(Radio Iowa) – The median price for a home sold in Iowa last month hit a record high, while the NUMBER of home sales is dropping according to the Iowa Association of Realtors. The median price for an Iowa home sold in June was a record 230-thousand dollars. That’s about 12 percent more expensive than the median price for Iowa homes sold in June of 2021. Homes placed on the market sold in an average of 27 days last month — that’s 18 percent faster than in June of LAST year. In the first six months of THIS year, there’s been a more than four percent drop in the number homes sold in the state.
In June, about 47-hundred home sales were completed. The Iowa Association of Realtors monthly report shows the number of homes available for sale is slowly increasing after a record low in May. Iowa Association of Realtors president Byron Menke says increased mortgage rates and sky-high home prices are affecting housing markets throughout the country, but if inventory continues to rise, home prices may stabilize.
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s three congresswomen — a Democrat and two Republicans — have voted for a bill to make the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage federal law. The move comes after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the court should reconsider the ruling that legalized same-sex marriage across the country. Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines says the bill that passed the U.S. House ensures marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples.
Congresswomen Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa and Ashley Hinson of Marion were among the Republicans who joined Democrats in supporting the bill. Hinson says she did so because it respects and maintains settled law. Same-sex marriages have been legal in Iowa since a state supreme court ruling issued in 2009.
The other Iowan serving in the U.S. House — Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull — voted against the bill.
(Griswold, Iowa) [UPDATED} – A capital campaign in Cass County to raise funds for an 88-hundred square-foot daycare center in Griswold has gone from private to public. Jared Wyman, of Griswold, President of the Noble Initiative Foundation, said today (Wednesday), they are very close to reaching their fundraising goal, and hope to have a groundbreaking ceremony this Fall.
The Noble Initiative Foundation, he said, was founded in November, 2018 following the closing of the Noble Center United Methodist Church. The church donated its remaining funds to develop a local childcare center serving Griswold and families from the surrounding communities. Wyman said the Noble Initiative is a 501(c-3) non-profit organization.
Noble Initiative Foundation President Jared Wyman (Ric Hanson/photo)
He said so far they’ve raised over 70% ($1.6-million) of their $2.3-million goal through grants and private donations, and from the Cass County Board of Supervisors. Land for the building was made available just south and east of the Griswold High School Football Field & Bus Barn, on the east side of Harrison Street.
Griswold Day Care Center floor plan.
The childcare center will provide quality, affordable year-round child care, including full-time, drop-in, and before and after school care. It will feature four childcare rooms to accommodate children from 6-weeks old to 4-years-old, including a separate area for before and after school care, for elementary age children.
In addition to fundraising, the Noble Initiative is searching for up to 40 volunteers to join them in the upcoming months, for a variety of purposes, including hosting events, writing “thank-you’s,” helping find facility furnishings and creating policies. Jared Wyman said there are opportunities for persons of all ages and backgrounds.
(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Sunday evening, of a man from Red Oak. Deputies conducted a traffic stop at around 6:13-p.m. on Highway 34 at the Avenue of Industries (West of Corning), on a vehicle driven by Bruce Edward Swanson, for failure to maintain his lane. He was subsequently taken into custody for OWI/1st offense. At the Adams County Jail, Swanson’s BAC (Blood Alcohol Test) results showed .272%, or more than three-time the legal limit for intoxication. He was held in the Adams County Jail until seen by a Magistrate.
IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa senior Ben Beutel will sign an undrafted free agent contract with the Chicago White Sox organization, it was announced following the conclusion of the 2022 Major League Draft.
Beutel is the fifth Hawkeye from the 2022 team that will continue with a Major League Baseball organization. Iowa had four players – Adam Mazur, Peyton Williams, Dylan Nedved and Duncan Davitt – selected in the 2022 MLB Draft.
The Davenport, Iowa, native had a breakout senior season in 2022, finishing 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA and four saves in 29 appearances – the most on the team. The southpaw finished with 41 strikeouts to just six walks over 30 2/3 innings and he allowed just 22 hits.
During the season, Beutel picked off nine base runners, which led to him earning a Rawlings Gold Glove as the best defensive pitcher in Division I college baseball. He was also an ABCA/Rawlings second-team All-Midwest Region and a second-team All-Big Ten honoree.
Beutel finished his collegiate career with a 4-4 record and a 4.84 ERA. He had 71 strikeouts over 74 1/3 career innings.
(Humboldt County, Iowa) – The pilot of a small airplane made an emergency landing Tuesday, in a Humboldt County soybean field. According to reports, the pilot was flying home to Colorado after attending a wedding in Wisconsin, when his aircraft ran out of gas. He brought the plane down safely in the field off of Utah Avenue. Neither the pilot nor his passenger were injured.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s office said someone gave the pilot some gas and he took off again off of the gravel road on Texas Avenue nearby.
The pilot has agreed to pay the farmer back for the damage his soybean field.
(Radio Iowa) – A couple who live across the street from the governor’s mansion is seeking a zoning change so they can sell guns out of their home. A hearing with the Des Moines Zoning Board is scheduled for July 27th on the request from Travis and Elizabeth Aslin. The couple told Axios they conducted a few online gun sales from their previous home in a Des Moines suburb as a hobby and let customers pick up the guns at their house in Grimes.
Des Moines officials seeking to deny the couple’s request to sell guns near the governor’s residence will have to show the home business would endanger public health and safety or impact the neighborhood. Those are the guidelines from a law Governor Reynolds approved aw last month that restricts city and county ordinances for home based businesses.
During House debate of the legislation, Republican Representative Skyler Wheeler of Orange City said Iowans should be able to operate a business out of their home if they aren’t disturbing neighbors.
WINONA MAY LUTZ, 78, of Adair, died Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services for WINONA LUTZ will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Adair.
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Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral at the funeral home.
Interment will follow at Sunnyhill Cemetery in Adair.
Memorials may be directed to The Boys & Girls Club- Central SW at 807 Broad St, Adair IA 50002 or A – C Food Pantries at 401 Cass St, Adair IA 50002.
WINONA MAY LUTZ is survived by:
Daughters: Teresa Marckmann of Stuart; Tina Escoto of Stuart; Trina (Darrell) Hayden of Redfield and Terri (Greg) Simmons of Dallas Center