MONDAY, OCT. 7, 2019 | IN THIS ISSUE

• Ethanol waiver fix coming
• Timberline Manufacturing doubles space in new home
• Online divorce website ordered to make refunds
• National Philanthropy Day event to honor giving
• Baker to lead Aftermarket Systems at Collins Aerospace
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Trump administration move to offset ethanol waivers welcomed
An agreement announced Friday to address declining ethanol and corn demand caused by the issuance of ethanol waivers to small refineries would, if enacted, ensure that 15 billion gallons of ethanol are blended into the nation's motor fuel supply beginning in 2020.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration has issued waivers that exempted more than 30 small refineries from blending ethanol in their motor fuel, citing hardships. With less demand for ethanol, dozens of ethanol refineries, mostly in the Midwest, have temporarily closed and laid off workers.

The following steps are now planned, according to the announcement by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler:
 
  • In a forthcoming supplemental notice building off the recently proposed 2020 Renewable Volume Standards and the Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2021, EPA will propose and request public comment on expanding biofuel requirements beginning in 2020.
 
  • EPA will seek comment on actions to ensure that more than 15 billion gallons of conventional ethanol be blended into the nation’s fuel supply beginning in 2020, and that the volume obligation for biomass-based diesel is met. This will include accounting for relief expected to be provided for small refineries.

Few other details were offered, however the proposal is expected to use a three-year rolling average of the ethanol blending waivers granted in order to calculate the amount of demand lost and compensate for it.

The announcement came prepackaged with endorsements from a list of farm state Republican political leaders, including Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and U.S. Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley. The consistent message was that the policy is welcome, needed, and a sign that President Donald Trump is listening to agriculture's concerns.

Ms. Ernst, who had spoken to Mr. Trump earlier last week, called the policy announcement "great news for Iowa and rural America."

“The RFS is essential to the livelihoods of folks across our state, which is why I’ve been fighting tirelessly on behalf of Iowa’s farmers and producers every step of the way and making Iowans’ voices heard throughout this process. Our message was clear: uphold the RFS - 15 billion [gallons] means 15 billion."

Mr. Naig called the announcement welcome news, adding in the joint release, "This is what happens when farmers, biofuels producers and government leaders work together to make our voices heard."

Iowa Representatives Dave Loebsack, Abby Finkenauer and Cindy Axne, all Democrats, have challenged the Trump administration's granting of small refinery waivers, joining in a call for a investigation to determine if the process the EPA has used to grant them is legal.
Timberline Manufacturing doubles space in new Marion home
Timberline Manufacturing celebrated the completion of its new Marion manufacturing facility with a ribbon cutting Thursday.

The new location, at 1029 Blairs Ferry Road, nearly doubles the company's footprint. The new 88,500-square-foot facility design is based on safety and material flow, and streamlines internal and external logistics, according to company leaders.

“This facility has afforded us the space we needed to enhance material flow, increase efficiencies and line of site production all under one roof," said President and CEO Tom Pientok in a news release. “Not only is this building aesthetically beautiful, it is functionally beautiful.”

In addition, the new facility provides more efficient meeting and collaboration spaces, including an all-employee meeting space, and positions Timberline for future growth.

Founded in 1993, Timberline Manufacturing is an employee-owned company that provides electrical contract manufacturing specializing in wire harness assembly, control panels and circuit board assembly. The company has customers spanning many industries including aerospace, mining, packaging, road construction equipment and agriculture.
Online divorce website required to refund Iowans' payments
About 200 Iowans are eligible to receive refunds from an online divorce website that is accused of fraudulent advertising and billing by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.
 
Delaware-based Online Divorce Technologies (ODT) and its owner, Andriy Bogdonov of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, agreed to a consent judgement that was signed by Polk County District Judge David Nelmark. Under the settlement agreement, the defendants will pay $11,253 in refunds to all Iowans who purchased ODT’s services and $15,000 to the state Consumer Education and Litigation Fund. 

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller had accused the company of violating the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act and the Iowa Buying Club Memberships law. ODT sells access to an online computer program that consumers can use to fill out legal forms required to get a divorce. Mr. Miller began investigating the company after his office’s Consumer Protection Division received a complaint regarding an Iowa consumer who said he paid the company hundreds of dollars for assistance completing free Iowa divorce forms.
  
ODT allegedly incorrectly instructed consumers to file legal forms in paper format, even though the Iowa court system switched to electronic filing years ago. ODT advertises an unqualified “100% guarantee of court approval or your money back” on the front page of its website, https://www.onlinedivorce.com/ . Mr. Miller’s investigation alleged that ODT failed to abide by its promise.
 
Further, Mr. Miller’s investigation revealed that ODT enrolled Iowa consumers into a recurring $19 monthly fee, allegedly without giving required notices, which Mr. Miller said violated the Iowa Buying Club Memberships law.

