism attractions. Cities, counties, nonprofits and other organizations can apply for Destination Iowa grants through four separate funds: Economically Significant Development, Outdoor Recreation, Tourism Attraction, and Creative Placemaking. To date, a total of $50 million has been awarded to 13 projects throughout the state through Destination Iowa grants.

Funded projects must be completed by June 30, 2026. For more information on the Destination Iowa program, visit iowaeda.com/destination-iowa/. Funding for this program is being made available through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Municipal Airport is the site this weekend, for fast and loud vehicles of all sizes and engine displacements. The 6th Annual Heads-up Drag Race is being held from 10-a.m. Until 3-p.m., Sunday, Sept. 18th. Jamie Joyce is one of the event organizers. He says funds donated from the charity race are donated by local businesses and individuals.

Joyce says it costs a lot of money to put on the event, which is where the sponsorship money comes in. It’s also why there is a small admission fee for visitors.

Click to enlarge the poster

The entry fee for drivers is $20. The Heads-up Drag Race isn’t just for professional racers. You can bring your grocery getter or your hopped-up motorcycle or pickup truck…everything from street legal vehicles to on-the-track only.

Race participant vehicles will have to go through a Tech Inspection that begins at 8-a.m., Sunday and until the end of the event. Drivers are encouraged to show-up between 7-and 7:30-a.m., in order to get in line for the safety inspection. In the past, racers and visitors have come from as far away as Texas, Oklahoma, and all over the Midwest to take in the event.

Off-sight parking for spectators will be in the Mahle Engine Components parking lot not far from the airport (at 60428 Marne Road). Southwest Iowa Transit buses will provide transportation from the parking lot to the front gate at the airport. A shuttle service is also available from the front gate at the airport, to the bleachers. Three food trucks and an ice cream vendor will be on the airport grounds, along with the Boy Scouts, who will have ice cold (non-alcoholic) drinks from Atlantic Bottling.

Jamie Joyce says there’s a extra special attraction this year.

For more information, see Heads Up Drag Racing on Facebook, or call 712-249-4731.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The American Legion Memorial Building (201 Poplar St.) in Atlantic, is the setting this weekend for a program about women in the railroad industry. “She’s been working on the railroad” begins at 2-p.m., Sunday, Sept. 18th. The program is presented by Dr. Rudolph Daniels, who really knows the history of trains and who worked on, or with them.

Daniels has written numerous articles and five books. He has presented documentaries in several countries. Recently he was a consultant for the TV production, “Orphan Trains”. He created the “Education Section” website portion for the Federal Railroad Administration for the nation’s schools, and has spoken internationally on a variety of topics that specialize in railroad history. The program includes more than just an oral narrative.

Daniels will appear in an antique conductor’s uniform when he talks about women who worked on trains. Here’s a little known fact: Many of women on trains in the late 1920’s and 1930’s, were registered nurses.

That concept inspired having nurses as flight attendants in the 1930’s as well. Daniels will start the program with a “train call” for Atlantic as it was during “the age of the great passenger trains.” The program “She’s been working on the Railroad,” is sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE), and is supported by Atlantic Community Promotion Commission.

There is no fee to attend. Everyone is welcome. The meeting space is handicapped accessible. The Military Museum, Military Library and Atlantic History Center will be open for viewing.

(Radio Iowa) – A national study finds millions of pets that were adopted during the pandemic weren’t spayed or neutered, which is causing severe overcrowding at animal shelters and a sharp rise in euthanasia. Josh Fiala, who oversees the spay/neuter program at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says those important surgeries -did- continue throughout the COVID years at the state’s largest non-profit shelter, though veterinarians are becoming scarce.

Many animal clinics had to suspend doing spaying and neutering during the pandemic to focus on more urgent procedures. Fiala says it’s fortunate the A-R-L was able to maintain its schedule during the past two years as he says spaying and neutering of pets is vital.

There are many expenses when adopting a pet, and having an animal spayed or neutered isn’t cheap. Plus, costs vary depending on the size and type of animal.

The A-R-L of Iowa enables people to apply for financial help with those costs. Just this year, he says more than 15-hundred pet owners have applied for that assistance.

On the web at https://www.arl-iowa.org/

Atlantic, IA—On Thursday, September 15th, officials with Cass Health in Atlantic, welcomed Governor Kim Reynolds for a tour of the newly renovated facility and an opportunity to discuss rural health legislative priorities. Cass Health CEO Brett Altman said “We were honored to host Governor Reynolds, and we were thankful to have some of her time to be able to share the good news at Cass Health.”

During her tour of the facility, the governor was able to see the Tyler Family Cancer Center where she was greeted by Jim Tyler and daughter Jayne. Additionally, the governor toured the new Atlantic Medical Center and talked with several staff members.

Seated: Jim Tyler and Gov. Reynolds
Standing, left to right: COO Amanda Bireline; Emmy Benton, RN; Tonya Lillienthal, RN; Kristen Hayes, RN; Traci Brockman, RN; CEO Brett Altman.
Click to enlarge the image (Photo courtesy Ann McCurdy)

Altman said “The governor made time for us to share our story – all the things going right both within our walls and at a legislative level – that have put us in a position to be one of the best rural hospitals in the country. It was a very productive, positive conversation, and I know that we clearly made an impression that Cass Health is both a center of excellence and a vital part of west central and southwest Iowa’s healthcare infrastructure.”

