(Radio Iowa)  – The state’s largest food bank plans to host a series of regional round table meetings, starting later this month, to address Iowa’s hunger problem. Annette Hacker is spokeswoman for the Food Bank of Iowa, which serves 55 Iowa counties. “We begin the day with a what we call regional round tables, an opportunity to gather community members to talk about food insecurity in our state and in your community and how Food Bank of Iowa and our community partners are working together to make sure Iowa’s children, families, seniors and veterans have the nutrition they need to thrive.” Hacker says they’ve held the regional round-table meetings for the past five or so years and they’ve been well received.

“We begin the day with the regional round table and then in the afternoon, we visit some of our partners around the state,” Hacker says, “and we have six regional round table opportunities this spring and summer.”

The round tables are planned for Newton on March 26th, Webster City on March 27th, Panora on March 28th, Albia on April 24th, Fairfield on April 25th and Algona on May 7th. All meetings begin at 10 a.m.

Following the round table meetings, Food Bank of Iowa representatives will tour community food banks to learn first-hand about their local food insecurity issues. Learn more at: foodbankiowa.org/roundtable24

MUSCATINE, Iowa (KWQC) – If you fancy yourself the owner of a private island, you have the opportunity to do so, providing you are ok with the island being on the Mississippi River, near Muscatine, and you have a good chunk of change available to blow.

KWQC reports for $1.5-million, 129-acres of land on Towhead Island near downtown Muscatine is for sale. Located over a mile south of downtown Muscatine, Towhead Island has been privately owned by a family for three generations. But has been a source of recreation for the public for decades.

Towhead Island, IA (photo from Zillow)

According to old newspaper articles in Muscatine, before ownership was transferred to a family, moonshiners used the island masquerading as fishermen.

If you are interested in purchasing the island, it is listed with a team at RE/MAX.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Auditor of State Rob Sand today (Thursday), released an audit report on City of Massena, Iowa. A summary of the report follows:

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS:
The City’s receipts totaled $3,780,006 for the year ended June 30, 2021. Disbursements for the year ended June 30, 2021 totaled $3,177,796.

AUDIT FINDINGS:
Sand reported thirteen findings related to the receipt and disbursement of taxpayer funds. The findings address issues such as a lack of segregation of duties, the lack of review of monthly bank reconciliations, the lack of reconciliations of utility billings, collections and delinquent accounts, disbursements exceeding budgeted amounts and a deficit fund balance. Sand provided the City with recommendations to address each of the findings.

The City Council has a fiduciary responsibility to provide oversight of the City’s operations and financial transactions. Oversight is typically defined as the “watchful and responsible care” a governing body exercises in its fiduciary capacity.

A copy of the audit report is available for review on the Auditor of State’s website at Audit Reports – Auditor of State.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Applications are now being accepted for the 15th Annual Trevor Frederickson Memorial Scholarship. Trevor’s mom and Fund spokesperson Melanie Petty, says applications may be obtained from the Atlantic High School guidance office at 1201 E. 14th Street or the Atlantic High School website: www.atlanticiaschools.org.

Up to two $750 scholarships are available to those graduating from Atlantic High School in the spring of 2024. Applicants must plan to attend a college or vocational school, show involvement in school and/or community activities, supply a copy of their college acceptance letter, provide two letters of reference along with their 7 semester transcripts, and maintain academic achievement of 2.5 or better. The scholarships will be awarded at the Atlantic High School Class Night held in May.

Trevor Frederickson graduated from Atlantic High School in 2006. He went on to further his education at Southwestern Community College in Creston where he studied automotive mechanics and played baseball for the Southwestern Spartans. Two additional $750 scholarships will be available for Southwestern Community College students this fall. Trevor, who passed away in 2009, had plans of pursuing a career in law enforcement and returning to his hometown of Atlantic. Melanie Petty said “Anyone who knew Trevor, knew he valued family, life and community. Trevor continues to live on in our hearts and minds. To this day, Trevor is still giving back to the community he loved to be a part of.”

Trevor Frederickson

Funds for the scholarships are raised at an annual golf tournament. Plans are already in the works for the 16th Annual TFred Memorial Golf Tournament to be held on Saturday, June 15th, 2024. Organizers look forward to another successful tournament so they can continue to grant scholarships for many years to come.