SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Woodbury County Board chairman is defending more than $180,000 in county funding for the nonprofit organization he manages.  George Boykin told the Sioux City Journal that it would not be fair for Sanford Community Center to suffer because he’s on the county board.  Boykin is the center’s executive director. It operates after-school and summer programs for at-risk young people, as well as coordinates numerous outreach efforts.

Boykin says has never had a say in funding that goes to the center and abstains from funding discussions on it. James Van Bruggen, of the Taxpayers Research Council, says it seems to him that the center is “getting favoritism, because they are getting six figures of money.”

With spring set to officially arrive later this week, many people across the state are in the mood to do some cleaning, and with a few simple tips, the process doesn’t need to be so daunting. According to professional organizer Amelia Hatcher, for most people, it’s not realistic to maintain a home in perfect order each day, but they can focus on clearing out the clutter.

“Clutter is anything that causes frustration, anxiety or chaos in your life,” as she defined it. “It completely drains you of your energy. It could be the pile of paper on your desk. It could be the pile of laundry. It could be your dumping ground like your kitchen table, and it just completely causes stress.” “Amelia the Clutter Queen” also recommends only cleaning and organizing one area at a time, so as not to become overwhelmed.

Hatcher was drawn into the clutter-fighting line about five years ago when she began helping family and friends. She said that for other caregivers, getting rid of the clutter not only helps get rid of chaos, but also helps improve safety of mobility.

“I’ve had several situations where people have fallen, broken a hip, and it’s actually not safe in the home,” she recalled. “So it’s my goal to go in and change things around to where the home is more accessible to things like walkers, possibly a wheelchair.”

Hatcher said that, among other points to look at, old medications should be properly disposed of, and no-longer-needed documents with personal information should be shredded to protect against identity theft.

More information is at AmeliaTheClutterQueen.com/a>.

(Iowa News Service)

Two people were hurt during separate accidents over the weekend. The Iowa State Patrol reports 42-year old Scott Hipp, of Rutherfordton, NC, was injured when the semi he was a passenger in swerved to avoid a vehicle parked in the right lane of Interstate 29 northbound Sunday morning, in Fremont County. The crash occurred at around 2:50-a.m.  Officials say the intoxicated driver of the parked vehicle left the vehicle unattended, with no lights on, on the traveled portion of the roadway at the 22.35-mile marker. The driver of the other vehicle was not identified.

The semi, driven by 41-year old Rodney Bristol, of Shelby, NC, hit the parked vehicle and then overturned. Hipp, who was in the sleeper portion of the cab, was transported by Tabor Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs.

The other accident happened Saturday morning. The Patrol says 45-year old William Kohnekamp, of Defiance, was transported to the Crawford County Hospital by Crawford County Ambulance, after the 2008 Ford F-150 pickup he was driving went out of control on southbound Highway 59, south of Denison, at around 11:25-a.m.

The pickup entered the east ditch and rolled over. Kohnekamp, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle, which came to rest on the northound lane of Highway 59. The Patrol says alcohol likely played a role in the crash.