The Cass County Boards of Supervisor today (Wednesday), heard from Joel Dirks with West Central Community Action (WCCA), which serves Cass and nine other counties in the area. Dirks requested $4,000 in County funding for their services, the same amount as last year. The Board took the request under advisement for when they begin working on the Budget. Those funds are used to provide local match support required by some Federal programs they use, they provide financial assistance for clients, but provide no means of paying program delivery costs or administrative costs, which this past year amounted to $278,179.

In addition, the County’s funds assist in supporting West Central’s efforts to maintain safe and affordable space for their dual outreach centers. Dirks said their goal is to maintain a reserve fund for operating capital, which allows them to cash flow their operations until Federal and State funding partners reimburse the agency for work completed on their grants and contracts. Among the services WCCA provides to its clients is: Head Start; Child Care Resource and Referral;Early Childhood Iowa Areas (via Early Childhood Iowa); the Child and Adult Care Food Program; Weatherization of low-income homes; LiHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program); Senior Employment Program (Senior Aides); Family Development and Self-Sufficiency, and the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program.

Dirks says West Central Community Action programs are important alternatives to the County general Relief program, in meeting citizens’ needs. Without the County’s support, Dirks said the savings generated from WCCA would be in jeopardy. He reported to the Board that 646 households and 1,594 individuals were served during Fiscal Year 2017, in Cass County. The County received more than $1.3-million dollars worth of direct, in-client program services, for a total of $1.66-million dollars in services provided by WCCA.

The five Republicans in Iowa’s congressional delegation voted for the G-O-P’s tax plan and the lone Democrat voted against it. Senator Chuck Grassley called the tax bill “landmark” and  “historic.” Senator Joni Ernst noted the bill includes her “SQUEAL Act” which means members of congress will no longer get a tax break for their living expenses in Washington. Congressman Steve King of Kiron called the legislation an “early Christmas present to American taxpayers.” Congressman Rod Blum of Dubuque did not issue a statement after the vote, but has tweeted recently that “families…will see their tax home pay increase” as a result of the bill’s passage.

Congressman David Young of Van Meter tweeted right after voting for the bill that it would “give hardworking Iowa taxpayers the relief they deserve.” Democratic Congressman Dave Loebsack of Iowa City criticized the bill, saying it “focuses on slashing taxes for millionaires, billionaires and corporations.”

(Radio Iowa)

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — New U.S. Census Bureau data show Iowa and Nebraska’s populations grew slower than the national average. Estimates released Wednesday show Iowa’s population increased to 3,145,711 as of July 1, up from 3,130,869 at the same time in 2016. That’s a growth rate of 0.47 percent.

Nebraska’s population grew to 1,920,076 during that same window, compared to 1,907,603 the previous year. That’s an increase of 0.65 percent. The United States’ population reached 325,719,178 during that period, up from 323,405,935. That’s an increase of 0.71 percent.

The Census Bureau says Idaho was the nation’s fastest-growing state, with a population increase of 2 percent. Utah, Washington, Florida and Arizona were also among the biggest gainers. Illinois experienced the largest population loss in terms of numbers, while Wyoming saw the largest percentage decline.

An accident this morning in Atlantic caused a brief evacuation of the Atlantic Hy-Vee Store. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon says the incident happened at around 8:45-a.m. He said a straight truck backed into the external gas line connection to the store causing a leak of natural gas that was noticed outside and inside the store. A valve to the line was quickly shut-off and the store ventilated. The doors were re-opened to customers about 30-minutes later.

Atlantic Firefighters at the scene of a gas line leak. (Photo courtesy Mike Kennon/Cass County EMA)

No injuries were reported. Kennon says the driver was backing up to a loading dock when the incident occurred. He says the truck managed to miss the concrete post barriers and it was fortunate it struck the incoming line on the opposite side of the shut-off valve.

Alliant Energy crews were working on repairing the connection as firefighters were leaving.

Officials with the Creston Police Department say a Creston resident reported Tuesday, that someone broke out the passenger side window on his truck. The incident happened while the vehicle was parked in the 500 block of N. Birch Street, sometime between 12-a.m. and 1:30-p.m., Tuesday. The damage amounted to $150. And, a resident of the 300 block of S. Lincoln Street in Creston reported someone had used his debit card information to make a purchase in Kellerton. The incident took place on Dec. 6th. The loss was estimated at about $23.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City’s new tubing hill is ready to go after being tested by several city council members and other officials. The Sioux City Journal reports that local officials tried out the 700-foot tubing hill at the city’s new $4 million Cone Park Tuesday. The temperatures in the low 40s Tuesday made it hard for the artificial snow to be packed down, but Parks and Recreation Director Matt Salvatore says colder weather should arrive soon. That will help the tubing run.

The park will open to the public Thursday. Later this winter, an ice skating rink will be added. And in the summer, the park will offer a two-mile loop of trails and a splash pad.