Iowa Ending FY2023 with Nearly 2 Billion Dollars in General Fund

On Wednesday, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the State of Iowa will end Fiscal Year 2023 with a balance of $1.83 billion in the General Fund, $902 million in reserve funds and $2.74 billion in the Taxpayer Relief Fund.

“Some see a surplus as government not spending enough, but I view it as an over collection from the hard-working men and women of Iowa,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds. “We’ve seen what the powerful combination of growth-oriented policies and fiscal restraint can create, and now it’s time for Iowans to directly receive the benefits. I look forward to cutting taxes again next legislative session and returning this surplus back to where it belongs – the people of Iowa.”

Last week, Gov. Reynolds announced that Iowa’s corporate tax rate will drop to 7.1 percent from 8.4 percent for Tax Year 2024 due to corporate tax receipts exceeding $700 million.

Flags to Fly at Half-Staff for Senator Feinstein

Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff immediately until sunset on the day of interment in honor and remembrance of Senator Dianne Feinstein, who represented California in the United States Senate. Feinstein died the night of September 28, 2023, in her Washington D.C. home at the age of 90. She was elected to the Senate in 1992.

The governor’s order is issued in conjunction with President Joe Biden’s proclamation to lower the United States’ flag to half-staff for the same length of time.

Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flags at half-staff for the same length of time.

Mt. Pleasant Man Arrested for Enticing a Minor

The Des Moines Police Department has arrested Paul Miller, 48, of Mt. Pleasant Iowa. On September 21st, 2023, at 2:55pm, officers arrested Miller and charged him with enticing a minor under 16 – sexual purpose. He is currently an inmate in the Polk County Jail.

Terry Stumpf

Terry Joseph Stumpf, 71, of Riverside, passed away on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics surrounded by family. Visitation will be held on Monday, October 2, 2023, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Holy Family Parish in Riverside, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Holy Family Parish. Following the services, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the St. Mary’s Parish Center. The burial will be in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Holy Family Parish or Riverside Emergency Services Association or charity of your choice in memory of Terry. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com. The Snyder and Hollenbaugh Funeral and Cremation Services of Riverside is caring for Terry’s family and arrangements.

Terance Joseph Stumpf was born on February 16, 1952, in Washington, Iowa, the son of Robert “Red” Joseph and Rita Frances (Thomann) Stumpf. He was a 1970 graduate of Mid Prairie High School. On December 11,1971 Terry was united in marriage to Mary Jane Kron at the St. Mary’s Church in Riverside.

Terry began his construction career at Kalonial Mobile Home Industries, Briskey Cabinet Company, and Paul Boyd Construction Company. In 1976 Terry and his father started Stumpf Construction Inc. with a focus on building and remodeling new homes. He later created the Basement MD a division of Stumpf Construction which specializes in basement structures, repairs, and waterproofing. He was fortunate to work side by side with many family members and friends.

He had a great love of the outdoors, and his many hobbies included hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, camping and boating. He specifically enjoyed boating on the Iowa and Mississippi rivers. He loved spending time with family and friends at Goose Bottom cabin.

Terry enjoyed repairing tractors, boats, and cars, and he participated in many tractor rides and car shows.

He loved spending outdoor time with his grandkids, was quick-witted, and had a clever sense of humor. He enjoyed playing pranks and scaring the heck out of friends and family, especially the kids. He was currently building a pond in his backyard which was a 20-year dream of his.

Terry was a very active member of the Riverside community, and generously volunteered his time and talents to many organizations. He was a member of St. Mary’s Church, Riverside Area Community Club, Riverside Business Association, Eastern Iowa Sled Heads snowmobile club, and he served on the board of directors for Peoples Trust and Savings Bank. He was an active supporter of improving and maintaining waterways and soil preservation for future generations and has planted thousands of trees over the years.

Terry will be deeply missed by his wife, Mary Jane Stumpf of Riverside; his children, Jill (Jeffrey) Burrows of North Liberty, Chad (April) Stumpf of Riverside, and Jody (Eric) Fisher of North Liberty; eight grandchildren, Kyla Burrows, Tate Stumpf, Quinn Stumpf, Madilyn Stumpf, Riley Fisher, Clara Fisher and Griffin Fisher, and siblings, Randy (Betty) Stumpf of Kalona, Nancy (Jim) Flynn of Washington, Beverly (Bob) Miller of Riverside, Nick (Sue) Stumpf of Ainsworth, Tim (Kris) Stumpf of Lone Tree, Laurie (Randy) Sexton of Riverside, Rod Stumpf of Kalona, and Bonnie Stumpf of Hills.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Trevor Burrows, and brother Michael Stumpf.

Delmar Holtz

Delmar Holtz, 92, of St. Joseph, Missouri, formerly of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, September 28, 2023, at the Carriage Care Rehab and Healthcare Center in St. Joseph, Missouri. Arrangements are pending at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point.

Randall Moser

Randall Lee Moser, age 52, was born December 9, 1970 to Rev. Michael Lee Moser (deceased May 1994) and Sherry D. Myers Moser at Red Cloud, Nebraska. He was found at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado on July 5, 2023, by family after passing due to diabetic complications.

Described by his friends as genuine and kind, Randy loved the Lord Jesus. He enjoyed spending his time with family, cooking, at the beach and enjoying aquarium fish. Randy had a quiet and creative soul, and daily lived to enjoy the good things God has given and the goodness of God Himself. He constantly celebrated and blessed others with meals and culinary treats to enjoy.

