(Ames, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Transportation reports there were 16 aviation accidents with one fatality and one aviation incident in the state of Iowa, from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. That’s a 33% increase from 2022, and the state has averaged 13 accidents over the last five years. The report summary says:

• 10 accidents and zero fatalities occurred during Part 91 (Private aircraft) flight operations; four accidents and one fatality occurred during Part 137 (agricultural) aerial application operations; and one accident occurred during Part 135 (Commercial, On-demand) Non-Scheduled Air Taxi & Commuter operations.
• There was one fatality and two reported injuries (one serious and one minor).
• 14 aircraft sustained substantial damage and one minor damage.
• One pilot held an Airline Transport Pilot certificate, six had a Commercial Pilot’s License, and three had a Private Pilot License appropriate for the Category and Class of aircraft they were operating. Five of the accident reports did not indicate the type of certificate held by the pilot.
• 13 of the 16 accidents were under visual meteorological conditions. Conditions for the other two accidents are not reported.
• 14 flights occurred during daytime and one flight was during nighttime.
• 12 of the aircraft involved airplanes, three were helicopters, and two were not reported.
• Six accidents occurred within the airport environment (Red Oak, Osceola, Sibley, Larchwood, Ankeny, and Council Bluffs).

Fatalities Summary:
One flight involved a single fatality with a helicopter conducting aerial application that impacted wires. The NTSB report indicated that the pilot failed to identify the wires due to possible
distractions. The accident caused substantial damage to the aircraft and the pilot was hospitalized, but later succumbed to injuries.

Summary of Accidents in the Airport Environment:
There were six aviation accidents that occurred within the airport environment from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. Five accidents occurred during the landing phase of the flight and
one during takeoff. Here’s a review of the two southwest Iowa airport accidents officials were made aware of:

– At the Red Oak Municipal Airport, a pilot operating a Cirrus SR22 reported engine problems and diverted to the Red Oak Municipal Airport. Even with repeated warnings from ATC, the pilot landed the aircraft on RW 05 which was closed. The aircraft struck a barricade which resulted in substantial damage. No injuries were reported.
– At the Council Bluffs Municipal Airport, a pilot operating a Cessna 182 experienced loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined while sequencing to land. The pilot executed a forced landing in a harvested field near the airport and struck a terrace. This caused substantial damage to the aircraft. No injuries were reported.

Summary of Accidents Off-Airport:
There were 10 aviation accidents and one incident that occurred in 2023 away from the airport environment. Four accidents and one event occurred during the enroute phase of flight. One
accident occurred shortly after takeoff and the pilot was unable to make a return to the airport. Four of the accidents happened at low altitudes while conducting aerial applications under Part
137.

Three crashes occurred in southwest & western Iowa…

• A Cessna Citation 560XL operating under Part 91 near Council Bluffs, IA reportedly struck a bird enroute to Omaha-Eppley Airfield. There was substantial damage to the aircraft and no injuries were reported.
• A pilot operating a Cessna 172G under Part 91 near Neola, IA made a forced landing while enroute from Sac City, IA to Council Bluffs, IA. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and there were no injuries reported.
• A pilot operating a Bell 206B during the day near Denison, IA was conducting an aerial application flight under Part 137 when he failed to see and avoid wires. Upon impacting wires and terrain, the aircraft received substantial damage. The pilot was hospitalized but succumbed to his injuries 18 days later.

Note: This Accident Summary relies on reports from NTSB and FAA which are subject to change. Source of information is from NTSB.gov as of 01/18/2024.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill to ban guaranteed income programs in Iowa is eligible for debate in the Iowa House. The bill would affect the UpLift pilot program in Polk, Warren and Dallas Counties which is giving 110 low income households five-hundred dollars a month. The bill would let those payments continue until next January — four months before the program is scheduled to end. Republican Representative Steven Holt of Denison says government programs should connect people to jobs. “That’s how we get out of poverty. Fostering hard work, independence, not dependence on government and socialist programs that will not be sustainable,” Holt says. “They’re not sustainable.” Holt says the bill is socialism on steroids.

“This is an attack on American values. This is an attack on the work ethic in this country when we already are struggling,” Holt says. “Every employer that I speak to is struggling to find employees that are willing to work.” Luke Elzinga of the Des Moines Area Religious Council testified against the bill during a subcommittee hearing last month. Elzinga says basic income programs like UpLift show what low income people need extra money for. “In pilot after pilot across the country participants have used the vast majority of basic income to support their families’ basic needs of food, housing, health care, transportation and clothing,” Elzinga said.

