A reminder to residents of Lewis: A SWIPCO Town Hall meeting will take place beginning at 7-p.m. In the Lewis Activity Center. The purpose to the meeting is to discuss a $240,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the rehabilitation or repair of a limited number of homes, owned by low-to moderate income homeowners. There’s no need for matching funds from the homeowner in order to be eligible. The only stipulation, is that the homeowner(s) must reside in the home, and if they live there for up to five-years, the entire grant is forgivable.

SWIPCO Community Development Director Daniel Lee, says the CDBG is awarded annually by the Iowa Economic Development Authority with funding from the Department Housing and Urban Development. Daniel Lee says it’s not the first time the grant funds have been awarded and used for homes in Lewis. Last year SWIPCO assisted the City of Lewis in completing a CDBG application, which resulted in a $240,000 award that allows for the repair up to six homes, for as much as $25,000 per home. The funds can be used for things such as roofing, siding, energy efficient windows, heating, and so on.

Lewis was selected for the program after a housing survey was conducted by SWIPCO because after a review of properties, it was determined the community fit the criteria that would allow SWIPCO to submit an application for the CDBG funds. Tonight’s meeting is meant to be informational only. Lee says six homes will initially be awarded as projects. SWIPCO will come up with the bid specifications. The homeowner finds a contractor, and once the final inspection is complete after the work is done, SWIPCO will pay the contractor. Lee says bringing any financial information you may have, such as income, etc., will to help their staff determine your eligibility for the program.

The homes will be selected by a Housing Committee in Lewis, comprised of local members, and if there’s money left over, the funds will be used toward the rehabilitation of additional homes. Again, that meeting is tonight at seven o’clock, at the Lewis Activity Center. If you need more information in advance, call Tammy DeBord at 712-243-4196.

Creston Police, early this (Tuesday) morning, arrested James Chandler Sash at his residence on West Adams Street. Sash was taken into cutsody on the charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held at Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A special election today (Tuesday) will decide who will replace Republican Jim Carlin in the Iowa House. Democrat Rita DeJong and Republican Jacob Bossman are competing for the District 6 seat. Carlin vacated it when he won a special election to the state Senate last month.

The heavily Republican district covers part of Sioux City, the cities of Sergeant Bluff, Bronson and Salix, and some rural areas in northern and southern Woodbury County. Bossman lost his previous bid for District 6 post in 2016. It’s DeJong’s first run for elective office.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Woodbury County supervisors are scheduled today (Tuesday) to consider asking a judge to let the public carry guns into some public areas of the county courthouse in Sioux City. The Sioux City Journal reports that the draft of a letter to Judge Duane Hoffmeyer asks him to eliminate the weapons ban in the public areas but uphold the ban for the second, third and fourth floors, which are considered court-controlled areas. Courtrooms, judge chambers and attorney offices are situated on those floors.

Hoffmeyer issued his order in August, after the supervisors voted to allow guns on county property in an attempt to comply with the state’s newly expanded gun rights law. Hoffmeyer is chief judge for Iowa’s 3rd Judicial District, which includes Woodbury County and 15 other Northwest Iowa counties.