The Iowa Transportation Commission Tuesday, approved the fiscal year 2015 Traffic Safety Improvement Program projects. More than $8.7 million in safety improvements were approved for 46 projects. Among the projects in southwest & western Iowa:

Montgomery County received a requested half-million dollars to add six-feet of pavement to County Road H-34, to create a 24-foot wide pavement and rumble strips, and wide painted edges. The improvements are along a 3.25-mile segment of H-34, one-mile east of A Avenue to Fernwood Avenue. The total cost of the project is $546, 812.

The City of Crescent received a requested $50,000 from the Commission for work on the Old Lincoln Highway. The works entails a cut back from the south hillside, improve site triangle at the intersection of Old Lincoln Highway and Powells Addition. The project is expected to cost $50,000.

And, the City of Carroll received a requested One-half millions dollars for the widening of U-S Highway 30 to provide east-and westbound left turn lanes. The projects involves the replacement of traffic signals, providing protected/permissive east/west left turns, and an improve intersection radii, at the intersection of U-S 30 and Grant Road. The total project cost is $713,000.

Other funding from the Commission includes: $105,000 to replace traffic signals and mast arms in Denison, at the intersection of Iowa Hwy 39 and Avenue C. and $31,830 to removes traffic signals and replace them with 4-way stop signs in Onawa, at the intersection of Iowa Highway 175 and 10th Street.

If the total project amount is greater than the grant amount, the grant recipient will be responsible to provide additional funding.

The Iowa Transportation Commission Tuesday, approved a Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) Immediate Opportunity grant application submitted by the city of Carter Lake. Up to $815,291 will be made available to assist in the reconstruction of approximately 690 feet of North Fifth Street, approximately 1,286 feet of Avenue J, and approximately 690 feet of North Ninth Street located on the southwest side of town. This project is anticipated to be completed by September 2014.

These improvements are necessary to provide improved access to Paxton & Vierling Steel’s facility, which is a steel processing and fabrication facility and a subsidiary of Owen Industries Inc. The improvements will support the creation of 18 new jobs and the retention of 78 jobs along with $39,658,000 in associated capital investment.

Funding for the grant comes from the city share of the RISE Fund.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Federal authorities are granting approval to Iowa’s proposal to expand low-income health care. Officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service announced Tuesday that Iowa’s request was granted with “virtually all the initiatives the state has proposed.” But authorities are not giving the Gov. Terry Branstad as much flexibility as he sought to charge premiums to the very poor.

Iowa sought a waiver enabling the state to receive more federal Medicaid money for the proposed Iowa Health and Wellness Plan. The new health insurance program would cover up to 150,000 residents. The state wanted to charge small monthly premiums to those with incomes over half of the federal poverty line starting in 2015. Federal officials said Iowa could only charge those with incomes above 100 percent of poverty.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Supporters of a proposed Jefferson casino say they’ve reached an agreement with the casino operator to share 5 percent of the revenue with charitable organizations in Green County and the surrounding counties.  Grow Greene County Gaming Corp., the nonprofit organization applying for a gambling license and Wild Rose Entertainment, the company planning to run the casino announced details of their operating agreement Tuesday.

Casinos in Iowa share an average of 4.1 percent of revenue with charitable groups. The state requires at least 3 percent. Tom Timmins, Wild Rose CEO says the Jefferson casino should generate $30 million a year, providing $1.5 million for charitable groups in Greene and surrounding counties.  Wild Rose operates casinos in Emmetsburg and Clinton. It’s proposing a casino, restaurant and hotel complex for Jefferson.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, is expected to act on approving the purchase of a building across the street from the courthouse in Atlantic. The building at 707 Poplar Street is currently owned and occupied by the Cambridge Law Firm.

Late last month at a meeting of the Cass County Public Safety Commission, Commissioner Gaylord Schelling, who also sits on the Board of Supervisors announced “We have a contract” for the purchase of the building. It remains to be determined whether the lower level of the Cambridge building will be used for a new 9-1-1 Center, or the offices of the County Assessor and Engineer. Moving those offices would likely open-up enough space for an expansion of the current Communications Center on the lower level of the courthouse. Discussions on how to handle the space needs of the Cass County 911 Center, along with new equipment necessary for Next Generation 911 (NG-911) services, has been ongoing for more than two-years.

The Supervisors are also expected to act Wednesday on approving a Resolution proposing the County lease a portion of the Cambridge Building to the law firm following its purchase, for more than three-years. A public hearing will need to be held on the matter before the move becomes final.

In other business, the Board will act on a Resolution approving the appointment of a deputy sheriff, and increasing the number of deputies by one. Their meeting begins at 9-a.m.

Authorities in Montgomery County report two arrests early this (Tuesday) morning. Officials say 30-year-old Stephen Ray Adams was arrested at around Midnight, for obstruction of emergency communications. Adams was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

And, officers with the Red Oak Police department arrested 48-year-old Michelle Marie Adams on a domestic abuse assault charge. Adams was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $300 bond.

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Iowa Department of Public Safety reminds Iowans home fires spike in the winter months of December through February. The noticeable increase in home heating fires and fatal fires follows the cold temperatures. Many home heating fires could be avoided with an ounce of prevention.  State Fire Marshal investigators report placing heaters too close to combustible objects like furniture and blankets as well as leaving heaters unattended are the primary reasons for portable heater fires.

YOU CAN PREVENT MOST HEATING FIRES WITH A FEW HEATING SAFETY TIPS.

• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heaters.
• Never use your oven to heat your home.
• Remember always turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Always use the right kind of fuel and be sure you have a working carbon monoxide alarm and smoke alarms installed in your home.
• Portable heaters provide localized heat to an area and should not be used as the only source of permanent home heat.
• If you smell gas, immediately leave your home and call 911.
• Be sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.  Always use metal containers for ashes and keep them far from your home.

If you have questions about portable heaters contact the State Fire Marshal Division at 515-725-6145 or email at fminfo@dps.state.ia.us

w/ Ric Hanson

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The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education Monday night adopted on the second reading an amendment a Board Policy pertaining to the Licensed Employee Early Retirement Incentive. Superintendent Mike Amstein said the policy should help the district attract as many candidates as possible, for any positions that become available. 

He said it’s difficult to find quality teachers during the Spring, early Summer, and over the Summer. Amstein recommended the Board adopt the amended policy because providing an incentive to those who are considering retirement or resignation, would allow the district to make those positions known to prospective candidates earlier.

The amendment stipulates that any licensed employee who announces their intentions to resign in January will receive a $500 stipend, $300 if submitted in February, and $100 if turned in by the end of March. Those who turn in their notices after March, would not be eligible for an incentive. Amstein said he expects there will be a number of retirements for the upcoming school year, and the incentives should help to sway those who may be on the fence in making their decision.  

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved the hiring of Amy Robinson for a para-position at Washington Elementary, the sale of obsolete equipment to the public and a leave of absence for Hillary Hepler, who wants to get her education degree.