Two Killed on Burlington Bridge

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 at 7:58 pm CDT
According to the Illinois State Police two construction workers from a Burlington, IA company were struck and killed Tuesday morning after being hit by a passenger car. The workers were walking behind their stationary pickup truck and trailer, which had its yellow construction lights activated, setting construction barrels for a work zone on the Great River Bridge of U.S Route 34 westbound as it crosses the Mississippi River.
A vehicle traveling westbound struck a barrel and continued on, striking the two construction workers causing fatal injuries. The workers are identified as Pearson J. Franklin, 20-year-old of New London, IA and Andrew Whitcomb, 35-year-old of Burnside, IL.
The driver of the car, Emily Johnson, 21-year-old of Gladstone, IL, was written citations for Scott’s Law – Improper Passing of a Stationary Emergency Vehicle, Improper Use of Electronic Communication Device, and Failure To Reduce Speed To Avoid a Crash. Johnson received minor injuries as a result of the crash.

Rita Pomberg

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 at 3:17 pm CDT

Rita Pomberg, 94, of West Point, Iowa, left this world at 4:32 a.m. Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa.

She was born on June 2, 1928, in Fort Madison, Iowa, the daughter of Harold and Anna (Hellige) Grimwood. On October 22, 1949, she married Stan Pomberg at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fort Madison, Iowa (this Saturday they would have celebrated seventy-three years of marriage). After their marriage, they resided on the family farm near West Point, where they raised five children.

Rita’s kind and loving spirit is survived by her husband: Stan; five children: Larry Pomberg of West Point, Iowa, John (Lisa) Pomberg of West Point, Iowa, Linda Ketcham of Marshalltown, Iowa, Linette (John) Boden of Norwalk, Iowa and Wayne (Angela) Pomberg of Kingwood, Texas; fourteen grandchildren: Jeremy Pomberg, Logan Pomberg, Yolanda (Joe) Aring, Robin Pomberg, Dawn Quick, Tyler Pomberg, Mikayla Pomberg, Mike (Kerri) Ketcham, Mark (Natalie) Ketcham, Stephanie (Jason) Adamoyurka, Nathan (Krystal) Boden, Maria (Dakota) Kittle, Andrew (Hilary) Boden and Daniel Boden; eleven great grandchildren: Trevor, Derek, Makenzie, Lexi, Zoey, Jack, Cole, Wyatt, Isabelle, Elizabeth and Catherine. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Harold and Anna; brothers: Ronald, Raymond and Roy Grimwood; sister: Ruthie Casaley; son-in-law: John Ketcham and sister-in-law: Marcy Grimwood.

Rita graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic Central High School in Fort Madison. She was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, the Altar and Rosary Society of the church and the past St. Anne’s Circle Daughters of Isabella. She worked at Sacred Heart Hospital and Sheaffer Pen Co. for five years. During the summers, she spent many days gardening, canning fruits and vegetables for the family. She made the best homemade angel food cakes and pies. Rita worked alongside Stan to help farm, milk a herd of dairy cows, plant, harvest and she would take countless meals out to the fields. Rita loved to be with her grandchildren, teaching them to play cards, bake and help with farm chores. Rita and Stan did a lot of traveling in the United States and other countries. Her father came from England and they traveled to see where the Grimwood family lived before coming to the United States. Rita will be forever in her family’s hearts and she will be dearly missed.

A visitation will begin at 12:00 noon Sunday, October 23, 2022, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point, where the family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A parish rosary will be recited at 2:00 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service will be held at 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 24, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point with Father Dan Dorau as celebrant.

Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in West Point, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her memory for St. Mary’s Catholic Church or West Point Fire and Rescue.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com. Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements.

 

Iowa’s absentee voting period begins Wednesday

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 at 3:11 pm CDT

DES MOINES – Iowans can begin casting ballots for the 2022 general election on Wednesday, October 19, which is the start of the absentee voting period. It marks the first day Iowans can vote in person at their county election office and the first day auditors can mail absentee ballots to voters who requested them.

