(Radio Iowa) – The Republican who’s leading development of a tax reduction plan in the Iowa Senate says the focus is on cutting INCOME taxes. Senator Dan Dawson of Council Bluffs says reducing PROPERTY taxes is more complicated. “I think anything on property taxes, it’s going to be a multi-year effort.” Dawson is chairman of the Iowa Senate’s Ways and Means Committee. The last major property tax reduction in Iowa was the 2013 law that reduced commercial property taxes by 10 percent.

“It’s something that we definitely are trying to take a look at this year,” Dawson says, “but knowing the history of this, I think probably the best way to go about it is more of an incremental approach and try to tackle one or two levies at a time.” The tax plan that took effect this summer gets rid of the property tax levy that has supported Iowa’s mental health system and the state is to cover all those costs in the future. Representative Lee Hein, a Republican from Monticello, is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Hein says Iowa should consider adopting a law, like one in Utah, that requires citizens be notified of the intent to raise property taxes and invited to a public hearing to voice concerns.

“I think that’s something that we need to look at first,” Hein says. “And then we need to figure out a way, from that, what’s the next procedure for controlling the property taxes?” Representative Dave Jacoby is the top-ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee. He says the starting block on property tax reform should be relief for homeowners.

“More people 65 and older who are living on incomes that don’t rise like they did before retirement…they’re the ones saying: ‘I want to stay here, but I can’t afford a 15% to 25% jump year-to-year,” Jacoby says. “…We all want to see our homes improve in value, but it is putting some people in a hardship when valuations went up 25% — actually 30% to 35% in our neck of the woods.” Jacoby is from Coralville. Senator Pam Jochum of Dubuque, the top Democrat on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, says the property tax system is perplexing.

“It really is a more regressive tax, so regardless of what your income is, you’re going to pay that property tax bill every year,” Jochum says. “Those who are on a fixed income, I do believe we can do more to make sure that they can afford to stay in their homes long-term.” The legislators made their comments during a forum sponsored by the Iowa Taxpayers Association. The 2022 Iowa Legislative session begins January 10th.

(Radio Iowa) – The city of Manchester will enter the new year with a new leader for the first time in nearly five decades. Manchester Mayor Milt Kramer is retiring from the job he started on September 16th, 1974. The Decorah native says government was never originally in his plans when he first came to Manchester in the 1960s as a teacher and basketball coach. He gained some notoriety as a coach and then was approached about running “A number of business people came to me and said ‘Milt why don’t you run for city council’ and I said I’m basketball coach and they said you are not going to do that forever,” he says. “I didn’t, but I did for a year trying to balance coaching and city government. Found out that that just didn’t work and I had to give one of them up — not thinking that I gave up the better paying of the two.”

Mayor Milt says he has many things to be proud of in the last 47 years — including the development of the industrial park and businesses in the community. Many of his former students now run businesses in the town. His tenure in Manchester is record-setting. “I’m the longest-serving mayor in Iowa — people have checked on me nationwide and I’ve been told and don’t know if there is proof of this or not — some guy in upper New York has me by a couple of months — otherwise, I’m number two in the United States,” he says. He’s only had a challenger three times in 17 elections.

(photo by Janelle Tucker, KMCH)

“I had no idea that I was going to be elected 17 times,” he says, “it blows my mind. But every time I finished a term people would come up to me and says ‘are you going to run again, are you going to run again?’ Fact is, this last time I had people who said ‘you should run.'” Mayor Milt announced his retirement in July and conducted his last city council meeting this week. City council members and City staff presented him with tokens of appreciation, including a special plaque and his typewriter.
Longtime city council member Dean Sherman says Mayor Milt is leaving a legacy of service after encouraging so many people to get involved in the city.

“It’s hard to put words behind the impact he’s had on literally hundreds of people in our community. Where they not only learned leadership for the city — but took it home into their own lives and their own businesses,” Sherman says. The city council also presented Milt with a new lawn chair that says “Mayor Milt” on the back. Mayor Milt gave his homemade wooden gavel to incoming mayor Connie Behnken — and says she will do a great job and the city will continue moving forward.

