Awards totaling $21.8 million were announced today (Tuesday) for 57 communities across the state. The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) awarded the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to support 58 community investment projects. The federally funded grants were awarded for community facilities, infrastructure improvements, downtown revitalization and single family owner-occupied housing rehabilitation.

In the KJAN listening area, CDBG funds were awarded to the following cities for their respective projects:

• Guthrie Center – $500,000 for the replacement of old, undersized water mains, with new, 6-to 8-inch mains.
• Magnolia – $183,000 for the construction of improvements to the city’s water system to provide a reliable source of water and to comply with 10 state standards.
• Mt. Ayr – $420,000 for the installation of a sewer main extension to add 4 customers who are illegally not on the municipal system, and better serve a 5th household.
• New Market – $143,500 for the repair of the sewer collection and lagoon valve systems to reduce inflow and infiltration, and eliminate excess discharges.
• Elk Horn – $304,00 to be administered through SWIPCO, for eight housing units.
• Red Oak – $368,500 administered through SWIPCO for 10 housing units.
• Adair – $300,000 for the rehabilitation of 18 downtown building facades.
• Clarinda – $500,000 for the rehabilitation of 16 downtown building facades.
• Walnut – $300,000 for the rehabilitation of 15 downtown building facades.
• Mapleton – $482,586 for Stormwater verge infrastructure.

Debi Durham, director of IEDA said “Using these federal funds in all areas of our state, we are able to make strategic investments in Iowa’s smaller communities to assist them in becoming development-ready. As a result of these projects, thousands of Iowans will see infrastructure improvements, rehabilitated housing, new community facilities and exciting enhancements in their downtowns.”

IEDA received 108 applications for funding, totaling $38.9 million in requests. Grants were awarded based on benefit to low- and moderate-income persons, slum and blight elimination, financial need, project impact and readiness, and commitment of local resources to the project.

The Community Development Block Grant program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). IEDA is responsible for administering the CDBG funds in the non-metropolitan areas of the state. Applications are solicited annually, generally during the fall.

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – April 20, 2015 – 436 high school seniors from across Iowa will be honored Sunday, April 26, 2015, at the 13th Annual Governor’s Scholar Recognition Ceremony, held at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines starting at 1:00 p.m.

The Governor’s Office, the Iowa High School Athletic Association, and its title sponsor, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, are presenting this recognition program.

The Honorable Governor Terry Branstad will host the event and address the audience of 2,500-plus. Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill; Dr. Craig Scott, Chairperson of the Board of Control of the Iowa High School Athletic Association; and Clemencia Spizzirri, 2015 Iowa Teacher of the Year, will also deliver messages to the students and their guests. Spizzirri’s message will be a video as her Iowa Teacher of the Year duties require her to travel to Washington D.C. at the time of the ceremony.

The seniors being honored were selected by their high schools as their highest academic achievers. Each student will receive a photo plaque of themselves with Governor Branstad and a certificate to commemorate their achievement. Each student’s most influential teacher will also receive a certificate of appreciation. A reception for the students, their parents, their most influential teachers, and other guests will follow the ceremony.

In addition to being recognized as the state’s brightest students, over 98 percent of the group participates in school activities, with approximately 76 percent participating in at least one interscholastic sport. Nearly 60 percent plan to pursue their post-secondary education in Iowa.

Following the April 26 ceremony, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation will be sending the honoree’s hometown newspaper a short news release and a photo of Governor Branstad congratulating the student.

A list of this year’s honorees (ordered alphabetically by high school) is available HERE.

Deputies in Cass County arrested an Elliott woman this (Tuesday) morning. The Sheriff’s office says 48-year old Kristine Courtney Ryan was taken into custody on a charge of OWI/2nd Offense. Ryan was brought to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $2,000 bond.

The Griswold School Board, Monday evening, approved the purchase of new 1-to-1 laptops. Superintendent Dana Kunze said the current generation of laptops for the students are ending their life span. Kunze said the board also approved the purchase of Ipads and an expansion of the 1-to-1 initiative to include 1st and 2nd graders, which means all students in grades 1 thru 12 will have computers or Ipads in the next school year.

He said also, the Griswold School Board approved the specifications only, for the possible purchase of a new, 8-seat full-size van. The vehicle has not yet been purchased.

Two people were arrested on separate charges Monday, in Atlantic. The A-PD reports 28-year old Jacky Walter, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault causing bodily injury. Walter was booked into the Cass County Jail. And, 17-year old Damian Sibbits, of Greene, was arrested on a charge of Harassment in the 1st Degree. Sibbits was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center, in Council Bluffs.

A man from Creston was arrested Saturday morning on a harassment charge. Creston Police report 52-year old Kirby Jay Konkler was arrested just before 5-a.m. Satureday at the Super 8 Motel on Highway 34 in Creston. Konkler was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for Harassment in the 1st Degree. He was later released on $2,000 bond.

More area news w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The 7:07-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The Buck Creek Dog Park at the Schildberg Recreation Area in Atlantic is closer to becoming a reality. Over the past month, Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring and Assistant Director Seth Staashelm have been working with Snyder and Associates Engineers to come up with a site plan for the park, and devised a conceptual layout.

Atlantic Parks & Rec Director Roger Herring talks about the Schildberg Rec Area Dog Park site plan. (Ric Hanson/photo)

Herring told the Parks Board Monday night, that the next step is to contact local vendors of fencing materials to determine the cost and availability of the material. Thanks to $10,000 grant from the Cass County Community Foundation, Herring said the off-leash dog park will be enclosed in a chain-link fence, which the grant will take care of nearly two-thirds of the cost for. The rest will be paid for through the department’s Capital Projects funds.

The nearly three-acre park will be divided into areas for large and small dogs, providing ample space for them to run and play. Herring said the plan is to have the dog park open sometime around Memorial Day.

Buck Creek Dog Park site plan at the Schildberg Rec Area. (Click on image to enlarge)

Herring said also, a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant in the amount of $103,000 has been approved from the Iowa Department of Transportation, with regard to the Lake #2 Trail at the Schildberg Recreation Area. The project is expected to cost $134,000. The Atlantic City Council, in February, had agreed to sponsor the grant application with a $26,800 commitment for the project.

In other news, construction on the replacement Kiddie Korral Shelter at Sunnyside Park is expected to be completed by around Sept. 15th, and the Camblin Shelter refurbishment project at Sunnyside Park,should be wrapped-up by around May 15th. Staashelm reported to the Parks Board, Monday, that pieces for the recycled plastic, cedar colored park benches to be located in the Senior Activity Area at Sunnyside have arrived, and are in the process of being assembled. He said also and ADA compliant drinking fountain has been installed near the tennis courts, and is being used a lot. The stylish foundation is equipped with a jug filling outlet, in addition to bubblers for water dispensing.

Employees of five businesses in Council Bluffs were cited for selling alcohol to minors, during a check conducted last Friday. Members of the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force conducted an undercover operation into the illegal sale of booze to minors at nine businesses. The sting was conducted with the assistance of two females, ages 18 and 19.

The businesses cited for selling alcohol to minors and their employees include: Driftwood Inn/35-year old Michelle Hamilton, of Omaha; Oskies for Sports/24-year old Hannah Dolson, of Council Bluffs; Victory Sports Bar/39-year old Rueben Serenil, of Omaha; Hounds Lounge/23-year old Makayla May, of Carter Lake; and T’z Bar/38-year old Timothy Evans, of Council Bluffs.

The four bars found to be in compliance with the law include: BadonkaRonks, Big Al’s, J&B’s Lounge, and the O’Face Bar, all in Council Bluffs.