More than 144,000 Iowans have requested an absentee ballot so far. The deadline to request one to be mailed is Monday, October 24.

“Election Day is rapidly approaching and it’s important to have a plan for how you want to vote,” Secretary Pate said. “You can vote through the mail, in-person at the county election office, or at the polls on Election Day. I encourage you to figure out which option works best for you and take the necessary steps to ensure your vote is counted.”

Absentee ballot request forms are available at VoterReady.Iowa.gov. You can also track the status of your request and ballot at that site. County auditors must receive your absentee ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 8.

 

Wayland City Council Meeting Agenda

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 at 3:10 pm CDT

The Wayland City Council meets Wednesday 10-19-22 at 7:30 pm at the Wayland City Hall.

Roll Call
2. Public Hearing – 7:30 PM – Consider a Proposed Ordinance to Amend and Renew Electric
Franchise with Interstate Power and Light Company
3. Consent Agenda
Note: These are routine items and will be enacted by one motion without separate discussion unless a Council member requests an item be
removed for separate consideration.
a. Minutes of Oct. 5, 2022
b. Bills for Payment
4. Citizen Forum
The Mayor and City Council welcome comments from the public for items not listed on the agenda. You are asked to state your name
and address for the record and to limit your remarks in order that others may be given the opportunity to speak. The Order of Business
is at the discretion of the Chair. No action will be taken.
5. Unfinished Business
a. Ord. 11-2022 “An Ordinance Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Wayland,
Iowa, By Amending Provisions Pertaining to Alcoholic Beverage Control” (2nd reading)
6. New Business
a. Approve EHCCF Grant Application for Bomber Field Improvements
b. Ord. 12-2022 “An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 111 of the Code of Ordinances of the City
of Wayland, Iowa” (1st reading-Franchise Agreement Renewal)
c. Res. 2022-22 “Approves RUT Report to be Filed with DOT by December 1, 2022”
d. Review/Approve FY2021-22 Annual Urban Renewal Report
7. Building Permits – none
8. Adjournment
MAYOR: Chet Fort
COUNCIL: Melinda Ullery,
Travis Shelman, Kathie Grimm,
Caylon DeVaul, Jamie Roth
CLERK: Beverly Conrad
TREAS: Terry Kaufman
ATTORNEY: Lynch Dallas
R

Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report & Weather Summary

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 at 9:36 am CDT

October 10 – 16, 2022

DES MOINES, Iowa (October 17, 2022) — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented today on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November.

“The generally dry conditions statewide have allowed farmers to make steady progress with 74 percent of the soybean harvest and 38 percent of the corn harvest completed,” said Secretary Naig. “For the first time since August 2013, all of the state is experiencing some form of abnormal dryness or drought but weather outlooks through the end of month are indicating potential shifts toward wetter conditions and warmer temperatures.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop Report

Harvest continued with 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending October 16, 2022, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Fieldwork included harvesting row crops, fall tillage, and applying fall fertilizer and manure.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 21 percent very short, 40 percent short, 38 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 23 percent very short, 41 percent short, 36 percent adequate and 0 percent surplus.

Corn in the mature stage or beyond was 96 percent, 1 day behind last year but 4 days ahead of the 5-year average. Harvest of the State’s corn crop reached 38 percent complete, 2 days behind last year but 6 days ahead of the average. Moisture content of field corn being harvested for grain was 19 percent. Corn condition rose to 65 percent good to excellent. Soybeans dropping leaves or beyond were at 96 percent. Soybeans harvested reached 74 percent complete, 11 days ahead of the average.

Pasture condition rated 29 percent good to excellent. No livestock issues were reported.

Weather Summary

Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

As fall colors continue to show across Iowa, cooler conditions were felt over the reporting period. Northeastern Iowa saw negative departures of up to four degrees while near-normal temperatures were found southwest; the statewide average temperature was 50.3 degrees, 2.6 degrees below normal. While rainfall was widespread, many stations reported deficits of more than 0.50 inch.

