Spring is in the air, and plans are under way for gardening projects in Cass County. Local groups planning beautification, community gardening or education programs will again be eligible for assistance from the Cass County Master Gardeners. The group is offering grant money to be used in the 2018 growing season, to encourage gardening to grow food for education or donation, and/or improve local communities. The money may also be used for gardening education purposes. The Cass County Master Gardener Memorial Grants are offered in remembrance of the many years of service to the community provided by long-time Master Gardener volunteers who have passed.

Any Cass County not-for-profit group may apply. Schools, churches, libraries, 4-H clubs, Scouts, or other organizations/individuals working to improving their communities can apply for money to begin or improve gardens or landscaping for community benefit, or to provide education for their members or the public. To ensure the money is helping a wide variety of community organizations, those who were funded by 2017 grants will not be eligible to apply in 2018. Each grant has a maximum value of $300. Applications must include plans for teamwork and sustainability. Consideration for the environment is also an important factor in selection.

Applications must be received by Tuesday, April 24 for consideration. They may be submitted by mail or email. Grant recipients will be informed of their selection by May 1. For more information, or with questions, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132, email keolson@iastate.edu, or stop by the Extension Office at 805 W. 10th St in Atlantic. You may also contact Master Gardener Donna Reimers. Application forms can be picked up at the Extension Office, or printed from the Cass County Extension website- www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

The Master Gardener program trains volunteers to develop their knowledge and skills in horticulture. These volunteers then give back to their communities through gardening service and education. The program is available in all 50 states and Canada through land grant university Extension programs such as Iowa State University Extension. Education courses are available throughout Iowa on a regular basis. For more information on the program, contact Cass County Extension Program Coordinator Kate Olson, at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu.

The Cass County, Iowa Master Gardeners (CCMG) are offering a $1,000 scholarship, with applications due April 27. This scholarship is available to students who are graduating seniors or graduates of any of the following Iowa school districts, in which currently reside members of CCMG: Atlantic, Audubon, AHSTW, Clarinda, CAM, Exira-EHK, Griswold, Harlan, Red Oak or Riverside. The goal of the Master Gardener program is to support horticulture education and community service. CCMG members provide many hours of volunteer service in their communities. Accordingly, this scholarship is intended to provide post-secondary funds to individuals who are studying, or intend to pursue a career in, a horticulture-related field. The scholarship winner will be selected based upon academic success, history of community service, and career goals. Demonstration of interest and experience in horticulture will be very helpful.

The application form is available through the high school guidance departments, or on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/. Applications should be submitted to the Cass County Extension Office, 805 W 10th St, Atlantic, Iowa 50022, or emailed to keolson@iastate.edu.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials say the Omaha veterans hospital was rated in the top 10 percent nationwide after a surprise inspection. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System achieved a top five-star rating. That’s up from a three-star rating in 2015. A newly released report says the system was among the 10 best in two categories: speedy access to specialty care and low rate of readmission for the same problem within 30 days. It trailed other VA hospitals and systems in the turnover rate of registered nurses and mental health coverage in rural areas.
The audit didn’t cover unauthorized waiting lists for psychotherapy treatments at the Omaha hospital or for certain eye exams, which were discovered by Nebraska-Western Iowa VA officials last year.

It may be a rollercoaster week ahead where Iowans use both the heaters and air conditioners in their homes and cars. Meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg, at the National Weather Service office in metro Des Moines, says flurries were still flying this (Monday) morning after Sunday’s snowstorm that dropped between six and eight inches of snow in northern Iowa. “We even had a report from Clear Lake, just south of Mason City, that came in with nine inches of snowfall,” Kotenberg says. “It’s pretty widespread, six to seven to eight inches up in our north, all the way from Estherville to just north of the Waterloo area.”

While we’re 20 days into spring, it hasn’t felt like it in Iowa, with multiple snowfalls and temperatures some 30-degrees below normal. Kotenberg says spring-like weather will be arriving very soon, but it likely won’t last long. “We’re going to go from six to seven to eight inches of snowfall in northern Iowa on Sunday to 70s possible by Wednesday, 70s looking even more likely by Thursday and Friday,” Kotenberg says. “I wouldn’t be surprised if even 80s start creeping up in northern Missouri here.”