(By Janelle Tucker, KMCH, Manchester)

DES MOINES– Gov. Kim Reynolds, Wednesday, announced her appointment of Derek Johnson as a district court judge in Judicial Election District 2B.  Johnson, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, currently serves as a district associate judge in Judicial Election District 2B.

He previously worked in private practice and has served as the Humboldt County Attorney. Johnson received his bachelor’s degree from Buena Vista University and his law degree from the Drake University Law School.

Johnson fills the vacancy created by the appointment of Judge Gina Badding to the Iowa Court of Appeals. Judicial Election District 2B includes Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Marshall, Pocahontas, Sac, Story, Webster, and Wright counties.

Breda, IA (December 30, 2021) – Western Iowa Networks (WIN) recently presented the City of Breda, IA with a check for $25,000 to help with fundraising efforts for their pool project. The donation will help the city as the finishing touches are completed on this restoration project.

“One thing that Breda is known for is the quality of life that it offers. The new pool will be an extreme asset to the residents of Breda.” Said WIN CEO Jeff Roiland. “We are proud to be able to join other contributors to help push this project to completion.”

Pictured in the presentation from L-R, are: Breda City Clerk Rhonda Martin; City Council member Sam Pietig; Breda Mayor Dan Snyder, & WIN CEO Jeff Roiland. (Photo submitted)

The Breda City Pool was constructed in 1967 and was reported to be in need of significant repair or replacement. The decision was made to renovate the current pool at an estimated cost of $580,420. This project included all new piping to meet today’s code standards, new pool and deck resurfacing, new diving board and stand, new chemical shed and feed system, new bathhouse roof and privacy fencing.

The City of Breda previously received funding for this project through WIN in the form of the USDA Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) back in May. Breda was the first entity to apply for this loan through WIN which totaled $360,000 at 0% interest. This loan helped to bridge the gap to allow work to continue on the restoration project while fund raising efforts continued.

(Iowa DNR News) – What are your plans for New Year’s 2022? Iowa state parks and forests invite you to join the First Day Hike Challenge. Visit state parks on your own, or join a guided hike at more than 20 parks and forests. Whichever works for you, check in and take part in the First Day Hike Challenge through the State Park Passport!

How It Works:

• Check into any of more than 50 participating state parks and forests on the Park Passport from Friday, Dec. 31, 2021 through the end of Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022.
• Every check-in qualifies for a prize drawing for a free 2-night stay at a 2-bedroom cabin at Lake Darling State Park, near Brighton, Iowa! Restrictions and booking fees apply.
• Visit as many parks as you want during the weekend — every check-in counts as a contest entry.
• As an option, join a Guided Hike at more than 20 parks, led by park staff and Friends Groups, with some offering hot chocolate and snacks.

Be sure to look under your park’s “More Info” tab on the Passport to see a Suggested Trail from park staff!

The temperatures may be chilly this weekend, so please dress for the weather! Please wear hats, gloves and warm boots. 

Learn more about the First Day Hikes and sign up for the Passport today!

(Radio Iowa) – As 2022 looms, the experts say about eight in ten New Year’s resolutions are broken by the second week in February. One popular vow that’ll be made tomorrow night is to lose weight.

Nutritionist Heather Rasmussen says for Iowans who are positively committed to eating right and getting off the couch, they can absolutely get on course to better health.

“It should be done all year ‘round but the new year gives people an opportunity to reevaluate what they’re doing both diet-wise and physical activity,” Rasmussen says, “and maybe to change their mindset and create some goals surrounding their health including diet and exercise.”

Anytime you form a goal, she says it allows you a chance to pause, look over your situation and make changes to your lifestyle, even if the change is temporary. Rasmussen says permanently changing dietary habits is extremely difficult, so for those trying to stay on the wagon, a slow-and-steady approach may be ideal.