Iowans experienced pleasant conditions into Sunday (9th) afternoon with low to mid 70s and mostly sunny skies. Light and variable winds persisted overnight as temperatures cooled into the low 30s northwest to low 40s southeast under the stars. Unseasonably warm temperatures returned to Iowa on Monday (10th) as daytime highs pushed into the upper 70s and low 80s across the state’s western two-thirds. Strengthening southerly winds held overnight lows in the low 50s north to upper 50s south. Spotty showers skirted several counties in southeastern Iowa after sunrise on Tuesday (11th) leaving behind minor rain totals. Wind speeds increased through the day as a strong cold front approached from the west. Clear skies in northwestern Iowa allowed temperatures to rise into the low 80s while cloud cover and rain held temperatures in the mid 60s in the southeast. The surface boundary finally pushed over western Iowa just before midnight with a few severe-warned thunderstorms along the Iowa-Nebraska border. The complex brought widespread rainfall as a secondary line fired in eastern Iowa around 3:00 am on Wednesday (12th). Rainfall totals were highest in west-central and eastern Iowa as at least 10 stations observed 0.50 inch or more with general totals around 0.20 inch; a Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network gauge in Cedar Rapids (Linn County) hit 0.57 inch while Persia (Harrison County) registered 1.21 inches.

Pockets of showers continued to filter in through the afternoon and evening hours as winds shifted to a northwesterly direction Colder air behind the front held afternoon highs in the 50s under partly to mostly cloudy skies. Rain totals from the backside of the disturbance reported at 7:00 am on Thursday (13th) were under 0.20 inch with Hopkinton (Delaware County) dumping out 0.19 inch. Morning lows varied from the mid 30s in northern Iowa to the low 40s farther south. Gusty northwesterly winds persisted with chilly daytime temperatures hovering in the low to mid 40s in northeastern Iowa. A fast-moving low pressure center brought very light rain showers to Iowa’s southeastern half through Friday (14th) leading to damp and chilly conditions; temperatures again held in the 40s and low 50s east to west. Rainfall amounts were no more than a trace at most stations to 0.20 inch at Augusta (Lee County). Skies cleared into Saturday (15th) morning with low temperatures in the 20s and low 30s; the statewide average low was 27 degrees, 13 degrees below normal. Conditions through the afternoon rebounded with seasonal temperatures across much of western Iowa; low to mid 50s in western Iowa were 10-12 degrees below average. Clouds moved into western Iowa through early Sunday (16th) with mid 30s to low 40s registering on thermometers across the state.

Weekly rain totals ranged from no accumulation at multiple Iowa stations to 1.30 inches in Monticello (Jones County). The statewide weekly average rainfall was 0.18 inch; the normal is 0.54 inch. Little Sioux (Harrison County) and Sioux City Airport (Woodbury County) reported the week’s high temperature of 84 degrees on the 11th, on average 18 degrees above normal. Spencer Municipal Airport (Clay County) reported the week’s low temperature of 21 degrees on the 15th, 17 degrees below normal.

SCC to Host Free Financial Aid Workshop November 9

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 at 9:32 am CDT

 

Southeastern Community College will offer complimentary assistance with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at its FAFSA Ready Iowa event on Wednesday, November 9.

 

The event will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at both the West Burlington and Keokuk campuses. The West Burlington event will be held in Room 192 and the Keokuk event will be located in Room 419.

 

“Filing for financial aid can be intimidating for students of any age and their families,” says Sheri Knipe, SCC Financial Aid Director. “We help people through the process so they know it is right the first time.”

 

Knipe encourages people who plan to attend college to file the forms as soon as they can.

 

“The event is a great way to complete the FAFSA in a timely manner without interruptions,” she said, adding, “Submitting it now gives students a better chance to receive more state and institutional aid.”

 

This event is free and open to students of any age or income, regardless of which college they plan to attend. There is no need to pre-register; attendees will be assisted throughout the afternoon and evening on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Staff members from the SCC Financial Aid Office, the Educational Opportunity Center, and other college departments will be on-hand to guide students through the FAFSA and to answer questions about financial aid.

