The Iowa Department of Public Health has won a three-year grant of nearly eight million dollars for a program to help people overcome substance abuse. Kevin Gabbert is the project director for what’s called Access to Recovery or A-T-R. “Because every person in the recovery is different, a key component to our program is choice,” Gabbert explains. “And so with A-T-R, the individual receiving the service chooses what services they want to be involved in from a variety of our providers.”

Gabbert says providing support services to those in recovery can be key to helping them succeed. “Basic things like transportation — so gas cards and bus passes. Child care so an individual can go to treatment services in the evening or go to a 12-step meeting. Some of those basic things that might have been barriers otherwise if they had not had access to A-T-R,” Gabbert says.

The program has been running since 2010, but its grant money was running out. “There was a new grant application process that was initiated in 2014. We applied and were one of six grantees out of 30 applicants,” Gabbert says. Gabbert says they’ve seen success with the percentage of individuals not using alcohol or drugs six months after admission increasing from over 73 percent (73.3) to over 82 percent (82.3) from 2010 to this year. He says they expect to serve seven-thousand people with the new grant.

Individuals can come to us from a variety of different referral sources. It could be from the Department of Corrections, it could be from a primary care provider, it could be from the Department of Human Services, the list just goes on and on,” Gabbert says. “Individuals can just walk into one of our care coordination providers which we have across the state.”

For more information about Access to Recovery, visit the Iowa Department of Public Health’s website.

(Radio Iowa)

Residents of Pottawattamie County will have a chance to voice their opinion on the sale of three bond issues, next month. The Daily NonPareil reports the Pott. County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, set August 12th as the date for the hearing on the sale of bonds, which amount to $429,200, for vehicles for two departments, plus safety equipment for the Sheriff’s Department.

Two of the bond issues would fund vehicles for the Sheriff’s Department, along with equipment such as protective vests and AED mobile units, all totaling $319,000. The remaining $110,000 would fund two vehicles for the Planning and Maintenance departments. If the county goes ahead with the issuance of the three bonds following the public hearing, they would be offered with the issuance of $1.5 million in bonds voters approved this year for a new veterans affairs building.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man missing from a Sioux City work release facility since July 12 is back in jail after he was located in a Sioux City apartment. The Sioux City Journal reports Dexter James-Lloyd No Ear was taken into custody without incident after authorities found him Tuesday afternoon.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Mike Fuller says the 25-year-old No Ear was staying with a woman he knew at the apartment. He was located as authorities checked out known acquaintances. He is in the Woodbury County Jail. No Ear was placed on escape status July 12 when he failed to return to a work release program. He was serving a 30-year sentence for convictions of assault on a peace officer and other charges.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DONNELLSON, Iowa (AP) — A 70-year-old West Burlington woman has died after being run over by a car on the grounds of the Lee County Speedway in southeast Iowa. Police were called to the track located in Donnellson on Saturday night after a woman was reportedly struck by a vehicle in the pit area. Lee County Medical Examiner officials say Chon Cha Mathias died as a result of the car accident.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — An evenly divided Burlington City Council failed to pass a resolution censuring one of its own members for cursing and storming out of a meeting earlier this month. Four members agreed to the censure Councilman Tim Scott on Friday, but when it came to a vote Monday two said they accepted his apology and voted no, two voted yes and Scott abstained. The vote lacked a majority to pass. At a July 7 meeting Scott, irritated about an incident involving teens shooting fireworks on July 4, cursed and threw papers at Councilwoman Becky Anderson.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new national report on the well-being of children ranks Iowa third in the nation, up four places from last year. The Kids Counts report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation says Iowa ranks first among all states in health, third in economic well-being and seventh in the family and community category. Iowa is 13th in education. It says Iowa has made some of the biggest improvements among states.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley is returning to Iowa for fundraisers this weekend. The Democratic governor, who is considering running for president, is scheduled to attend a fundraiser on Saturday morning and another early Saturday afternoon for two Iowa state Senate candidates. O’Malley was in Iowa last month, when he headlined the Democratic Party’s state convention in Des Moines. Iowa holds the first presidential caucus of the 2016 election cycle.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A federal official says 122 children who entered the country illegally were sent to Iowa in the first half of the year. According to a report Tuesday in the Omaha World Herald, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Kenneth Wolfe said the children were placed with relatives or sponsors.

