Alliant Energy’s Iowa utility and Trees Forever announced they are awarding $115,050 to 25 Iowa communities or organizations through their Branching Out community tree planting program this fall.

Alliant Energy provides funding for Branching Out, a nationally recognized program. It partners with Trees Forever and local community leaders to develop and implement public tree-planting projects. The program supports energy efficiency with strategic planting locations and designs. It also improves the quality of life, increases environmental awareness, and encourages volunteer involvement.

“We hope that by investing in tree planting and education, our customers will learn more about the energy efficiency and sustainability benefits trees offer,” said Tom Aller, President of Alliant Energy’s Iowa utility. “This is one of the ways we are working with our communities and customers to help create a more sustainable future.”

Alliant Energy provides grants of between $1,000 and $10,000 for community-based, tree-planting projects in communities it serves. These can be at parks, community gateways, cemeteries, nature trails, libraries, nursing homes, schools, and more. Trees Forever administers the Branching Out program and provides technical and planning support.

Since the beginning of the Branching Out program in 1989, communities and organizations have planted more than 1.4 million trees and seedlings in Iowa.

“Every Branching Out project focuses on long-term tree care, with a special emphasis on energy efficiency and conservation,” said Shannon Ramsay, founding president of Trees Forever. “We are pleased to continue our long partnership with Alliant Energy, in a combined effort to educate Iowans about the importance of trees and improving our environment, one community at a time.”

Organizations can submit grant applications anytime. However, funding is only decided during two grant-making cycles – November 1 for spring plantings and June 1 for fall plantings.

In Atlantic, $5,000 is being awarded to Cass County Memorial Hospital.

For more information, contact Trees Forever at 1-800-369-1269 or visit alliantenergy.com/branchingout or treesforever.org.

w/ Marissa Hovde

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An open house for the newly opened Visitor Center at Lewis and Clark State Park will be held this Friday, August 23rd, from 2 to 3 p.m.  The Visitor Center, overlooking Blue Lake, showcases five replica boats used on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, including one that is fully operational, educational displays focusing on the flora and fauna discovered in the Monona County area during the expedition, and displays depicting  how the historic expedition was carried out.

The construction of the Visitor Center was made possible by support from Monona County, The Friends of Lewis and Clark State Park and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

w/ Marissa Hovde

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With school in full swing in most parts of Iowa, parents once again face that early morning decision – is my child too sick for school? School districts often provide guidelines for keeping children out of the classroom and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) encourages parents to keep their children home from school when ill not only for their own child’s health, but to avoid the spread of disease to other students.

“There are times when a parent can clearly see their child is too ill for school,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “Other times, it’s not so clear. While we understand the challenges parents who work outside the home face when trying to accommodate a child who needs to stay home from school, it’s so important that children who have a contagious illness don’t come to class to stop them from spreading whatever they have to the other children. ”

In general, symptoms that indicate a day home from school is needed and consulting with the child’s health care provider is appropriate include:

fever (temperature higher than 100.4 degrees F. when taken by mouth);
severe sore throat that lasts more than 48 hours, especially when accompanied by a fever;
a significant rash, particularly when other symptoms are present;
sores in the mouth with drooling;
red eyes (pink eye);
skin infection with erupting sores;
severe ear pain;
an uncontrolled cough or difficulty breathing;
diarrhea;
vomiting more than 2 times in 24 hours;
severe headache, especially with a fever or
any symptoms that suggest a more serious illness, such as sluggishness, persistent crying, or irritability.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children may be allowed to return to school after symptoms are gone for at least 24 hours. For information on specific childhood illnesses and what to do regarding school attendance, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/hcci/common/pdf/childhood_illness_guide.pdf.

As of Tuesday, the Page County Sheriff’s Office reports that the handgun found in possession of Rodney Eugene Long during the home invasion in Taylor County was the handgun that had been stolen in a burglary at 2914 180th Street in rural Clarinda which KJAN reported on earlier this week. This was confirmed by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Evidence from this burglary has been turned over to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab for analysis.

No charges have been filed in this burglary case and the case remains open pending results of the analysis from the DCI Crime Lab.

