Atlantic, IA – SHIFT ATL, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, along with The Little Cobbler have announced the winners of their pumpkin painting contest that took place during the Fireman’s Parade Pre-Party on October 8th, 2022. There were five different age categories and participants were judged by a panel of four judges. The winners include:

• 6 & under – Lane Frederiksen
• 7 to 12 years old – Bryce Berg (pictured with his sister Jayden Franken who received 3rd place)
• 13 to 18 years old – Charli Goff
  19 to 59 years old – Ashley Kelly
  60+ – Nancy Fredrickson
  

  Ashley Kelly

  

  Bryce Berg

  

  Charli Goff

  

  Lane. Fredericksen

  

  Nancy Fredrickson

The Montgomery County (Iowa) Sheriff’s Department reports a man was arrested this (Monday) morning following an investigation into a property damage incident that happened at around 5:30-a.m., in Stanton. Authorities say 22-year-old Nicholas A. Foster, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 5:49-a.m., on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree (A Serious Misdemeanor).

Foster was found by Red Oak Police and detained for personnel from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, who were conducting the investigation. Foster was taken into custody without incident and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) has announced a $96 million investment in growing Iowa’s small businesses, including startups, manufacturers and businesses owned by veterans and individuals from diverse backgrounds. The funding is available through the U.S. Treasury Department’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), a small business aid program that was expanded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

The program, created during the 2021 legislative session to strengthen Iowa’s food supply chain and support rural development, was so successful legislators renewed it during the 2022 session. Grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded to eligible businesses, with a total of $1,000,000 available through the program in the current fiscal year.

“Small businesses and entrepreneurs dream big, drive Iowa’s economy and make our communities better places to live,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said. “Iowa had the fastest economic recovery through the pandemic in large part because of the creativity and resilience of our small businesses. This funding will build on the momentum by investing in our small businesses and entrepreneurs just as they have chosen to invest in Iowa.”

The Treasury Department approved Iowa’s amount based on a plan submitted by IEDA. Iowa’s SSBCI dollars will focus on encouraging venture capital and investment in scalable innovation companies through the following programs:

• Loan Participation Program for Manufacturing 4.0 Investments: $28 million to help Iowa manufacturers invest in the new technologies that are transforming the industry. The state will purchase part of the loan to help offset risk for lenders.
• Small Business Collateral Support Program: $15 million to help small businesses offset collateral shortfalls as they secure loans through commercial lenders. Eligible borrowers include small businesses that are 51% owned by women, individuals from diverse backgrounds, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and long-term rural residents; and small businesses that enhance arts and culture in Iowa.
• Venture Capital Innovation Fund Program: $22 million to increase funding opportunities across the state’s assistance programs for entrepreneurs. This fund also will provide more funding to address gaps in startup development phases as businesses work through concept, launch and expansion.
• Venture Capital Co-Investment Fund Program: $31 million to process and hold equity investments in private companies and ensure investments are qualified.

“Iowa’s small businesses have faced some of the biggest economic challenges of the last few years, but they also have some of the greatest success stories and we’ve seen a record-breaking surge in new businesses for two years in a row,” said Debi Durham, executive director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority. “Our team looks forward to working with our small business and innovation partners to bring these new efforts to life.”

The SSBCI was established in 2010 to increase access to capital for traditionally underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs. It was reauthorized and expanded through the American Rescue Plan to build on that success as businesses emerge from the pandemic.

Planning for the SSBCI application process is underway. For more information, visit iowaeda.com/ssbci.

(Radio Iowa) – The federal website where some current and former students may apply for college loan forgiveness launched Friday night — and University of Iowa president Barbara Wilson says for several weeks the university’s financial aid office has been fielding calls from students making preparations. “Trying to figure out if they qualify, under what respects, whether they qualify for $10,000 or $20,000,” she says, “and we’re there for them to try to help them sort it out.” Wilson says she’s unsure how many current students on her campus qualify. Iowa State University president Wendy Wintersteen says 43 percent of I-S-U students graduate without debt. “Those that do have debt have average debt of about $29,500 would be a pretty close figure,” Wintersteen says.

Wintersteen has been cautioning I-S-U students about potential scams and to wait for the federal website to apply for student loan forgiveness. Earlier this year, federal lawmakers increased the maximum size of a Pell Grant by 400 dollars, but Wintersteen notes it’s not as much as had been discussed a year ago. “That would make a tremendous difference whose family really don’t have the capacity to send their students to college without taking out significant loans, it would have helped them really directly into the future for a long time,” Wintersteen says. The University of Iowa’s president also contrasts the one-time student debt forgiveness plan with Pell Grants.

“I am hopeful at the federal level we really take a look at Pell Grants,” Wilson says. “because if we can increase Pell Grant funding from students from low income families, that will be a much longer path to affordability for students.”

Wilson and Wintersteen made their comments during recent appearances on Iowa Press on Iowa P-B-S. According to the Biden Administration, over 400-thousand Iowa borrowers are eligible for student loan forgiveness and 61 percent of them are Pell Grant recipients who qualify for 20-thousand dollars in debt forgiveness.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter is hosting its first Dementia Conversations Mini-Conference. The event takes place at The Gathering Room in Council Bluffs, on Thursday, October 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Conference is centered around caregivers and families facing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and is free for all to attend.

The Conference will feature presentations from:

·       Dr. Lindy Fields, Clinical Neuropsychologist at Methodist Health System, on when families should take their loved one to the doctor for cognitive testing

·       Shelly Otten, RN-BC, IALMP, CDP, Executive Director at CountryHouse Residence, on the four main types of dementia

·       Patti Salvo-McGinn, MS, LMHC, LIMHP, Mental Health Therapist and part-owner at Horizon Therapy Group, on caring for yourself as a caregiver

·       Deborah L. Petersen, Attorney and owner at Petersen Law PLLC, on legal considerations for families facing dementia

·       Jessica Duncan, CDP, Account Executive at Angels Care Home Health, on the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease

·       Marti Nerenstone, local Attorney, on caring for her late wife throughout her journey with dementia

To register or for more information visit alz.org/iowa or call 1-800-272-3900.

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, there are more than 66,000 people living with the disease and 73,000 caregivers.

(Creston, Iowa) – A collision Sunday afternoon in Creston caused a total of $1,500 damage, but no serious injuries. Creston Police report the accident happened in the eastbound lane of Highway 34 near Industrial Parkway at around 3-p.m. An investigation determined a 2022 Chevy Equinox driven by 64-year-old Laurie Girard, of Afton, was stopped in the left lane of the eastbound lane. Her turn signal was on while she waited to turn left onto Industrial Parkway.

A 2023 Chevy pickup driven by 22-year-old Dalten Bierle, of Creston, was coming down the hill and was not able to stop in-time. The pickup’s bed was loaded with “a lot of heavy material,” according to the report. Authorities say that contributed to Bierle not be able to stop in an assured safe distance.

Girdard told police she “was unsure she was hurt and that she had blacked out after she was hit.” Medics checked both drivers out at the scene and cleared them of injuries. There were no citations issued.