DES MOINES, Iowa – Officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa report a Waukee man pleaded guilty June 10th to wire fraud and money laundering charges.

According to public court records, 51-year-old William Jack Berg sold life insurance, annuities, and similar products to individuals in Central Iowa, Saint Louis, and other regions while acting as a financial advisor to many individuals in these areas. From at least January 2019, and continuing to May 2023, Berg defrauded over a dozen individuals by encouraging them to withdraw money out of the individuals’ pre-existing investments or financial accounts and transfer the withdrawn money to Berg for investment through “W Holdings of Iowa” and/or “Excel Performance Management.”

The targeted individuals provided Berg with over $1.5 million that Berg did not invest for their benefit. Instead, Berg used the money for Berg’s personal expenses including vehicles, jewelry, rent, travel, groceries, gas, clothing, and dining out. One such expense included a check written from Berg’s bank account in February 2022 to a Clive jewelry store in the amount of $37,343 for the purchase of a custom 14 karat white gold engagement ring featuring a 2.20 carat oval cut diamond and an additional 38 diamonds weighing 1.04 carats in total.

A part of his plea, Berg agreed to forfeit this engagement ring and other jewelry purchased with fraudulently acquired monies. Berg also used the money to make payments to other individuals as purported “returns” or “dividends” on previously received money despite Berg had already spent those individuals’ monies. Berg admitted to making false and fraudulent representations to his victims for the purpose of enriching himself at the expense of the victims.

Berg is scheduled to be sentenced on October 11, 2024, and potentially faces up to twenty years in prison for wire fraud and up to 10 years in prison for money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence Berg will receive after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Berg will also be ordered to pay restitution to all victims of his fraud scheme in an amount to be determined by the sentencing federal district court judge.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Kerndt is prosecuting the case.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who grew up in four northwest Iowa counties may be eligible for incentives to return to the area after they earn a college degree. Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation represents Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet Counties. Curt Strouth, the foundation’s C-E-O, says the “Homegrown Talent” initiative will offer scholarships of up to six-thousand dollars.

“We’ll provide those payments in installments over four years, at $1500 per year, and we’ll pay those directly to the student’s loan provider, so we’re excited about that,” Strouth says. “Everybody’s looking for ways to reduce that student loan debt and this will be a way for us to accomplish that by helping the student, but more importantly bringing those kids back here to northwest Iowa.” The foundation is setting up a scholarship committee to review applications.

“There’ll be procedures in place on how we need to score the applications,” Strouth says, “and maybe some specific sectors of the workforce that we need to identify.” The Iowa Lakes Corridor Foundation will host a golf tournament in Spencer on August 5th as its first fundraiser for the project.

Other communities have taken similar steps in hopes of luring natives to move back. For example, the City of Clinton and Clinton County have a Student Loan Assistance Program that provides eligible residents 30 dollars a month for up to five years to pay off student loan debt.

(Radio Iowa) – A small-town bar in northwest Iowa that’s scheduled for demolition is getting a second lease on life, thanks to its cult following and far-reaching popularity as a live music venue. This week, the Pomeroy City Council confirmed Byron’s Bar will close at the end of July due to structural damage. Owner Byron Stuart says there are now plans to construct a new building about a block away from the current location on Main Street.

“I want to keep live music going,” Stuart says. “It soothes my soul and it soothes a lot of other people’s souls. In order to keep it going. I’m going to need some more money.” A GoFundMe fundraiser that started earlier this year has brought in more than 76-thousand dollars for the project that’s expected to cost 200-thousand. Organizers say mailed-in donations take the total received over 105-thousand dollars.

“I’m overwhelmed with the love being thrown at me,” he says. “I certainly appreciate it. I didn’t know I affected that many people’s lives.” Byron’s was built in the 1890s and attracts musical acts from all over the country. The new location is expected to be ready to rock-n-roll by this fall. Until then, Byron’s will host events at the Pomeroy Community Center.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/build-byrons-in-pomeroy/

(Radio Iowa) – A fund has been set up to help cover medical expenses for a five-year-old girl who was struck by an S-U-V while she was riding her bike in Ruthven. The hit-and-run happened Sunday night and the girl was flown to a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The five-year-old’s great aunt says the child had a punctured lung and internal bruising and doctors were concerned about a head injury.

