(Radio Iowa) Organizers of the “Rooster Tail Ride” are hoping their event next weekend will encourage bicyclists to venture farther on the Wabash Trace Nature Trail. There’s a 20-mile ride on the trail from Council Bluffs to Mineola on Tuesday nights in the late spring through late October when the weather cooperates. Rebecca Castle, who’s on the Southwest Iowa Nature Trails board, says the 35 mile Rooster Tail Ride extends to Shenandoah and combines bicycling and live music in each of the towns riders pass through. “We’ve also added a couple of stops, so now we have live music on the Silver Creek bridge, which is a nice, about halfway point between Silver City and Malvern,” Castle says, “and then we also have music in Strahan, which is a ghost town about halfway between Malvern and Imogene.”

Castle says the towns and musical acts along the route break up the ride into nine mile segments. “For those people that maybe aren’t experienced riders, don’t have a lot of long distances under their belt, this is still a good ride for them,” Castle says. There is a pre-party in Mineola on Friday, August 12th, but the ride starts Saturday morning, August 13th in Mineola. “You’ll bring your luggage there to Mineola and then that morning we will haul from Mineola down to Shenandoah, to Sportsmen’s Park. That’s where the camping is,” Castle says. “And then there’ll be showers not only at the pool, whilc they’re open, but at Pork Belly Events. They will be bringing their shower trailers that they use for RAGBRAI and other events for later showers also.”

There’s a 45 dollar registration fee, plus Castle says the Rooster Tail Ride has local sponsors and a state grant to help pay the musical acts and cover other expenses. A band called Silver Bullet that plays Bob Seger tunes and a Tom Petty tribute band from Kansas City are booked to perform in Shenandoah for the riders. The Wabash Nature Trail for biking and hiking is on the former Wabash rail line. It starts in Council Bluffs and ends 63 miles later in the tiny town of Blanchard, in Page County.

JOHNSTON, Iowa – August 4, 2023 – Applications are open for the Iowa Corn Collegiate Advisory Team (CAT) program, which focuses on increasing college students’ understanding of the corn industry. During the one-year program, students will visit the Capitol, tour industry leaders’ operations and expand their network and knowledge outside of the classroom. Applications are available on Iowa Corn’s website and are due September 29, 2023.

“I would recommend the Collegiate Advisory Team to others because it helped me expand my network of industry professionals before leaving college,” said Austin Miller of Buchanan  County and 2022-2023 CAT member.  “Through the program, I was able to tour an ethanol plant, learn how policy development is created from the ground up and expand my knowledge of what commodity organizations do.”

“Leadership development is a priority at Iowa Corn,” said Larry Buss, President of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. “Our organization and other commodity groups rely on strong farmer and producer volunteers to guide our organizations now and into the future. The Collegiate Advisory Team, allows us to jumpstart many farmers and ag industry leader’s careers and leadership capabilities.”

2023- 2024 Schedule of Events:

• Session 1: November 9 – 10, 2023
• Session 2: January 25 – 26, 2024
• Session 3: March 28 – 29, 2024
• Session 4: Iowa Corn Grassroots Summit (Optional)

Any post-secondary student who has completed high school and is attending an Iowa college of university to pursue a career in agriculture is encouraged to apply. If you or someone you know might be interested, please contact Brian Bell, Iowa Corn Director of Leadership and Organizational Development at bbell@iowacorn.org.  For more information, visit www.iowacorn.org/CAT.  

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announced today (Friday), that his office has released a new and updated handbook for Iowa notaries. Iowa notaries are essential components of Iowa’s business, legal, financial, and real estate communities, and it is imperative for every Iowa notary Public to stay current on Iowa notary law and receive guidance on proper recording and notarial service.

The Handbook for Iowa Notaries Public was finalized and published during the summer of 2023 to provide Iowa notaries with an additional, convenient resource for learning and as a reference on best practices.

Pate says his office “Is proud to serve as Iowa’s small business portal, and Iowa’s notaries are integral to the state’s business community. This handbook provides valuable information to help notaries perform these duties. It is our hope that this resource complements notarial service, empowers notarial participation, and inspires notarial integrity.”

Iowa Notaries Public are commissioned by the Office of the Iowa Secretary of State to serve the public as impartial and unbiased witnesses. The most common function of the notary is to witness and attest that the identity of the person appearing before the notary matches the identity of the person who signed the document.

The handbook includes information on electronic and remote online notarizations as well as traditional notarization. While the updated handbook offers important guidance on notarial services, it is not legal advice, and notaries with legal questions should consult an attorney. Additionally, all notaries are strongly encouraged to read and understand Iowa Code chapter 9B and Iowa Administrative Code 721—43 for further guidance.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Variety Children’s Charity say Fareway Stores, Inc. partnered with Variety to conduct the seventh annual Round Up at the register in July at all 138 store locations, raising a total of $171,450.14 for Variety – the Children’s Charity. Fareway CEO Reynolds W. Cramer said “We want to thank our generous customers for their heartfelt donations to Variety-the Children’s Charity. We have proudly partnered with Variety for more than 35 years and are committed to helping kids who are at-risk, critically ill, or living with special needs across our footprint.”

