Newton Independent

Newton residents weigh in on Chinese leader's trip to Iowa

PRI's The World is in Iowa covering China's presumed next president Xi Jinping's trip to the state this week and turned to several Newton residents to get reaction on what Iowans think of Chinese competition and efforts by Iowa leaders to woo business opportunities to the state. "Why not?" is what Annie and John Gerkin (pictured above) said in today's report by Jason Margolis. The Gerkins, owners of the August Bergman Inn, a bed and breakfast in Newton, said they hold no grudge against the Chinese and that if Chinese companies would be willing to locate here - in three or four nice-sized buildings near downtown "that the city of Newton would love to have them (Chinese companies) occupy" - why not. Frank Liebl of the Newton Development Corporation also weighs in today's report by saying its incumbent upon state and local officials to try and bring Chinese business interests to the U.S. You can read the full report here.

Governor's Iowa Environmental Excellence Awards competition opens

Newton Independent

Iowa businesses, organizations and citizens are now invited to apply for the Governor's Iowa Environmental Excellence Awards.

The premier environmental honors in Iowa, the awards recognize leadership and innovation in the protection of Iowa's water, land and air.

"The Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards offer an opportunity to showcase and share the efforts of Iowa businesses and organizations to both protect the environment and create new jobs in our state," Gov. Branstad said in announcing the opening of the application process.

In addition to rewarding important efforts to improve Iowa's natural resources, the governor noted that highlighting success stories benefits other businesses and organizations in the state.

Awards will be given for overall Environmental Excellence, along with Special Project Awards in:

• Air Quality
• Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy
• Habitat Restoration
• Waste Management
• Water Quality
• Environmental Education

For more information and download an application, follow this link. Entries are due by April 6.

 

Measure calls for 'Iowa Waltz' to be state song

Newton Independent

Legislation was introduced in the Iowa House of Representatives today suggesting that state lawmakers designate Iowa-born folk musician Greg Brown's "The Iowa Waltz" as the state song of Iowa.

Composed in 1981, the legislation describes it as "a gentle, melodious song that celebrates Iowa's rural roots and farming traditions."

You can listen to a purchased copy of the song below.

Download 01 The Iowa Waltz

 

Passenger rail study from Chicago to Omaha announced

Newton Independent

The Federal Railroad Administration, in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Transportation, is kicking off the Chicago to Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study with an online, self-directed open house set for Monday, Feb. 13.

The online open house, which can be accessed here, will be the first opportunity for the public to participate in the study, which is designed to:

• evaluate potential route alternatives
• evaluate levels of service and ridership
• analyze environmental impacts
• determine a preferred Chicago to Omaha passenger rail route alternative.

"Potential improvements to the passenger rail system from Chicago through Iowa to Omaha will complete the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative's vision for developing an improved and expanded passenger rail system in the Midwest," said Tamara Nicholson, Iowa DOT director of the Office of Rail Transportation. "The study will be a major step in assessing the viability of a high-speed, regional passenger rail system for Iowa and the Midwest."

Comments can be submitted at the online open house. Meeting materials and a comment form can be downloaded here and mailed to Tamara Nicholson, Director, Office of Rail Transportation,, Iowa Department of Transportation, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50010.

For more information, cal 800-488-7119.

Measure would ban labor unions from making political contributions

Newton Independent

A group of Iowa Senate Republicans on Tuesday introduced legislation that would bar labor unions in Iowa from making campaign contributions to candidates seeking office.

Eleven GOP state senators signed on to Senate File 2084 that would bar a labor union from making a monetary or in-kind contribution to a candidate or committee, except for a ballot issue committee.

The bill would not preclude individual members of a union from making contributions.

Currently, Iowa law permits labor unions to make contributions from their general funds (union dues, except public employee union dues) to candidates and other political committees.

Measure would allow state fair-goers to carry 'dangerous weapons'

Newton Independent

An Iowa lawmaker introduced legislation today that would allow Iowa State Fair-goers to carry weapons while touring the fairgrounds.

Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, introduced House File 2160 that bars the state fair board from prohibiting "any dangerous weapon on the state fairgrounds," including any buildings, "when the carrying, transportation, or possession is otherwise lawful under the laws of this state."

