A dozen Iowans, state-based organizations, schools, teams and companies that go above and beyond to promote good character are being honored by the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University in Des Moines with this year’s Iowa Character Awards. Spokeswoman Hilary Ortmann says the winners are finally being named. “We had a selection committee of about 40 representatives from across the state who came together at the end of May and made great selections,” Ortmann says. “We had nearly 100 nominations from across the state, representing nearly 70 communities.”

She says these Iowa citizens, businesses and organizations have displayed their role in living the six pillars of character: caring, citizenship, fairness, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness.  “One great award we love to give every year is our Robert D. Ray Pillar of Character Award,” Ortmann says, “and this one is a very special year for us as we will be giving former Governor Ray’s wife, Billie D. Ray, the Robert D. Ray Pillar of Character Award this summer.” In southwest Iowa, Alison Van Gelder, of Creston, was named the Youth Citizen of Character award winner.

Another notable recipient of this year’s awards is opera singer Simon Estes as the recipient of the Adult Citizen of Character Award. A T-V special recognizing this year’s recipients will air on the FOX-affiliated stations in Iowa this summer while a recognition event will be held August 29th at the Prairie Meadows Events Center in Altoona.

2021 Iowa Character Award Recipients

Business/Organization of Character:

Matthew 25 (Cedar Rapids)

Honorable Mentions:

Dorothy’s House (Des Moines)

African American Museum of Iowa (Cedar Rapids)

Adult Citizen of Character:

Simon Estes (Ankeny)

Honorable Mentions:

Dr. Monic Behnken (Ames)

Kyle Horn (Des Moines)

Youth Citizen of Character:

Alison Van Gelder (Creston)

Honorable Mentions:

Carley Deery (Des Moines)

Mackenzie Kokke (Mitchellville)

Mackenzie Eichhorn (Cedar Rapids)

Aaron Eilerts Community Service Award:

Toby Laurie (Norwalk)

Educator of Character:

Yonas Michael (Ames Middle School)

Honorable Mentions:

Shane Ehresman (Lynnville-Sully CSD)

Shana Putnam Dibble (Decorah CSD)

Jim Hallihan Pursuing Victory with Honor Award:

Storm Lake St. Mary’s Girls Basketball Team (Storm Lake)

School of Character:

Ames Community School District (Ames)

Honorable Mention:

Pella Middle School (Pella)

Student Organization of Character:

Sioux City East High Student Council (Sioux City)

Honorable Mentions:

Nevada High School FFA (Nevada)

Community of Character:

Iowa Great Lakes Region (Northwest Iowa)

Partner of the Year:

Iowa Cubs / Gartner Family Foundation (Des Moines)

Character Champion:

Drake University Women’s Basketball (Des Moines)

Robert D. Ray Pillar of Character:

Billie Ray (Des Moines)

(Radio Iowa) – Des Moines Area Community College on-line classes will resume today (Thursday) after a two-week hiatus caused by a ransomware attack. DMACC (D-Mack) cancelled online classes on June 3rd and wound up closing the entire campus on June 4th due to the security breach. In-person classes resumed June 9th. Governor Kim Reynolds says the State of Iowa did not pay any ransom to the hackers. The Office of the Chief Information Officer, a part of the executive branch of state government, wasn’t involved either, according to the governor.

“The state wasn’t involved. We did reach out — OCIO reached out to them to see if we could be of any assistance. At this time they didn’t request or ask for any assistance,” Reynolds says, “so they’ve been on their own dealing with this.”

All students and staff have been directed to change the passwords they use to access DMACC’s computer network. DMACC faculty are adjusting course schedules. Students will be advised tomorrow (Friday) about new deadlines for dropping classes and getting tuition refunds.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds has vetoed a mortgage-related bill that sailed through the Iowa House and Senate without a single vote against it. During debate in the Iowa House and Senate, the bill was described as leveling the playing field for mortgage brokers like Rocket Mortgage and Quicken Loans. Legislators said a recent state law had reduced duplications in the required paperwork Iowa banks, savings and loans and credit unions present someone to sign for a home mortgage — but digital mortgage brokers were not included. In a veto message, Governor Reynolds said stakeholders and some legislators raised legitimate concerns about the bill after it had passed, so she vetoed it and encouraged legislators to work on the issue next year.

This is the only bill the governor has vetoed in 2021. Reynolds has used her ITEM veto authority sparingly to reject portions of spending bills and vetoing an entire piece of legislation is a rarity. In 2019, Reynolds vetoed a bill that would have made changes in Iowa’s medical marijuana law. The governor vetoed a bill in 2020 that would have established legislative review of state leases worth 50-thousand dollars or more and it would have required a two-thirds vote in the legislature, city councils or county boards of supervisors for any sale of government property that did not go to the highest bidder.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening passed by a vote of 6-to-1, the first reading of an “Ordinance Amending Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances, by changing the method of election to runoff elections.” At Large Councilperson Grace Garrett was the lone Nay vote. During the Public Comment period of a hearing on the matter, there was no one to speak in-person, but Garrett said she had received questions from the her constituents regarding the proposed method of election change. Speaking on behalf of those she spoke with, Garrett said they wanted to know “why the change?, and “Why now?” The current system is a plurality, or, “Winner takes all.” Garrett said an unidentified person who works at the courthouse did some checking into the matter.

The method of election, the person wrote, was either changed in 2014 or the beginning of 2015, to “Winner takes all.”

Councilperson Somers said she never remembered having that conversation. Mayor Dave Jones recounted past elections, and memories were less than clear among the Council, about when the change actually took place. The Mayor said it was likely brought up in the ordinances because there’s the likelihood more than one person will run for Mayor in the next election. He says he firmly believes the winner should have 51% (50.1). While he couldn’t recall when it was changed, Jones said “Hopefully somebody in the courthouse didn’t just decide to change it for us.”

City Administrator John Lund has said “There has been a great deal of interest in the Mayor’s Office. No fewer than five [persons] have expressed an interest in running.” The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee reviewed all the options during their meeting on May 26th, and concluded the election system should be changed to a majority, and recommended the Council vote to consider/approve the change.

On a related note, the Atlantic City Council held a Public Hearing with regard to a change of the term for Park Board members from six-years to four-years. The Parks Board is in favor of the change, which would mean seniors members would be available to help incoming Board members, if needed. They passed the first reading. Like the other election ordinance, there must be three readings before it becomes law.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council passed a Resolution “authorizing and approving a loan agreement and providing for the issuance of a $90,000 General Obligation Solid Waste Management Note,” as part of a 28-E agreement with regard to the organization that operates the Cass County Landfill. And, the Council passed an “Order to enter into an agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) for Maintenance and Repair of Primary Roads in Municipalities,” more specifically with regard to Highways 6, 71 and 83.