The Atlantic Kiwanis Club recently received a donation toward their bicycle helmet safety program. The $200 donation was presented to the Kiwanis’ Kellie Jimmerson, from Darrin Petty, representative of the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund. 

The program, now in its 16th year, began when Kiwanian Steve Green learned of a discount program offered by Bell Helmets. After receiving approval from the company, Green sought the support of former Washington Elementary Principal, Gail Casey, and former Atlantic Police Chief, Roger Muri, and with their backing, the program was launched.  

The Atlantic Kiwanis Club, one of 10,000 groups that participate in the Bell Helmet program, was the second organization to start giving the helmets away. It is currently the longest running participant in the nation, having distributed approximately 1920 helmets to Atlantic 3rd grade students to date. 

Green credits the Washington Elementary administration, Atlantic Police Department, and Nishna Valley Trails members for their parts in the program’s success. Darrin Petty said the recent donation was the Fund’s third annual such donation to the program, noting Trevor’s class would have been the second to receive the helmets. For more information about the Fund’s donations and fundraising efforts, “like” the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund on Facebook.

MAPLETON, Iowa (AP) – More than $374,000 in donations has helped people recover from a tornado that pummeled the western Iowa town of Mapleton.  The Sioux City Journal reports that the money for the Mapleton Tornado Relief Fund came in from all over the nation after the April 9 tornado last year.  The fund awarded more than $239,000 for various projects. More than 100 applications were received.
 
Homeowner Allen Mead, who received one of the grants, says the money “was used to help you get started, or do something with your windows … something like that.”  The remaining money is being turned over to a nonprofit group called Mapleton Build and Recovery and will be available as a source for the local match that many grant programs require.

The Wiota Volunteer Fire Department is receiving an Assistance to Firefighters grant amounting to just over $61,340. Senator Tom Harkin made the announcement late last week. Harkin says the grant comes from the US Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants program. Harkin is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which funds the Department of Homeland Security. The grant money awarded to the Wiota Fire Department will be used for operations and safety.