DES MOINES – In recognition of Veterans Day, Iowa Workforce Development is holding events throughout Iowa to recognize veterans and to help veterans find employment. IWD offers numerous programs and services at its one-stop IowaWORKS offices throughout the state. Veteran Representatives in the IowaWORKS offices provide veterans and clients of Veterans Administration Vocational Rehabilitation with the following services:

• Home Base Iowa, Iowa’s award-winning innovative program to help veterans find jobs in Iowa
• Conduct job searches
• Develop job interviewing and resume writing skills
• Help place eligible veterans in federally-funded employment and training programs
• Monitor job listings from federal agencies and federal contractors to ensure veterans receive priority service when referred for these jobs
• Provide intensive services to meet the employment needs of eligible veterans

IWD Director Beth Townsend said veterans are an important asset to Iowa’s workforce. Townsend retired from the Air Force Reserve in 2010 as a Lieutenant Colonel after 21 years of active and reserve duty.

According to Wallet Hubs 2016’s Best & Worst States for Military Retirees, Iowa ranked first in the nation in the categories of Most Veteran Job Opportunities and Most Affordable Housing. Additionally, Iowa ranked third in the category of Lowest Percentage of Homeless Veterans. In 2014, Iowa passed legislation known as the Home Base Iowa Act, which provides the following incentives for veterans:

• Military Pension Income Tax Exemption – fully exempts military pensions from state income tax
• Permissive Veterans Hiring Preference – allows veterans preferential treatment in hiring decisions for both public and private organizations
• Military Homeownership Assistance Program – provides veterans up to $7,500 toward down payment or closing costs of a home by using the Iowa Finance Authority program
• Higher Education Incentives – provides automatic, in-state tuition to veterans, their spouse and their dependents.

Veterans currently living in Iowa or who want to relocate to Iowa can upload their resume at the Home Base Iowa website at www.homebaseiowa.gov.

Locally, event date/time/places include:

Creston: Event…Veterans Day Event; Date: Friday, Nov. 11; Time: 2:15 p.m.; Location: Creston High School Gymnasium, 601 W. Townline, Creston; Details: Community event held at Creston High School honoring local Veterans. The event will include a musical program, readings, and presentations by local high school students and community members. Open to the public; Contact: No RSVP required. For more information contact Cassie Randall (641) 782-2119 ext. 42.

Denison: Event…Veterans Appreciation Past, Present & Future; Date: Thursday, Nov. 10; Time: 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; Location: Denison Workforce Transition Center, 19 Hwy 39 N, Denison; Details: Monica Walley will speak about her experience in the military. Current veterans serving our country, sharing with those considering serving our country in the future and Staff Sergeant Aaron Helmrich will speak about the benefits of serving.; RSVP: No RSVP required. For more information contact Sherri Vaughn at sherri.vaughn@iwd.iowa.gov.

Omaha: Event…VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System STAND DOWN; Date: Thursday, Nov. 10; Time: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Location: Grace University Field House, 820 Pine St., Omaha; Details: For homeless Veterans eligible for VA health care. Free health care services will be available along with other services including drug and alcohol counseling, suicide prevention, veteran assistance agencies/employment assistance, clothing, health screening, eye exams, benefit information, Chaplains, and foot care. Lunch will be served.; RSVP: Registration is encouraged by calling your local VA business office.

Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst is scheduled to present various Medals to veterans across the State this coming week. On Tuesday, Ernst will be in Lenox to made Medal presentations to World War II veterans Dean Kester and Harold Walter.

Both men will receive the Navy Good Conduct Medal; World War II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal.

Other Medals to be awarded to Dean Kester include: The American Defense Service and Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medals. 

Other Medals to be awarded to Harold Walter include: Discharge Button, and Honorable Service Lapel Pin.

The event takes place 10-a.m. Tuesday at the Vintage Park Assisted Living and Memory Care facility, 810 East Van Buren Street, in Lenox. Similar events this week will award Medals to veterans in Newton, Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown, and Ankeny.

The Iowa State Patrol late this (Friday) afternoon released details about a fatal crash that took place at around 5:30-a.m. today (Friday). Officials say 38-year old Adam Wolf, of Omaha, died, when the 2007 International semi he was driving, struck a 2012 Volvo semi on I-80 eastbound, at about a mile east of the exit to Highway 71.

The Volvo semi, semi driven by 51-year old Angelo Chiarelli, of Lancaster, PA, had left the road for reasons unknown and struck the Nishna River Bridge, before losing control and rolling onto the driver’s side. After the International semi struck the Volvo rig, both semi’s caught fire. Wolf died at the scene. Chiarelli was transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital.

The accident remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Six people from Iowa and one from Nebraska will serve shorter prison sentences after President Barack Obama granted them clemency. Most of the 72 offenders in Friday’s announcement committed drug crimes considered nonviolent.

Justin Border, of Davenport, will serve 14 of 20 years and ZoAnn Brown, of Rowan, will have served about 11 of her 24-year sentence when she’s released in 2018. Martin Godbersen, of Sioux City, will serve about 12 years of his nearly 19-year sentence. Mandy Martinson, of Mason City, had about four years knocked off her 15-year sentence. Michael Lee Roth, of Primghar, and Juan Carlos Munoz, of South Sioux City, Nebraska, will each serve 15 of their 20-year sentences.

Obama has granted 944 people clemency, more than the previous 11 presidents combined.

Police in Atlantic have arrested a woman on drug and other charges. 35-year old Sharlene Killion, of Atlantic, was arrested Wednesday for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and on a Cass County warrant for Assault. Killion was being held in the Cass County Jail.

On Thursday, Atlantic Police arrested 18-year old Dustin Jones, of Atlantic, for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting). And, 31-year old Greg Richter, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault causing injury, and Obstruction of Emergency Communications. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

HOLSTEIN, Iowa (AP) – The tiny western Iowa city of Holstein celebrates the reopening of its 89-year-old Historic State Theater after the community raised $200,000 and restored the dilapidated theater.  The Sioux City Journal reports that the theater is scheduled to open Friday night. The theater, which closed in 2013, has a new $27,000 roof, 150 new theater seats, a new $6,000 screen and a $60,000 digital projector.

The Save the State Theater campaign started in June 2015 and saw widespread support in Holstein, including $1,200 raised from a can recycling drive.