Iowa Democrat Senator Tom Harkin has announced that six Iowa regional planning commissions and councils of government received a total of $330,300 to update their comprehensive economic development strategies. Among them, the Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO), based in Atlantic, received $54,000, to serve Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Montgomery, Page, and Shelby counties.

The funds were made through the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) Economic Development Administration. Harkin is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee that funds the DOC. Harkin said  “Strong development strategies are imperative to the future of Iowa’s economic development.” He added that the “Funding will provide resources and make crucial economic investments in regions across our state. I congratulate these communities on receiving these funds as Iowa continues to invest in sound, stable projects that develop new jobs and career opportunities across the state.”

A reminder today from Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman: Nomination papers may be circulated now for the September 10th, 2013 school board elections in Cass County.  Nomination papers for offices to be filled in 2013 can be filed through August 1st, 2013.  All offices are four year terms.

In Cass County, Iowa the following offices will appear on the ballots for the respective school districts on September 10, 2013:
Atlantic Community School District

Two At Large local directors, who are nominated and elected At Large (Minimum of 50 signatures are needed for nomination) Incumbents: Kristy Pellett & Josh McLaren, both from Atlantic.

CAM Community School District

One North District, one South District local director and one At Large local director: The nominees must live in the respective districts. They are nominated and elected at large (Minimum of 23 signatures for nomination).

North District Incumbent: Chuck Kinzie, of Anita. South District Incumbent: Gary Dinkla, of Massena. At Large local director Incumbent: Nick Kauffman, of Adair.

Griswold Community School District

One District 3 and one District 4 local director: Nominees must live in their respective districts. They will be nominated and elected by district (Minimum of 10 signatures for nomination, each.)
And, two At Large local directors, who will be nominated and elected at large (Minimum of 25 signatures for nomination).

Because the Griswold School Director District Plan has changed from seven local director districts to four local director districts and three directors elected at large, the incumbents of the new districts are not known.  The following four current directors’ terms will expire in 2013: Robert Peterson, of Elliott; Scott Peterson, Elliott; Steve Baier, of Griswold; Tom Moore, of Griswold.

Election information, including candidate nomination forms, is available online at the Iowa Secretary of State’s website, from the local school board secretary’s offices and from the county auditor’s offices. Check with your local school board secretary for local school board director district boundaries.

Officials with the Cass County Memorial Hospital report Whitney Shafer, RN, was the recipient of the Cass County Health System 2013 Health Careers Scholarship. Pat Markham, CEO, presented the award to Whitney, who currently works at CCMH.

Whitney Shafer, RN (right) with CCMH CEO Pat Markham

Whitney is a graduate of CAM High School and received her Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Southwestern Community College. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing through the University of Iowa.

Whitney was also one of 14 recipients across the state selected to receive the Iowa Hospital Association’s Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation (IHERF) Health Care Careers Scholarship.

The findings of an energy audit conducted by Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU) for the City of Harlan have been released. Officials with Harlan Municipal Utilities say included in the report are specific recommendations on how to decrease electric, gas and water use at City facilities. Street lights and traffic signals are the largest energy consumers followed by the swimming pool, the waste water treatment plant and Veteran’s Memorial Building.

HMU says the audit was a necessary and productive effort in order to save money to citizens in Harlan. The new street lights and traffic signals will have a big impact on the savings. The utility company converted the stop lights to LED lights and is in the process of changing all street lights over to LED lights as well. The savings is estimated around 50 percent and that will the savings will be passed on to the consumers.

HMU Additional buildings and facilities included in the audit were: City Hall/Police station, C.G. Therkildsen Activity Center, Waste Water Treatment Plan, Developsource Building, the Library, the fire station, Dog Pound, Parks and Rec building, and the street maintenance building.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)