Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey have announced 12 urban conservation water quality initiative demonstration projects have been selected to receive $820,840 in funding. The 12 projects will provide nearly $1.18 million in matching funds to support water quality improvement efforts as well as other in-kind contributions.

Among the area communities participating in newly announced projects is Denison. The City of Denison received a grant award amount to $73, 560 for the installation of four bioretention cells and one permeable paver system in the downtown area as part of this project. The total project cost is $147,120. The retrofit demonstration project will offer multiple water quality benefits, along with strong local support and community involvement, in a highly visible area with the goal of using the project as an example for future community infrastructure projects.

The various projects will focus on conservation measures that capture and allow stormwater to be absorbed into the ground and reduce a property’s contribution to water quality degradation, stream flows and flooding. They also include strong partnerships and outreach/education components to disseminate information to promote increased awareness and adoption of available practices and technologies for achieving reductions in nutrient loads to surface waters.

More information about the urban water quality practices can be found at www.cleanwateriowa.org/residential-practices.aspx. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship received 34 pre-applications for this funding after it was announced last fall and 14 projects were invited to submit full proposals. Twelve projects were selected to receive funding through the Water Quality Initiative. This is the third time that urban conservation projects have been funded through the Water Quality Initiative and there are currently 22 active or completed urban demonstration projects across the state . The state awarded these initial 22 projects over $1.63 million in funding and partners and landowners participating in the projects are providing over $5 million to support these urban conservation efforts.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office says an Arispe resident reported Sunday, someone had entered his home and taken several items. Those items include two wallets, a cell phone, and a purse.  The loss was estimated at $850.

Two public hearings are set to kick-off a regular meeting of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday. The hearings at 5:30-p.m., are with regard to the Proposed 2017-18 School Calendar and 2017-18 Certified Budget. The meeting and related hearings, take place in the Atlantic High School Media Center.

The proposed 2017-18 School Calendar calls for the first day of school to be held August 23rd, 2017, and last day as May 24th, 2018. Christmas Break would be held Dec. 22nd 2017 through Jan. 3rd 2018, while Spring Break is tentatively set for March 19-23, 2018. The District’s Certified 2017-18 Budget, which must be submitted to the State, is $26,570,911, and includes keeping the tax rate flat for FY2018, while building cash reserves for the District’s General Fund.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act on approving the resignation of Mary Beth Fast as Business Manager/Board Secretary, a position she’s held since 2010. Fast has accepted a position with the Urbandale School District as their Chief Financial Officer. The Board will also act on accepting the resignation of Brenda Buman, as High School Level 3/BD Teacher. They’ll also act on contracts and/or Letters for Assignment for the following persons/positions: Joe Brummer – Head 7th grade Boys Track Coach; Oran Perkins – Assistant Soccer Coach; Brielle Cerven – Homebound Instructor; Pam Russell – Long term sub for the Middle School Guidance Office; Donna Green – additional para-educator hours; Blake Meneely – Summer Grounds Mowing, and Nick Sandbothe – Assistant Mechanic.

Other Board Action include: approving the purchase of a 2017 Chevy Suburban from Deter Motor Company for $39,400 through their Price Match Program; A Budget Adjustment Resolution for 2017-18 in the amount of $108,803. The adjustment puts off the impact of declining enrollment for one-year;The Board will also act on approving the School Business Official Job Description, with the change of job title from Business Manager to Finance Director. The position will be posted on the IASBO website as well as the district’s and Teach Iowa websites.

And, the Atlantic School Board will act on approving a recommendation by the Administration for one school make-up day due to the number of days the district missed because of inclement weather. The proposal is to extend the school year for non-graduating students to May 26th, 2017. The District missed five days due to inclement weather during the 2016-17 school year, but Superintendent Mike Amstein recommends one makeup day, which still allows the district to exceed the required number of instructional hours set by the Iowa Dept. of Education.

Among the final action items on their agenda, is to approve the Summer 2017 Capital Projects recommendation by the administration and supervisors in the district, in the amount of $748,000. The top projects include: Teacher Computer replacement ($150,000); 1-to-1 Laptop payment ($125,000); Phase 2 heat pump replacement at AHS ($183,000); Bus/vehicle replacement $155,000. The remaining three projects amount to less than $50,000 each. And, the Board will move to approve termination of a 5-year building lease with the Car Guys, LLC, for a facility at 1209 Sunnyside Lane, effective June 30, 2017. The facility currently serves as the site for the Behavioral Program and Alternative High School. Ending the lease agreement would save the District more than $51,253 per year.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Two men from Colorado were arrested Saturday morning in Creston, on drug and other charges. Creston Police arrested 38-year old Cameron Murphy, of Denver, CO., at 800 W. Taylor Street at around 3:30-a.m., for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and OWI/1st offense. Murphy was later released on a $5,000 bond. 46-year old Kenneth Scott, also from Denver, CO., was arrested at around 6-a.m. Saturday also at the same location, for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Scott was later released on a $1,000 bond.

Friday night, 40-year old Shawn Parmenter, of Creston, was arrested in the 500 block of N. Cherry Street in Creston. Parmenter was booked into the Union County Jail on a Union County warrant for Unauthorized Possession of Offensive Weapons. He was later released on a $5,000 bond.

26-year old Trevor Kinkade, of Creston, was arrested Friday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, for Public Intoxication and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was later released on a $1,000 bond. And, at around 2:37-p.m. Friday, Creston Police arrested 42-year old Jeremy Hiatt, of Creston, at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a warrant for Interference with Corrections Officials. He was later released on a $1,000 bond.

The area’s top news at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Nebraska man has been accused of stealing prescription painkillers while working for a pharmacy in Council Bluffs. The Daily Nonpareil reports that Justin Gardner, of Omaha, is charged with two counts of possession and one of theft. Online records said Monday that Gardner remained in Pottawattamie County custody.

A police report says Gardner told a manager at the Walgreens store and then detectives that he stole the pills and sold them. Gardner’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday.

Police in Council Bluffs are looking for a vehicle that struck a City Street Sweeper Sunday night. The machine was hit from behind by a silver Jeep Liberty at around 11:57-p.m.  The Jeep left then the scene. The incident happened on South 24th Street at Interstate 80.

The driver of the street sweeper was not injured. The street sweeper sustained damage to the rear of the vehicle. The Jeep Liberty should have front end damage.

Anyone with information in reference to this accident is urged to contact the Council Bluffs Police Special Operations Traffic Unit at (712) 328-4948 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP (7867).

WASHINGTON (AP) – A veteran Republican congressman is voicing support for a right-wing Dutch politician who opposes immigration and has spoken against Islam. Rep. Steve King of Iowa, in a tweet Sunday, paid tribute to Geert Wilders, a veteran member of the Dutch Parliament who founded the Party of Freedom. It came as the Dutch prepare for an election Wednesday.

In the post on his verified Twitter account, King, who has served in the U.S. House since his election in 2002, said: Wilders “understands that culture and demographics are our destiny. We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies.”

King is among conservatives who have strongly advocated an end to the U.S. practice of granting automatic citizenship to children born here to parents who are in the country illegally.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT for Monona-Harrison-Shelby-Pottawattamie-Mills-Fremont Counties:

Patchy freezing drizzle and an area of light snow was causing some slippery roads this morning across parts of eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Secondary and elevated roadways are the most likely to have some light icing, as well as decks, sidewalks and parking lots.

Brisk north winds of 25 to 35 mph and temperatures below freezing will maintain the threat of light icing through the morning drive time. Motorists are urged to use caution and allow some extra time to reach destinations. Also, you may have to scrape your windows if your vehicle was outside overnight.