(Radio Iowa) – A rural Merrill man who was convicted last month of first-degree murder in the death of his stepson was sentenced this (Friday) afternoon to life in prison. Eighty-four-year-old Thomas Knapp, was found guilty of the shooting death of 51-year-old Kevin Juzek in May, 2020, at Knapp’s home near Merrill.

Knapp was also sentenced to up to ten years for willful injury in Juzek’s death. He was ordered to pay 150-thousand dollars in restitution to Juzek’s estate. Charges against Knapp for injuring his wife, Darlene, in the same incident, brought a sentence of five years in prison.

Knapp was given the opportunity to speak before sentence was handed down. He declined to do so.

(Radio Iowa) – The Republican candidate for state treasurer says if elected, he’ll be an advocate for more state tax cuts. Republican Roby  Smith of Davenport has served in the state senate for the past 12 years. “Most people don’t realize this, but at the Capitol, the treasurer’s office can actually go in and for each bill, they can register for or against the bill,” Smith said. “The largest tax cut in the history of Iowa in this year, 2022, the treasurer’s office didn’t register — didn’t register for that.”

The Democratic incumbent says his responsibility as state treasurer is managing the state’s money and keeping it safe. Democrat Michael Fitzgerald has been state treasurer since 1983. “Now if the legislators and the governor want to increase taxes or decrease taxes, that’s their decision,” Fitzgerald says. “It’s not something that directly affects programs we run in the state treasurer’s office.” Smith is accusing Fitzgerald of mismanaging “College Savings Iowa” — a so-called five-29 (529) program which lets parents and grandparents set aside money tax-free for a child’s education.

Smith cites a recent report from an agency that rates investments like mutual funds. “Morningstar rating agency out of Chicago rated the 529s all throughout the country and Iowa’s was downgraded. It was downgraded from a C to a D,” Smith says. “It is one step away from failing.” Fitzgerald says Morningstar analysts misunderstood some of the investment options in College Savings Iowa.

“Our program has been solid for 24 years,” Fitzgerald says. “We explained it to them just a couple of weeks ago. I think you’re going to see an upgrade in another couple of weeks.”

The candidates made their comments during taping of “Iowa Press” which airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests over the past couple of days.

On Tuesday, Oct. 4th: 41-year-old Amanda Jean Schultz, of Omaha, was arrested at around 8:30-a.m. in the area of 195th Street & Lambert Ave. Schultz was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. (Bond $1,000); And, at around 3:30-p.m., 22-year-old Kpor Kue, of Omaha, was arrested at the Douglas County, Nebraska Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. Kue was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond.

On Wednesday (Oct. 5), 26-year-old Alesha Marie Young, of Carter Lake, was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Bond was set at $5,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – If you signed-up for automatic payment of your Storm Water Utility bill, in Atlantic, and noticed your bank account hasn’t been debited yet, you’re not alone. City Clerk Barb Barrick reports “Due to (mega) issues with the city’s software “talking to” the bank’s ACH software, automatic payments for stormwater will be deducted from customers accounts on Tuesday, October 11^th. ”

The city apologizes for any inconvenience.

October 7, 2022 (DES MOINES, IA) – At yesterday’s (Thursday’s) meeting, the Enhance Iowa Board awarded Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants totaling $1 million to pool projects in Hubbard and Laurens and a Sports Tourism grant to Des Moines in support of the USA Archery Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) Target Nationals.

The details for the projects receiving CAT grants follow:

Project Name: Hubbard Pool, Hubbard
Total Project Cost: $3,178,015
Amount Awarded: $500,000
Project Description: This project includes the demolition of the city’s existing pool and construction of a new 3,600-square-foot facility with two diving boards, a toddler slide, basketball hoop, volleyball net and ADA accessible hard surface parking.

Project Name: Let’s Create a Splash Together – The Laurens Pool Project, Laurens
Total Project Cost: $2,976,469
Amount Awarded: $500,000
Project Description: This project includes the construction of a 3,100-square-foot swimming pool with five 25-meter swimming lanes and a 1-meter diving tower, a new bathhouse and concession stand.

The details for the project receiving a Sports Tourism grant follow:

Event Name: USA Archery JOAD Target Nationals, Des Moines
Event Dates: July 12-16, 2023
Total Project Budget: $47,070
Amount Awarded: $23,535
Description: The Junior Olympic Archery Development Nationals is a USA Archery sanctioned event open to youth archers competing in the recurve, compound, fixed pins and barebow divisions. Event marketing and promotion will include airport baggage claim and other airport signage the week of the event, digital billboards around Des Moines welcoming the group and customized Snapchat filters for attendees to utilize and promote Des Moines while visiting.

The Enhance Iowa Program provides financial incentives to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. To date, 103 CAT grants have been awarded by the board, totaling $33,283,183. The next Enhance Iowa Board meeting is scheduled for November 3, 2022.