November 13, 2023 (DES MOINES, IA) –  The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has announced $25 million in awards to help transform 13 historic buildings, including a former fire station and mass timber warehouse, into new spaces while maintaining their character. The awards were made through the Historic Preservation Tax Credit program. Included among the projects is the Hotel Stuart project in Guthrie County. The aim of the project is to convert the building into commercial space and four, upper-story apartments. The Project applicant (Aust Real Estate, LLC) requested a tax credit in the amount of $307,125.

IEDA and Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham says “These projects breathe new life into historic treasures and help make Iowa’s communities attractive places for people to visit, live and work. ” The application round opened in June with about $20 million available for awards. IEDA received 21 applications requesting over $40 million in tax credits. Projects are scored based on readiness, financing and local support and participation.

The Historic Preservation Tax Credit program provides a state income tax credit to projects that rehabilitate underused or vacant historic buildings while maintaining the character-defining features that enhance neighborhoods and communities. Work completed on buildings must meet the federal Secretary of Interior standards.

This round of awards will help to enhance historic buildings across the state, including:

• Sioux City: The Bay State Block restoration will include adding 27 apartment homes to the upper three floors, which have been vacant or underutilized for 60 years.
• DeWitt: The vacant Iowa Mutual Insurance Company building will be converted into 53 apartment homes. Work will include full rehabilitation and preservation of the vaults, dumbwaiters, and historic elevator door with scissor gate.
• Des Moines: The Carpenter Paper Company is the renovation of a four-story mass timber warehouse. The project will restore the historic windows and raise the floor to create proper window views for use by new office tenants.
• Waterloo: The Waterloo Fire Station 2 will include exterior repair and renewal, and rehabilitation of the original windows or installation of historic appropriate new windows. The interior space will be converted into new office space and three apartment units.

The Historic Preservation Tax Credit program is administered by IEDA. The next application round for large projects opens January 2024, with applications due March 18.

Download a spreadsheet with today’s (Monday’s) awards here.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon Community School District’s Board of Education will meet in a Special Session Tuesday. The meeting takes place at 5:45-p.m. in the Board Room at the Audubon High School. According to the agenda provided by Superintendent Eric Trager, the Board will hold a possible closed session, “To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, or discharge is being considered when a closed session is necessary, to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session.”

No action on the personnel matter is expected prior to the Board’s adjourning for the night.

(Radio Iowa) – An elderly central Iowa couple was killed in a car crash last (Sunday) night. Des Moines police say a Buick being driven by a 76-year-old man and carrying a 79-year-old woman was turning at an intersection when it was struck on the passenger side by a Camaro. The Buick hit a utility pole and overturned, killing both occupants. Both were from Des Moines.

Police say the driver of the Camaro was an 18-year-old Des Moines man. A news release says witness statements and evidence at the scene indicate a significant contributing factor in the crash was — the Camaro traveling at a high-rate of speed. As yet, no names are public and there’s no word on charges.

(Urbandale, Iowa) – [UPDATED] A man from Dallas County died Sunday night, after he was struck and killed while parked alongside Interstate 80, in Des Moines. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2019 Ford F-550 tow truck was hauling another vehicle, was legally parked on the right shoulder of the interstate at around 10:10-p.m., when a 2024 Volvo semi driven by 54-year-old Dmytro Prysich, of Hamtramck, MI., did not move over or slow down, and struck 45-year-old Joshua James Villa, of Adel, as he was getting out of the tow truck.Villa died at the scene.

Criminal complaints filed in the case say an Urbandale Police Officer was at the scene assisting with the crash, as well as a Highway Helper. An electronic sign instructed traffic move to the left, away from the outside lane. The complaint said Prysich didn’t stop and when he was pulled over by Clive Police Officers he told them he thought he hit a “bird.” The officers could smell alcohol coming from Prysich and said he had difficulty maintaining his balance.

Dmytro Prysich

According to the complaint, Prysich showed impairment during field sobriety testing and a breath test showed his blood alcohol level was over the legal limit of .08.

Prysich was booked into the Polk County Jail just after 3:00 a.m. Monday on charges of homicide by vehicle-OWI, leaving the scene of a deadly accident, and failure to change lane upon approach to emergency stationary vehicles – death. A $500,000 cash-only bond has been set on the homicide by vehicle charge.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Annual Grand Lighting Ceremony, sponsored by Atlantic Municipal Utilities, will be this Thursday, November 16th at 5 PM at the Historic Rock Island Depot in Downtown Atlantic. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says “Atlantic is Travel Iowa’s number one destination to celebrate the Christmas Season and Grand Lighting is a big reason why. There are over 200,000 lights strung throughout the trees on Chestnut Street as well as City Park that creates this magical scenery for everyone to enjoy.”.

Grand Lighting kicks off at 5 PM with a free hot dog meal, provided by Atlantic Hy-Vee. There will be free hot chocolate as well at the Chamber tent. Charlie Stogdill will DJ from 5 – 5:30 PM, with Santa making his special arrival at 5:30 PM to turn on the lights. He will see children in his cabin, sponsored by Atlantic Rotary Club and Farmhouse & Flowers, from 6 PM – 7:30 PM.

Smith says “We wouldn’t be number one without the Atlantic Street Department who spends a good month restringing lights and hanging garland and décor throughout downtown and 7th Street. Atlantic Municipal Utilities works to ensure the lights turn on and stay on all season long. They’re the best and we’re very fortunate to have them in our community.”

