October 6, 2021 (DES MOINES) – Awards totaling $5.2 million were announced today (Wednesday), for CDBG projects across the state. The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) made the awards through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which provides support for community improvements.

Downtown revitalization project awards were awarded to six Iowa communities to invest in the improvement of 62 downtown building facades .They include:

• Stanton – Rehab of 8 downtown building facades ($316,945 local/other funding, $445,242 CDBG)
• Ft. Dodge – 9 downtown building facades
• Independence – 8  ”         ”            “
• Maquoketa – 8      ”         ”            “
• Marshalltown  – 11 ”       ”            “
• West Bend – 18      ”        ”            “

The Upper Story Conversion awards will help five communities with the creation of an additional 21 upper story housing units. Those communities include:

• Atlantic, 2 units, $205,105
• Burlington, 6 units ($500,000)
• Leon, 4 units ($500,000)
• Marshalltown, five units ($550,000)
• Mason City 4 units ($550,000).

Grants are awarded based upon the benefit to low- and moderate-income persons, financial need, project impact and readiness, and commitment of local resources to the project. CDBG funds enable communities to make needed improvements to infrastructure, improve housing conditions for low-income homeowners, provide facilities for disabled and at-risk individuals, and make transformative downtown improvements.

The CDBG program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. IEDA is responsible for administering the CDBG funds in the non-metropolitan areas of the state. Download a copy of the CDBG Upper Story Conversion and Downtown Revitalization awards.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – With the help and wonderful generosity from the community of Atlantic, and beyond, the Atlantic Police Department was able to raise approximately $2,700 in 2020 through the sales of Pink Patches with the A-PD logo. The proceeds were donated to our local Cass County, IA Relay for Life chapter. Atlantic Police Sgt. Spencer Walton says “In 2021, the Atlantic Police Department has partnered with Outfitters Plus to provide a different option. We are pleased to offer a line of “WE FIGHT TOGETHER” apparel. Featuring “WE FIGHT TOGETHER” on the front and an eye-appealing design on the back, combining cancer awareness imagery with the First Responder Thin Line flag.”

Pre-orders are available now but only for a short duration to allow time for shirts to be processed and distributed; orders must be submitted by October 17th. Apparel can be viewed, selected and purchased ONLINE at the following link: https://relayforlifefundraiser2021.itemorder.com/shop/sale/

Apparel orders will be processed and created by Outfitters Plus, in Atlantic. When choosing and paying for items, you will have the option to have their items shipped for an additional fee, or people can pick the items up directly from Outfitters Plus for free, once complete. Sgt. Walton says the Atlantic Police Department also has a VERY limited number of Pink Patches left over from last year. Stop in to the Atlantic Police Department at 23 East 4th St., Atlantic, IA to pick a patch up for $10, if you would like.

All proceeds from apparel sales and pink patch sales will again benefit the local Cass County, IA Relay for Life Chapter. Please feel free to contact the Atlantic Police Department at 712-243-3512 for questions. And, for apparel order questions, contact Outfitters Plus at 712-243-4379.

(Creston, Iowa) – Two men were arrested on separate charges Tuesday night, in Creston. Authorities say at around 10:12-p.m., 44-year-old John Alan Schuster, of Prescott Valley, AZ, was arrested at the Casey’s General Store on W. Taylor Street. He faces charges that include Disorderly Conduct, Trespass – Refuse to vacate, and Public Intoxication. Schuster was being held in the Union County Jail on a $600 cash or surety bond.

And at around 6:24-p.m., 29-year-old Brandon James Case, of Afton, was arrested in the 11-hundred block of Manor Drive. He was charged with Driving While Barred, and later released on a $200 bond.

Authorities said also, no injuries were reported, but a calf died, after it was struck Tuesday night, in Union County. The Sheriff’s Office says a 2004 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 61-year-old John L. Weeks, of Afton, was traveling north on Creamery Road at around 8:20-p.m., when his pickup struck a calf standing in the middle of the road. Weeks said he didn’t see the animal until it was struck. The calf – owned by McKnight Farms, of Afton – died at the scene. The animal was valued at $1,200.

The pickup – owned by Shirley Holker, of Winterset, sustained an estimated $5,000 damage.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Public Library Director Michelle Andersen reports the library was selected for a Public Library Collaboration grant Award totaling $18,042, to bring mental health resources to Cass County, through local libraries and in collaboration with other local organizations. The award is made possible through the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Region 6. Andersen says “I have been getting NNLM’s newsletters for a while, and this grant opportunity sounded like a good match for our needs in Cass County. I am excited that we received the award, and now it’s time to get to work.”

During the Summer, Andersen asked Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh if Healthy Cass County (HCC) would support the application and mental health programming. Andersen said HCC was instrumental in completing the Cass County Community Health Needs Assessment in April, 2021, in which mental health was identified as the top health need by both health service providers, and the public. Over 470 people participated in the assessment, representing various income levels, ages, races, and geographic locations across the County.

The Public Library Collaboration Award will provide funding for a three-pronged approach to mental health resources:

• It will assist in the purchase of tablets for use at the Atlantic Public Library. Tablets give a greater sense of privacy for the user to look-up information that may be stigmatized, without concern of someone else seeing what they are doing.
• It will purchase mental health resources to distribute for use at every library in Cass County. A list of books, documentaries, games and kits have been selected, and will be placed in each of the six public libraries.
• It will fund mental health programs that will be available at no charge, to the public.

As part of the application, the library submitted letters of support from COVID Recovery Iowa, Full Circle Therapy, HCC, ISU Extension, Make it OK, Senior Life Solutions,  and Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services. Andersen said those organizations committed to participating in and supporting, mental health programs available to the public, and that the depth and breadth of support in their letters, demonstrated significantly, the library’s application.