WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former school in West Des Moines will be reopening as a 17-unit apartment building primarily for local artists. The Des Moines Register reports an open house at the former Phenix Elementary School will be held on Wednesday. The former school opened in 1939 and closed in 2014.

The city approved the apartment transition last year to help bolster the art scene at nearby Valley Junction. The building’s residents will have available work space at shared studios in the former school.
More than half of the mixed-income apartments have been rented out.

Matt Hauge is the communications director for the project’s developer Community Housing Initiatives. He says the building has a “preference” for artist residents, but says non-artists can also apply.

LUVERNE, Iowa (AP) — A 60-year-old man has been accused of killing a man who died at a northern Iowa home. The Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Wednesday that Jeffrey Winters, of Livermore, is charged with first-degree murder. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him. He’s being held on $2 million bail. He’s suspected of killing 54-year-old Randy Page, who authorities say died before deputies reached the LuVerne home Monday evening. His wife had called to report that he was on the garage floor and unresponsive.

A criminal complaint says four 9mm bullet casings were found near the body, but no gun was found. An autopsy was ordered.

An accident in Creston just before 8-a.m. today (Wednesday), caused $3,000 damage, but there were no injuries. Authorities say a 2014 International semi driven by 49-year old Paul Witte, of Ankeny, was pulling into the parking lot of an auto parts store, when the trailer snagged an overhead power line. The resulting drag caused one power pole owned by Alliant Energy, to break, and partially pull another pole over. No citations were issued because the accident occurred on private property.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa banker has pleaded guilty to hampering a bank examination. Prosecutors say 38-year-old Martin Smith entered the plea Monday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. The charge: aiding and abetting the obstruction of the examination of a financial institution. Prosecutors say Smith admitted backdating a refinancing loan to obstruct an investigation by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Smith was a vice president at Center Point Bank & Trust.

His sentencing hasn’t been scheduled. He faces up to five years in prison.

A reminder to non-profit organizations in Cass and Audubon County, that the deadline to apply for funds from either the Cass or Audubon County Community Foundations, is this Saturday, Sept. 1st. In Cass County, $32,000 has been allocated for this Fall grant cycle. In Audubon County, $44,400 has been allocated. In both counties, the grant dollars are awarded for a single year. The grants are made possible through the generosity of Cass and Audubon County Community Foundation donors, for their respective counties. All completed applications will be considered at the October Board meeting of the Omaha Foundation, with notifications to selected grant recipients announced at the end of October.

Application procedures and guidelines are available online at http://omahafoundation.org/swiowa. Under “Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa,” click on your appropriate county and scroll down to the green, “Application Information” box, for the link. Applications will only be accepted through the online system. To inquire about donating to either the Cass or Audubon County Community Foundation, please contact a Board member (their numbers are listed below). For grant-specific questions, contact Iowa Program Officer Stacey Goodman, at 1-800-794-3458.

Community Foundations in Southwest Iowa fund donations may be eligible for a 25-percent Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

Cass County Community Foundation Board Member contact info.: Chair, Nicholas Hunt of rural Atlantic, 243-5485; Vice Chair, Gary Maas, of Anita, 762-3434; Secretary/Treasurer, Roland K. Landsness, Esq. of Atlantic, 243-4154; Royal Bierbaum of rural Griswold, 778-2586; John Curry of Massena, 779-0216; and Mark D. Kyhnn, CPA of Atlantic, 243-1800.

Board members of the Audubon County Community Foundation are: Chair, Genelle Deist of Audubon, 712-563-4288; Vice Chair, Joel Hoegh of rural Brayton, 712-249-3692; Secretary/Treasurer, Barbara Johnson of Audubon, 712-773-5732; Bob Blomme of Audubon, 712-304-0150; Shelley Burr of Audubon, 712-563-2644; Steven B. Hansen of Audubon, 712-563-2065; and Joseph T. Rasmussen of Exira, 712-268-5357,

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting Thursday, at a different location. Normally held on Wednesday’s at 9-a.m. in the Adair County Courthouse, Thursday’s meeting takes place 8:30-a.m. in the meeting room at the Greenfield City Hall. On the agenda, is discussion and/or action on: Township Clerk Wages; A Liquor license; Professional Services Agreement for the Courthouse Elevator; a Step Raise for a County Roads employee; VA Cell Phone matters; and continued Wind Farm Discussion, featuring Joanie Finck, Tanya Lamb, Kelly Hall and Dan Dreher.

That discussion will be followed by attention given to Wind Farm Correspondence, and discussion with regard to a draft amendment to Ordinance 31, which pertains to “Assessment of Wind Energy Conversion Property.” Again, the Adair County Board of Supervisor’s meeting will be held at the Greenfield City Hall meeting room, not the courthouse, beginning at 8:30-a.m., Thursday.

(Updated 9:15-a.m. w/addition of SWCB candidate) — Atlantic resident Pat McCurdy has announced he’s in the running for the Cass County Board of Supervisors in District 2 during the November 6^th General Election. Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns confirmed this (Wednesday) morning, that McCurdy has filed the required nomination form with her office. McCurdy, who is running as a Nominated By Petition (NBP) candidate, will compete for the District 2 seat against Republican Mark T. O’Brien. McCurdy said in a press release, that he is “Honored that so many people have encouraged [him] to run.” He said also, “I’m passionate about growing Cass County and the people in District 2 deserve a choice.” He added, “I know my business experience and service to the community make [him] the best candidate for the job.”

Another candidate has filed nomination papers for a non-partisan office. Richard Hoffman, an incumbent, filed his papers Tuesday, to run for the second seat for Union Township Trustee. He joins fellow incumbent Daryl Schrier on the ballot in November. And, John. J. Hansen has filed papers to fill the second open seat on the Cass County Soil and Water Conservation Board. The other candidate for that Board is incumbent Greg Zellmer.

Candidates have until 5-p.m. Today (Wednesday) to submit their completed nomination forms for any of the open County offices, to the Cass County Auditor’s Office.