(Coon Rapids, Iowa) – No injuries were reported when a semi hauling grain flipped over and on landed on its side this (Wednesday) morning, about two-miles east of Coon Rapids. The accident happened at around 11:45-a.m. on Highway 141, between County Roads N36 and N33 and County Road N70. Additional details were not immediately available.

DES MOINES — Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education today announced $900,000 in competitive grants to help more Iowa children and teens access nutritious meals and snacks during the summer months. The grants will support school districts and other qualified organizations to serve additional communities through expanding participation in two existing federally funded summer child nutrition programs.

The Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option, administered by the Iowa Department of Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, help ensure Iowa children ages 18 and under have access to healthy meals and snacks during the summer. Through the new state-directed Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant, additional summer meal sites will be launched through these two existing federal programs to serve more children in currently underserved areas across the state.

“Providing young Iowans with access to free, nutritious meals in their communities during the summer months has always been a priority,” said Gov. Kim Reynolds. “With the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant, we will expand these well-established programs across our state to ensure Iowa’s youth have meals that are healthy and use local community farms and vendors when possible.” 

Qualifying Iowa schools participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program may apply as either a Summer Food Service Program or Seamless Summer Option sponsor. Private nonprofit organizations, community and faith-based organizations, higher education institutions and local government agencies are eligible to participate as a sponsor for the Summer Food Service Program.

“Through partnerships with community-based providers and schools, the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant will build upon family-focused solutions to support child nutrition and well-being in the summer,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “The Iowa Department of Education remains committed to supporting students with healthy meals and food options, as it supports communities in growing the impact of existing child nutrition programs.”

Summer meals can be served at a variety of sites within the community, such as schools, churches, community centers, parks, libraries and camps. Prospective new meal sites must be located in an area where at least 50 percent or more of the children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Priority consideration will be given to applicants that establish a new open meal site, where all children ages 18 and younger are served. Summer Food Service Program or Seamless Summer Option sponsors that did not operate in 2023 or are in a county with two or fewer current meal sites will also be given stronger consideration.

“Many children rely heavily on these meals during the school year to provide them with the fuel and nutrition to grow healthy and become successful–the summertime is no different,” said Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Director Kelly Garcia. “Together, we are leveraging public-private partnerships to care for our children most in need.”

Eligible current and new sponsors that plan to add open meal sites may apply for reimbursement funding for up to $10,000 for the first new site and $5,000 for each additional site. Current sponsors may apply for a total of $20,000, and new sponsors can apply for up to $30,000. Sponsors who did not participate in 2023 and intend to provide meals to targeted groups may also apply for up to $2,500 per site. Allowable reimbursement costs will include items such as local food purchases, program outreach and other operational expenses not currently covered through program reimbursement.

Applications for the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant are now being accepted at IowaGrants.gov. The application deadline is May 7, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. The number of eligible applicants and corresponding budget proposals will determine the number and amounts of grants awarded.

Additional information on the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant can be found on the Department’s website.

Funds for the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant are provided through State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provided through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office says two accidents occurred last Friday, one of which resulted in injuries. Authorities say the first accident happened at South 18th and West Boundary Streets, in Clarinda. Alan Marion Searl was driving south on 18th Street. He stopped at the intersection with West Boundary Street and then backed-up to check on a piece of roadway that needed repair. In the process, his vehicle backed into a vehicle driven by Marcia Lea Cline. Both vehicles sustained minor damage in this accident.

The other accident happened at 190th Street and C ave in Page County. Phillip James Ranney was driving East on 190th Street. Just East of C Avenue, Ranney looked out into an open field. One of the vehicles’ tires dropped off the pavement, causing the vehicle to enter a ditch, where it struck a road sign and a fence. Ranney was transported to Shenandoah Medical Center.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the following arrests took place April 1st through the 9th:

4/1/2024 Brandi Renae Johnson (21) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for domestic assault. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.
4/2/2024 Gary Lynn Runyon Jr. (51) of Coin Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time; Brandi Renae Johnson (21) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail or violation of a no contact order. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office; Vincent Michael Martin (41) of Imogene Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for an active warrant for assault on a peace officer, disarming a police officer, interference with official acts and assault on law officer. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.
4/4/2024 Michael Leroy Poore (42) of Essex Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for domestic assault. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office; Rachelle Dawn Hunt (52) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for an active warrant for two counts of failure to appear. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office at the Douglas County Nebraska Jail; Sayj Elizabeth Martin (26) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for an active warrant for possession of a controlled substance and driving while barred. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.
4/5/2024: Sean Dylan Watson (28) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time; Corbin Gail Link (26) of Quincy Illinois. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; Nathan Rick Gordon (44) of Council Bluffs Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail on an active warrant for lascivious act with child. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office. Arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail.
4/7/2024 Leanna Louise Berringer (60) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance (X2), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of prescription drug; Zachary Michael Setterburg (45) of Omaha Nebraska. Booked into the Page County Jail for theft, possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and prohibited acts; Blas Rendon Luevanos (22) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for domestic assault, criminal mischief and child endangerment; Jessie Gregory McFarland (47) of Farragut Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for OWI and driving revoked; Dawn Lorren Fink-McFarland (40) of Farragut Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for OWI second offense.
4/9/2024 Mark Andrew Devine (31) of College Springs. Booked into the Page County Jail for an active warrant for failure to appear; Cristobal Mercado Serna (64) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for an active warrant for Lascivious Acts with a child (X2) and indecent exposure.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report three recent arrests. Two arrests occurred Tuesday (April 9th): 57-year-old Patrick McDonald, of Glenwood, was arrested for Harassment 2nd degree and criminal mischief in the 4th degree. McDonald was being held without bond until seen by a magistrate judge; and, 19-year-old Cameron Doggett, of Papillion, NE, was arrested for Contempt of court. He was released on his own recognizance.

Today (Wednesday, April 10th), 20-year-old Obbie Avirgin, of Omaha, NE, was arrested in Glenwood for Possession of a controlled substance 2nd offense. Bond was set at $2,000, cash or surety. And, 22-year-old Ceaunie Marks, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000 cash or surety.

Glenwood Police report also, there were no injuries resulting from an accident Tuesday afternoon on S. Locust Street. Authorities say a semi driven by 74-year-old Alvin Henry Horgdal, of Henderson, was traveling northbound at around 3:35-p.m., when the semi/dump truck lost a tire, which rolled and struck a legally parked & unoccupied 2022 Honda Accord in the parking lot at 508 S. Locust Street. Damage to the Honda was estimated at $5,000. The truck also sustained $5,000 damage.

No citations were issued.

(Des Moines, IA) – Through the Safe Haven Law, two infants, a baby girl, born March 17, and a baby boy, born March 20, are now in the care and custody of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and will be placed with foster families until permanent placement is determined. This brings the overall total to 68 infants since the law went into effect more than two decades ago.  

“I want parents to know that they have this safe and trusted option at such a critical time in their lives,” said Iowa HHS Director Kelly Garcia. “Accessing Safe Haven is assuredly not an easy decision, but this law exists to protect newborns and its success is evident by the number of families that have trusted in the Safe Haven Act. Our goal is to protect these newborns and provide them with the best permanent home possible.”

Iowa’s Safe Haven Act is as an option for parents in crisis to who determine they cannot care for an infant up to 90 days old. Designated locations like hospitals, police and fire stations, etc. HHS then works to place infants in in approved foster homes while awaiting permanent adoption. These are the only two cases so far in 2024. In 2023, ten infants were relinquished to HHS custody under the Safe Haven Act.  

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent or adopting a child, visit https://iowafosterandadoption.org/ to learn more about becoming an approved foster or adoptive family. For more information on Iowa’s Safe Haven, visit https://hhs.iowa.gov/safe-haven.   

(Radio Iowa) – A D-O-T spokesman says progress is being made on the repairs to the Mississippi River bridge at Lansing that was closed on February 25th after two piers shifted. The D-O-T’s Clayton Burke says good weather has allowed them to work on the problem piers. “We had two piers that we had to replace. Both of those piers had been reconstructed and are ready for the bridge to be reset on top of them,” he says. “And actually today (Tuesday), I just looked out the window we’ve got two out of the four bridge spans the bridge deck that has to be replaced. Those are now reset on top of those piers that have been reconstructed.” The other two spans still need to be put back in place.

“And then after that’s complete they have a bunch of touch up work to do so they’ll be final tightening of the bolts that hold the bridge together and making sure that all the anchor rods and different pieces of that bridge are put in exactly the right place,” Burke says. The final step is to have a structural engineer go over the bridge.

“Once that structural inspection is complete and that the expert has signed off that the bridge is safe to reopen we will proceed with reopening it,” he says. They hope to have the bridge re-opened by the end of the month. A new bridge is under construction but won’t be completed until the end of 2026. Burke says around 29-hundred people crossed the Lansing bridge each day before it closed.