The explantation of the measure defines "dangerous weapon" as "any instrument of device designed primarily for use in inflicting death or injury upon a human being or animal." The weapons include such things as pistols, revolvers, daggers, razors, stillettos, switchblades and "any portable device or weapon directing an electric current, impulse, wave, or beam that produces a high-voltage pulse designed to immobilize a person."

Currently, guns are prohibited on the state fairgrounds,  with or without a valid permit to carry. Failure to comply is cause for expulsion from the state fair.

State flags to be lowered in honor of fallen soldier

Newton Independent

Gov. Terry Branstad has ordered that all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff from 5 p.m. today until 8 a.m. Monday in honor of Marines Corps Master Sgt. Travis Riddick, 40, formerly of Centerville.

Master Sgt. Riddick was killed in action Saturday, Jan. 21, in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Riddick, six children, his parents, John and Barbara Riddick, and two brothers, Tim and Troy Riddick.

Memorial services will be held Sunday at Centerville High School's Simon Estes Auditorium.

USDA unveils new school meal standards

Newton Independent

First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled new standards for school meals designed to improve the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids across the country that participate in school meal programs every school day.

The new meal requirements raise the standards for the first time in more than 15 years and are a key component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was promoted by the First Lady as part of her "Let's Move!" campaign and signed into law by President Obama.

"As parents, we try to prepare decent meals, limit how much junk food our kids eat and ensure they have a reasonably balanced diet," the First Lady said in announcing the new standards. "And when we're putting in all that effort the last thing we want is for our hard work to be undone each day in the school cafeteria. When we send our kids to school, we expect that they won't be eating the kind of fatty, salty, sugary foods that we try to keep them from eating at home. We want the food they get a tschool to be the same kind of food we would serve at our own kitchen tables."

The final standards make practical changes to school meal menus, including:

• ensuring students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week
• substantially increasing offerings of whole grain rich foods
• offering only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties
• limiting calories based on the age of children being served to ensure proper portion size
• increasing the focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat, trans fat and sodium.

"Improving the quality of the school meals is a critical step in building a healthy future for our kids," Vilsack said. "When it comes to our children, we must do everything possible to provide them the nutrition they need to be healthy, active and ready to face the future - today we take an important step towards that goal."

The new standards are expected to cost $3.2 billion over the next five years - less than half of the estimated cost of the proposed rule and are just one of five components of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act now implemented or under development. In addition to the updated meal standards, improvements to come include:

• The ability to take nutrition standards beyond the lunch line to foods and beverages sold in vending machines on school campuses
• increased funding for schools - an additional 6 cents a meal, the first real increase in 30 years
• common-sense pricing standards for schools to ensure that revenues from non-federal sources keep pace with the federal commitment to healthy school meals
• technical assistance and training to ensure compliance

The final standards released today also provide more time for schools to implement the changes, which will be phased in over a three-year period, starting in the 2012-13 school year.

A comparison chart of the current and new regulatory requirements by food group can be viewed here.

Coincidentally, legislation was entered in the Iowa House of Representatives on Tuesday calling for the establishment of the Iowa Hot Lunch Challenge Campaign, an effort to promote healthy eating, reducing childhood obesity and hunger and making the state's hot lunch and nutrition programs the best in the nation.

Attention gardeners: New Plant Hardiness Zone Map released

Newton Independent

Attention all gardeners. As you're browsing through your seed catalogs and longing for the warmth of spring you might want to take a look at this. The USDA today released a new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the first update in 22 years.

"This is the most sophisticated Plant Hardiness Zone Map yet for the United States,: said Dr. Catherine Woteki, USDA under secretary for research, education and economics. "The increases in accuracy and detail that this map represents will be extremely useful for gardeners and researchers."

The new map offers a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based interactive format and is specifically designed to be internet friendly. It also incorporates a "find your zone by zip code" feature.

Compared to the 1990 version, zone boundaries in the newest edition have shifted in many area. The new map is generally one 5-degree Fahrenheit half-zone warmer than the previous map throughout much of the U.S.

 

Area vets hear Condition of the Guard address

Jasper County area members of the Patriot Outreach Veterans group were on hand at the statehouse on Tuesday to hear the Condition of the Guard address by Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Tim Orr. Rep. Dan Kelley, D-Newton, right, welcomed, left to right, Bud Pickett, David Schnothorst and Randy Wagner to the House Chambers.

