Atlantic, IA – SHIFT ATL, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, along with The Little Cobbler have announced the winners of their pumpkin painting contest that took place during the Fireman’s Parade Pre-Party on October 8th, 2022. There were five different age categories and participants were judged by a panel of four judges. The winners include:

• 6 & under – Lane Frederiksen
• 7 to 12 years old – Bryce Berg (pictured with his sister Jayden Franken who received 3rd place)
• 13 to 18 years old – Charli Goff
  19 to 59 years old – Ashley Kelly
  60+ – Nancy Fredrickson
  

  Ashley Kelly

  

  Bryce Berg

  

  Charli Goff

  

  Lane. Fredericksen

  

  Nancy Fredrickson

AMES, Iowa – Oct. 17, 2022 – There’s an unmistakable chill in the air as fall slowly creeps into winter. Keeping roads in their best shape to ensure you get where you want to go, no matter the season is the goal of employees with the Iowa Department of Transportation. As the weather changes, their focus is keeping the roads as clear as possible and giving you the information you need to make smarter, safer travel decisions.

What you can do to prepare for the months ahead:

Winterize your vehicle – To minimize the possibility of a breakdown, get your vehicle tuned up. Check your vehicle’s wipers, hoses, battery, alternator, belts, tires, brakes, exhaust system, lights, and fluid levels. Make sure your vehicle’s heater and defroster are in good working order and you travel with plenty of gas in your tank. A breakdown is frustrating on a good day but can be dangerous during wintry weather.

Place a winter survival kit in your vehicle – This kit should contain items to help sustain your life and the lives of your passengers should your vehicle become stranded during inclement weather. These items can include booster cables; a flashlight with fresh batteries; extra blankets and warm clothes; nonperishable, high-calorie food items; candles, matches, a can for melting snow for drinking water, and a snow shovel. Sufficient supplies should be in the kit for all persons traveling in the vehicle. Carrying a mobile phone and charger in your vehicle is also advised for use during an emergency.

DOT Snow plow cam on I-80 near Atlantic. (FILE PHOTO)

Use technology to help make better travel decisions – The winter road conditions layer is now visible on www.511ia.org. This layer, along with layers that show images directly from the windshields of our snowplows and stationary cameras along the roadside, can help you determine whether it is safe to travel now or if you should postpone your trip.

Kick your winter driving skills into gear – The first snowfall and slick roads are a quick reminder that it’s time to re-evaluate and adjust your driving behaviors.

1. Wear your seat belt. Every trip, every time.
2. Turn off the cruise control. Cruise control does not allow you to let off the accelerator if you hit a slick spot, making it more difficult to maintain control of your vehicle.
3. Adjust your speed for conditions. Speed limits are set for ideal driving conditions. Winter weather can create hazards that require slower speeds. Remember these simple slogans, “Ice and Snow … Take It Slow” and “Don’t Crowd the Plow.”
4. Take it easy. On slick pavements your driving maneuvers need to be gradual and smooth, so you do not skid or spin.  Change lanes or turn with graceful movements, begin braking sooner gently increasing pressure on the pedal, and give yourself more room around other cars to allow for everyone’s reduced ability to stop or maneuver.

How the Iowa DOT has prepared:

Our people and equipment – The department’s 101 maintenance garages employ 1,083 full-time equipment operators, mechanics, and supervisors, and are in the process of hiring up to 633 temporary employees this winter season, to keep the agency’s 902 trucks, 42 motor graders, 32 tow plows, and 10 heavy-duty, self-propelled snowblowers on the road during winter weather.

For those interested in temporary, part-time snowfighter positions, go to https://iowadot.gov/careers and click on the “seasonal/temp” tab.

The materials we use – The Iowa DOT has spent the warmer months stocking salt in our storage facilities for use during the winter. Buying during the spring and summer allows us to obtain better pricing because demand is low. On average, the Iowa DOT uses more than 144,00 tons of salt and nearly 33 million gallons of brine each year to help maintain safe travel on the primary highway system, consisting of interstate, U.S., and Iowa routes.

The Iowa DOT primarily uses salt brine, a simple solution of standard rock salt and water, to help with winter roadway maintenance. It can be used to pretreat roadways before a storm, thus preventing snow and ice from bonding to the pavement. Brine is also used to prewet salt before it leaves the truck, increasing its ability to melt snow and ice and helping keep it on the roadway surface.

You may wonder why Iowa DOT trucks sometimes spray brine on sunny days. Frost is a major safety factor this time of year. The Iowa DOT’s proactive approach of spraying brine on areas prone to frost prevents the formation of an icy layer, which typically occurs on cold, clear nights. Frost is hard to see on the road’s surface and most people don’t expect it. These unexpected encounters with a frost-covered bridge or roadway can be particularly treacherous when traveling at higher rates of speed, making it more difficult to maintain control of your vehicle.

