Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
BALLOON FARM AT CC/E Clay Central/Everly Elementary teacher Joan Kimball has an annual tradition of reading the book Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm to Clay Central/Everly's fifth grade and kindergarten students. The children love this beautiful tale and are even more enthused when the story leads them to the Nature Learning Center, where they happily find "planted" balloons for them to "pick" and keep.
Students First ESA applications for 2023-24 closed; 18,893 apps OK'd
The Iowa Department of Education last week announced that 18,893 Students First education savings accounts (ESAs) were approved by the Sept. 30 program close date. ESA accounts for applicants who did not meet this deadline are closed for the school year and the funds will remain in the state's general fund.
Out of all ESA applications submitted by the June 30 application deadline, 5,927 applications were denied based on not meeting residency or household income requirements. Another 4,792 applications were closed, primarily if they were duplicates or if the applicant made the request.
A breakdown of approved applications by county is as follows:
Counties with 1,000-plus: Sioux, 1,200; Scott, 1,309; Linn, 1,344; and Polk 3,179.
Counties with 500-999: Dallas, 508; Johnson, 585; Dubuque, 892; Woodbury, 930; and Black Hawk, 955.
Counties with 300-499: Marion, 300; Cerro Gordo, 354; Webster, 372; Pottawattamie, 403; Plymouth, 415; and Carroll, 438.
Counties with 200-299: Lee, 212; Clinton, 228; Marshall, 231; O'Brien, 257; and Delaware, 284.
Counties with 100-199: Allamakee, 113; Story, 113; Jones, 114; Jefferson, 115; Wapello, 115; Floyd, 116; Bremer, 118; Washington, 142; Clay, 143; Jasper, 144; Jackson, 148; Crawford, 154; Buena Vista, 154; Des Moines, 156; Muscatine, 160; Winneshiek, 168; Boone, 176; Kossuth, 184; Mahaska, 191; Lyon, 198; and Warren, 199.
Counties with 50-99: Hamilton, 50; Union, 51; Poweshiek, 55; Iowa, 66; Benton, 71; Palo Alto, 75; Humboldt, 83; Howard, 89; Buchanan, 99.
Counties with 25-49: Clayton, 25; Franklin, 26; Butler 27; Winnebago, 27; Sac, 29; Calhoun, 30; Madison, 35; Fayette, 37; Pocahontas, 43; Chickasaw, 46; Page, 49; and Shelby, 49.
Counties with 1-24: Emmet, 1; Cass, 1; Clarke, 2; Montgomery, 2; Monroe, 2; Wayne, 2; Fremont, 2; Mitchell, 3; Guthrie, 3; Appanoose, 3; Taylor, 4; Van Buren, 4; Adams, 5; Tama, 7; Wright, 7; Davis, 7; Audubon, 7; Lucas, 7; Keokuk, 8; Worth, 8; Greene, 9; Harrison, 10; Dickinson, 12; Monona, 13; Ida, 14; Adair, 15; Cherokee, 17; Hardin, 17; Osceola, 18; Henry, 18; Mills, 21; Grundy, 21; Hancock, 22; and Cedar, 22.
Counties with no approved applications: Decatur, Louisa and Ringgold.
Enrollment will be confirmed through the state's certified enrollment process, which schools are required to report by Oct. 15. Details about ESA program participants will be available after certified school enrollment numbers are finalized in December, per the department's standard practice.
Seek heating assistance before disconnection moratorium begins
Iowa electric and natural gas customers who are struggling to pay utility bills are urged to make payment arrangements with their provider before the annual winter moratorium on service disconnections begin on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
According to the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB), Iowa's winter moratorium law prevents utilities from disconnecting customers' electric or natural gas utility service for nonpayment between Nov. 1 and April 30 when that service is used for home heating.
Limited financial energy assistance in Iowa is available through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The annual application period runs from Nov. 1 through April 30. Households with a resident 60 years of age or older, those who are disabled, and those in crisis are eligible to apply now. Visit your local community action agency outreach office to apply for this and other programs.
Although qualified applicants cannot be disconnected during the annual winter moratorium, the IUB urges all LIHEAP-certified customers to continue paying toward their energy bills through the winter to avoid accumulating high debt and face potential utility service disconnection after April 1. Customers currently disconnected must contact their utility provider to make payment arrangements to restore service.
LIHEAP is designed to help low-income homeowners and renters pay a portion of their primary home heating costs through a one-time payment made directly to the utility or heating fuel vendor. LIHEAP is administered by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Community Access Division, Community Action Agencies. During 2022, more than 100,000 Iowa households received LIHEAP funding to assist with a portion of their heating costs, with an average statewide heating assistance benefit of approximately $765.
Customers who are unable to reach an agreement with or have concerns about their utility company or service may file a complaint by contacting IUB Customer Service staff at (877) 565-4450 or [email protected].
