DES MOINES – The popular Trees for Kids grant program is accepting applications through August 26.

Grantees can be awarded up to $2,500 to purchase trees and mulch. All trees for this program must be planted on public community grounds (park, community center, public school, etc.)  Youth are required to be engaged in the process, most often helping to plant the trees on site.

“Planting trees is a fun way to connect kids to nature, build on their sense of wonder and explore the benefits trees provide at their school and in their community,” said Chip Murrow, urban forestry program specialist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Studies show trees planted around schools and in neighborhoods give youth increased levels of concentration, lower levels of aggression, lower levels of obesity and fewer symptoms of ADHD.

To apply for the grant, visit: www.iowadnr.gov/UrbanForestry.

GRUNDY CENTER, Iowa [KCCI-TV] — A former Grundy Center firefighter accused of setting a string of fires will spend decades in prison.

This week, Kendall Rhoades was sentenced to 25 years in prison. According to prosecutors, Rhoades would start a fire and then respond to it with the fire department.

Rhoades pleaded guilty to two counts of arson, which carries a 20-year sentence. He received five more years for an unrelated domestic abuse case. Rhoades was on probation for that case at the time of the fires.

(Radio Iowa) – An eye doctor who serves northeast Iowa dreads being on call during the Fourth of July, as she says there’s always a case of someone being blinded by fireworks. Dr. Anna Kitzmann, an ophthalmologist with Gundersen Health in Decorah, says fireworks can cause devastating injuries to the hands, face and especially to the eyes.

“We see everything from mild eye injuries to maybe just a scratch on the surface of the eye,” Kitzmann says, “to very serious eye injuries that result in blindness and even loss of the eyeball.” While manufacturers of fireworks recommend the use of hearing and eye protection before lighting the fuse, Kitzmann says she’d go a big step further.

“My number-one suggestion, honestly, would be to leave fireworks to the professionals, to not buy fireworks, to just watch a professional fireworks display from a safe distance,” Kitzmann says. “Choosing ways to celebrate with glowsticks or other things that aren’t fireworks to show support in a patriotic manner would be my recommendation.” Some items being sold in the big tents for Independence Day don’t go bang, and they’re considered fine for kids, but Kitzmann disagrees.

“Even sparklers are dangerous. We often think that sparklers are safe for children, but they can burn at 1,800 degrees,” Kitzmann says. “Even sparklers are not safe for children, so really, my number-one suggestion would be to please just leave fireworks to the professionals.”

State health officials say the number of fireworks injuries in Iowa has more than doubled since fireworks were legalized for sale here in 2017, with many more children being hurt and more people needing amputation.

(Radio Iowa) – The Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Center has a location that’s now open in Sioux Center to address the needs of local flood victims. Northwest Iowa Regional Director Larry Wajda, says they typically work with people that are self-employed. “So your mom and pop shops on Main Street the people that employed 25 people in your community that have been donating to the Little League people that have been donating to the churches these people that are keeping small towns alive that’s my number one job is how do we keep them in the community,” he says.

Wajda says FEMA funding goes through the S-B-A, so counselors at his center are also helping families with personal loss. He says the business recovery center coordinates the efforts and connects the dots between the S-B-A and FEMA. Monday was the first full day of operation, and the center served 20 individuals.

“Some people that have rental properties, some people that they had a bakery in a small town, we had a person that was a graphic designer that doesn’t understand what their next steps are,” Wajda says. “We can’t make that decision for them we can just kind of give them some options and be empathetic.” Wajda says they assist people with filling out disaster relief forms, answering questions, or just providing information.

“Sometimes it’s even just reassurance and saying ‘Do you have a status update?’ We can log in and find that out for you and kind of tell you where you’re at,” he says. “You know, often I think that when we put out press releases, we’re like, hey, even if you’re not sure, fill this thing out and see what you’re eligible for. True. But do you want a tangible answer of where it’s going to go? We can do that for you and show it to you in this recovery center.”

Wajda encourages people with questions to call him directly at 712-580-8619. In addition, he says they have battery packs for charging phones, computers, etc., as well as water bottles at the S-B-R-C in Sioux Center for those that need them. Those items, and the services they provide are free.

(Bedford, Iowa) – The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports shortly after 3-a.m. today (Thursday, July 4, 2024), Taylor County dispatch received a report of a shooting on Broadway in Clearfield (Iowa). Authorities discovered a deceased male victim. One person of interest was taken into custody.

The Iowa DCI was called to assist with the investigation along with Adams and Ringgold County Sheriff’s Departments, Taylor County Ambulance, Iowa State Patrol, Taylor County Attorney and the Adams/Taylor County medical Examiner .

No further information will be released at this time.

As Iowans celebrate Independence Day, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) reminds all drivers, No One’s a Good DRUNK Driver. In 2022, a person was killed every 39 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation’s roads. July 3 through July 7, law enforcement across the state will be on high alert for signs of drunk driving and taking necessary steps to remove these dangers from the road. 

Every year, the Fourth of July stands out as one of the deadliest times on Iowa roads. Over the past five years (2019-2023), there have been 32 traffic fatalities during the holiday, with 50% of those being alcohol related.

 “If you sense any level of buzz, it is your duty to stay away from the driver’s seat. For some people, even one drink is too many to drive safely,” says GTSB Bureau Chief Brett Tjepkes. “Unfortunately, many drivers don’t realize how impaired they are or feel they’re still good to drive after consuming alcohol. That’s why GTSB launched a new campaign this year to remind Iowans, No One’s a Good DRUNK Driver.” 