Gov. Terry Branstad has been opposed to hosting any immigrant children in Iowa. Branstad spokesman Jimmy Centers said Tuesday the state hasn’t been notified about the children entering Iowa. On Monday, Branstad said such children should be returned to their home countries. He contends federal officials must improve border security.

More than 57,000 youths, mostly from Central America, have crossed into the U.S. illegally since October.

The American Red Cross is facing a looming blood shortage, leading to an urgent need for donors of all blood types to roll up a sleeve and give.Donations through the Red Cross are down approximately 8 percent over the last 11 weeks, resulting in about 80,000 fewer donations than expected. The number of donors continues to decline, and the shortfall is significant enough that the Red Cross could experience an emergency situation in the coming weeks.

In addition, the Independence Day holiday falling on Friday reduced the number of blood drives scheduled in early July. Many sponsors did not host drives because people took vacations either over the long weekend or for the entire week. In an average summer week, about 4,400 Red Cross blood drives are scheduled, compared to Independence Day week when only 3,450 drives occurred.

Eligible donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative blood are especially needed at this time. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to anyone who needs blood. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients.

There is also an urgent need for platelet donations. Platelets – a key clotting component of blood often needed by cancer patients, burn victims and bone marrow recipients – must be transfused within five days of donation, so it’s important to have a steady supply of platelets on hand. Individuals who donated blood earlier this summer may now be eligible to donate again and help patients such as accident victims, heart surgery patients and children with blood disorders.

To Donate Blood, simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.

Upcoming Blood Donation Opportunities:

Carroll County
July 31 from noon to 6 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 1204 Center St. in Manning
Aug. 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at American Legion Hall, 210 Head St. in Arcadia

Cass County
July 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Cass County Memorial Hospital, 1501 E. 10th St. in Atlantic

Crawford County
Aug. 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 537 3rd Ave.nue in Manilla
Aug. 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 113 S. 14th St. in Denison
Aug. 8 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Community Building, 106 Franklin St. in Dow City

Harrison County
July 24 from noon to 6 p.m. at Community Center, 108 W. 4th St. in Logan
Aug. 7 from noon to 6 p.m. at Rand Community/Senior Center, 100 S. 4th St in Missouri Valley

Mills County
July 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Glenwood Resource Visitor’s Center, 711 S. Vine in Glenwood
July 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Glenwood High School, 504 E. Sharp St. in Glenwood
Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at East Mills High School, 1501 E. 15th St. in Malvern

Montgomery County
July 23 from noon to 6 p.m. at Community Center, 201 S. 3rd Ave. in Villisca

Page County
July 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Shenandoah K-8 School, 601 Drive Creighton Circle in Shenandoah
Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Shenandoah Medical Center, 300 Pershing Ave. in Shenandoah

Pottawattamie County
July 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at American Red Cross, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs
July 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Mercy Professional Center, 801 Harmony St. in Council Bluffs
July 25 from noon to 6 p.m. at Bass Pro Shop, 2901 Bass Pro Drive in Council Bluffs
July 26 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at American Legion, 309 1/2 Elm in Avoca
July 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at United Church of Christ, 106 Lincoln St. in Minden
July 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at East Side Christian Church, 331 W. Bennett Ave. in Council Bluffs
July 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 406 Antique City Drive in Walnut
July 28 from 12:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. at American Red Cross, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs
July 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at American Red Cross, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs
Aug. 2 from 8 a.m. to noon at Fire Station, 102 W. Florence in Crescent
Aug. 4 from 12:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. at American Red Cross, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs
Aug. 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at American Red Cross, 705 N. 16th St. in Council Bluffs
Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Dewitt Community Building, 404 Potter St. in Macedonia
Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Council Bluffs Senior Center, 714 Main St. in Council Bluffs