The girl, who has stitches on her face and an ankle injury, has been released from the hospital. A “Benefit for MacKenzie” bank account at the Ruthven State Bank has been established and the family says all proceeds will go towards medical bills and care for the girl.

The Palo Alto County Sheriff says 22-year-old Laticia Whiting of Estherville fled the scene after hitting the girl. Whiting was arrested late Sunday night in Spirit Lake.

(Radio Iowa) – The Board of Regents approved tuition and mandatory fee increases at the three state universities today (Thursday), while also giving raises to the presidents of the schools. Undergraduate in-state tuition will increase three percent at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, and a two percent increase for the University of Northern Iowa. Student leaders spoke before the board voted, including U-I student body vice president Brenda Ramirez. “While we acknowledge the necessity of tuition increased increases to maintain the quality and education and facilities We also urge the board to consider the significant impacts that increasing tuition every year has on students,” Ramirez says.

She says graduating with debt could impact her future work decision. “Potentially I will have to move to a different state to be able to relieve myself of debt at a faster rate. This could further negatively impact the state with employment shortages, for example one that hits close to the University of Northern Iowa is teacher shortages,” Ramirez says.  University of Northern Iowa student body president Elizabeth Montalvo says work needs to be done to address the situation. “It is worth noting that although around half of Iowa students graduate with zero debt this does not mean that Iowa cannot partake in a bigger solution to keep higher education accessible for all,” Montalvo says.

Iowa State University student body vice president Quinn Margrett says it is tough for students to try and work to pay their tuition and fee costs. “The average on campus job, including undergraduate research positions, pays 12-90 an hour. To pay for tuition, on campus housing, and a meal plan, an in-state undergraduate student would have to work 43 hours at one of these jobs on top of their full time coursework, just to break even,” he says. “When you’re looking at undergraduate out of state or international students, that number increases to almost 80 hours per week.”

Poisonous Hemlock (Iowa State University Extension Service photo)

Margrett says on campus jobs for students are limited to 20 hours per week. The Board of Regents staff says the tuition increase was needed after the Regents requested an increase of 14-point-eight million dollars in general funding from the Legislature and was given 12-point-three million dollars. Margrett says state funding is one of the issue the universities must address to keep college affordable.

“The Iowa legislature’s flat funding of Regent University appropriations speaks to a broader concern. As it’s already been alluded to, as recently as 2001, nearly two thirds of reagent general funding for Regent Universities was appropriated from the state with only one-third coming from student tuition,” he says. Now those proportions have flipped with students carrying two thirds of the burden further education.”

Undergraduate tuition will increase by 270 dollars at the U-I and I-S-U, and 168 dollars at U-N-I. Mandatory fees are going up three percent at U-N-I, two percent at the University of Iowa and one-point-three percent at the University of Northern Iowa. Tuition and fees for undergraduate students are going up at different rates. The Board of Regents approved raises for the three university presidents after approving the tuition and fee increases for students. Regent David Barker read the proposed increases.

“For (U-I) President (Babara) Wilson, authorize a 60-thousand dollar increase to her annual base salary effective July 1st 2024. For President (Wendy) Winterstein authorize a 60-thousand dollar increase to her annual base salary, effective July 1st 2024. For President (Mark) Nook (UNI) authorize a 25-thousand dollar increase to his annual base salary effective July 1st 2024,” he says.

The contract of U-N-I president Nook was extended to 2027 and extended his deferred compensation package that pays 100-thousand dollars annually. The Board also extended the 155-thousand dollar annual deferred compensation contributions for Regents Executive Director Mark Braun for two years, and extended his contract for six years. The increase moves Wilson’s annual salary to 760-thousand dollars, Wintersteen’s moves to 710-thousand dollars, and Nook’s to 397-thousand-110 dollars. Braun’s salary is 154-thousand-300.

