DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 2, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today (Thursday) announced that the Agency is investing $20,500,000 in loans and $95,513 in grants to ten rural Iowa projects to improve electric infrastructure, lower energy costs, and expand businesses. Among them is a Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program grant of $481,768 to Pilot Travel Centers, LLC, in Iowa and 15 other states. The Rural Development investment will be used to expand the sales and use of renewable fuels. The projects is intended to increase the amount of ethanol sales sold by more than 57.8-million gallons per year.

Today’s announcement is part of a larger national announcement detailing $5 billion in support for projects in rural America. A full list of projects from the announcement is available online. USDA Funded Projects:

Three Iowa cooperatives received a total of $20.5 million in Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee program funding. The announcements are part of President Biden’s Investing in America efforts to rebuild the physical infrastructure of our country to grow the economy for decades to come, create good-paying jobs, and better position rural America to compete in a global economy.

–Western Iowa Power Cooperative received a $11,000,000 loan to connect 220 consumers and build and improve 62 miles of line. This loan includes $2,112,312 in smart grid technologies. The cooperative is headquartered in Denison, serving 5,578 consumers over 2,076 miles of line in nine counties in west central Iowa, including Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Harrison, Ida, Monona, Sac, Shelby, Woodbury counties.

–Prairie Energy Cooperative received a $6,000,000 loan to build two miles of line and connect 78 consumers. Prairie Energy, headquartered in Clarion, in Wright County, serves approximately 4,330 members with over 2,089 miles of line in eleven Iowa counties.

–Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative received a $3,500,000 loan to help with generation system improvements. Northwest Iowa Power Co-op is a generation and transmission electric cooperative headquartered in Le Mars, in Plymouth County, supplying wholesale electric power to seven distribution cooperatives covering 6,500 square miles in western Iowa. These distribution cooperatives supply retail power to over 30,000 members/consumers. The cooperative serves these customers with over 900 miles of 69k V transmission line and 80 distribution substations.

An interstate co-op with ties to Iowa, Associated Electric Cooperative received a $328,924,000 Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee program loan to help with generation system improvements. Associated Electric Co-op is a generation and transmission cooperative that provides wholesale power to its six generation and transmission members, which in turn, provide wholesale power to 51 distribution member cooperatives. The combined 51 distribution members serve more than 910,000 customers in Missouri, southeast Iowa, and northeast Oklahoma. The co-op’s service area in Iowa includes portions of Appanoose, Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, and Wayne counties.

Seven rural Iowa farms and businesses received Rural Energy for America (REAP) program grants. The funding is designed to help agricultural producers and rural small business owners make energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy investments to lower energy costs, generate new income, and strengthen the resiliency of their operations. This funding is made possible in part by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act – the nation’s largest-ever investment in combating the climate crisis.

REAP recipients include:

-Donald Beatty received a $14,576 grant to help install a 16 kilowatt solar array on his grain production operation near Atkins, in Benton County. This project will realize $3,804 per year in savings and will replace 22,560 kilowatt hours per year (96 percent of previous use), which is enough electricity to power two homes.

-Tye Steffen received a $11,925 grant to install a 20.5 kilowatt solar array at his grain production farm near Greenville, in Clay County. This project is expected to save $3,415 per year. It will replace 19,320 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the farm business energy usage) per year, which is enough energy to power one home.

-Kluesner Flooring Inc., a flooring business in Manchester, in Delaware County, received a $14,352 grant to help install a 14.4 kilowatt solar array. This project is expected to save $2,840 per year and to replace 15,256 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the business energy usage) per year, which is enough to power one home.

-Pops Inc. received a $14,196 grant to install a 14 kilowatt solar array at its agricultural management and site preparation contracting business near Dyersville, in Dubuque County. This project will realize $1,826 per year in savings and will replace 18,164 kilowatt hours (99 percent of previous business use), which is enough electricity to power one home.

-BAC CPA LLC, doing business as certified public accounting firm, received a $10,400 grant to install a 17.3 kilowatt solar array at its business in Dyersville, in Dubuque County. This project will generate 12,433 kilowatt hours per year, amounting to $2,216 per year. This is enough electricity saved to power one home.

-John Myers, owner of a grain production operation near Humboldt, in Humboldt County, received a $18,656 grant to install a 22 kilowatt solar array. This project is expected to save $5,312 per year. It will replace 20,275 kilowatt hours (100 percent of the farm business energy usage) per year, which is enough electricity to power two homes.

-Michael Kadow received a $11,408 grant to install a 9 kilowatt solar array on his grain production farm near Lone Rock, in Kossuth County. This project will realize $1,784 per year in savings and will generate and replace 10,056 kilowatt hours per year (100 percent of previous business use), which is enough electricity to power one home.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on numerous arrests taking place from Oct. 16th through the 30th. Most recently….

