Authorities in Montgomery County report a man one person was arrested on weapon, burglary and drug charges Saturday night.  29-year old Joshua Dean Cooney, of Villisca, was taken into custody just after 9-p.m., on a valid Montgomery County warrant for carrying weapons, Possession of Burglar Tools, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana.

Cooney was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 cash bond.

Residents living in or near Shenandoah and Audubon will soon have access to improved healthcare options thanks to $21.9 million in loans from USDA Rural Development’s Community Facility program. Bill Menner, USDA Rural Development State Director in Iowa, said the Shenandoah Medical Center will be using a $20,350,000 USDA loan to assist with the construction of a two-story medical clinic addition, as well as making various renovations to the existing hospital and clinic building. The Friendship Home Association in Audubon will be using a $1,567,000 USDA loan to help construct a 12-bed memory care addition to the existing facility.

The addition to the Friendship Home is expected to have five semi-private and two private rooms and will also include a serving kitchen, nurses’ station, activities area, dining room and exterior garden area. When the Shenandoah Hospital project is completed the hospital facility will also have a new surgery area, an expanded emergency department, a new entrance with a single registration point and waiting area, renovated laboratory areas plus updated mechanical systems for the existing facility.

The projects are receiving funding through USDA Rural Development’s Community Facility program which provides loan and grant funding to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural areas. Loans, grants and loan guarantees can help public bodies or community-based nonprofits build facilities and purchase equipment for such things as healthcare facilities, public safety facilities and services, childcare centers, community buildings and libraries

During the last six years, USDA Rural Development has supported nearly 50 rural hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes and/or assisting living facilities to make needed facility and equipment improvements. USDA grants, loans and guaranteed loan funds to these projects topped $305 million.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s largest state employee union is set to offer an initial contract proposal to Governor Terry Branstad. Iowa Council 61 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will make the proposal Monday. The union, which represents about 20,000 state workers, is covered by the current contract through the end of June. Union president Danny Homan declined to say what was in the proposal. The state will release its proposal November 24th and negotiations start early next year.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — The Fort Dodge airport will again be able to offer commercial flights in February. The Fort Dodge Messenger reported Air Choice One will begin offering trips to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport on February 23rd.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 17-year-old Des Moines man has been arrested in connection with the death of a man whose body was found in a driveway. Des Moines police say the teen will be charged with first-degree murder in the death of 24-year-old Aaron McHenry. Police say McHenry was found lying in a driveway after several shots were reported Friday afternoon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa worker who oversees substance abuse programs has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. KCCI reports 50-year-old Jeff Gronstal was arrested early Friday morning. Polk County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Jana Abens says a deputy stopped Gronstal’s truck because its registration was expired. Abens says the deputy smelled alcohol so he began sobriety tests.