More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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A reminder to residents of Lewis: A SWIPCO Town Hall meeting will take place beginning at 7-p.m. In the Lewis Activity Center. The purpose to the meeting is to discuss a $240,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the rehabilitation or repair of a limited number of homes, owned by low-to moderate income homeowners. There’s no need for matching funds from the homeowner in order to be eligible. The only stipulation, is that the homeowner(s) must reside in the home, and if they live there for up to five-years, the entire grant is forgivable.

SWIPCO Community Development Director Daniel Lee, says the CDBG is awarded annually by the Iowa Economic Development Authority with funding from the Department Housing and Urban Development. Daniel Lee says it’s not the first time the grant funds have been awarded and used for homes in Lewis. Last year SWIPCO assisted the City of Lewis in completing a CDBG application, which resulted in a $240,000 award that allows for the repair up to six homes, for as much as $25,000 per home. The funds can be used for things such as roofing, siding, energy efficient windows, heating, and so on.

Lewis was selected for the program after a housing survey was conducted by SWIPCO because after a review of properties, it was determined the community fit the criteria that would allow SWIPCO to submit an application for the CDBG funds. Tonight’s meeting is meant to be informational only. Lee says six homes will initially be awarded as projects. SWIPCO will come up with the bid specifications. The homeowner finds a contractor, and once the final inspection is complete after the work is done, SWIPCO will pay the contractor. Lee says bringing any financial information you may have, such as income, etc., will to help their staff determine your eligibility for the program.

The homes will be selected by a Housing Committee in Lewis, comprised of local members, and if there’s money left over, the funds will be used toward the rehabilitation of additional homes. Again, that meeting is tonight at seven o’clock, at the Lewis Activity Center. If you need more information in advance, call Tammy DeBord at 712-243-4196.

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

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Creston Police, early this (Tuesday) morning, arrested James Chandler Sash at his residence on West Adams Street. Sash was taken into cutsody on the charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held at Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A special election today (Tuesday) will decide who will replace Republican Jim Carlin in the Iowa House. Democrat Rita DeJong and Republican Jacob Bossman are competing for the District 6 seat. Carlin vacated it when he won a special election to the state Senate last month.

The heavily Republican district covers part of Sioux City, the cities of Sergeant Bluff, Bronson and Salix, and some rural areas in northern and southern Woodbury County. Bossman lost his previous bid for District 6 post in 2016. It’s DeJong’s first run for elective office.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Woodbury County supervisors are scheduled today (Tuesday) to consider asking a judge to let the public carry guns into some public areas of the county courthouse in Sioux City. The Sioux City Journal reports that the draft of a letter to Judge Duane Hoffmeyer asks him to eliminate the weapons ban in the public areas but uphold the ban for the second, third and fourth floors, which are considered court-controlled areas. Courtrooms, judge chambers and attorney offices are situated on those floors.

Hoffmeyer issued his order in August, after the supervisors voted to allow guns on county property in an attempt to comply with the state’s newly expanded gun rights law. Hoffmeyer is chief judge for Iowa’s 3rd Judicial District, which includes Woodbury County and 15 other Northwest Iowa counties.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports his deputies conducting an investigation into a series of stolen vehicle and thefts, Monday night recovered two stolen vehicle, a stolen camper, flatbed trailer, 4-wheeler, and other, miscellaneous stolen items. They were recovered in the vicinity of Green Hollow Road. During the investigation, Deputies came into contact with a suspicious vehicle, and they soon engaged in a pursuit on Green Hollow Road.

The suspect vehicle traveled south into Thurman, before heading east towards Highway 275 and then changing directions. He went south on 242nd Avenue and shut off his lights before turning into a field entrance a little over one-mile from 160th Street. Deputies pursued the vehicle until it crashed. When the persons inside took off on foot, Deputies deployed the Sheriff’s Office K9 “Judge” and his partner, to track the suspects.

K9 “Judge”

One of the suspects was tracked into the bluffs and down a creek bed. The suspect was given numerous commands to surrender, but he continued to resist, and fled on foot once again. The K9 foiled the suspects’ efforts to run, though.  During the apprehension, the suspect kicked the K9 in the face, but the dog never let go of his bite., and dragged him toward the handler. The suspect was then taken into custody and transported to Grape Community Hospital to be treated for dog bite and hypothermia. He was later transported to Jenny Edmundson Hospital, in Council Bluffs. A Deputy was treated for frost bite, following the incident.

The suspect’s name was not immediately available, because he was uncooperative with authorities. He faces charges that include Eluding, Assault on a Peace Officer, and other infractions.  The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Tabor Police and the Iowa State Patrol.

