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The Iowa Economic Development Board approved awards Thursday that will create up to 59 jobs in Iowa and retain another 227 jobs.

The board approved incentives for projects located in Harlan, Cedar Rapids, Ankeny and Oelwein.

The awards were given to businesses that the board says are important growth industries where Iowa is a leader, including technology, industrial biotechnology and food manufacturing.
The board awarded Enterprise Zone tax incentives to AMPC, Inc., doing business as Proliant Meat Ingredients, to expand its facility in Harlan. The company, which produces stocks and broths, plans to expand its existing building, improve wastewater-handling capabilities, and increase production capacity by adding new equipment.

The project represents a nearly $12.9 million total capital investment.

Chelsea Nelson of Exira was crowned 2011 fair queen in front of the grandstand at the Audubon County Fair Thursday night.  Chelsea is the daughter of Dave and Trudy Nelson.  She will be a freshman at Iowa State University this fall.  Chelsea will also represent Audubon County in the state fair queen competition at the Iowa State Fair from August 9th through the 13th.  Amanda Steffes of Audubon was named as the runner-up.  Amanda is the daughter of Bruce and Deb Steffes.  She will be a senior at Audubon High School this fall.    2010 Audubon County Fair Queen Hallie Christofferson was also in attendance to help with the ceremony.

Police have released the name of man who died in a motorcycle accident in Council Bluffs.

He was 39-year-old Charles Thompson of Bellevue, Nebraska.

At about 2:00 Thursday morning police were called to the 1400 block of South 35^th street for a motorcycle accident.

Police say Thompson was southbound on 35^th street when the rider lost control. The cycle fell over and Thompson fell off, striking his head on the pavement.

Foul play was not involved in the incident according to Police.

One man has been arrested, but two others remain on the loose in a pair of Council Bluffs home invasions.

Alonzo Murray of Omaha was arrested Thursday morning, accused of two violent home invasions in Council Bluffs.

Murray and two accomplices robbed the home of James Surber at around 2 AM Thursday taking an undisclosed amount of money after pointing a gun in his face.

They then attempted to rob another home a short time later. The family at the second home fought back though and were able to chase the three burglars out of the home.

No other details are currently available.

The City of Atlantic will hold a public hearing on Monday, August 8^th at 7:30 AM at City Hall. The board will consider a use variance application by Robert Abild of 1715 E 7^th Street that would allow for heavy industrial use the manufacturing of mobile homes in a highway commercial zone.

Public input is allowed at the meeting and written comments may be submitted to the city of Atlantic at the meeting.

The new helipad at Cass County Memorial Hospital will be set for use Friday afternoon.

The helipad had to be moved due to the expansion project currently underway at the hospital. The new helipad is located just east of the hospital parking area, and is used for emergency patient transport to facilities in Omaha and Des Moines.It opens for use at 5:00 PM Friday.

Air ambulance helicopters had been landing at the Atlantic Municipal Airport since the end of March. Medivac Ambulance Service had loaned an ambulance to the hospital to transport the helicopter crew to the hospital, and then the patient and crew back to the helicopter for transport.

CCMH Administrator Pat Markham says that while they only use the helicopter transport about 50 times a year, they’re very pleased to have the new helipad open.

The Massena City Council will hold their regularly scheduled meeting this evening..

On the agenda for tonight is an update on a DNR plan to reduce inflow and infiltration.

The council will then hold a second reading of an ordinance regarding engine brakes, followed by a hearing on an ordinance regarding building permits.

The council will then discuss an agreement between Railroad Management LLC and the City of Massena.

The meeting begins at 7:00 this evening at Massena City Hall.

The Atlantic City Council had their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday night.

The Council approved an order to set a date for a public hearing regarding new boundaries for the City of Atlantic. The hearing is scheduled to take place on Wednesday August 3^rd at 5:30 at City Hall and is open to the public.

Re-districting must take place due to shifts in the 2010 census data. That’s because the population in Ward 3 decreased and Ward 5 increased significantly when compared to Atlantic’s other wards.

State code requires the City to adopt an ordinance describing the new ward map by September 1. Two more public readings on the adoption will occur on August 16.

In other business the Council also set a date and time for a public hearing regarding a sewer line easement for Andrew J. Knuth.

He had requested a ten foot easement on the north side of the city lot that abuts his law office at 306 Walnut to replace his sewer line.

The hearing will take pace August 3^rd at 5:30 and is open to the public.