(Radio Iowa) – The governor’s bill to establish state funded accounts for the parents of private school students will bypass the House committees that review spending and tax issues. House Speaker Pat Grassley says he created the new, five member Education Reform Committee to review and then advance the bill to a vote in the House — so it didn’t get blocked in a committee.

“For two sessions now that has been the case,” Grassley says. “We feel that Iowans have an expectation, whether you support it or you don’t, that a committee procedure should not be the reason you don’t get to see where the legislature stands.” Groups that represent educators, administrators and public school districts object to having the plan skip traditional committee review. Margaret Buckton, a lobbyist for the Rural School Advocates of Iowa AND the Urban Education Network, says the normal process gives the public time to understand and comment on bills.

“And legislation this year coming out of the Ed Reform Committee is likely to have a significant impact on the state budget,” Buckton says, “somewhere in the neighborhood of $300-$400 million annually.” Grassley says the five-member House Education Reform Committee will have open debate of the tax and spending implications of the plan — and the panel is holding a public hearing tonight (Tuesday).

“House Republicans are being as transparent, in fact what beyond what even the rules would call for in the Education Reform Committee process, so I don’t want this to be an argument (about) trying to hide anything or sneak anything through,” Grassley said. House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says changing the rules for Republican Governor Kim Reynolds’ top legislative priority is wrong.

“Frankly, we’re supposed to be an independent body that doesn’t work for the governor and if the governor wants to push this through, she can do that,” Konfrst says. “This is not our role to rush this through for anyone else.” Tonight’s (Tuesday’s) 90-minute public hearing on the governor’s “school choice” plan begins at 5 p.m. Members of the public will be given up to two minutes each to address the committee.

(Radio Iowa) – The town of Fayette in northeast Iowa is still without a Fire Chief after the City Council rejected the nomination of firefighters for the job a second time during their meeting Monday.

The department members recommended long-time Chief Jason Rohde both times and failed to gain a motion from the city council to accept the recommendation. Mayor Kurt Wood tells KCRG TV the City Council is looking to move the fire department in a new direction, one in which hopefully the number of volunteers grows.

“I know there’s a concern on my part and the part of City Council on the number of people we have,” Mayor Wood says. “There is a concern about the future direction.” Wood declined to comment on Rohde specifically. “I’m not at liberty to discuss that,” Wood said.

Rohde told KCRG TV in a phone interview he thought he wasn’t getting the backing of the City Council because of “perceived personnel problems.” Wood says the Council understands the issue with finding volunteers in Fayette.“We have an aging demographic, we also have a declining demographic,” Wood said. But it’s clear the council doesn’t want the long-time firefighter to be a part of a long-term solution. The Fire Department currently only has nine volunteer firefighters.

With the weather forecast for Wednesday, the Clarinda Police Department would like to remind the citizens of Clarinda about the snow ordinance. The ordinance states that; no person shall park any motor vehicle or other apparatus upon any street of the city that will obstruct the removal of snow when there has been an accumulation of two (2) inches or more. Any vehicle left parked on any street in violation of this ordinance may be impounded, and the registered owner of the vehicle will be subject to a $30.00 parking fine, and payment of all applicable towing and storage fee before the vehicle is released.

The parking ban remains in effect until the snow ceases to fall and the streets have been plowed from curb to curb.

(Radio Iowa) – Three members of the Iowa House have voted to advance a bill that would make it a felony to use “movie money” to buy things in Iowa. Representative Megan Jones of Sioux Rapids went online and found a bundle of fake 100 dollar bills cost seven dollars. “This is motion picture money and it looks a lot like real money,” Jones says, “but what’s happening is people are buying this in bundles on Amazon and using it to purchase goods and services.” A business owner in northwest Iowa contacted Jones after an employee mistakenly accepted fake “movie prop money” for a large purchase. “It looks a lot like real money, but in the same font, the same size it’ll say, ‘For motion picture use only’ or on the back in some little letters it’ll say, ‘Copy,” Jones says, “so the argument in court then is that this is clearly not money and so they shouldn’t have taken it as legal tender, but it was purported to be by the customer.”

The bill defines “movie prop money” as fake bills used by filmmakers and photographers in theatrical productions or in print, like magazines.

If the bill becomes law, someone convicted of using “movie prop money” to buy goods or services could be sentenced to up to five years in an Iowa prison and ordered to pay a fine of up to 75-hundred dollars. Making or using counterfeit bills that have no markings indicating they are fake is a FEDERAL crime. It carries a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.

Des Moines, Iowa – The Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau reports 36-year-old Kathryn Hosmer, of Davenport was charged with five counts of Insurance Fraud – Presenting False Information (Class D Felony), one count of Forgery (Aggravated Misdemeanor) following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau. The charges against the Hosmer stem from an investigation that began in October of 2022.

According to criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, Hosmer provided fraudulent documents to an insurer in connection with an insurance claim.  On January 15, 2023, Hosmer was arrested in Muscatine and booked into the Muscatine County Jail. Hosmer posted a $25,000 bond and was released.

