(Des Moines, IA) The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), last week, announced awards of $1,678,389 from seven grant programs to strengthen the arts, culture and creative industries across the state and provide Iowans with access to enriching cultural experiences. Among the grant recipients in southwest Iowa, is the following:

• Malvern Area Betterment Association – $2,000 Creative Catalyst Project Grant for “Clay for Community”
• Creston Community High School – $4,000 Creative Catalyst Project Grant for “School to Studio”
• Zack Jones of Malvern – $4,000 Art Project Grant for “Harvest Series: Music and Visual Artists at Malvern’s Art Church”
• Kelly Devitt of Creston – $2,000 Art Project Grant for “Solo Exhibition and Student Experience at Octagon Gallery”
• American Midwest Ballet of Council Bluffs – $5,000 Art Project Grant for “Season 15 Education and Community Engagement”
• Council Bluffs Guild of the Omaha Symphony – $5,000 Art Project Grant for “2024/25 Omaha Symphony Education Programs for Iowa”
• Creston: Arts – $5,000 Cultural Capacity Building Grant for Operating Support
• Pottawattamie Arts Culture & Entertainment – $20,000 Cultural Leadership Partners Grant for Operating Support
• Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn – $20,000 Cultural Leadership Partners Grant for Operating Support

IEDA approved 173 awards to Iowa organizations and Iowans in more than 60 communities from the Art Project Grant Program, Cultural Capacity Building Grant Program, Cultural Leadership Partners Program, Greenlight Grant Program, Iowa Artist Fellowship Program, Iowa Community Cultural Grant Program and Iowa Screenwriters Grant Program.

The matching grants leverage local and private investment and support a wide range of creative projects in Iowa schools, arts and cultural venues and communities. Projects awarded funding range from arts and cultural festivals and live theatre performances to exhibitions, film productions and community public art projects.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Red Oak Police Department reports a man was arrested at around 12:30-a.m. today (Sunday), for Violation of  Protection Order (A Simple Misdemeanor). 54-year-old Fred Francis Weich, IVth, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 400 block of East Maple Street, in Red Oak. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.

(Winnebago County, Iowa) – A person operating a 2018 Polaris UTV was injured Saturday evening on private property near Lake Mills, in northern Iowa’s Winnebago County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the machine was near a private bond when the driver’s side tire entered the bank of the pond, causing the UTV to roll onto its side, pinning the driver under the UTV. They were not wearing a seat belt. The accident happened at around 5:30-p.m.

Life saving measures were performed at the scene. The UTV operator was transported to the Mayo Hospital in Rochester, MN, by MercyOne/Airmed helicopter. Their name was not immediately released, pending notification of family.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by an Iowa DNR Officer, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Mills Police and Fire, and Forest City Ambulance.

(Griswold, Iowa) – In an update to our previous social media posts, the Iowa State Patrol, today (Sunday), said two men and a child were injured during a head-on crash north of Griswold, Saturday evening. The accident happened at 6:57-p.m. on Highway 48 near 550th Street.The Patrol says a 2008 Buick driven by 26-year-old Dustin Lee Jones, of Elliott, was traveling south on Highway 48, when the vehicle crossed the center line of the road and collided with a northbound 1997 Ford pickup, driven by 59-year-old Mark Allyn Liddell, of Griswold.

The car came to rest facing southeast on the east shoulder of the road, while the pickup came to rest facing east, on the west shoulder. Jones was transported by ambulance to Cass Health in Atlantic before being flown by LifeNet helicopter to the UNMC in Omaha.

Liddell, who was not wearing a seat belt, and and 4-year-old male child who was properly restrained in one of the vehicles, were transported by Griswold Rescue and Red Oak Rescue, to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak. Liddell was subsequently taken to the UNMC, and the child was transported to Children’s Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation. Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted at the scene. The road remained blocked until about 9:45-p.m., Saturday.

(Griswold, Iowa) – Two people were injured during a collision this (Saturday) evening, about a mile north of Griswold, just south of the Griswold Fish Farm. According to dispatch reports, the crash occurred at around 6:55-p.m. near 67575 550th Street. One subject was on the ground and unconscious. One of the vehicles was said to have been on fire.

Griswold Rescue transported a 26-year-old male to Cass Health in Atlantic. He was immediately flown by LifeNet Helicopter to an undisclosed hospital. Red Oak Rescue transported the second victim to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital.

The accident was under investigation, and additional information is currently not available.