(Atlantic, Iowa, via Atlantic FFA Reporter Maddy Anderson) –  Each year the Southwest district and Iowa FFA officers plan and facilitate Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conferences for FFA members in the Southwest district. Atlantic High School welcomed almost 200 FFA members and advisors from 28 FFA chapters from all over the Southwest district on Tuesday June 4th, 2024.

While at Atlantic, on Tuesday, district and state officers lead four interactive workshops for FFA Chapter leaders, many of which are officers, for the annual COLT Conference. The workshops facilitated were local FFA Chapter programs focused in the areas of advocating for the agriculture industry, connecting with stakeholders, recruiting for the local chapter, and working as a cohesive team. FFA leaders also received training relative to their specific officer duties within the local chapter.

Atlantic FFA President Lola Comes said, “The chapter officer leadership training camp was a great opportunity that gave me new perspectives from other officers all around Southwest Iowa. This experience taught me several critical career skills, including professionalism, teamwork, and provided me with additional insight on the agriculture industry. My team and I plan to use these new skills to strengthen our chapter and increase community service time.” Atlantic FFA Officer team will spend some time together working on providing opportunities for the members, recruiting new members into the chapter and coming up with new activities for the chapter.

Left to right
Lilian Johnson, Joaquin Walies, Frank Freund, Lauren Comes, Hayden Kleen, Maddy Anderson, Lola Comes

Southwest District Secretary and Atlantic FFA member Lauren Comes said, “I had a lot of fun facilitating Colt and meeting new members all across the Southwest District. I loved seeing all the different personalities in one room and learning new things about the members I will be serving this year!”

Iowa FFA President, Colin Bauer, stated, “COLT conference provides a chance for FFA members to learn more about their responsibility as a local leader and is a conference for members to meet and connect with state, district and other chapter officers.”

COLT conference programming is designed as a two-year rotation of local leaders training. The focus areas of next year’s program include agriculture literacy, time management, professionalism, and self-confidence. The goal is to engage FFA members in learning about the tools that would allow them to be successful in anything they are part of through high school and beyond.

COLT conference is made possible with support from Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance of Iowa through the Iowa FFA Foundation.

(Washington, Iowa) – Four people under the age of 18 and one adult, all of whom are from Wayland, Iowa, and who were traveling in a van, were injured this (Thursday) morning in southeast Iowa, when large equipment being hauled by a semi tractor-trailer, got caught on a railroad bridge and came off of the trailer. The equipment struck a 2005 Honda Odyssey van driven by 15-year-old Josiah Creamer.

Those injured in the van included Josiah Creamer, 12-year-old Hannah Creamer, 61-year-old Kathy Gugel, 17-year-old Abigail Creamer, and 13-year-old Gideon Creamer, all from Wayland. The driver of the semi, 49-year-old David Herr, of Fremont (IA), was not hurt. Two of the injured, Josiah and Hannah Creamer, were transported by ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The other three were transported by private vehicle to the Washington (IA) Hospital.

The accident remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – A new grocery store in downtown Orange City is named Schedryck which means “bountiful” in Ukraine. Natali Valyanska — the store’s owner and operator — says it’s also the name of a popular Ukrainian song. “All American people know this song. It’s like ‘Carol of the Bells.’ It’s Ukrainian song,” she says. “It’s like treasure. It’s like Ukrainian treasure.”  She says there are a variety of foods and beverages in stock to give Ukrainians who’re living in the area familiar tastes. “We have candy, chocolate, cakes, cookies. We have juice from Ukraine,” she says. “We have pickled tomatoes, pickled cucumber, some baked beans, but a Ukrainian recipe.”

