January 2022

January is National Blood Donor Month – and dire blood shortages have made it more critical than ever to consider rolling up your sleeve. According to the American Red Cross, Type O blood is routinely in short supply and in high demand by hospitals – both because O positive is the most common blood type (found in 37 percent of Americans) and because type O negative blood (found in 7 percent of Americans) is the universal blood type needed for emergency transfusions and for immune-deficient infants.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is now accepting applications for the 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. To qualify, the grants must be used to support projects that raise awareness about or drive demand for specialty crops grown in Iowa.

In celebration of National Unclaimed Property Day, held annually on Feb. 1, State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is sharing the newest report of Fremont County residents who are in the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. “This past year, there was a total of $49 million reported to the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt,” said Fitzgerald. “In Fremont County alone, $61 thousand was remitted, meaning you, a neighbor or a favorite local business could be in the database.”

Seven grants awarded to five community colleges in partnership with local school districts The Iowa Department of Education today awarded seven $50,000 competitive grants to help establish new college and career transition counselor positions that will focus on preparing more high school students for success in college, postsecondary career training and the workforce. Des Moines Area Community College, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges and Indian Hills Community College each were awarded one start-up grant, and Iowa Central Community College and North Iowa Area Community College were awarded two start-up grants to support new college and career transition counselors who will work in partnership with area school districts to support students and families with career exploration and the transition to college and career training.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a series of town hall-style meetings where local staff will provide updates on recently completed hunting and trapping seasons, discuss possible changes to hunting and trapping rules and regulations, and address other topics as requested.

The paddlefish snagging season on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers opens Feb. 1 and goes through April 30 (sunrise to sunset).

The 2022 Girl Scout Cookie Program is set to begin sales on Friday, Feb. 11. This year, nine cookie varieties will be offered for sale, from perennial favorites such as Thin Mints and Caramel deLites to the new offering, Adventurefuls.

Registration is open for a special drawing of a $1,000 college savings deposit that 10 Iowa parents and guardians of students in eighth through 12th grades will be randomly selected to receive after March 31, 2022. The drawing is sponsored by ISL Education Lending.