(March 28, 2022) – Diamond Vogel and Keep Iowa Beautiful today (Monday) announced the grant awards for the 2022 Paint Iowa Beautiful program. The program provides free paint to a wide variety of public service projects throughout Iowa. Doug Vogel, Vice-President, Marketing, of the Iowa based company, says “The partnership with Keep Iowa Beautiful allows Diamond Vogel to assist and work with many local volunteers that help build communities, making Iowa one of the best states in the nation to live. Governor Reynolds will be signing a proclamation designating April as Keep Iowa Beautiful month and we are pleased to do our part by awarding paint to 154 community projects in Iowa.”

Kevin Techau, Executive Director of Keep Iowa Beautiful, says “Over the years, the Paint Iowa Beautiful program has awarded paint grants to projects in every county in Iowa. The program provides the paint for beautification and clean-up projects that improve the economic vitality and cultural climate of Iowa communities in every corner of Iowa.”  In the 19-year partnership with Keep Iowa Beautiful, Diamond Vogel has awarded over 12,564 gallons of paint for 1,286 community projects in Iowa.

Among the 2022 Paint Award winners in the immediate KJAN listening area, was (Community; Organization Name; Areas to be painted; Name of person submitting nomination)….

• Audubon; Audubon Public Library; Exterior doors book drop and exterior trim; Gail P. Richardson
• Brayton; City of Brayton; Welcome to Brayton signs, park bathroom, metal bin gazebo; Brooke Hansen
• Carson; Carson Fire Department; Carson Fire Department; Amy Spiering
• Coon Rapids; Main Street Coon Rapids; Grain Bins located on Main Street; Katie Mason
• Council Bluffs; Harvester Artist Lofts; “Concrete wall north side of building|Concrete stairwell”; Emily Globe
• Elk Horn; Public Library; Teen section of the library; Alissa LaCanne
• Guthrie Center; FireFly Creek Ranch, LLC; Exterior front & exterior (partial) side of old state mental institution in rural central Iowa; Brenda Rose
• Madison County; Madison County Chamber of Commerce; “Hogback Covered Bridge|Holliwell Covered Bridge|Roseman Covered Bridge|Imes Covered Bridge|Cutler-Donahoe Covered Bridge”; Amara Huffine
• Menlo; City of Menlo; 16 Community Fire Hydrants, Parking Lines and Handicap Parking for our Downtown Streets; Carol Sheldahl
• Missouri Valley; Missouri Valley Chamber of Commerce; “2 cattle barns on the Harrison County Fairgrounds | 7 picnic tables in the Missouri Valley City Park”; Jeannie Wortman
• Mount Ayr; Mount Ayr Chamber of Commerce; “Still Smokin’/Timberline|Country Blossoms|Aunt Jennie’s Attic|Ringgold County Development/Mount Ayr Chamber|Lefty’s Club Tavern|the vacant 106 E. Madison building”; Karen Bender
• Manilla; Manilla Chamber of Commerce; Main Street buildings; Virginia Rasmussen
• Essex; City of Essex; Historical opera house; Mary Ohnmacht
• Oakland; Eckels Memorial Library; Children’s Room, Teen Area, Circulation Desk area, Computer room, Bathroom, Hallway, Front entry.; Kari Rose
• Onawa; Onawa Public Library; Outside windows and doors trim on the entire library building; Amy McDermott

In addition to paint projects, join over 50 communities participating in Keep Iowa Beautiful’s Pick Up Iowa annual program by cleaning up litter and trash along Iowa’s roadsides, neighborhoods, streets, school grounds, parks and streams. Encourage your community mayor, city council or county supervisors to announce several days or a week as PICK-UP YOUR COMMUNITY. Pick-Up Iowa is being held through June 30th, 2022 on any dates that work for your community. To participate you must register your group/organization at https://keepiowabeautiful.org/get-involved/community-outreach-opportunities/pick-up-iowa/. Registered participant groups are eligible for a limited supply of free cleanup supplies donated by Keep Iowa Beautiful.

For more information see our web page at www.keepiowabeautiful.com

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports six arrests from over the past week.

• On Friday (March 25th), 41-year-old Douglas Kelton Reeves, of Des Moines, was arrested on an Adair County Felony warrant for Violation of Probation. His Cash or surety bond was set at $2,000.
• Last Thursday, (March 24th), Greenfield Police arrested 25-year-old Shania Kae Collins, of Greenfield, for Driving While Barred. Collins was released on a $2,000 cash/surety bond, given a citation and a court date.
• On March 22nd, 36-year-old Lindsay Gene Sander, of Anita, was arrested following a traffic stop, in Bridgewater. She was charged with OWI/1st offense, with a BreathAlcohol (BrAc) Test result of .171% (the legal limit is .08%). Sander was released the same night on a $1,000 bond.
• There were three separate arrests in Adair County on March 20th: 29-year-old Dennis Alexander Amaya Escobar, of Louisiville, KY, was arrested Stuart Police. He was charged with OWI/1st offense (BrAc .203%), and Driving Under Suspension, and later released on a $1,000 c/s bond; 26-year-old Matthew Henry Paulsen, of Adair, was arrested by Police in Adair, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd offense – marijuana; PCS/3rd offense – Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 c/s bond; and, 32-year-old Corey Patrick Ramsey, of Johnston, was arrested following a traffic stop on I-80 at mile marker 93, just east of Stuart. Ramsey was charged with OWI/2nd offense. He was also cited for Speeding 88 mph in a 70-mph zone. Ramsey was released the following day on a $2,000 c/s bond.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports five arrests over the past few days. Today (Monday), 34-year-old Myles Longcor, of Henderson, was arrested on charges that include Domestic Abuse Assault, Assault in the 2nd Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. Longcor was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail, pending an appearance before the judge. And, 31-year-old Eddie Vazquez, of Omaha, was arrested this (Monday) morning, for Possession of a Controlled Substance, with bond set at $1,000.