- Newton Independent

DOT: Changes coming for CDL applications, renewals

Newton Independent

Beginning Monday, Jan. 30, the Iowa Department of Transportation will implement new federally required rules that change the way drivers apply for or renew commercial driver's licenses (CDL).

The change will require drivers applying for or renewing their CDL to complete a form declaring the type of commercial motor vehicle driving they intend to perform. If that falls within a certain category, the driver must provide the Iowa DOT with a copy of his or her current Medical Examiner's Certificate before being issued a CDL.

While the new process begins next week, the federal compliance date for all CDL holders is not until Jan. 30, 2014. Due to that:

• A CDL holder whose driver's license expires between Jan. 30, 2012 and Jan. 30, 2014 can complete the required declaration form and submit a copy of their individual Medical Examiner's Certificate, if required, when their CDL is renewed. These individuals will not need to travel to an Iowa DOT driver's license station or participating county treasurer driver's license location to meet the requirements of the new regulations.
• If a CDL holder's driver's license does not expire until after Jan. 30, 2014, the licensee must go to an Iowa DOT driver's license station or participating county treasurer driver's license issuance location before Jan. 30, 2014 to complete the required declaration form and provide a copy of their current Medical Examiner's Certificate, if required.

A CDL holder who fails to meet the new requirements prior to Jan. 14, 2014 will have their CDL downgraded to a noncommercial driver's license.

Because a Medical Examiner's Certificate can expire before a CDL, the DOT reminds drivers who are required to submit the certificate to keep the most current certificate on file at all times with the DOT.

More information can be found here.

Iowans asked to weigh in on No Child Left Behind waiver

Newton Independent

Iowans are being invited to weigh in on the Iowa Department of Education's request to seek a waiver from the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act during a series of statewide meetings set to begin later this month and scheduled for Feb. 7 at Newton High School.

The department will present details about Iowa's waiver request and plans to develop a new accountability system that puts student achievement first, but also focuses on student growth and assessments that align with the Iowa Core standards.

The meetings will originate from the nine Area Education Agencies in Iowa and be relayed as a video conference to regional sites throughout the AEA district.

The Heartland AEA, which has responsibility for schools in the center of the state, will hold its meeting beginning at 9 a.m. Feb. 7, and hold regional video conference meetings at Newton High School, Ames High School, Dallas Center-Grimes High School and Knoxville High School.

Following is timeline for participants

• 9 a.m. -10:45 a.m. - Superintendents
• 11 a.m. -12:45 p.m. - Administrators, School Board Members
• 1:30 -2:45 p.m. - Students
• 4 - 5:45 p.m. Teachers
• 6 - 7:45 p.m. Parents, Community Members

In September, the U.S. Department of Education invited states to apply for flexibility from the specific requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act in exchange for rigorous and comprehensive state-developed plans. Iowa's application will be submitted by Feb. 21.

Additional information on Iowa's application, as well as a video from Director Jason Glass, can be found here.

Iowans who are unable to attend the public meetings may submit comments in writing to wilma.gajdel(at sign)iowa.gov until 4 p.m. Feb. 1

Caleris adds 275th job in Iowa

Newton Independent

Officials with Caleris, a provider of business process outsourcing services, announced today that the company has reached a combined 275 employees at its three Iowa locations in Newton, Jefferson and Manning.

Representatives of the West Des Moines-based company made the announcement in conjunction with President Obama's hosting of the "Insourcing of American Jobs" forum at the White House today.

Sheldon Ohringer, co-founder of Caleris, said the company's growth over the past few years is attributable to a growing trend of clients realizing that a high quality of service to their customers requires a friendly and knowledgeable American workforce.

"We have felt from our very beginning that outsourcing to the rural U.S. versus overseas was not only a great business model, but important to the U.S. economy as a whole," Ohringer said. "The President's forum is showcasing the growing trend of more companies making the same decision we have, which is to focus on creating jobs here in the U.S. We have been able to create 275 U.S. jobs while growing organically because we offer organizations a great value with a qualified workforce, short call times, and the reduction of cultural barriers between caller and employee."

Caleris specializes in delivering inbound support services including technical support, customer care, corporate helpdesk, product support and Internet helpdesk. It serves clients in varying industries ranging from consumer electronic manufacturers to insurance companies.

