Legislators are considering a bill that would help Iowans who are a bit competitive about the beer they brew in their own home. It is illegal for Iowans to enter their home brews in exhibitions or competitions because state law says beer brewed at home is for personal consumption only. Senator Liz Mathis , a Democrat from Robins, says that means the judges in a competition can’t sample home brews made in Iowa. “What the new bill shows is that you could be able to take some of your home-brewed beer and leave your home and take it to this exhibition or festival and allow judges to sample it,” Mathis says. “What it doesn’t allow for is for that home-brewed beer to be sold in mass quantities.”

Alabama is the only state in the union where brewing beer at home is illegal. Home brewing is a growing hobby in the United States. Membership in the American Homebrewers Association has quadrupled in the past seven years. “I think even President Obama has talked about home brew beer,” Mathis says. The White House chefs have bottled an ale and a porter, using honey harvested from the White House garden. A long time ago, Mathis wanted to try her hand at beer brewing.

“Back in 1976, there were five of us in a bio chem class and we were wondering if we might be able to try something like that, but were deterred by our teacher saying, ‘You probably shouldn’t try that.’ You know the drinking age was 18 back then,” Mathis says, laughing, “so we were very inquisitive and curious but, no, we didn’t go ahead with the plans.”

The bill to let home brewers enter their beers in competitions has unanimously passed both the Iowa House and the Senate, but senators made a slight change that must be approved by the House before the legislation can go to Governor Branstad for his signature.

(Radio Iowa)

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was injured during an accident last week, near Shenandoah. Eligah Newkirk, of Red Oak, was transported to the Shenandoah Hospital, after the 1993 Ford Explorer he was driving went out of control and left Highway 59 south of Shenandoah, before hitting a tree. The accident happened March 19th, as Newkirk was traveling southbound.

Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County report the arrest last week of a Nebraska man on drug charges. 33-year old Derrick Edward Traub, of Stella, NE, was arrested March 19th on Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Interference with Official Acts charges, along with a charge of Failure to affix a drug tax stamp and No Valid ID.

That same day, 22-year old Andrew Ryan Lemrick, of Hamburg, was arrested for allegedly violating his probation associated with a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree. And, on March 21st, 38-year old Azure Lee Miller, of Sidney, IA, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension, and on a Red Oak Police Department warrant for a parking violation during a snow emergency.

U.S. Democrat Senator Tom Harkin,  Friday, announced that three council of governments in Iowa have received a total of $166,500 from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to provide continued support for their economic development planning within their regions. The Region XII (12) Council of Governments (COG’s) received $54,900 to serve the  counties of Audubon, Carroll and Crawford, along with Greene, Guthrie and SAC.

The other two entities were Mid-Iowa Development Association Council of Governments and Southern Iowa Council of Governments, Inc which serves Adair and other counties. Harkin is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee that funds the initiatives.  Harkin  said he hopes the funds will help those Council of Governments “Continue their economic development efforts, giving a boost their communities.