The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) wants qualified Iowans to get and stay connected to crucial phone and broadband services to reach local emergency personnel, health care providers, and community and job resources, and to connect with family and friends. Having access to these services can be the difference between social connection and complete isolation.

The IUB joins the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of “Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week,” September 11-17, 2023. This week is designed to both raise awareness and increase participation in the federal Lifeline program and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

Promotion of these programs is targeted at helping ensure no one gets left out of vital communications services due to cost. Qualifying low-income residents who need assistance paying for monthly voice or broadband bills are encouraged to apply to the federal Lifeline program for potential financial assistance.

Under the Lifeline program, discounts are available of up to $5.25 monthly on a voice service bill or up to $9.25 per month for broadband or bundled voice and broadband service bills for qualified residents who participate in certain public assistance or veterans pension programs or meet income guidelines. Discounts of up to $25 per month are available for residents on tribal lands.

The complementary ACP was implemented by the FCC in 2021 and is also available to qualifying households. ACP can provide a monthly discount on broadband service of up to $30 per eligible household (or up to $75 per eligible household on tribal lands), with an additional one-time device subsidy to permit customers to purchase a laptop, desktop, or tablet at a discount from a participating provider if the household pays more than $10 and less than $50 toward the price of the device. The participating broadband service provider will receive the funds directly from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Current Lifeline participants are automatically eligible, but they still need to select a provider and eligible ACP plan to receive the benefit. The ACP is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

To apply for Lifeline benefits, or to request an application be mailed to you or download a copy visit https://www.lifelinesupport.org, or contact your local participating telecommunications provider or the IUB. To apply online or download an application for the Affordable Connectivity Program, go to getinternet.gov.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports that on September 3rd a Greenfield man was charged with Assault Causing Bodily Injury and False Report of Indictable Offense to a Public Entity.  The sheriff says the charges came from an incident that happened on May 13th when deputies, Orient Fire and Rescue, and Adair County EMS were called to the 3300 block of Highway 25 for a motor vehicle collision involving multiple vehicles and cattle on the roadway.  At one point, Orient firefighter 42-year-old Nicholas Eugen Carson reported that someone in a white van had threatened him with a gun.  A Deputy observed that vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.  After speaking with several witnesses who were occupants of the van, it was determined that Carson had tried to open the door of the van and attack the driver after asking the occupants for licenses.  The victim gave consent to search the van and no firearm was found.  The reports states that actions by Carson, Orient’s Assistant Fire Chief, were done without any justification or authority to attempt to remove an occupant from a vehicle.  When asked to provide a written statement or come in for an interview about the incident, Carson declined.

On September 6th, the Adair Police Department arrested 59 year old Arnold Edward Morris of Adair on a warrant for Indecent Exposure.  Morris was held on $2,000 cash or surety bond.

On September 8th, Adair Police arrested 36 year old Austin Curtis Vanlandingham of Adair following a traffic stop.  Vanlandingham was charged with Driving While Barred and Possession of a Controlled Substance and was held on $3,000 cash or surety bond.

Also on September 8th, Greenfield Police arrested 53 year old Jason Dennis Kruse of Lake City at the Adair County Fairgrounds for Public Intoxication.  Bond was set at $300 cash or surety.

And, on September 8th, deputies arrested 49 year old Charles Herbert Abell of Orient on a Union County warrant for Theft 2nd Degree.  Abell was held on $5,000 cash or surety bond.