The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee yesterday (Thursday). Democrats say the bill is a roadblock to an effort to reduce poverty in working families and will interrupt research on how recipients use the five-hundred dollar monthly stipend.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – State Representative Thomas Moore, a Republican from Griswold, has released his weekly report on activities in the Iowa Legislature. He started off by saying an education related bill is dead. HSB 542 is an act relating to education, including modifying provisions related to the number of area education agencies in this state, the calculation of the teacher salary supplement district cost per pupil, and minimum teacher salaries, and including transition, effective date, and applicability provisions.

Moore said also, he signed to Co-Sponsor Representative Steve Holt’s bill regarding illegal immigration and human smuggling. And, work he said, continues on HSB 589.

During the Health and Human Services Committee six bills were passed that now move to the House floor. Among them was…

Also…HF537 allows for live-streamed cameras in nursing homes and clearly outlines processes for residents or their legal representative to request a camera in their room. It includes protections for shared rooms and gives roommates the authority to determine whether a camera is in their room. HF2056 allows 16- and 17-year-olds to provide child care to children up to 5 years old, as long as there are two additional adults in the child care center.

(R) Rep. Tom Moore

HF2057 makes updates to the MOMS (More Options for Maternal Support) program. It allows DHHS to administer the program directly through pregnancy resource centers or through a 3rd party, strikes the requirement that the 3rd party have 3 years of experience managing pregnancy support service subcontractors, and allows for additional pregnancy support services to be provided to pregnant women beyond counseling.

Moore says the Education Committee passed five bills that move on to the House Floor:  HF134 strikes the requirement that districts must both agree before the receiving district school bus can enter into the resident district to pick up students.

It also strikes the provision that IPI enrolls not more than four unrelated students and does not charge fees or tuition. IPI is required to provide students with instruction appropriate to the student’s age, grade level, or achievement level. Students receiving IPI don’t need to be related to the primary instructor and establishes that IPI is not an accredited nonpublic school. HSB564 provides that a three-year limitation on being able to file a complaint does not apply if the conduct constitutes soliciting, encouraging, or consummating a romantic or otherwise inappropriate relationship with a student. HSB567 refers to BOEE reporting requirements. The BOEE shall report the investigative information to the proper law enforcement agency if the investigative information in the possession of the board indicates that the crime has been committed by either a licensed or non-licensed school employee.

Representative Moore can be reached at tom.moore@legis.iowa.gov and (712) 789-9954. If you would like to set up an in-person meeting or would like to visit the capitol, please let him know.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The driver of an SUV was cited Thursday night, following a non-injury accident at the intersection of Broadway Street (Highway 48) and W. Joy Street, in Red Oak. Authorities say a 1999 Chevy Tahoe driven by 63-year-old Jeffrey Wayne Halvin, of Red Oak, and a 2008 Ford Fusion driven by 18-year-old Hallie Straw, of Villisca, were both northbound on Broadway at around 7:20-p.m.  When Straw went to turn east onto W. Joy Street, the SUV struck the passenger side of the car. Halvin told Red Oak Police he was reaching for a falling soda pop and didn’t see the Ford begin to slow down and turn.

Damage from the collision amounted to $2,000. Police cited Halvin for Following too closely. Both vehicles were able to be driven from the scene.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs report a woman from Mills County faces a trio of charges, following an investigation into a fatal vehicle-pedestrian accident that occurred in December, 2023. 47-year-old Angela H. Thurman, of Pacific Junction, was charged with Homicide by Vehicle, OWI/3rd Offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd offense, along with Control of Vehicle, in connection with the death of 74-year-old Juan Avalos, of Council Bluffs. Police determined Thurman was allegedly “under the influence of multiple controlled substances” the morning of the crash.

Angela H. Thurman (Council Bluffs PD photo)

As previously reported, the accident happened near the intersection of Poplar Drive and Birch Street in Council Bluffs, at around 3:21-a.m. on Dec. 24th. Avalos was near a vehicle on the street when he was struck by a vehicle allegedly driven by Thurman. He died at the scene. Thurman was not injured. She was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail on $150,000 bond.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Republican State Representative Thomas Moore from Griswold, Tuesday, welcomed students in southwest Iowa to the State Capitol in Des Moines. FFA members were in the city for a Legislative Symposium, to build character and promote citizenship, volunteerism, and patriotism. More than 700 high school students wearing blue corduroy from 118 schools visited the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines on January 30th. The students visited with legislators, exhibited skills learned in the agriculture classroom and learned the importance of citizenship.

It was all part of the 39th Annual Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium and FFA Day at the Capitol. During the morning, FFA members gathered at the Downtown Embassy Suites and enjoyed a brief message from Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, who then presented the FFA Week Proclamation. The proclamation officially declares February 17-24, the week of President George Washington’s Birthday, FFA Week in Iowa.

