August 31, 2022 (Des Moines) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today announced $19 million in awards to help restore 13 historic buildings into new spaces while maintaining their character. The awards were made through the Historic Preservation Tax Credit program.

“These projects breathe new life into historic treasures and help make Iowa’s communities attractive places for people to visit, live and work,” said Debi Durham, executive director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority.

IEDA received 23 applications requesting almost $35 million in tax credits, far above the $19 million available. Projects are scored based on readiness, financing and local support and participation.

The Historic Preservation Tax Credit program provides a state income tax credit to projects that rehabilitate historic buildings while maintaining the character-defining features that enhance neighborhoods and communities. Work completed on buildings must meet the federal Secretary of Interior standards.

This round of awards will enhance historic buildings across the state, including:

• McGregor (Clayton County): The Masonic Block building on Main Street, which was built in 1866 and has been vacant for decades, will transform into retail space with upper-story apartments.
• Des Moines (Polk County): The 1930s-era Globe Hoist manufacturing building in the historic East Village has been restored into new office space.
• Cedar Rapids (Linn County): The 1886 Brucemore mansion is in the process of a multi-year effort to restore the estate’s historic buildings and landscape, which were damaged in a 2020 derecho. The Brucemore is a hub of cultural, philanthropic, and education activities.
• Council Bluffs (Pottawattamie County): The 500 Block of West Broadway, built in 1885 and the longtime home of a men’s clothing store, is transforming into retail space with upper-story apartments.

The Historic Preservation Tax Credit program is administered by IEDA in partnership with the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs’ State Historic Preservation Office.

Large project applications for the next round will be due January 9, 2023, with more than $20 million available for awards.

(Radio Iowa) After setting multiple records during the pandemic, the Food Bank of Iowa is setting yet more records this summer for the number of people using its pantries. Annette Hacker is spokeswoman for the Des Moines-based agency that serves Iowans who are facing food insecurity.

It was hoped food demand would slack off once the panic over coronavirus began to wane.

While most businesses that were closed by the pandemic have long since reopened, other factors are now making life challenging for many thousands of Iowans.

Some may have a perception that the people who use food pantries are homeless, unemployed or both, but Hacker says that’s just not the case.

As demand rises, she says food donations have dropped from restaurants and grocery stores and food is costing the agency more to buy now than ever before. The Food Bank served nearly 122-thousand individuals in May, while the number exceeded 135-thousand in June, an all-time high, while July’s numbers are projected to be equally as high.

The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on Tuesday of 26-year-old Alesha Young of Carter Lake for Driving While Barred, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $3,300.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. of 30-year-old Raejean Mae Steele of Red Oak in the 1800 block of East Summit Street on a valid warrant for Violation of Probation. Steele was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $5,000 bond.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Mills County Emergency Management officials report a Burn Ban that had been in effect since August 6th, was lifted today (Tuesday). Here is the statement regarding the ban (click on the image to enlarge):

WASHINGTON – The Drug Enforcement Administration is advising the public of an alarming emerging trend of colorful fentanyl available across the United States.  In August 2022, DEA and our law enforcement partners began seizing brightly-colored fentanyl and fentanyl pills in 18 states.  Dubbed “rainbow fentanyl” in the media, this trend appears to be a new method used by drug cartels to sell highly addictive and potentially deadly fentanyl made to look like candy to children and young people.

“Rainbow fentanyl—fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes—is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.  “The men and women of the DEA are relentlessly working to stop the trafficking of rainbow fentanyl and defeat the Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for the vast majority of the fentanyl that is being trafficked in the United States.”

Brightly-colored fentanyl is being seized in multiple forms, including pills, powder, and blocks that resembles sidewalk chalk.  Despite claims that certain colors may be more potent than others, there is no indication through DEA’s laboratory testing that this is the case.  Every color, shape, and size of fentanyl should be considered extremely dangerous.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.  Just two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose.  Without laboratory testing, there is no way to know how much fentanyl is concentrated in a pill or powder.

Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing this country.  According to the CDC, 107,622 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2021, with 66 percent of those deaths related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.  Drug poisonings are the leading killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45.  Fentanyl available in the United States is primarily supplied by two criminal drug networks, the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

In September 2021, DEA launched the One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of fake pills.  Additional resources for parents and the community can be found on DEA’s Fentanyl Awareness page.

If you encounter fentanyl in any form, do not handle it and call 911 immediately.

(Radio Iowa) – A couple of cities in central Iowa have found West Nile-infected mosquitoes in their monitoring traps. Iowa State University entomologist, Ryan Smith, says August and September are generally the peak months for the disease.
“West Nile virus is something that we refer to as being endemic, that means that we are going to see West Nile virus activity and potentially human cases every year,” Smith says. “Since it’s been introduced that that may vary from year to year and the intensity and or how many cases that we ultimately end up with.”

Ames and Des Moines announced they have found mosquitoes with West Nile. Smith does surveillance in seven counties and has found West Nile in three of them. He says mosquito populations are influenced by rainfall, and the drought that has expanded in the state has made an impact. “The numbers are maybe a little bit lower. Things are kind of on the quiet side right now. But when we look at the season as a whole, there’s actually been a pretty surprising number of mosquitoes kind of considering that for most of the year that it has been pretty much under drought-like conditions,” he says.

Smith says all the other things happening can sometimes overshadow West Nile. “It’s easy to kind of forget about, and if anything, I think these reports kind of serve as an additional reminder of it. West Nile is not something… most of the people are going to have very mild symptoms and won’t even know that they have it. But for those people who do develop a more severe infection, it could even be fatal,” Smith says.

Ryan Smith. (ISU photo)

Smith says it’s a reminder to take precautions against getting bitten if you are outdoors and mosquitoes are present. He says there isn’t anything else on the radar right now when it comes to mosquitoes. “At least right now, it is just our West Nile, our numbers of mosquitoes aren’t that high,” he says. Smith says you should still take precautions by wearing insect repellent, and dumping out any standing water where mosquitoes might breed.

(Radio Iowa) – A-A-R-P and two state agencies will be holding a series of seminars around the state to alert older Iowans to some of the most common scams and how to avoid them. Brad Anderson, A-A-R-P’s state director, says his wife recently got a phone call from a scammer, claiming her business had to pay a fine immediately. “She called the county attorney,” Anderson says. “Lo and behold, the county attorney said: ‘This is the third one of these we’ve heard today. This is a scam. You’re not being fined.'”

State Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen says the best way to defeat fraud is to prevent fraud. “We spend a lot of time trying to do investigations and gather the information that we need, but the reality is the best the success stories that we ever can tell are the frauds that we avoid,” Ommen says. “because some consumer had enough information, some investor had enough information.” Officials from the Iowa Insurance Division will be part of the “Fraud Watch Tour” this fall. Ommen says one of the biggest red flags that you’re being targeted by a scam is when you’re pushed to make a decision immediately. 

“Get a trusted advisor,” Ommen says. “You know, for those of you who are independent and make your own decisions in that regard, that’s good, that’s smart, that works, but for those of us like me, I need a trusted advisor — and I’m the insurance commissioner — because the world of investing can be complicated.” Ommen is urging Iowans to educate themselves about scams and share that info with others. “Help your friends and your neighbors and your family really understand what is going on out there,” Ommen says, “because by your better equipping yourselves, you can help protect other people.”

Staff from the Consumer Protection Division of the Iowa Attorney General’s office are also part of the A-A-R-P’s training tour. Attorney General Tom Miller says what’s known as the Amazon scam is of great concern right now. It involves a message about a significant online purchase with a number to call. “It’s a very elaborate scam and they spend some time with you because they have the potential of taking a lot of money,” Miller says. An older Iowan nearly lost 20-thousand dollars to this scam, but called the attorney general’s office and got help in stopping the money transfer.

