Nicholas Hunt of rural Atlantic, Chair of the Cass County Community Foundation, reminds Cass County nonprofit organizations that $109,000 in grant funds are available and that applications are due no later than February 1, 2014. Detailed application procedures, fact sheets, and a link to the application form can be obtained online at http://omahafoundation.org/swiowa. Applications will only be accepted through the online system. Contact any board member for additional information. Please contact Dennis Nissen at 800-794-3458 or dennis@omahafoundation.org or Denise Cardos at denise@omahafoundation.org with grant application-specific questions. All completed applications will be considered at the March board meeting with notification of results in early April.

Only organizations providing charitable services in Cass County are eligible. They must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and supply a copy of their 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter. Requests for general operational funds will not be considered.

Board members of the Cass County Community Foundation are Chair, Nicholas Hunt of rural Atlantic, 243-5485; Vice Chair, Gary Maas of Anita, 762-3434; Secretary/Treasurer, Roland K. Landsness, Esq. of Atlantic, 243-4154; Royal Bierbaum of Griswold, 778-2586; Beulah Follman of Massena, 779-3457; and Mark D. Kyhnn, CPA of Atlantic, 243-1800.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa senator says federal approval for an expansion of low income health care has been held up due to debate over premiums in the plan. Des Moines Democrat Jack Hatch says Monday that he has spoken with federal officials about Iowa’s application. Iowa needs a waiver enabling the state to receive more federal Medicaid money for the proposed Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, a new health insurance program which would cover up to 150,000 residents.

Hatch says federal authorities are concerned about the use of premiums. Under the plan, the state would start charging some people small monthly premiums in 2015, though they would be waived if they complete certain health goals. Republican Gov. Terry Branstad says the Legislature approved the plan and that it will improve health outcomes.

A 21-year old Michigan man was killed in a crash between a car and a semi on Interstate 80 in Adair County, Monday morning. The Iowa State Patrol says Jeremiah Keller, of Cadillac, MI, died at the scene of the crash about one-mile east of Stuart. Authorities say he was wearing a seat belt.

Officials say Keller’s 1998 Buick Bonneville was traveling west on I-80 at around 9:05-a.m., when the wheels slipped off onto the shoulder. The man overcorrected, sending the car into the median and eastbound lanes of traffic, where it was hit broadside by a 2008 Peterbilt semi that was passing another vehicle.

Following the collision, both the semi and car slid into the south ditch. The driver of the semi, 60-year old J-D Khabir, of LaVista, NE, was not injured.

Sheriff’s officials in Cass County report the arrest on Friday of a Massena man. 55-year old Dennis Charles Bagshaw, was arrested on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Driving Under Suspension. Bagshaw was taken to the Cass County Jail where was released later that day on $2300 bond.

(12-p.m. News)

Two people were arrested Sunday evening on drug charges in Fremont County, after authorities investigated suspicious activity in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant. Sheriff’s officials say 22-year old Dakota Lee Standley, of Hamburg, and 25-year old Michael Allen Frakes, of Nebraska City, NE, were arrested shortly after 6:30-p.m. The pair were taken into custody at the Wendy’s parking lot near the junction of I-29 and Highway 2.

Standley was charged with Delivery of a Controlled Substance, while Frakes was charged with Possession with the Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were being held in the Fremont County Jail on $50,000 cash bond, each.

Officials with the Midwest Partnership Economic Development Corporation say they are currently accepting nominations for the Guy Powell Award- recognizing excellence in leadership and passion for economic development in the Midwest Partnership Development region. The MPEDC serves Adair, Audubon, Greene and Guthrie Counties.

Guy Powell, past president of the Midwest Partnership Development Corporation and active volunteer on the board of many other area organizations, was passionate about local and regional economic development. He was a strong believer in the region’s potential. In recognition of his life-long dedication, commitment, and service, the Midwest Partnership Development Corporation has created the Guy Powell Award.

Businesses and individuals who are members in Midwest Partnership Development Corporation are encouraged to nominate individuals who stand out as outstanding leaders in this area of west central Iowa, and who work to make it a more economically vital place to live, work, and play.

Those submitting nominations should consider: the nominee’s Vision, Leadership, Courage and Impact. The deadlines to submit nominations in Jan. 10th, 2014. For more information, go to www.westcentraliowausa.com.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was transported to the hospital following an accident Saturday two-miles northeast of Henderson. Authorities say a 2012 Kia driven by Jamie Sayers, of Malvern, was traveling south on Highway 59 when Sayers’ car was hit by a 2010 GMC driven by Robert Larimer, of Bedford. The accident happened when Larimer failed to yield from a stop sign as he was traveling west on Brothers Avenue. Following the collision, the Kia entered the west ditch. Sayers was taken to the Red Oak Hospital by Macedonia Rescue.