(Radio Iowa) — The partial federal government shutdown is impacting Iowans from farmers to college researchers. While Farm Service Agency offices were initially open during the shutdown, they’re now closed in every Iowa county, cutting off some farmers from programs and payments. North-central Iowa farmer Brent Renner says he got his payment related to losses from the 2018 trade war, but other farmers were left waiting. Renner says the F-S-A runs all sorts of loan and payment programs. “There’s probably somewhere in the nation that has a different program that I have no clue of that is critical at this time of year that is affecting somebody directly that I’m not aware of,” Renner says, “but I would say, for most of us in Iowa, we’re not freaking out yet.”

Renner, who farms in Klemme, filled out his paperwork for the Market Facilitation Program and says he received his check after the shutdown began but before year’s end. The original deadline was in January and he says some farmers had reason to wait. “There are some that were not wanting their money, for taxes purposes possibly, until after the first of the year, so they didn’t go in to turn in their production, not knowing that this situation might occur, the furlough or the closed offices,” Renner says. “That production is unable to be calculated and the payments are unable to be made.”

Renner says there’s now no one to process applications or cut checks. He says farmers in his area remain hopeful the shutdown will be resolved soon, before anyone’s situation becomes dire. Meanwhile, faculty members and researchers at Iowa’s colleges and universities who planned to apply for federal grants and fellowships are seeing those options vanish. Amy Erica Smith, a political science professor at Iowa State University, expected to be spending time this month reviewing graduate student applications for a National Science Foundation fellowship. Smith says, “Right when the government went into shutdown, we got an email saying, ‘The government is officially in shutdown, the online system is off, stay put for further notice. We’ll let you know when it would be a good time to come back in and start reviewing applications’.”

Smith says the government closure takes some extra work off her plate, so it’s not a hardship for her. “It’s only too bad from the perspective of the graduate students who will hopefully still have an opportunity to receive this fellowship, but certainly the decision is going to be delayed,” Smith says, “and there will be chaos when everything comes back online.” While the disruption means Smith has less work at the moment, it could also mean a tighter deadline later.

(Thanks to Amy Mayer, Iowa Public Radio)

Free tax preparation services will be available in Shelby County for low and moderate income taxpayers as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. For more information or to make an appointment call on or after January 7th to 712-755-3104. Call between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. After an appointment is scheduled the taxpayer will receive a confirmation letter explaining what to bring to the appointment.

The VITA program is open to Iowa residents with adjusted gross income below $57,000. Tax preparation services will be provided by IRS trained and certified local volunteers who utilize the Tax Slayer software to complete returns. Most returns will be electronically filed and to speed up the refund process participants are encouraged to have a savings or bank account, although it is not required. Taxpayers can have refunds deposited into more than one account and also purchase Series I US Savings Bonds.

Only Basic Federal, Iowa and nearby state returns will be processed. The program does not prepare Schedules or Forms related to Business profit/loss (except Schedule C-EZ or C with business expenses under $10,000), Capital gains/losses, Farm or rental income, Employee business expenses, or Moving expenses. A professional tax preparer should be consulted for these services. In Shelby County the VITA program is a joint effort of Shelby County Extension and Outreach and The Iowa Center for Economic Success. The program is financially supported by the Internal Revenue Service and the Iowa Department of Human Services. For more information about the program contact the Shelby County Extension Office at 712-755-3104.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies, Wednesday, arrested a fugitive of justice wanted out of Boone County, Arkansas. 30-year old William Lee Alvis II was taken into custody in Truro, on charges that include: 3 counts of  Felony Rape; two counts of Class B Felony Sexual Assault in the 2nd degree ; and one count of Class D Felony Sexually Grooming a Child. Alvis was transported to the Madison County jail without incident and, while awaiting extradition to Arkansas where his bond was set at $50,000.

William Lee Alvis II

The Creston Police Department reports a man wanted on three Union County warrants was arrested Wednesday afternoon. 20-year old Tyler Hightshoe, of Afton, was arrested at a residence in the 200 block of N. Pine Streets in Creston, on the warrants charging him with: Failure to Comply with Pretrial Release on the Original charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st offense; Failure to Comply with Pretrial Release on the original charges of two counts Theft 5th Degree; and Failure to Comply with Pretrial Release on the original charge of Theft 5th. Hightshoe was being held in the Union County Jail on $1,900 bond.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City woman accused of helping a man rob a bank in Le Mars has pleaded not guilty. Plymouth County District Court records say 35-year-old Karen Merrick entered written pleas last week to charges of robbery, theft, conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit felony theft, accessory after the fact and eluding or attempting to elude law enforcement. A trial date has not been set.

Authorities say Merrick drove a U-Haul van used as the getaway vehicle after the Dec. 12 robbery at Iowa State Bank. Officers managed to flatten the van’s tires and arrest Merrick and 32-year-old Phillip White, also of Sioux City. White has yet to enter his pleas.

The Iowa State Patrol has released the names of 10 people who were injured during a head-on collision Tuesday morning, in northern Iowa. The accident, which occurred about five-miles northwest of Forest City, in Winnebago County, happened at around 3-a.m. Tuesday, when a vehicle traveling on the wrong side of the road collided a vehicle headed in the opposite direction.

Authorities identified the injured as:

• 20-year-old Carter Hammervold, 20-year-old Cole Millsap, 18-year-old Taylor Pattison, 18-year-old Kayla Kittleson, and 18-year-old Maya Barrientes, all of Mason City
• 19-year-old Michael Olsen and 22-year-old Kelsey Johnson of Lake Mills
• 21-year-old Sheyenne Dunning of Leland
• 21-year-old Alex Fritze of Swaledale
• and 20-year-old Parker Albrant of Thompson

A technical investigation was being conducted to determine charges.

A Clarinda man who plead guilty to a charge of Assault on persons in certain occupations causing bodily injury, was ordered last month to serve two-years in prison. According to online court records, the sentence for 43-year old Michael Lynn Burgess, was handed down Dec. 18th in District Court. The sentence is with regard to a Nov. 29, 2018 incident involving a peace officer, and will run concurrently with another sentence Burgess is currently serving. He was also ordered to pay court costs, restitution and surcharges.