(Radio Iowa – There’s been a nearly six percent increase in state tax receipts in the past five months compared to the same period a year ago. Jeff Robinson of the Legislative Services Agency provides a monthly report to lawmakers. “Gains in sales and use tax as well as corporate income tax remain significant,” Robinson says, “while individual income tax growth for the year has been flat.” Corporate income tax payments to the state rose more than 19 percent from July 1st through the end of November. State sales tax collections were up two-and-a-half percent during the period.

“Federal economic stimulus and direct payments continue to support consumer spending,” Robinson says, “while Iowa and national employment levels remain well below pre-pandemic levels.” The Legislative Services Agency estimates nine-point-three BILLION dollars additional federal funding flowed into Iowa through enhanced unemployment benefits, loans and other pandemic-related spending approved during the Trump and Biden Administrations. A three-member panel of financial experts will meet on December 13th to review state tax receipts and give Iowa lawmakers a new estimate of total state tax revenue.

(Radio Iowa) The National Climate Prediction Center is issuing a La Nina advisory, indicating Iowa’s winter weather -will- be influenced by the cooling surface of the southern Pacific Ocean. Doug Kluck, the Central Region’s climate service director at the National Weather Service, says this La Nina pattern is predicted to be fairly weak.There is the potential for it to edge up into the strong category,” Kluck says. “One of the things that’s different about this year as opposed to last year is that the atmosphere and the ocean, in the equatorial Pacific, are interacting together — as you would think they should — very well in a La Nina year.” Kluck, who’s based in Kansas City, says forecasters are hoping the La Nina follows its predicted path.

“From a prediction point of view, that’s good because you rely more on that than influencing North America at some point in the future,” he says. While there are some indications the La Nina may gain strength during the approaching winter, Kluck says it’s still unclear how strong it may get.

“We try to put labels, we try to quantify strength of La Nina and El Nino all the time,” Kluck says. “If we could put 100% of prediction into La Nina, that’s the way it would look, more or less, across the U.S.” The winter prediction calls for near-normal temperatures and precipitation across the northern plains, with a chance of colder conditions and more snow in February and March.

(Radio Iowa) – The two southeast Iowa teenagers charged with killing an educator likely will not be released on bail before trial. Judge Joel Yates has denied the request of two Fairfield teens accused in the November 2nd murder of Nohema Graber, the Fairfield High Spanish teacher. Willard Miller and Jeremy Goodale, both 16, asked that their $1 million bond be reduced due to their age and lack of criminal history.

The two teens remain in the Jefferson County Jail. A trial date of April 19th has been set in the case.

(Pacific Junction) — Authorities in Mills County report two people suffered minor injuries and were transported to the hospital following the derailment of a freight train this (Friday) morning, near Pacific Junction. According to reports, emergency responders received a call around 7:05 a.m., about a train derailment just south of Pacific Junction near Keg Creek/Interstate-29. An official with the railway says an empty coal train rear-ended a mixed freight train.

At least 16 cars derailed, along with both locomotives. Railcars believed to be carrying ethanol, remained on the tracks. The accident remains under investigation by Burlington Northern Santa Fe.

Mills County EMA Drone pictures via the Mills County EMA Facebook page

Emergency personnel from Oak Township, Silver City, Pacific Junction, Glenwood, Mills County Deputies, the Iowa State Patrol, and railway security assisted at the scene.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Community 1st Credit Union on Thursday, December 2nd, 2021, for a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Nishna Valley Credit Union in Atlantic merged with Community 1st of Ottumwa early this fall, and the merge was brought on when both simultaneously reached out to one another about the idea. Nishna Valley Credit Union was looking to advance their services and technology but were finding that due to their size they were not able to fund these changes. Tim Marcsisak and the Nishna Valley Credit Union Board of Directors began to research other credit unions to partner with and found Community 1st would align with their mission and goals.

Community 1st Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution that prides themselves in helping people and reach their financial goals by offering the lowest interest & borrowing rates while also providing the highest saves rates. Greg Hanshaw, President and CEO or Community First, shared that the organization is passionate about rooting themselves in small communities such as Atlantic and providing a personalized services to their customers while also giving back to the community.

To learn more about Community 1st Credit Union and the services they provide, please contact 712-243-6645 or visit that their website at https://www.c1stcreditunion.com/locations/atlantic-/

Community 1st Credit Union is located at 200 Maple Street in Atlantic.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Iowa Western Community College on Thursday, December 1st, 2021. Ambassadors were introduced to Cindy Wetterlind as the new Center Director, along with other new staff. The Ambassadors also learned about a project in which students partnered with Akin Building Center.

Cindy has worked with IWCC for 15 years in a case management program in which she would visit business officials as a company was going out of business. Cindy would offer the staff scholarships and continuing education opportunities through Iowa Western that would allow the staff to acquire new skills to get new jobs. After the program ended, Cindy spent a few months in another position, but applied for the Director position here after learning former Director Ann Pross retired in the summer of this year.

Among the new staff are two part time secretaries, Nancy Gilleland and Grace Kopp, and a new English Comprehension professor Dianna Blake, and Ray McCalla, Psychology and Religion & Ethics professor, also started working full time at the center this summer. The Ambassadors learned about a project led by Brian Church and his students in the Design Technology Department. With the pandemic in 2020 many students were unable to obtain an internship.

