(Radio Iowa) – State officials plan to close the state-run facility in Glenwood that provides residential care to Iowans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Governor Reynolds and the top two Republicans in the legislature issued a joint written statement, announcing the Glenwood Resource Center will close in 2024. Residents may be transferred to the Woodward Resource Center, but it’s likely the majority will be placed in community-based care.

A U.S. Justice Department report released in December concluded that with the right services, nearly all of the residents at Glenwood could live in community-based settings — and the cost of their care would be less. According to a news release from the governor’s office, employees at the Glenwood Resource Center will be offered bonuses to keep working at the facility during the two-year transition period or get assistance in finding new jobs. After the Glenwood facility closes, Reynolds pledges to work with local officials to find a new use for the campus.

This is the fourth state facility to close in the past decade. Governor Branstad cited difficulty in finding qualified staff as he ordered the state Mental Health Institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant to close in 2015. Branstad ordered the closure of the Iowa Juvenile Home for delinquent girls in 2014 after complaints about how residents were being treated. Governor Reynolds fired the superintendent of the Glenwood Resource Center in late 2019.

The U.S. Justice Department concluded residents had been used as human guinea pigs in sexual arousal experiments.

(Radio Iowa) – A committee chairman says he’s not weighing in on recent challenges to nominating forms from three candidates running for state and federal office — but Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann says the address requirements alongside the signatures on nominating petitions need to be clarified. Last week, a state panel voted to count petition signatures from residents of apartments and college dormitories who did not include their dorm room or unit number — that’s not listed as a requirement on the nominating petition.

“My job is to look at the policy in the Code (of Iowa) and my opinion is the policy in the Code is ambiguous and needs to be fixed,” Kaufmann says. “…It’s not something I’m probably going to dive into with two weeks left in the legislative session, but it is something that I think needs to be addressed before the next primary season, so all candidates of any party have the consistent clarity.”

A central Iowa judge may rule soon on a challenge to three signatures on Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer’s petitions, but THAT legal question revolves around the DATE listed or left off the signature line. Finkenauer would not qualify to be listed on the June Primary ballot if the three signatures being challenged are thrown out.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – In an update to our previous report on arrests and the recovery of stolen property in Mills County, the Sheriff’s Office in Glenwood said they have “Conducted addition[al] search warrants and recovered additional property. If anyone has been the victim of a theft or burglary, [we are asking that you] call [into] the Sheriff’s Office,” at 712-527-4337.

When you call, you will either speak with Lt. Pittman, or Sgt. Mather. You may inquire from them if any of the recovered property may be yours.

• Event Name: NJCAA Rising All-Stars, Council Bluffs
• Event Dates: July 18-21, 2022, and July 2023
• Total Project Budget: $80,000
• Amount Awarded: $26,000

The Shelby County Community Foundation awarded $133,550 to Shelby County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Spring 2022 Grant Cycle.

The following organizations are Spring 2022 Grant Recipients:

• Concerned Inc. – $2,000, Safety Light Repair
• Country Care Center Corporation – $2,400, Fire Door Mechanics Installation
• Defiance Fire and Rescue Department – $12,251, Emergency Back Up Generator
• Earling Fire & Rescue Department – $ 20,000.00 , SCBA Refill Station Upgrade
• Elk Horn Public Library – $2,000, Young Adult Library Space
• Friends of Harlan City Parks – $6,000, Water Fountains for Harlan Parks
• Harlan Little League – $2,700, Equipment Replacement Purchase
• Harlan Swim Team – $4,033, Starting Block Tops and Covers
• Irwin Fire and Rescue Association – $15,000, Life Safety Equipment
• Kids in the Village – $14,613, Classroom Furniture and Play Equipment
• Kirkman Fire Department – $8,100, Personal Protection Equipment
• Museum of Danish America – $5,000, Expanding Pedestrian Walking Paths
• Panama Community Club and Betterment Association – $5,000, Welcome Sign
• Panama Volunteer Fire Department – $15,000, 12 Lead EKG Monitoring System
• Petersen Family Wellness Center – $10,000, Resurfacing of Wooden Gym Floor
• Shelby County Community Outreach – $4,500, Building Upkeep – Exterior Painting
• Shelby County Historical Museum – $600 , Visitor Safety Initiative
• Shelby Fire and Rescue – $1,895, Advanced Life Support Portable Automated External Defibrillators (AED)
• Time For Tots – $15,000, Education and Play Revision
• West Central Community Action – $396, Emergency Clothing Room Garment Racks

All grantees met the criteria as Shelby County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Shelby County were eligible to apply.

The Audubon County Community Foundation awarded $133,835 to Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Spring 2022 Grant Cycle.

The following organizations are Spring 2022 Grant Recipients:

• Audubon County Agricultural Society – $8,000, Audio/Sound System Improvements
• Audubon County Historical Society – $4,700, Exira Museum Displays
• Audubon Recreation Foundation – $25,000, Audubon Recreation Center Gymnasium Expansion
• Exira Community Club – $35,194, New AC Units and Furnaces
• Exira Public Library – $7,075, PLAY Interactive Touch Table
• Friendship Home – $44,866, Memory Care Ceiling Replacement
• The Children’s Nest – $9,000, Staff Work Area Improvements

All grantees met the criteria as Audubon County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Audubon County were eligible to apply.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Cass County Community Foundation (CCCF) report Foundation has awarded $133,555 to Cass County nonprofit organizations and community projects during the CCCF Spring 2022 Grant Cycle. All grantees met the criteria as Cass County nonprofit agencies or Only organizations with charitable missions supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Cass County were eligible to apply.

