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Iowa Announces Grants for Small Businesses

News

September 28th, 2011 by admin

The Iowa Economic Development Authority is pleased to announce the receipt of a State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) grant in the amount of $370,258.00 from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The STEP Pilot Grant Initiative provides grants to states for small business exporting assistance programs. The aim of the STEP Initiative is to increase the number of small businesses that are exporting and increase the value of exports for those small businesses that are currently exporting.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority will disburse grant funds via the following programs to help eligible Iowa companies develop or expand their export markets:

Technical Trade Assistance Program (TTAP) – Iowa Economic Development Authority’s International Trade Office will provide an assessment of a company’s export needs, provide consultation and linkage to a variety of export resources at the local, state and federal levels

Domestic Trade Assistance Program (DTAP) – Provides up to $3,000 assistance per occurrence to participate at a domestic trade show with an international buyers program

Expanded Export Trade Assistance Program (ETAP) – Provides up to $4,000 per occurrence, up to three times in the fiscal year, to help defray expenses when participating at a trade show or on a trade mission outside of the U.S.

Product Trade Assistance Program (PTAP) – Provides up to $5,000 per occurrence to assist a company in adjusting product or product certification to expand export opportunities

Funding will be available October 1 through the International Trade Office of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. To learn more about the STEP grant , e-mail: international@iowa.gov or contact Lisa Longman at 515.725.3139.

Tuesday Volleyball Results

Sports

September 28th, 2011 by Jim Field

Hawkeye 10:

  • (3-2) Glenwood 22-22-25-25-15, Atlantic 25-25-17-21-8 (see stats below)
  • (3-0) Harlan 25-25-25, Red Oak 21-17-9
  • (3-1) Kuemper Catholic 25-25-21-25, Clarinda 16-16-25-17
  • (3-1) Lewis Central 25-25-24-25, Shenandoah 13-12-26-18
  • (3-2) Creston 25-9-28-21-16, Denison-Schleswig 15-25-26-25-14

Western Iowa:

  • (3-0) Audubon 25-25-25, Griswold 21-15-19
  • (3-0) Treynor 25-25-25, A-H-S-T 13-15-21
  • (3-1) Tri-Center 18-25-25-25, Missouri Valley 25-18-14-17
  • (3-0) Underwood 27-25-25, Riverside 25-21-11

Rolling Hills:

  • (3-2) Adair-Casey 21-24-25-25-15, Glidden-Ralston 25-26-22-18-9
  • (3-2) Orient-Macksburg 26-25-19-25-15, Exira-EHK 28-14-25-13-10
  • (3-0) Iowa Christian Academy 25-25-25, East Greene 15-14-17

Others:

  • (3-0) Ar-We-Va 25-25-25, West Harrison 5-11-18
  • (3-0) Bedford 25-25-25, Lenox 12-11-13
  • (3-1) Carroll 25-21-25-25, Perry 21-25-22-17
  • (3-1) Charter Oak-Ute 25-25-21-25, West Monona 17-23-25-15
  • (3-2) Coon Rapids-Bayard 25-18-25-21-15, Earlham 20-25-16-25-12
  • (3-0) Des Moines Christian 25-25-25, Guthrie Center 22-23-18
  • (3-0) East Mills 25-25-25, Clarinda Academy 4-15-8
  • (3-1) East Union 25-25-24-25, Corning 10-10-26-22
  • (3-0) Fremont-Mills 25-27-25, Sidney 18-25-9
  • (3-0) IKM-Manning 25-25-25, Logan-Magnolia 15-15-21
  • (3-1) St. Albert 25-26-25-25, Omaha Mercy  12-28-16-21
  • (3-0) Stanton 25-25-25, Nishnabotna 11-9-19
  • (3-0) Van Meter 25-25-25, Panorama 20-15-16
  • (3-2) West Central Valley 25-27-13-23-19, Ogden 20-25-25-25-17

Atlantic Game Stats:

Attackers:

  • Nora Walker   15/20   7 kills
  • Sam McConnell       22/28    7 kills
  • Kaitlynn Walter         16/24       6 kills
  • Sam Petersen         16/22        3 kills

Diggers:

  • Mackenzie Holmes    28
  • Kaitlynn Walter      28
  • Taylor Barry        16

Servers:

  • Sam McConnell     17/20    5 aces
  • Shelby Worth      19/20   3 aces

Assists:

  • Paige Kennon        11
  • Shelby Worth       8

Blocks:

  • Nora Walker    2 ace assists
  • Paige Kennon   1 ace assist
  • Sam Petersen    1 ace assist

Coach Chris Jahnke says:
After coming out strong and winning the first two sets we let off the gas and lost the momentum of the match and were unable to close it out. I was proud of the way the team came out after just one practice with a new line-up and played. We are very capable of playing some great volleyball at times and at other times we are quite capable of making mistakes that cost us dearly. I remain confident that this group will learn to play at the level they are capable of. We remain a work in progress.

New Iowa State President Announced

News

September 28th, 2011 by admin

The Iowa Board of Regents has chosen University of North Carolina Vice President for Research Steven Leath to be the president of Iowa State University.

The regents made their decision Tuesday afternoon at a meeting at the Ames campus after meeting with Leath and Kumble Subbaswamy, provost at the University of Kentucky.

Leath will replace current Iowa State President Gregory Geoffrey, who has announced he will retire next year. Leath will become the 15th president in Iowa State history.

–AP

Cass County Extension Report 09-28-2011

Ag/Outdoor, Podcasts

September 28th, 2011 by admin

w/ Kate Olsen

Play

Lt. Gov. Reynolds in SW Iowa Today

News

September 28th, 2011 by admin

Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will be in southwest Iowa today.