10-30-23: Steven James McDonald, age 50, of Logan was arrested following a traffic stop on Chatburn Ave. McDonald was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while Barred.

10-27-23: Guillermo Dominic Hernandez, age 24, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 59. Hernandez was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while Revoked; William Vincent Degroot, age 51, of Harlan was arrested following a traffic stop on Hwy 59 and 1200th St. Degroot was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st and Careless Driving.

10-26-23: Jill Annette Wensel, age 52, of Logan was arrested following a traffic stop on Hwy 44 and Ironwood Rd. Wensel was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while Barred and Fraudulent use of Registration.  

10-25-23: Devan Edward Dahleen, age 20, of Charter Oak, was arrested following a traffic stop on Hwy 59. Dahleen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

10-24-23: Jason Michael Lee, age 19, and 19-year-old Ian Austin Hill, both of Harlan, were arrested following a traffic stop on Morningview Dr., in Harlan. Lee was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st, and Person under 21 using tobacco/vapor product.Hill was charged with Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st, Interference with Official Acts, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Improper Rear Lamps, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, and Failure to Maintain or Use Safety Belt.; Nicholas Ross Swanson, age 43, of Audubon, was arrested following a traffic stop Oct. 24th, in the 700 block of Hwy 173. Swanson was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st.; Gerard August Rueschenberg, age 69, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for service in the area of 10th St and Market in Harlan. Rueschenberg was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance 2nd Offense.

10-21-23: Michael Allen Pitt, age 59, of Council Bluffs was arrested on an active Shelby Warrant for Failure to Appear. Pitt was transported to the Shelby County Jail.; Alvin Gregory Evans, age 39, of Harlan was arrested following a traffic stop in the 2000 block of 23rd St in Harlan. Evans was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while Suspended.

10-19-23: Hilda Maritza Magana, age 23, of Kiron, was arrested following a traffic stop at Cyclone Ave and Durant St. in Harlan. Magana was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st and Speeding.; Thomas Michael Cahill, age 38, of Walnut, was arrested following a traffic stop on Hwy 59 at River Rd. Cahill was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with speeding.;Philip Brian King, age 30, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for service in the 1100 block of Chatburn Ave. King was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance Methamphetamine, Child Endangerment, and Trespass.; Elizabeth Marie Balquier, age 24, of Nebraska City, NE was arrested following a call for service in the 1100 block of Chatburn Ave. Balquier was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Child Endangerment.

10-18-23: Stefen Matthew Halm, age 18, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop at 7th St and Walnut St. Halm was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st, and Person under 21 using Tobacco/Vapor Product 1st.

10-17-23: Michael Leroy Arnold, age 51, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. Arnold was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

10-16-23: Simon Buombiey Jacob, age 34, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop in Tennant. Simon was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while License Revoked.

ADAIR, Iowa (KCCI) — An Iowa dog that had been missing since June was found safe over the weekend. “Molly” was reported missing on June 15 after running through the open door of her groomer, Rose Shoemaker of Spitfire Farms in Anita.

Molly had been spotted several times since June but had not been caught until Sunday when one of the farm workers bumped into Molly on a combine on Sunday. She was microchipped, but did not have a collar.

She lost nearly 40 pounds from when she first went missing, but all signs point to Molly being OK. Shoemaker said finding the golden retriever was the highlight of her whole year.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  Listed as Travel Iowa’s number one Christmas destination, downtown Atlantic lights up six blocks with nearly 200,000 lights for the holiday season. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, says “I look forward to Christmas in Atlantic every year. It’s a big tourist season for our community with people from all over the state, and outside Iowa, coming to see our downtown. It also provides the community with free family activities the entire months of November and December, while encouraging holiday shopping at our incredible locally owned businesses.” The Atlantic Area Chamber is excited to announce Gregg Young of Atlantic as the presenting sponsor for this year’s Christmas festivities.

Smith said “We’re so excited to partner with Gregg Young of Atlantic to help execute the tradition that is Christmas in Atlantic. With their partnership, we’ll be enhancing events as well as adding a few fun surprises for the community.” Christmas in Atlantic kicks off Saturday, November 11th with the Holiday Open House. Visit local retailers to get a holiday sneak peek and enjoy treats, giveaways and special promotions. New this year, the Chamber has partnered with retailers to launch the ‘Holiday Punch Card’. November 11th – December 18th, when you spend $20 at a participating business, you’ll receive a custom punch on your card. Once it’s filled, turn it into the Atlantic Area Chamber for your chance to win $50 in AtlantiCash, which will be drawn every Friday beginning November 17th. A grand prize drawing, valued at over $1,000, will be drawn December 18th. For a list of participating businesses, visit www.atlanticiowa.com.