While many Iowans will welcome the warmth, the forecast calls for it to be gone by Saturday. “We’re dropping back down into the 30s and 40s and we cannot rule out another bit of snowfall for next weekend, especially for northern Iowa,” Kotenberg says. “There’s a lot of time between now and then, but we’re definitely going to be on a rollercoaster this week, in terms of weather.”

Thunderstorms and severe weather are possible on Friday, he says, as the arriving cold front collides with the warm air.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa transportation officials plan to make a near record $779 million of statewide road improvements for the upcoming construction season. The Des Moines Register reports that the largest project involves widening a 40-mile, two-lane section of U.S. Highway 20 in northwest Iowa to four lanes. The $286 million project is expected to be completed this fall. The Des Moines area, Ames, Council Bluffs, the Quad Cities and Waterloo are among the areas that will also see road work.

Stuart Anderson is the director of the state Department of Transportation’s Planning, Programming and Modal Division. He says a dime-per-gallon state tax increase on gasoline and diesel fuel that took effect in 2015 has generated an additional $200 million annually for Iowa road projects.

OSAGE, Iowa (AP) — A man has pleaded not guilty to supplying alcohol to a woman who authorities say was driving drunk when her vehicle hit a tree in northern Iowa, killing her. Mitchell County District Court records say the plea was entered last month for 22-year-old Justin Slaichert, of St. Ansgar. His arraignment hearing is scheduled for April 24. The charge: supply alcohol to an underage person, resulting in the person’s death.

Authorities say Slaichert’s girlfriend, 19-year-old Hanna Pfeifer, died when her vehicle rammed a tree Jan. 6 in St. Ansgar. Tests showed her blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit.
Court documents say Slaichert told officers he’d bought three beers for Pfeifer.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports three people were arrested Sunday. Just before 10-a.m., Deputies arrested 31-year old Joshua Michael Putney, of Tigard, OR, on an Multnomah County Oregon Circuit Court warrant, for Attempt to Commit a Class B Felony Robbery in the Second Degree. Putney was arrested at the Clarinda Correctional Facility in Clarinda, and transported to the Page County Jail where he is currently awaiting extradition proceedings and extradition to Oregon.

Joshua Putney

And, at around 1:40-a.m. Sunday, Page County Deputies arrested 27-year old Jasmine Jade Wilcoxson, and 29-year old Dallas Levi Head, both of Clarinda. They were taken into custody on Page County Warrants for Violation of a mediation agreement (failure to cause minor child to go to school), which is a Simple Misdemeanor. Wilcoxson and Head were transported to the Page County Jail, where they posted bond and were released pending further court proceedings.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports four arrests took place over the period covering March 31st through April 4th. On March 31st, 37-year old Corey Lee Irvin, of Bridgewater, was arrested on a Polk County warrant. Irvin was being held in the Adair County Jail. That same day, 54-year old David Jon Bergan, of Lincoln, NE., was arrested by Adair Counties Deputies, following a traffic stop on I-80, at Exit 104. Bergan was charged with OWI/1st offense. He was later released that evening on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

On April 4th, 26-year old Jeffrey Scott Schaefer, of Orient, was arrested on an warrant out of Union County, and transferred to the custody of Union County Deputies. And, on April 7th, 33-year old Ronice Elizabeth Steeve, of Greenfield, was arrested on a felony warrant out of Adams County, and was transferred to the custody of Adams County Deputies.

Sheriff Vandewater reports also, 45-year old Jodi Lea Griffith, of Fontanelle, was arrested April 2nd in the vicinity of Old Milll Road and Highway 92. She was taken into custody following a traffic stop, and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug (which she claimed was her brother’s, who is deceased), and for Possession of Marijuana. Griffith was cited for the offense, and then released at the scene.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Wintry weather has made travel dangerous over the northern half of Iowa. Several schools announced delayed openings Monday, and snow and freezing drizzle are in the forecasts. As much as 6 inches (15 centimeters) of snow are expected in northwest Iowa, and gusting winds could cause whiteouts.