Three Iowa FSA offices recommended for closure

Newton Independent

Farm Service Agency offices in Appanoose, Decatur and Union counties in Iowa are being recommended for closure as part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture effort to streamline operations and reduce costs by $150 million.

The closures in Iowa are being recommended as part of plan to consolidate 131 FSA offices in 32 states.

You can read U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack's cost reduction plan announced Monday here.

Smoke alarms saved the lives of 186 Iowans last year

Newton Independent

Working smoke alarms saved 186 Iowans from fire death or injury in 2011, the Iowa Department of Public Safety, State Fire Marshal Division recently reported.

Most of the fires from which people escaped occurred during the evening when they were sleeping. The sound of the fire alarm saved their lives, the division stated.

However, while the 186 lives saved by smoke alarms is an increase from the 146 lives saved in 2010, 46 people died from fires in 2011, an increase of 13 from the year before.

Fire marshal officials said the two most common causes of fires were improperly discarded smoking materials and unattended cooking or stove fires.

"As Iowans are trying to pinch pennies, people are staying home to eat instead of dining out," said Special Agent Supervisor Kyle Gorsh. "Inexperienced cooks are trying to make fast foods at home and it's resulted in a large spike in kitchen fires."

The State Fire Marshal Division urges Iowans to be cognizant of fire prevention activities and have a plan should a fire occur:

• Never leave cooking materials unattended and make sure you have shut off the burner when done cooking.
• If you smoke, consider smoking outside, making sure cigarettes are completely extinguished before discarding and placing cigarette butts in a metal can filled with sand. Better yet, quit, they say.
• Practice exit drills with family members to make sure everyone knows how to escape a fire and where to meet once outside the home.
• Install smoke alarms on all levels of the house and in every bedroom. If using battery smoke alarms, consider using lithium batteries for extended life.
• Sometimes fires can be extinguished with a 10 pound, ABC rated fire extinguisher, but know how and when to retreat out of a home.

 

Branstrad administration releases final recommendations on education reform

Newton Independent

The Branstad administration today released an an overview of the proposed legislation that will be presented to state lawmakers this session aimed at improving Iowa's education system.

The recommendations reflect the key areas of education reform that the administration released in October including more effective teachers and school leaders, high expectations for students with fair measures for results and backing for educational innovation.

"These proposals will pust on the path to make Iowa schools among the best in the world," Branstad said in announcing the recommendations this morning.

Key proposals of the recommendations include:

• Be more selective about who can become an educator by requiring a 3.0 grade-point average to gain admission into teacher preparation programs.
• Candidates for teaching licensure must pass a test demonstrating content-specific and teaching knowledge.
• Evaluate teachers annually instead of every three years, which is the current requirement. Principals and superintendents would also be evaluated every year.
• Widen the pathway to alternative teacher licensure with a number of quality assurance checks.
• Make seniority a minor factor in deciding which teachers are laid off by a school district faced with reduction in force initiatives. Annual evaluations based on performance would be the main factor in those decisions.
• Establish state task forces to study long-term issues, such as teacher leadership, compensation and questions about extending the school day or school year.
• Give all preschool students and enrolled 4-year-olds a kindergarten readiness assessment to determine early reading and math skills.
• High school students would take end-of-course exams in core academic areas of algerbra, English, science and U.S. history to make sure they have a solid foundation before graduation and to better align high school courses to the Iowa Core.
• All 11th grade students would take a college entrance exam and phase out the current 11th grade assessment, the Iowa Tests of Educational Development.
• Eliminate requirements around seat time for academic credit to accommodate school districts that choose to adopt a system of competency-based education, which advances students based on their mastery of subjects.
• Widen the ability to start charter schools by giving the State Board of Education authority to approve charter applications from universities, community colleges and non-profit organizations, as well as collaborative efforts between such groups. Currently, Iowa's charter school law is restrictive in that it only allows existing school districts to establish charter schools.
• Give school districts greater flexibility to meet state requirements so that public schools can better apply innovative ideas to improve learning. School districts would have the same flexibility that charter schools have.

Improving Iowa economy comes with downside - shorter unemployment benefits

Newton Independent

Iowa's improving economy, as measured through declining unemployment rates, comes with a downside for the nearly 100,000 people identified as jobless in the state - a lower number of weeks of unemployment compensation coverage.