For the seventh year in a row, the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce will be offering AtlantiCash at a discounted price as part of their Holiday Promotion, sponsored by First Whitney Bank & Trust and Cappel’s Ace Hardware. According to Bailey Smith, “Last year we sold $40,000 in about 45 minutes, our highest dollar amount yet. The goal this year is to sell another $40,000, all of which goes back into Atlantic businesses.” For one day only, community members can come to the Chamber on Saturday, November 11th and buy a pack of $100 in AtlantiCash for $80, a 20% discount. Up to three packs, totaling $300, may be purchased. The discounted AtlantiCash will be available from 9 AM – 12 PM, or till supplies last.

The Annual Grand Lighting Ceremony, sponsored by Atlantic Municipal Utilities, will be Thursday, November 16th at 5 PM at the Historic Rock Island Depot in downtown Atlantic. Santa will have a special arrival at 5:30 PM to turn on the lights and see children in his cabin from 6 – 7:30 PM at City Park.

The Lighted Parade and Fireworks will be held December 2nd, starting at 6 PM. Please submit Lighted Parade entries to the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce by calling 712.243.3017 or emailing chamber@atlanticiowa.com. Pre-registration is not required but is encouraged. The Lighted Parade and Fireworks is sponsored by A.M. Cohron & Son, McDermott & Son Roofing and Rush, CPA & Associates.

Prior to the Lighted Parade on December 2nd, visit Santa in his cabin where you can enjoy hot chocolate and treats, as well as horse-drawn carriage rides, sponsored by Lloyd & Meredith and Roland Funeral Home, from 3-5:30 PM. Visit www.atlanticiowa.com for Santa’s full holiday schedule. Santa’s Cabin is sponsored by the Atlantic Rotary Club and Farmhouse & Flowers.

Join Chamber officials and community members for the Holiday Concert and Angel of Christmas on December 3rd at the First United Church of Christ, starting at 3 PM. Submit your nominations for Angel of Christmas to the Atlantic Area Chamber by November 22nd. The Angel of Christmas is sponsored by Cass Health.

Pick up your Christmas Brochure and Holiday Punch Card from area retail businesses, like the Chamber on Facebook or follow on Twitter to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.atlanticiowa.com.

Capture the Christmas magic with #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber with any questions at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712.243.3017.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, received a report from Chamber Director Bailey Smith, who said the Chamber had acquired nine new members since the end of June, for a total of 230 businesses and organizations, there were 16 Ambassador visits, three of those involved ribbon cuttings, with three more scheduled to take place before the end of the year. She said also, there have been eight big events since June, with more to come, including: Christmas in Atlantic, which kicks-off with the Grand Lighting Ceremony.

As we’ve mentioned, the Scrooge Contest is currently underway until Nov. 21st, raising funds and collecting non-perishable goods for the Atlantic Food Pantry.

The food can be used for a Christmas meal, as well as non-perishable items that can be used beyond the holiday. Speaking of food, Bailey Smith mentioned there is the prospect for a new restaurant in Atlantic.

In his report to the Council, City Administrator John Lund reported on the progress of Retail Coach in helping the City find new businesses. The elephant in the room is always the lack of definable retail property with which to establish a business.

The Council mulled-over how to get property owners to sell their land for retail development. Councilman H. Lee Sisco asked if there was interest in nine-acres behind Casey’s on east 7th Street, for business use? Mayor Grace Garrett said that property has been sold.

The City of Atlantic signed a contract with Retail Coach in August 2021, to boost retail recruitment and related services. The agreement cost was $30,000 and renewed in September 2022 for $20,000. The Firm was tasked to identify retail opportunities within the City of Atlantic, recruit retailers, coach the community, help fill gaps, and ultimately act as an extension to the current staff, particularly how it relates to retail.

(Radio Iowa) – While several cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza are reported in commercial Iowa turkey flocks in recent days, officials with the Iowa Turkey Federation says the turkey supply is safe and there will be plenty of birds for roasting at Thanksgiving. Morgan Pothoven, spokeswoman for the Ames-based organization, says Iowa producers are striving to ensure their flocks — and consumers — are protected from bird flu. “Farmers are working diligently to mitigate the spread,” Pothoven says. “They practice really good biosecurity, creating that line of separation and just tracking movement on and off the farm, so they ensure to not spread diseases. Farmers have worked diligently to mitigate the spread so that we don’t have a supply chain issue for turkey.”