Customers had the opportunity to round up to the next dollar or provide an additional donation on their grocery bill to help fund Variety’s mission. Dollars raised through the round up will stay in the state in which they were raised, and will help create opportunities for children to fully share in the experiences of life.

The top five fundraising stores will now have the opportunity to host a specialized bike giveaway to a child in their community:

1.    077-Norwalk

2.    137-Polk City

3.    705-Clear Lake

4.    073-Council Bluffs   

5.    025-Clinton

Sheri McMichael, State of Iowa Executive Director of Variety, said “We sincerely appreciate the fundraising efforts of Fareway and Fareway customers. These funds will allow us to continue our efforts to help children who are at-risk, under privileged, critically ill or living with special needs.”

(Radio Iowa) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will headline a fundraiser this Saturday for Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird. Bird, the first Republican in 40 years to serve as Iowa’s attorney general, has appeared with other G-O-P presidential candidates, too. “When they come to Iowa, I’m glad to show them around, whether that’s showing them around the farm or around the State Fair that’s coming up,” Bird says. “I look forward to hosting all of them.”

A few dozen Republicans in the Iowa legislature have endorsed candidates in the 2024 presidential race, but statewide elected officials have not. “Right now, I am neutral — not endorsing in the Caucuses,” Bird says. “My focus is really on doing the job that I’ve got before me. It’s a big job. I’ve got changes to make since my predecessor had been there for four decades.”

Bird, who defeated incumbent Democrat Tom Miller in last fall’s election, says she may endorse a candidate as the January 15th Caucuses draw closer. “I’m somebody that loves the Iowa Caucuses. I went to my first caucus when I was just 13, so I think the most important thing about the Caucuses will be about the people who go and show up and vote and persuade their neighbors about who they should vote for,” Bird says. “That’s the beauty of the Caucus.”

Bird, by the way, was a junior delegate when she was 13 and did not vote in the Caucuses. Bird made her comments during a recent appearance on Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S.

(Hospers, Iowa) – A collision between a car and a semi tractor-trailer in northwest Iowa, Thursday afternoon, resulted in four people being transported to the hospital in Orange City. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 1999 Chevy Malibu and a 2014 Peterbilt semi was traveling north on Highway 60 in Hospers, with the semi in the left lane, traveling faster than the car. As the semi nearly came abreast of the car, the driver of the Chevy, 28-year-old Dinora Sabillon-Diaz, of South Sioux City, NE., signaled a lane change, and moved left, into the side of the semi.

The car hit the right front corner of the semi before going sideways and hitting the front of the semi. The truck came to rest on the Highway, north of the intersection with Hospers Drive. The car came to rest in the median, north of Hospers Drive. The accident happened at around 3:30-p.m.

Dinora Sabillon-Diaz and her passengers: 49-year-old Edith Sabillon-Diaz, an eight-year-old child and a three-year-old child, all of South Sioux City, NE., were injured. None of the crash victims were wearing a seat belt.

The driver of the semi, 75-year-old Jerald William Ollerich, of Sioux Falls, SD, was not injured.

Atlantic, IA – Cass Health and Adair County Health System have jointly announced that Dr. Marcela Pineda will be offering an obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) clinic at Adair County Health System in Greenfield, Iowa. Dr. Pineda will provide care to patients on the first Wednesday morning of every month.

CCHS Chief Operating Officer Amanda Bireline, says “Cass Health continues to grow as the regional center for obstetrics care, and Dr. Pineda is one of the primary reasons behind that growth. With her outreach clinics in Red Oak, Corning, and now Greenfield, more women in southwest Iowa can receive obstetrics and gynecology care at a location that’s convenient for them. Being able to deliver care close to home increases the safety and health of our rural communities. We are proud to contribute to the well-being of our family, friends and neighbors.”

Catherine Hillestad, CEO of Adair County Health System, says “We are extremely excited to have Dr. Pineda come to ACHS. We know she will be an amazing asset to our community.”

Dr. Marcela Pineda

Dr. Pineda currently provides comprehensive obstetrics and gynecology care for women of all ages at the Atlantic Medical Center, Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, and Corning Medical Clinic. She completed her residency at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, New York, and she obtained her medical degree at Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala City, Guatemala. She was the recipient of the Striving for Excellence Award and Recognition by Hospital Centro Medico Guatemala for outstanding performance as a Medical Resident. Dr. Pineda is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Appointments with Dr. Pineda for all clinic locations can be scheduled by calling 712-243-2850.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors, Thursday (August 3rd, 2023), met to celebrate the opening of a new downtown business, RELIC, with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The ambassadors also had the opportunity to meet with the owner and learn more about what went into the process of opening.