The following organizations are Spring 2022 Grant Recipients:

• Anita Child Care Center – $1,000, Child Interest Areas Equipment
• Anita Health and Wellness Center – $3,200, New Spin Bikes
• Anita Volunteer Fire Association – $3,500, Stryker Stair Chair
• Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center – $2,500, Upkeep of Essential Daily Equipment
• Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE) – $2,500, Chairs for Rock Island Depot
• Atlantic Lions Club – $5,000, Healthy Food through Community Gardens
• CAM Youth Sports – $4,500, Batting Cage
• Cass County Fair Association – $5,000, Chuckwagon Food Stand
• Cass County Health System Foundation – $4,000, Telemedicine Stroke Cart
• City of Griswold – $3,000, City Park Revitalization
• Griswold Fire Department – $2,000, Technical Rescue Equipment
• Griswold Pickleball – $1,000, Pickleball Courts Fencing
• Griswold Rescue – $4,500, Video Laryngoscope
• Griswold Youth Sports – $4,000, Ballfield Improvements
• Kiwanis Club of Atlantic, Iowa – $1,000, Bike Helmets for Third Graders
• LC Clinic – $3,000, Atlantic LC Clinic Technology Equipment
• Lewis First Responders and Firefighters Association – $2,500, Compressor and Cascade System
• Lewis Public Library – $1,400, Bookcase for Children’s Section
• Marne Firefighter and Rescue Association – $10,000, Extrication Tools
• Massena Fire and Rescue – $4,500, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Massena Public Library – $1,500, Update to Walls and Community Room
• Noble Initiative Foundation – $50,000, Griswold Child Development Center
• SHIFT ATL – $5,000, The Telegraph – Exterior Tuck Pointing
• Wiota Community Boosters – $8,955, Wiota City Park – Playground Update

The Cass County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation, which meets National Standards for Community Foundations, and is one of nine county members of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa. It receives funds annually from the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program for endowment building and grantmaking throughout the county. This cycle of grants was made possible through the County Endowment Fund Program and is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue, which is distributed annually to participating community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license.

The Cass County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create permanent and expendable funds that address changing, vital community needs and interests. To inquire about donating to the Cass County Community Foundation, please contact the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa staff or any board member listed below. Gifts to permanently endowed funds through the Cass County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

The Cass County Community Foundation Advisory Board Members are Chair, Kristi Burg of Massena; Vice-Chair, Mark D. Kyhnn, CPA of Atlantic; Secretary/Treasurer, Sue Hunt of Atlantic; Sandy Bierbaum of Griswold; and Gaylord Schelling of Atlantic. For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458 or stacey@omahafoundation.org.

(Radio Iowa) – The 185th Air National Guard Refueling Wing held a first-of-its-kind job fair at the base in Sioux City Wednesday for dozens from area high schools and colleges. Lieutenant Colonel Jennifer Carlson coordinated the event which featured more than 90 jobs or Air Force specialties. “We have people who sit in those career fields that can talk about what they’ve experienced, what the training is like, what the normal day-to-day job looks like, and they also have equipment here,” Carlson says.

This job fair was unique because it also included the civilian side of the careers. “At each area we also have an equivalent position that is on the civilian side. A lot of jobs that we have at the 185th can also be done in some form or fashion on the civilian side,” she explains. Carlson says there are a wide number of career possibilities to consider for the students, who can receive paid technical training in the Air Guard, along with obtaining undergraduate college credit.

“Medical, we have civil engineering, computers, security forces, personnel and admin, religious affairs, so our chaplains. We have the equal opportunity down here as well,” Carlson says. “We have logistics, moving people and things. We have fire departments, so if you want to be a firefighter, we have that as well.

She says the traditional careers in the National Guard allow members to attend training primarily on weekends plus two weeks each year while also attending college or working full time at a civilian job. A list of jobs and recruiter information can be found on the 185th Wing website careers page.

(Radio Iowa) – All four Iowans who serve in the U.S. House have introduced a bill that would upgrade the communications network for the National Weather Service. Damage to a fiber optic cable at a Weather Service office in Texas delayed warnings during last month’s tornado outbreak in Iowa. Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines, a Democrat, says it’s important for congress to pass this bill now rather than address it later in the year during federal budget negotiations.  “It is literally a life saving measure, possibly,” Axne says. “There is no way in God’s green acres that anyone would think there should be a delay in getting information to wherever a disaster is occurring.”

Axne says it’s not just Iowans who depend upon timely warnings from the National Weather Service and Iowa’s congressional delegation is lining up bill co-sponsors from other states. “We are seeing increased severe weather patterns across this country,” Axne says. “To react to those is of utmost importance and this does that completely.”

Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion, who’s also a Republican, both say every second matters during severe weather and the National Weather Service must have a functional and reliable communications system. Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa says she’s proud of the Iowa delegation’s bipartisan effort to get the Weather Service the tools it needs to issue timely warnings of potentially disastrous storms.

CRESTON, Iowa – April 7, 2022 – A project to repair a concrete bridge deck on U.S. 34 between Iowa 48 and Montgomery County Road M-37 near Red Oak requires the closure of U.S. 34 in both directions from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, April 11, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston construction office.

During this project, traffic will be detoured around the work zone using Iowa 48, Montgomery County Road H-34/200th Street, and G Avenue (see map).

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

The latest traveler information is available anytime through our 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide)