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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
(Radio Iowa) – Ground is being broken today (Friday) on the first phase of what’s billed as a fully sustainable community in northeast Iowa. Steve Davis is sales director for Switch Homes, which is starting to develop a 105-home subdivision in Dubuque. Davis says it’s the first of several proposed master-planned communities in Iowa. “All the homes will be pre-wired for electric vehicle charging stations,” Davis says. “They’ll be set up where a homeowner or buyer can add solar panels to their home, and the materials are carefully selected, made with at least 50% recycled material, in a lot of cases.” Davis says the neighborhood, called The Farm, will feature community gardens, green spaces, walking trails, a community park, and more to support the sustainable mission for generations to come.
“They will be net zero energy-ready homes, meaning, they have the ability — with a couple of easy changes on the part of the homeowner — to basically produce as much energy as they consume,” he says. The houses are smaller than many traditional homes now being built, which Davis says is an effort to change the industry with what he calls “right sized” homes. “There are eight different floor plans that are being offered in the Dubuque community,” Davis says. “They range from 925 square feet up to approximately 1,800 square feet. The homes will start at $325,000 and they are expected to be 40% more efficient than the average new construction home.” Davis says the company’s website was created to streamline what’s ordinarily a very lengthy process of designing and buying a home.
“It’s kind of like building your own car online and having it delivered to you,” Davis says. “Much would be the same with Switch Homes, choose your lot, choose your floorplan, choose all of your finishes, and in five to six months, you’ll have a completed home that you can pay for at that time, whether it’s a loan or whatnot. There’s no construction financing on the front end.” The land is now being developed for construction to begin in October on the first 36 homes. Within three to five years, Davis estimates all 105 homes will either be sold or planned.
Switch-Homes.com
(Radio Iowa) – Former President Donald Trump says it would be horrendous for Iowa farmers if 2024 rival Ron DeSantis is elected president. “He would be a catastrophe of Nebraska and Iowa and anyplace else,” Trump said, “and a lot of other people also.” During an appearance this (Friday) afternoon in Council Bluffs, Trump blasted DeSantis for opposing the federal ethanol production mandate. “Ron DeSanctus totally despises Iowa ethanol and ethanol generally,” Trump said. “…Ending the Renewable Fuel Standard was one of his top priorities. As a member of congress, he wanted to end it and if he had his way the entire economy of Iowa would absolutely collapse because it would collapse if he did that.”
Trump also criticized DeSantis for vetoing 100 million dollars out of Florida’s budget that would have been spent on conservation and rural land protection easements. “He’s going to do that to Iowa and Nebraska and everybody else because that’s his inclination,” Trump said. “If you want to defend American farmers and grow more farm products in the USA, then you should vote for a very fine gentleman named Donald J. Trump.”
Trump listed a variety of steps his administration took in the ag sector, including the 28 BILLION dollars in trade disruption payments made to farmers when China blocked ag imports and ending the estate tax for people who inherit farmland.
(Carroll, Iowa) – If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to fly in a Vietnam-era Huey Helicopter, you’ll have a chance to to find out in less than eight-weeks.
A non-profit public education organization, “Friends of Army Aviation” (FOAA), based in Ozark, Alabama, will return to Iowa September 1st through the 10th, to provide Huey helicopter rides in Ames, Boone and Carroll. Jeff Dentlinger, of Carroll, who founded the non-profit “Patriot Peak Foundation,” is helping to organize the event, which first occurred in 2021, as a way of giving back to the troops and communities. The Patriot Peak Foundation was started in July 2021, after seeing the United States become divided and deciding it was time for a change.
The 50-year Anniversary of the end of U-S combat troop involvement in the Vietnam War was observed on May 29th. The first flights offered to the public in 2021 were a way of saying “Thank you” to Vietnam Veterans. Dentlinger served in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan.
For those who may be elderly or have special needs, step-stools will be provided for ingress and egress into the chopper. During the 15-minute trips, the sliding doors on the Vietnam War-era 1970 Huey UH-1 Iroquois chopper are wide open, allowing riders to experience the thunderous “Sound of Freedom.”
Ric Hanson (photos) from the Sept. 2021 FOAA flights in Arcadia, IA.
Dentlinger says it’s not just your typical take-off and land experience.
The ride can be cathartic for veterans and civilians alike.
Dentlinger says they are hoping have 2,000 riders altogether this year to raise $43,000 to cover the cost of the aviation fuel, along pilot and support staff accommodations. So far they’ve raised about $28,000. He says it costs $2,000 per hour to keep the choppers fueled and flying. All of the pilots and staff are volunteers. They are not paid for their time and services.
Seating is limited on each trip, and is determined prior to each flight, along with pre-flight instructions. Helicopter ride tickets may be purchased either online or at the ride event. Dentlinger says there are only 900 tickets left (as of July 7th), so you are strongly encourage to buy tickets now. Online tickets may be purchased up to one day prior to the event, but entering your name and contact information now, will enable organizers to let you know if there are any delays prior to your flight day (due to weather, etc.). For specific details on the dates, places, times and cost of the flights, see the FOAA website at https://friendsofarmyaviation.org/foaa-events/month/2023-09/
Sponsors for the rides include the following:
(Griswold, Iowa) – General Douglas MacArthur said “‘Old soldiers never die–they just fade away,” but in Griswold, they are celebrated with three-days of events. The 141st Annual Old Soldiers Reunion in Griswold (Iowa), takes place from Friday, July 7th through Sunday, July 9th. Griswold American Legion Post 508 President, Commander Landon Preston says there are many events scheduled. They began Friday morning (today), with tractor rides throughout the day. Friday evening there’s the 7th Annual Neon Run for kids and adults, adult water fights and a live band.
Preston says there are even more activities set for Saturday, beginning with a free-will donation, pancake breakfast from 6-until 10-a.m., at the Griswold Fire Station.
The is located on Main Street, in Griswold. A used book sale also tales place Saturday, from 8-a.m. Until Noon, at the Griswold Public Library. There will also be a tour of the Lakin Child Development Center that’s currently under construction.
Saturday afternoon, there will be a military weapons/equipment display at the Griswold Community Building parking lot, along with a National Guard, who will set-up a rock climbing wall.
Saturday evening, Cass County Cattlemen will serve food at the Legion Beer Garden, and there’s a military road march beginning at 4-p.m.
The march is followed at 6-p.m by the Old Soldiers parade, which is themed “Reunion Ignited,” this year. Afterward, there’s the 141st Reunion Queen Contest in the Griswold City Park, kids & adult pedal pulls, and music at 8-p.m. The day concludes with fireworks at 10-p.m.
On Sunday, they’ll hold a Church in the Park, beginning at 10:15-a.m.
Learn more on Facebook at Old Soldiers Reunion – Griswold, IA.
(Radio Iowa) – A southwest Iowa law officer will be remembered during a golf outing next weekend in Webster City. Austin (Melvin) Richardson of Sidney, Iowa was a deputy with the Fremont County Sheriff’s office when he died of injuries in June of 2022 as the result of an accident involving his squad car and a combine. The Hamilton County Peace Officers Association is sponsoring the golf benefit to raise funds for the family of Richardson on Saturday, July 15th.
A program will be held prior to the tournament at the Briggs Woods Golf Course to remember Richardson and his family. Several teams have been organized to help support Richardson. The golf event has been held for several years in support of Iowa law enforcement officers who have died while on duty and supporting their families.
Fremont County Deputy Austin “Melvin” Richardson (File photo)
(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County today (Friday), released a report on some recent arrests. This (Friday) morning, 57-year-old Robert Wayne Clark, of Red Oak, was arrested on an Adams County warrant for Contempt of Court. Clark was turned over to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.
Thursday evening, 48-year-old Buffy Marie Maxwell, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Montgomery County for Driving While License Suspended, with eight withdrawals in effect. Maxwell was being held in the Montgomery Council Jail on bond amounting to slightly more than $491.
On June 28th, Montgomery County Deputies arrested 45-year-old Clyde Everett Zeigler, of Red Oak. Zeigler was taken into custody at around 2:19-p.m., on a Department of Criminal Investigations warrant for a Gambling Violation. His bond was set at $5,000. That same day, 45-year-old Chad Michael Hill, of Red Oak, was arrested on a Montgomery County warrant, for Violation of Probation. Bond was set at $2,000.
