Breda, IA (September 19, 2019) – Western Iowa Networks (WIN) will be hosting their first ever Cybersecurity Conference on Tuesday, October 8th 2019at the Carrollton Centre in Carroll, Iowa. The conference will begin with registration from 9-9:30am with the conference beginning at 9:40am and ending at 3pm. There is no cost for the conference and lunch and snacks will be provided. Business owners and IT professionals can register for free at registration at westianet.com.

The focus of the conference is to educate small business owners as well as IT professionals on cybersecurity and the harm that hackers are putting on small businesses, especially in rural areas. The conference will not only focus on how to mitigate the risks of a cyber attack but also how to properly recover from an attack as well. Wes Treadway, WIN Marketing Manager, said “The statistics of small businesses being attacked with ransomware, to me, was alarming. I think many small business owners, especially in rural areas, think that they are safe because of where they are located but in reality, those are the types of businesses hackers are targeting these days. An attack such as this can be devastating to a small business, so our aim is to help educate these folks so they can make sure they are protecting their information, as well as their customer’s information.”

The day will begin with opening remarks from WIN CEO Jeff Roiland. That will be followed by a presentation from Brandon Knutson from Vantage Point Solutions. Brandon is a Data Network Specialist and will talk about the new and unique ways hackers are stealing data. Chris Danielson, Vice President/Risk Advisor from Unitel Insurance will present on the insurance aspects of a cybersecurity breach. That will be followed by a free lunch.

Once we return from lunch WIN Director of Operations, Chris Neiland will lead a panel discussion with Troy Cook, COO of Midwest Data Center, Kevin Rihner, CIO from Availa Bank and Michael Hindman, VP & CIO of Birkshire Hathaway Energy. The day will then end up with Kenneth Schmutz, Supervisory Special Agent with the FBI. Kenneth will discuss current cases that are being worked by the FBI’s Cyber Task Force as well as ways businesses and individuals can better protect themselves.

The conference will be held in partnership with Midwest Data of Iowa, which is owned by five member companies including WIN, Midwest Data Center, Farmer’s Telephone Company, Griswold Communications and Farmers Mutual Telephone Company.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s unemployment rate remained at 2.5% in August. Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that the rate didn’t change from the previous month as the number of unemployed people and the number of residents with jobs both increased. Iowa is tied for the nation’s third-lowest unemployment rate, behind Vermont and North Dakota. Iowa’s rate ties with the rate in New Hampshire. The national unemployment rate for August was 3.7%.

MADRID, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa camp that hosted thousands of 4-H participants over the decades is up for sale. The Des Moines Register reports the Iowa 4-H Foundation announced this week it’s selling the Clover Woods Camp & Retreat Center in Madrid. The foundation itself was formed in 1949 to build the camp, which is located on 1,000 acres along the Des Moines River. The camp is split into separate “villages” and includes a ropes course, climbing tower, swimming pool and 20 miles of trails.

Iowa 4-H Foundation Executive Director Emily Saveraid says the needs of 4-H participants and their families have changed and they now prefer camping options closer to home. She says the foundation will focus more on camping and other outdoor activities at the county and regional levels.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The nation’s first gay presidential candidate to reach his party’s top tier, Pete Buttigieg, is scheduled to be among 10 Democrats at a LGBTQ forum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday. Buttigieg and the first-ever such Iowa caucus forum beg the question he faces: Is America ready for a gay president? Iowa’s leadoff Democratic presidential caucuses could go a long way toward rendering a verdict. And there’s reason to suggest most of its participants are.

A June Iowa Poll by The Des Moines Register and its partners found that a solid majority of likely Iowa caucus participants said it would make no difference to them for a Donald Trump challenger to be gay. More were concerned about a Democratic nominee being over 70 years old.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa hog farmer accused of using a corn rake to kill his wife says he didn’t do it and doesn’t know who did. The Telegraph Herald reports that 43-year-old Todd Mullis also testified Thursday in Dubuque that he didn’t know who used his iPad to conduct internet searches about cheating spouses. He said his wife, Amy, and others knew his password.

Mullis is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Amy Mullis on Nov. 10 at the farm about 40 miles west of Dubuque. A prosecutor has said Todd Mullis was irate over his wife’s affair. A state investigator testified that Mullis never denied killing his wife. Mullis said he told the investigator that he wanted Mullis “to confess to something I didn’t do.”