Author: Theresa Rose

Iowa Finance Authority Awards Nearly $5 Million to Support Homelessness Assistance Initiatives

 (DES MOINES) – The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) Board of Directors recently approved more than $4.7 million in federal and state grants to assist 44 agencies with homelessness assistance initiatives during the 2023 calendar year.

Community Action of Southeast Iowa is receiving a $46,866 Emergency Solutions Grant Award.

“The homelessness assistance awards announced today will have a direct impact in helping thousands of Iowans in their time of need,” said Iowa Finance Authority Executive Director Debi Durham. “Iowa’s homeless service professionals work tirelessly to help get Iowans back on their feet and into permanent housing and this funding will aid in those efforts.”

The funding is made available through the federal Emergency Solutions Grant program and the State-funded Shelter Assistance Fund. IFA conducted a two-year combined ESG and SAF competition for funds in 2021. Applications were scored in several categories, including project design, experience and capacity, community partnerships, performance, budget and grants management.

Individuals in need of homelessness assistance should contact the coordinated entry system, online at iowahousinghelp.com or by phone at: 833-739-0065. Residents of Des Moines or Polk County should call the local centralized intake: 515-248-1850.

Emergency Solutions Grant Program
The primary purpose of the Federal Emergency Solutions Grant program is to help Iowans and their families quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness. Examples of eligible services include street outreach, shelter, homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing (rental assistance paired with case management and supportive services). The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and by the Iowa Finance Authority in Iowa. Twenty-seven agencies were awarded a total of more than $2.9 million in 2023 Emergency Solutions Grant Program funds.

 Shelter Assistance Fund

The State-funded Shelter Assistance Fund program provides assistance to help with the costs of operations of homeless and domestic violence shelters, essential services for the homeless and evaluation and reporting services. Thirty-three agencies were awarded a total of nearly $1.8 million in 2023 Shelter Assistance Fund grants.

Date:   11-04-2022______

In the interest of keeping Henry County residents informed, the Henry County Sheriff’s office has requested KILJ post the daily jail count. During the jail referendum campaign it was publicized that the jail would be able to house additional inmates from surrounding counties and this would generate revenue for Henry County.

  26_    Henry County Inmates

 48      Out of County Contract Inmates

  74     TOTAL

On November 03, 2022, at approximately 12:48 A.M., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a single motor vehicle accident with unknown injuries at the 2700 Grid of 267^th Street in New London.

Upon arrival at the scene, deputies spoke with the subject involved in the accident, later identified as Brian A. Jones, 53, of New London, Iowa. Brian refused medical treatment.

After further investigation, it was found that Brian was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Brian was subsequently transported to the Henry County Jail for further assessment and later charged with Operating While Under the Influence – 1^st Offense (Serious Misdemeanor).

***A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.***

Henry County Health Center’s Diabetes Education is hosting the following classes in the month of November.

Monday, November 7– Prediabetes Class, Noon-1 p.m., Suite 25.

Tuesday, November 8– CGM Support Group, 2-3 p.m., Suite 25

Thursday, November 10– Annual Review Course, 1-3 p.m., Suite 25

Call HCHC Diabetes Education at 319-385-6518 by noon on Tuesday, November 8, to register. The day of class, register at the HCHC Registration Desk before proceeding to the class. The program is open to anyone who has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and has completed the 10-hour diabetes classes.

Monday & Tuesday, November 14 & 15 – Two-day diabetes education class open to anyone who has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. The class is 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. each day in Suite 25. There is a fee; however, many insurance plans cover the program. Directions will be given when you call HCHC’s Diabetes Education Center at 319-385-6518 to register by Friday, November 11.

Topics include meal planning; exercise; personal goals; eye disease; glucose monitoring; foot, skin and dental care; complications of diabetes; explanation of diabetes; medications; and behavior modifications. There will be time for questions.

The purpose of the program is to provide people who have diabetes and their families the latest information regarding the disease and to help them become aware that diabetes education is a lifelong process.

The HCHC Diabetes Education Center has earned Iowa State Certification. It has also been awarded Recognition from the American Diabetes Association, which assures that it has met the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. HCHC’s Diabetes Education team offers Certified Diabetes Educators through the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators.

HCHC is prepared and committed to caring for you and your loved ones. Our current safety precautions require that facemasks be worn by all patients and visitors in clinical areas. No youth under the age of 14 are allowed to enter Henry County Health Center unless the child is a patient coming for an appointment. Please remember to social distance in the hallways, waiting areas and classrooms, cover your coughs and sneezes, and stay home when ill.

Iowa Wesleyan University is proud to announce that Xiaobin Dai, Assistant Dean for International Education, was honored with the 2022 Internationalization Achievement Award by Region IV of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. This award recognizes an individual, institution, organization, or group that is making strides, being innovative, and committed to comprehensive campus internationalization.

NAFSA is based in the United States and is the largest non-profit association dedicated to advancing international education by promoting international education opportunities, immigration training, and global teaching. NAFSA Region IV comprises North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri.

“I was delighted to see Xiaobin Dai receive this award and for Iowa Wesleyan to be recognized in this way,” stated Dr. DeWayne Frazier, University Provost. “The International Achievement Award is not only an outstanding honor for Xiaobin but a testament to all the efforts our faculty and staff have placed on being a campus with a global reach. To be recognized by our peers in the region makes it even more special for all of us.”

Currently, Iowa Wesleyan has a student body representing 40 countries on its campus in rural Iowa. The global diversity at the university significantly enhances the campus experience for its students and the community. Earlier this fall, Iowa Wesleyan was also ranked number one among all Regional Midwest Colleges from the 2022 U.S. News and World Report for the number of International students. This is the fourth consecutive year IW has led Iowa in this recognition.

Iowa Wesleyan University: As Southeast Iowa’s regional comprehensive University, Iowa Wesleyan University is a transformational learning community whose passion is to educate, empower and inspire students to lead meaningful lives and careers.

DAVENPORT, Iowa — On Friday, October 7, 2022, Jason Robert Wesely, age 39 of Salem, Iowa, pled guilty in federal court to Possession of Child Pornography. Wesely is scheduled to be sentenced on February 28, 2023. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. According to court documents, on or about June 4, 2020, Wesely knowingly possessed visual depictions of child pornography. Wesely knew that the visual depictions were of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, the depictions included minors who had not attained 12 years of age, and the visual depictions had been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce by any means including by computer and cellular phone. Wesely used his phone and a DVD to commit the
crime. IP addresses connected to a social media account used in the crime were tracked to Wesely’s residence in Salem, as well as his workplace at the National Guard in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the
announcement. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the United States Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which
was started in 2006 as a nationwide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children. Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexual abused are
encouraged to call the Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821.

Henry County Engineers Office announces Old Highway 34 road closure beginning November 9th. The road will be closed between Henry-Jefferson Ave east to Benton Ave for Box Culvert extension project. The project is estimated to take 3 weeks, weather permitting. Questions can be answered at 319 385-0762.