Darrin Kimball, owner of RELIC, took the time to share about what inspired him to open a high-end antique shop in the community, as well as what it took to reach his goals. A Brayton, Iowa native, Kimball has had a wide variety of experiences in the design field after traveling the globe and working for different businesses. Kimball also had the opportunity to work for another high-end antique shop in San Francisco, named Loved to Death, which was even featured in a television series. After choosing to retire and move back to the area, Kimball knew that he still needed to stay busy. His previous experience with different antique shops helped inspire the contents and idea of RELIC.

Ambassadors from Left to Right: Paige Jensen, Steve Andersen, Amanda Christensen, Janet Cappel, Connie Wailes, Dr. Keith Leonard, Rick Mericle, Lana Westphalen, Larry Coles, Rebecca Clarken, Elaine Otte, Linda Kimball, John Bricker, Jason Watson, Reagon Watson, Jeremy Butler, Tracy Scott, Brian Wedemeyer, Sue Liston, Darrin Kimball, Anne Quist, Dolly Bergmann, Bill Saluk, Ruth Sears, Tori Gibson, Krysta Hanson, Alisha Wagner, Kathie Hockenberry, Megan Sramek, Jim Kickland, Jen McEntaffer, Kelsey Beschorner. (Photo provided by the Chamber)

Kimball is excited to watch his business and customer base continue to expand, as sales are increasing each day. He stays busy bringing in different vendors and coordinating with the existing 25 to change out inventory displays weekly. RELIC offers a selection of unique items such as traditional antiques, TrUe JuNk candle line, the Old School Barber, and Midwest Mable clothing line. Kimball’s main focus is to not only grow his business, but to also help grow Downtown Atlantic, by partnering with other Atlantic businesses for different events.

RELIC is open 9-5 Monday through Saturday, and 9-7 on Thursdays. For more information regarding the business, visit their Facebook page, RELIC – Atlantic, or call 712-249-5742. RELIC is located at 401 Chestnut Street in Atlantic.

(Radio Iowa) – Fourth District Congressman Randy Feenstra is introducing a bill that would increase the federal government’s monitoring of farmland purchases by foreign business. Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, says the Farmland Act is aimed at China. “We’re seeing it more and more that China or Chinese businesses are buying our farmland and it’s nearly doubled in the last five years from the land they bought over the last decades to just the last three years,” Feenstra says. “They’ve nearly doubled the amount of land they’re buying. And it really comes from a lot of their businesses and obviously security issues is our biggest concern.”

The bill directs U.S. agencies to cooperate on oversight of these transactions. “The one that’s probably most important right now is just trying to get all the agencies together, the USDA, the DOD, other agencies around the country, to get them all together talking the same language and making sure that we are prohibiting some of these things from happening,” he says. “Right now, there’s a lot of lapses that have happened. I know the USDA has only ever really got involved with six different purchases over the last several years.”

Chinese firms have been purchasing U-S ag businesses, and that’s a concern to Feenstra. “If you think about from the farmland to Smithfield to they bought a seed company, I mean, they’re vertically integrated in the whole system from the land all the way to the production side and to our grocery stores,” Feenstra says. “So this has to worry us significantly. What is the purpose? Why are they doing this? And we’re trying to get oversight on this.” In particular, Feenstra says he’s concerned over Chinese land purchases near military bases. “This is sort of what started in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It was right by our military installation there,” he says. “We have some of our most secure military assets over there and to have that land being bought and overseen by the Chinese Communist Party is a very significant concern.”

Feenstra says the federal government has not enforced laws already on the books that would protect the U.S. from acquisition of farmland by foreign adversaries.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – State Auditor Rob Sand, today (Friday), released an audit report on the City of Audubon. There were no, unusual findings noted in the report, just some issues with administrative oversight, which is a common feature of reports from the Auditor’s Office.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS:
The City’s receipts totaled $6,352,289 for the year ended June 30, 2022, a 2.8% increase over the prior year. Disbursements for the year ended June 30, 2022, totaled $5,181,056, a 7.8% decrease from the prior year. The decrease in disbursements is primarily due to the decrease in capital project activity in the current fiscal year.

AUDIT FINDINGS:
Sand reported seven findings related to the receipt and disbursement of taxpayer funds. They are found on pages 48 through 56 of the report. The findings address issues such as a lack of segregation of duties, errors in financial reporting, disbursements exceeding budgeted amounts and deficit fund balances in the Special Revenue, Road Use Tax and Economic Development Funds. Sand provided the City and the component unit with recommendations to address each of the findings.

Six of the seven findings discussed above pertaining to the City, are repeated from the prior year. Sand said “The City Council has a fiduciary responsibility to provide oversight of the City’s operations and financial transactions. Oversight is typically defined as the “watchful and responsible care” a governing body exercises in its fiduciary capacity.”

A copy of the audit report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s website at Audit Reports – Auditor of State.