(Des Moines,Iowa) – Iowa Republican Representative Tom Moore, from Griswold, said in his latest “Legislative update,” that “The end is near…,” at least with regard to the last week of the 90th General Assembly. Moore said “It looks like we finally have agreed to budget numbers with the Senate and the Governor. This allows for the start of the budget process and budget bills will soon come to the floor for action.

How each budget will spend their dollars is not yet agreed upon but that is nearing the end as well, according to Moore. He said also, the Iowa House, this past week, passed House File 1 (now House File 718)—property tax reform with a 93-1 vote. The bill does four major things to provide all Iowa property tax payers with immediate and direct property tax relief.

Division II of the bill, he say, puts a 3% limitation on how much a property tax payer’s bill can increase year over year. The division outlines a property tax increase limitation on a per parcel basis for qualified parcels. This is on the actual amount of property taxes paid (not the assessment). This division’s limitation does not limit taxes levied as a result of a voter-approved levy or a debt service levy.

Division III of House File 718, according to Thomas Moore, rounds out Iowa’s version of Truth in Taxation and works to get more information in the hands of property tax payers. With this information they will be more informed about how assessments and levies are working together in their area. This division also provides that if all of the information from all taxing jurisdictions is available in a timely manner—everything should be on one notice for the taxpayer

Finally, Division IV of the bill simply states that all special elections by any political subdivision for bonds or other debt must be on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year. (Bond/Debt elections will be on the same day as the General). Additionally, it provides that the commissioner of elections will send notice of a bond election to eligible voters 10 to 20 days before the election. The notice must contain the full text of the public measure to be voted on.

Prioritizing certainty and sustainability for property taxpayers over ballooning assessments, Moore says, will continue to be a driving force in the House. The Iowa House of Representatives this past week, also passed SF318 which Moore says creates the Iowa Registered Apprenticeship Act and establishes the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship within the Department of Workforce Development.

Iowa House Representative Moore serves District 18, which covers most of Cass and Montgomery Counties, and a portion of Page County.

April 21, 2023 (DES MOINES, IA) – Today (Friday), the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board approved awards for three Iowa companies, which will assist in the creation of 310 jobs and result in nearly $360 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Clinton, Norwalk and Rock Valley. The board also approved two grants through the Entrepreneurial Investment Award (EIA) program to western Iowa entities. The awards for the latter two grants were presented to:

Hub712, coordinated by Carroll County Growth Partnership, provides a centralized space to offer rural Iowans a variety of business services and resources in the west central Iowa region. Entrepreneurs will have access resource providers, co-working space, startup business services, a prototype lab, succession planning and more. Hub712 was awarded a $200,000 grant from the EIA program to support startup costs for the first year, including outreach, contract specialists and personnel.

Morningside University, collaborating with Iowa’s West Coast Initiative, Siouxland Economic Development Corporation and Drake University, created a partnership to support rural entrepreneurial growth in the Siouxland region through technical assistance, education and community-centered mentoring. The program aims to serve socially and economically underserved individuals, immigrant and refugee populations, young entrepreneurs and others that might lack access to the resources and professional networks for success. Morningside University was awarded a $360,650 grant from the EIA program to be used over two years for personnel, outreach, mentoring and supplies, with year two funding contingent upon year one contract completion.

Award recommendations for these funds are made by the EIA Review Committee to the IEDA Board for approval. The Entrepreneurial Investment Award (EIA) program provides financial assistance to service providers that offer technical and financial assistance to entrepreneurs and startup companies seeking to create, locate or expand a business in Iowa. The award is in the form of a grant through a competitive application process.

The three companies and their related projects receiving economic assistance awards include:

Atlas Roofing to construct new facility in Clinton: Atlas Roofing Corporation’s 33 North American facilities manufacture products across four major divisions: shingles and underlayments, molded products, roof and wall insulation, and web technologies. The company plans to construct a 440,000-square-foot asphalt shingle plant on 148 acres in Clinton. The project represents a $212 million capital investment and is expected to create 117 jobs incented at a qualifying wage of $19.57 per hour. The board awarded tax benefits and a $750,000 forgivable loan through the High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program.

