November 2, 2022 (DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) today awarded $934,430 in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants to 10 communities around the state.In our area, the communities include: Coon Rapids; Manning; and Woodbine. The grants will benefit local improvement projects, such as historic building rehabilitation and upper story renovations.

The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs. The funding will be distributed in the form of matching grants to the selected Main Street programs. The estimated total project cost of these 10 projects is over $2.8 million.

Click on the image to view the Community/Grant Amount/Local Match and Total Project Cost.

“Each project must provide at least a dollar-for-dollar cash-match,” said Michael Wagler, state coordinator for the Main Street Iowa program. “In total, these projects will actually leverage significantly more than the state’s investment into bricks and mortar rehabilitation. This investment will have a significant economic impact within each district.”

“The Main Street Iowa Challenge grants have been instrumental in revitalizing Iowa’s historic main streets,” said Debi Durham, executive director of IEDA and the Iowa Finance Authority. “Reinvesting in our traditional commercial districts is good business. It’s good for our economy and good for our state. These projects will bring new businesses and new residents to our downtown districts.”

Since the first Challenge Grants were awarded in 2002, about $13.7 million in funds have leveraged more than $67 million in private investment. Over the life of the program, 216 projects in 56 Main Street Iowa commercial districts across the state have received funding.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Mayor of Atlantic and two council members were recognized during the Council’s meeting Wednesday night. City Clerk Barb Barrick prefaced the announcement by reading a statement from the Iowa League of Cities, with regard to the CEMO program.

“To recognize elected officials who are committed to continuing their professional development as elected officials, the Iowa League of Cities established the Certified Elected Municipal Official (CEMO) program. This voluntary recognition program utilizes existing League training opportunities, such as the Annual Conference & Exhibit and the Municipal Leadership Academy, allowing attendees to build towards the CEMO designation while receiving meaningful, informative and useful information on topics that expand the elected official’s knowledge and capabilities. Fifty credits are needed to obtain the CEMO designation; this includes a mix of required core and elective credits. Credits for training are only available for events attended after January 1, 2012. Credits can be used only once for each training.”

Barrick said “I’m very very proud to say that we [The City of Atlantic] recently had three elected officials receive this [CEMO] designation.” That includes Mayor Grace Garrett, Ward 1 Councilman Jim Behrens and At-Large Councilwoman Elaine Otte.” She said other council members are close to the designation.The designation, she said, “Speak highly of Atlantic,” and she thanked those three for attending the training.

In other business, Councilman Gerald Brink [and Councilwoman Otte] both say they had a person approach them and question if the Council was nothing more than a bunch of “yes men/women]”. Brink said he’s not afraid to vote against an issue on the agenda. The other councilpersons and Mayor agreed. Brink said the perception was troubling for him to hear.

CADCO Executive Director Jennifer McEntaffer said some in the community may not understand, that the items the council votes on, are thoroughly researched and vetted by committees (each of which have at least one Council liaison), before a recommendation to approve or disapprove a matter comes before the Council for a vote. Mayor Garrett said also, from the beginning, the Council was in agreement on what direction they were focused on, and taking the City in that direction.

The Council receives prepared packets of information for them to review and conduct additional research or ask questions about, before their meeting is held. She said “We don’t always have the same ‘yes’ all the time. We are willing to vote against something if we vote our conscience and convictions, and that’s what I have seen in this Council, and I appreciate that so very much.” She said the Council is not afraid to vote against each other when they have done their homework on the issues, and are certain their decision takes the City in the right direction.

As part of the action items on their agenda, Wednesday, the Atlantic City Council passed:

• The 2nd Reading of an Ordinance “Vacating that Portion of Country Oaks Right-Of-Way (ROW), between 2703 Country Oaks and 2605 Country Oaks. The first hearing was held Oct. 16, 2022 and passed without public comment.
• The 1st Reading of an Ordinance that amends the City’s Code of Ordinance, with regard to Storm Water Utility Billing,” and a change of bi-annual billing to annual billing, beginning in early 2023, with no change to the rates.
• The 1st Reading of an Ordinance amending zoning regulations with regard to removing the front-yard setback in the I-2 (light industrial District) along State Street.
• The Council also passed a Resolution “Obligating funds from the Southeast Urban Renewal Area Revenue Fund for Appropriation to the Payment of Annual Appropriation Tax Increment Financed Obligations Which Shall Come Due in the Next Succeeding Fiscal Year.” Essentially, it means that it will allow the City to utilize TIF money to repay its internal debt, which is an authorized part of the annual appropriation process.
• And, they passed a Resolution allowing the City to capture taxes paid by the Whitney Group, using TIF. The appropriation is an annual feature until the City either pays-off the $750,000 maximum payment or 20-years expire, whichever comes first. An identical Resolution was adopted by the Council in Nov., 2021.

