Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Monday, issued statements after learning of the passing of 81-year old Iowa State Representative Jack Drake. Gov. Branstad said “Jack Drake was one of the first volunteers to help organize my campaign for Lt. Governor in 1978. Representative Drake conscientiously served the citizens of southwestern Iowa for many years in the legislature. He was a true gentleman and will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with the Drake family during this difficult time.”

Reynolds said she “Had the pleasure of working very closely with Jack in many capacities on issues important to rural Iowa. You would be hard-pressed to find a better advocate for his constituents in the Iowa Legislature. My thoughts and prayers are with Shirley and the entire Drake family during this time.”

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst a Republican from Red Oak, said “Jack was a phenomenal voice for our agricultural community and our great state. I was honored to serve with Jack in the state legislature and always valued his hard work and in-depth knowledge on the issues most important to Iowans. Jack was a good friend and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Shirley and their family during this difficult time.”

Drake, who died from natural causes Sunday, represented House District 21, which includes parts of Pottawattamie and Cass counties and all of Adams and Union county. Governor Branstad will set a date for a special election for House District 21 at a later date.

Funeral services for Jack Drake will be held 10:30-a.m. Thursday (Oct. 15th) at the Griswold United Methodist Church, where visitation with his family is from 4:30-until 7:30-p.m., Wednesday.

Police in Council Bluffs, late Monday evening, issued a press release asking for the public’s help in locating a missing man. 23-year old Brandon Bequette, of Carter Lake, who is a mentally challenged white male, was last seen at the Lake Manawa Wal-Mart store in Council Bluffs at around 1:15-p.m., Monday. He left the store and area westbound on foot.

23-year old Brandon Bequette

His family had attempted to locate Brandon before contacting police at 4:10-p.m. Brandon may have been seen at the Council Bluffs Public Library between 4-p.m. and 5-p.m. Monday, but Police were unable to confirm that. At this time they say theyhave exhausted any possible locations for Brandon.

He was last seen wearing a gray shirt, dark blue pants and yellow “Croc style” shoes. He’s described as 5’8” tall, and weighing 310-pounds. Brandon has short brown hair and hazel eyes. (A picture of him can be found on this same story posted under the News page at kjan.com) He has family in the Council Bluffs and Carter Lake Area. If you know where he is or have seen him, call your local law enforcement agency immediately.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), Monday, awarded $924,000 in Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants to 14 communities around the state. The grants will benefit local improvement projects such as façade upgrades and restoration, upper floor rehabilitation and remodeled spaces for expanding downtown businesses. In the KJAN listening area, the City of Avoca received a $75,000 grant toward the  $280, 650 cost of restoring the Avoca Bank Building. The City will provide a $205, 650 match for the grant. The City of Manning also received a $75,000 grant toward the Manning Child Care Center project. The total project cost is $277,600. The City will put up a $202, 600 match for the grant.

Avoca Main Street grant

The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs. The funding will be distributed in the form of matching grants to the selected Main Street programs. The estimated total project cost of the 14 projects is over $8 million.

Main Street Iowa Coordinator  Michael Wagler said “Each project must provide at least a dollar-for-dollar cash-match. Overall, these projects will leverage eight times the state’s investment into bricks and mortar rehabilitation. These projects will have a significant economic impact within each district.”

The Challenge Grant program is funded through an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature.  Since the first appropriation in 2002 through 2014, approximately $5.9 million in state and federal funds have leveraged over $37 million of private reinvestment into 110 projects in 43 Main Street Iowa commercial districts across the state.

A Greenfield man arrested for Probation Violation early Monday morning at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, was subsequently charged with introducing intoxicants or drugs into an institution. 25-year old Spencer Jordan Leitzel was arrested at 1:30-a.m. He was later released from the Union County Jail on $500 bond.