Michael Foods to increase capacity in Norwalk: A subsidiary of Michael Foods, Inc., M.G. Waldbaum Company is the nation’s largest processor of value-added eggs. The company plans to add 132,000 square feet and acquire machinery and equipment to increase capacity at their Norwalk facility. The project is expected to create 186 jobs, of which 25 are incented at a qualifying wage of $30.38 per hour. It represents a capital investment of $146 million and the board awarded tax benefits through the HQJ program.

Valley Plating to expand Rock Valley facility: Valley Plating, Inc. is a zinc electroplating producer that offers metal finishes to customers that include Harley Davidson, John Deere and others in Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota. The company plans to expand their facility in Rock Valley by 16,000 square feet to install an anodizing line for aluminum products. The project represents a nearly $1.9 million capital investment and was awarded tax benefits through the HQJ program. It is expected to create seven jobs, of which three are incented at a qualifying wage of $23.57 per hour.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate has confirmed former Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren to a seat on the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. Senator Mike Bousselot, a Republican from Ankeny, says Ostergren will bring a level-headed and analytical approach to the role. “Somebody who’ll look at the laws that are in place, the regulations that are in place and then the facts that are presented to him,” Ostergren says.

All 34 Republicans and one Democrat in the Senate voted to confirm Ostergren for the post. Fifteen Democrats voted no. The Senate’s Democratic leader says Democrats did not have a chance to speak with Ostergren about his philosophy on gaming issues. Ostergren is currently president and chief legal counsel of the Kirkwood Institute, a law firm that takes on conservative causes.

Ostergren successfully represented the 2020 Trump campaign in its challenge of the decison by three county auditors to mail out voter registration forms that were not blank, but contained voter information. Ostergren also led the challenge of the nominating petitions U-S Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer presented for the 2022 Democratic Primary and applied for a seat on the Iowa Supreme Court in 2019.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors hosted Barb Jorgensen, owner of The Little Cobbler, at the Rock Island Depot on Thursday, April 20th, 2023, to celebrate her career and retirement.

The Little Cobbler was established by Barb’s father in 1946 and was originally located at 417 Chestnut Street. Barb started working for her father at a young age and she shared memories of shining shoes for $.50 using a shoeshine stand that her father made. The Little Cobbler has been a long-standing source for shoe, boot, leather, zipper repair and alterations but even more, the business has provided a place to reminisce and share ideas. As much as Barb has enjoyed her career, she looks forward to spending time on her acreage with her granddaughters and horses.

Left-to-right: Atlantic Chamber Exec. Director Bailey Smith, Barb Jorgensen, Chamber Programs Dir. Kelsey Beschorner; Behind Barb is Chamber President Brian Ruge.

During the visit, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce presented Barb with a retirement award in appreciation for her many years of dedicated work to the Atlantic and surrounding communities. The Atlantic Area Chamber wishes Barb all the happiness during her well-earned retirement.

Des Moines, Iowa – Following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, a Jasper County man and woman have pled guilty to insurance fraud. Officials with the IID report 44-year-old Jarod Hirbar, of Kellogg, pled guilty on April 17, 2023, to one count of Fraudulent Submission to Insurer (Class D Felony) following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.  42-year-old Latisha Hribar, also of Kellogg, pled guilty on April 18, 2023, to one count of Fraudulent Submission to Insurer (Class D Felony) following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.

The investigation began in August of 2022 after the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau received information indicating the Hirbars provided false statements and fraudulent documents to an insurer in connection with an insurance claim. The investigation determined that the Hribars fabricated and submitted thirty-four receipts to an insurer purporting to be from a bed and breakfast that did not actually exist and to which no payments were made. The Hribars submitted the receipts while they were displaced from their home due to storm damage and stayed with family at no cost. The Hribars received $39,330 in insurance benefits due to these fabricated receipts. The Hribars were arrested on October 5, 2022.