Iowa Workforce Development officials said today that Iowa's three-month average jobles rate has fallen below the required 6 percent to qualify for the Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Tier 3 federal benefits program.

This will decrease the additional weeks of unemployment compensation available to jobless Iowans from 47 to 34 after Jan. 14.

"While Iowa is fortunate to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, it does affect the overall benefit eligibility for the state," said Teresa Wahlert, director of Workforce Development. "The change in Iowa's eligibility will affect approximately 4,200 individuals in the first quarter of 2012."

Iowa's EUC program has three tiers, each with varying weeks of maximum eligibility. Tier 1 carries a maximum of 20 weeks; Tier 2 a maximum of 14 weeks; and Tier 3 a maximum of 13 weeks.

The week ending Jan. 14 will be the last week in which unemployment claimants in Iowa can establish Tier 3 eligibility. After that date, approximately 300 individuals per week will exhaust their Tier 2 unemployment benefits and not be eligible for an extension.

Unemployment claimants will receive written notification prior to the expiration of all available benefits. Individuals currently on Tier 3 benefits will not be impacted.

Week remains before Blue Zone applications due

Newton Independent

Just a week remains for the Iowa communities hoping to be considered as one of the initial demonstration sites for the governor's healthiest state initiative to submit completed applications for consideration.

Late last month, 58 Iowa communities, including Newton, were selected to move forward through the full application process for the initial round to select Blue Zone demonstration communities. Demonstration sites are communities in Iowa where Blue Zone healthy living principles will be applied with the assistance of national experts and serve as models for other communities.

The 58 communities moving forward are required to submit their full applications by Jan. 4, 2012. Upon assessment of the applications, eight to 10 finalist communities will be selected to host site visits from Feb. 27 to March 16. The first round of demonstration sites will be announced in May.

In addition to the written application, citizen support is part of the selection process. That support is being measured by the percentage of residents that pledge to participate in the healthy living initiative if their town is chosen.

The current Blue Zone Community Scoreboard shows Oelwein with the largest percentage of resident participation pledges at 37.13 percent. Woodbine, Fairfield, Grundy Center and St. Ansgar round out the top five with participation percentage rates ranging from 35.1 to 28.5. Newton's current resident participation pledge level stands at 1.69 percent. The scoreboard is updated daily.

You can pledge your support by following this link.

Iowa Workforce Development warns of fraudulent web sites

Newton Independent

Iowa Workforce Development officials today are warning that a number of fraudulent web sites have popped up since the department closed three dozen local offices across the state and moved to online access of its services.

Teresa Wahlert, director of Workforce Development, said Iowans can file unemployment claims at the department's web site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but said fraudulent sites exist whose use may jeopardize a user's benefits and potentially exposes them to identify theft.

"These web sites prey on those most vulnerable who are simply looking for help," she said. "We want every Iowan to know that filing for unemployment is a free service provided by Iowa Workforce Development."

State officials said that though the fraudulent web sites look official, they are not authorized or endorsed by the state. While the sites may promise prompt response or guaranteed approval, in many cases they may jeopardize or delay weekly benefits and could expose Iowans to identity theft, state officials said.

"You will not be automatically approved for unemployment no matter how much you pay," Wahlert said. "Procedures are in place to ensure a fair and equal system for both employers and individuals. We try to process all claims in a timely manner, but there is no automatic way to be approved."

Alliant electric rates to go up next year as 'transmission costs' rider goes into effect

Newton Independent

Alliant Energy electric customers in Newton will see their rates increase in February as a new recovery of transmission costs rider approved as part of its last rate case goes into effect.

In its decision last year, the Iowa Utilities Board agreed to allow Alliant to begin to collect from its customers the higher transmission costs it pays to ITC Midwest without the need to file a rate increase. The "automatic recovery of its transmission costs" rider was approved by the board in return for Alliant's agreement to freeze base electric rates for a three-year period.

The increase in the transmission part of a residential bill will add approximately $1 to a customer's monthly bill.

Several years ago, Alliant sold the transmission system used by its Iowa Interstate Power & Light subsidiary in Iowa to ITC Midwest. ITC has made improvements to the system and is passing those costs on to Alliant in higher transmission fees.