(Radio Iowa) — Iowans in eight counties who were impacted by severe storms and flooding this summer can now apply in person for low-interest federal disaster loans. Burl Kelton, spokesman for the U-S Small Business Administration, says the agency temporary Disaster Loan Outreach Center is now open in Des Moines.  “We offer assistance, in this case, for homeowners, renters and businesses that either had loss or damage, could be loss or it could be economic injury, economic loss for businesses,” Kelton says. “We offer low-interest, long-term direct federal loans.”

The loans are available to Iowa businesses and residents impacted by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that hit between June 6th and July 2nd. A disaster declaration makes the S-B-A loans available in Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Polk, Story and Warren counties. “The majority of our home loans are at 1.938%, simple annual interest up to 30 years, and for businesses, 3.61%,” Kelton says. “This is for homeowners up to $240,000 of actual damages and for businesses, up to $2-million.”

Since the storms and flooding were several months ago, many residents and businesses will have already made repairs to their homes and buildings. Kelton says, “If they have and they would like to basically recover that cost and pay it out over a longer term, then they should bring in receipts, bring in insurance information and any other information that will give us an idea of their financial ability to repay the loan.”

The S-B-A’s Disaster Loan Outreach Center is in the Polk County Building at 2309 Euclid Avenue in Des Moines. It will be open Monday through Friday 8 A-M to 5 P-M. For the holidays, it will close on December 21st and reopen on January 3rd. You can also call 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

When the Atlantic City Council meets Wednesday evening at 5:30, there will be recognition of the A.H.S 2018 All-State Music Students, and the swearing-in of the City’s first-ever, Honorary Police Officer by Mayor Dave Jones and Police Chief Dave Erickson. Both take place in the Council’s Chambers, at City Hall.

As we told you following the last City Council meeting, Chief Erickson had plenty of good things to say about six-year old Myles Jones. The Massena boy is the son of Erick and Sara Beth Jones. He has a close relationship with the department, and even invited everyone from the Department to his birthday party, which, appropriately enough, had a law enforcement theme. Sgt. Dustin Pieken and Officer Brock Thompson attended the party. His other connection to law enforcement, comes in the form of his grandfather, who is a retired South Carolina County Law Enforcement Officer.

Chief Erickson told the Council two-weeks ago, that Myles recently challenged the community to give towards the Atlantic Police Dept.’s children and family programs.

Lt. Devin Hogue and “Officer” Myles Jones collect donations for the APD’s children and family programs (APD Facebook photo)

With assistance in the form of transportation provided by Lt. Devin Hogue, Myles went around town and collected donations that amounted to $3,725. The funds were presented Dec. 7th to the Chief and Reserve Officer Jeff Hackwell. Last Sunday (Dec. 16th), Myles helped the Department with their annual “Shop-with-a-Cop” program.

In recognition of his thoughtfulness and helping others this holiday season, Myles Jones will be inducted as an Atlantic Police Officer (Honorary), and be presented with an official department badge and certificate to commemorate his new “rank.”

Prior to his induction ceremony, the Atlantic City Council will recognize members of the AHS 2018 All-State Music ensemble. When the All-State Music Festival was held Nov. 17th, three vocal and one instrumental student from Atlantic were in attendance and performing. Vocalists included Sarah Schorle, Avery Andersen and Genevieve Martinez. Lex Somers was chosen for Instrumental. Erin Barrick was recalled for Instrumental, while Chris Krogh was also recalled for Vocal.

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department report their offices will be closed to the public today (Monday) through Tuesday (Tomorrow), as the Department relocates to the new station at 1 Ezra Jackson Way. The new police building will be open to the public for business beginning 7-a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19th.

Council Bluffs PD Shield

While the current law enforcement center will be closed today and tomorrow, the Department’s Telephone Reporting Service and Police Records lines will still be functional. The move will have no effect on Pottawattamie County 9-1-1 Communications, and police officers will still respond to calls for service.

The building’s closure means no walk-in traffic will be permitted. If you need to speak with an officer or report a crime, call 9-1-1 for an emergency, or, for non-emergencies, call (712)-328-5737. Authorities say they are working to minimize any disruption to the public as they complete the move.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Waterloo plans to move its skateboard park to higher ground, away from floodwaters. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Riverside Skatepark sustained heavy damage in the 2008 Cedar River flood. It was repaired before being damaged again during floods in September 2016. City officials have been unsuccessful in trying to get the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help cover the estimated $90,000 in damage.

