This is the last weekend before Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, and gasoline prices are inching downward as demand drops with less travel, though prices are still high compared to a year ago and even a month ago. Triple-A-Iowa spokesman Brian Ortner says crude oil prices are gradually falling and that translates to a drop in prices at the pump.

The motor club says the average price for a gallon of self-serve unleaded is now three-61 in Iowa, which is 21-cents below the national average.

Triple-A says the highest gas prices in the state are in both Ames and Dubuque at three-76 a gallon, while the lowest prices are in Waterloo/Cedar Falls at three-47.

More than 400-thousand Iowans will have to resume paying off their student loan debt in October. Nathan Nash, an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission, warns scammers are hoping to capitalize.

Every U-S government website ends with dot-gov. Nash says the Federal Trade Commission recently stopped scammers claiming they could get student loans forgiven — for a fee.

The defendants in the recent student loan scam claimed be from the U-S Department of Education and falsely promised to lower or eliminate student loan payments.

U.S. Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Angie Craig (MN-02) today introduced bipartisan legislation to support rural small businesses. The Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Act will eliminate barriers within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) to increase support for small businesses receiving loans through the program.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our rural areas, providing needed services and a sense of community that drive the economy,” said Rep. Nunn. “As costs climb for businesses, we need to adapt to ensure additional support to these job creators throughout the areas of Iowa that need it most.”

99 percent of all Iowa businesses are small businesses, employing near half of all working Iowans. In August of 2022, 64.2 percent of small businesses reported finding it challenging to access the capital they need to start a business. Rural small businesses often find it especially difficult to find ample cash flow.

The USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program provides loans or grants to small businesses to help with startup and growth. The program also provides training and technical assistance to borrowers and microentrepreneurs. Currently, loans are limited to 75 percent of the project cost up to $50,000. The loans are limited to use for certain start up, expansion, new equipment purchases, or facility improvement costs.

The bipartisan Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Act will remove those limits to ensure this program fully supports rural small businesses.  Specifically, the bill:

• Provides an inflation adjustment to the maximum loan amount given to a business.
  Allows a RMAP loan to be used for 100 percent of project costs, an increase from the current rate of 75 percent.
  Empowers businesses to use RMAP loans to finance up to 50 percent of real estate construction costs, which is prohibited under current rules.

Rep. Nunn introduced the legislation with three small business owners and the Center for Rural Affairs in Ottumwa, Iowa.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office issued a report on recent activity Friday.

On July 28th, deputies arrested 40 year old Kristin Wiechman of Prescott for causing bodily injury.  Wiechman was booked and released.

On August 1st, 34 year old Megan Johnson of St. Joseph, Missouri was arrested during a traffic stop in Corning and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.  She was booked at the Adams County Jail and released after posting bond.  A 14 year old juvenile in the vehicle was also charged with minor in possession of a vapor product.

On August 6th, 31 year old Sandra Kile of Creston was arrested during a traffic stop and charged with driving while suspended.

On August 8th, 48 year old Cherokie Davis of Corning was arrested at a traffic stop and charged with operating while intoxicated, 1st offense.

On August 12th, Christopher Draman of Lenox was charged during a traffic stop with driving while suspended.

Also on August 12th, a 16 year old juvenile was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) and possession of drug paranernalia.

On August 14th at 6:30 pm, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call that 5 juveniles were missing from a kayaking trip on the East Nodaway River.  Deputies were able to locate the 5 juveniles walking in a bean field approximately 2 miles east of Brooks.  The youngsters said that they were kayaking in front of two adults and another juvenile on the river.  The 5 stopped on the river to wait for the others to catch up.  The adults never showed up after the juveniles waited for nearly 4 hours.  The adults dialed 9-1-1 when they found the 5 kayaks the juveniles were using empty along the riverbank.  The 5 were treated by Adams County ambulance and released to their families.  Later that night, shortly after 9:30, the Sheriff’s Office got another 9-1-1 call that the two adults and one juvenile were still on the river about 1.5 miles east of Brooks.  The caller said one adult male was experiencing medical issues and needed immediate attention.  The three were safely located and the adult male was taken to CHI Health Mercy in Corning.

On August 22nd, Angela Marie Nicholson of Corning was arrested on an active warrant for failing to appear on an original charge of probation violation.  Nicholson was posted bond and was released.

Red Oak police report that on Thursday, August 24 at 11:45 pm they arrested 31 year old Drew Gagnon of Harlan in the 200 block of North Broadway in Red Oak for possession of drug paraphernalia.  He was held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

Also, on Thursday, a minor traffic accident was reported shortly afternoon 2:00 pm at the intersection of North 6th Street and East Corning Street in Red Oak.  Susan Edenburn of Red Oak was traveling south on North 6th Street in her 2001 Pontiac Grand Am and went through the stop sigh, striking the front of a 2012 Chevy Silverado driven by Justin Eugene White of Red Oak.  Neither driver was injured.  Damage to each vehicle was $1,000.  Edenburn was charged with failing to obey a stop sign.