Iowa Senator Tom Harkin says three telephone utility companies have been awarded over $36 million in loan funds to improve, build and expand broadband services to rural territories and communities in Iowa. Included among them is the Griswold Cooperative Telephone Company, which will receive nearly $12.75-million in loan funds for the completion of a system-wide FTTP network, enhancing broadband service to all subscribers.

The funding announced today (Monday) comes from United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities Service. Harkin is a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee where he worked to increase the availability of broadband in rural areas.  He is also a member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the USDA.

Harkin says “Improvements to broadband services in rural areas of Iowa are crucial for businesses, farmers and individuals for everything from business communications to the ability of students to be properly prepared. At the same time, this investment helps to create and preserve jobs in Iowa.”

A Shelby County man convicted of sex crimes in Nebraska faces similar charges in western Iowa. Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber filed charges today (Monday), against 46-year old Todd Mills. The Shelby man is accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting four women from 2008 to June 2010.

Mills is charged with four counts of sexual assault and four count of kidnapping. His arraignment is December 12th. In September, Mills was sentenced in Nebraska to up to 140 years in prison for sexually assaulting two women in Omaha.

Officials with Time Magazine and Ally Financial have announced Scott Deter, dealer principal of Deter Motor Company, in Atlantic, has been recognized for community service and industry accomplishments. Deter was one of a select group of dealers from across the country who will be honored at the 95th annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention and Exposition in Las Vegas, NV, on February 4th, 2012.

The Time Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious and highly coveted honors. Recipients are among the nation’s most successful auto dealers who must also demonstrate a long-standing commitment to community service.  The 57-year old Deter — a second generation dealer, who began working at his family’s dealership when he was 13-years old — was chosen to represent the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association in the national competition. He was one of only 50 dealers, from 17,000 nationwide, who was nominated for the 43rd annual award, which is sponsored by Time Magazine, in association with Ally, and in cooperation with the NADA.

As part of its support for the program Ally Financial will make charitable contributions to local community causes on behalf of all 50 nominated dealers across the U-S. In addition, the Time Dealer of the Year winner will receive a $10,000 contribution for a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of their choice.

Deter Motor Company was established in Atlantic, in 1964 by Don Deter. The company has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to a variety of projects and organizations over the past 47-years, as a way to give back to the community for its business and support. Scott Deter, who founded the Atlantic-area Athena Foundation Chapter in 2001, and is the award’s sole financial supporter, was nominated for the Time/Ally award by Bruce Anderson, President of the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association. He is married to LuAnn Acker-Deter. The couple has a daughter, Sarah.

The Atlantic Police Departmen reports 34-year old Amy Jo Dole, of Atlantic, was arrested Thursday for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Dole was booked into the Cass County Jail and held until appearing before the magistrtate.  On Friday, 34-year old Deemaku Atkinson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for 4th degree theft. Atkinson was also booked into the Cass County Jail.

Saturday, officers with the Atlantic P-D arrested 42-year old Troy Baker, of Atlantic, on a charge of Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault, 2nd offense. Baker was booked into the Cass County Jail.   That same day, officers investigated an accident at 2nd Street and Sunnyside lane. Officials say a vehicle driven by Ellen Mart, of Emerson, was traveling east on 2nd Street, when her vehicle collided with a deer just after 7-a.m.  The woman was uninjured, but her vehicle sustained $3,100 damage.

The Audubon Police Department reports 27-year old Nathan Patrick Kinzie, of Audubon, was arrested Sunday on Public Intoxication and 4th degree Criminal Mischief charges. Officials say Kinzie was asked to leave an Audubon business because he was allegedly intoxicated and acting in a disorderly manner. After being asked to leave, Kinzie allegedly hit and broke the businesses’ front window. He was booked into the Audubon  County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

On the heels of the reopening of Interstate 680 in western Iowa, and Highway 175 in northwest Iowa after the destructive flooding that occurred this summer, Governor Branstad today (Monday) announced that $1 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding will be made available to continue the recovery efforts.  

Branstad says “The devastation of the Missouri River flooding this past summer is extreme. By providing the required local match that would otherwise be a burden that the homeowner, city or county would have to bear, we are helping Iowans to move forward with rebuilding not only their homes, but their lives.” 

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) will provide up to $1 million for the required local match portion that affected cities or counties will need to provide in order to acquire the federal funding offered through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.  The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program assists affected political subdivisions in acquiring property and damaged homes in the flood plain at fair market value.  All properties assisted with the program are in the 100-year flood plain and are deed restricted to be green space. 

The counties of Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona, Pottawattamie and Woodbury and non-entitlement cities within those counties, are eligible to apply for the funds through the Iowa Homeland Security Emergency Management Division.