The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page A5

The Des Moines Page 5A finds its way into our retail or service he said. one of hose little things that fact or into our willingness to DeHaan expects prices will remain low, possibly dropping below 1.80 a gallon, through February. The sweetness of Day will be followed by the bitterness of higher gas he said. Harold Hommes, a fuel a nalyst at the Agriculture Department, said he exp ects a more modest gas price decline before prices begin climbing a gain in January. Oil tanker bombings in Syria, following terrorist a ttacks in Paris, will likely have little impact on U.S.

upplies, Hommes said. is not a tradi- ional Middle East he said. DeHaan said gas prices across the metro area could vary greatly in the next few days, as ret ailers work through pricier inventories. xperts said lower fuel prices help businesses across Iowa. Nobody complains when prices said Dereck of Treats, a Des Moines bakery that deliv- rs warm cookies and ilk around the metro area.

he business, which a lso has a shop in the East illage, sells ice cream sandwiches in 100 retail stores from Omaha to the Quad Cities. ypically has two drivers elivering cookies in the etro area, and one driver to stores across the state. Lower gas prices will elp offset spikes in butter prices, a larger exp ense for the bakery, along with flour and sugar. Any savings is good news, said Lewis, who expected a rush of orders a nd deliveries with snowstorm. arm cookies appeal to customers hunkering down in a winter storm, ewis said.

also likely clear the shelves of ice cream andwiches in mad rush before the storm he said. GAS Continued from Page 1A SPECIAL TO THE REGISTER Gas prices drop below $2 in the Des Moines metro area. expected to fall further in the months ahead. LOW-INCOME TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM www. iwireless 1.888.550.4497 LIFELINE Low-income telephone assistance is available to qualifying low-income Iowans through the federal telephone assistance program.

Supporting documentation will need to be provided for participation in the program. Iowans who participate in at least one of the following programs may be eligible for telephone assistance: Medicade, Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Housing Assistance, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program (TANF), National School Lunch Program (NSL). Iowans who do not participate in one of the above programs may be eligible if their income is at or below of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Eligible subscribers may only receive low- income assistance from one wireline or wireless telephone provider. To apply applicants should call 1.888.550.4497 and request an application.

An application is also available at the Iowa Utilities Board website at: https://iub.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/files/records_center/forms/telecom/ In the state of Iowa, iWireless offers lifeline eligible post-pay and pay in advance unlimited 30 day calling plans that will receive a $9.25 or equivalent monthly telephone bill credit. All lifeline rate programs include the following services: Voice grade access to the public switched network Free local usage SERVICES DESIGNATED FOR SUPPORT Voice Telephony services shall be supported by federal universal service support mechanisms. Eligible voice telephony services must provide voice grade access to the public switched network or its functional equivalent; minutes of use for local service provided at no additional charge to end users; access to the emergency services provided by local government or other public safety organizations, such as 911 and enhanced 911, and toll limitation services to qualifying low-income consumers. Access to emergency services Toll limitation.