About 70 people attended the first “Fraud Watch” event in Des Moines this week. The next events are in Dubuque and Waterloo on Wednesday, September 7th. The seminars are free, but registration through A-A-R-P is required. (Editors, here are the other stops on the tour: Mason City – Thursday on September 8; Indianola on Wednesday, September 14; Clarinda on Wednesday, September 14; Council Bluffs on Thursday, September 15; Sioux City on Wednesday, September 21; Fort Dodge on Wednesday, September 21; Ames on Thursday, September 22; Ottumwa on Wednesday, September 28; Burlington on Wednesday, September 28; Bettendorf on Thursday, September 29 and Marion on Thursday, October 27.

ATLANTIC, IA – Produce in the Park welcomes B&D’s Homemade Ice Cream to the Atlantic City Park this Thursday, September 1. Market Manager Brigham Hoege reports B&D’s will be serving homemade ice cream and root beer floats, while Hungry Spartan Pizza will be selling pizza by the slice. Jason Reed will be performing a free concert, and 20 food and craft vendors are expected.

September 1 is a great day for free taste testing at the park. Maggie and Kelly Mueller of Noble Provisions will be this week’s Guest Chefs. Mullers sell beef at the market, and on September 1 they will be grilling burgers and offering free samples. To draw attention to seasonal produce, Mullers will be topping some burgers with locally grown tomatoes and onions.

Just across the park, Master Gardener Dottie Krogh will be offering samples of homemade apple butter and sharing recipes for folks who want to make their own at home. Shoppers who don’t want to make their own apple butter can buy apple butter from vendor Sue’s Country Garden.

A number of organizations will be visiting the park on September 1, including the Atlantic Public Library, Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions, Atlantic Parks and Recreation, and the Atlantic Police Department. Atlantic Parks & Rec is bringing an improved version of the Water Battleship game to the park; kids and adults are reminded to wear clothing that can get a little wet!

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Director Bryant Rasmussen stands next to the new and improved Water Battleship game setup. People of all ages are invited to play water battleship at Produce in the Park on September 1

Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue will be at Produce in the Park asking folks to “lend a hand” in building a safer and stronger community. To represent that partnership, kids and adults at the park will be invited to cover their hands in washable paint and put their handprints on an Atlantic Police Department patrol car.

Additional details for the Sept. 1st Produce in the Park…

Date: Thursday, Sept. 1

Time: 4:30-6:30 PM

Location: Atlantic City Park (10 W. 7th St. Atlantic, IA 50022)

Food Trucks: B & D’s Homemade Ice Cream & root beer floats, Hungry Spartan Pizza

Live Music: Jason Reed

Celebrity Meet & Greet: Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue will be at the park with a squad car

Fresh, Local Produce: Green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, zucchini, shallots, eggplant, garlic, potatoes, and more!

Meat: Beef, pork, chicken, and lamb

Staples: Farm-fresh eggs, honey, granola

Treats: Pastries, fresh-squeezed lemonade, popcorn

Crafts and more: Fall-scented candles and soaps, bath and body products, embroidered towels, car fresheners, plants for your home garden, art prints, and jewelry

Activities: Water Battleship and yard games with Atlantic Parks and Recreation, Atlantic Public Library (bring your library card!), Cass County Master Gardeners fall gardening and plant sale information and apple butter taste tests and recipes, Cass Health’s Senior Life Solutions

Guest Chef: Noble Provisions hamburgers

Free drawing for farm-fresh eggs (sponsored by the Cass County Local Food Policy Council)

Payment methods accepted: All vendors accept cash. Many accept credit cards, Venmo, and Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) Senior and WIC checks. All qualifying food vendors accept SNAP/EBT (also known as food stamps). All fresh produce vendors both accept and distribute Double Up Food Bucks (coupons given for SNAP/EBT purchases of fresh produce).

Produce in the Park September 2022 farmers markets are sponsored by the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission, Cass Health, Cass County Tourism, First Whitney Bank and Trust, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, and Deter Motor Co. For updates on Produce in the Park, follow Produce in the Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ProduceInThePark) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/produceintheparkatlanticia/), or visit the Produce in the Park website to sign up for the e-newsletter at www.produceintheparkatlanticiowa.com. For information on vending at the park, contact Market Manager Brigham Hoegh at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870.