At about 1:00 this afternoon Reynolds will hold a town hall meeting at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

Reynolds will then tour flood affected areas this evening starting at about 5:00 in Fremont County.

Following her tour she will speak with the media in Pacific Junction near County Highway L 40.

Reynolds had also been in southwest Iowa earlier this week when she held town halls Monday in Jefferson, Guthrie Center, and Winterset.

Adair County 4-H’ers at Ak-Sar-ben

News

September 28th, 2011 by admin

Adair County 4-H’ers claimed two championships at the Ak-Sar-ben Livestock Exposition held in Omaha this past weekend. Tyler Long of Creston exhibited the top Simmental heifer. Long is the son of Rob and Gina Long and is a senior at Orient-Macksburg. Kysa Downing of Creston earned her championship title in the feeder calf division with her steer calf. She is the daughter of Steve and Karen Downing and a junior at Nodaway Valley. Kysa also won her class with her feeder calf heifer.

Adair County exhibitors also picked up more honors. Chisum Downing won a 2nd place purple with his feeder calf enter and Heath Downing claimed 3rd place purple in the same division. Leah Gilman of Stuart also captured a purple with her shorthorn breeding heifer. Adding the Adair County collection of purple ribbons was Cody Long of Creston with his market lamb.

Adair County Crash Claims Life of a Teen

News

September 28th, 2011 by admin

A crash in Adair County has claimed the life of a teen and injured two others Monday afternoon.
At approximately 2:45 Monday afternoon, a 2003 Acura RSX driven by 21-year-old Boby Vangkham of South Sioux City, Nebraska was eastbound on Interstate 80 near mile marker 75 in Adair County. Meanwhile, a semi driven by 33-year-old Shayne Clousing of Ida Grove was westbound on Interstate 80.

Vangkham’s vehicle crossed the median on the interstate and crashed into Clousing’s semi.

A 17-year-old passenger from Des Moines in Vangkham’s vehicle was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. The passenger was transported by Life Net Helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, where she was pronounced dead. She was not wearing her seatbelt.

Also injured in the crash were Vangkham and another passenger in the vehicle. Vangkham was transported by Anita Rescue to Cass County memorial Hospital while the other passenger was transported by Life Net Helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Vangkham was wearing a seatbelt while the passenger was not. The status of their injuries is unknown.

The accident remains under investigation.

Deadline Nears for Missouri River Flood Claims

News

September 28th, 2011 by admin

The deadline is approaching for some homeowners and businesses who suffered losses during the flooding along the Missouri River to file claims.

Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency regional office in Kansas City, Mo., say flood insurance policy holders have 120 days from the date of the damage to file a claim and submit a “Proof of Loss” statement. For some, that could be as soon as Thursday.

FEMA officials say policy holders should call their insurance agent to open a claim.

The deadline is normally 60 days from the date of damage but it was extended to 120 days this year.

FEMA Administrator Beth Freeman says officials are concerned that some people have not been able to inspect their properties and may not know of the upcoming deadlines.

–AP

Cass County 4H Week

News

September 27th, 2011 by admin

Press release:

Cass County is going “green” the first week in October, with the help of local 4-H club members and leaders. It may be a different kind of green, but you’re sure to notice clovers and other decorations going up in local businesses as 4-H’ers paint the town green for National 4-H Week, October 2nd through the 8th.

Club members decorate the windows of local businesses to spread the word about 4-H, and compete for the honor of “best display”. Clubs also observe 4-H week in other ways, from distributing bookmarks in local schools to wearing their 4-H tee-shirts. Cass County currently has 15 4-H clubs with more than 275 members across the county, so you’re bound to see a clover pop up somewhere near you!

National 4-H week is designed to celebrate and share the leadership, citizenship, communications and life skills that young people learn in 4-H every day across the US. 4-H Members can enroll in project areas from Animals to Technology, learning about topics that interest them while participating in activities that help them grow individually and benefit their local communities. 4-Hers pledge their “Heads, Hearts, Hands and Health” to becoming better citizens!

In addition to local club events, the Cass County Youth Council will be helping with a booth at Harvest Fest on October 8th, from 10-4 at the Rock Island Depot in downtown Atlantic. All local youth are invited to stop by and have fun at a “4-H Photo Booth” where you can dress up as your favorite 4-H project and have your picture taken while you “Choose Your Adventure with 4-H”. County Youth Coordinator Susan Oliver will answer questions about the 4-H program, and you can pick up information on joining 4-H! “I love having opportunity to get in front of people and talk about 4-H, because I get to see firsthand how much the kids grow from their experiences,” shared Oliver.

On Sunday, October 9th, Cass County 4-H Members will participate in their annual County Convention where clubs and individuals receive recognition for their accomplishments throughout the past year. This event wraps up National 4-H Week, as well as the 4-H year, and energizes the 4-H membership drive happening during the month of October. Individuals interested in joining 4-H during this enrollment time, or those with questions about the program, are encouraged to call Oliver at the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or e-mail xcass@iastate.edu.

Audubon City Council Meeting

News

September 27th, 2011 by admin

The Audubon City Council had their regularly scheduled meeting Monday night.

City clerk Lora Hansen says the Council approved new IT contracts to purchase five new computers. The computers will be placed at City Hall, the Police Department, and the City Maintenance Building. Previously the public works department did not have computers. A new city website will also be designed as part of the IT contracts.

Also at the meeting last night the council discussed vacating a portion of Davis Street, which leads to a dead end. A resident had requested to vacate the street, but no action was taken on the matter as the city attorney was not present.