Divorce and other legal forms, as well as a guide for people seeking a divorce without the assistance of attorneys, are available for free on the Iowa Judicial Branch website at https://www.iowacourts.gov/for-the-public/court-forms/ .
National Philanthropy Day event to honor giving
The Eastern Iowa Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals will honor outstanding philanthropic efforts in the Corridor at the group's National Philantrhopy Day luncheon on Nov. 12.

The following individuals and organizations will be honored during the event at the Cedar Rapids Marriott:

  • Outstanding Individual Philanthropist - Dr. Tom Novak
  • Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser - Cathy Zaharis
  • Outstanding Large Organization - Frontier Co-Op
  • Outstanding Small Organization - MODE/Danielle Rings
  • Outstanding Fundraising Professional - Charlie Becker
  • Youth Award - Emma Barton-Norris
  • Benjamin Franklin Award - Mercy Medical Center Auxiliary

To register for the event, visit AFPEasternIowa.org . The cost is $45 per person or $400 for a table of 10 if registered by Nov. 4, or $20 for AFP members. For additional information, contact afpeasterniowachapter@gmail.com or call (319) 560-1891.
Baker to lead Aftermarket Systems at Collins Aerospace
Collins Aerospace Systems, a United Technologies company, announces that Gail Baker has been appointed vice president, Aftermarket Services, reporting directly to CEO Kelly Ortberg.

In her new role, Ms. Baker is responsible for leading the worldwide commercial and military aftermarket business and customer service organizations, including customer offerings, long-term aftermarket programs, spares, part repairs, asset management and technical and strategic support.

Collins Aerospace officials praised Ms. Baker, a 30-year United Technologies veteran, as a forward-thinking and customer-driven leader. She most recently led the Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance & Space Solutions segment for Mission Systems, where she focused on driving long-term growth and profitability through customer support and program execution.

Ms. Baker succeeds Ajay Agrawal, who accepted a new position as vice president of Strategy & Services at Carrier, also a United Technologies company.
Short Term Event Planner
Oct. 8
Hiawatha Business Summit , by Hiawatha Economic Development Corp., the city of Hiawatha and the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 8-9 a.m., Mercy Medical Park, Third Floor, 1195 Boyson Road, Hiawatha. Enjoy networking with the Hiawatha business community and a short program. Free. For information, visit  bit.ly/2lKcbWf .

TechBrew AM, by Technology Association of Iowa and Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 8-9 a.m., Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids. TAI President Brian Waller conducts casual interviews with CIOs, who discuss their career path and share what's most important for Iowa's tech community. Free. To register, visit  bit.ly/2UdEiu7 .

Growing an Endowment for Your Nonprofit , by Association of Fundraising Professionals, Eastern Iowa Chapter, 11:30-1 p.m., Hills Bank, 3905 Blairs Ferry Road, Cedar Rapids. Learn why endowments are important in your fundraising strategy and how to engage donors, professional advisors and your board. Cost: Members, free; nonmembers, $25. To register, visit  conta.cc/2m2WGbZ .

Marketing Forum , by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Driven by group discussion, participants will receive advice and tips, learn from others and grow their professional network. This month's topic is sales versus marketing. Free. For more information, visit  bit.ly/2PiBXPV .

Marion Airport Runway Expansion Groundbreaking , by Marion Chamber of Commerce, noon, Marion Airport, 1690 Marion Airport Road. The project includes upgrades to the existing runway, expanding it from 23-feet wide to 60-feet wide. Free. For information, visit  bit.ly/2oxAhF4 .

Small Business Lunch Roundtable , by SCORE of East Central Iowa, noon-1 p.m., Granite City Food & Brewery, 4755 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. This is an informal, small group networking opportunity for those in business or thinking of starting a business. Free. To register, visit  conta.cc/2mgXCcX .
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Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
 
A 58-year-old Illinois man is dead after crashing into the median on Highway 30 in Benton County on Sunday. The Benton County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened around 12:50 p.m. on Sunday in the eastbound lanes of the highway near 32nd Avenue. Mich Gehrig, of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois, was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe he was traveling on the shoulder of the highway when he lost control of a 2015 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The incident is still under investigation.

Smoke and flames were reported to authorities coming from the Soapy Waters coin laundry in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. Once authorities arrived, they located the fire in the rear utility room of the building. The manager, employees and patrons were able to exit the building safely, and the fire was largely contained to the utility room. A significant amount of smoke and water damaged occurred.

These news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  
CBS2 Weather First Forecast
High pressure will be in control to start the week. That means plenty of sunshine and quiet conditions through Wednesday. Temperatures each day will be in the low to mid 60s with overnight temperatures in the 40s and 50s. It will be cool and comfortable each day.