The Nishna Valley Family YMCA in Atlantic and the City of Avoca are just two of 21 non-profit organizations and government entities in southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska, which have received a portion of nearly $5-million in grant and initiative funding from the Iowa West Foundation. The IWF Board of Directors recently approved the funds from the private foundation. The Nishna Valley Family YMCA received $32,500 from the IWF for Wellness Equipment. The City of Avoca’s Police Department received $2,500 for communications equipment, and the Avoca Public Library received $4,950 to make the main entrance ADA compliant.

Education was a major theme for the final grant cycle of 2016, with $1.5 million awarded to the Council Bluffs Community School District (CBCSD) for two major initiatives: summer school and Middle School International Baccalaureate (IB) education. The Iowa Western Community College Foundation received $30,000 for 2016-17 season programming.

Another major recipient of initiative funding was the newly formed arts organization: Pottawattamie Arts, Culture & Entertainment (PACE), which received $2,325,369. The nonprofit’s mission is to strengthen, develop and promote art, cultural, and historical institutions, organizations, and activities in Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County. Fundraising is currently underway to renovate the Harvester II building on S. Main Street in Council Bluffs into a permanent home for the organization and its partners.

The Iowa West Foundation has distributed more than $400 million to nonprofits and governmental agencies through southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska since the inception of its grant program. Funding for the grants comes from investment earnings and the Iowa West Racing Association, which receives contractual fees from casino operators, Ameristar and Harrah’s. IWRA is the license sponsor for Ameristar and Harrah’s and the license holder for Horseshoe-Bluffs Run.

The Letter of Inquiry period for Cycle 1 of 2017 is currently open and will close on Oct. 17th. Applications are due Nov. 15th. Effective this year, grant application and initiative decisions will now be made in February (Cycle 1), June (Cycle 2) and October (Cycle 3). This is a change from the previous January/May/September decision-making schedule. Please see the Grantmaking section of the website www.iowawestfoundation.org., for more information.

Construction crews will close Harry Langdon Boulevard to traffic from Woodbury Avenue to U.S. 275/Iowa 92 to set girders for the future westbound Interstate 80 bridge beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, weather permitting, according to the Iowa DOT’s District 4 Office.

Harry Langdon Boulevard will be reopened to traffic on Monday, Oct. 17, by 6 a.m. Access will be maintained to property owners living along Harry Langdon Boulevard during the closure. Harry Langdon Boulevard will also be closed overnight Monday, Oct. 17, and Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The Iowa DOT is in the process of reconstructing I-80, I-29, and I-480 in the Council Bluffs metropolitan area. This comprehensive interstate redesign will modernize the highway system and improve mobility and safety of approximately 18 miles of interstate. Motorists are encouraged to allow for extra travel time while this interstate improvement takes effect.

As part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, the Council Bluffs Police Department will participate in a semi-annual drug take-back event sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency.  The event is designated as “Council Bluffs Operation Medicine Cabinet” and involves the collaboration of several community organizations, volunteers, and the City of Council Bluffs Recycling Center.

The event will be held rain or shine at the Council Bluffs Walgreens store (535 East Broadway), on the west side of the store next to the drive through lanes. It takes place on Saturday, Oct. 22nd, from 10-a.m. until 2-p.m.    You are simply asked to drive through a designated lane, hand over your unused, expired prescription or over the counter drugs with no questions asked.

The Council Bluffs Police Department has helped to organize 12 Prescription Drug Drop Off events since 2010. The past events have collected more than 3,900 pounds of prescription and over the counter drugs with more than 2,100 residents dropping them off anonymously. The National Prescription Drug Take Back addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware medicines that remain in homes are highly susceptible to theft, misuse, or abuse.

Prescription drug abuse in the U.S. is increasing at an alarming rate, as are the numbers of accidental poisonings and overdoses. Studies show many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinets. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicines, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, which are both potential safety and health hazards.

Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem and this drug drop off is a great opportunity for citizens of Council Bluffs and anyone else to help reduce this threat. Please clean out your medicine cabinets and make your home safe from potential drug theft and abuse.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have accused a Council Bluffs man of stealing some of his grandmother’s jewelry and pawning it. The Daily Nonpareil reports 23-year-old Colton Rankin was arrested Wednesday and is charged with theft and burglary.

Council Bluffs police say the woman noticed Sept. 12 that someone had gotten into her jewelry boxes and taken some items. Court records say she told police she suspected her grandson because of what she said was his drug problem. Her family checked with his employer in the Omaha, Nebraska, suburb of La Vista and learned that Rankin had not gone to work that day.

Police say Rankin later told a relative that he pawned the jewelry in Omaha.

A woman from Kansas was arrested on numerous charges associated with a break-in and burglary in rural Pottawattamie County, Wednesday morning. According to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office, a Deputy responded to a report about a suspicious female at a residence northeast of Neola. The woman was identified as 38-year old Lindsey Dawn Sanchez, of Dodge City, KS.

An investigation determined Sanchez was in possession of property belonging to the 73-year old resident of the home, including a purse, bathroom toiletries, antique cans, a light holder, oil, bears and a mirror. The items were valued at $310 altogether.

Sanchez was taken into custody for Burglary in the 2nd Degree, Theft in the 4th Degree, Interference with Official Acts, and making a False report to Law Enforcement.