For more information about winter preparedness and the Iowa DOT’s snow and ice control program, check the Iowa DOT’s winter safety website.

The Montgomery County (Iowa) Sheriff’s Department reports a man was arrested this (Monday) morning following an investigation into a property damage incident that happened at around 5:30-a.m., in Stanton. Authorities say 22-year-old Nicholas A. Foster, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 5:49-a.m., on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree (A Serious Misdemeanor).

Foster was found by Red Oak Police and detained for personnel from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, who were conducting the investigation. Foster was taken into custody without incident and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has announced a $96 million investment in growing Iowa’s small businesses, including startups, manufacturers and businesses owned by veterans and individuals from diverse backgrounds. The funding is available through the U.S. Treasury Department’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), a small business aid program that was expanded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

The program, created during the 2021 legislative session to strengthen Iowa’s food supply chain and support rural development, was so successful legislators renewed it during the 2022 session. Grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded to eligible businesses, with a total of $1,000,000 available through the program in the current fiscal year.

“Small businesses and entrepreneurs dream big, drive Iowa’s economy and make our communities better places to live,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said. “Iowa had the fastest economic recovery through the pandemic in large part because of the creativity and resilience of our small businesses. This funding will build on the momentum by investing in our small businesses and entrepreneurs just as they have chosen to invest in Iowa.”

The Treasury Department approved Iowa’s amount based on a plan submitted by IEDA. Iowa’s SSBCI dollars will focus on encouraging venture capital and investment in scalable innovation companies through the following programs:

• Loan Participation Program for Manufacturing 4.0 Investments: $28 million to help Iowa manufacturers invest in the new technologies that are transforming the industry. The state will purchase part of the loan to help offset risk for lenders.
• Small Business Collateral Support Program: $15 million to help small businesses offset collateral shortfalls as they secure loans through commercial lenders. Eligible borrowers include small businesses that are 51% owned by women, individuals from diverse backgrounds, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and long-term rural residents; and small businesses that enhance arts and culture in Iowa.
• Venture Capital Innovation Fund Program: $22 million to increase funding opportunities across the state’s assistance programs for entrepreneurs. This fund also will provide more funding to address gaps in startup development phases as businesses work through concept, launch and expansion.
• Venture Capital Co-Investment Fund Program: $31 million to process and hold equity investments in private companies and ensure investments are qualified.

“Iowa’s small businesses have faced some of the biggest economic challenges of the last few years, but they also have some of the greatest success stories and we’ve seen a record-breaking surge in new businesses for two years in a row,” said Debi Durham, executive director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority. “Our team looks forward to working with our small business and innovation partners to bring these new efforts to life.”

The SSBCI was established in 2010 to increase access to capital for traditionally underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs. It was reauthorized and expanded through the American Rescue Plan to build on that success as businesses emerge from the pandemic.

Planning for the SSBCI application process is underway. For more information, visit iowaeda.com/ssbci.

(Radio Iowa) – The federal website where some current and former students may apply for college loan forgiveness launched Friday night — and University of Iowa president Barbara Wilson says for several weeks the university’s financial aid office has been fielding calls from students making preparations. “Trying to figure out if they qualify, under what respects, whether they qualify for $10,000 or $20,000,” she says, “and we’re there for them to try to help them sort it out.” Wilson says she’s unsure how many current students on her campus qualify. Iowa State University president Wendy Wintersteen says 43 percent of I-S-U students graduate without debt. “Those that do have debt have average debt of about $29,500 would be a pretty close figure,” Wintersteen says.

Wintersteen has been cautioning I-S-U students about potential scams and to wait for the federal website to apply for student loan forgiveness. Earlier this year, federal lawmakers increased the maximum size of a Pell Grant by 400 dollars, but Wintersteen notes it’s not as much as had been discussed a year ago. “That would make a tremendous difference whose family really don’t have the capacity to send their students to college without taking out significant loans, it would have helped them really directly into the future for a long time,” Wintersteen says. The University of Iowa’s president also contrasts the one-time student debt forgiveness plan with Pell Grants.

“I am hopeful at the federal level we really take a look at Pell Grants,” Wilson says. “because if we can increase Pell Grant funding from students from low income families, that will be a much longer path to affordability for students.”

Wilson and Wintersteen made their comments during recent appearances on Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S. According to the Biden Administration, over 400-thousand Iowa borrowers are eligible for student loan forgiveness and 61 percent of them are Pell Grant recipients who qualify for 20-thousand dollars in debt forgiveness.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter is hosting its first Dementia Conversations Mini-Conference. The event takes place at The Gathering Room in Council Bluffs, on Thursday, October 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Conference is centered around caregivers and families facing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and is free for all to attend.

