(Fremont County, Iowa) – The family of a man who died in a Fremont County fire early Wednesday morning has established a GoFundMe page to help with his funeral expenses. The family says 59-year-old Steven Clark Lustgraaf, of Coin, was not employed due to his disability, and he had no life insurance. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office on Friday (Feb. 2nd), confirmed the victim’s identity. The fire that claimed his life occurred in a detached garage at around 12:15-a.m., Wednesday, in Farragut.

Anyone wishing to help the family may go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/steve-lustgraaf?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

(Radio Iowa) – The chairmen of House and Senate committees that oversee tax policy are proposing what they describe as a sustainable way to gradually eliminate Iowa’s individual income tax. The idea? Have the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System start managing the state’s more than three BILLION dollar Taxpayer Relief Fund. The profits earned from investing that money would be used to ratchet down the state income tax rate over time. Senate Ways and Means Committee chairman Dan Dawson is a Republican from Council Bluffs.”We’re doing something that everyday Iowans do for their retirement, everyday businesses here in the state do,” Dawson says. “We’re using the money, growing it for something bigger.”

House Ways and Means Committee chair Bobby Kaufmann is a Republican from Wilton. “If you look at what other states have done, not only is it one of the more innovative plans, I think it’s one of the most responsible in the entire country at getting Iowa to our long term goal of zero percent income tax,” Kaufmann says. Dawson says it ensures state government can meet its spending obligations even as the state reduces income tax revenue. “Ultimately it’s a responsible glide path to zero,” Dawson says, “as opposed to some massive sales tax increase or eliminating a bunch of (income tax) exemptions out there.”

Kaufmann says now’s the time for the public to weigh in on the idea. “As this is talked about at forums, as it’s disseminated amongst the press, I think you’re going to find a high appetite for Iowans to want to do that,” Kaufmann says. “They’ll communicate that to us and we’ll get this done as soon as we can.”

Both lawmakers, though, describe the proposal as a long-term plan and expect to prepare a bill this spring that would speed up already approved income tax cuts. They’re waiting on a March report on state tax revenue and may use SOME elements of the tax reduction plan Governor Reynolds introduced three weeks ago. The two lawmakers also plan to advance a proposed constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds vote in the legislature to raise any state tax.

(Coon Rapids, Iowa) – A non-profit business in Guthrie County, this month, is offering those who can’t afford a new dress for their prom, opportunities to receive a pre-used dress, for free. They’re also accepting donations for floor-length gowns from prom, to make available to young ladies in need. Dona Tuel runs the non-profit, “Prom Closet” located at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids (406 5th Avenue South).

She says it’s a fun thing to do, and very needed, because prom dresses are very expensive. Tuel says they don’t take money for the dresses and accessories.

There are several locations to drop-off good condition, pre-owned dresses in western Iowa any time of the year. That includes banks and Catholic charities. All items collected are hung-up on hangers and minor repairs are made. Volunteers hand-wash any dresses that come in, if needed.

Photo from The Prom Closet Facebook page

Shoes, jewelry and purses are also available to accessorize the dress. Dona said the need for prom dresses to be free or at least affordable, is high, because the price for something that will likely be used only once, is very high. The price can be a deterrent to enjoying an event that young women look forward to every year.

She says the hope of everyone at the Prom Closet is that everyone regardless of their financial circumstances, is able to attend Prom and have that memory.

Dress sizes come in a variety of colors and styles. The range in size from double-zero to 28-by-30. Sizes 16 and up are most desired by the Prom Closet, because they don’t have as many of them. All sizes in any color are needed, though.

Free Shopping Days at the Prom Closet in Coon Rapids, are scheduled for:

• Saturday, February 3 from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
• Saturday, February 10, from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
• Saturday, February 17, from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
• Saturday, February 24, from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
• Sunday, February 18, from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• Sunday February 25, from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

For more information, call Dona Tuel at 712-830-7825. On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/promclosetdresses

(Hamburg, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol reports a Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputy/K-9 handler, was involved in an injury accident last week. Information released today (Thursday), said the accident occurred at around 7-p.m. on January 25th, in Hamburg. The Patrol says a 2001 Dodge Ram pickup driven by a 16-year-old male was traveling west on E Street in Hamburg, while a 2019 Dodge Charger driven by Andrew J. Wake, of Sidney, was traveling north on Washington Street.