This self-guided tour allows participants to begin and end where they would like, come and go from location to location at their leisure, and explore diverse art forms – including fiber art, sculpture, pottery, painting, metal works, jewelry, glassware and much more from more than 90 artists. The eighteen unique stops this year include the same footprint with all of last year’s communities represented, plus two additional Gathering Places in Glenwood and the return of the Harvester Artist Lofts & Gallery in Council Bluffs. Gathering Places will be located in the following Southwest Iowa towns: Avoca, rural Clarinda, Council Bluffs, rural Essex, Glenwood, Harlan, Macedonia, Malvern, rural Malvern, Neola, Red Oak and Villisca. The event will be held on its traditional third Saturday and Sunday in September, with an additional Friday “Sneak Peek” at select locations. This year’s Friday “Sneak Peek” hours are from 4 to 7 PM on September 15th at 9 of the 18 locations. This will provide attendees with the additional opportunity to explore the Gathering Places in Clarinda, Essex, Macedonia, Malvern, Neola and Villisca a little early – whether you can’t make it the other days or just need additional time to visit all locations over the weekend. Avoca, Council Bluffs, Glenwood, Harlan and Red Oak’s Gathering Places will join the tour on Saturday morning; the hours for all locations are from 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, September 16th and from Noon to 4 PM on Sunday, September 17th.

The inaugural Southwest Iowa Art Tour was in 2014, when a group of local artists came together to create a regional event to connect their rural communities – a self-guided ‘Art Tour’ that would showcase their artworks, studios, galleries, and hometowns. The first year included six participating communities: Elliott, Macedonia, Malvern, Red Oak, Shenandoah and Stanton. Of the 21 artists who participated in the first event, 8 are participating in this year’s 10th Annual Southwest Iowa Art Tour. When you’re visiting with the artists along the way, take an extra moment to chat with Zack Jones, Paul Koch, Phil Lamb, Cece Lock, Curt Adams, Cherie Miner, Tom Harnack and Fred Bolton; and thank them for their foresight and dedication to creating and maintaining this wonderful event for southwest Iowa. The success of the Southwest Iowa Art Tour has grown the tenth annual event to eleven communities, eighteen Gathering Places, and more than ninety local artists. Two of the original locations – The Art Church in Malvern and The Painted Camel Gallery in Macedonia – are also celebrating milestones this year. The Art Church is celebrating the 150th Year of the building, showing off major exterior renovations, a new coat of paint and live music to accompany the Art Tour. After 9 years of ownership by Paul and Carol Jean Koch, the Painted Camel is transitioning into a cooperative non-profit for its 10th year of business.

The Southwest Iowa Art Tour is coordinated by Golden Hills RC&D of Oakland, Rebecca Castle Laughlin of Imogene, and the collaborative efforts of local participating artists. Funding for coordination of this event, which is free to the public, comes in part from grant funding and local sponsorships. The 10th Annual Southwest Iowa Art Tour was supported by an Iowa Tourism Grant from the Iowa Tourism Office and a Community Impact Grant from the Community Foundation for Western Iowa. Other partnering supporters at the $1,000+ level are Houghton State Bank of Red Oak and the Pottawattamie Countywide Tourism Promotion Committee. The $350 sponsors for 2023 include Malvern Bank, CB Skin Secrets of Council Bluffs, Dave Carbaugh State Farm of Red Oak, Kum & Go and Firespring. We are proud to have more than 24 local businesses, organizations and individuals as sponsors for the 10th Annual Southwest Iowa Art Tour. We encourage you to support those businesses who support the arts in southwest Iowa, and make the most of your Southwest Iowa Art Tour experience by stopping at the great restaurants and other shops in the host towns. To find out which businesses are sponsors of the Art Tour, a full listing may be found on our website at www.swiarttour.com, as well as a map so you can plan out your route.

The Southwest Iowa Art Tour began with the intent to not only bring awareness of the arts and artists in rural southwest Iowa, but also to help support economic reinvestment in our small towns through the arts. Remember that when you purchase an original piece of work from an artist, you are directly helping to make the arts a viable career choice in our area. And while you’re at it, grab a shake from the local ice cream shop and a burger from your local café.

For more information be sure to check the “Southwest Iowa Art” Tour Facebook page (with individual Facebook Events for each Gathering Place) and visit the website: www.swiarttour.com, or contact Becca at rebecca.castle@goldenhillsrcd.org.