The Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) says it is seeking applications from low to moderate income homeowners in the City of Elk Horn. Income qualified homeowners who live in the target area may be eligible to receive a five year forgivable loan to provide housing repairs.

The funds are made possible by a Community Development Block Grant the City of Elk Horn received from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Elk Horn was awarded $304,000 for the repair of eight homes.

Interested applicants should contact SWIPCO at 712-243-4196 for more information. All applications are due to the SWIHTF office at 1501 SW 7th St. by Dec. 1, 2015.

Police in Council Bluffs said late Monday evening, that the female driver of an SUV which struck a 17-year old female pedestrian Monday morning at 25th and Broadway, has been identified. The driver, whom police declined to identify, contacted the traffic unit Monday afternoon. An investigation into the incident will continue Tuesday morning.

In their original report, Bluffs Police said a 17-year old female was crossing the intersection southbound on the west side of the intersection, in the crosswalk. A red, crossover-type SUV vehicle, driven by a white female, was facing north on 25th street and attempted a left turn to go west onto Broadway. The vehicle struck the pedestrian in the crosswalk.

The driver of the vehicle stopped and made contact the pedestrian, and remained on scene until the Fire Dept arrived. Paramedics transported the pedestrian to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, where she was treated for minor injuries and released. The driver of the vehicle left the scene before police arrived to investigate the crash.

Officials with SWIPCO (the Southwest Iowa Planning Council), Monday, announced Amber Carcel, of Avoca, joined the organization Oct. 26th, as its Community Development Director. Carcel comes to SWIPCO from Iowa Western Community College where she was the Business and Computer Program Coordinator. Prior to Iowa Western Carcel was the Energy Housing Director at West Central Community Action in Harlan. She is also a veteran of the United States Air Force.

The SWIPCO community development department includes five staff in addition to the director. The department handles a wide variety of tasks including housing assistance, grant writing and administration, community and regional planning, and general assistance to local governments.

Executive Director John McCurdy said Carcel holds a Bachelor degree in business marketing, a Masters of Arts in Education and a Masters of Business Administration in addition to her work experience. Outside of SWIPCO Carcel is a member of the AHSTW school board and an active mentor in the Teammates Mentoring Program, as well as an adjunct instructor at Metro Community College. She and her husband, Tim, have two children, Timmy (13) and Lilianna (9).

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), reported four arrests over the past week. Last Thursday, 19-year old Mark Sean Dupre, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a Warrant for Failure To Appear in court on a Possession of Controlled Substance charge. Dupre was arrested at around 11:40-p.m. at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, where his bond was set at $5,000.

34-year old Michael Alan Hathaway, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Thursday night in Mills County, for Possession of drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $300. And, 41-year old Deborah Lynn Wentz, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Thursday morning for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug, and on a Pottawattamie County Warrant for Probation Violation. Her bond was set at $1,000.

Mills County deputies also arrested 24-year old Shialea Kay Cozad, of Omaha. She was taken into custody Saturday night in Glenwood, for Possession of Contraband in Correctional Institution, and on warrants for Violation of No Contact Order and being a Fugitive from Justice.  Bond was set at $30,300.

A woman trying to do too many things at once crashed her vehicle Saturday evening, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office says Jennifer Weber, of Pacific Junction, was giving her back seat infant a bottle, and attempting to change a DVD in her 2009 GMC, when her vehicle veered off Highway 275.

The front passenger wheel hit a culvert going under a driveway. The vehicle continued through the ditch and embankment before it collided with a speed limit sign. At that point, the vehicle flipped forward and landed on its roof. Weber suffered injuries to her head and mid section and was transported to a hospital by Tabor Rescue. The infant in the car was properly buckled and did not appear to be injured.

Officials say the accident happened at around 6:20-p.m., Saturday.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop Saturday, resulted in two people being arrested on drug charges. 28-year old Denise Jean Chamberlin, of Atlantic, was arrested on charges of Possession of Marijuana 3rd/Subsequent offense, and OWI 1st Offense. 29-year old Randy Wayne Fredericksen, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of Possession of Marijuana 2nd Offense. Both individuals were taken to the Cass County Jail and released on bond, Sunday. Chamberlin’s bond was set at $3000, while Fredericksen’s bond was $1000.

And, on Friday, Deputies in Cass County arrested 56-year old Robert John Rasmussen, of Massena. He was taken into custody on two District Court warrants for Failure to Appear. Rasmussen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released Saturday, on his own recognizance.