Lots of planning goes into Fourth of July festivities, plan for a sober driver. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, be proactive — take away the keys, find a safe ride home, or offer a couch. 

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau works with city, county, state, and local organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce death and injury on Iowa’s roadways using federally funded grants.

There are steps that you can take the will make your trips safer. Driving within the posted speed limits can give you more time to react in an emergency. Wearing your seatbelt will help protect you from an accident.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds believes the burgeoning market for hemp-infused candies, drinks and other products is taking advantage of the 2018 Farm Bill’s hemp provision. “I had issues with this bill from the beginning. It was never designed to do that, it was the intent of the hemp bill. It was actually another commodity for our farmers. That was actually the intent,” Reynolds says. New regulations on these products begin in July that only allow people who are 21 and older to buy the hemp infused items. And the state will restrict the potency of these products to four milligrams of T-H-C per serving or ten milligrams per container.

Reynolds visited Alcohol & Drug Dependency Services of Southeast Iowa in Keokuk, and says the state regulations address the issues that the Farm Bill didn’t. “It didn’t deal with minors and their access to T-H-C. This mixing T-H-C with alcohol. That’s a dangerous combination. I’m at a recovery center and we want to make sure people are informed,” she says.

Hemp infused products (IPR photo)

Two Iowa companies which make the hemp infused products are suing the state over the new regulations. The lawsuit says the regulations would criminalize 80 percent of their current inventories. Neither company sells products that mix T-H-C and alcohol.

(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowans love the distinctive taste of food that’s seared on the grill, and they’d likely prefer their Fourth of July cookouts be remembered for great steaks or burgers, not for people getting sick. Marisa Pruitt, registered dietician with the Gundersen Health System, says with summertime in full swing, it’s important to keep three grilling safety tips in mind. “The first one is to invest in a food thermometer. Really understand what temperature your food needs to be cooked to in order to avoid any pathogens that can cause foodborne illnesses,” Pruitt says. “The second one is to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, so generally above 140 degrees and below 40 degrees. And then the third one is, put food away after two hours, so don’t leave it sit out all day long.”

Some of your holiday guests might like their steak grilled rare or medium rare, but how can you tell if you’re cooking it long enough?  “Certainly, eating any undercooked food can increase your risk for foodborne illness, so you do want to cook it to the appropriate temperature,” Pruitt says. “A quick Google search can let you know what temperature is appropriate for what food item you’re cooking, and every food item has a different point at which it’s considered safe to eat.” Is it healthier to grill out? Pruitt says that depends on what you’re grilling.

“It’s all about quantity, frequency and then what else you’re serving it with,” Pruitt says. “So if you like a steak, eat a steak. If you like chicken, eat chicken, and if you like veggies grill up some veggies. It’s about balance. It’s about how often you’re eating those foods, what quantity you’re eating them in, so no one food is going to make or break it for you.”

(Radio Iowa) – The longer Independence Day holiday had boaters looking to spend more time on the water, but heavy rains and flooding could interrupt those plans. Iowa D-N-R Boating Law Administrator, Susan Stocker, says continued rain has caused water levels and conditions to change daily.  “Make sure wherever you’re going you check to make sure the ramps are open because with the high water there certainly should can be some ramps that are closing,” she says. The flooding has washed all kinds of debris into the water and it may be tough to tell what is lurking below. “You may only see a small what appears to be a small log but that is now a potentially 30 foot tree that is under the surface,” she says.

Stocker says a lifejacket is always important, and even more so in high water conditions where you could be thrown from the boat. “Wearing the lifejacket is very, very important because in an emergency situation you won’t be able to find it and or you’re thrown in one direction and the lifejacket is thrown and or the water current is taking it downstream,” Stocker says. She expects the waterways that are accessible to see a lot of traffic.”We do anticipate good crowds we may see that there is a shift in where people are traveling because some of the areas are flooded but it’s also going to depend on the weather, Stocker says.

Stocker says officers will be looking for drunken boaters, so if you are going to drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a boat.

DES MOINES, Iowa — If your Fourth of July plans include consuming alcohol, the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is reminding you to plan for a sober driver. To help keep intoxicated drivers off the road this holiday weekend, the GTSB is offering a $10 Uber voucher for the holiday weekend.

The $10 off Uber code is =AT1Vp4vIZdSJaqnEr_RlRAGQ-obOObmPWByZi9I7kqcmkLxoQDvr5KMtMXyNPlfALmPOxkEyq5QsGCgwYm3HlWLGKBhSvIP3aR_biYNinNyRy_yT4K9uCb08M3lwgoYYfH1pImBirPGUxgYJWm7GmsCtOVVygCb-mUVAnkIcfhgUoFCa2YpLkuuEDEi7eJb7UNNlRjwMGULUMBm6kyTomNKIaSij3AEohfue” target=”_blank”>r97tnXpyhUv and can be used until Sunday at 11 p.m.

According to the GTSB, from 2019 to 2023, there were 32 traffic fatalities during the Fourth of July holiday, with about half of those being alcohol-related. AAA is also activating its “Tow-to-Go” service for the weekend. The company will tow one person and their vehicle to a safe place within a 10-mile radius.

The service is free to everyone, even if you don’t have a AAA membership. To request a tow, visit the AAA website or call 855-286-9246. The service is active until 6 a.m. Monday.