The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), Monday, awarded $924,000 in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants to 14 communities around the state. The grants will benefit local improvement projects such as façade upgrades and restoration, upper floor rehabilitation and remodeled spaces for expanding downtown businesses. In the KJAN listening area, the City of Avoca received a $75,000 grant toward the  $280, 650 cost of restoring the Avoca Bank Building. The City will provide a $205, 650 match for the grant. The City of Manning also received a $75,000 grant toward the Manning Child Care Center project. The total project cost is $277,600. The City will put up a $202, 600 match for the grant.

Avoca Main Street grant

The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs. The funding will be distributed in the form of matching grants to the selected Main Street programs. The estimated total project cost of the 14 projects is over $8 million.

Main Street Iowa Coordinator  Michael Wagler said “Each project must provide at least a dollar-for-dollar cash-match. Overall, these projects will leverage eight times the state’s investment into bricks and mortar rehabilitation. These projects will have a significant economic impact within each district.”

The Challenge Grant program is funded through an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature.  Since the first appropriation in 2002 through 2014, approximately $5.9 million in state and federal funds have leveraged over $37 million of private reinvestment into 110 projects in 43 Main Street Iowa commercial districts across the state.

A Greenfield man arrested for Probation Violation early Monday morning at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, was subsequently charged with introducing intoxicants or drugs into an institution. 25-year old Spencer Jordan Leitzel was arrested at 1:30-a.m. He was later released from the Union County Jail on $500 bond.

The Red Oak Police Department responded to a 3-vehicle accident with at least one injury in Red Oak on Monday.  At 2:57pm officers responded to the accident at the intersection of Broadway and Corning Streets in Red Oak.

After investigation it was determined that a Dodge Durango driven by 46-year-old Tammy Turek of Essex failed to stop at a red light and rear ended another vehicle which then rear ended the third vehicle.  No injuries were reported from the first two vehicles but the driver of the third vehicle complained of neck pain and was taken by Red Oak Rescue to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital to be examined.

Turek’s Durango was towed from the scene and had an estimated $3,500 damage. The second vehicle received $3,000 damage and the third $500. Red Oak police were assisted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at the scene.

A Nebraska woman was arrested on a charge of OWI/1st Offense, following an investigation into an accident early Friday morning on Interstate 80, in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Department says deputies responded at around 2:40-a.m.  to the single-vehicle accident on I-80 eastbound, near mile marker 68 (or, just west of the Anita Highway 148 Exit).

Officials say a 2006 Ford Taurus driven by 18-year old Kayla Ann Richmond, of Omaha, left the road and entered the north ditch. No injuries were reported. Upon investigation, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Richmond on the OWI charge. She was also cited for Minor in Possession and Failure to Maintain Control. Richmond was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released later that day on her own recognizance.

And on Saturday, deputies in Cass County arrested 20-year old Russell Logan Barker, of Council Bluffs, on two District Court warrants for Failure to Appear. Barker was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $1,500 bond.