The new site is just a half-mile east of its current spot but out of the flood plain. A trail system there connects to downtown, and there’s a public bathroom at the site. City Leisure Services officials intend to ask the City Council’s finance committee today (Monday), to approve $5,000 for a conceptual plan for the new skate park.

The Creston Police Department reports two people were arrested on separate drug-related charges over the weekend. Sunday afternoon, 27-year old Brady Salberg, of Lucas, was arrested in Creston for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense. His bond at the Union County Jail was set at $2,000. And, Friday morning, 24-year old Jessica Larkin, of Creston was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was later released on a $1,300 bond.

A woman from Oakville was arrested Friday afternoon in Creston. 27-year old June Quigley was arrested on a Washington County warrant for Violation of Probation. Quigley was released to Washington County authorities.

Late Friday morning, 31-year old Waymond Foster, Sr., of Afton, was arrested for Violation of Protective Order. He was later released on a $300 bond. And, a resident of the 600 block of N. Maple Street in Creston reported to police Friday afternoon, that sometime between 3-p.m. Thursday and 5:30-a.m. Friday, someone broke-off the driver’s side mirror on his vehicle, which was parked behind his residence. The damage was estimated at $100.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a woman injured in a Cedar Rapids apartment fire has died. A Cedar Rapids news release says 43-year-old Sharon Garnett died Saturday afternoon at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. Firefighters sent to battle the blaze Friday afternoon had found Garnett in her bedroom. Authorities say a medical condition made it difficult for Garnett to escape.
Investigators think the fire started atop the stove in the kitchen.

(Radio Iowa) — A fire Sunday morning at the Hamilton County Maintenance Shed in Webster City destroyed thousands of dollars worth of equipment and leaves the county short of available snowplows. Webster City firefighters were called out at 5:15 a-m Sunday and were joined by firefighters from Duncombe, Stanhope and Woolstock as they worked at the scene for much of the day Sunday.

Hamilton County Maintenance Shed fire (Radio IA)

Hamilton County Engineer Nikki Stinn inspected the damage Sunday morning. She says the heating and air conditioning and half the building was lost along with two plow trucks, seven pickups, and a lot of other equipment.
Stinn says the two plow trucks are worth around 200-thousand dollars each and the seven pickups are worth around 30-thousand each. They are still figuring out the cost of the lost building and other equipment.

Stinn says the fire leaves them short of equipment if there is any winter weather — but they will adjust. “If we have to we’ll start our guys a little earlier and a few of them will have to make bigger rounds,” according to Stinn. “We generally do have just a spare truck or two — so we’ll be able to kind of pull equipment together and get everything covered if we do have some weather happening.” She says they could use road graders that normally work on gravel on the paved streets if they need to plow snow. “We will get it covered if we have events — it just might be a hair slower than normal,” Stinn says.

The State Fire Marshal has been called to help the Webster City fire department find the cause of the fire. No one was injured in the fire.

Police in Red Oak report 42-year old Nichole Suzanne Brayton, of Red Oak, was arrested just before 6-p.m. Sunday. Brayton was taken into custody in the 1000 block of E. Coolbaugh Street, for Domestic Abuse Asssault. She was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, pending an initial court appearance.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:30 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democrats in Iowa have re-elected Troy Price as chairman of the state party. It’s Price’s second term as state party chairman. Before first being elected last year, Price was part of several Democratic campaigns in Iowa, including those of former President Barack Obama and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in Des Moines say rescue crews have pulled the body of a man from the Des Moines River. Television station KCCI reports that the man’s body was found late Saturday afternoon after an hours-long search.

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) — The Clarke County prosecutor has again been arrested. Television station KCCI says outgoing Clark County Attorney Michelle Rivera was arrested Friday on suspicion of operating while intoxicated. Rivera, who lost her re-election bid in November, was arrested in October on suspicion of being drunk on the job in a Clark County courtroom.

WAUKEE, Iowa (AP) — The chief operating officer for Waukee Community School District in central Iowa has turned himself in on charges related to improper spending at the district. Waukee police say 50-year-old Eric Rose turned himself at 7 a.m. Saturday. He’s charged with two counts of solicitation to commit a felony and one count of felonious misconduct in office. He was freed on $15,000 bond.