The period of “extended” unemployment benefits for nearly four-thousand Iowans will soon end. The budget deal passed earlier this month by congress does not continue the program into 2014. Iowa Workforce Development spokeswoman Kerry Koonce says the extension began almost five years ago. “This has been the longest period in time that congress has ever authorized extended unemployment compensation for those individuals who’ve exhausted their regular benefits during a time of economic downturn,” Koonce says. “There wasn’t even this large of a number of extensions during the ’80s farm crisis.”

State officials have notified the 3,952 Iowans who are currently eligible for “Emergency Unemployment Compensation” that this is the last week they can file claims. Their final unemployment check will come next week. “At one point in time in Iowa, individuals could have been eligible for up to 73 weeks of benefits,” Koonce says. “Keep in mind that regular benefits are for 26 weeks, so that’s a pretty lengthy time period added on.”

According to federal officials, almost 229-thousand Iowans got extended unemployment benefits at some point between January of 2008 and September of this year. Nationally, about one-point-three million Americans who’ve qualified for extended unemployment benefits will be cut off at the turn of the year. The benefit averages about three-hundred dollars per week. The Obama Administration has asked congress to renew the program, saying those benefits are a “critical lifeline for struggling Americans.”

A bill pending in the senate would continue the extended unemployment benefits for three more months. Republicans in congress have said there’d have to be cuts elsewhere in the federal budget if the program were to continue.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Thousands of volunteer Iowa firefighters and emergency responders can claim a new $50 credit on their income taxes.  The Iowa Department of Revenue says volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel qualify for the credit starting in the 2013 tax year. Those tax filings are due in April.  Firefighters are eligible as long as they are active members of a department, and meet minimum training standards established by the state.

EMS workers are eligible if they are trained, certified and have a certificate from the Iowa Department of Public Health. The Legislative Services Agency says that up to 21,000 workers will be able to claim all or a portion of the credit, reducing state revenue by about $900,000 annually.

Gov. Terry Branstad signed the tax credit into law in 2012.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Thursday of a Glenwood woman. 29-year old Shanna Marie Black was taken into custody at around 8:30-a.m. in Cass County, NE., on a warrant for Probation Violation. Black was being held in the Mills County Jail on $50,000 bond.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident Thursday, in Mills County. Authorities say a 2013 Hyundai driven by Justin Jones, of Essex, was traveling west on Highway 34. As the vehicle approached the intersection with Kidd Road, it collided with a 2009 Chevy driven by Kimberly Frederick, of Glenwood. Officials say Frederick failed to yield as she was crossing Highway 34.

LAWTON, Iowa (AP) – A fire damaged the home of a firefighter while he was helping other volunteers put out a field blaze in northwest Iowa.  The Sioux City Journal says the fire at the Lawton home of Stacey and Cody Meyers was reported about 3 p.m. Thursday. Their children and pets escaped, and no injuries have been reported. The Red Cross helped the family find a place to stay Thursday night.

The fire cause is being investigated.  The grass fire fought by Cody Meyers and others members of the Lawton Fire Department was reported a little after 2 p.m. Thursday It blackened about 30 acres of grassland and a picked cornfield.

A private effort is underway to try and save a 125-foot water tower in Stanton, painted to look like a Swedish coffeepot. Since 1971, a 50,000-gallon water tower in the town of Stanton has featured a giant handle, spout and knob. A sign on the edge of town says, “home of the world’s largest coffeepot.”

Stanton Coffee Pot water tower

Last month, the Des Moines Register reports a $1.2 million revamp of the town’s central water system will cease use of the tower. At minimum, an estimated $250,000 would be needed to safely preserve the tower as an empty landmark. Maintenance issues include no cover on the spout to protect it from rain and moisture. Repainting the structure would require costly sandblasting. There are also out-of-date ladders on the side of the tower.

Kate Peterson Sloop is spear-heading a fundraising effort to save the structure that has been bringing tourists to Stanton for decades. To date, only $100 has been raised toward the $250,000 goal of restoring the tower for the City. Organizers will be accepting donations for almost the next year and a half at a dedicated page on youcaring.com. (www.youcaring.com/other/save-the-world-s-largest-coffee-pot/109697)

Donations can also be mailed to:

Save Our Coffee Pot Fund
C/O Great Western Bank
PO Box 9
Stanton, IA 51573

Police in Atlantic say no injuries were reported following an accident Thursday morning on east 4th Street. Officials say a vehicle driven by Donald Prall, of Atlantic, hit a vehicle driven by Cory Feltner, of Griswold, causing $3,200 damage. According to the report, Prall’s vehicle was sitting in a parking spot facing west in the 10 block of east 4th, waiting for a vehicle that was turning around. Feltner’s vehicle was traveling west on 4th Street when Prall started to turn left from the parking spot and his  vehicle hit Feltner’s on the right side. The accident happened at around 11:35-a.m. No citations were issued.