😁 Happy Friday!  Some say it’s ironic that the one day of the year no one works is literally called “Labor Day.” We’re celebrating work by not doing any. BUT, it replicates our week. We work, then we rest! On Labor Day, we honor the value of labor by putting it out of our thoughts and enjoying an extra long weekend!
Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Weekend Weather:
Today ☀️ Hi 80, Sat ☀️ Hi 83, Sun ☀️ Hi 74, Mon 🌤️ Hi 75

B&A Club: 
🎂 Happy Birthday
Mindy Brower (44 yrs)
🥂 Happy Anniversary
None reported

Name that Celebrity: 
She voiced the character Princess Fiona in the Shrek film series from 2001 to 2010. 

LOCAL NEWS

Carroll City Council Approves Over $200,000 In Grants For Downtown Projects

During Monday's meeting, the Carroll City Council approved over $200,000 in grants for façade and building improvements for businesses in the downtown district. City Manager Aaron Kooiker says two types of grants were being considered, the first half-dozen related to the $150,000 allocated to the downtown district by the council earlier this year.

Three applicants are receiving the maximum $25,000 grant, the Buckle, Promesing Image Salon & Spa, and the 519/521 N. Main St storefront for tuckpointing, signage, and other exterior improvements. Brothers on Main was awarded nearly the maximum at $24,351.50, while Renew Covenant Church, Family Resource Center, and Carroll Area Childcare Center and Preschool will receive a combined $13,426.50 to remove HVAC ducts and repair broken windows at the site. The final award of $3,100 went to Relic Sports LLC on W. 4th Street for exterior canopy and signage updates. The council unanimously approved the $115,878 in façade grants. Combined with the awardees' portions of their projects, this will lead to a $294,473 total investment into the downtown district. Funds will be distributed as reimbursements once the improvements are completed. Ward 3 Councilman Kyle Bauer says this first round of funding shows other businesses may be interested in participating in the program in the future. FULL STORY

More Local Headlines

• St. Anthony Experiences Unexpected Network Outage, Affecting Scheduled Patient Appointments

• ARC Celebrating Clear The Shelter Campaign Until Sept. 10

• Iowans Can Now Begin Requesting Absentee Ballots For Nov. 5 Election

• Minor Injuries Reported In Truck/Moped Collision On Hwy 30 In Carroll Tuesday Afternoon

• Authorities Say Single-Vehicle Crash On 180th Street In Carroll Tuesday Afternoon Caused By Medical Episode

AREA NEWS
Area headlines

🏗️ Close to one hundred landowners and residents of surrounding communities gathered at the Greene County Fairgrounds Wednesday to hear from the Iowa Utilities Commission and Summit Carbon Solutions LLC on the proposed hazardous liquid pipeline. Four Summit Carbon representatives presented on the project’s impact on communities, the details of the overall construction, landowner compensation, and protection and safety. Vice President of Government Affairs for Summit Carbon Jake Ketzner says the capture, transport, and sequestration of CO2 will open new markets for Iowa farmers.

🏡 Homes for Iowa, in partnership with Iowa Prison Industries, is celebrating a significant milestone this week as the 100th home constructed through the program was delivered. HFI began in 2020 as a job training initiative for inmates at the Newton Correctional Facility, and the first home was delivered and placed in Jefferson that same year. The 100th HFI house was placed on its foundation in Rippey earlier this week. Region XII Council of Governments serves as HFI’s fiscal agent, and Executive Director Rick Hunsaker says they are proud to be associated with this work.

🛝 United Bank of Iowa recently donated $5,000 to the East Sac County Community School District for new playground equipment. The funds will be used to support the installation of rubber ground cover and new, inclusive playground equipment at the elementary school in Sac City. This is just one of several recent contributions to communities in UBI’s service area. The bank also donated $15,000 to support the Schleswig 125th anniversary celebration, which will be held from Sept. 13 through Sept. 15. They contributed $10,000 to the Odebolt Community Foundation to back business district revitalization efforts, alongside many other donations in 2024.

