DES MOINES – Secretary of State Paul Pate, today (Monday) said Iowans registered the highest amount of new business entities in state history during the 2021 fiscal year. 33,260 new businesses registered with the Secretary of State’s Office between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. The mark breaks the previous record of 24,720 set in Fiscal Year 2019 and is a 35.8% increase from last year. This is the fifth time in six years Iowa has set a record for new business filings.

Additionally, Iowans set records for most new business filings in a single month twice in 2021. A new record of 2,940 was set in January, only to be broken again in March with 3,579 new business filings. The previous record for most new business filings in one month was 2,512, in May 2019.

Secretary Pate launched the Fast Track Filing system in 2018 to make creating a new business in Iowa faster and easier than ever before. More than 87% of new business filings in FY 2021 were done using the Fast Track system. Several other types of business filings have been added to the system since then, with most of those filings being processed within one business day.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports seven people were arrested over the past week or so. On July 7th, 34-year-old James Robert Lyman, of Greenfield, was arrested in Greenfield, for Driving While Barred and Interference with Official Acts, by resisting arrest – running away on foot from law enforcement. Lyman was being held at the Adair County Jail on a $2,000 bond. On July 5th, 32-year-old Nicolas Andrade Carnet, of Marshalltown, was arrested on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Carnet was being held without bond in the Adair County Jail.

Two other people were arrested July 5th, as well: 23-year-old Wade Dwight Hiatt, of Lorimor, was arrested in Orient, for Driving While Barred. He was released later that day on a $2,000 cash or surety bond. And, 40-year-old Isidro Ayala Cordero, of Adair, was arrested at around 12:30-a.m. by the Iowa State Patrol, after authorities investigated a drunk person who was walked into the wrong home in Adair. The individual took off in a white van before authorities arrived. The Trooper saw the van on northbound 7th Street, and conducted a traffic stop. Following an investigation, Cordero was arrested for OWI/2nd offense. His breath tested .164 BAC at the Adair County Jail – twice the legal limit. Ayala Cordero was later released on a $2,000 C/S bond.

On the 4th of July, 20-year-old Tolik Kane Bartz, of Peru, Iowa, was arrested by Greenfield Police, for Interference with Official Acts, Public Intoxication while on the Greenfield City Pool property, Providing False Identification information to law enforcement, and Possession of alcohol under the legal age. He was released on a $300 bond. 48-year-old Bruce Nathan Jarrett, of Des Moines, was arrested July 4th by the Iowa State Patrol, following a traffic stop on I-80 in Adair County. Jarrett was charged with OWI/2nd offense, and released a few hours later on a $2,000 C/S bond. Also arrested on July 4th on I-80 by the Iowa State Patrol, was 43-year-old Rogelio Olivera-Martinez, of Creston. He was charged with OWI/1st offense after his preliminary breath alcohol test registered .0375. Martinez was released later on a $1,000 C/S bond. And, 43-year-old Niels Curtis Mikklesen, of Orient, was cited for OWI/1st offense and released on July 4th, after an Adair County Deputy investigated an accident for Union County, in Union County.

The City of Atlantic has received a response from J&M Displays, with regard to the City’s inquiry as why the fire works show on July 4th was only 10-to 15-minutes long. In the e-mail, Susan Skalinski with J&M Displays, Inc., in Yarmouth (Iowa), said they will get to the bottom of the matter.

Skalinski said “We are as disappointed as you to hear about the short length and possibly less product. J&M had some issues with faulty firing boards this year and I have an email into Ted at Council Bluffs to talk to the lead shooter of your show. We will try to find out as soon as we can if he had equipment problems and if some of your shells did not fire. As soon as I hear back I will let you know.

“Regardless, because it was short in length and the community was disappointed J&M will be issuing [The City] a credit amount for 2022.” She stated that was “based on the amount of unfired product plus the amount of other issues. Once a full report is given to our CEO he will decide the credit amount…”

(Last Friday, the City Clerk Barb Barrick sent J&M Displays the following e-mail: “We have received many complaints that the show was extremely short (reports of 11-15 minutes). In addition, the Fire Chief noted that it didn’t look like the City received as much product as it had in the past. I am requesting that you look into the matter to ensure that there was not discrepancy between what the City paid ($6,000) and what it was supposed to receive ($6,000 plus 8% for early payment). If the City did receive all of its product, would you please explain why the show took such a short time?”)

