(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.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report the arrest at around 5-p.m., Thursday, of 40-year-old Mark Anthony Weems, Jr., of Creston.  He was charged with 2-counts of Fraudulent Practice/2nd Degree. Weems was being held in Union County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

And, Thursday night, 41-year-old Jamie Neubauer, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston Wal-Mart store, for Theft in the 4th Degree. Neubauer was cited and released from the scene on a Promise to Appear.

CLIVE, Iowa — Two central Iowa man joked that they may be the world’s tiniest lottery office pool, but they still hit big. Randy Ferriss of Nevada and Colton Snyder of Huxley on Thursday (April 20, 2023) claimed a $1 million Mega Millions^® prize they won two days earlier. The long-time employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Ames said they’ve pooled their money for years to play the lottery, and at different times, there were more members in the group. Ferriss, who buys their office pool tickets, said they won their $1 million prize with smaller winnings from recent tickets. He bought the $1 million-winning ticket a Casey’s, store. in Nevada. Their ticket came within one number of having a share of Tuesday’s $20 million Mega Millions jackpot, matching the first five numbers but missing the Mega Ball.

Their ticket was one of four in the country to win a $1 million prize in Tuesday’s drawing, with the others in California, Maryland and Ohio.Ferriss and Snyder are both 52 and have worked together for 26 years. Both planned to take time to decide what to do with their winnings. Ferriss said that he and his wife will probably pay off their house and then “kind of figure out where to go from there.” Snyder has some house projects in mind. The two said they plan to keep playing the lottery together in their office pool, but just this once, they won’t let their winnings keep rolling. Ferriss and Snyder claimed the third sizeable lottery prize won in Iowa this month.

On April 10, a Dubuque man claimed a $40.03 million Lotto America^® jackpot, while on April 11, a Davenport man claimed a $500,000 top prize in an Iowa Lottery scratch game.The Iowa Lottery emphasizes the importance of players checking their tickets, and two situations in central Iowa demonstrate why that matters.

The Casey’s in Nevada that sold this week’s big winner is the same store that sold a ticket winning a $1 million Powerball^® prize that expired without being claimed in April 2019. The Iowa Lottery gave players another shot at the winnings through a promotion that same year, and a group of 34 co-workers at a Cedar Rapids company ended up splitting the prize.

In addition, a $1 million Mega Millions prize won in nearby Ames has now been unclaimed for nearly eight months. That winning ticket was purchased at Gateway Expresse (also known as The Filling Station), at 2400 S. University Blvd. in Ames. It matched all five white balls but missed the Mega Ball to win at the game’s second prize level in the drawing on Sept. 6, 2022. The winner or winners of the Ames prize have until the close of business on Sept. 6, 2023, to claim it.