🤡 The upcoming Labor Day Holiday weekend means the last of the listening area county fairs is taking place, the Guthrie County Fair. This year marks the 166 annual fair, featuring five full days of entertainment for every age group starting on Thursday. Collin Clark, President of the Guthrie County Fair Board, says the organization is excited to bring new shows to The Little Amphitheater that was built last year, along with unveiling a new structure for the fairgrounds.

REAL ESTATE
Mortgage Rates Tumble to 6.35%, Infusing ‘Much Needed Energy’ Into the Market

By Julie Taylor
Aug 29, 2024

Mortgage rates continued to fall this week, with the average rate for a 30-year fixed home loan going from 6.46% last week to 6.35% for the week ending Aug. 29, according to Freddie Mac.

“Mortgage rates fell again this week due to expectations of a Fed rate cut,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement. “Rates are expected to continue their decline and while potential homebuyers are watching closely, a rebound in purchase activity remains elusive until we see further declines.”

The summer housing market has been lackluster up to now, according to Realtor.com® senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones in a recent analysis. However, things might soon turn around.

“Falling mortgage rates have infused some much needed energy in the market,” says Jones. “Buyers may be eager to take advantage of the lowest mortgage rates in over a year and secure a home before the fall.”

Will the market find its way out of its summer slump? Here’s a snapshot of the latest housing market data and what it means for homebuyers and sellers in the latest installment of our “Weekly Housing Market Update.”

STATE NEWS
Waterloo community to vote on high school merger plan after petition gathers enough support

Iowa Public Radio | By Meghan McKinney
Published August 29, 2024 at 4:46 PM CDT

Last November, a Waterloo Community Schools high school task force recommended all high schoolers be in one building. Eight months later, the school board approved a $165 million high merger plan. Now community members get the final say.

Waterloo residents will decide the fate of a $165 million high school merger plan during the election this November.

Voters will be asked to either approve or reject the sale of revenue bonds to fund the plan that was approved by the Waterloo Schools Board of Education on July 29. It originally didn’t require voter approval since the plan does not raise taxes because it is not funded through a bond referendum. Rather, the project is being funded through SAVE bonds, formerly known as school infrastructure sales, services and use tax revenue bonds — an existing 1% statewide sales tax.

However, voters had the option to gather over 2,000 signatures to petition the school board to put the bond issue on the November ballot. A petition effort was led by community member and opponent of the plan, Shelly Smith, who has no relation to the superintendent. She started a Facebook group for the petition, and it was verified on Aug. 15. FULL STORY

More stories:

• More than 80% of Iowa's eligible seniors don't receive SNAP food assistance

• State conducts emergency evacuation of nursing home, but won’t say why

• A little 'Razzle Dazzle' creates community color in Sioux City

• Biden’s newest student loan repayment plan temporarily blocked by Supreme Court

• Iowa State football creates chaos to thrive under lights

• Iowa vs. Illinois State predictions, picks, odds

MORE NEWS
What else!

• What to know about Labor Day and its history

• Colorado holds on, begins Deion Sanders' second season with win over North Dakota State

• ‘Dancing with the Stars’ dancer Artem Chigvintsev arrested on domestic violence charge

• If Deion Sanders, CU Buffs play Nebraska like they did North Dakota State, Cornhuskers might run ’em out of Lincoln

• When birds build nests, they're also building a culture

WEEKEND
To-Do List

✅ENJOY: Here are some of the best ways to spend Labor Day Weekend!
✅HAVE A LAUGH: We all find our own ways to entertain the kids.
✅ MAKE YOUR BED: A sushi inspired method for getting a cover onto a duvet.
✅GO OUT WITH A BANG: Make the last few weeks of summer memorable!
✅IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE: Toddler parents, can you relate?
✅LIFE HACKS: Make your home smell extra clean 24/7.
✅ALL THINGS FALL: Check out Deal’s Orchard events coming up!
✅LISTEN: Catch up on “Must Know People”, get to know Coach Eric Nagl!
✅WATCH: 1500 The Story of Manning!
✅LOCAL: Support your local growers and makers!

DID YOU KNOW?
Studies out of Bristol University found that babies born in late summer and early fall are taller and stronger than those born in Winter and Spring.

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