An Omaha resident was injured and cited for drunken driving in a traffic accident Thursday on I-80 Pottawatamie County.

The Iowa State Patrol says a 2004 Chevy Blazer driven by 24-year-old Kellie Hiskett was traveling westbound on I-80 near mile marker 12 when they lost control of the Blazer, entered the median, and rolled crossing into the eatsbound lanes before coming to rest in a ditch.

Hiskett refused chemical testing and was cited for OWI 2nd offense, failure to maintain control, and failure to show insurance.

Hiskett was then transported by Underwood Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs.

Awards totaling $15.7 million were announced Thursday for 45 communities across the state, including five in southwest Iowa.  The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) awarded the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to support 47 community investment projects.  The federally funded grants were awarded for community facilities, flood prevention, infrastructure improvements, and single family owner-occupied housing rehabilitation. CDBG funds enable communities to make needed improvements to water and sewer systems, improve housing conditions for low-income homeowners, provide facilities for disabled and at-risk individuals, and develop needed infrastructure to prevent flooding.

Funding to southwest Iowa communities include $5000,00 being awarded to Bedford for water system improvements, $300,000 for Elk Horn sanitary sewer collection improvements, $300,000 to Massena for sanitary sewer collection improvements, $388,00 to Anita for rehabilitation of 10 owner-occupied single family units, $397,000 to Guthrie Center for rehabilitation of 10 owner-occupied single family units.

IEDA received 132 applications for these funds, totaling more than $41.9 million in funding requests.  The grants are awarded based on the financial need and potential impact of the project, benefit to low- and moderate-income persons and commitment of local resources to moving the project forward.

The CDBG program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  IEDA is responsible for administering the CDBG funds in the non-metropolitan areas of the state.  Applications are solicited annually, usually during the fall.  For more information on CDBG or other community programs, phone 515.725.3081, email community@iowa.gov, or visit www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com.

The Clarinda Police Department was kept busy Wednesday evening, arresting the same man twice within less than three hours.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says the first arrest of 29-year-old Edward Dawayne Mayes of Clarinda occurred at about 9:00 Wednesday evening after officers responded to a disturbance in the parking lot at the Meadow Run Apartment Complex in Clarinda.  Mayes was arrested for misdemeanor trespass and taken to the Page County Jail. Mayes was released after bonding out a short time later.

Less than three hours later, Mayes was observed operating a motor vehicle while driving on a revoked license.  Mayes was also charged with driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol after failing field sobriety tests. Mayes was once again transported to the Page County Jail where he remains on $1,000 bail pending an initial appearance before a Page County Magistrate.

Brothers went on to state that Mayes was also arrested a little more than a week ago for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Brothers said that Mayes had also been arrested at least twice during the month of June for various criminal offenses.

Brothers says that although continuously arresting the same person over is frustrating and places a burden on police resources, Mr. Mayes is to be given due process under the law and is presumed innocent of all charges against him until proven guilty in a court of law.