(Treynor, Iowa) – Four Corners Community Foundation (4CCF), formerly TS Community Foundation, recently held a ribbon cutting announcing their new name. Founded in 1999, Four Corners Community Foundation is designed to create impact in rural southwest Iowa through charitable giving and community projects. In 2019, 4CCF became an affiliate of Pottawattamie County Community Foundation, and as partners, continue to spur growth and prosperity in southwest Iowa.

The new name — Four Corners Community Foundation — represents the heart of rural Iowa towns. Often times the four corners or town square can serve as a main meeting place where community impact starts, a place of great ideas with community-minded people. 4CCF Board President Kelsey Stupfell says “At Four Corners Community Foundation we are excited for this new chapter and look forward to helping create impact for generations to come. We are a community of giving people.”

4CCF Ribbon Cutting (Photos courtesy Kelsey R. Stupfell)

“It is our desire to help people achieve more with their donations and connect them to resources,” she added. “Our new name, Four Corners Community Foundation, reflects our foundational mission to help maximize local philanthropy, support community projects, and connect more giving to individuals and organizations.”

As an affiliate of Pottawattamie County Community Foundation — an accredited community foundation — donors could be eligible for additional tax incentives such as the Endow Iowa Tax Credit, a program administered by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and is open to individuals, businesses and financial institutions.

In two decades, 4CCF has helped the Treynor Optimist Club build a playground in the eastern city park, helped city organizers create the Veterans Memorial area including a show-stopping helicopter, as well as jumpstarted the Vision Treynor Group, which is working to bring new ball fields and a gathering place in town, among other projects.

Most recently, funds were created with the newly formed Treynor Parks and Trails Commission, a collaboration between the Treynor Splash Pad, Tristan’s Trails and Dexter’s Dream as well as with the Lamar Hartje Legion Post 725 to help more local southwest Iowa students attend Boys and Girls State.

Pott. County Community Foundation President and CEO Donna Dostal says “This is an exciting time for the Four Corners Community Foundation and we are truly honored to help share this news. Together, our collective work to amplify the strong culture of philanthropy in our region will continue to create lasting positive impact and a legacy of giving. We look forward to supporting Four Corners Community Foundation’s efforts in continuing to make our communities strong.”

A special thanks to Pottawattamie County Community Foundation, City of Treynor, Western Iowa Development Association, J’s Coffee & Donuts and local community members at the recent Four Corner Community Foundation ribbon cutting held in Treynor. Sustainable growth, positive impact, and generational transformation are important in every community.

To learn more about 4CCF’s community projects visit, www.ourpccf.org/affiliates/4CCF.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor & Commissioner of Elections, Stephanie Burke, Friday, announced the candidates who have filed for County Offices in the June 7, 2022 Primary Election. All open positions are “Vote for 1” candidate in each party (if more than one person filed)….

Montgomery County Recorder

• Republican: Carleen Bruning [Incumbent
• Democrat: None Filed

Montgomery County Treasurer

• Republican: Jackie Joy Porter [Incumbent]
• Democrat: None Filed

Montgomery County Attorney

• Republican: Drew B. Swanson [Incumbent]
• Democrat: None Filed

Supervisor District #1)

• Republican: Charla A. Schmid [Incumbent]
• Democrat: None Filed

Supervisor District #2

• Republican: Michael Olson [Incumbent]
• Democrat: None Filed

Supervisor District #4

• Republicans: George Bruce; Mark L. Peterson [Incumbent]
• Democrat: None Filed

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Auditor’s Office has released the final list of names on the ballot for the June 7th Primary Election.

Local candidates who have filed papers for the Primary Election are as follows:

County Supervisor District 2NE – Democrat:                        No Candidate Filed

County Supervisor District 2NE – Republican:

• Jodie Hoadley [currently the District 4 SE Supervisor]
• Steven Shelley [Incumbent]

County Supervisor District 4SE – Democrat:                         No Candidate Filed

County Supervisor District 4SE –

Republican:

• Nathan Baier
• Nick Carson

County Treasurer – Democrat:                                                No Candidate Filed

County Treasurer – Republican:                                              Brenda Wallace [Incumbent]

County Recorder – Democrat:                                                No Candidate Filed

County Recorder – Republican:                                              Janelle Schneider [Incumbent]

County Attorney – Democrat:                                                Melissa Larson [Incumbent]

County Attorney – Republican:                                              No Candidate Filed

A reminder: Voter pre-registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. Monday, May 23, 2022.  Pre-registered voters are required to provide an approved form of identification at the polling place before receiving and casting a regular ballot.

Voters who are not pre-registered – such as voters registering to vote on election day – and voters changing precincts must also provide proof of residence.  A voter who is unable to provide an approved form of identification (or prove residence if required) 1) may have the voter’s identity/residence attested to by another registered voter in the precinct, 2) prove identity and residence using Election Day Registration documents, or 3) cast a provisional ballot and provide proof of identity/residence at the Auditor’s Office by 12:00 p.m. (noon), June 13, 2022.

