The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the DNR’s Derelict Building Grant Program will award reimbursement grants amounting to $491,000, to 19 small, rural Iowa communities to help deconstruct or renovate abandoned structures and limit construction and demolition materials going to the landfill. In our area:

 The City of Early is set to receive $45,000 to have asbestos removed, a phase I/II assessment to be completed and full deconstruction of the Payless Cashway building that was damaged by a tornado. The city is partnering with the local economic development office to market the site for commercial interests. And, the City of Malvern is receiving$80,000 to partner with the Malvern Area Betterment Association to use funds to complete asbestos inspection, abatement, structural analysis and building renovation, which will offer commercial and residential space.

The DNR Derelict Building Grant Program was instituted by statute to help rural communities with populations of 5,000 or less. DBGP funding is awarded annually on a competitive basis with cash matches required. Applications for the next funding round will be due in spring 2014.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City Entertainment will build a Hard Rock Casino in northwest Iowa’s Sioux City.  The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission awarded the license Thursday at the end of a meeting held in Council Bluffs, choosing from four proposals for land-based casinos in Sioux City.  Last month, the commission toured proposed sites and met with developers.

Penn National Gaming Co. submitted two proposals for a casino, and Ho-Chunk Inc. and Sioux City Entertainment also each bid for the rights to build a casino, which would replace the Argosy Sioux City riverboat casino.

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has a $118.5 million price tag and would be at the site of the historic Battery Building in downtown Sioux City.

No injuries were reported after a full-sized pickup went into a ditch and rolled over Wednesday afternoon, in Montgomery County. According to the Iowa DOT investigative officer’s report, 42-year old Edie Chadwick McClintock, of Essex, was driving a 2001 Ford F-250 Super Duty, crew cab pickup westbound on 250th Street just off of B Avenue, when the truck caught the edge of the road after traveling about 75-feet. The pickup slid into the north ditch and rolled once, coming to rest on the driver’s side, against some trees.

The accident, which happened at around 3:50-p.m. about seven-miles southwest of Red Oak, caused approximately $12,000 damage. No citations were issued.

An Atlantic resident has bequeathed a valuable art collection, mostly sculptures and glass pieces,  to the Atlantic Public Library. During the City Council meeting Wednesday evening, Councilman Dana Halder reported on the donation from Richard Hellman, who took over a successful metalworking business that his father founded in 1919. When Richard Hellman retired, he sold the business and settled in Oceanside, California.  

Halder said Hellman, who passed away, left 51-pieces of artwork to the Atlantic Public Library and five-pieces to the Danish Immigrant Museum. The works of art are currently in California, and the library has the right to do dispense the pieces as they see fit. Officials with the Atlantic Public Library plan to sell the art, and reap the proceeds.

The appraised value of the works, which includes pieces by Oregon artist/sculptor Bill Kasper, and Georgia sculptor Jim Karg, is approximately $175,000. Halder say it’s hoped the library will receive 60-percent of the appraised value when the items are sold. Library Director Meredith Scherb told KJAN News the plan is to sell the collection to an art dealer. Halder said that’s because of the liability issue involved with storing and displaying the works.

The Shelby County Community Foundation (SCCF) has announced grants totaling $104,076 were awarded to Shelby County nonprofit agencies. The largest grant was to the Elk Horn Fire and Rescue, $30,000, for the construction of a meeting room and bathroom in their fire station. Douglas Township Fire Protection will replace 20 year old gear for firefighters with their grant of $12,180.

The Defiance Fire Department received $11,000 for an Auto Pulse CPR unit for their ambulance. $10,000 was awarded to the City of Irwin, Shelby County Historical Society and the Danish Immigrant Museum. Other nonprofit organizations receiving grant moneys from the Shelby County Community Foundation were Country Care Center, Panama Fire Department, Shelby County Community Outreach, Shelby County Fair Corporation and West Central Community Action.

All grantees met the criteria as Shelby County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social services. Chairman of the SCCF Robert Burton said, “The Shelby County Community Foundation is one of nine counties that are collectively known as the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa and meets or exceeds the Standards for Community Foundations as established by the Council on Foundations in Washington D.C.”

The Shelby County Community Foundation will be giving out another round of grant money in the fall.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce reports the Chambers’ “Image Builders” have taken on the task of retrofitting the 174 strands of garland used each holiday season on the light poles in downtown Atlantic.

Members of the Atlantic Chamber’s “Image Builders” work to retrofit Christmas season garlands. (Chamber photo)

Chamber Executive Director Megan Roberts says the same committee originally purchased the necessary parts and assembled them into lighted garland to be used on each light pole on Chestnut Street, side streets and in City Park.

After nearly 20 years of use, volunteers are removing the old C-9 bulbs and sockets and replacing them with three strings of LED lights as well as re-painting the red bows used on top of each strand of garland. The LED’s are the same as those installed in the trees along Chestnut. The volunteers are working each day from 1- to 4-p.m. in the upper level of City Hall.

Volunteers that have helped include Marv Behrends, Joan & Roger Barbero, Ken & Mary Ann Moorman, Bob Boots, Ron Peerbolte, Dick Cassady, Gene Fischer, and Randall Breckerbaumer. Anyone interested in volunteering can just show up at the prescribed time each day Monday through Friday.