DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has awarded $1 million for five Iowa Great Places projects in Adel, Redfield, Clinton, Guttenberg, Marion and Winterset. The funding supports the development of new and existing community-based infrastructure projects that cultivate the unique and authentic qualities of neighborhoods, communities and regions in Iowa. The Iowa Great Places Citizen Advisory Board approved the grants during its meeting last month in Des Moines. Statewide, five grants totaling $1 million were awarded in response to 11 eligible applicants requesting nearly $2.9 million.

In this area: A grant of $39,000 will support the addition of two public art pieces in the towns of Adel and Redfield, plus artistic lighting on a railroad bridge in Adel to build upon the previous work to create a “Cultural Trail District” along the Raccoon River Valley Trail. And, a $310,000 grant will support the construction of a 12,000-square-foot environmental learning center, to meet the needs of environmental and outdoor recreation programming in Madison County. The center in Winterset will include interactive exhibits, a classroom for applied STEM-based programming and creative environmental learning, and a multi-purpose event and conference room to connect visitors to their natural surroundings.

Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Chris Kramer said “Each of these projects plays a role in helping Iowans create culturally vibrant communities that attract and retain globally minded workers who put quality of life at the top of their priority list when they’re deciding where to live and work. We are proud to invest in Iowans and their communities through this program, and we’re especially pleased to help them make their visions for the future a reality.”

Created in 2005, the Iowa Great Places program provides designated communities with access to funding opportunities, professional development training, technical assistance opportunities, a network of vibrant communities and passionate leaders, and other state and local resources. Currently, the program includes 40 Iowa Great Places designated communities. Funding for the grant program is provided by the Iowa Legislature through the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund and requires a 1:1 match.

(Radio Iowa) — Gas up the snowblower and prepare to dress in multiple layers. For the second weekend in a row, Iowans are bracing for the approach of what’s billed as a significant winter storm. Meteorologist Cory Martin, at the National Weather Service, says the snowfall forecast has been downgraded somewhat, but he says the storm’s potential impact on travel isn’t any less threatening.  “We’re expecting snow to begin moving into the state tomorrow morning and spread across most of the state as we get into the afternoon hours,” Martin says. “As we get into late afternoon and into the evening, the snow will likely come to an end and switch over to a period of potential freezing rain or freezing drizzle.”

While the initial forecast predicted parts of northern Iowa might see up to a foot of snow, the updated models now show much less snow — but plenty of very cold air — on the way. “Just through the day tomorrow, across the state, we’re looking at across the southern part of the state, possibly three to five inches and up across the north, we may see up to six inches of snow,” Martin says. “Then, we’re going to be dealing with some strong southerly winds tomorrow, which could create areas of blowing snow in addition to the slick roadways from the already-falling snowfall.”

The moderate-to-heavy snowfall and gusting winds are already enough to keep most of us indoors, but Martin notes the extreme cold will make going outside after the storm even more hazardous. “We could have some really strong winds behind it on Saturday that could create more issues with blowing snow, especially if we pick up some more light snowfall Saturday morning,” Martin says. “Forty and 50 mile-an-hour wind gusts could be common on Saturday along with drastically falling temperatures. Sunday morning, we’re looking at wind chills that could be minus-10, minus-20 or colder.”

Air temperatures alone on Sunday are expected to only be in the single digits statewide. Martin says temps should stay below-average for most of the state at least into the middle of next week.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer today (Thursday), released a report on arrests and incidents dating back to late November. Arrests made so far this month, include:

• On Wednesday (Jan. 15th), 38-year old Adam Lee Karstens, of Long Lane, MO. was arrested for Driving with Suspended License.
• On Jan. 8th, a 17-year old Audubon juvenile was referred to Juvenile Court for Theft 5^th. And, 20-year old Ethan Sorensen, of Sac City, was arested for Driving With Suspended License.
• On Jan. 7th, a 17 year old Audubon juvenile was referred to Juvenile Court as a result of multiple investigations and search warrants.  Charges include Burglary, and two-counts of Theft in the 3rd Degree.  Chief Starmer says those cases remain under investigation.

December’s arrests in Audubon include: 22-year old  Hannah Love Stewart, of Audubon, who was arrested Dec. 30th, for Domestic Assault with Injury/Impeding Air Flow. And, 57-year old Jeffrey Lynn Gibson, of Audubon, who was taken into custody Dec. 23rd, for Assault causing injury.

