(Omaha, Nebraska) – Officials with the Cass and Audubon County Community Foundations have announced that applications are now being accepted from organizations providing charitable services in Cass or Audubon County. As part of this spring grant cycle, approximately $130,000 in each county is available to support Cass and Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects. The deadline to apply for funds through the online application process is February 1, 2023.

Beginning today (December 15), application details, a fact sheet, and a link to the application form can be found online by selecting Audubon County or Cass County, under the County Listing at www.swiowafoundations.org. Applications will only be accepted through the online system.

This cycle of grants is made possible through the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program and is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue, which is distributed annually to participating community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license. Only organizations providing services in Cass or Audubon County are eligible to apply in their respective counties only. They must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and be an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity, a local municipality, or a fiscally sponsored project.

The Community Foundations in Cass and Audubon Counties aim to improve the quality of life in those counties, by supporting community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. The objective of the grant program is to fund projects that will have a lasting impact in the counties. Both Community Foundations will entertain requests for capital and program support. General operating support will only be considered for one-time, non-recurring circumstances that improve the capacity of the organization to fulfill its mission.

Please contact Sunni Kamp (sunni@omahafoundation.org) or Sydney Calcagno (sydney@omahafoundation.org) at 800-794-3458 with application-related questions. All completed grant applications will be considered at the March board meeting, with applicants being notified of funding decisions by the end of March.

Advisory board members of the Cass County Community Foundation are: Chair, Kristi Burg of Massena; Vice Chair, Gaylord Schelling of Atlantic; Secretary/Treasurer, Sue Hunt of Atlantic; Sandy Bierbaum of Griswold; Justin D. Hockenberry of Anita; and Mike Tibken of Anita. Advisory board members of the Audubon County Community Foundation are: Chair, Steven B. Hansen of Audubon; Vice Chair, Pat Kaiser of Audubon; Secretary/Treasurer, Megan Wagner of Audubon; Gina Benton of Exira; Dr. Bob Blomme, DVM of Audubon; Travis Nelson of Exira; and Donna Olson of Kimballton.

Polk County, Iowa — A Johnston day care provider charged in the 2019 death of a child, was sentenced Wednesday to 10-year in prison. 51-year-old Trina Mazza had earlier pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent person. Her defense attorney had asked for a deferred judgment.

According to court documents, Mazza admitted to leaving a child in a Pack ‘n Play crib in her unlicensed, in-home day care center. Later, while she was upstairs, the child attempted to climb out of his crib and got caught between another crib close by. The child was asphyxiated within minutes.

The child died a few days later. The cause of death was determined to be accidental traumatic asphyxia. Mazza is also facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Wednesday, reported the District has an internal team that has worked extensively to get a registered apprenticeship in the area of welding.

The on-the-job training aspect is for 2,000 hours. There are interests internally, he said, from instructors, business partners, and students.

Students will be mentored by persons in the respective businesses. Once students complete the apprenticeship program, they will receive national credentials. Five prospective business partners are scheduled to meet with Administrators this afternoon, to discuss the program and offer additional, professional input.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police report two separate arrests took place Wednesday night (12/14/22). Authorities say at around 10:50-p.m., 31-year-old Jeffrey Dwayne Currie, Jr., of Red Oak, was arrested on a Red Oak Police Department warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. He was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a $1,000 bond.

And, at around 6:20-p.m., Wednesday, Red Oak Police arrested 28-year-old Sheyenne Linn Eilers, of Red Oak, was arrested, also on a Red Oak P-D warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense. She was also being held on a $1,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – The amount of taxes collected that go to fund road projects in the state has remained strong despite some decreases in travel brought on by higher gas prices. The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Shawn Majors says 95 percent of the road use tax fund comes from the fuel tax, registration fees and taxes on the sale of new and used vehicle sales. “One of the reasons we’ve seen favorable numbers as far as our revenue has been, our fee for new registration numbers that have come in this year this year so far. And I would say that based on the initial numbers we’re seeing for the November receipts, that will continue next month, Majors says.

Majors says the registration revenue is not as much as it was prior to COVID. “But definitely higher than we anticipated, given all the impacts of COVID and inflation. I guess that’s one thing I have been a little surprised about that we still continue to see really good numbers for the fees for new registration,” he says. A chip shortage has cut the number of new car sales — which has in turn driven up the cost of used cars — an new registration fees are based on the cost of the vehicle.

“That’s the biggest thing as far as how we’ve made up that balance of not having as much inventory out there for new vehicles — is those increased costs for used vehicles,” Major says. Majors made his comments in a report to the state Transportation Commission.