The morning program provided opportunities for FFA members to hear from Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, about the importance of agriculture in Iowa and abroad. Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President, Brent Johnson, then delivered a message about the importance young agriculturalists can play in the agriculture industry. Jake Swanson from High Yield Strategies then spoke about the importance of advocating for the agricultural industry.

The 39th Annual Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium and FFA Day at the Capitol was made possible with support from Iowa Farm Bureau Federation through the Iowa FFA Foundation.

Moore says he welcomed FFA organizations from Atlantic, Stanton, East Mills, Red Oak, and CAM to the Capitol. (photo’s below)

Stanton FFA is pictured above. Their FFA is led by Advisor Andrea Spencer.

CAM FFA is pictured above. Their FFA is led by Advisor Ward Umbaugh.

East Mills FFA is pictured above. Their FFA is led by Advisor Alan Spencer. Moore visited with them on behalf of Representative Sieck.

Red Oak FFA is pictured above. Their FFA is led by Advisor Riley Pelzer.

Atlantic FFA is pictured above. Their FFA is led by Advisor Eric Miller.

(Radio Iowa) – A coalition of nearly 20 area shelters and housing organizations in northern Iowa recently completed the biannual Point-in-Time homeless census. Numbers were generally up across the region, but at the Northern Lights Alliance of Shelters in Mason City, individuals counted outside shelters were down. Shelter executive director Jesse Germundson (JER-men-sen) attributes that to the work of his outreach network, and to more leniency during the wintertime.

During the cold months, Germundson says they lift some rules on sobriety, and as long as someone who’s under the influence of substances is stable, they’ll be let in. He says he counted nearly 50 individuals indoors during the six-hour census. The numbers are used by the U-S Department of Housing and Urban Development to help determine how to distribute housing resources.

(Radio Iowa) A program called Read Across Iowa offers the state’s elementary school teachers free books, lesson plans and activities for their classrooms during March, with a focus on food and agriculture. Professor Constance Beecher, in Iowa State University’s School of Education, organizes the annual effort, which has reached some 72-thousand young Iowans in all 99 counties just in the few years it’s been around. “It’s really a month-long celebration, kind of a public service campaign, about the importance of reading,” Beecher says, “and especially thinking about the links between reading and agriculture in our state.”

In the next few weeks, volunteers will pack up one-thousand book kits to ship out to hundreds of teachers statewide. Teachers were able to sign up for the give-a ways online starting in mid-January and already, all one-thousand kits have been snapped up. “We don’t have a budget for this,” Beecher says. “It’s all sort of goodwill. We go out and try to get grants and so we landed on 1,000 books just as a nice round number of what we thought we could raise some money for, so it’s basically a first come-first serve basis.”

While the free books are gone, she says teachers can still get the lesson plans and other elements of the program on the website. Beecher, who’s the family literacy state specialist through Human Sciences Extension and Outreach, says it’s vital to read to young children for language and literacy development, and the program is helping students to reach new heights. “We’ve changed the theme each year to make it fun and interesting,” Beecher says. “So, last year we had a farm-to-table theme. This year, our theme is food science, so we’re really looking at the science of different kinds of food.”

Continuing with this year’s food science theme, several of the books focus on topics like bread baking, making ice cream and turning grapes into jelly. They’re accompanied by links to simple recipes and video recordings with the authors. “One of our books is called ‘Bread Lab’ and it was written by people who actually work in the bread lab at Washington State University,” Beecher says. “Kids might not realize that there’s so much science behind recipes and developing food and food safety and that there’s all these really great careers.”

The I-S-U Extension is also partnering with Iowa 4-H and the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation on the program.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak have arrested a woman on Animal Neglect charges. 64-year-old Linda Sue Schomburg, of Red Oak, was arrested Thursday night in the 300 block of E. Oak Street, in Red Oak. She faces three counts of Animal Abuse causing serious injury or death – an Aggravated Misdemeanor. Schomburg was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Additional details concerning her case were not released by Red Oak Police.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – At their meeting on Thursday, the Enhance Iowa Board awarded $370,000 in Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants to a museum project in Grinnell and horse stable and warmup arena in Mason City.

Details for the projects receiving CAT grants follow:

Project Name: Grinnell Historical Museum Society, Grinnell
Total Project Cost: $1,507,472
Amount Awarded: $200,000
Project Description: This project includes the conversion of a former retail space into a handicap-accessible museum with temporary exhibits and permanent displays of Grinnell’s history, a collections care space, restrooms and catering kitchen.

Project Name: North Iowa Events Center – Horse Stable and Warmup Arena, Mason City
Total Project Cost: $1,090,960
Amount Awarded: $170,000
Project Description: This project includes the construction of a new 16,000-square-foot stable and warmup
arena with storage space.

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, 138 CAT grants have been awarded by the board, totaling $46,805,023. The next Enhance Iowa Board meeting is scheduled for March 7, 2024.