Officials with The Atlantic Business and Professional Women (BPW) say the organization is offering four scholarships this year.

1. A $1000 scholarship to a resident of Cass County, Iowa, giving financial aid to a man or woman needing education to either re-enter the work force, gain additional education for a career, meet educational requirements for employment, or to continue education interrupted for family or other reason. Application must be submitted by April 1.
2. A $500 Collen Scholarship, available to a female resident of Cass, Shelby, or Audubon County in Iowa, who is pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Computer Systems Management, Chemistry, or Engineering. The student may be of any age and attend school full or part time. Application must be submitted by April 1.
3. The $1000 Bev Mendenhall nursing scholarship, available to a female resident of Cass County, Iowa who wants to re-enter the work force, gain additional education for a career, meet educational requirements for employment, or to continue education interrupted for family or other reason. Application must be submitted by April 1..
4. BPW Iowa is awarding several $1000 Scholarships to a man or woman, who is a resident of Iowa.
The applicant must be a non-traditional student who:
a. Is a United States Citizen
b. Has been out of the work force and wants or needs to go back to work but needs additional education
c. Has completed High School five or more years ago and now wants to start or resume their college education.
d. Demonstrates financial need, scholastic ability, leadership skills and career goals.
Application must be postmarked by March 23.

You may contact Jolene Roecker, BPW Scholarship chairman, at 712-249-7700 or email jolene.roecker@greatwesternbank.com for an application.

Officials with Atlantic Specialty Care have announced that the annual Easter Egg Hunt held at the facility will not be held this year due to the Early Easter and the late snow. As occasionally happens Easter is coming early this year: March 27th. Due to the late snow systems that have been arriving in the area, the facility has made the decision to do a Easter Coloring contest thru the school system.

Kellie Jimerson, Administrator at Atlantic Specialty Care, says “This happened to us six years ago. Sometimes we have to make a decision very early before donations are requested and so forth. Usually the problem only occurs on that one year where Easter is in March.”

Jimerson said also, “In an effort to keep from having all of the eggs filled and all of the community supporters giving donations to something that may or may not occur, the facility made the decision to instead do an Easter Egg Coloring Contest thru the Atlantic School District.” She says “We will plan to come back next year with the annual Easter Egg hunt and look forward to seeing you all then. Until then – stay warm.”

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, has introduced legislation to help members of the military that have been sexually assaulted. Ernst says he Military Sexual Assault Victims Empowerment or SAVE act has several goals. “Including changing military culture and the overall prevention of sexual assault to stop this crime in the first place,” Ernst explains. “In addition, we must also ensure that strong support is in place for survivors of sexual assault in the military.”

Senators from both parties have signed onto the bill, which Ernst says will also help victims get access to the treatment they need. Ernst says the bill amends the current law to allow veterans who are military sexual assault survivors to use health care services outside the Veterans Administration regardless of the military requirements. She says giving veterans flexibility in where they get their treatment is particularly important for rural states where veterans may have to travel a long way to get to V-A treatment centers.

Ernst says women are the fastest growing segment of military veterans in the U-S, with an estimated 10 percent of veterans now being women. Ernst, who is a combat veteran who recently retired from the Iowa National Guard, has been working on another issue involving active military members. Ernst has talked with military leaders about the plan to integrate women into combat positions. She has also talked with men and women soldiers about the plan.

“There are many women who are concerned they will be forced into these military occupational specialties which could hurt their careers. So there is a lot of concern out there,” Ernst says. “I think the administration has been in a rush to get this through. We need to slow down a bit to make sure we are not hurting our combat capabilities.” Ernst says she does not want to see standards lowered for women, and the female soldiers she has talked to also do not want that.

She says physical requirement are often used in placing soldiers in particular specialties, and women can score lower because they don’t have the same strength as men. Ernst says there needs to be a plan in place so women are not held back from moving up the command chain because of those differences. “We’ve always had men in those roles, now we are opening to women, so understanding the physiological differences between men and women, what women are able to achieve. It is going to be very different from what they are able to achieve as young infantrymen or artillerymen,” according to Ernst.

She says she wants to ensure that the women are not being set up for failure. Ernst says leadership plays a big role in changing the culture of the military and integrating women into the combat roles. “And fostering respect within the teams or the squads — really encouraging a climate of dignity and respect — that’s what your leadership needs to focus on. And you will see that men and women will be able to work side-by-side and protecting (each other) whether it be your brother or their sister. They are going to be one part of one team,” Ernst says.

Ernst, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, says she will continue following the integration issue to ensure all soldiers are given an equal opportunity.

(Radio Iowa)

Questions are being raised about the immigration status of a teenager who was at the wheel of a car that was involved in a crash in Omaha last month that killed an Iowa woman. Prosecutors say 19-year-old Eswin Mejia was drunk and street racing on January 31st when he rear-ended an S-U-V, killing the driver, 21-year-old Sarah Root of Council Bluffs. Mejia’s lawyer Tom Niklitchek says whether his client is in the country legally isn’t important.

“I have not gotten into the details of any immigration status,” Niklitchek says. “Technically, as far as the case is concerned, it’s irrelevant and a jury would never even hear that asked.” He says this is a criminal case and Mejia’s legal status isn’t going to be a factor as he’s charged with motor vehicle homicide. Niklitchek isn’t sure if Mejia can speak English. “I speak to him in Spanish, largely, I’m fluent in Spanish,” Niklitchek says. “Honestly, I haven’t spoken to him in English. I provide service to my clients in Spanish. It just makes communication a whole lot easier.”