Two arrests in Audubon took place in late November: 44-year old Scott Allen Hall, of Audubon, was arrested Nov. 25th, for Theft in the 3rd Degree. And, two juveniles, ages 14 and 15, were referred to Juvenile Court on November 24th, with regard to Trespassing and Possession of Marijuana charges.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities released the names Thursday of two people found fatally shot and two wounded in Des Moines. Police responded Wednesday to the shooting at a home in the Merle Hay neighborhood and discovered two bodies. A third person there had a wounded leg and was taken to a hospital. About 30 minutes later officers found someone nearby with a gunshot wound to a leg. That person also was taken to a hospital. Police identified the two dead people as 28-year-old Damiko Carr and 21-year-old Karyree Henderson. The two wounded were identified as 31-year-old Michael Blackwell and 26-year-old Alonzo Kearney.

[UPDATE 9:25-A.M.] (DES MOINES, Iowa) — No injuries have been reported in a fire Thursday morning that forced people to evacuate a downtown Des Moines building. The blaze began a little before 7:30 a.m. on the third floor of the Capital Square building, which counts The Des Moines Register newspaper among its tenants. Flames and some shattered windows could be seen from the street. Fire Department spokesman Rick Thomas says most of the flames had been knocked down by a little after 8 a.m. He told the newspaper that fire sprinklers checked the blaze until firefighters could begin their work. The fire cause is being investigated.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman he met at an Iowa City bar. Johnson County District Court records say 35-year-old Andrew Wilson pleaded guilty Friday to kidnapping, sexual abuse and other crimes. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 24. Wilson offered to drive the woman home Sept. 29, 2018, when the bar closed. A criminal complaint says he instead drove them to a secluded spot south of Iowa City and sexually assaulted her. The Gazette reported that the woman regained consciousness in a cornfield. She ran to a house, where a resident called 911 for her.

Police in Shenandoah say an investigation into a stolen vehicle report Wednesday morning, resulted in the arrest of a man on theft, drug and other charges. Officers were called to the 400 block of West Lowell around 11:50 a.m. To take a complaint about the stolen vehicle, which was located about 30-minutes later in the 300 block of South Elm Street.

After a traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle, Police arrested Matthew Magers, of Shenandoah, for Second-Degree Theft, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and driving while revoked. Magers was being held in the Page County Jail on $11,000 bond. Page County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted Shenandoah Police in handling the incident.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) — As the holiday bills are coming in and stress levels begin to rise, January and February are typically the busiest months of the year for counselors at the Iowa Concern Hotline. Tammy Jacobs, the hotlines coordinator with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, says the free service is available to all Iowans, every day and at any time of day or night. “We offer stress counseling. We have counselors who are trained to talk to people about what’s going on, help walk them though the steps and develop skills in order to work through those,” Jacobs says. “We have legal staff available to help out with any legal questions that they might have. We also work with Extension and Outreach finance specialists, if people are having a financial issue going on.”

While the counselors work to address any issue callers may bring up, at this time of year, Jacobs says money matters are often front and center. “With the holidays being over, people are starting to get together with their tax consultants, going over some of their bills,” Jacobs says. “People are starting to meet with their bankers and farm financial providers in order to get operating loans for the next season.” With last year’s heavy rains and widespread flooding, many calls to the hotline focused on worries about spring planting and the fall harvest. With 2020 being an election year, Jacobs couldn’t predict how the call volume may fluctuate.

“Generally, we see between 400 and 600 calls a month just on the Iowa Concern Hotline,” Jacobs says. “Sometimes, we may see 700 or 800 calls a month. It just depends on what’s happening in the world, and if it’s flooding and there are disasters, then those calls may be a little bit higher.” To reach the Iowa Concern Hotline, call 800-447-1985, or some people might be more comfortable using a computer. “We’ve got the live chat. We also have Email an Expert, so if people just want to email a question in, then we can respond back to them,” Jacobs says. “We’re looking at probably within the next month, adding a text option to the Iowa Concern Hotline as well.”

The service was launched in 1985 during the Farm Crisis and was then known as the Rural Concern Hotline. The name was changed in 1993 to the Iowa Concern Hotline to reflect a broader reach and availability to anyone, farmers and non-farmers, rural and urban Iowans.
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/