Pick up your Christmas brochure and Holiday Punch Card from area retail businesses, like the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Instagram to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.atlanticiowa.com.

Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712.243.3017. Christmas in Atlantic is presented by Gregg Young of Atlantic.

Des Moines, Iowa –  State Treasurer Roby Smith is celebrating the holidays with a College Savings Iowa giveaway. “Visit Iowa529Contest.com before December 31 and register to win one of two $5,290 College Savings Iowa account contributions,” Smith said. “It’s not only a gift that requires no wrapping skills, but is also one that is sure to last!”

The College Savings Iowa 529 plan is a tax-advantaged way for families to save for tuition; room and board; computers; textbooks and other qualified education expenses at any eligible higher-education institution in the U.S. or abroad. This includes colleges, universities, trade schools and apprenticeship programs. Additionally, up to $10,000 per year per student can be withdrawn to pay for tuition expenses in connection with enrollment at a K-12 institution.

College Savings Iowa Participants have saved more than $5.7 billion to help pay for education expenses on behalf of a student in their lives. “This proves what I already know – people in Iowa care about the future of our youth, including me,” said Smith. “That’s why I’m encouraging all families to register for this giveaway. Don’t miss the chance to ‘let the sleigh bells ring’ on a child’s education savings and register today!”

To learn more about the Plan, visit CollegeSavingsIowa.com or call (888) 672-9116. Connect with College Savings Iowa on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, to stay informed on current events and updates. For additional details about the Plan, read the Program Description.

Des Moines, Iowa – State Treasurer Roby Smith is encouraging Iowa families to add a contribution to a College Savings Iowa account to their child’s holiday wish list. “The generosity of family and friends can sometimes feel a little overwhelming with new toys and gadgets for our kids, and flashy toys can lose their luster after a few months,” Smith said. “As you gather with friends and family this holiday season, share the magic of investing in your child’s education dreams.”

“There’s no need to worry about what size sweater or socks to get – a contribution to a College Savings Iowa account is a meaningful gift with flexibility that always fits,” continued Smith. Funds can be used to pay for tuition, room and board, books, computers, supplies and other qualified education-related expenses at any eligible education institution in the U.S. or abroad, including two- and four-year colleges, apprenticeship programs and trade schools. Additionally, up to $10,000 per student per year can be used for K-12 tuition.

“Opening a College Savings Iowa account or making a contribution to an existing account is the gift that keeps giving, not only for your student, but for you as well,” Smith concluded. Iowa taxpayers have the added benefit of deducting up to $3,785 of their contributions per Beneficiary account from their 2023 state income taxes.

For more information about College Savings Iowa, call (888) 672-9116 or visit CollegeSavingsIowa.com. Connect with College Savings Iowa on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, to stay up to date on current events and updates. For additional details about the Plan, read the Program Description.

DES MOINES – With the holiday season approaching, State Treasurer Roby Smith is encouraging family and friends of those saving with IAble, Iowa’s Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) plan, to consider making a gift contribution. “The holidays are about togetherness and showing those around us how much we love and appreciate them,” said Smith. “Gifting can come in ways other than a package with a bow. Making a contribution to a loved one’s IAble account is a gift that can last and grow.”

Together, Account Owners and their support systems can contribute up to $17,000 per year to an IAble account, allowing individuals with disabilities to save and maintain eligibility for federal assistance programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. Funds in an Account can be used for Qualified Disability Expenses like housing, food, support services and assistive technology that help improve or maintain health, independence or quality of life.

There are also tax advantages to saving with IAble, including a state tax deduction. Any Iowa taxpayer contributing to an IAble account can deduct up to $3,785 of their contributions from their state taxable income for 2023.

This holiday season, to support loved ones in your life living with a disability, consider using Ugift® – a free and easy way to make a contribution to an IAble account. Account Owners can log in to their IAble account, locate their unique gifting code and share it with family and friends. “Once an Account Owner’s gifting code has been shared with you, visit UgiftABLE.com. Enter the code and the amount you’d like to contribute and complete the transaction. It’s that easy,” Smith continued. “Helping someone achieve their best life experience is a gift that continues to give long after the holiday season.”

Visit IAble.gov/resources/give-a-gift.com for more information. For additional information about IAble, visit IAble.gov. Connect with the Treasurer on Instagram, Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, for updates and news. For details about the Plan, review the Plan Disclosure Booklet.

COLFAX, Iowa — An east-central Iowa man officially holds the Guiness Book of World Record collection of pencils. Aaron Bartholmey, of Colfax, invited the community to look at his pencil collection as he counted every single one over the summer. At the time, the Guinness World Record for such a collection sat around 24,000 items. After he sat down and conducted another count, he found his collection of pencils amounted to 69,255. The collection includes everything from local business advertisements to a 100-year-old pencil, and even one with a high school basketball schedule. In July, counters from the American Pencil Collectors Society counted the pencils. Then, Bartholmey submitted the proposal to the Guinness World Records. Three months later, the record was certified.

While Bartholmey’s collection rewrote the record books, he says he’s already on the hunt for more. The childhood hobby that started after a flea market visit with his grandpa turned into one for the recordbooks. ‘It’s pretty unbelievable to know I hold that title and officially have the largest collection in the world!’ Bartholmey wrote in a statement.