(Radio Iowa) – A second man has been found guilty in the October, 2021 death of David McDowell, whose body was found on a rural road outside of Estherville. A jury found Cejay Van Der Wilt guilty of involuntary manslaughter after hearing testimony from Connor Uhde and Brady Salberg, who were described in the courtroom as accomplices. Prosecutors were seeking a first degree murder conviction.

In a closing statement, prosecutor Maureen Hughes said it was Van Der Wilt that implemented and carried out a plan to kill David McDowell. She said Van Der Wilt, along with Connor Uhte and others, lured McDowell to an apartment in Estherville. McDowell was then driven to a rural area outside of Estherville. He was shot in the neck with a shotgun. Defense attorney Mike Adams said there was conflicting testimony from Uhte and Brady Salberg, who were in the car with Van Der Wilt and McDowell. The defense attorney told the jury the testimony from accomplices cannot be used to corroborate one another. Involuntary manslaughter is a Class D felony that carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Connor Uhde, who testified against Van Der Wilt during the trial, had earlier pleaded guilty to attempted murder and third degree kidnapping. He faces up to 25 years in prison. Brady Salberg, the other man who testified against Van Der Wilt this week, has never been charged in connection with McDowell’s death. McDowell was 20 years old when he was killed.

[COUNCIL BLUFFS; 3:39-p.m.] – Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office 9-1-1 Communications Center were informed Wednesday afternoon, that the Verizon Wireless 9-1-1 service outage has been restored.

Verizon Wireless customers in Pottawattamie County may now directly dial “9-1-1” to call for emergency assistance.

No additional information has been provided to local officials regarding the cause or nature of the outage at this time.
Emergency Management urges all residents to sign up for Alert Iowa emergency notifications at https://pcema-ia.org.

During emergencies or critical events, communication is key, and the Alert Iowa system is our primary method of distributing alerts and information.

The City of Atlantic yard waste site has been closed until further notice due to the dry weather and windy conditions. City officials made the announcement on Wednesday afternoon and they thank the public for their understanding.

The Crawford County town of Ricketts was being evacuated early this (Wednesday) afternoon, due to a huge field fire north of Highway 141, headed towards Ricketts. Authorities are advising people to please stay clear of the area. Roads were being shut down.

Fields and bales were reportedly burning in the area. Multiple fire departments were requested to help contain the spread of the flames. The smoke was making for limited visibility, including as far north as Cherokee.

No further details are available at this time.

(Radio Iowa) – A teenager faces a felony gun charge after a shooting in Fort Dodge last (Tuesday) night. Tuesday night around 8:30, the Webster County Telecommunications Center received a call of shots fired at an apartment complex in Fort Dodge. The caller said several shots had been fired and gave dispatchers a description of a vehicle seen leaving the area. Shortly after, police located a vehicle that matched the description.

Police say they found a gun and one of the people in the vehicle was taken into custody. The 17-year-old has been charged with Possession of Firearm by a Felon, which is a class D felony.

According to a news release from the Fort Dodge Police Department, the juvenile — who is male — is being held in the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention facility in Eldora.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Auditor Kathy Somers advises residents that their polling locations for the November 8th general election may have changed in 2022, due to redistricting following the 2020 census.

Voters are encouraged to confirm their polling location prior to election day using a map of precincts or by going to the Cass County Auditor’s website which offers a link where voters can find their polling place by entering their address at
https://www.casscountyia.gov/county-departments/auditors-office/.

Polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Police in Council Bluffs report an officer on patrol a little before 2-a.m. today (Wednesday), in the area of the Target Store (3706 Metro Drive), in Council Bluffs, noticed a vehicle traveling behind the store. The Officer called for other Officers to assist in checking the vehicle. As the other Officers arrived, they saw 42-year-old Christopher Rae Holz, of Lewis (IA), by a storage container.

Authorities say it appeared as though Holz was trying to make entry into the store. When he was ordered to stop, Holz fled on foot and refused orders to stop. He was eventually taken into custody. On his person, Holz was in possession of 42.5 grams of methamphetamine. 

He was booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail on charges that include:

• Conspiracy with Intent to Manufacture/Deliver Meth over 5g but under 5 kg;
• Eluding a Police Officer;
• Failure to affix a drug tax stamp for 42.5 grams or more.