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa State Fair opens its gates in Des Moines in one month and the search is on for workers to fill some 15-hundred positions. Spokesperson Mindy Williamson says it takes a lot of people to keep the fair going. “Those positions that we have open are anything from admission ticket sellers and takers, to thrill parks, cashiers in our ride area,” Williamson says. She says there’s a variety of opportunities — including a chance to bake cookies. “There’s sort of a whole gamut of skill levels and interests and hours of things that will be open. And if you are looking for a little cash heading into the fall — the fair is a great place to do that,” according to Williamson.

There are some maintenance jobs you could start right away — but most jobs only last through the run of the fair. “There’s a little longer time span for some of those maintenance positions — but many of our ticket takers and ticket sellers — yes, it’s just those 11 days — August 12th through the 22nd,” Williamson says. She says they need people of all ages and skill levels. “It depends on the positions and what they have filled up to this point,” Williamson says, “but 14 and older anyone can apply for any of those jobs. Any skill level, we’ll find something that you’ll love to do here at that fair.”

You can apply online at iowastatefair.org, or go to the administration office on the fairgrounds to fill out an application. That office is open 8 a-m until 4:30 p-m every weekday.

(Radio Iowa) – Democrat Deidre DeJear, who ran for secretary of state in 2018, is taking the first steps toward launching a run for governor in 2022. DeJear is a small business owner from Des Moines. She’s has formed an exploratory committee to raise money. DeJear is starting a listening tour of the state with an event tonight (Monday) in Des Moines with small business owners and stops in six eastern and south central Iowa cities this week as well.

In 2018, DeJear was the first Black Iowan to be nominated for statewide office by a major party. She lost to Republican Secretary of State Paul Pate. In 2019, DeJear served as Iowa campaign chair for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Small Business Development Center is launching what it’s calling an Inclusivity Challenge to make sure minority business owners and entrepreneurs have the resources to succeed as the pandemic continues. Lisa Shimkat, the center’s state director, says it’s important to be proactive to make sure underrepresented businesses get the support they need. “There’s no rules to how to successfully come out of a pandemic, there’s no rules as to how we need to do the next steps in our business,” Shimkat says, “so why don’t we get out in front of this and define it? That’s what we wanted to do.”

Shimkat says one of their primary goals is to lend help those businesses that are most in danger of closing. “We could form a committee, we could sit around and talk about it, but instead, let’s just get out in front of this, make decisions and make it happen,” she says. A kickoff event is scheduled for Wednesday where the center, along with representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration, will address some of the state’s gaps in access to resources.

(by Kassidy Arena, Iowa Public Radio)

NORWALK — The City of Norwalk is searching for a new fire chief. The city administrator has confirmed with KCCI, that Chief Ryan Coburn resigned and is no longer in command.  In May, Coburn was arrested on suspicion of operating while intoxicated. According to online records, Coburn pleaded guilty in June. The city has posted a job listing looking for his replacement.

ANKENY — A man accused of threatening to “shoot up” Waukee High School last March is now exploring a run for school board in Ankeny, making some parents uneasy, and gaining attention outside of Iowa.  Issac Holtz, who was 19 at the time, admitted to sending the threatening email as he was being led out of the Dallas County Courthouse following a court appearance. Holtz received a deferred judgement on one count of threat of terrorism. Now, in July of 2021, Holtz has created a website announcing a run for the Ankeny school board.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, July 12, 2021 – Registration is open for the 2021 Council Bluffs Walk to End Alzheimer’s^®. The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting Council Bluffs area residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by starting a team and walking on September 25 at River’s Edge Pavilion. Harlan area residents can join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by starting a team and walking on September 18th at Pioneer Park.

On Walk day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony — a mission-focused experience that signifies our solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers represent people’s connection to Alzheimer’s — their personal reasons to end the disease.

While plans are moving forward to host the Walk in person, the health and safety of participants, staff and volunteers remain the top priorities as decisions are made about event details. Options will be offered to participate online and in local neighborhoods. Marsha Williams, Development Manager for the Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, says “We are excited to see and walk with everyone in person again this year. More than ever, we need to come together to support all those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias. With the dollars raised, the Alzheimer’s Association provides care and support to families in Iowa while also advancing critical research toward methods of treatment and prevention.”

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Iowa alone, there are more than 66,000 people living with the disease and 73,000 caregivers.

To register and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit: alz.org/walk.