Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and officials from the Iowa Economic Development Authority, along with the Iowa Council of Foundations (ICoF) have announced the funding of the 2012 County Endowment Fund Program.  Approximately $11 million in funding will be distributed to 85 community foundations across the state. Among them are those foundations or endowment funds located in: Adair, Adams, Carroll, Cass Crawford, Fremont, Guthrie, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Sac, Shelby, Taylor and Union Counties.

Each of the 85 community foundations participating in the program will receive approximately $126,000; the organizations will then grant 75 percent of those funds to charitable projects and programs in their counties.  The remaining 25 percent will be used to grow a permanent, unrestricted endowment fund intended to attract additional donations and provide a source of permanent funding for charitable projects in the county.

The source of funding for the program is eight-tenths of one percent of the state’s gambling revenues. The program distributes an equal allocation to a community foundation located in counties without a state gaming license. Fourteen counties were not eligible for the funding because state-licensed gaming facilities are located in those counties.

Authorities in Mills County say five people were arrested over the past week, on unrelated charges. On Friday, 36-year old Brent Lee Burgoin, of Silver City, was arrested for OWI/1st Offense. And, on Saturday, 25-year old Scott Michael Williams, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a similar charge. Both men were held in the Mills County Jail in Glenwood, on $1,000 bond each.

20-year old Christopher Lynn Young, of Glenwood, and 24-year old Robert Joseph Burns, of Council Bluffs, were arrested over the weekend, for allegedly violating the terms of their probation. The men were being held on $5,000 bond each.

And, 24-year old Curtis Lee Farmer, of Glenwood, was arrested Monday morning, on a charge of Public Intoxication. Farmer was being held in the Mills County Jail, on $300 bond.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday (Today), one person was injured during a rollover accident early Saturday morning. Officials say Erica Gray, a passenger in a vehicle driven by 21-year old Larry Joseph Tyler West, of Randolph, was transported by Tabor Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs. The accident happened just east of Tabor on Waubonsie Avenue, about one-half mile east of Highway 275 at around 12:15-a.m.

Authorities say West and Gray were traveling east on Waubonsie Avenue, when West tried to avoid a rough gravel section of the road. The 2002 Chevy he was driving fishtailed, and entered a ditch before rolling over. West was arrested on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. He was also cited for Failure to Maintain Control. West was being held in the Mills County Jail on $1,000 bond.

Cass County Republican Party Chair David Wiederstein says a grand opening event for the newly-established county headquarters will be held this Friday, October 5th, from 3:30 until 4:30 p.m. The event will take place at the headquarters located at 319 Chestnut St. in downtown Atlantic (formerly the U.S. Army Recruiting Office). The Keynote speaker for the event is Congressman Tom Latham.

Also attending, is State Representative Jack Drake, State Senator Hubert Houser, and Cass County’s numerous other elected officials. Refreshments will be provided. The public is invited to attend this event as it will be a great opportunity to learn more about the Republican candidates for elected office.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Department says a Creston man was arrested Tuesday evening on Kidnapping and Violation of a Protection Order, charges. Sheriff Alan Johannes told KJAN News 55-year old Leonard Capp, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 6:35-p.m., for allegedly holding a 48-year old woman against her will, in a local motel. Capp was being held in the Adams County Jail on $10,300 bond.

It’ll be a while before the first snow flakes begin to fall and accumulate, but the Harlan City Council wants to make sure residents don’t use snowmobiles on the streets, once the snow begins to stick. An officer with the Harlan Police Department told the Council snowmobiles will not be allowed on City Streets.

In past years, snowmobiles were allowed on the City Streets before the maintenance crews had plowed them. Since the Council approved the second reading of an amended ordinance and waived the third reading, the ordinance, which was adopted Tuesday, means snowmobiles will need to be hauled in on a trailer into town and out. Violators of the law may be issued a ticket.

In other business, Harlan Mayor Gene Gettys presented City Administrator Terry Cox with the Iowa League of Cities Hall of Fame Award. Cox received his award at the 2012 League of Cities Annual Conference in Sioux City on September 27th. The League Hall of Fame award was created to recognize individuals who have provided extraordinary public service to the League and local government.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Shelby County Board of Supervisors Tuesday, discussed, but failed to take action on the use of hotel-motel tax funds. The Supervisors will continue discussion on the matter during their next, regularly scheduled meeting, on October 16th. During their session, the Supervisors had discussed continued funding of the tax monies to the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, but a motion to continue that failed for lack of a second. to receive a second, and died on the table.

In other business, Bob Broomfield, co-chairman of the Shelby County DevelopSource reported to the supervisors about an enterprise zone resolution. Regency Villa apartments are looking to renovate their 24 single bed units. If they are placed in an enterprise zone, they would receive a lower tax bracket. The County is only allowed a certain percentage of acres to be in an enterprise zone, and with 3.4-acres north of the F-S Plant being approved, the County has 127 acres left that can be placed in an enterprise zone.

The Regency Villa renovation project will cost over a million dollars to fully develop. The Board of Supervisors approved the resolution as proposed.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)