(Des Moines, Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand will continue his fifth “100 Town Hall” tour with public town hall appearances Wednesday, June 28th, 2023, in Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley, Harlan, and Audubon.

His office says as part of his promise to meet Iowans where they are and operate with the transparency and accountability they deserve, Sand will deliver remarks and take questions on the work of the State Auditor’s office and the condition of the state’s finances and governance.

Expected topics of discussion include the lack of accountability and transparency in the new school vouchers legislation that will take tax dollars away from public schools to pay instead for private school tuition, new pro-corruption legislation that allows state agencies to hide documents from the State Auditor, and advancements in his Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) program for saving tax dollars.

In advance of his upcoming trip, Auditor Sand says “It helps our office to hear from Iowans and helps Iowans to hear from someone who is willing to go after insiders’ corruption and waste in Iowa’s governments. I’m proud to continue that work in all Iowa’s counties this year.”

Details:

WHEN: Wednesday, June 28, 10:00 am-11:00 am
WHAT: Harrison County Town Hall with State Auditor Rob Sand
WHERE: Missouri Valley City Park, 800 W Huron St, Missouri Valley, IA 51555

WHEN: Wednesday, June 28, 11:45 am-12:45 pm
WHAT: Shelby County Town Hall with State Auditor Rob Sand
WHERE: Potters Park, 1218 College Blvd, Harlan, IA 51537

WHEN: Wednesday, June 28, 1:30 pm-2:30 pm
WHAT: Audubon County Town Hall with State Auditor Rob Sand
WHERE: Albert the Bull Park: World’s Largest Bull, 1108 Division St, Audubon, IA 50025
WHEN: Wednesday, June 28, 3:00 pm-4:00 pm

The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors traveled to the city of Wiota to celebrate the new renovations to the Wiota Steakhouse and Wiota City Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 22, 2023. The Ambassadors also had the opportunity to learn more about the rich history of Wiota while touring a museum, which has been set up in the Wiota Community Center for this weekend’s Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Brenda Williams, owner of the Wiota Steakhouse, shared about the history of the restaurant and how important their business is to the community. After a fire forced the restaurant to close in 2013, locals realized that this was a business that needed to be brought back. A team consisting of Brenda Williams, Ross Havens, and Lawrence Havens worked together to bring the business back to life and reopened in 2015 after an initial remodel. Recently, Williams has applied for different grants, which have allowed for new outside renovations. The process is nearly close to completion, but already looks stunning.

Williams also shared about the work that went into renovating the Wiota City Park. Members of the Wiota Boosters and Wiota City Council worked hard to receive a Community Development Block Grant which helped fund brand new equipment for children to use. The finishing touches were completed two weeks prior, which is just in time for Wiota’s 150^th Anniversary Celebration. The community has a busy weekend planned, with festivities starting the morning of June 24^th and will run until after dark that night. Some of the activities planned include a tractor ride, a parade, a “town royalty” coronation, a swap market, and a steak sandwich supper with a beer garden and live music. The Wiota Steakhouse will be serving beverages Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the “Drunkin’ Junkin’” event.

To learn more about the Wiota Steakhouse, visit their Facebook page, Wiota Steakhouse, or call 712-783-9232. More information pertaining to Wiota’s Sesquicentennial Celebration is also available on their Facebook.

The Creston Police Department reports two arrests on Thursday.

At 10:41 a.m. Creston Police arrested 45-year-old Dennis Gerald Tyler of Creston on a charge of Theft 5th Degree and Forgery. Tyler was taken to the Union County Jail and later posted $5,300 bond.

At 10:20 p.m. Creston Police arrested 56-year-old Bruce Leroy Kerr of Creston on a charge of Driving While Revoked and OWI 2nd Offense. Kerr was taken to the Union County Jail and held on $3,000 bond.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has released the name of the man who was shot and killed by a deputy this week in Sheffield.

The DCI says deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in the western portion of Sheffield at about 9:42 PM on Tuesday on the report of a domestic dispute. On arrival, deputies encountered a male, who is now identified as 30-year-old Matt Davis of Hampton, who was brandishing a handgun. The DCI says Davis was arguing with family members who had locked themselves inside the house and called 9-1-1. Deputies ordered Davis to drop the gun, and he refused and started walking toward the deputies. Davis pointed the gun at a passing vehicle and then the deputies. Deputies shot Davis, striking him once. Davis died at the scene.

The DCI says the weapon Davis pointed at the deputies was a pellet gun, and that the incident was captured on the deputies’ body cameras. Upon completion of their investigation, the DCI will forward all results to the Franklin County Attorney’s Office for review.

