Officials with the Iowa West Foundation…headquartered in Council Bluffs…have announced $4 million in grants for the fourth quarter of 2011.  The grants will be used to assist 44 non-profit organizations and governmental entities with funding for area projects. The current round of foundation grants includes $1.25 million to support the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation (PCCF) to promote local philanthropy and help meet emerging needs in communities.  It is the fourth installment of Iowa West’s six-year pledge.

Other sizable grants this quarter included: 

• A $487,500 grant to the Nature Conservancy of Iowa for the preservation of a scenic and native Loess Hills area in Mills County (IA); 
• A $400,000 grant for the implementation of an economic development related strategic plan in rural Pottawattamie County; 
• A $350,000 grant was awarded to the United Way of the Midlands – headquartered in Omaha – to complete its 2011 campaign in meeting the needs of southwest Iowans and eastern Nebraskans.  

In addition, many “small but important” grants in the round, including the smallest of $2,000, which went to a Best Buddies program at Harlan (IA) High School to support students with developmental disabilities. 

Iowa West has provided $280 million in grants to non-profits and governmental entities since the inception of its grants program in 1996. Requests for Iowa West grant applications for the second quarter of 2012 will begin March 1, 2012 and will be accepted through April 2, 2012.  Completed applications will be due April 16, 2012.  The deadline to request applications for the first quarter has passed.  

For more information including deadlines, interested organizations may visit the foundation’s website at www.iowawestfoundation.org or contact Deb Debbaut, Grants Manager, at 712-309-3003.  The foundation has recently updated its funding guidelines and procedures, which can be viewed at the website.  Applicants can apply on-line through the website.

A Harlan man was arrested Thursday on burglary and other charges. According to the Harlan Police Department, 29-year old Bruce Spray faces a 2nd degree burglary charge, along with charges of criminal mischief in the 3rd degree and violation of a protective order. Spray was taken into custody after authorities investigated a report a man was kicking in a door in the 800 block of Market Street.

In other news out of Harlan, the H-P.D. says 28-year old Michael Stewart, of Harlan, was arrested last week after officers were called to the 16-hundred block of 16th Street. Stewart was taken into custody on charges of domestic abuse assault, and obstruction of emergency communications. Also arrested last week in Harlan, were two juveniles…14-year old Christopher Buttry, and 15-year old Andrew Nippert, both of whom are from Harlan. Officials say the teens were charged with 4th degree theft, after allegedly taking cigarettes, sunglasses and $300 cash from a locker at the Petersen Wellness Center. The teen were cited, and released to their parents.

Earlier this month, Harlan Police officers arrested 15-year old Stephaun Lancer, of Harlan. Lancer was cited for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was later released to his parents. And, 17-year old Cassidy Coenen, of Earling, was arrested after police received a tip about a possible party where minors were present. Coenen was cited for being a minor in possession of alcohol, while 28-year old Sean Gifford was arrested on a charge of supplying alcohol to persons under legal age. Gifford was cited and released. Coenen was released to the custody of her mother, after receiving her citation.

w/ Ric Hanson

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The City Council has scheduled a vote on whether to pay nearly $479,000 to a man who filed a lawsuit over a sledding accident in Sioux City.  The Sioux City Journal reports the council is set to vote Monday on its part of the nearly $2.75 million going to 38-year-old David Rosalez, his wife and their two children.
 
Rosalez sued after injuring his spinal cord in January 2008 while sledding at Sertoma Park. He slid backward into a parking sign.  The city’s insurance carrier will pay $1.97 million. A third party will pay $300,000.  The Rosalez family filed the lawsuit in January 2010.
 
The city has filed third-party petitions against Aqua Leisure Industries, the maker of the snow tube Rosalez was riding, and Wal-Mart, which sold the tube.

A judge in Hall County, NE has ordered a western Iowa woman to appear in Grand Island by no later than 5-p.m. next Wednesday, to serve 120 days in jail for violating the terms of her probation after having been convicted on felony charges of animal neglect. 49-year old Denise Withee, of Mapleton (IA), was convicted in July 2009 for her role in the dumping of 20 dead and three dying dogs in a cornfield near Grand Island during the summer of 2008.

During her trial, Withee claimed she was taking the dogs to someone in Nebraska, when she became sick. She said she pulled over and passed out. When she awoke, Withee says most of the dogs were dead from the heat.

After her conviction in 2009, Withee was sentenced to four-years of probation and ordered not to possess or reside with any animal for five-years. But last week, Sheriff’s deputies in Monona County (IA) who were checking-up on Withee, found 13 dogs at the home she shares with her mother. Both women were cited for suspicion of animal cruelty. The presence of those animals in her home violated the terms of Withee’s Nebraska probation.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Some residents in western and southwest Iowa and parts of Nebraska will be able to indulge in donuts and coffee offered by a popular national chain, in the coming years. According to a development corporation headed-up by three former Huskers football players, Dunkin’ Donuts will open restaurants in Council Bluffs, Red Oak, Sioux City and Shenandoah. The chain will also offer stores in Omaha, Columbus, Norfolk and South Sioux City, NE. The first restaurant will open in 2013, with the remaining stores set to open by 2020.

Dunkin’ Donuts serves coffee, frozen and iced beverages, an assortment of pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and an all-day menu. The company has more than 10,000 restaurants in 32 countries worldwide, and racked-up more than $6-billion in global sales in 2010.

Officials with the Iowa Lottery say a review of their records for the past year shows there were winners of large lottery prizes in every Iowa county. In Cass County, ThelmaJean Venteicher, of Massena, was the latest big instant/scratch game winner during calendar year 2011, winning$30,000 in the “Crossword” game, with a ticket purchased at the 21st Century Co-Op C-Store, in Massena.

Players in Iowa have up to 365 days from the date of the drawing to claim prizes in Powerball, Mega Millions and Hot Lotto. Players have up to 90 days from the date of the drawing to claim prizes in Iowa’s $100,000 Cash Game and the Iowa Lottery’s Pick 3 and Pick 4 games. If the expiration date falls on a weekend or holiday when the lottery’s offices are closed, the winner has until the close of business on the next business day to turn in the ticket.

Prizes in instant-scratch and pull-tab games must be claimed within 90 days of the end of the game. Scratch-game prizes can be claimed at any Iowa Lottery retailer where the games are sold, while prizes in pull-tab games must be claimed at the location where the tickets were purchased.

Prize money left unclaimed after redemption deadlines is invested in future prize pools. Players may visit an Iowa Lottery retailer or go to one of the lottery’s offices in Des Moines, Council Bluffs, Storm Lake, Mason City or Cedar Rapids to claim prizes. Winning lotto numbers may be checked by visiting the lottery Web site at www.ialottery.com or calling the winning numbers hotline at (515) 323-4633. They may also be checked by visiting a lottery retail outlet or calling the lottery at (515) 725-7900 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a Hastings man was arrested Thursday, on a valid warrant for Failure to Pay Child Support. 49-year old John Michael Hudson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.