COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Google has announced it will make a $300 million investment to build another data center in Council Bluffs. The Mountain View, Calif.-based company announced at a news conference Tuesday that the center will bring about 50 new jobs to the city. Officials say construction will begin immediately. Google’s existing $600 million data center opened in 2009. Last week the Iowa Economic Development Authority board approved more than $9 million in tax credits to help Google select the Iowa site.

An accident at 2nd and Locust in Atlantic Monday afternoon caused $8,500 damage, but there were no injuries. According to the Atlantic Police Department, vehicles driven by Dylan Christensen and Phillip Hetrick, both of Atlantic, collided at around 1:35-p.m., as Christensen was headed eastbound on 2nd Street, and Hetrick was traveling west. Officials say when Christensen attempted to make a left turn onto Locust, his vehicle struck Hetricks’ vehicle on the driver’s side door. Christensen was cited for Failure to Yield upon making a left turn.

The Audubon City Council Tuesday night passed an ordinance dealing with Nuisance Lighting. City Clerk Lora Hansen told KJAN News the measure passed on the first and final consideration. The ordinance entitled “Light Pollution” – pertains to “Obstrusive and objectionable elements of outdoor lighting, including uplight, glare, light trespass and excessive light levels.”

The ordinance, which defines the level of those elements which can be considered obtrusive, was created after the City received complaints about a residence that has what amounts to outdoor floodlights, or security lighting. Hanson said neighbors had complained it was “Like daylight in their house 24-hours a day.”

In other business, the Audubon City Council: discussed matters pertaining to the Landfill Commission; Extended the deadline for a resident to make repairs to an unsafe structure, until July 15th; and, passed a resolution setting the wage for the Public Works Director at $37,500 per year.

The Adair and Cass County Boards of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly sessions Wednesday, in Greenfield and Atlantic, respectively. Both boards have relatively light agendas. In addition to regular business and reports, the Adair County Board will hold discussion with Sheriff Brad Newton pertaining to the old Jail/Sheriff’s Office, now that the new Public Safety building is up and running, and, discuss with Custodian Rich Wallace, matters pertaining to Candy Machines.

In Atlantic, the Cass County Supervisors will hear a report from the Southern Iowa Rural Water Association (SIRWA), on their efforts to gather customers for a rural water project in the southwest part of Cass County.

Both meetings begin at 9-a.m.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says he’ll attend an announcement by Google in Council Bluffs.  Branstad didn’t offer details about the announcement planned for noon today (Tuesday), but the Iowa Economic Development Authority board last week approved more than $9 million in tax credits for the Mountain View, Calif.-based company.  Officials have said Google is considering making a $300 million investment in Council Bluffs, where it already operates a data center.

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (9.4MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Two southwest Iowa teachers are the recipients of the 2012 Charles E. Lakin Outstanding Teacher Award. Kay Fast, High School Vocal Instructor at Glenwood, and Melinda Smits, kindergartner teacher at Inman Elementary in Red Oak received their awards during special ceremonies held Monday. Both instructors received $10,000, while their school districts received $2,500. Named after a well-known philanthropist, the Lakin award is presented to teachers or counselors in 25 Iowa school districts within 40 miles of Emerson, Lakin’s hometown. Lakin and wife Florence Swoboda Lakin currently reside in Malvern.

Lakin created the award as a way to give back to teachers, who were a big influence on his life. His mission is to reward teachers who entice students to come to school each day, and to emphasize the vital role of teachers in rural communities. Teachers in large urban communities such as Council Bluffs and Lewis Central were excluded from the award. Administrators were also excluded.

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) has awarded $1,000 scholarships for tuition to 180 students who plan to study agriculture at their chosen colleges and universities. Six recipients were selected from each of the nine IFBF districts.  Scholarships were awarded to children of Farm Bureau members who plan to or currently attend an accredited college, university or community college to earn two or four-year degrees. 

First-time Farm Bureau scholarship recipients include 54 graduating high school seniors or students currently enrolled in their chosen college or university.  Students are eligible to renew the scholarships for up to four years by maintaining a minimum grade point average of 2.5 and by being a student in good standing with the college or university. 

Among the 1^st time recipients was:

(listed by hometown/name/parents/future or current college choice)

Audubon, Stacey Bruch, Brian and Nancy Bruch, Des Moines Area Community College

Corning, Haley Holbrook, Jerry and Tracy Holbrook, Iowa State University

Greenfield, Rob Mensing, Bruce and Di Mensing, Iowa State University

Griswold, Abigail Leighton, Scott and Angela Leighton, Iowa State University

Harlan, Nathan Ohms, Neil and Melanie Ohms, Iowa State University

Henderson, Samantha Keast, Russell and Diane Keast, Iowa State University

First-time applicants were asked to write an essay indicating the contributions they expect to make to agriculture and the rural community.  They also were selected based on their academic achievement, financial need, community and extracurricular involvement and letters of recommendation.

Trevor Frederickson Mem. Fund Logo (Courtesy Melanie Petty)

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund is preparing for the 4th Annual T-Fred Memorial Golf Tournament to be held Saturday, August 11, at the Nishna Hills Golf Course. While organizers say their mailing won’t go out until early June, they do have t-shirts available for sale now. The royal blue and silver t-shirts are $12 each and feature this year’s saying “Laid a lot of memories down, like tattoos on this town”. Melanie Petty, Fund representative, says “The saying is taken from Jason Aldean’s song, “Tattoos on This Town.’ The chorus of that song not only fits how Trevor lived but also what the Fund hopes to do in his memory.

Petty says the Fund’s logo is the tribal tattoo Trevor had designed of his name, making the saying even more appropriate.”  

(Here is the chorus to “Tattos on this town”: “It sure left its mark on us, We sure left our mark on it, We let the world know we were here, With everything we did, We laid a lot of memories down, Like tattoos on this town”)

To date, proceeds from the Annual T-Fred Tournament have funded over $35,000 in academic scholarships and donations to a variety of groups and organizations.  For information about the upcoming tournament or to order a t-shirt, contact Melanie Petty at 712-249-3696 or melaniepetty05@hotmail.com. Updates on the Fund’s activities can be found on KJAN, or by following the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund on Facebook.