Election Day Registrant attesters must provide an approved form of identification.  For additional information about providing proof of identity and/or residence visit: https://sos.iowa.gov/voterid or phone (641) 743-2546.  Voters may request an absentee ballot from the Auditor’s Office.  Voters may vote in the office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning May 18, 2022 or they may request a ballot be mailed to them.  The deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed is 5:00 p.m. Monday, May 23, 2022.

The last day to vote absentee in the Auditor’s Office is Monday, June 6, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Polls will open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day June 7, 2022.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The deadline to file nomination papers for the June 7th Primary Election in Cass County has passed, and we know now the names of the candidates who will be in the ballot. The last person to file by Friday’s (March 25th) deadline, was Republican Robert J. Engler, for Cass County Attorney. In advance of the November General Election, Clarke Gerlock has filed for Union Township Trustee.

Here is the final list of names on the ballot for the Cass County Primary Election:

Board of Supervisor District 2:

Democrat – (No one has filed);

Republican – [Incumbent] Mark O’Brien, of Atlantic

Board of Supervisor District 3:

Democrat – (No one has filed);

Republican – [Incumbent] John P. Hartkopf, of Atlantic; Wendy Richter, of Atlantic

Cass County Attorney:

Democrat – (No filings)

Republican – [Incumbent] E. Vanessa Strazdas, of Atlantic; Jay W. Mez, of Council Bluffs; Robert J. Engler, of Atlantic.

Cass County Recorder:

Democrat – (No filings)

Republican – Incumbent Mary Ward

Cass County Treasurer:

Democrat – (No filings)

Republican – [Incumbent] Tracey J. Marshall.

Winners of contested seats will move on to the November General Election.

(Radio Iowa) – With new online scams emerging almost daily, Iowans are being encouraged to brush up on their computer security precautions. Consumer protection advocate Michael Domke says you should consider using a password manager on your computer and phone, instead of reusing old passwords. “Humans are creatures of pattern,” Domke says. “With so many different sites and places that you go needing a password, it gets tough to remember all of them.” Domke says it’s important to keep the password you use for your personal email account or cell phone as strong as possible and never use it for other apps or websites.

One really good idea, he says, is to put your most important accounts — like your email, banking and credit card accounts — behind two-factor authentication. “There are apps and other devices that can help you do that and make a little bit stronger and help protect your information,” he says. That way, even if someone can work out your password, your information will stay safe and you can be alerted to update your password. He notes, even cursory knowledge about you could let people get past basic security questions.

“Some of those that are generalized and asked nowadays, even close friends or family might be able to get some of those,” Domke says. “So pick a question that isn’t just easy for you to answer, make it hard for somebody else to answer.” Making a password “strong” may involve having it be at least eight characters, with some upper and lower case letters, as well as numerals and symbols.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds will soon get to decide whether to approve a state law that would nullify a recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling on “garbage grabs.” Last summer the court ruled that under the state’s constitution, Iowa residents have an expectation of privacy when they place their garbage in a publicly accessible area — meaning law enforcement has to get a warrant for these kind of trash searches. A bill that passed the House would restore the status quo in Iowa, according to Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison.  “The searching of abandoned garbage makes our communities safer because numerous crimes are solved each year using this essential law enforcement tool,” Holt says, “and this legislation seeks to restore that important precedent.”

A Clear Lake man who served two days in jail on a drug conviction argued the search warrant for his home was improperly obtained because it was based on evidence police found in trash bags outside his home. Representative Mary Wolfe, a Democrat from Clinton, says the ruling was a big deal because the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled law enforcement doesn’t have to get a warrant to search trash bags and garbage cans in a driveway or at the curb. “Now, I’ll acknowledge that reasonable people can and do disagree as to whether Iowa citizens should have a protected liberty interest in their trash,” Wolfe says, “but our Supreme Court is the final arbiter.”

Wolfe says the legislature can’t pass a law and should propose a constitutional amendment to take away this constitutional right.  “Even one that you may think is silly or ridiculous or doesn’t make any sense or you don’t care if they look through your garbage, none of that matters,” Wolfe says. “Our Supreme Court says this is a constitutionally protected liberty right.” Holt says the legislature routinely passes bills to legislatively overturn court rulings. “There has never been an expectation of privacy for abandoned garbage sitting on a curb,” Holt says. “Let’s be clear here, we’re talking about publicly accessible areas, such as curbs and sidewalks. We’re not talking about garbage outside on your back porch and your yard. Publicly accessible area is the key and, again, this legislation is returning us to the status quo.”

The bill passed the Senate unanimously last month and was approved in the House this week on a 58 to 36 vote.