(Radio Iowa) – The U-S-D-A will become responsible for the Iowa Wesleyan campus in Mount Pleasant when the university closes May 31st and U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says it’s too early to tell what’s next. “Our folks will work with the community to see what the options could be,” Vilsack says. “I mean there’s a variety of opportunities to think about. I’ve asked the team to be very creative about this.” Last week, the university’s board of directors voted to close the school at the end of the current semester.

“Right now the community’s hurting. There are people whose lives are turned upside down and in that circumstance and situation you’ve got to be able to say to them: ‘We feel for you and we’re going to try our level best to create something good out of this that will help the community,” Vilsack says. Iowa Wesleyan has had significant operating losses for years and nearly closed in 2018. The university owes 21 million on a U-S-D-A loan and another five million dollars on a bank loan that was guaranteed by the U-S-D-A.

“One of the reasons we invested and have invested in other colleges across the country is that they’re an economic driver. They’re a job creator…A lot of opportunity can be generated by a college in a regional area,” Vilsack says. “Wesleyan, I think they did an evaluation. They had a $50-70 million dollar impact on the community every single year, so that’s real and obviously the community is going to have to be dealing with the potential of how do we replace that.” Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, was mayor of Mount Pleasant in the late 80s and early 90s. Vilsack says he’d like U-S-D-A staff to avoid dividing the 60 acre campus into parcels and selling off individual buildings.

“I’d like them to start working with the college to see whether or not there are other universities or colleges that might be interested. Are there other folks that might be interested in a campus of some kind? Are there agencies of the federal government, for example, that might be thinking about training facilities and could this be an opportunity,” Vilsack says. “People need to think creatively at this point to try to keep it as a whole, if possible, and keep it as the economic driver that it has been.”

Vilsack’s wife Christie is a Mount Pleasant native and Tom Vilsack told reporters yesterday (Thursday) that she recently resigned from Iowa Wesleyan’s board of trustees and Vilsack says that means he may now speak and be involved in decisions about the campus property. Five years ago, the Vilsacks hosted a three day event on Mount Pleasant radio station K-I-L-J that raised more than a million dollars for Iowa Wesleyan.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University is getting a more than half a million dollar grant from the U-S-D-A to support research focused on planting two crops in the same field, like soybeans and winter wheat. It’s called relay intercropping and researchers are assessing how it impacts soil health and water quality in the area. U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says large commercial operations are doing well financially and the goal is to find ways to help small and mid-sized farms stay afloat.

“Let’s figure out a way in which as you embrace sustainable practices that you benefit from those sustainable practices with increased productivity, with increased value,” Vilsack said. The I-S-U project will incorporate winter wheat or rye in corn and soybean fields on three university research farms and six other independent farms.

“An exciting opportunity for farmers to see the benefit of potentially harvesting three crops in two years,” Vilsack says, “as opposed to just two crops.” The Iowa Soybean and Iowa Corn Growers Associations will get nearly 900-thousand dollars from the U-S-D-A to conduct trials of how conservation practices and crop genetics impact yields.

“It’s tough to ask farmers to do this because oftentimes is requires an expenditure, an investment up front and it’s important for farmers to be able to see the benefit of that investment before we ask them to essentially spend their own resources,” Vilsack says, “so the OnFarm program really provides additional resources to make it a little bit easier for farmers to really embrace innovation in conservation.”

Vilsack made his comments Thursday afternoon during a news conference in Ames.

(Radio Iowa)- The April 18th federal tax filing deadline is rapidly approaching and the I-R-S plans to open its Des Moines office Saturday to take questions. I-R-S spokesman, Christopher Miller, says no appointment is necessary. “Opening the I-R-S Taxpayer Assistance Center on Saturday we hope gives people who work during the week and can’t get away the chance to have their issues resolved with someone face to face without an appointment,” Miller says. He says they usually get a variety of questions during these types of events.

“We expect to help people this Saturday who maybe have a balance due and they want to make a tax payment. Perhaps they want a copy of their transcript,” he says. “They may have refund questions or need to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. Or maybe they’ve received a notice or a letter from the I-R-S.” He says It is important for people to know there’s one thing they can’t do.

“We do not prepare tax returns at the Taxpayer Assistance Center. Not only this Saturday but at any time,” he says. Your can get information on free tax filing on the I-R-S website. Miller says be sure to have everything you need before coming in. “Almost everyone needing help from the I-R-S this Saturday should bring a copy of their most recent tax return. Any letters or notices from the I-R-S they received — two forms of I-D if they’re trying to verify their identity. And if possible social security cards for you or any dependents if necessary,” Miller says.

The assistance center is open from 9 a-m to 4 p-m Saturday at 210 Walnut Street in Des Moines.

Des Moines, IA – A Central Iowa man made his initial appearance today (Thursday)  in federal court for numerous tax charges. 40-year-old Bakou Kees Vonty (also known as Bob Vonty), is charged in a 39-count indictment returned on March 21, 2023. As alleged in the indictment, from at least 2015 through 2021, Vonty prepared Individual Income Tax Returns for numerous customers who paid him to prepare and file their tax returns.

Vonty acted as a “ghost preparer,” meaning that Vonty did not sign his customers’ tax returns when he prepared and filed them. Vonty prepared the customers’ tax returns but did not explain the contents of the returns to the customers, review the returns with the customers, or provide copies of the returns to the customers before Vonty electronically filed the returns with the Internal Revenue Service. Instead, Vonty would typically inform the customer of the amount of their anticipated refund.

It is alleged that Vonty often included on his customers’ federal tax returns, schedules, and forms, items that Vonty knew to be false, such as false claims for business-expense deductions and education expenses. The effect of Vonty including false items on the tax documents was to increase the refunds his clients received.

In addition, it is alleged that Vonty also filed several of his own federal income tax returns knowing that they contained false information. Vonty is charged with thirty-six counts of Preparing and Presenting a False Tax Return and three counts of Making and Subscribing a False Tax Return. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Kerndt is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

(Radio Iowa) – Next year, Iowans will vote on a proposed amendment that will align the Iowa Constitution with an election-related change made nationally more than five decades ago.

In 1971, the 26th Amendment the U.S. Constitution was ratified, changing the legal voting age in America from 21 to 18. The proposed amendment to Iowa’s Constitution would specify that U.S. citizens who are at least 18 and residents of the state may vote in Iowa elections.

“It also says 17 year olds who will be 18 by the General Election to register to vote and vote in the Primary, so this is how we already run our elections,” Representative Cindy Golding, a Republican from Palo, said during House debate this week. “It puts in our constitution what is already in our code.”

This proposed amendments to the state constitution got final approval from the House and Senate this spring. It means Iowa voters will see the language for proposed amendment on their 2024 election ballots.

(Radio Iowa) – The police chief in Keota says he is concerned people are staying way too close to tornadoes to get videos and pictures.

Two tornadoes struck the Keota area on March 31st, including an EF-4 tornado packing winds of more than 170 miles an hour. Keota Police Chief Doug Conrad tells KCRG TV that too many people are ignoring warnings to shoot videos.

“You can go on Facebook or Tiktok — people where the storms were, were 300-400 yards from the tornado, and it was a big tornado,” Conrad says. Chief Conrad says it was a trend that was becoming all too common and all too dangerous. He says you may think you are a safe distance away from the storm, but you’re not, and flying debris could be fatal.

Keota storm damage. (KCRG TV photo)

“It wouldn’t be hard to believe that a 2 x 4 or glass could kill somebody,” Conrad says. He says you should think of safety first. “When we get these warnings, don’t ignore them,” Conrad says.

The National Weather Service says the Keota tornado traveled 50 miles. It destroyed 19 homes and one person was injured.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Spring is in the air, and plans are underway for gardening projects in Cass County. Local groups planning community gardening, beautification or education programs will again be eligible for assistance from the Cass County Master Gardeners. The group is offering grant money to be used in the 2023 growing season, to encourage gardening to grow food for donation, for gardening education, and/or for gardening projects to improve local communities. The Cass County Master Gardener Memorial Grants are offered in remembrance of the many years of service to the community provided by long-time Master Gardener volunteers who have passed.