Consistently ranked as one of the top five events of its kind in the country, the Des Moines Arts Festival opens later today (Friday) in the downtown’s Western Gateway Park. Colleen Murphy, the fest’s community relations director, says they’ll be showcasing 190 artists from 34 states during the three-day event, and there’s also a spotlight on in-state talent called the Emerging Iowa Artists program.

Whether you’re looking for a painting in oil or watercolor, framed nature photography, or a piece of sculpture for the mantel, there will be works of art ranging in price from just a few dollars to a few thousand dollars.

During the art show, the Des Moines Central Library is hosting a free film festival featuring an array of more than 40 movies from nine countries. There’s also live music on two stages, including the nationally-touring band Sister Hazel. The weather forecast calls for highs all three days in the upper 80s or low 90s, so she suggests you dress cool, wear a hat and sunscreen, plus, there are five main beverage stations to help you stay hydrated.

In recent years, the festival has drawn a crowd of around 250-thousand over the three days. Admission and parking are free through Sunday. https://www.desmoinesartsfestival.org

Another former resident of the Davenport apartment building that partially collapsed last month is suing Andrew Wold, the building’s owner. Broc Nelson is the fourth tenant to allege it was negligence on the part of Wold, his L-L-Cs, the City of Davenport and others that led to the deadly cave-in. Nelson lived in the building for three years and says since Wold took ownership in 2021, the property went downhill. He says they went without heat for a full month during the winter.

Nelson was playing a video game on his first day off in a week, when he felt the building shake and heard a big rush of air. From his window, he could see nothing through the dust. Nelson threw on some shoes, grabbed his phone and keys, and left with the shirt on his back.

Outside, he and other residents were shocked to find the building’s western wall had collapsed, killing three tenants and displacing about a hundred residents.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Friday of 50-year-old Charity Ann Boulton of Red Oak on a valid warrant for Theft 5th Degree. Boulton was taken arrested at about noon on North Broadway Street and taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 cash bond.

(Radio Iowa)- State Auditor Rob Sand says it’s unclear whether a new state law may restrict the ability of his office to review how a private company manages the new state-funded accounts for private school expenses.

The law forbids the state auditor’s office from going to court to force state officials and agencies to turn over documents. It also restricts Sand’s office from accessing personal information that an individual would reasonably expect to be kept private or consider unnecessary to an audit. Sand, the only Democrat in statewide office, says Republican lawmakers who approved those restrictions have limited the ability of his office to investigate potential fraud.

A New York firm called Odyssey was awarded the state contract to manage the new program. Parents seeking state funded accounts to cover their child’s private schooling have to provide financial data to the company through its website. The company then will manage all payments for tuition and other acceptable expenses like school fees.

Sand made his comments after a town hall meeting in Mason City Thursday afternoon. Sand also held town hall meetings yesterday (Thursday) in Algona, Garner, Forest City and Northwood.

(Lewis, Iowa) – A woman complained of shoulder pain and a male claimed to be uninjured, following a tractor-trailer rollover accident east of Lewis, late Thursday night. The semi rolled into the north ditch just west of 610th and Oxford Road, at around 11:55-p.m.

The Cass County Communications Center advised emergency responders to be aware “piglets” were “Running everywhere,” following the crash. Lewis 1st Responders, Griswold Rescue and Cass EMS were paged to the scene.

Cass County Sheriff’s deputies were also on the scene near the Bob Nichols Farm at 61228 Oxford Road. Additional details are currently not available.

DES MOINES – Iowa Gov. Reynolds, Thursday, announced appointments to Iowa’s boards and commissions.

The following area appointees (Name/County), are not subject to Senate confirmation:

State Historical Society of Iowa Board of Trustees 

Sarah Bowman, Dallas

Kevin Condon, Dallas

State Historical Records Advisory Board 

Andy Swanson, Dallas

Terrace Hill Commission 

Jerry Mathiasen, Pottawattamie

Council on Agricultural Education 
Nathan Van Zante, Pottawattamie

Statewide Independent Living Council 
Kyla Claussen, Pottawattamie

Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council
Mike Vratsinas, Dallas

Advisory Council on Brain Injuries
Andrea Gomez, Page

Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service 
Ashley Denton, Harrison

Iowa Arts Council
Lance Ehmcke, Woodbury
Tim Dickmeyer, Pottawattamie

The following appointments are subject to Senate confirmation:

State Board of Educational Examiners
Kathy Behrens, Carroll