The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors visited the IWCC Cass County Center on Wednesday to welcome new staff and learn about a project to build new tables for the student center.

Brian tasked the students with a design project and the group decided to create wooden tables for the Student Center. The students approached Akin Building Center about partnering on the project, in which Akins donated many of the items used in the project.

Iowa Western has multiple locations throughout southwest Iowa, and the Cass County location has seen a great increase in enrollment which has allowed for more growth and opportunities at the center.

To learn more about Iowa Western, please contact 712-325-3200 or visit that their website at https://www.iwcc.edu/cass/

Iowa Western-Cass County is located at 705 Walnut Street in Atlantic.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – On Wednesday December 8, the Cass County Local Food Policy Council is hosting a mobile  food pantry through the Food Bank for the Heartland at the Cass County Community Center from 4:00 – 6:00 PM, or as supplies last. Anyone in need is welcome to visit the mobile pantry, and no documentation is needed.  People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome.

Details:

Food Bank for the Heartland Mobile Food Pantry

• When: Wednesday, December 8 (4:00-6:00 PM, or until supplies run out).
• Where: Cass County Community Center (805 West 10th St. Atlantic IA 50022). Traffic will be directed by volunteers.
• What: A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. The mobile pantry is available free of charge. Visitors are
  asked stay in their vehicles with the trunk open.
• Who: Anyone in need is welcome. No documentation needed.

For more information on local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood.

(Audubon, Iowa) – At its first annual grant celebration event, the Audubon County Community Foundation honored 14 nonprofit organizations and community projects that received grants throughout the past year. The honorees included both spring and fall grant recipients, who were awarded a collective sum of over $154,000.

Throughout 2021, the Foundation received a total of 22 grant applications from community organizations, with over $400,000 requested. As a part of its two grant cycles, the Audubon County Community Foundation awarded $154,750 to 14 of these 22 applications. “In 2021, we’ve been able to fund a wide array of projects and programs,” said Board Chair Joel Hoegh. “Grants were awarded to support construction and renovation, recreational opportunities, and many more projects that will have a positive effect on our community members—both young and old. We’re proud of the impact of the Foundation, and we’re glad to have this opportunity to celebrate the important work of these organizations throughout Audubon County.”

Each year, the Audubon County Community Foundation holds two grant cycles with an objective to fund projects that will have a lasting impact in the county. “Since the Foundation was established in 1997, it has distributed over $2.5 million in grants and scholarships,” said Iowa Foundations Director Stacey Goodman. “Through the generosity of donors and charitable funds allocated through the community foundation, along with our participation in the County Endowment Fund Program, we are able to continue to invest valuable resources back into communities across Audubon County.”

The Audubon County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation, which meets National Standards for Community Foundations, and is one of nine county
members of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa. It annually receives funds from the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program for endowment building and grantmaking throughout the county. The spring cycle of grants is made possible through the County Endowment Fund Program and is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue, which is distributed annually to participating community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license. The Foundation’s fall grant cycle is made possible through the generosity of donors to the Audubon County Community Foundation.

The Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create permanent and expendable funds that address changing, vital community needs and interests. Gifts to permanently endowed funds through the Audubon County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

Pictured are Foundation board members and representatives of Audubon County organizations who
received grants from the Audubon County Community Foundation. (1st Row Left to Right); Taylor
Hanson – Audubon County Fair Board; Megan Wagner – Audubon County Community Foundation
Board Member, Secretary/Treasurer; Abby Rasmussen – Exira Community Club; Jessie Wheeler –
Exira Public Library, Exira Community Club; Donna Olson – Audubon County Community Foundation Board Member; (2nd Row); Pat Kaiser – Audubon County Community Foundation Board Member; Joel Hoegh – Audubon County Community Board Member, Chair; Steven Hansen – Audubon County Community Foundation Board Member, Vice Chair; Doug Olsen – Audubon Recreation Foundation; Jason Hocker – Audubon Recreation Foundation, Gym Expansion Subcommittee; Barbara Johnson – The Children’s Nest; Katie Wheeler – Exira Public Library, Exira Community Club

The Audubon County Community Foundation Advisory Board Members are Chair, Joel Hoegh of rural Brayton; Vice Chair, Steven B. Hansen of Audubon; Secretary/Treasurer, Megan Wagner of Audubon; Gina Benton of Exira, Bob Blomme of Audubon; Pat Kaiser of Audubon; and Donna Olson of Kimballton. For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458 or stacey@omahafoundation.org.

The Atlantic Police Department reports five people were arrested on separate charges from Nov. 18th through the 28th:

• On the 28th, 32-year-old Alen Sisira, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation.
• On Nov. 27th, 29-year-old Berson Fred, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense.
• 36-year-old Albert Johnson, of Harlan, was arrested in Atlantic on Nov. 20th, for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting), and for being a person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon.

And there were two people from Atlantic arrested here, on November 18th: 26-year-old Dylan Gaines was arrested on a warrant for a Parole Violation. And, 20-year-old Noah Meinders was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting).  All five subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail, but as of Friday (today), only Alen Sisira, Dylan Gaines and Berson Fred, remained held in the jail.