Harlan Municipal Utilities has announced after five years of construction and planning, the new HMU water treatment plant is in operation. The plant was first approved by the HMU board in 2008 and is now online providing water to the city of Harlan. The $7.1 million operation will see 2.4 million gallons per day capacity and is fully automated, runs 24 hours a day, removes iron and manganese from water, uses reverse osmosis technology to further filter and soften water and has fluoride and chlorine added to the finished product. In a press release from HMU, Steve Dresen, director of Gas and Water, said, “This plant will be much more efficient than the old one as we are using new and automated technology. We anticipate our labor, operations and maintenance costs to decrease. One thing I do want our customers to know is they may notice a different taste to the water.” He stated the plant uses a different way to clean the water and HMU still meets all the safety and quality standards.

(Joel McCall KNOD)

From late-August through Labor Day, city, county and state police will be out in force as part of the annual nationwide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown on drunk driving. The crackdown, which will include high-visibility enforcement throughout Iowa, will run from August 26 through September 8, 2013.

The effective nationwide drunk driving crackdown will include high-visibility enforcement and will be supported by national paid advertising, creating a comprehensive campaign to curb drunk driving in August and through the Labor Day holiday weekend. Iowa ranks 2nd as having the lowest number of alcohol related fatalities in the nation.

While it is illegal to drive drunk (having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher) in all 50 states, far too many people across the nation get behind the wheel after consuming too much alcohol. The latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underscore the serious nature of the nation’s continuing drunk driving epidemic.

“Every year, about one third of all motor vehicle traffic deaths involve one or more drunk drivers or motorcycle operators,” said Colonel David Garrison – Chief of the Iowa State Patrol. “In 2011 9,878 people died across the nation in crashes involving drunk drivers. That is approximately one drunken driving fatality every 53 minutes.” During last year’s Labor Day Holiday, there were no reported alcohol related fatalities, however there were 4 fatalities.

“Research has shown that high-visibility enforcement like the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign reduces drunken driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent. By joining this nationwide effort, we will make Iowa’s roadways safer for everyone throughout the Labor Day period,” said Colonel Garrison.

“Driving drunk is simply not worth the risk. So don’t take the chance. Remember, we will be out in force and we will be watching, so ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,’ said Colonel Garrison.

For more information, visit the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign headquarters at www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

BEDFORD, Iowa (AP) – A Bedford woman quietly told a dispatcher that her husband shot an escaped inmate who broke into their home. Carolyn Mauderly placed the 911 call after Rodney Long had broken into the couple’s home Monday night and held them against their will for several hours.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld the termination of a former Fort Madison police officer who had an affair with the police chief’s wife. The court ruled that William Bowker’s affair with the woman, who was a reserve officer, violated departmental rules. Bowker was seeking a reversal of a district court’s ruling.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state ethics board will not remove its executive director from an investigation into whether the National Organization for Marriage violated Iowa law. A complaint filed in June alleges NOM did not disclose donors or all of its contributions when funding campaigns against Iowa Supreme Court justices up for retention in 2010 and 2012.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Rock Falls man has been given more prison time for leasing the same piece of farmland to several individuals. Raymond Schaefer pleaded guilty to a third-degree theft charge and was sentenced to two years in state prison. Schaefer will serve the sentence concurrently with a federal prison sentence.

The Harlan City Council approved to surface Maple Road from Highway 44 to the Wasterwater Treatment Plant. In a regular meeting Tuesday, The council approved the bid from StaBilt Construction for $36,185.90. City Administrator Terry Cox said the city will maintain the road following the surfacing. The city has never put an overlay on the road as Cox said it has been rock for thirty six years. In other business, the city approved a solar light school crossing blinker sign for Highway 44 and 19th Street crosswalk. However, the city still needs to go through the proper channels on getting the sign approved by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Cox said at the meeting he submitted the sign to the DOT office in Atlantic but it now has to be sent to the office in Ames for approval. Cox says the solar powered lighting will be much more noticeable for traffic,

Cox1: “When you push the button to cross it will flash these lights. It won’t be 24/7. Once the person crosses, it will be a green light going east and west. We did get the LED light from the utilities. This is a safety thing to help the neighborhood kids.”

The cost for the new LED lighted cross walk will be $6,280. Currently there is a crossing sign on Highway 44 but the city will have to install the new signs with the LED lights. In other news, Harlan Mayor Gene Gettys reported there are four seats up, 3 on the council and the mayor’s position, for election in November on the Council. If you are interested in a seat on the Harlan City Council, stop at City Hall to pick up a packet as the due date is September 19th. Gettys also announced the “Today in America” film crew will be in the area on Monday, August 26th to start filming the city of Harlan for the program.

(Joel McCall KNOD)