Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Friday, the City of Anita has received a Water Quality Improvement Loan amounting to $1.6-million dollars for drinking water source and treatment improvements. Anita, along with 22 other Iowa communities will be able to move water quality projects forward with the support of a combined total of more than $40.4 million in low-cost water quality loans.

The City of Mt. Ayr, in Ringgold County, received $900,000 for sewer treatment improvements. And, the City of Walnut, in Pottawattamie County, received $170,000 for Drinking Water – Planning & Design.

The financing is made available through Construction and Planning & Design Loans through the State Revolving Fund. Construction Loans are a low-cost construction financing option available for Iowa cities and municipalities for water quality initiatives. Planning & Design Loans are zero percent loans that assist with the first-phase of project expenses.

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources jointly administer the State Revolving Fund in Iowa. IFA Executive Director Dave Jamison says “The Iowa Finance Authority is committed to enhancing the quality of life for Iowans and one way we do this is by providing communities with access to affordably maintain and update water systems. The State Revolving Fund provided low-cost financing for water quality infrastructure improvements benefiting one million Iowans in last fiscal year alone.”

Iowa DNR Director Chuck Gipp says “The State Revolving Fund plays a vital role in advancing water quality improvements throughout Iowa. The recent awardees join more than 500 other Iowa cities in recognizing the State Revolving Fund as their best choice for financing of their water quality initiatives.”

The State Revolving Fund has awarded Iowa communities and municipalities with more than $2.5 billion in Construction Loans and nearly $150 million through Planning & Design Loans since the program’s inception. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides annual capitalization grants to states. Leveraged bonds and loan repayments expand the reach of the federal investment. More than $3 in assistance has been leveraged for Iowa water quality projects for every $1 of federal funds.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Friday, red dye poured into a storm sewer in Clarinda has reached a tributary of the West Nodaway River in Page County, Thursday. A local resident noticed the bright red water flowing into the tributary Thursday evening and notified the Department of Natural Resources.

Environmental specialists for the DNR did not find any dead fish in the tributary. Water samples have been collected for analysis to determine potential impacts to the stream. During the investigation, the DNR determined that an employee with Clarinda Coop, located on First Street, rinsed a jug of Color Coat Red, a dye used in the treatment of soybeans, into a storm sewer outlet.

The Clarinda Police Department assisted with investigation of the spill and helping identify the source. The City of Clarinda is working to identify storm sewer connections to determine if any other parts of the system may have been affected. The DNR is continuing to investigate the incident and will consider enforcement action if appropriate.

A truck driver from Tennessee was injured during a rollover accident Friday morning off Interstate 80, in Adair County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 61-year old Charles Delk, of Pulaski, TN, was traveling west on I-80 at around 10:25-a.m. near Stuart, when he lost control of the 2008 Freightliner semi he was driving. When the semi went into the north ditch, the trailer became separated from the tractor, and came to rest on its left side. The tractor/cab came to rest on its top.

Delk, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported by Stuart Rescue to Mercy Hospital, in Des Moines. Stuart Rescue was assisted at the scene by deputies with the Adair and Guthrie County Sheriff’s Offices, crew with Casey and Adair Rescue, and Troopers with the Iowa State Patrol.

DENISON, Iowa (AP) – A western Iowa police chief who’d been disciplined for lewd and offensive computer images has lost his job.

Denison Mayor Dan Leinen said Thursday that he’d asked for Chief John Emswiler’s resignation, which Emswiler submitted earlier in the day. Leinen says he’d sought Emswiler’s exit for personnel reasons he wouldn’t describe. The mayor denied reports that they were connected to the images found on the chief’s computer.

A former Denison officer had reported that Emswiler had pictures of his staff on his computer and that Emswiler would use editing software to put “their heads on different stuff.” The city attorney said the chief was disciplined and that the city considered the matter closed.

A public phone listing for Emswiler couldn’t be found Friday.

Relay for Life returns to the Atlantic High School Track tonight.  The Festivities get under way with the Survivor dinner at the Atlantic High School Commons, registration starting at 4:30pm, meal at 5:00pm.  Then Relay will kick off at 6:00pm on the track with the survivor lap.  Lots of other entertainment, food, and education will be available throughout the night.

One stop you won’t want to miss at Relay is the Smart Shoppe. Located under the TV Store red tents on the North end of the infield, the Smart Shoppe is full of family-friendly activities, healthy food samples and information for the whole family.

“We have a great variety of information and activities under the tent this year, be sure to stop in and see us at Relay”, says Kate Olson, Smart Shoppe Chair and Program Coordinator and ISU Extension in Cass County. “We open after the survivors lap at 6 PM, and will be there until 8.”

According to Olson, a variety of local groups will be set up in the Smart Shoppe.

Cass County Health Systems Outpatient Clinic will have a photo booth with fun props, where Relay participants can take a fun photo to help “Picture a Cure”. The will also have information on their services and fun giveaways for the kids.

Cass County Extension will be featuring information on upcoming healthy living programs, as well as resources for a healthy lifestyle. You can also pick up a free snack, made from recipes on their Spend Smart, Eat Smart website. Chose from healthy trail mix or a frozen fruit salad. All snack ingredients were donated by your Atlantic Hy Vee Food store.

Information and giveaways on programs such as Quitline Iowa, Well Woman, Care For Yourself and others will also be available for folks to pick up in the Smart Shoppe.

In addition, the Smart Shoppe will again be hosting the people’s choice judging, and silent auction for decorated Angel Food Cakes, also donated by Atlantic Hy Vee. Teams and other relay supporters will have decorated cakes on hand, in a variety of themes, for participants to view and enjoy, as well as bid on. All proceeds from the silent auction will be matched by the local Royal Neighbors group.

Ice cold water bottles, donated by Atlantic Coca Cola bottling, will also be available to help Relay-ers cool down, and can be picked up at the Smart Shoppe tent.

The Glenwood Police Department reports one arrest on Thursday.  20-year-old Kameron Myers of Glenwood was arrested on a Mills County Warrant for Driving Under Suspension.  Myers was taken to the Mills County Jail and held on $500 cash or surety bond.

A Red Oak woman was arrested Friday morning at 6:43am for trespassing.  Officers were called to 610 N 1st Street in Red Oak for a report of an unwanted person on the property.  After speaking with the victim she stated that the defendant was up next to her house plucking the flowers from her rose bushes.  Officers then arrested 86-year-old Lois Marilyn Nelson of Red Oak for Simple Trespass.  The homeowner has an active no trespass notice on Nelson from previous incidents.