Following his guilty plea, Jarod Hribar received a deferred judgment and was placed on supervised probation for a period not to exceed three years. Hribar was also ordered to pay $39,330 in restitution as well as a civil penalty of $1,025. Following her guilty plea, Latisha Hribar received a deferred judgment and was placed on supervised probation for a period not to exceed three years. Hribar was also ordered to pay a civil penalty of $1,025.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police officials in Glenwood report the arrest today (Friday), of 33-year-old Dontavious Easley, from LaVista, NE.  Easley was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He posted a $1,000 cash or surety bond, before being released.

(Radio Iowa) – Cedar Rapids celebrates Earth Day tomorrow with the annual EcoFest CR, featuring interactive educational activities, eco-products, demonstrations on how to reduce consumption, and ways to reduce and reuse household items. Event coordinator Jackie Wedeking says one new feature this year is a visit from the Iowa State University Insect Zoo, showcasing more than 100 living arthropods, including beetles, tarantulas and scorpions. “It’s really neat because you get to touch some of them and you get to learn all about how they fit into our ecosystem,” Wedeking says. “It’s such a great way to explain to kids, and adults for that matter, that we are part of a bigger ecosystem and seeing how we tie it into all the world.”

In addition to the local foods, arts and free live music, she says the family-friendly festival helps connect people with personal choices to individual, community and planetary sustainability. “Sometimes it is as simple as making sure that you are carrying around a reusable water bottle, or just making sure that you’re not using products unnecessarily,” Wedeking says. “There is a great store here in Cedar Rapids where you can fill up your detergent and bring your own bottle and get your own detergent. Stuff like that reduces plastics.”

For area residents who are ready to start planting their vegetable and flower patches, there will be a compost give-away. “Compost is so good for your garden,” Wedeking says. “You can grab a bag of compost and just spread it on your garden. It’s a great way to reduce the amount of artificial fertilizer that you might use. I use it in my garden and it works great.”

With the bounding cost of eggs, some Iowans have taken up raising their own chickens, which Wedeking says can be a rewarding venture on multiple levels. “Backyard chickens are a great way to make sure that your food is local because, what’s more local than your backyard?” she says. “We have someone coming who has had her own chickens for years, and she’s going to have at least one of her chickens there and that way she can talk to you about her experience.”

EcoFest CR is free and runs from 10 AM to 3 PM Saturday. Find the full schedule of events at: www.EcoFestCR.org.

(Creston, Iowa) – In an update to our previous post, a family member of Alexia Fannon, of Creston, reports the girl was found safe. Additional information was not immediately available.

Earlier in the day, Friday (Today) officials with the Creston Police Department posted on social media they were requesting the public’s assistance in locating the missing juvenile.

Alexia Fannon

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A student from the Atlantic High School, Wednesday, signed a Letter Of Intent to pursue a skilled trades career after graduation. Officials with iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates) say the event occurred during a special ceremony known as ‘Signing Day.’  Josh Hass has committed to participate in an apprenticeship program with the Allensworth Heating & Cooling starting in May. Hass was accompanied by his future employer and family.

The ceremony was held during “Build My Future,” an annual event that provides more than 100 hands-on learning activities related to welding, plumbing, HVAC, electrician work and other skilled trades. The event is held annually by Iowa Skilled Trades at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Hass was one of more than 1,600 “iJAG” students that participated in Build My Future.

Signing Day. Photo submitted by iJAG.

Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) is a nonprofit organization that delivers year-round career education and programming to select middle school and high school students statewide. iJAG helps students discover their purpose and passion while contributing to increased graduation rates and transitions to postsecondary education. “Build My Future” is one of several events that iJAG students can participate in throughout the year.

CORNING, Iowa — According to a report published in the Creston News Advertiser, a Principal for the Southwest Valley High School has resigned. Anthony Donahoo, who is also a football coach, will step down at the end of this year.

The news follows an incident of a threat of violence that was known two-weeks before school administrators and law enforcement were made aware of the alleged threat. The student in question is no longer allowed at the school.

Deputies with the Adam’s County Sheriff’s Office are providing extra security at the school for the rest of the year, as a precaution.