Douglas County prosecutors say Mejia’s blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit and he was driving on a suspended license when he hit Root’s vehicle. Mejia also had several warrants issued for his arrest for previous traffic violations and failure to appear in court. “The bigger issue here, if the evidence is such, is alcohol,” Niklitchek says. “I think sometimes we get caught up on issues that perhaps we shouldn’t. In my legal opinion and as a member of the community, the larger issue here is alcohol. Whether he’s legal or not, alcohol doesn’t care.”

Mejia posted 10% of the $50,000 bond and he was released from jail. His next court date is later this month. If convicted, Mejia faces up to 20 years in prison. The victim’s family has expressed concern he will flee the state, if not the country, before going to trial.

(Radio Iowa)

(Council Bluffs, IA) The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved $6.4 million in grants and initiatives funding to 21 nonprofit organizations and government entities with projects and programs that directly impact southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska. For the first time ever, the Foundation awarded multi-year funding to seven nonprofit organizations in Pottawattamie County.

The multi-year funding program is designed to provide essential general operating funds over a three year period to organizations who fulfill the most critical roles in Pottawattamie County.

IA West Foundation logo

Among the selected organizations is: The Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands ($85,000); FAMILY, Inc. ($120,000) for Birth-Three Parent Education programming; Green Hills AEA, ($1.1-million) for Pott. County Preschool; Heartland Family Service  ($330,000) for Iowa Family Works, Homeless Link & Substance Abuse Prevention; Justice For Our Neighbors, ($65,000) for legal assistance to low income immigrants in southwest Iowa; Lutheran Family Services ($35,000) for the Pott. County Center for Healthy Families & RSafe Program, and the MICAH House ($70,000).

The level of support awarded to each organization over the three year period is based on due diligence findings, with consideration to recent funding levels. The sole restriction for the general operating funds is that it must be used to support the organization’s operations in southwest Iowa. At the conclusion of the three year period, based-on ongoing community need and additional due diligence, organizations may be recommended for renewal of multi-year funding.

The Foundation also announced $500,000 in funding for its most recent initiative, which brings together five local community development organizations in Council Bluffs to focus on proactive “placemaking.” Placemaking includes real estate development, neighborhood engagement, design and activation of public spaces. The organizations merging to form the coalition include Bluffs Downtown, Live Well Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County Development Corporation, which will work in alignment with the Council Bluffs Housing Trust Fund and Habitat for Humanity of Council Bluffs. The yet-to-be-named nonprofit is currently in the process of hiring a CEO.

The City of Council Bluffs was another major recipient of funding. The City received $175,000 for the fourth annual Loessfest to be held over the Memorial Day weekend as well as an additional $1,515,000 for a landing park at the Riverfront, bringing the total IWF funding amount for Phase II of the park to $3.5 million. Located off the foot of the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge on the dry side of the levy and just east of Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park’s Great Lawn, the landing park will be a crowned jewel for Council Bluffs.

Pending City Council approval, construction is slated to begin in early spring, with projected completion in summer of 2017.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met in a regular session this (Wednesday) morning. Prior to the start of the session, 5th District Supervisor Frank Waters, from Cumberland, announced he would be running for re-election in advance of the June 7th Primary. If re-elected, it would be Waters’ third term in office.

In other business, the Board accepted bids for two bridge replacement projects. A State bid-letting was set 17th of January on two bridges, #347 and #20. Cass County Engineer Charles Marker said there were two bids for the bridge #347 project, located in the northeast part of the County, on the Cass-Audubon County line, near the “Tree in the Road.” Both bids, from Gus Construction, in Casey, and Murphy Construction, in Anita, came in over the Engineer’s estimate of almost $321, 594. Even the low bid was 34% higher than the engineer’s estimate.

Marker says he’s crunched the numbers, and doesn’t understand why the bids for both projects came in much higher than estimated. Marker recommended, and the Bridge #347 contract was awarded, to Gus Construction, of Anita, for slightly more than $433, 033. That was about $2,000 less than the bid from Murphy’s. 80-percent of the cost is paid by the County’s Highway Bridge Fund, and 20-percent from the Road Use Tax or Property Tax, all of which is included in Marker’s Budget. Marker said there was only one bid – from Gus Construction – for the Bridge #20 triple concrete box culvert construction project, located about two-miles south of Cumberland. Their bid was just under $559, 700.

Prior to accepting bids for the bridge projects, the Cass County Supervisors received bids for two dump truck bodies that will be mounted on two new truck chassis. Marker recommended and the Board approved a bid of $57, 841 from Henderson Truck Equipment, from Manchester. The bid includes the truck boxes, reversible snow plow, tailgate sand-spreader and front mount blade wing.

And, the Supervisors approved a Resolution adopting an Indigent Disposition (Burial and Cremation) Policy, which pays benefits to a funeral home for funeral or cremation services, for any eligible Cass County resident, up to a maximum of $1,500, including the mandatory Medical Examiner certification fee. Determination of eligibility for Disposition Services will be made by the Cass County General Assistance or Veteran’s Affairs Offices.

The family or friends of a deceased person who applies for burial or cremation service, are responsible for the purchase of a cemetery space or lot, and interment. As an option, cremains may also be returned to the family or friends making an application for disposition.