From Rep. Taylor Collings

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, February 2nd, 2023 at 1:41 pm CDT
To the People of House District 95

 

We are officially a month into the 90th General Assembly and some big items continue to be tackled by House Republicans. The biggest news this week though is that my first bill as a state legislator has officially been introduced, House File 152.

 

Establishing a Rural School Security Fund

On Monday it was an exciting moment as I introduced my first bill which establishes a Rural School Security Fund within the State Treasury, creating a dedicated funding stream to support school resource officer positions in some of our most rural parts of the state.

The fund works by creating a cost sharing agreement between the state and any school district with 1,000 or less K-12 students by supporting 20% of the costs associated with one School Resource Officer position. With counties and cities oftentimes covering part of the costs associated with these positions, due to the fact that the deputy or officer is rolled out onto summer patrol outside of the school year, not only does the school district benefit, but also the community as a whole.

No parent should have to worry about whether their child is safe after dropping them off at school, and that’s 17 of my republican colleagues have joined me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. Creating the Rural School Security Fund is just one step, but a giant one in protecting our state’s greatest asset – our children.

 

Volunteer EMS and Firefighter Legislation

Across Iowa we have seen an increased need for volunteer emergency medical care providers and firefighters. Rural communities in Iowa have for years seen a rise in need for volunteers. As Iowans have faced the challenges of natural disasters and the pandemic.

Iowans have sacrificed and volunteered to ensure that fellow Iowans are taken care of. Volunteer emergency medical care providers, firefighters, and reserve peace officers work diligently to assist their communities in time of needs. These volunteers are often first on the scene to provide medical care, fight fires, and during the pandemic to help distribute PPE supplies in their communities.

One way to commit to improving Emergency Medical Services throughout the state is to authorize municipalities, counties, townships, or agencies to implement length of service agreement awards as described in 457(e)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical care providers. The Local Government Committee has reintroduced House Study Bill 19 to create a grant program to allow municipalities to provide an award to volunteer firefighters, emergency medical care providers, and reserve peace officers. The grant would provide up to $1 for $1 match in funding for municipalities that have established the award.

Authorizing local governments to establish these programs if they chose to, can give control to local governments to provide incentives for volunteers in communities in need of emergency services.

 

HHS Committee Advances Mental Health Legislation

This week, the House Health and Human Services Committee heard a presentation from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services on mental health. This included progress with the Mental Health and Disability Services Regions, a department bill to come for consideration, and regular reviews of Iowa’s Medicaid reimbursement rates to health care providers, including mental health providers. The legislature looks forward to reviewing these targeted reimbursement rate reviews later this month.

Additionally, the committee passed House File 23, a bill to expand the number of prescribing psychologists in Iowa. This bill removes barriers to them practicing in the state and will help recruit additional psychologists to Iowa.

The Iowa House has also unanimously passed House File 93, to prohibit non-compete agreements for mental health providers. This bill ensures that patients who have a good standing relationship with a therapist or other mental health provider can stay with that provider.

 

Redistricting / Weekly Newsletter

As many of you know, this last year we went through legislative redistricting where the district boundaries changed and your representative may have as well. As a result, if you received this newsletter electronically, you may be reading it even though I am not your Representative. If you would not like to continue receiving my newsletter, feel free to email me at taylor.collins@legis.iowa.gov!

 

Legislative Forums

As I mentioned last week, I will have two forums this weekend with Senator Lofgren this Saturday, February 4th. The first one being at 9:00AM at Wilton City Hall, and the second one being at 11:00AM at Wapello City Hall. I would love to see you there!

Sincerely,

Rep. Taylor Collins
Iowa House District 95

 

 

On Tuesday, Senator Lofgren and I welcomed the Wapello FFA chapter to the Capitol for the Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium.

 

 

Do the crime, pay the time! This week I was proud to cosponsor Rep. Rinker’s bill which strengthens penalties for felons who are repeatedly arrested for being in possession of a firearm and putting our law enforcement officers at risk.

 

This week we welcomed the SE delegation to Des Monies for the annual ‘Southeast Iowa Days’ Trip. Governor Reynolds was kind enough to stop out and say hello!