There were two arrests on Sunday, as well: 32-year-old Christopher Mackey, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense ($2,000 cash/surety bond), and, 34-year-old Amber Pike, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving While Barred ($2,000 cash/surety bond).

On Saturday, 46-year-old Darren Schnoor, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. ($1,000 cash or surety bond)

(Shenandoah, Iowa) – A traffic stop Saturday, east of Shenandoah, resulted in the arrest of a man from Missouri. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports 24-year-old Brevyn Wesley Ross, of Grant City, MO., was pulled over on Highway 2, for a traffic infraction. During the traffic stop, Ross was arrested for OWI 2^nd Offense. He was transported to the Page County Jail on held on a  $2,000 bond, pending additional court appearances.

Brevyn Ross (Page County S/O photo)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Treasurer Tracey J. Marshall reminds persons who own property in the County, that your Second-half of real estate and mobile home taxes are now due. Also: 

• You can go online to pay your taxes at www.iowatreasurers.org
• Credit and debit cards are accepted (with a convenience fee)
• Deadline for payments without penalty is Thursday March 31, 2022

(Corning, Iowa) – Adams County Elections Official Nancy Turner, today (Monday), released the list of candidates whose names will appear on the June 7th Primary Election ballots. Three of the candidates (Bobbi J. Baker-Maynes; Scott Akin, & Leland Shipley) are Incumbents.

(Audubon, Iowa) –  The Audubon County Auditor’s Office has released the list of candidates’ names who will appear on the ballot for the June 7th Primary Election. Three of the candidates are Incumbents (I).

Audubon County Board of Supervisors (Elect 1)

Heath Hansen – Republican

Todd M. Nelsen – Republican

Audubon County Attorney

Christopher R. Swensen – Democrat (I)

Audubon County Treasurer

Debra M. Campbell – Democrat (I)

Audubon County Recorder

Miranda J. Bills – Democrat (I)

(Radio Iowa) – An immigrant advocacy organization called Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice will host its first post-citizenship class for new citizens this week. It’s also a chance for immigrants who’ve been here a while to update their civics knowledge. Alejandro Murguia-Ortiz will teach the short course. He says he wants the class to allow for deeper understanding of what it means to be a citizen, outside of an exam, and to truly empower new citizens. Murguia-Ortiz says, “We’re hoping to create a space where we can really dive deeper into, ‘Now that I’m a citizen, or now that I will still be a citizen, what are my rights or how can I be involved as a citizen?’”

The class is called “Citizens 201: Democracy in Action.” Murguia-Ortiz says he’s spoken with people in citizenship classes who are eager to learn more outside of studying for a test. “It’s directly in response to those conversations, those questions, and the fact that there typically isn’t time in those classes to dive deeper into those things,” he says.

While the citizenship exam is more national in scope, participants in the new class will learn how to be active in more local events and elections and know their rights as a U-S citizen. Citizenship 201 will be held Thursday at the North Side Library in Des Moines.

(reporting by Kassidy Arena, Iowa Public Radio)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Retail Coach, a recruitment firm hired by the City of Atlantic, will be in town Tuesday, April 5th for a site visit of the community as well as to share crucial data they have collected. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, said “Austin Farmer, our representative with Retail Coach, has been gathering a lot of amazing data explaining our retail leakage, and areas Atlantic is currently lacking when it comes to retail and restaurants. The data will be shared with current business owners to highlight possible inventory areas they could add to not only grow their business but also provide items consumers are currently leaving town to buy.”

The data is purchased from an outside company and is collected through cell phone data. The data shows where consumers are shopping while they’re in Atlantic, how far they travel to come to Atlantic and where consumers are shopping outside of Atlantic. The data collected from outside Atlantic helps show what retail and restaurant styles to focus on. Smith says “Everyone has ideas and dreams of shopping experiences and restaurants they’d like to see in Atlantic. Getting our hands on this data will help solidify the need and help show potential businesses the community can and will support them if they come.”

Aside from data collection, Retail Coach is also working with individuals who are interested in being a franchisee. Retail Coach has a list compiled of businesses who would be interested in opening up shop in Atlantic if a franchisee came forward. Anyone interested in investing as a franchisee is encouraged to attend the workshop as well.

The workshop will be help April 5th at 6 PM at the Cass County Community Center. Dinner will be provided. Business owners, interested franchisee investors and interested community members are encouraged to attend. To RSVP, contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or email bailey@atlanticiowa.com.