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More than $143,000 Granted to Audubon County Community Projects

News

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

The Audubon County Community Foundation awarded $143,342 to Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Spring 2024 Grant Cycle.
The following organizations are Spring 2024 Grant Recipients:

Organization Project Grant amount
Audubon County Conservation Board New Playground Handicap Accessible Sidewalk $10,000.00
Audubon Recreation Foundation ARC Fitness Area Addition $40,000.00
Brayton Community Club Phase Two: Exterior Renovation $15,000.00
City of Exira Fire Department Roof Replacement $20,000.00
Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School District Exira Community Fitness Room Renovation $40,000.00
Friendship Home Spa Room Renovations $9,171.00
The Children’s Nest Operational Funds $9,171.00

All grantees met the criteria as Audubon County nonprofit agencies or organizations with charitable missions that support community needs in the areas of civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. Only organizations providing services in Audubon County were eligible to apply.
The Audubon County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation, which meets National Standards for Community Foundations, and is one of nine county members of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa. It receives funds annually from the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program for endowment building and grantmaking throughout the county. This cycle of grants was made possible through the 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.

The Audubon County Community Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create permanent and expendable funds that address changing, vital community needs and interests. To inquire about donating to the Audubon County Community Foundation, please contact the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa staff or any board member listed below. Gifts to permanently endowed funds through the Audubon County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit.
Advisory board members of the Audubon County Community Foundation are Pat Kaiser, Gina Benton, Megan Wagner, Dr. Bob Blomme, Travis Nelson, Donna Olson, and Doug Carter.
For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact Sarah Beth Ray, Iowa Foundations Advisor, at 800-794-3458 or sarahbeth@omahafoundation.org.

A stormy weekend is ahead with severe weather possible

News, Weather

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Whatever your weekend plans, Iowans are being warned they’ll need to keep an eye on the weather, as severe storms may be moving in soon. Meteorologist Andrew Ansorge, at the National Weather Service, says we’ll have scattered rain showers and a few thunderstorms tonight, which shouldn’t pose much trouble, but the rest of the weekend may be a different story. “Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday will each feature rounds of strong-to-severe storms,” Ansorge says. “Friday is looking more like mid-to-late afternoon across Iowa, probably southwestern Iowa has the highest risk for seeing tornadoes, large hail and damaging wind gusts. That will move east-northeast across the state into the evening hours.”

If you bought tickets for the Drake Relays, which will conclude in Des Moines this weekend, you’d better bring along a poncho and galoshes. “Saturday, we might get a break in the morning but then looking into Saturday afternoon, storms will redevelop in the afternoon into the overnight hours,” Ansorge says, “and then Sunday, we’ll have to watch to see how things evolve on Saturday into Saturday night, but Sunday also has a risk of severe storms over roughly the southeastern half Iowa.”

We’re in the heart of severe weather season in Iowa, and Ansorge says it’s wise to have a weather radio handy, or a reliable severe weather app on your phone. “Anytime there’s a risk of strong to severe storms, you need to make sure you have multiple ways to receive warnings,” he says, “especially if you’re going to be outside, whether that be for a ballgame, track meet, playing in your garden, make sure you know where your available shelter’s at.”

On April 16th, multiple rounds of severe weather swept across the state, spinning off as many as 13 tornadoes statewide. Some of the twisters were on the ground less than a mile, while a destructive EF2 cut across more than 40 miles of southeast Iowa.

$18.8 million ‘workforce’ housing complex planned in Spirit Lake

News

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A nearly 19 MILLION dollar housing project in Spirit Lake will be built a few blocks from a manufacturing facility that employs 750. The Polaris plant in Spirit Lake produces Victory motorcycles and Polaris RANGER utility vehicles. Robert Smith of Talon Development says when the project is finished, there will be 126 rental units. “Phase one will have the apartments, with 62 units. We’re going to have within phase two we’re going to have town homes of three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bath and parking,” he says. “We’re also going to have within phase two…a community center and a fitness center.”

Smith says Talon Development built similar housing complexes in 27 other communities. He calls it market rate workforce housing. “Rather than having people drive in for half an hour, they can live and work in right in the community they’re in,” Smith says. “That’s the niche we work in. The smaller communities need to have people close by.” Spirit Lake officials say local businesses have said expansion plans are dependent on the construction of affordable housing for prospective employees.

Spirit Lake City Hall (photo by Spencer Radio Group/Saga Communications)

Spirit Lake City Administrator Gregg Owen says the developers are applying to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for a Workforce Housing Tax Credit.  “They need to see a local match. The city’s local match will be a combination of a $500,000 economic development grant and a tax abatement.”

The estimated value of that local tax abatement is about 394-thousand dollars. The developers say local investors and financing have already been secured. If the project is approved for state tax incentives, Talon Development could close on the property in September and begin construction before winter hits.

(Update) – Hancock fire victim identified

News

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

A 63-year-old man died in a house fire in Pottawattamie County, officials said. The Hancock Fire Department responded to the fire 3:15 a.m. April 19th, along with the Oakland and Avoca Fire Departments. A man, identified as Jarvis Tresler, was found dead inside the home in the area of Kimball and Joseph streets.

Glenwood P-D report, 4/25/24

News

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest today (Thursday), of 45-year-old Matthew Hansen, from Omaha. Hansen was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

Authorities said also, no injuries were reported following an accident Wednesday evening, in Glenwood. Police say a 2022 Dodge RAM pickup driven by 21-year-old Mason John Bivens, of Glenwood, was traveling west on Sharp Street at around 6:15-p.m., and crossing the intersection with Hazel Street, when a 2020 Ford Escape SUV driven by 26-year-old Chase Matthew Gray, of Glenwood, failed to yield the right-of-way at the stop sign.

