DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI/KCRG) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins was at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday for the Governor’s Charity Steer Show. Rollins announced millions for the state of Iowa. “We are excited to announce that the USDA is spending an additional $152 million in investment into this sale across 19 rural development projects in communities across Iowa,” she said. Rollins’ office says 20 Iowa communities will benefit from the infrastructure improvements. That includes a hospital improvement for Guthrie County, where a $37 million loan will fund an expansion and partial renovation. Water service improvements are also being funded. Bondurant will receive a $2.5 million grant for a new water tower. Eldora will get a million to improve the wastewater system, and $1.4 million loan to the city of Moulton will replace service lines made of lead and upgrade old water mains. Rollins’ office said the money will also benefit energy projects in areas like Appanoose, Davis and Wapello counties. Last December, the same USDA program announced more than $25 million to fund clean energy, rural housing development and food access. But Rollins said there could be more investment. “$152 million into rural Iowa to continue to build this infrastructure is a game changer, but there will be more announcements, more to come,” she said. Rollins also announced that a farmer from Atlantic, Iowa will now be serving as an Under Secretary for Rural Development at the USDA.
BLACK HAWK COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – One person was killed in an accident involving farm equipment in Black Hawk County on Friday. At approximately 3:50 p.m. Friday, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a single-vehicle rollover accident involving farm equipment. The accident occurred in the 11000 block of S. Canfield Road, according to the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department. Upon arrival, officers found a person unconscious and attempted emergency procedures. The person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is under investigation.
MCGREGOR, Iowa (KCRG) – The McGregor Municipal Utilities Water Department said it’s currently addressing two active water leaks in the city. The department said Sunday that one leak is on Garnavillo Avenue and another is on 2nd Street. The department is asking all residents to conserve water by limiting usage to only essential purposes. They asked residents to refrain from using sprinklers or filling pools until the situation is resolved. The department also said because of the conservation effort, the McGregor Splash Pad will be closed and is expected to reopen in the next few days after repairs are complete. Officials said residents on Eagle Drive, who receive water from the Eagle Drive well are not affected.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (KCRG) – A man from Fairbank is giving back to a nonprofit which helped him get a seeing eye dog free of cost. Dean Maurer organized a fundraiser at King Bucks restaurant in Cedar Falls on Saturday. Maurer is legally blind. He said being matched with seeing-eye dog Max nearly two years ago changed his life. “I trust everything in Max. The freedom I have is just amazing. Now I’m ready to get out and do things, I can’t wait to go,” Maurer said. That freedom is why Maurer held a fundraiser for the nonprofit Dogs Inc., who gave him Max. The event included live music, an auction, and raffle ticket drawings, with all the proceeds going toward the nonprofit. People at the fundraiser raised more than $3,000 for Dogs Inc. Organizers at the nonprofit said this money will help them breed and train more service dogs to help people like Maurer. “Our dogs are worth over $60,000. That’s how much training is put into them. Not everybody can afford that. So we raise money so that they can be helped,” Carole Adamzzy, a leader with Dogs Inc. said.
