(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County District 5 Supervisor Donna Robinson announced at the end of the Supervisor’s regular meeting, today (Tuesday), that she will not be running for re-election this year. Robinson said four-terms is enough, and if anyone wishes to step-up and run for her seat, the filing deadline is March 22nd. March 4th is the first day for candidates to file nomination papers for the June 4th Iowa Primary, with March 22nd as the deadline. Each candidate must garner a certain number of signatures in order to be placed on the primary ballot. Anyone with questions should contact the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office at 712-623-5127. District 5 essentially includes the eastern one-third of Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Supervisor Donna Robinson (Official County photo)

In other business, the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors received good news, with regard to the rate the County and its employees pay for health insurance premiums. Alera Group representative Tom Schuetz told the Board

Schuetz said that’s a roughly $40,000 increase.

He said unless there is a huge increase in claims across the board, the County should finish the fiscal year, and allow an additional cushion for the Reserve Fund.

Sagacity Benefits spokesman Steve Preader added the expects and $40-to 60,000 will be available to be added to the Reserve Fund.

The Board took no action on renewing the insurance plan at this time. They wanted more time to look over the information.

In other business, Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert said with all the recent winter weather, she has not had time to contact applicants for the truck driver labor openings, but they hope to do so this week. And, the Supervisors approved a request for program support from West Central Community Action, in the amount of $3,500 for FY2025.

ESSEX, IA- Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) recently implemented an Iowa West Foundation Home Repair Grant to help a rural Essex resident address some urgent needs, ultimately keeping her in the home.

Cynthia Samuel had some foundation issues that led to freezing pipes and in turn a deteriorating bathroom. She said she started searching for the possibility of funding to help her correct the issue and got connected with SWIPCO. After speaking with SWIPCO Inspector Mathew Lee, Samuel was quickly put on track to get some repairs. SWIPCO officials say they were able to help get Samuel approved for funding to repair the foundation cracks to prevent the temperature issues from continuing. Once that was corrected, updates were then made to the flooring structure and plumbing of her bathroom. That was followed by renovation and finishing of the entire room.Samuel said it was a blessing to find help, “I didn’t think I was going to be able to stay here with the continuing water issues. I started looking for other places to live. I’m so grateful for the work as I plan on staying here as long as I can.”

Photos of the completed bathroom project and of the resident; Cynthia Samuel in the updated room. (Photos & info. courtesy SWIPCO Communications Coordinator Chris Parks)

Samuel grew up in the area and moved away for an extended period. She came back to take care of her parents that both had cancer. She eventually purchased the home she’s in now.
Samuel had high praise for everyone she worked with during the repairs. “Mathew was so great to work with, we talked like we had been friends. The contractor was excellent and just came and took care of his business.” She liked the simplicity of the renovation. “They just sent me some pictures of a couple options on flooring and fixtures, and I picked what I liked out. They took care of the rest. I’m proud of it even though I didn’t do it.”

SWIPCO implements several different funding sources and programs to help residents in the region get needed repairs to their homes. If you have a need for your home and would like information about what assistance could be provided, please contact SWIPCO at 712-243-4196 or 1-866-279-4720.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a Work Session on Wednesday, Jan. 24th, beginning at 5:30-p.m. The meeting takes place in the High School Media Center (it will also be viewable through this LINK). The Board’s agenda is shown below.

PRIMGHAR, Iowa (KCAU-TV) — An arrest was made Monday in connection with a bank robbery in northwest Iowa.  According to a release from the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call at about 1:02 p.m. Monday alerted officials of a bank robbery at the Sanford Savings Bank. Bank officials said that a man, identified as Del Martinnez Evans, Jr., entered the bank and allegedly handed the teller a note that said “this was a robbery and demanded cash.” He did not show or mention a weapon, officials said.

An unknown amount of cash was taken, and the alleged robber left the bank. When officers arrived, a perimeter was set up around 201 West 5th Street. Local schools and businesses were advised to lock down until further clearance by officials.  Evans, Jr. was arrested without incident a little more than an hour later. He was charged with second degree robbery and second degree theft and placed into the O’Brien County Jail with a $15,000 bond.

The incident remains under investigation.

URBANDALE, IOWA [WHO-TV]— Urbandale Police have released the name of a man who was found dead outside an Urbandale gas station earlier this month in subzero temperatures.  The body of 52-year-old Ibrahim Shoddo, of Des Moines, was found early in the morning of January 13th near the gas pumps at a gas station in the 8700 block of Hickman Road. Police say he died of exposure. Temperatures that evening were more than ten degrees below zero, with wind chills making it even more dangerous to be outside. His death remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – Independent filmmakers in Iowa are appealing to the public for help in getting a movie made in several locations in the state with an all Iowa-cast and crew. Co-director Jake Daniels, founder of Mediaverse Studios in Marengo, says the feature-length film is to be called “Operation: Crimson Night.” It will follow a team of soldiers working for a shadow organization who are sent to find and kill a creature that escaped from its containment area in a small town in Romania. “It’s kind of a mystery and kind of a suspenseful thriller, but there’s also a lot of character-driven aspects to it,” Daniels says. “When we see these kind of movies, we basically just see the action and shoot ’em up stuff, but what we’re trying to create is something that’s more character-driven and has a little bit more heart, and leans more to the horror than the action.”

Daniels says filmmakers don’t need to go to Hollywood, Atlanta or New York to create quality entertainment, as there’s exceptional talent and creativity thriving within the state of Iowa. “The goal of this is mostly to show the film industry that Iowa is here and we are making really good movies,” Daniels says, “and while we have a small budget, we’re able to make it look like something way larger. We’re hoping for film festival releases and then eventually, we’re going to try to get it onto some streaming platforms.” Daniels says he’s also planning for screenings of the film in Iowa theaters. The crowdfunding campaign effort via the website Indiegogo is seeking $7,500 as seed money to make this movie a reality.

Mediaverse Studios image

“We have all of our own cameras and lighting and we’re actually building some sets at our studio, so we’re able to eat a lot of the costs that way ourselves,” he says. “The funding is basically going to the cast and crew to get them fed, get them paid a little bit, and then hopefully on the back end, if we get good distribution, then all that money will go back to the cast and crew.”

It’s hoped the movie will be shot in May and June in locations around Des Moines, Mason City and at the studio in Marengo.

Learn more at: www.indiegogo.com/projects/operation-crimson-night.