The store has Ukrainian meats, mainly sausage, for sale — and the kind of ice cream that Valyanska prefers. “I think that it’s more tasty,” Valyanska. “I don’t know how to explain. You need just to try.” Valyanska says opening this store has fulfilled a dream. “In Ukraine, I worked 18 years in a bank, but I worked with big companies,” Valyanska says. “My favorite and best company, my best customer, was a retail company in Ukraine, so I know how it works from inside.”

Natali Valyanska

Valyanska has a small gallery in the store featuring paintings by an artist who still lives in Ukraine.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – A man from central Iowa injured during a single-vehicle accident Wednesday afternoon in Guthrie County, was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says the accident happened at around 4:55-p.m. on Highway 44, east of Dogwood Avenue. Authorities say 24-year-old Jonathan Robert Hogan Brandon, of Indianola, was traveling east of Highway 44 when, according to Brandon, he attempted to pass a truck and trailer that was “all over the road.” While trying to pass the vehicle and trailer, the 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis he was driving slipped onto the north shoulder of the road, causing him to lose control.

The car entered the north ditch and continued eastbound before striking a tree. Jonathan Brandon – who was wearing his seat belt – complained of extreme shoulder pain, and was found laying on his back in the north ditch, by a Guthrie County Sheriff’ Deputy. He was transported by EMS ambulance to Methodist West Hospital. The car sustained an estimated $10,000 damage.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Representatives from Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO), the City of Glenwood, and Developer Ryan Sell had a chance to show off the 712 Lofts development to Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg on Tuesday, June 11th. SWIPCO officials say the Lt. Governor was making his way through the region and provided an opportunity to check out this project and discuss other projects in Glenwood. Sell and his family hosted a tour of their conversion project of the former Glen Haven Nursing Home into 3-bedroom and 1-bedroom apartments. The project has been partially funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Recovery Housing funds administered by SWIPCO following the 2019 Missouri River Floods.

Sell talked about the challenges of converting the building into the space they envisioned and hopes it brings a great option for the community. “We wanted to put something here that wasn’t really available anywhere else in town. This gives residents a unique space option with some three-bedroom, two-bath units,” Sell said. There will be 27 units total available once the project is done including a small house on the site that is being renovated as well. Sell said it’s been a learning process and has been challenging and frustrating at times with changes made along the way but it’s all working out. “We were all learning through the process but ultimately SWIPCO and Iowa Economic Development have been great partners. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without the help,” Sell said.

Photo (L-R): SWIPCO Communications Coordinator Chris Parks, Brock Sell, DeShawne Bird-Sell, Developer Ryan Sell, SWIPCO Disaster Recovery Coordinator Ashley Hayes, Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, Glenwood Mayor Angie Winquist, Glenwood City Administrator Amber Farnan, Mills County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jennie Davis, SWIPCO Community Development Specialist Tammy DeBord. (Photo courtesy Chris Parks at SWIPCO/SWITA)

Lieutenant Governor Gregg said he loves seeing projects like this one happen, “Ultimately you hope that this has a chance to bring a new generation to town. This can attract families to your community.” Glenwood City Administrator Amber Farnan also discussed the downtown façade work that is about to get underway because of a CDBG Downtown Revitalization grant that SWIPCO is working with the city on. 8 buildings around the Glenwood town square will get a facelift starting this summer. That project has approximately $960,000 in funding, $490,000 in CDBG funds and $470,000 in city and building owner funds.

Farnan also touched on a fiber project the city is in the midst of with Western Iowa Networks. They entered a partnership to bring fiber internet service to the entire city. The city is using American Rescue Plan Act funds to support the project. Lt. Governor Gregg asked about what obstacles arise in these projects and several on hand expressed concern with some of the changing requirements of grant funds and some of the paperwork obligations being a big challenge to fill. Gregg expressed his sympathy to those issues and said sometimes it’s above the state’s control when it comes to federal funding, but he noted the hangups. Also discussed was the vital need for good infrastructure for communities to continue to grow and attract business, such as a proper water system.

Glenwood officials were very thankful for the funding opportunities that have presented themselves and feel like they have done a good job of spending those funds on the right projects.