Any Cass County not-for-profit group may apply. Schools, churches, libraries, 4-H clubs, Scouts, or other organizations/individuals working to improving their communities can apply for money to begin or improve gardens or landscaping for community benefit, or to provide education for their members or the public. To ensure the money is helping a wide variety of community organizations, those who were funded by 2022 grants will not be eligible to apply in 2023. Each grant has a maximum value of $300. Applications must include plans for teamwork and sustainability. All grant recipients will be expected to submit a report at the end of the growing season, detailing how the money was spent. Recipients will also be given a sign to place in their garden area for the 2023 growing season.

Applications must be received by 4:30 PM on Monday April 24 for guaranteed consideration. They may be submitted by mail or email. Grant recipients will be informed of their application status no later than Monday, May 8 so they can make plans for the growing season. For more information, or with questions, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or email  keolson@iastate.edu.

Application forms can be printed from the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. You can also call or email the office to request a form be mailed or emailed to you, or stop by 805 West 10th Street in Atlantic to pick one up.

The Master Gardener program trains volunteers to develop their knowledge and skills in horticulture. These volunteers then give back to their communities through gardening service and education. The program is available in all 50 states and Canada through land grant university Extension programs such as Iowa State University Extension. Education courses are available throughout Iowa on a regular basis, with the next statewide training class open for enrollment in the summer of 2023. For more information on the program, contact Cass County Extension Director Kate Olson, at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – (Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests. Two men from Anita were arrested March 30^th on warrants charging them with Theft 2nd Degree and Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card. 48-year-old Kevin St. John and 22-year-old Matthew St. John turned themselves in to the Cass County Jail. Both were booked-in and later released on bond.

On March 24th, 2023, Cass County Deputies arrested 45-year-old Jessica Craddock, of Benton, IA, on a warrant for Violation of Probation.  Craddock was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.

And on March 23rd, 26-year-old Sotonas Aten, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Revoked.  Aten was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

(Oakland, Iowa) – The Riverside Community School District has a new Superintendent. Dr. Stephanie Anderson was selected to lead the District, effective July 1, 2023. Dr. Anderson is the Director of Elementary Education and Student Services, Fort Dodge Community Community School. Current Riverside Superintendent, Dr. Timothy Mitchell, announced his retirement in January and will be leaving the District at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

Dr. Anderson said she “Is excited about this new opportunity and shared “I am honored and excited to have been chosen to be the next leader of the Riverside Community School District. The community cohesiveness, academic and extracurricular celebrations, and amazing people were the highlights from my research and interview experience. I look forward to continuing the great work you are already engaging in as a community and school district.”

Dr. Stephanie Anderson

Her bio reads: “Dr. Stephanie Anderson brings a variety of educational experiences to the superintendent position. She grew up on a farm outside of Newell, Iowa, graduating from Newell-Fonda High School and earning her BA from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. She started her teaching career as an elementary classroom teacher in Vermillion, South Dakota and then in Storm Lake, Iowa while earning her MA from the University of South Dakota. She attended the Iowa Principal Leadership Academy to earn her administrative endorsement, which led to her serving as the assistant elementary principal and early childhood principal in Spencer, Iowa. She then served as the head elementary principal in Fort Dodge, Iowa while earning her PhD from the University of Kentucky. Most recently she has held the position of director of elementary education and student services in Fort Dodge, Iowa while earning her superintendent certification from the University of Northern Iowa. These educational experiences have grounded her in her educational beliefs of being strengths-based, making decisions that keep students at the center, and the importance of building collaborative relationships within the school community and beyond, while leading with integrity every step of the way. She is excited about what the Riverside School District and communities have to offer, and she looks forward to the opportunity to serve the district and communities. Her husband, Chris, is a computer science teacher at the Fort Dodge Middle School; their daughter, McKaelyn, is a junior at Iowa State University majoring in special education; and their son, Carter, is a junior at Fort Dodge Senior High attending the ICCC Triton Academy simultaneously.”

The Riverside Board of Education will meet and offer a contract at their meeting 6:30-p.m. Monday April 17, 2023.