Kathryn Hosmer

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

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Photo courtesy of the Muscatine County Jail.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors met this (Tuesday) morning, in a regular session. At the start, they tabled action on extending a five-year lease agreement with the Cambridge Law Firm for the third straight time, and discussion/action on General Assistance Guidelines, because the County Attorney has not had time to review the proposals and relevant data. The Board also once again tabled action on appointing a Brighton Township Clerk, because there is no candidate.

The Supervisors received a monthly report from Cass/Audubon County Environmental Health Director Jotham Arber, who said things began to slow down during the Month of December, and that they got all of the requested soil Percolation tests/soil analysis tests for rural septic systems completed this past year. Water test kits were mailed out to rural residents this month.

Jotham said also radon tests are also available.You can request the from the Environmental Health Department for $10. It was suggested the tests be made available at the Auditor’s Office, but no decision was made on that during Tuesday’s meeting. Arber said 64% of the tests for Radon in Cass County come back as higher than 4 picoCuries per liter. Seven in ten homes across Iowa also have higher than the USDA’s radon action level for mitigation of the lung cancer inducing concentration of the odorless/colorless/tasteless, radioactive gas.

The Board adopted unanimously, an annual resolution for livestock facility construction evaluations when a permit is requested, and the use of the Master Matrix. Their action is essentially a formality, since the State has the final say over such facilities being built. Any recommendations made by the County with regard to a particular livestock facility construction request, will be considered when State officials decide on approving a construction permit request.

The Cass Supervisors approved also, changes to the County Employee manual. Cass County Conservation Director Micah Lee provided the Board with a Quarterly report on maintenance and activities. County Engineer Trent Wolken reports they are continuing to stockpile road rock for use this Spring, before the 75-cent per ton increase that’s coming in February.

In other business, the Board approved the appointments of Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett to SWIPCO for 2023, with City Admin. John Lund as Alternate, and Chelsea McCunn to the County Zoning Board of Adjustment.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports Emondre Montrell Henderson, who was convicted of Robbery 1st Degree in Polk County, left the Fort Des Moines Residential Correctional Facility without permission Sunday afternoon, and has not returned.

Henderson is a 25-year-old black male, height 5’9″, and weighs 153 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on September 22, 2022.

Emondre M. Henderson

Persons with information on Henderson’s whereabouts should contact local police.

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Griswold Community School District’s Board of Education, Monday evening, approved two new hires and one resignation. Superintendent Dave Henrichs…

The Board held a public hearing on the 2023-24 School Year Calendar, during which there were no comments, and one slight change, with regard to the Thanksgiving holiday.

And, they approved the Modified Supplemental Amount (MSA) and Plan for Dropout Prevention and At-Risk Programs. Essentially, the District is requesting $47,825 in aid for those programs, Henrichs said. He said also, District Staff and parents will receive a survey in the next few months with regard to a possible four-day school week, as part of the Board strategy to attract and retain staff. If the idea comes to fruition, it wouldn’t even happen at the minimum, the 2024-25 School Year.

Henrichs said with an increase in Open Enrollment numbers, the Board has also been looking at ways to improve the District’s Sports and Activities programs.

In other business, the Griswold School Board discussed and reviewed various other policies from other school districts, with regard to retirements, and asked administrators to start work on a policy for the District and determining how many people would be eligible, and coming up with a cost estimate. Any payments made in the future would have to come from the Management Fund if it’s called an “Early Retirement” or “Retirement Plan,” versus the General Fund. Administrators will check into the legality of handling the funds in that manner.

A retirement package, Henrichs said, is supposed to be a “Financial tool” for the District to use, and not an employee benefit.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who need help filling out their income tax forms can take advantage of a free service through the Iowa State University Extension starting next week. Becky Koppen (COP-in) oversees the R-S-V-P or Retired Senior Volunteer Program in Hamilton County. Koppen says low- to moderate-income Iowans can make use of VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.

“People who qualify can call the VITA number and make an appointment to have someone assist them with their taxes — for free,” she says. Through the program, certified community volunteers prepare taxes with computer software and can offer help with special tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or Disabled. Iowans can call now to schedule an appointment.

“This begins January 23rd and goes through the end of March,” Koppen says. “It’s just a great program to help people get those taxes done.” The program is offered in many — but not all — Iowa counties. Learn more by calling 800-906-9887 or by visiting: www.irs.gov/vita.

(Lenox, Iowa) – A joint meeting of the Griswold and Lenox Community School District Boards of Directors will take place 6-p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, in Lenox. The Board will gather in the Lenox High School Commons at 600 S. Locust Street, to consider extending the sharing agreement for the position of Superintendent – currently held by Dave Henrichs – and consider extending his individual contract.

Following discussion and a public comment period on the matter, the Boards will consider entering into a closed session. Upon return from the closed session, they will consider/act on renewal of the sharing agreement and consider/act on Henrich’s individual contract.