Randy graduated high school from Newton High School in Newton, Kansas. He attended Taylor University in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Before moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado, Randy lived in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa where he worked at Blue Bird Bus and attended Faith Christian Outreach Church. In Colorado he attended Culinary Training then was employed at Glacier Gelato and Ice Cream (Blue Mountain Creamery) for over twelve years making unique and creative gelato and ice cream flavors.

Those who will miss Randy are his mother, Sherry D. Myers Moser Graber (John W, deceased March 2016) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; brothers: Ryan (Melissa) Moser and children, Pueblo West, Colorado; Rodney Moser, Colorado Springs, Colorado; and a sister Jennifer (Matthew) Moser Harvey and children, Colorado Springs, Colorado; and uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.

Randy’s immediate family celebrated his life on July 29, 2023, in Colorado Springs with a meal and a time of reflection.

Family will further celebrate Randy’s life and homegoing with a time of remembrance and inurnment on Saturday, October 7, at 1:00 pm at the Forest Home Cemetery Chapel, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa with Rev. David Forrester, pastor at the Trenton Missionary Church, officiating.

Afterwards, the family will be at the Fellowship Cup Community Room. Family and friends are invited to support Randy’s family by attending both these times of remembrance.

Olson-Powell Chapel & Crematory is assisting the family with local arrangements. Condolences may be extended to www.powellfuneralhomes.com

Nationwide Test of the FEMA Emergency Alert on Wednesday October 4, 2023

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall.

If tuning in to KILJ, you will hear this test in the early afternoon. The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 1:20 p.m. central time on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all cellular devices. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.

The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.

FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the test.

The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. In case the Oct. 4 test is postponed due to widespread severe weather or other significant events, the back-up testing date is Oct. 11.

The WEA portion of the test will be initiated using FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The WEA test will be administered via a code sent to cell phones.

This year the EAS message will be disseminated as a Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) message via the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System-Open Platform for Emergency Networks (IPAWS-OPEN).

All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The following can be expected from the nationwide WEA test:

Beginning at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message.

For consumers, the message that appears on their phones will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.”

WEA alerts are created and sent by authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies through IPAWS to participating wireless providers, which deliver the alerts to compatible handsets in geo-targeted areas. To help ensure that these alerts are accessible to the entire public, including people with disabilities, the alerts are accompanied by a unique tone and vibration.

Important information about the EAS test:

The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers and wireline video providers.

The test message will be similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar. It will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.

Sports, September 29th

High School Football

Mt. Pleasant will head to Washington tonight as the Demons celebrate their Homecoming. KILJ will be on the call with the pregame show at 7:15 pm.

In other Class 3A District 4 matchups, Keokuk will travel to face off against Fort Madison and Mt. Vernon will host Assumption.

Fairfield will host Williamsburg tonight, the #1 team in Class 3A. 

Mediapolis will travel to take on Mid-Prairie at 7 pm.

Columbus will host Louisa-Muscatine tonight.

Central Lee will hit the road to take on West Burlington tonight.

Danville will host Van Buren County tonight for their Homecoming.

#10 WACO will travel to New London tonight for the Tigers’ homecoming.

#1 Winfield-Mt. Union will hit the road to face off against Iowa Valley at 7 pm.

High School Volleyball

Mt. Pleasant will compete in the Northeast Volleyball Invitational tomorrow, September 30th.

New London fell in straight sets to West Burlington last night by scores of 25-11, 25-9, and 25-6. The Tigers will host a tournament tomorrow morning. 

Winfield-Mt. Union took down Louisa-Muscatine last night in straight sets by scores of 25-17, 25-16, and 25-10. Audrie Gipple led the way with 16 kills, while Aurey Meeker tallied 16 assists and four aces. The Wolves head into the New London Tournament tomorrow with a 13-10 record. 

WACO will travel to take on WACO on October 3rd at 7:30 pm.

Holy Trinity Catholic will stay on the road to face off against Central Lee on October 3rd. 

Van Buren County will take on Mediapolis on October 3rd. 

Mediapolis was swept by Burlington Notre Dame last night by scores of 25-10, 25-15, and 25-23. Jaydon Wirt notched 14 assists and Haley Steffener and Hanna Wagenbach tallied 7 kills apiece. 

Danville took down Central Lee last night three sets to one by scores of 25-13, 26-24, 19-25, and 25-22. The Bears will face off against Lone Tree on October 2nd.

High School Volleyball Rankings

Holy Trinity Catholic saw their 18-game winning streak come to an end against West Burlington in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference championship game. Moreover, this resulted in the Crusaders falling back one spot from 2nd to 3rd in the top 15. 

West Burlington rounds out the Class 2A top 15 rankings with a 28-4 record.

Cross Country

Mt. Pleasant, Mediapolis, and Danville will compete in a meet on October 2nd hosted by Hillcrest Academy. 

The Southeast Iowa Super Conference (SEISC) meet will be run next Thursday, October 5th. 

College Football

The University of Iowa will be at home tomorrow, September 30th, to take on Michigan State at 6:30 pm.

Iowa State University faces off against Oklahoma tomorrow on the road at 6 pm.

For the Hawkeye broadcast, tune into KILJ 105.5 FM and the Cyclone broadcast will be on 98.5 FM and AM 1130. 

This Day in Sports History

1946 – The St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers finish with the same records, marking the first time the NL pennant ends in a tie.

1954 – Willie Mays races back to make his famous over-the-shoulder catch of Vic Wertz’s 460 foot drive during Game One of the World Series.

1969 – Steve O’Neal of the New York Jets kicks the longest NFL punt of 98 yards against the Denver Broncos.