DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs today announced it has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to leverage local infrastructure projects and engaging programs that build culturally vibrant communities across the state.

The $1,573,997 in grants come from the department’s Iowa Great Places, Strengthening Communities, School Arts Experience, Artist Catalyst, Creative Places Project, Folk Arts Learning and Humanities Collaboration programs.

In southwest Iowa:

The Iowa Arts Council also awarded a total of $84,784 through the latest two rounds of three quarterly grant programs: School Arts Experience, Artist Catalyst and Creative Places Project grants. The small matching grants are intended to help jump-start creative projects in the classroom or community and support artists with their career development needs. Included among the grant recipients is The Wilson Performing Arts Center in Red Oak, which will introduce K-8 students to theater by bringing a visiting performer to three southwestern Iowa schools this spring. Grant award: $2,500.

The Iowa Arts Council, a division of the department, awarded Folk Arts Learning grants to help sustain artistic traditions and cultural heritage in the state. Funding for the program comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Museum of Danish America, Elk Horn, will bring in an experienced pressman to teach staff how to use an early-20th century Chandler and Price letterpress for workshops and demonstrations. Grant award: $2,850.

More information is available HERE.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol has identified the two people who were killed in a multi-vehicle accident Sunday morning on I-80 near Iowa City.

The patrol says 57-year-old David Mosinski of Fairfield, died when his pickup hit a semi that had jackknifed on the roadway. Thirty-seven-year-old Junier Caballero-Venero of Houston, Texas, was a passenger in the semi and got out after it jackknifed. The patrol says he was then was hit and killed on the roadway.

The accident report says the roads were icy and it was foggy at the time of the accident. The accident involved some 15 vehicles, nine of them semis.

(Radio Iowa) – Democrats and progressives say polls show the top agenda items Republican lawmakers plan to pursue in the 2023 legislature are unpopular with Iowans. Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa, hosted what he called “The People’s Condition of the State” event at the Capitol this (Tuesday) morning. “Think of where the public opinion is on these issues,” Sinovic said. “Every poll that we’ve seen…We wan fully funded public schools. We want to raise in the minimum wage. A vast majority oppose the voucher scheme that we expect to see.”

Governor Reynolds will deliver the annual “Condition of the State” address tonight (Tuesday) at 6 p.m. and she’s likely to use the event to unveil her latest plan to provide state money to parents who send their kids to private schools. Mazie Stilwell of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa says her organization is on high alert because she expects the Republican-led legislature to pass new abortion restrictions. “Abortion, for now, remains safe and legal in Iowa, but it hangs by a thread,” Stilwell says, “even though a growing 61%of Iowans support abortion access.” Some labor union advocates predict G-O-P lawmakers to try to pass more restrictions on bargaining rights and pass new limits on benefits.

Peter Hird is an officer of the Iowa Federation of Labor A-F-L-C-I-O. “All employees deserve to have their voice on the job through a union,” Hird says, “whether they work for a private employer or serve the public.” Connie Ryan of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa says despite November’s passage of a constitutional amendment on gun rights, polls show Iowans oppose repeal of gun safety laws. “We ask all fair minded Iowans to join with us in this fight for everyday Iowans,” Ryan said.

The Republican Leader in the Iowa House says more Iowans voted for the gun rights amendment than for any candidate running for statewide office, showing Iowans want their freedom to carry weapons protected.

(Guthrie County, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman suffered possible/unknown injuries, when the pickup she was driving struck a deer on the road this (Tuesday) morning. The accident happened at around 6:45-a.m. on Justice Road. Authorities say 36-year-old Jessalyn Arlene Ocker, of Coon Rapids, was traveling south on Justice Road, when she swerved to miss a deer. The 2002 Ford F-250 pickup she was driving went out of control and entered the east ditch before rolling over and coming to rest in a field.

Ocker was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle through a side window. She complained of pain and was transported by Panora EMS to the Guthrie County Hospital. Her pickup sustained $12,000 damage and was declared a total loss. The report said she was driving too fast for conditions, but no citations were issued.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports three arrests took place on Monday (Jan. 9): 23-year-old Shelby Nelson, of Villisca, was arrested for Driving While Revoked; 48-year-old Carrie Tripp, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct, and 58-year-old Randall Manzer, of Omaha, was arrested for Assault.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors held their regular weekly meeting this (Tuesday) morning. Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken started-off his report by saying due to the fact they are expecting an increase in road rock prices next month, they’ve been stockpiling for next Spring before the prices jump. The jump is likely to be 10-percent, but possibly as much as 13-percent.

Wolken updated the Board on a bridge project. Bridge 302 on 680^th Street, he said is a DOT project. A.M. Cohron and Son is the contractor for the project. He anticipates they’ll be starting in about a week or so. Work continues on a bridge that collapsed last September, after an overweight crane used for Wind Turbine installation caused the bridge to break apart.

The nine beams for the project arrived last week. They weigh about 34,000 pounds each. The Board once again tabled action on approving a five-year lease agreement with the Cambridge Law Firm, for use of the County’s building on S. Poplar Street. The firm currently uses the upper half of the building, with the lower half occupied by the Cass County Communications Center.

By a vote of 3-to 2, the Cass County Supervisors opted to continue with the use of ZOOM as a means to view and interact with the Board during their meetings electronically, at the appropriate time on the agenda. Supervisors O’Brien and Pettinger voted Nay. Green, Richter and Baier voted in favor. Pettinger was of the opinion it should be shut-down, with certain exceptions.

Supervisor Wendy Richter said she’s her from people who are fans of the technology. Supervisor Mark O’Brien said he just “Wants to simplify it,” and made a motion to get rid of the Zoom.” Richter asked Pettinger what the downside to using Zoom would be, in his opinion.

Supervisor Steve Green pointed out the media and others appreciate the use of Zoom, which enables them to multitask during times when the meeting begins to drag.

Board Chair Steve Baier said Zoom was necessary during COVID, and that having the technology is worth something, and he’s willing to continue using it.

The Board approved 2023 County Holidays, including Veterans Day, November 11^th. Since that falls on a Saturday, the day will be observed the preceding Friday. And, it includes the day after for Thanksgiving. In other business, the Supervisors approved the appointment of Drew Williams as Victoria Township Clerk, effective March 1, 2023.