The Conference will feature presentations from:

·       Dr. Lindy Fields, Clinical Neuropsychologist at Methodist Health System, on when families should take their loved one to the doctor for cognitive testing

·       Shelly Otten, RN-BC, IALMP, CDP, Executive Director at CountryHouse Residence, on the four main types of dementia

·       Patti Salvo-McGinn, MS, LMHC, LIMHP, Mental Health Therapist and part-owner at Horizon Therapy Group, on caring for yourself as a caregiver

·       Deborah L. Petersen, Attorney and owner at Petersen Law PLLC, on legal considerations for families facing dementia

·       Jessica Duncan, CDP, Account Executive at Angels Care Home Health, on the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease

·       Marti Nerenstone, local Attorney, on caring for her late wife throughout her journey with dementia

To register or for more information visit alz.org/iowa or call 1-800-272-3900.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Iowa, there are more than 66,000 people living with the disease and 73,000 caregivers.

(Creston, Iowa) – A collision Sunday afternoon in Creston caused a total of $1,500 damage, but no serious injuries. Creston Police report the accident happened in the eastbound lane of Highway 34 near Industrial Parkway at around 3-p.m. An investigation determined a 2022 Chevy Equinox driven by 64-year-old Laurie Girard, of Afton, was stopped in the left lane of the eastbound lane. Her turn signal was on while she waited to turn left onto Industrial Parkway.

A 2023 Chevy pickup driven by 22-year-old Dalten Bierle, of Creston, was coming down the hill and was not able to stop in-time. The pickup’s bed was loaded with “a lot of heavy material,” according to the report. Authorities say that contributed to Bierle not be able to stop in an assured safe distance.

Girdard told police she “was unsure she was hurt and that she had blacked out after she was hit.” Medics checked both drivers out at the scene and cleared them of injuries. There were no citations issued.

(DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), last week, announced that grant awards totaling more than $3.3 million have been awarded to the communities of Arcadia, Crystal Lake, Elgin, Fostoria, Guttenberg, Hospers, Oelwein, Spencer and Yale to assist water and sewer infrastructure projects through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Yale, located in Guthrie County, was awarded a grant for $267,000 for water and sewer installation and improvement projects.

Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham said “Investments in water infrastructure are vital to supporting Iowa families and businesses.” The CDBG program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. IEDA is responsible for administering the CDBG funds in the non-metropolitan areas of the state. CDBG funds enable communities to make needed improvements to water and sewer systems, improve housing conditions for low-income homeowners, provide facilities for disabled and at-risk individuals and make transformative downtown improvements.

IEDA received 15 applications totaling $5.47 million in funding requests and had $3.3 million available for allocation. Grants are awarded based upon the benefit to low- and moderate-income persons, financial need, project impact and readiness and commitment of local resources to the project.

For more information on CDBG or other community programs, visit iowaeda.com.

The awards list is available here.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion has been hospitalized for treatment of a kidney infection. Jimmy Peacock, Hinson’s chief of staff released a statement, announcing Hinson was admitted to a Cedar Rapids hospital Sunday evening. Peacock said Hinson appreciates all of the prayers and well wishes and is looking forward to being back on the road soon, but did not give a time frame for her doctor’s treatment plan. Hinson, who is 39, was first elected to the U.S. House in 2020 and is running for reelection in Iowa’s new second congressional district.

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson.

Hinson and Liz Mathis of Hiawatha — the Democratic candidate in Iowa’s second congressional district — debated last week on K-C-R-G T-V, where they both have worked in the past.

Mathis posted a statement on Twitter, saying she’s sorry to learn of Congresswoman Hinson’s hospitalization and Mathis wished Hinson a speedy recovery from her illness.

(Cass County, Iowa) – Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh says mobile food pantries will be held in both Atlantic and Anita in October. A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. Mobile food pantries are available free of charge. Anyone in need is welcome, and no documentation is required.  People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. Visitors are asked to stay in their vehicles with the trunk open.

Cars can take food for up to two households. Households without transportation to the Atlantic Mobile Pantries can contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh about delivery. Delivery is offered on a limited basis.

Anita October 2022 Mobile Food Pantry
208 Chestnut Street, Anita; October 19, 4:00-6:00 PM

Atlantic October 2022 Mobile Food Pantry
Cass County Community Center -805 W. 10th St., Atlantic; October 29, 4:00-6:00 PM

Mobile pantry dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For the latest information on mobile pantries, local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood or contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or 712-249-5870.