State ag officials say migrating wild birds are the likely source of the bird flu outbreaks. Despite the setbacks where outbreaks were confirmed, Pothoven anticipates there will be an ample supply of turkeys for the big holiday later this month. “Shopping early is always recommended when you are looking for a specific size, but you can guarantee that there’ll be turkeys for you at Thanksgiving — at a reasonable price,” Pothoven says. “Grocers plan and often your turkey is actually on sale, so the most economical way to feed your family is actually your Thanksgiving meal because of the deals that many grocers run.”

Most of the turkeys that are raised in Iowa are used for products like sliced sandwich meats, not the type of whole bird you’d put in the oven at Thanksgiving. “Your whole birds are coming from some other states,” Pothoven says, “but it’s a good reminder that turkey is more than just for at Thanksgiving and you can support Iowans by buying turkey year round.”

Iowa is the nation’s seventh largest turkey producer with an estimated 12-million birds raised here each year.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop Wednesday afternoon in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of two men from Nebraska. Police report the vehicle was stopped at the intersection of Highway 34 and 4th Street, at around 4:06-p.m. Upon further investigation, officers arrested 35-year-old Jae Lawrence Torpy, and 20-year-old Ramon Edwin King, both of Omaha.  Each was taken into custody on a Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – charge. Their bonds were set at $1,000 each.

(rural Rock Rapids, Iowa) – Three juvenile females were injured Wednesday afternoon, during a crash in northwest Iowa’s Lyon County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2006 Chevy Impala driven by one of the juveniles, was traveling west on 160th Street, southwest of Rock Rapids, when the car went out of control where the road transitioned from pavement to gravel at Goldfinch Avenue.

The car entered the south ditch and rolled multiple times before coming to rest on its roof and catching fire. The accident happened at around 3:40-p.m., Wednesday. Two of the juveniles were transported by ambulance to Avera Hospital in Rock Rapids and Sioux Falls. No names were released.

Two of the three females were wearing their seat belts. The crash remains under investigation.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by Rock Rapids Fire and the Lyon County Ambulance.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds and the Republican governors of 14 other states – including the neighboring states of Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota – are objecting to proposed federal rules on nursing home staffing levels. The proposed rule comes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It says nursing homes should have enough staff to provide each resident with at least half an hour of care from a registered nurse and at least two hours and 45 minutes of care from a nurses aide each day.

The 15 Republican governors have sent a letter to President Biden, asking him to reconsider the rule. The governors say the long-term care industry is facing a workforce crisis, especially in rural areas, and the group calls the agency’s proposal an unnecessary, one-size-fits-all requirement that will force many long-term care facilities to close. The governors say that means many vulnerable Americans will find it more difficult to get a spot in a nursing home.

Twenty-six Iowa nursing homes have closed since May of last year. During the 2023 legislative session, Iowa lawmakers increased Medicaid reimbursement rates by 15 million dollars.

(Radio Iowa) – An unusual phone message led to a five MILLION dollar grant for the Siouxland Community Health Center of Sioux City. Mari Kaptain-Dahlen, the C-E-O of the non-profit health center, says the initial call came in mid-September from a woman who would only talk to her. “I was pretty skeptical because I get messages like that every week, but the woman had a very intriguing name, which has to remain anonymous, so I decided to give her a call,” Kaptain-Dahlen said. “When I returned her call and introduced myself, she said to me: ‘Thank you for taking a leap of faith to call me back. Many people don’t.'”

The woman Kaptain-Dahlen was speaking with represents the Yield Giving Foundation — established by MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bazos. In the past three years, Scott has given away about half her fortune to non-profits around the world. Kaptain-Dahlen says this is how the foundation representative she spoke with in September announced the grant:

“This woman said to me: ‘Well, Mary, we have fully vetted you and we have fully vetted your organization and we have fully vetted your leadership team,'” Kaptain-Dahlen said yesterday, “and she said: ‘We have found you to be a thriving organization and I am notifying you that Yield Giving has identified you as one of the funding recipients for 2023.'”

Last year, the Siouxland Community Health Center served 35-thousand patients who spoke 52 different languages. The center’s C-E-O credits the more than 350 people on staff and board members for embracing the non-profit’s mission. “Your commitment to make sure that mission is achieved with every person who comes through these doors and the empowerment of that mission that you have cultivated with your team and all of our staff — that is what has brought us to this moment,” she said.

Andrea Buckley, chair of the center’s board of directors, also spoke at yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) news conference. “We’re going to create a task force, hopefully come up with a real catchy name for it,” she said with a laugh, “but it’s really an opportunity for us to listen to our stakeholders, listen to our partners, listen to our community and figure out how we can use this gift.”

Yield Giving’s website indicates the foundation has donated more than 14 BILLION dollars to over 16-hundred non-profits around the world so far and at least seven are located in Iowa.