(Radio Iowa) – Senator Chuck Grassley is proposing new restrictions for U-S military officers who work on behalf of foreign governments when they retire. Grassley is hoping the plan gets inserted in the annual defense bill congress approves. “A lot of people in the defense department are looking for employment after the defense department,” Grassley says. “There’s a lot of pressure not to put in those restrictions.”
The annual National Defense Authorization Act is eligible for debate in the Senate. Grassley and Senator Elizabeth Warren introduced a plan last month to prohibit service members from negotiating for a job with a foreign government or a private contractor that works for a foreign government while they’re still on active duty. “We don’t want it to be a compromise of national security,” Grassley says. “That gives us a stronger argument in putting this prohibition in the legislation.”
The proposal also would require creation of a searchable database of retired military officers who work as consultants or contractors for foreign governments and how much they’re paid. Retired military officers must receive permission from their branch of the military, the secretary of state AND congress before accepting compensation from any foreign government, but there is no criminal or civil penalty for failing to do so.
(Corning, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports one person was injured by gunfire in rural Adams County, Tuesday. A DPS press release said shortly after 12:00-p.m. on July 4, 2023, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a shooting that occurred at 3140 210th Street. An initial investigation indicated a minor child was handling a firearm, when the weapon discharged. The age of the child was not released.
The bullet traveled through a bedroom wall into an adjacent room where shrapnel from the bullet struck 63-year-old Connie Standley in the face. Standley was transported to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines and was reported to be in critical condition.
The incident remains under investigation by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are among the thousands expected to attend this weekend’s Wingnuts Flying Circus airshow in the northwest Missouri town of Tarkio. Airshow Manager Brooks Hurst says the one-day event Saturday (July 8th) is dedicated to celebrating aviation and freedom. “A lot of people like seeing the general aviation planes as well. I mean, you know not only the performers in their fancy planes during the show, but you know, you get a lot of just plane old Cessnas and Pipers that the people like to see.”
The show starts at noon at the Gould Peterson Municipal Airport, which is located one mile east of Tarkio. The event that draws about five-thousand people from across the Midwest, and includes around 200 general aviation planes. “This airshow has several purposes. One of them is to get the general public interested in aviation, get kids flying. There’s nothing better than, you know, seeing a kid get his license and his first solo and, we love to get kids interested in aviation,” he says. “But then the other purpose that we try to do is to pay honor to our veterans for the sacrifices they’ve made.” 
He says they hold it the second weekend of the month because that’s National Guard weekend.“So, a lot of times, when your neighbors and friends are doing their guard duty, they’re flying their Apaches out of Whiteman (Air Force Base) or B-2s or whatever, they do that on the second Saturday so it’s real easy for us to get them to come in. It’s real easy on the guard weekend for them to do that so that we can pay honor to our veterans and to our servicemen.”
Tarkio is in the far northwest corner of Missouri and is about a half hour south of Shenandoah.
(Radio Iowa) – About 200 people gathered in downtown Lake City this week for a groundbreaking for Dobson Pipe Organ Builders. The company is building a new facility at the site of the fire in June of 2021 that destroyed its workspace and the parts of an organ destined for Australia. John Panning, the president and owner of Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, says the groundbreaking is a big milestone. “We never thought it would be two years before we were at this point, but with the pandemic and all the challenges of building costs and that, it took us a quite a while to get our plans together,” he says, “but the day is here and we’re delighted by the turnout, by the support of everyone here in Lake City and beyond.”
The fire destroyed many of the highly specialized tools the company’s artisans used to create their musical masterpieces. Panning, who has worked at the company since 1984, took over as president and owner in late 2020. He says the outpouring of support from around the globe kept them operating. “We’ve built some organs overseas and people know about us because the organ community is kind of small and tight knit,” Panning says. “Obviously local people knew about us and came out pretty magnificently to support us, but we had gifts of tools and money and support and prayers just from all over the country and even internationally. It was really unbelievable to witness.”
The Dobson team has been working out of several temporary spaces in Lake City since the fire and will continue to do so until the new shop is finished. Panning says they are fortunate to have that space as they continue to receive orders for new organs. “That was really the amazing thing afterward,” Panning says. “We didn’t even have a shop and people had the confidence in us to entrust us with work, so we’ve got work through the end of 2026 at this point, which is just incredibly gratifying.”
Construction on the new building is expected to be done by August 2024.
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