Republican Senator Joni Ernst says it “seems heartless” to deport people whose parents brought them into the U.S. illegally when they were children. “What I’ve been doing is kind of querying conservatives and Republicans across the state: ‘What do you think the answer to DACA is?’ And probably 90 percent or better say: ‘We need a permanent solution. They’re parts of our communities and we can’t let them go. They need to be here,'” Ernst says. “And I agree.”

Ernst says President Trump supports the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program, he just requires a deal on DACA to include more funding for border security. Ernst held a town hall meeting in Boone yesterday (Monday) afternoon that was live streamed by The Des Moines Register. Ernst told the crowd she doesn’t “appreciate the rhetoric coming out of the White House” because “so much” of her time is spent answering questions about what the president says rather than the legislation she’s working on. Ernst directly addressed accounts indicating Trump used a derogatory word to describe African nations during an Oval Office meeting. As she visits other countries on congressional trips, Ernst says she tries to stress a “consistent” U.S. message of “level-headedness.”

“We have good friends in other nations…We need to treat them with dignity and respect, just as we would expect to be treated,” Ernst said. “…Hopefully, beyond the administration, they will see that they do have partners.”  A few minutes later, a man in the crowd directly asked Ernst if the president is a racist. “Deep inside, no, I don’t think he’s a racist,” Ernst said. “I think he’s brash and he says things that are on his mind, but I don’t truly think that he is a racist.”  Ernst got crowd reaction to her opinion that ranged from disagreement to applause.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa is caught up in a legal fight with a conservative Christian student group that denied a leadership position to a student who is gay. The case pits a university policy barring discrimination based on sexual orientation against the religious beliefs of a 10-member group called Business Leaders in Christ. The group sued after the state’s flagship university in Iowa City revoked the group’s campus registration in November.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa soon will require that ignition interlocks have cameras so drivers required to take breath tests don’t have other people start the drivers’ vehicles. The vehicles would still start, but the drivers could lose their restricted driver’s licenses and be charged with crimes after the ignition interlock company notifies the state that other people blew into the devices. All repeat drunken driving offenders are required to install the devices in Iowa.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have accused a Coralville woman of beating her 11-year-old son. Joni Reed is charged with child endangerment causing injury and related crimes. Her attorney didn’t immediately return a call Monday from The Associated Press. Police say the two had been separated by the time officers arrived Thursday evening at an Iowa City residence. The boy had a bruise above his left eye and scrapes on his arms. He also complained of head pain.

WEST BRANCH, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say two crew members were injured when their ambulance flipped on an icy roadway while taking a patient to Iowa City. The accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 80 near West Branch in Cedar County. All three occupants were taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and the two crew members already have been released.

The Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors, Monday, approved a request by Parks and Rec Director Seth Staashelm, to apply for a Water Quality Initiative/Urban Conservation Project grant. Staashelm said he was informed of the grant availability by City Administrator John Lund, and it would be a 50-percent match in order to obtain the full grant amount.

A preliminary design/layout for the Urban Conservation Project grant

One of the projects he’s considering if the grant application is approved, is public gardens planning for the Nishna Park near the Atlantic High School, in cooperation with ISU Extension. The project would require installing two Bio-swales and native plants to help absorb water that ponds in the area and improve storm water run-off along with water quality. Natural Bio-retention filters and rain gardens would be included as part of the project.

The cost estimate for the entire project, ranges from 30-to 35-thousand dollars, minus any plantings that occur and any action taken by the School District to do their part, if they approve. With in-kind labor and other financial juggling, the City’s matching share of the cost could be lowered to 10-to 15-thousand dollars.

City Administrator John Lund said to Staashelm it would be possible to transfer $10,000 out of the Storm Water Fund into the Local Option Sales Tax Fund (LOST) for the project. Therefore if it comes to more than $30,000, some funds would be derived from the LOST account.

Parks & Rec Chairperson Stuart Dusenberry accepts a $500 check from Royal Neighbors member/Parks Board Secretary Jolene Smith for use at the Schildberg Shelter project. (Left to right: Seth Staashelm; Dusenberry; Smith; Board Mbrs. Charlene Beane and Erin McFadden.

In other other business, the Parks and Rec Department accepted a $500 check from Atlantic Royal Neighbors. Jolene Smith, Parks and Rec Board and Royal Neighbors member, explained where the funds are coming from. Last summer, she said, they held a “Difference Maker” out at Sunnyside Park, where they served hot dogs and chips while “Movies in the Park” was underway. Different Royal Neighbor Chapters get to vote on the projects, which are then put into a drawing. The Atlantic Royal Neighbors won a $500 donation check payable to the Schildberg Recreation Area. They would like it to go for picnic tables in the shelter at the Schildberg Rec Area that’s being built this summer.

And, finally, Seth Staashelm said the ice rink opened last week and will remain open while the temperatures allow. Sunnyside Park is open for all winter activities, even Disc Golf, but the roads into and out of the park are closed for the season. The Parks Board will meet next on February 12th and March 12th.