Shelby County
July 28 from noon to 6 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Hall, 118 Main St. in Earling
Aug. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at CDS, 3107 Shelby St. in Harlan

Taylor County
July 29 from noon to 6 p.m. at American Legion Hall, 106 W. Ohio in Lenox
Aug. 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at New Life Missionary Church, 301 Pollack in Bedford
Aug. 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at American Legion Hall, 301 Main St. in Bedford

Union County
July 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at East Union High School, 1916 High School Drive in Afton
July 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Creston High School, 601 W. Townline in Creston

The Harlan Community School District Board of Educators heard an update on the Merrill Field Construction Project. In a board meeting Monday, Superintendent Justin Wagner told the board the construction is on schedule. “At this point, overall the project is on schedule with the completion date of August 22nd. I talked to Joe down on the field and he said it could be as early as the 18th which for us is significant because we are trying to get to the 21st for the soap scrimmage and give the community a chance for celebration down on the field.”

The all new scoreboard has been installed and the bleachers are to be completed in the next ten days. Wagner says there was one issue during the construction. “Nemaha did some testing of the rock and it was not draining as they hoped. They brought in some cleaner rock which makes it filter and add a few more inches of rock to help the field drain.” The school district is working with the city of Harlan to make sure the field drains properly. Wagner says other than that, the project has been going smooth.

“Obviously lights are in. Safety lane is all the way around. Sidewalks will start being poured all the way around. The surfacing of the track will be the last thing done. When we say August 22nd substantial completion, we hope that includes the track. That might be a little bit aggressive and might be a little later. But it definitely will be done before the first home game. So the entire project will be done before the first home game.”

In other action items, the school board approved the new handbooks for the upcoming school year, a girls swimming shared agreement with Lewis Central and a bowling stipend for head coach David Tyrrel.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

GRAETTINGER, Iowa (AP) – A participant in an annual bicycle ride across Iowa has died due to a medical condition. Bob Libby, medical director for The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, told The Des Moines Register the 63-year-old man died Monday while riding near Graettinger, a small northern Iowa city in Palo Alto County. His name wasn’t released.

Libby says he didn’t know the cause of death, but that is was due to a medical condition and not a traumatic injury. A trauma surgeon, nurse and others cared for the man, who was taken to Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg, where he died.

It’s the first time a RAGBRAI rider has died since 2010. About 8,500 riders make the weeklong trip across Iowa, plus others who ride on single days.

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce report the United States Postal Service office in Atlantic has received a Community Improvement Award. The Image Builders Committee presented the Community Improvement award to Atlantic’s Post Office for its improvement to the front of its building.

Pictured: Bert Rose, employee, and Sharon Worthen, Post Master,
Also pictured: Image Building Committee: John Krogman, Ouida Wymer, Rich Perry, Gerald Brink, and Bill Saluk.

The Community Improvement Award is given to a business that has shown that it takes pride in making Atlantic a welcoming and beautiful community. Bert Rose, a USPS employee, found old materials in the post office basement and created the scene you see out front today.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report four people were arrested Friday. 44-year old Damon Patrick Doty, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $5,000. 20-year old Eric Joseph Carlson, of Nebraska City, NE, and Nadine Gail Yoesel, of Auburn, NE, were arrested Friday following a traffic stop. The pair face Possession of drug paraphernalia charges. Bonds were set at $300 each.

And, 20-year old Jacob Kyle Rash, of Herriman, UT, was arrested last Friday following a traffic stop on I-29 in Mills County, for OWI/2nd offense. His bond was set at $2,000.