The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (ICVS) announced today (Tuesday) the competitive recipients of eight new and continuing Iowa RSVP (formerly the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) grants. The new grants, along with prior year grants and a state-funded competition to be announced later this month, will expand RSVP coverage to nearly half of the counties in Iowa.

The award will restore programming previously operated in Pottawattamie, Mills, Wapello, Monroe, and Jefferson counties, adding to counties that were restored last summer with grant announcements. Additionally, the award continues and stabilizes programming in Black Hawk, Fayette, Henry, Carroll, Jasper, Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek counties. The ICVS plans to announce later this month a state-funded RSVP grant expanding RSVP to a part of the state that has never been covered before.

RSVP connects volunteers age 55 and over with service opportunities in their communities that match their skills and availability. From building houses to immunizing children, from enhancing the capacity of nonprofit organizations to improving literacy skills, RSVP volunteers put their unique talents to work to make a difference.

The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service is responsible for administering state funding of more than $279,000 for RSVP, which is used to leverage $881,525 in federal and over $600,000 in local funding. Including the current programs, the new projects (listed below) bring the total number of RSVP programs in Iowa to 21:

Carroll County Board (Carroll County), Carroll- Federal Award: $22,795 State Award: $7,271.75.

Connections Area Agency on Aging (Pottawattamie, Mills counties), Council Bluffs – Federal Award: $17,055 State Award: $14,071.

Light snow has blanketed much of Iowa today, and heavier snow, along with increased winds, is expected beginning this afternoon and into Wednesday. This could make for a tricky evening commute for areas south of Interstate 80.

The best way to stay safe is to know before you go. Check travel conditions on www.511ia.org before you leave. This website has cameras for you to see actual road and weather conditions, all National Weather Services warnings, and any tow bans that might be in place.

If you are going to travel, pack your winter survival kit, fill your vehicle’s fuel tank, and carry a charged cell phone with you. Some simple safety tips include wearing your seat belt, reducing your speed, allowing plenty of space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you, and never using cruise control when driving in winter weather.

The Iowa DOT’s snowfighters will continue to clear roads throughout the day today, overnight tonight, and into tomorrow morning. Strong winds are expected to significantly reduce visibilities later today, so use extra caution when driving around snowplows.

Snowplows generally operate at much slower speeds than other traffic. Snowplows can be forced sideways when clearing hard-packed drifts and generate a “snow cloud” that may impair the vision of drivers in nearby vehicles. Remain a safe distance behind the snowplow, pass only when clear; and never continue to drive alongside a plow. Allow plenty of space when passing the snowplow because the wing of the plow blade extends out to the side of the truck. Do not cut back into the lane of traffic too closely in front of a snowplow truck because the blade also extends in front of the truck.

If you become stranded while traveling, follow these 10 safety steps…

1.Pull as far off the road as possible to avoid getting hit by other vehicles.

2.Turn on your vehicle’s warning/flashing lights.

3.Tie a brightly colored cloth on your vehicle’s antenna to attract attention.

4.Call 911 for emergency assistance. Guide emergency personnel to your location by

observing any exit numbers, mileposts, crossroads, or landmarks.

5.Remain with your vehicle. Your vehicle provides the shelter necessary to survive

and allows you to be found by rescue personnel.

6.Remain calm and be patient. It may take considerable time for someone to reach

your vehicle during a storm.

7.Run your vehicle’s engine and heater about 10 minutes every hour, depending upon

the amount of gas in the tank.

8.Crack a window in the vehicle to avoid carbon monoxide build-up.

9.Clear away any snow from the vehicle’s tailpipe so the exhaust can escape.

10.Use the resources in your winter survival kit.

Police in Atlantic have released more information about an accident that happened at around 8-a.m. today (Tuesday), at 10th and Maple Streets. Officials say a vehicle driven by Larry Pedersen, of Atlantic, was traveling north on Maple Street and failed to stop at the stop sign with 10th Street. His vehicle proceeded into the intersection, and hit a vehicle driven by Jared Rodriguez, of Atlantic.

Rodriguez’ SUV slid into a culvert on the northwest corner of the intersection, and came to rest on its top. The Pedersen vehicle then slid into the side of a vehicle driven by Thomas Cappel II, of Atlantic. Rodriquez suffered minor injuries during the crash. Damage was estimated at $9,700. Pedersen was cited for Failure to Yield.

The Iowa State Patrol has released additional details about an accident that occurred today (Tuesday) at around 6:30-a.m on Interstate 80, here in Cass County. Officials say three people were hurt and transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. According to the report,three vehicles:  a 1993 Lincoln Town car driven by 52-year old James Ross, of Norwalk; a 2011 Freightliner semi driven by 49-year old Mark Davis, of Dubuque, and a 2001 Chevy Tahoe driven by 32-year old Jason Coleman, of Des Moines, were all traveling west on I-80 when the Town Car went out of control on the icy road at the Highway 71 overpass.

The car came to rest on the left shoulder of the road against the bridge, facing east. The Tahoe went out of control on the bridge as well. Davsi, who was driving the semi, tried to avoid striking the SUV, but hit the vehicle on its left side. Following the collision, the SUV came to rest on the right shoulder against the bridge, facing east. The semi came to rest on the right shoulder, facing west.

Injured in the crash, were the occupants of the Tahoe: Jason Coleman, along with 29-year old Christina Bell and 26-year old Emery Kies, both of Des Moines. All three were transported by Medivac Ambulance to CCMH. Bell, who is pregnant, was later transported to Methodist Hospital in Omaha. Coleman and Kies were treated at CCMH and released. All three of the injured parties were wearing their seat belts. Atlantic Fire and Rescue assisted at the scene.

Three southwest Iowa fire departments were called to combat a trailer home fire Monday night in Hancock. Cindy Guyer, a member of the Hancock Volunteer Fire Department, says the fire at 126 north Scott Street was reported at around 5:40-p.m. It didn’t take crews long to respond, since the fire station is located very close by. Guyer described what they saw upon arrival. She said there was smoke coming out of the mobile home’s furnace stack. They could see it at the fire station located right across the street.

Hancock firefighters immediately started hosing down the structure. It wasn’t long before crews from Oakland and Avoca arrived to help them battle the blaze. Guyer said those crews worked on cutting holes in the structure to gain access to burning insulation. Despite their combined efforts, the fire spread quickly. Guyer said that’s because it was an older model trailer, which had been in town since the 1970’s.

While the home was a total loss, there were no injuries reported. Guyer said the family was home, but when the called 9-1-1, they were advised to get out. They lost all of their possessions. The family spent the rest of the night with family members. Firefighters were on the scene for a little over two-hours, but they had to return to the scene very early this (Tuesday) morning. Guyer said they were called out at around 2-a.m. because insulation in the metal home was still smoldering and rekindled.

Donations for the family are being accepted at the Hancock United Methodist Church, AHST School District or at NAPA in Avoca. The family has clothing needs, especially for their school-aged children, and the parents. A cause for the fire has not been determined.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)