The report says Wake failed to stop at the intersection, and did not see the pickup traveling through the intersection. The driver of the pickup took evasive action, but the vehicle was struck broadside by the Dodge. Both drivers refused medical attention at the scene. The Patrol says the teen did not have an Iowa driver’s license on him at the time of the crash.

Andrew Wake is a Sergeant/K-9 handler with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Department. He was on duty at the time the accident occurred. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by Hamburg Rescue.

(Radio Iowa) – With Valentine’s Day coming up, we’ll be seeing a lot of red hearts, but also because it’s American Heart Month. Brian Geelan is a spokesman for the Iowa chapter of the American Heart Association. “We really focus on heart health awareness during this month of February, especially this year because we’re celebrating the American Heart Association’s 100th birthday,” Geelan says. “So it’s American Heart Month, we’ve got our centennial celebration, we’ve just got lots of good things to talk about throughout the month.” Tomorrow (Friday) is National Wear Red Day, which is always the first Friday in February. Geelan encourages Iowans to wear something red all day and to do a little research and consider their own heart health.

“This day is really centered around focusing on the Go Red For Women movement and raising awareness that cardiovascular disease is the number-one killer of women,” Geelan says. “Cardiovascular disease actually kills more women every year than all forms of cancer combined.” Geelan says educating the public about heart health is a key program with the Heart Association.

“Cardiovascular disease overall is the number-one killer of all Americans, men and women,” Geelan says. “If you look at it globally, it’s also the number-one killer, stroke is number-two, and the state of Iowa really reflects those numbers as well, where heart disease is the number-one killer of men and women.” This February also marks the 60th annual observance of American Heart Month. There will be special events across Iowa for the observance of American Heart Month. Learn more here: heart.org/iowa

UPDATED 3:12-P.M., Feb 1st: The City of Kimballton has restored water to their distribution system. The City remains under a water boil advisory until further notice. If you need bottled drinking water, it can be picked up at the City Clerk’s office until 4pm. If you need bottled water after 4pm please call the City Clerk’s office (712-773-3003) prior to closing time to arrange pickup.

AUDUBON COUNTY, Iowa – Authorities with the the City of Kimballton, in Audubon County, have issued a boiled water advisory for the community, after pressure was lost to the distribution system from a water main break. Repairs are being made and the advisory will remain in place until bacteria lab samples have come back negative.

Customers are encouraged to boil water that will be consumed or used for food preparation. Water should be boiled for two minutes and allowed to cool before use. Water is safe to use for showering, laundry, general washing and outdoor use without boiling.

Contact Kimballton city water operator Ryan Billheimer at (641) 740-1942 for more information.

(Adair, Iowa) — The community of Adair is coming together this weekend, to honor a teenager who was seriously hurt in a crash. Jaya Fever suffered a traumatic brain injury in a crash in December of 2022. Jay’s father, and Pastor of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Adair, Kyle Fever, talked about Jaya’s accident, which happened as she was on her way to school.

Her brain injury affected everything about her, Kyle said. She came home in June following rehabilitation.

He says she still has a long journey ahead, with at least two-years ahead of ongoing therapy.

The Community of Adair is putting on a benefit for her at 4:30-p.m. Saturday, Feb.3^rd, at the Adair Fire Hall. The purpose is to help defray the cost of Jaya’s ongoing treatment The event – sponsored by the Adair Fire Department and the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church – begins with a free-will donation meal, followed by a silent auction that includes NFL items, such as signed footballs, mini-helmets, and photographs featuring Brock Purdy, Patrick Mahomes and George Kittle, to name a few.

Sharon Anderson is helping to coordinate the benefit. She says carry-out meals can be purchased when the doors open at 4:30-p.m, Saturday.

Special guest at the event is Steele McLaren, who has made remarkable progress in recovering from a Traumatic Brain Injury he suffered in after falling off a truck on the way home from a hunting trip in 2020, and has a message to share.  There will also entertainment.

While the silent auction runs from 4:30-to 7:30-p.m. The live auction starts at 6:30-p.m.

Sharon’s son works for the Minnesota Vikings as their Chief Communications Officer. He helped to acquire autographed memorabilia from six NFL teams.

She said when the teams learned about Jaya’s story from Sharon’s son, they didn’t hesitate to graciously respond with the items up for auction. To see the latest list of items up for auction, go to the Good Shepherd Adair, IA Facebook page. To donate items or to offer monetary contributions, call 641-740-0553.