The Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources have announced that 22 Iowa communities will benefit from a combined total of more than $34.7 million in low-cost water quality loans through the State Revolving Fund. State Revolving Fund Construction Loans are a low-cost construction financing option available for Iowa cities and municipalities for water quality initiatives. Planning & Design Loans are zero percent loans that assist with the first-phase of project expenses.

In Cass County, the City of Anita will receive slightly more than One-million dollars for a water quality improvement project designed to correct inflow and infiltration problems, and  Anita Municipal Utilities $102-thousand for the Planning and Design Phase. The City of Massena will receive $445,500 for infiltration and inflow corrections. In Ringgold County, Mt. Ayr will receive $378,000 for a drinking water connection project. Elsewhere…The City of Shenandoah is receiving just over $14-million for a new treatment plant and water main project, and the City of Hancock, $98,910 for planning and design.

The State Revolving Fund has awarded Iowa communities and municipalities more than $2.1 billion in Construction Loans and $125 million through Planning & Design Loans since program inception. The loans are made available as part of the State Revolving Fund.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their final meeting of the month Thursday morning, here in Atlantic. On the agenda for their 9-a.m. meeting at the courthouse, is action on the hiring of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Coordinator. In August, Cass County Assessor Brenda Nelson asked for and received the Board’s permission to approve the creation of the position, and to proceed with steps necessary to fill the position.

At the time, Nelson said she has the money in this year’s budget for the new hire’s salary and benefits. In subsequent years, other departments within the County that heavily utilize GIS, would chip in to cover the salary and benefits. Nelson, Cass County Engineer Charles Marker and Treasurer Tracey Marshall all agreed that having a GIS specialist in-house, instead of outsourcing the position, would be a time-saver for them, and a great benefit to the taxpayers.

The Supervisors will also act Thursday morning, on a Resolution giving consent to the City of Anita which would allow the City to exercise Urban Renewal powers. The action will follow a report from officials in Anita, with regard to its Urban Renewal Plan/Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) District, including property in the rural areas within two-miles of its boundaries.

In August, the Anita city clerk and two council members reported that the city would like to capture the valuation of five wind turbines located in the area within two miles of Anita’s boundaries, for tax incremental financing of city capital improvement projects.

Deter Motor Company and The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce nominations are now being accepted for the 13th annual ATHENA Award, in Atlantic.

Athena Award

The award will be presented to an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in her/his business profession, has served the community in a meaningful way and has assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. The ceremony will be held Saturday, Jan. 18th, 2014 at the Cass County Community Center.

The ATHENA Award was first presented in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan and has grown to include presentations to more than 6,000 individuals in hundreds of cities across the globe. Locally, past winners include Dolly Bergmann, Wendy Richter, Ann Pross, Janell Hansen, Jan Kinison, Carole Schuler, Glenda Farrier, Margaret Slepsky, Denise O’Brien, Leanne Pellett, Judy Marnin and LaVon Eblen.

Deter Motor Company believes in the values underlying ATHENA’s philosophy of incorporating talent and expertise of women into the leadership of our businesses, our communities and our government. The spirit of the ATHENA Award Program is captured in a quotation from Plato, “What is honored in a country will be cultivated there.” By honoring exceptional leaders, others will be encouraged to excel.

Those interested in nominating an individual can pick up a nomination packet after Nov. 1st at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, 102 Chestnut Street, or by visitingwww.AtlanticIowa.com. Nominations are due by Nov. 22, 2013.

A man whom authorities say stole a car from a Nebraska used car dealership is in custody after leading law enforcement officials on a chase Tuesday morning in Pottawattamie County. Sheriff Jeff Danker told KJAN News 52-year old Fred McCormick, of Crescent, was taken into custody about six and a-half hours after the pursuit began. McCormick was being held in the Pott. County Jail on charges of Theft in the 2^nd degree, eluding and Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $5,000.

Danker said the incident began at around 10-a.m., Tuesday, after the owners of a red Chevy Cavalier tracked the vehicle by using a GPS unit. He said deputies were dispatched to meet with an individual who had located the stolen car in the Crescent area. While the deputies were responding, Pott. County Conservation officers initiated a pursuit, which went north of Crescent, turned onto Leisure Avenue and drove off into a corn field.

The driver took off on foot. Several law enforcement agencies including at least seven k-9 units engaged in a search for the driver, but the hilly, wooded terrain in the area made the search difficult. Adding to the difficulty in finding the man, was an unharvested corn crop, cloud cover and a light mist.

The manhunt was called-off at around 2:30-p.m., after search teams lost the trail in a corn field. Danker says the suspect was observed at around 4:30-p.m. walking along Old Lincoln Highway. He was then taken into custody and charged.

Strong storms producing powerful lightning wreaked havoc with vehicles and buildings in Cass County this morning. The Cass County Communications Center reports a woman in a car believed her vehicle was struck by lightning near 650th and Whitepole Road (Highway 6 & 71), at around 10:22-a.m.  The only apparent damage, according to officials, was a melted antennae. No injuries were reported.

A couple of minutes earlier, the Iowa State Patrol Communications Center north of Lewis reported a burning smell in their facility. The staff thought their building was hit by lightning, but nothing was found to be wrong. Lewis Fire was called to investigate.