March 3, 2023 (DES MOINES) – At Thursday’s meeting of the Enhance Iowa Board, the Board awarded a Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant totaling $1 million to improve two city parks in Waterloo. The details for the project receiving a CAT grant follows:

Project Name: Transforming Gates and Byrnes Parks Project, Waterloo
Total Project Cost: $16,918,491
Amount Awarded: $1,000,000
Project Description: This project includes improvements at two city parks. Gates Park improvements include a splash pad, inclusion park, amphitheater and lighted basketball courts surrounded by a roller-skating track. Byrnes Park improvements include the construction of a new aquatic center with a slide tower, 25-yard lap pool, zero-depth entry play area, bathhouse and mechanical building.

The Enhance Iowa Program provides financial incentives to communities for the construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities that enhance the quality of life in Iowa. To date, 105 CAT grants have been awarded by the board, totaling $34,503,023. The next Enhance Iowa Board meeting is scheduled for April 6, 2023.

JOHNSTON, Iowa – March 3, 2023– The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) recognized Iowa Corn Growers Association members as winners of the 2022 National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC). The top four winners in each category will be recognized during the 2023 Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida on March 8-11. These selected farmers will be honored for their ability to produce the most corn per-acre, which lends itself to fueling and feeding the world. NCYC grants recognition to the participants for their earned accomplishment and  also gives them the opportunity to learn from their peers.

Among the Top yield winners from Iowa is:

Conventional Non-Irrigated:
Jim Gregory, Tabor, 305.86 bu/acre

No-Till Non-Irrigated:

Taber Anderson, Marne, 310.08 bu/acre
Kirk Hartman, Cumberland, 299.24 bu/acre

Contest winners received national recognition in the publication National Corn Yield Guide, as well as cash trips and other awards from participating sponsor seed, chemical and crop protection companies. The National Corn Yield Contest, now in its 58th year, remains one of NCGA’s most popular programs for members.

For a complete list of national and state winners, visit www.ncga.com.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has released a report covering arrests conducted from mid-to-late February. On the 15th, 29-year-old Justine Danielle Jones, of Atlantic, was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant. Jones was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Violation of Probation.

On the 18th, 42-year-old Jessica Jo McMillen, of Shelby, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 59. McMillen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st and Speeding.

On the 23rd, Shelby County Deputies arrested 70-year-old Larry Steven Meurer, following a call for service in the 1000 block of 6th St., in Harlan. Meurer was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Public Intoxication.

And, on the 24th of February, 37-year-old Joey Lee Ranney Jr., of Harlan, was arrested on active Shelby County Warrants. Ranney was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving while Revoked, Domestic Abuse Assault, and Harassment

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) –  The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office is currently hosting a fundraiser for their K-9 “Urs” and “Dart.” Sheriff’s officials say the Guthrie County K-9 Fund operates primarily off of donations, and the money raised will go towards supporting the K-9 units with equipment and training.

T-shirts can be ordered on the T & K Designs website for $18 per shirt. A portion of all sales go to the K9 Unit.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank everyone for their support in the past, and in the future.

(Radio Iowa) – Executives with a major health care provider in Iowa and Illinois are exploring a merger with a New Mexico health care system.

Des Moines-based UnityPoint Health and Presbyterian Healthcare Services in Albuquerque have signed a letter of intent to create a parent organization to manage the system, but keep the brand names on current facilities.

Four million patients are currently served by the two health care systems and 40,000 people are on the combined payrolls, including nearly 3000 physicians. UnityPoint Health and Presbyterian Healthcare currently operate more than 40 hospitals and hundreds of clinics.

In late 2019, UnityPoint and South Dakota based Sanford Health ended months of negotiations and called off merger talks.

“UnityPoint Health and Presbyterian are two organizations rooted in similar values,” Clay Holderman, president and CEO, UnityPoint Health, said in a written statement. “By lowering administrative costs, building new capabilities and increasing investments in innovation and clinical excellence, our intent is to help improve affordability and accessibility of care. We’re excited about the unique possibilities ahead.”