The icy conditions were blamed for a Sunday night accident that killed an 18-year-old in Des Moines. The Iowa State Patrol says a driver lost control of his sport utility vehicle while on an Iowa Highway 5 bridge over Iowa Highway 28. The patrol says the SUV rolled, killing Malik Rucker and injuring another passenger.

The Cass and Audubon County Community Foundations presented grants amounting to more than $117,590 each, to various non-profit agencies in their respective Counties, last Friday, who had submitted their application in-time for the Feb. 1^st deadline.

Cass County Community Foundation grant recipient representatives.

Included among the grant recipients in Cass County, was:

• The Anita Public Library, $2,000 for LED lighting in the Adult Fiction Room.
• The Ann W. Wickman Child Development Center, $10,000 for expansion & renovations.
• Atlantic Coca Cola Center & Museum, $1,000 for shelving/backroom storage.
• Atlantic Lions Club, $2,000 to renovate the 1875 schoolhouse at Sunnyside Park.
• Atlantic Parks & Rec, $12,000 to install a picnic shelter at the Schildberg Rec Area.
• Atlantic Police Reserves, $2,500 for body camera systems for the A-PD.
• Atlantic Soccer Association, $2,000 for soccer goals with nets.
• Atlantic Youth Sports Organization, $10,000 to renovate existing bathrooms.
• CAM Shooting Team, $1,000 to construct benches at the practice field.
• Cass Co. Conservation, $6,000 to update playground equipment at the Cold Springs Park campground.
• Cass Co. Historical Society, $10,000 to preserve & protect artifacts.
• Cumberland Public Library, $3,000 for computers & maker space items.
• Friends of the Griswold Public Library, $3,000 for bookshelf & furniture additions.
• Friends of the Outdoor Classroom, $3,000 to expoxy finish the concrete floor in the new kitchen addition.
• Griswold Volunteer Fire Dept., $3,000 for a rope rescue truck cache kit & Life Safety rope.
• Griswold Volunteer Rescue, $3,000 for patient mobilization equipment.
• Griswold Youth Sports, $5,000 for ball field improvements.
• Hitchock House Advisory, $8,000 for tuckpointing to the Hitchcock House.
• Marne Fire & Rescue, $6,000 to replace old bunker gear.
• Massena Historical Society, $4,000 for Heritage Park improvements.
• Massena Volunteer Fire & Rescue, $4,000 for a new Grass Attack vehicle.
• Nisnha Valley Family YMCA, $17,095 to repair & update the indoor pool

Altogether, the Cass County Community Foundation provided $117,595 in direct grants to Cass County Non-profit Agencies. The Audubon County Community Foundation provided $117, 594 in direct grants to non-profit agencies in Audubon County. The recepients include:

• Audubon Community Cinema, $10,000 for Rose Theater renovations.
• Audubon County Fair Board, $5,000 for electrical lines for new campsites on the fairground.
• Audubon County Historical Society, $5,000 to tuckpoint the exterior of the Nathaniel Hamlin Park Museum.
• Audubon Recreation Foundation, $32, 797 to install bowling lanes in the rec center.
• Brayton Fire Dept., $5,000 for equipment updates to the grass attack unit.
• Exira Community Club, $32,797 for Phase 4 of the Rec Reno project.
• Exira Public Library, $2,000 to install a patron drinking fountain & fireproof the book drop.
• Friendship Home Foundation, $20,000 to renovate the upper level of the Friendship Home.
• And, The Children’s Nest, $5,000 for Indoor/Outdoor Classroom equipment and to renovate the laundry room.

Both Community Foundations work with individuals, families, businesses and organizatins, to create permanent funds that address changing, vital community needs. By donating to either Foundation, you’ll be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit for each donation, in addition to any Federal Tax benefits for which you may qualify.

For more information about donating or establishing an individual foundation or fund, contact Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 1-800-794-3458.