“People get overwhelmed and say, ‘Okay, I’m never going to eat pizza again in my entire life,’ and then they just don’t do it because it’s too much,” Rasmussen says. “Thinking about my patients, what are your short-term goals? I know you want to lose 50 pounds but what do you want to do for this month, or this week?”

If you find yourself slipping on your nutritional mission, it might help to scale back long-term goals in favor of more short-term ones.

Good habits, especially ones drastically different from typical lifestyles, are hard to start and even harder to keep. Research shows that on average, it takes about 66 days for a habit to become automatic.

(Radio Iowa) – The latest Iowa State University Extension survey showed the price of farmland was up 29 percent — but the landowner profile has not changed very much. I-S-U Professor Wendong Zhang oversees the survey. “When you are thinking about the general trends, they are still consistent in historical patterns where you see a minor dip in the share bought by farmers and from a 22 to 25 percent increase for investors. But still, investors are not in the dominant category,” Zhang says. He says the type of seller hasn’t changed very much either.

He says 55 percent of the sellers are still estate sales and the sales by retired farmers — which is slightly higher than last year. “Some that are encouraged by the high prices. Some are concerned by the potential tax changes,” he says. One thing hasn’t changed, Zhang says those who own farmland in Iowa keep it. “Regardless of who they are — they tend to hold onto the land for a long time. So, half the land in Iowa is owned by the same owner for over 20 years. So, farmers are hoping for the appreciation — especially given the current tax law — you don’t necessarily have to pay capital gains taxes,” according to Zhang. Inflation has been an issue that’s hit a lot of areas — but he says it’s not major for farmland.

“Iowa doesn’t necessarily see as much influence because we have restrictions on corporate land ownership. Illinois probably sees a little more of that inflation,” Zhang says.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Atlantic man was arrested Christmas Eve. Authorities say 31-year-old Bryan McVay was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked for OWI/1st offense, and held until later release on his own recognizance.

ADAIR COUNTY, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) are investigating an Officer-Involved shooting in Adair County. Authorities says at approximately 8:30 -p.m., Wednesday, a Stuart Police Officer attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation.  The suspect failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated.  Several agencies to include the Stuart Police Department, Greenfield Police Department, Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office were involved in the pursuit.

The pursuit ended in rural Adair County just north of 130th Street on Jordan Ave when the suspect’s vehicle abruptly turned around in the roadway.  A Stuart Police Officer was unable to stop and struck the suspect’s vehicle.  The suspect’s vehicle continued to travel a short distance and ultimately struck a Guthrie County deputy’s vehicle and came to a stop.  During this series of events an Adair County Deputy heard a gunshot from the suspect vehicle.  The Deputy exited his patrol car just as the suspect’s vehicle became disabled and observed the driver to be in possession of a handgun.  The Adair County Deputy did fire his service weapon and struck the suspect in both arms causing non-life threatening injuries.

Charles Bradshaw, II

The suspect was taken into custody. He was identified as 57-year-old Charles R. Bradshaw, II, of Jefferson, Iowa.   A handgun was recovered from the vehicle Bradshaw had been operating during the pursuit.  Bradshaw was transported to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines where he was treated for his injuries, and was released a short time later.  Bradshaw was then transported to the Adair County jail and charged with felon in possession of a firearm, felony eluding, and several traffic violations. None of the law enforcement officers were injured.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was requested to investigate the Officer Involved Shooting.  This is an active ongoing investigation.  Once the investigation is complete it will be submitted to the Adair County Attorney’s Office for review.  As standard procedure, the Adair County Deputy who fired his service weapon has been placed on Administrative leave.  The Adair County Deputies name will not be released until he has been interviewed by the DCI.

Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Thursday (Today) signed an extension to the proclamation relating to the weight limits and transportation of grain.  The proclamation is effective immediately and continues through January 29, 2022. It allows vehicles transporting corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage and stover to be overweight (not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight) without a permit for the duration of this proclamation.

The proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa (excluding the interstate system) and those which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in section 321.463 (6)(b) of the Iowa Code by more than 12.5 percent, do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

See the proclamation in its entirety, here.