School Board Committee Meetings

By Theresa Rose · Thursday, February 2nd, 2023 at 8:46 am CDT

Mount Pleasant Community School District

SITE AND POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING

Mt. Pleasant CSD – Central Office

1010 East Washington Street – Suite 102

Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641

The Mount Pleasant Board of Education SITE AND POLICY COMMITTEES will meet at 4:00 PM on Thursday, February 2, 2023 to review/discuss:

SITE COMMITTEE

  1. Ed. Test Plot Presentation

POLICY COMMITTEE

  1. Second Reading of Board Policy Series 200 Board of Education
    1. Board Policy 202.3 President
    2. Board Policy 202.4 Vice-President
    3. Board Policy 204.10 Public Participation in Board Meetings
  2. First Reading of Board Policy 701.5 General Fund Reserves and Fund Balance Reporting Board
  3. School Board Director District Boundaries Update
  4. Review Proposed 2023-2024 School Calendar

The meeting is open to the public and patrons are welcome.

Sports, February 2nd

By Slaten Swords · Thursday, February 2nd, 2023 at 6:37 am CDT

High School Basketball

The Mt. Pleasant boys team, riding a 10-game win streak, will be back in action tonight at home against Burlington with the conference championship hanging in the balance. KILJ will be on the call with pregame at 7:15 pm.

The Mt. Pleasant girls’ team will travel to play Burlington tomorrow, February 3rd, at 7:30 pm. KILJ will be on the call with pregame at 7:15 pm.

The Central Lee girls’ team will be competing in a conference shootout tomorrow and the boys’ will have their own shootout on Saturday, February 4th.

The New London boys’ team will face off against Davis County tonight at 7 pm.

The Danville girls’ team will travel to compete in their conference shootout game tomorrow and the boys’ will have theirs on Saturday.

WACO will travel to take on Louisa-Muscatine tonight with the girls going at 6 pm followed by the boys.

The Winfield-Mt. Union boys’ team will take on Cedar Valley Christian tonight at home at 7 pm.

High School Wrestling

The inaugural girls’ sanctioned wrestling State Tournament will take place today and tomorrow. KILJ will be supplying results throughout the day.

The next competition for the Mt. Pleasant boys’ team will be at the Class 2A District 9 postseason meet. To make it to state, wrestlers in Class 1A or 2A must finish in first or second-place and third-place finishers in Class 3A District Tournaments will also qualify.

High School Bowling

Mt. Pleasant will travel to face off against West Burlington tonight.

Iowa Wesleyan Athletics

The women’s basketball team will be back in action tomorrow, February 3rd, at the Crowley’s Ridge Classic. The Tigers are currently 5-0 in conference play.

The 23rd-ranked men’s team improved their win streak to 20 games and 21-1 on the season and they will be tested against #20 Florida College in a CAC Classic tomorrow.

The men’s wrestling team will be in another dual tonight against Graceland University on the road.

The women’s wrestling team will be competing in the Grand View Open on February 4th.

The Tigers next indoor meet will be Saturday at the Luther College Invitational.

Head Softball Coach, Mike Hampton, will be joining us on Tiger Nation this morning at 9 am.

This Day in Sports History

1892 – Longest boxing match under modern rules; 77 rounds in Nameoki, Illinois between Harry Sharpe & Frank Crosby.

1970 – Pete Maravich becomes first player to score 3,000 college basketball points.

2020 – Super Bowl LIV, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL: Kansas City Chiefs beat San Francisco 49ers, 31-20; MVP: Patrick Mahomes, KC Chiefs, QB; Chiefs’ 1st victory in 50 years.

Iowa Wesleyan Students in Vehicle Accident, No Major Injuries

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 at 2:12 pm CDT

Iowa Wesleyan University President Christine Plunkett issued this statement regarding a crash involving students headed for Des Moines….

“Iowa Wesleyan is grateful that our students and faculty who were involved in a vehicle accident this morning only sustained minor injuries. The minibus was being driven by a faculty member with seven student passengers headed to the State Capitol to participate in LGBTQ Day on the Hill. The bus rolled onto its side just east of Des Moines and four students were transported to local Des Moines hospitals.

All the students have been treated and released and were headed back to campus.  We are appreciative of the first responders and medical staff who cared for our students.  

The crash occurred on Highway 163 in Polk County east of the Metro Park East landfill Wednesday morning before 9 am.

 

Iowa Girls’ High School Basketball Rankings: Winfield-Mt. Union Improves to #8

By Slaten Swords · Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 at 2:12 pm CDT

Prep Girls’ Basketball- The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released their tenth rankings of the season with a local team falling out of the top 15, but no top teams falling from their spot.