The SUV struck the driver’s side of the pickup, causing a total of $10,500 damage.

Rails-to-Trails Hosts Celebrates Trails Day April 27

Ag/Outdoor, News

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  Celebrate Trails Day, this Saturday, April 27th, in Cass County. Spring is a great time of year to get outside and enjoy trails–biking, walking, or running. The
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is hosting Celebrate Trails Day, an annual celebration that encourages people to enjoy the nation’s trails. Cass County is home to multiple walking and biking trails. Some of the most popular trails in Cass County include: the four-mile paved trail circling Lake Anita State Park, paved and grass trails at Cold Spring Park near Lewis, and the paved and gravel trail system north of Atlantic connecting the Schildberg Recreation Area and the Little League ball diamonds and AMU wellfields.

A map of Cass County trails, including information on trail type, ADA accessibility, and restrooms, can be found at https://www.atlanticiowa.com/experience/cass-county-trails-map-2/.
Printed copies of the Cass County Trails Map can be picked up at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce (102 Chestnut St., Atlantic, IA 50022).

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a nonprofit organization founded in 1986 whose mission is to build a nation connected by trails. One of the organization’s flagship initiatives is the Great
American Rail Trail. The Great American Rail Trail is designed to be the nation’s first cross-country multi-use trail for biking, hiking, and more. While the trail is still under construction, the preferred route of the Great American Rail Trail goes through Cass County and Atlantic.

Atlantic is the only town on this year’s RAGBRAI route that is also on the preferred Great American Rail Trail route. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy will have a team of cyclists participating in RAGBRAI who will recognize Atlantic’s part in this cross-country trail. For more information on the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Celebrate Trails Day, and the Great American Rail Trail, visit www.railstotrails.org or contact Nishna Valley Trails President Dave Chase at 712-249-3059.

Nishna Valley Trails is a tax-exempt local nonprofit that promotes the development of recreational trails and cycling. People who support these causes are welcome to join the group. For more information on Nishna Valley Trails or to join the organization, contact President Dave Chase at barbdavechase@gmail.com or 712-249-3059. Nishna Valley Trails is partnering with Cass County Conservation and other area organizations to host a local trails celebration event on June 1. The event will include organized bike rides, food, and entertainment. Details to come.

Iowa mobile vasectomy clinic taking their work to the big screen

News

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — According to a research letter published in the JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) Health Forum, the number of young adults undergoing permanent sterilization, like vasectomies, rose following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Jonathan Stack, executive director at World Vasectomy Day, told KCAU-TV in Sioux City, “After Roe v. Wade and after the [Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization] ruling, there’s been a spike because I think people have become aware that something that they’d taken for granted doesn’t necessarily exist and now it wakes people up to their responsibilities.”

The organization World Vasectomy Day hopes a unique road trip in a mobile clinic will help end the stigma around male contraception. Dr. Esgar Guarin’s mobile vasectomy clinic is the first of its kind in the U.S. and is based right here in Iowa. Now, after years of staying in Iowa, Dr. Guarin will take his mobile vasectomy unit to surrounding states. The 2024 Heartland of America World Vasectomy Road Trip started on Earth Day and is expected to end after Mother’s Day. The goal, he says, is to complete 100 vasectomies.

Stack said that when Dr. Guarin and the vasectomy patients end up on the big screen, he hopes the audience learns a thing or two about the procedure and men’s responsibility for contraception. Stack hopes to have the film completed and out for audiences to see this fall.

Heartbeat Today 4-25-2024

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

April 25th, 2024 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with Alan Cranston about the Marne Masons Country Lunch event on Sunday, April 28 from 4:00 p to 7:00 pm at the Marne Fire Station.

Play

Former NW IA band teacher charged with sexual exploitation

News

April 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

CHEROKEE, Iowa (KCAU) — A band teacher in northwest Iowa charged with sexual exploitation has been terminated from his employment by the district. According to KCAU, 46-year-old Joseph Vannatta is no longer employed with the Cherokee Community School District. The superintendent said Vanatta’s employment was terminated by the school board, Wednesday, “effective immediately.”

Joseph Vannatta courtesy Cherokee County Jail
Joseph Vannatta (Courtesy: Cherokee County Jail)

Court documents indicate a student reported feeling like they were being groomed by Vannatta into having a relationship with him.

Vannatta was charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee, a class D felony. He has bonded out of jail.

AHSTW Boys Track season update with coach Jackson Renberg

Sports

April 25th, 2024 by admin

The AHSTW Vikings Boys Track team is coming off a first place finish at Fremont-Mills COED Meet on Tuesday April 23rd, where they ended had 169 points.

The Vikings have had five top 5 finished out of the five track events that they have had so far this season.

Coach Renberg says the team has been having an up and down kind of year.

There was one personal and  school record broke this season says coach Renberg.

Coach Renberg wants to see his teams hard work pay off as they prepare for conference and district meet.

Vikings coach Renberg main focus is thathe wants the team to give themselves the opportunity to improve everyday to prepare so they are ready to compete in the districts in the next few weeks.

 

AHSTW boys next track meet will be (today) Thursday April 25th for the Griswold COED Relays. That COED Relays will get underway at 4:00 p.m.