(Radio Iowa) – The U.S. Secretary of Labor says he’s been briefed about the long-running strike at a Burlington factory that makes farm equipment and Marty Walsh says he’s willing to help in any way he can. “Sometimes both companies and unions reach out to me,” Walsh says. “That’s probably the best scenario when that happens because what I try to do is go and mediate the situation.”

On May 1st, United Auto Workers went on strike at the C-N-I plant in Burlington where Case I-H and New Holland equipment is made. The union represents about 430 workers at the plant.Walsh is a former construction worker and union member who served two years as head of the Greater Boston Building and Construction Trades Council for two years. He was part of the team at the White House that helped broker the deal to avert a nationwide railroad strike last month.

“But there’s been cases that I’ve worked into, nurses strikes around the country, that both sides have asked me to come in and try to resolve it and what I try to do with both sides is get them to talk at the table and stay at the table,” Walsh says. “I mean, you can’t solve a strike if one side’s not sitting down and talking to you.”

Walsh is meeting with Iowa labor leaders this (Monday) morning to discuss federal tax breaks available for so-called green energy projects like large solar arrays, wind power storage and carbon capture pipelines.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports two people were arrested on separate OWI charges, Sunday. 57-year-old Jeffrey Daniels, of Glenwood, and 57-year-old Mark Priester, of Lincoln, NE., were each charged with OWI/1st offense. Their bonds were set at $1,000, each. Priester was arrested after the 2015 Mazda 6 he was driving, struck a legally parked, unoccupied 2019 Dodge Durango pickup.

The accident happened at around 1:47-a.m. Sunday, in the area of N. Walnut and Sharp Streets, in Glenwood. Authorities say the Mazda was backing up from a parking spot, when it struck the front of the pickup. The left rear of the Mazda and left front of the pickup, sustained damage. Damage from the incident amounted to $4,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund (SWIHTF) have announced that Sherri Clark, the Executive Director of Nishna Productions, Inc. has joined its board of directors. The SWIHTF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the housing options for low to moderate income individuals in the Southwest Iowa counties of Harrison, Shelby, Cass, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont and Page. Over the past 5 years the trust fund has rehabilitated over 120 homes, assisted more than 100 homebuyers secure $8 million in home mortgages, and demolished 18 dilapidated houses that were beyond repair. The SWIHTF is administered by the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) in Atlantic.

Housing trust fund board chairman, Red Oak City Administrator Brad Wright said, “I’ve known Sherri a long time and she brings years of non-profit management experience to the housing trust fund board team. The organization she leads, Nishna Productions, Inc., is an outstanding provider of services to our disabled residents and she understands how fundamental the need for affordable housing is for everyone.” 

In addition to Wright and Clark, the SWIHTF board members are Kelly Mahlberg with West Central Community Action, Renee Riedel with Cornerstone Bank, Trent Svendsen with Midstates Bank, Debbie Waterbury with Atlantic HomeRealty, Stephanie Bowden with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, and Dr. Mike Wells, Superintendent of Schools in Hamburg and Essex. The trust fund is funded by grants from the Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa West Foundation, as well as the generous support of the boards of supervisors of the counties it serves.

(Clive, Iowa) – The Iowa Pork Producers Association has announced the five finalists for Iowa’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin. The announcement serves as the organization’s kick-off of October, “ National Pork Month.” The finalists are:

Massena — Main Street Bar & Grill
Corydon — Ludlow’s Steakhouse
Olaf — St. Olaf Tavern
Van Meter — 5th Quarter Bar & Grill
Waukon — Lid’s Bar & Grill

(Click on the image to enlarge the map)

Qualifying pork tenderloins must be hand-breaded or battered. In addition, the Iowa restaurant serving them needs to be open year-round and offer the sandwich as a regular menu item. Food trucks, concession stands, seasonal eateries, and catering businesses are not eligible. IPPA will announce the first- and second-place winners later this month, dubbed #Porktober22 on social media channels as part of the month-long celebration of pig farmers and the great product they produce. The annual quest to find the state’s juiciest, most flavorful tenderloin sandwich starts with public input. Each spring, tenderloin fans have about two months to nominate their favorites. This year IPPA received 4,812 votes for 449 establishments.

Judging of the top 40 took place this summer. That list included the five restaurants with the most nominations in each of IPPA’s eight districts, which “helps ensure statewide representation,” according to Kelsey Sutter, IPPA’s marketing and programs director. IPPA members and industry affiliates anonymously visited those locations and scored the tenderloins based on pork taste and quality; physical characteristics; and presentation. From there, IPPA’s restaurant and foodservice committee reviewed those 40 evaluations and selected the five contenders to advance to the next round. That same committee appointed a panel of three judges to travel to each of the finalists to determine the first- and second-place winners.

The winning restaurant will receive $500, a plaque, a banner to display, and statewide publicity that will drive new business. The runner-up is awarded $250 and a plaque from IPPA.

(Creston, Iowa) – Two people were arrested on separate charges Saturday, in Creston. Authorities say 21-year-old Alaynna Jo Wagner, of Creston, was arrested a little after 2-a.m. at Summit and Maple Streets, for OWI/1st offense. She later posted a $1,000 cash or surety bond, and was released. And, at around 10:35-p.m., Saturday, 39-year-old Sean Michael Wall, of Creston, was arrested in the 600 block of Livingston, for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was later released on a $1,000 C/S Bond, after seeing a magistrate.