DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa has become one of a dozen states to notify domestic violence victims when protective orders have been issued to keep an abuser away from the victim. Attorney General Tom Miller announced the program Tuesday, saying it’s financed by a federal Department of Justice grant. Ongoing costs of $160,000 come from a state program funded by fines and penalties assessed against criminals. Domestic abuse victims now may sign up with the state and receive automated phone call or email notifications when courts issue a protective order. That includes notification of when an order is about to expire.  Miller says the program’s intent is to give victims peace of mind.  Last year the Iowa Protective Order Notification for Domestic Abuse Program processed more than 15,000 protective and no-contact orders.

Members of the Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting this Thursday morning (May 3rd) in the Superintendent’s Office at the High School, in Elk Horn. On their agenda is discussion about and possible action on, approving a resolution for adopting a Redistricting Plan, and the redrawing of Director District boundaries.

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County say an Audubon man was arrested this (Tuesday) morning, on a drug-related warrant. 47-year old Roger Lee Bates was taken into custody at around 9:30-a.m., on a warrant charging him with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Gathering where drugs are used. The charges are the result of an investigation into an incident that occurred on April 19^th at a residence on Washington Street, in Audubon. Bates appeared before the magistrate, and was released on $1,000 bond. His preliminary hearing will take place May 21st. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department was assisted in its investigation, by officers with the Audubon Police Department.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says the Atlantic Downtown Beautification Group, in association with the City of Atlantic’s Community Promotion Commission (CPC), will plant more than 5,000 petunias during the sixth annual “Atlantic: A Great Place to Put Down Roots” event on Tuesday, May 15^th, from 4 to 7 p.m. Officials say hundreds of volunteers will beautify Downtown Atlantic and City Park by planting flowers provided by Hy-Vee, and reviving the many flower beds.

Funds to purchase the flowers come from the City through the Local Option Sales Tax. A team of workers gather to plant and maintain the beds over the course of the summer. Volunteers will receive a free meal at the Rock Island Depot following the planting in appreciation for their time and efforts.

In order to participate, volunteers must sign up by May 11th at 5 p.m. by calling the Chamber at 243-3017. Former volunteers are encouraged to wear their planting t-shirt from previous years to celebrate the longevity of the Spring Planting event. Businesses, service organizations and families of all ages are encouraged to take part. To register for the event, call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com, with the name of your volunteers.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is narrowing down plans for a new high-speed passenger railway linking Chicago and Omaha. A two-million dollar study looks at possible routes across Iowa, with stops in the Quad Cities, Iowa City and Des Moines. The DOT’s Amanda Martin says the project is a long way from completion and it’s uncertain where the money will originate. “We do have the funding in place for the study,” Martin says. “We’re just in the study mode right now and that was the two-million dollars I mentioned earlier.” One-million of that is coming from Iowa, with another million matched by the federal government. Martin says since the chosen route goes through populated areas and uses already-laid track, it will be affordable and profitable.

Martin says this train would -not- be like the one Amtrak runs through the southern part of the state. “The service is very different from the service we are studying now,” she says. “The service we’re studying now is inner city passenger rail service, typically between two urban areas.” She says this train would run a lot more often and go much faster, making it a viable alternative to driving. The project is still in its infancy, but the DOT is hosting public forums on-line and in person. In-person meetings are planned in Des Moines tomorrow (Wednesday) and in Council Bluffs on Thursday.

Learn more at: “iowadot.gov”.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

The American Legion of Iowa family will host a dedication ceremony commemorating the Legion monument at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, a project which has been in the works for nearly two years. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 5th, 2012, at 2 p.m. at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. 

Guests and speakers include The American Legion National Vice Commander Milton Heifner (Woodward, Iowa); Department (State) Commander Dennis J. Soppe (West Union, Iowa); and, Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs Executive Director Jodi Tymeson (BG, Ret). Department (State) Vice Commander Theodore Hall will be the Master of Ceremonies and served as chairman of the committee responsible for fund-raising and design of the monument. 

The cost of the project, nearly $12,000 was raised through donations and raffles held at American Legion events between 2010 and 2012, giving its members the opportunity to be part of a great tribute to veterans from all branches of service. The funds included construction, placement, and the required 10% fee for ongoing maintenance and upkeep by IVC groundskeepers. 

The monument was designed by West Union High School senior, Sara Biver, who will also be present at the dedication ceremony.

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Sheriff’s Officials in Montgomery County say a Mills County woman was responsible for a hit-and-run accident with a Red Oak Fire Department pickup Sunday night. Authorities Monday afternoon said an investigation determined 45-year old Lisa Annette French, of Pacific Junction, was the owner and operator of a dark colored sedan which struck the right side of a pickup driven by 24-year old Rudee DeMarce, of Red Oak, at around 9:30-p.m. Sunday. No injuries were reported following the collision. French left the scene of the accident. She was cited for Failure to have insurance (accident related), and following too closely. She was released from custody on those citations.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report also, 32-year old Renee Marie Owns, of Corning, was arrested at around 2:25-p.m., Monday, on a charge 5th degree theft, in association with an alleged shoplifting incident at the K-mart Store in Red Oak. Owens was released from custody on $300 cash bond.

Despite reports the economy is improving, more people are being forced to seek out charities to feed themselves and their families. Brian Barks, spokesman for the Omaha-based Food Bank for the Heartland, says a new report shows a growing number of people in the 93 counties the agency serves are looking for help with hunger. “The statistics show there’s just over 208-thousand people who would be considered food insecure,” Barks says. “This represents about 12% of the people who live in that 93-county area, which encompasses 77 counties in Nebraska and 16 in western Iowa.”

The food bank distributed ten-million pounds of food in 2011 — a ten-percent increase from 2009. Both Iowa and Nebraska have relatively low unemployment rates, but Barks says that doesn’t begin to tell the full story. “What we have a problem with here in Nebraska and western Iowa, along with the rest of the country, is under-employment,” Barks says. “We have folks who may’ve had a couple of jobs, now just have one. We have folks who may’ve lost a job that have taken a job but are making far less money than they did previously.” He says a recent trip to the Nebraska communty of Grand Island shows there is a need for services in the more rural areas of the state.

“We weren’t sure exactly how many people were going to show up,” Barks says. “Four-hundred-and-fifty showed up and we took somewhere in the vicinity of 10-thousand pounds of food and we ran out of food and actually had to turn some people away.” Learn about how you can donate food, funds or time at the website: “omahafoodbank.org”.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)