 

Knipe recommends that students under age 24 attend with at least one parent or guardian.

 

“Most traditional college-age students are required to include parental information on their FAFSA, so it’s helpful if both the student and at least one parent can attend.”

 

To complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA, students and parents should each bring the following:

• Social Security number, driver’s license number and date of birth

• 2021 federal and state tax returns, complete with all schedules and worksheets

• W-2 forms or other records of income earned in 2021

• Current bank statements and investment records

• Records of untaxed income received last year

• A-Number if not a U.S. citizen

 

A list of frequently asked questions, including a link to a complete list of required information and documents, can be found at https://www.icansucceed.org/financial-aid/financial-aid-process/fafsa

 

Students and parents may register in advance for an FSA ID to electronically sign the FAFSA and make future changes. Visit https://studentaid.gov/help/create-fsa-id to create an FSA ID or retrieve a forgotten FSA ID.

 

Students who are unable to attend this event are encouraged to contact the Educational Opportunity Center located at SCC. Appointments are available year-round to provide assistance with filing the FAFSA.

 

For more information, call 319-208-5026.

Iowa Utilities Board encourages qualified Iowans to seek winter heating assistance

By Theresa Rose · Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 at 9:09 am CDT
(Des Moines) – The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently released its 2022 winter fuels outlook and expects most U.S. households will pay more to heat their homes this winter, forecasting consumers could spend as much as 28% more for natural gas and 10% more for electricity compared to last year. With the changing seasons and colder temperatures, the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) is reminding vulnerable Iowans that limited financial heating assistance is available to income-eligible utility customers through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

The annual application period runs from November 1, 2022, through April 30, 2023. Homes with elderly residents 60 years of age or older, disabled residents, and those in crisis of immediate utility disconnection, may apply now.

The LIHEAP program is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is designed to help low-income homeowners and renters pay a portion of their primary home heating costs through a one-time payment made directly to the utility or heating fuel vendor. LIHEAP in Iowa is administered by the Iowa Department of Human Rights and local community action agencies. During fiscal year 2021, more than 74,600 Iowa households received LIHEAP funding to assist with a portion of their heating costs, with an average statewide heating assistance benefit of approximately $455.

Under LIHEAP or the weatherization assistance program, Iowa law protects qualified applicants who are the head of a household from being disconnected from natural gas or electric service from November 1 through April 1. Although qualified applicants cannot be disconnected during the annual winter moratorium, the IUB urges all LIHEAP-certified customers to continue paying toward their energy bills through the winter to avoid accumulating high debt and facing potential utility service disconnection in the spring.

Eligibility for the federally funded LIHEAP program is based on household size and income, type of fuel, and type of housing. Interested applicants should review the federal income guidelines, then apply at the community action agency serving their area. Heating assistance dollars for LIHEAP and the weatherization assistance program are limited.

For assistance, utility customers should contact their local community action agency and notify their utility company. If customers have concerns about their utility company or service, they may also file a complaint about their utility by contacting the IUB Customer Service staff at 877.565.4450 or customer@iub.iowa.gov.

Learn more on the IUB’s LIHEAP webpage, or through the Iowa Department of Human Rights online at humanrights.iowa.gov/dcaa/liheap or call 515.281.3861.

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The Iowa Utilities Board regulates utilities to ensure that reasonably priced, reliable, environmentally responsible, and safe utility services are available to all Iowans.

Follow the Board on Twitter: https://twitter.com/iub_now

Raymond E. “Skeeter” Davis

By Theresa Rose · Monday, October 17th, 2022 at 3:10 pm CDT

Raymond E. “Skeeter” Davis, 62, of Mt. Pleasant passed away on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Friday, October 21, 2022 at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant where the family will be present from 4 to 7 p.m. that evening.  Cremation will follow the visitation.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials may be directed to Becky Norton for the welfare of Skeeter’s son, Shane.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com

Murphy Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant, is caring for his arrangements.