Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — A prosecutor says a former Iowa jail guard was the only person with an opportunity to kill his pregnant wife. Scott Brown said yesterday during opening arguments in the trial of Seth Techel that only Techel was inside the trailer when Lisa Techel was shot in May 2012. He also noted that Seth Techel waited 18 minutes after his wife was shot to call for help.

BADGER, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol says a 90-year-old man died when his car ran off the road in thick fog and hit a semi-trailer in Webster County. The state patrol says Joseph Earl Colwell of rural Humboldt died in yesterday morning’s crash in the small town of Badger, about 8 miles northeast of Fort Dodge.

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities have released the names of an Iowa resident and another person who died in a 19-vehicle pileup on Interstate 10 during an Arizona dust storm. The Arizona Department of Public Safety said 51-year-old David Bechtel of Milton, Iowa was killed around noon Tuesday in the multi-vehicle wreck north of Picacho Peak.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Frank Podraza of Nebraska expressed gratitude while visiting the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Podraza, a Korean War veteran, called the structure down to earth and a proper reflection of the nature of the war. Korean War veterans from Iowa arrived in Washington, D.C. yesterday on another Honor Flight.

A Council Bluffs man was arrested Wednesday morning, in Atlantic. According to the Police Department, 39-year old Andy Walters was taken into custody on a 1st offense OWI charge. Walters was booked into the Cass County Jail and held pending an initial court appearance.

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The Iowa Finance Authority and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources have announced that 22 Iowa communities will benefit from a combined total of more than $34.7 million in low-cost water quality loans through the State Revolving Fund. State Revolving Fund Construction Loans are a low-cost construction financing option available for Iowa cities and municipalities for water quality initiatives. Planning & Design Loans are zero percent loans that assist with the first-phase of project expenses.

In Cass County, the City of Anita will receive slightly more than One-million dollars for a water quality improvement project designed to correct inflow and infiltration problems, and  Anita Municipal Utilities $102-thousand for the Planning and Design Phase. The City of Massena will receive $445,500 for infiltration and inflow corrections. In Ringgold County, Mt. Ayr will receive $378,000 for a drinking water connection project. Elsewhere…The City of Shenandoah is receiving just over $14-million for a new treatment plant and water main project, and the City of Hancock, $98,910 for planning and design.

The State Revolving Fund has awarded Iowa communities and municipalities more than $2.1 billion in Construction Loans and $125 million through Planning & Design Loans since program inception. The loans are made available as part of the State Revolving Fund.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their final meeting of the month Thursday morning, here in Atlantic. On the agenda for their 9-a.m. meeting at the courthouse, is action on the hiring of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Coordinator. In August, Cass County Assessor Brenda Nelson asked for and received the Board’s permission to approve the creation of the position, and to proceed with steps necessary to fill the position.

At the time, Nelson said she has the money in this year’s budget for the new hire’s salary and benefits. In subsequent years, other departments within the County that heavily utilize GIS, would chip in to cover the salary and benefits. Nelson, Cass County Engineer Charles Marker and Treasurer Tracey Marshall all agreed that having a GIS specialist in-house, instead of outsourcing the position, would be a time-saver for them, and a great benefit to the taxpayers.

The Supervisors will also act Thursday morning, on a Resolution giving consent to the City of Anita which would allow the City to exercise Urban Renewal powers. The action will follow a report from officials in Anita, with regard to its Urban Renewal Plan/Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) District, including property in the rural areas within two-miles of its boundaries.

In August, the Anita city clerk and two council members reported that the city would like to capture the valuation of five wind turbines located in the area within two miles of Anita’s boundaries, for tax incremental financing of city capital improvement projects.

Deter Motor Company and The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce nominations are now being accepted for the 13th annual ATHENA Award, in Atlantic.

Athena Award

The award will be presented to an exceptional individual who has achieved excellence in her/his business profession, has served the community in a meaningful way and has assisted women in their attainment of professional goals and leadership skills. The ceremony will be held Saturday, Jan. 18th, 2014 at the Cass County Community Center.

The ATHENA Award was first presented in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan and has grown to include presentations to more than 6,000 individuals in hundreds of cities across the globe. Locally, past winners include Dolly Bergmann, Wendy Richter, Ann Pross, Janell Hansen, Jan Kinison, Carole Schuler, Glenda Farrier, Margaret Slepsky, Denise O’Brien, Leanne Pellett, Judy Marnin and LaVon Eblen.

Deter Motor Company believes in the values underlying ATHENA’s philosophy of incorporating talent and expertise of women into the leadership of our businesses, our communities and our government. The spirit of the ATHENA Award Program is captured in a quotation from Plato, “What is honored in a country will be cultivated there.” By honoring exceptional leaders, others will be encouraged to excel.

Those interested in nominating an individual can pick up a nomination packet after Nov. 1st at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, 102 Chestnut Street, or by visitingwww.AtlanticIowa.com. Nominations are due by Nov. 22, 2013.