Class 1A is still ran by Algona Bishop Garrigan with Newell-Fonda and North Linn following in the 2nd and 3rd spots, respectively. West Fork jumped up the rankings from 8th to 6th as they are still undefeated on the season. Winfield-Mt. Union keeps inching their way up the rankings as they are now ranked 8th after the Wolves improved to 19-0 on the season. Central Elkader fell to 9th from 7th after losing to Waukon 57-45 and just recently the Warriors fell to Turkey Valley in a one point thriller, 41-40. Exira-EHK and Martensdale-St. Marys enter the rankings at 14th and 15th, respectively, as Burlington Notre Dame tumble out of the rankings from their 11th position after losing to Mediapolis 53-44 and Fort Madison 55-38. Earlham also fell out of the top 15.

The top six teams remained constant in Class 2A with Dike-New Hartford still on top of the rankings at 17-0. Underwood dropped their game to Glenwood 62-53 after being down 43 to 18 at the end of the first half; the Eagles are now ranked 9th after being ranked 7th. Mediapolis jumped up the rankings from 15th to 12th after the Bulldogs had a strong week beating a ranked Nikes team and a Class 4A team in Mt. Pleasant. No teams dropped out of the top 15 this week.

The top 10 remained the same for Class 3A with Estherville Lincoln Central, Solon, and Benton Community holding on to the top three spots. Cherokee, originally ranked 11th, and Harlan, ranked 15th last week, dropped out of the top 15. The Braves suffered two losses last week, one was an overtime defeat at the hands of Spirit Lake 60-59 and the other was a controlled win by Estherville Lincoln Central 51-34. Clear Lake jumps into the rankings at 13th and Atlantic takes over the 15th spot.

Dalla Center-Grimes is still the top team in Class 4A with a 15-3 record. Xavier continues to slide in the rankings from 5th to 6th. Pella jumped Carlisle from 9th to 8th, but the Dutch did fall to Des Moines North, who is ranked 15th in Class 5A, 49-46 on Monday. Waverly-Shell Rock dropped from their 10th spot out of the rankings after their loss to Mason City 50-39 on Monday. Mason City rounds out the top 15 after their win over the Hawks.

Class 5A kept the top seven the same with Pleasant Valley sitting on top of the rankings touting an undefeated 18-0 record. Sioux City East dropped from 10th to 14th in the rankings after losing to Sergeant Bluff-Luton 53-43 on Monday. No teams were dropped from the rankings.

Black History Month and George Washington Carver Day

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 at 1:48 pm CDT

February is Black History Month. Beginning this year, February 1 is George Washington Carver Day in Iowa. George Washington Carver was the first African American student to attend Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, now Iowa State University, and in 1894 became the first African American to earn a Bachelor of Science. He stayed in Ames and became the first African American faculty member. For more information about Carver’s time in Ames, check out this segment of the PBS program “George Washington Carver: An Uncommon Life.” Iowa State is holding a special event to honor Carver February 1, 5:30-7:00 p.m., at the Memorial Union. The event also will be livestreamed.

Nature Photographer Kathleen Casteel Featured in Mount Pleasant Arts IMPACT Mini Gallery

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 at 9:45 am CDT

Mount Pleasant, Iowa – The Mount Pleasant Arts IMPACT mini gallery in the Public Library is proud to feature local artist Kathleen Casteel. Casteel is a talented multimedia artist and nature photographer who showcases her work in the mini gallery.

Born and raised in small-town Iowa, Casteel was influenced by her mother’s passion for painting and crafting. With a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, Secondary Education, and a Master’s Certificate in Gifted Education for grades K-12, Casteel has developed a love for capturing moments in time through her art.

Casteel’s broad range of interests in art includes nature photography, multi-medium art, drawing, painting, crafting, and more. She finds inspiration for her work in her travels and everyday moments and enjoys freezing these moments in time through her art.

Additionally, Casteel makes her own holiday cards and shares her special pieces of art with family and friends.

The Mount Pleasant Arts IMPACT mini gallery is proud to display Kathleen Casteel’s nature photography, which highlights her ability to capture the beauty of the world around us.

As a lifelong traveler, Casteel has explored the US, Canada, and Mexico and has found something she loves everywhere she has gone.

For more information on Kathleen Casteel and her work, please visit the Mount Pleasant Arts IMPACT mini gallery in the Public Library during regular library hours.

Henry County Board of Supervisors Meeting Agenda

By Theresa Rose · Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 at 9:11 am CDT

AGENDA

February 2, 2023

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

Approve Claims

9:00 2nd Reading Ordinance, Repeal Title Chapter 7, General Relief Program

9:05 Monthly Department Head Meeting

10:00 Randi-Globe Life Liberty Nation Division Voluntary Coverage

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Update