Of note, the Cass Health administrative team talked with Governor Reynolds about workforce development needs, labor expenses, tort reform, EMS, and access to childcare.

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today (Friday) recognized 297 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022, including five schools in Iowa. Two of the five schools are located in Glenwood and Mount Ayr. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Secretary Cardona made the announcement during his Road to Success Back to School bus tour.

The Iowa schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools were:

Iowa – Ankeny – Prairie Trail Elementary School, Ankeny Community School District.
Iowa – Glenwood – West Elementary School, Glenwood Community School District.
Iowa – Mount Ayr – Mount Ayr Elementary School, Mount Ayr Community School District.
Iowa – Van Meter – Van Meter High School, Van Meter Community School District.
Iowa – Vinton – Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School, Vinton-Shellsburg School District.

Secretary Cardona said “I applaud all the honorees for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for creating vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school communities where students can learn, grow, reach their potential, and achieve their dreams. As our country continues to recover from the pandemic, we know that our future will only be as strong as the education we provide to all of our children. Blue Ribbon Schools have gone above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. These schools show what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students’ lives.”

With its 39th cohort, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed approximately 10,000 awards to more than 9,000 schools. The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms and validates the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in striving for – and attaining – exemplary achievement. National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of effective school practices for state and district educators and other schools throughout the nation. A National Blue Ribbon School flag gracing a school’s entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning.

The Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High-Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap-Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – In an update to our previous report, Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer today (Friday), said the State Medical Examiner’s Office has concluded that an inmate who died at around 7-p.m. on Sept. 3rd, died from natural causes resulting from a medical condition. The inmate was also identified, as 74-year-old Phillip Eugene Holmes, of Clarinda.

On September 3rd, the Page County Sheriff’s Office requested the Clarinda Ambulance Service to the Page County Jail for an adult male inmate with a medical condition. Clarinda Ambulance Service transported the adult male inmate (Phillip Holmes) to the Clarinda Regional Health Center where the man later died. Per Page County Jail policy, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was contacted as well as a report filed with the State Jail Inspector’s Office.

(Radio Iowa) – The Storm Lake Police Department is among 15 national recipients of the 2022 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. It’s the highest U.S. government honor recognizing employers that support of National Guard and Reserve employees. Gerardo Bravo, a member of the Iowa National Guard, joined the Storm Lake Police Department in 2016 and he nominated the agency for the award. “This reward just reflects all the work the city and Chief Cole have been putting in and all the patrol officers,” Bravo says. “I know it ain’t easy having half the department that’s in the National Guard. It takes a lot of work to cover down shifts and I know our bosses aren’t afraid to throw on a duty belt and hit the road.”

Bravo is one of seven Storm Lake police officers who are Iowa National Guard members. “Whether it was our normal drill weekends or deployments, especially my last deployment where I was in Iraq, Chief Cole and the rest of the officers were super supporting, sending us care packages,” Bravo says. “Anytime something would happen over there, they would always get on the phone and call us to make sure we were OK. They’d always be checking up on our families. I know Chief Cole took great care of my family when I was gone, making sure everything was taken of.”

Becky Coady is State Chair of the Iowa Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. She says comments from the judges who chose the Storm Lake Police Department for the award cited its flexible scheduling, robust training and support for Guard members before their deployments and after they returned. “And, as the judges recognized, it’s not just what has been done for the military members, but how it’s been accomplished,” she says, “with an attitude of care and a mission of heart.”

More than 28-hundred public and private sector employers were nominated for the same award. The Storm Lake Police Department is just the 6th award recipient ever from Iowa and is the state’s first ever winner in the public sector category.

(Evansdale, Iowa) – A crash between a motorcycle and two trucks Thursday afternoon in eastern Iowa’s Black Hawk County, resulted in the death of a man on a motorcycle. The accident happened in a construction zone on Interstate 380 southbound at mile marker 69, near Evansdale. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident occurred at around 3:05-p.m., when a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle went out of control as it was slowing upon approach to traffic ahead, which included a 2020 Ford pickup truck. When the cycle operated by 24-year-old Ethen Edge, of Waterloo, went out of control, it slid into the pickup.

A 2018 Ram truck also tried to slow down, but the driver was unable to avoid striking Edge, who died at the hospital. The drivers of the pickups, 51-year-old Corey Simon, of Waterloo, and 31-year-old Joshua Stiner,of Post Falls, Idaho, were not injured in the crash. The crash remained under investigation.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by Evansdale and Waterloo Police, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Deputies, Evansdale Ambulance, Iowa DOT MVE (Motor Vehicle Enforcement) and other DOT personnel.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report two people were arrested on drug charges Thursday morning. 27-year-old Jose Luis Carreon, of Laredo, TX, and 23-year-old Moesha Unique Garcia, of Creston, was arrested in the vicinity of Levy and Sycamore Streets, in Creston. Both were charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. They were cited and released from the scene, on a Promise to Appear (in court).

And, at around 12:36-a.m. today (Friday), 40-year-old Juan Carlos Zamora, of Creston, was arrested at his home, for Domestic Abuse Assault. Zamora was being held without bond in the Union County Jail, until seen by a Magistrate.