Officials with the Iowa Association of Business and Industry today (Wednesday), presented an Atlantic business with a 2016 Iowa Job Honors award. Representatives from Owner Revolution received the award at the ABI’s annual “Taking Care of Business” conference, in Sioux City. The Iowa Job Honor Awards, is an initiative aimed at recognizing Iowans who have overcome barriers to employment, and the employers who hire them.

Several hundred Iowa business leaders assembled at the conference to witness the ceremony, during which biographical videos recounted honoree efforts to win life-changing jobs. The ReWall Company of Des Moines was also honored for their commitment to hire disadvantaged candidates, including people with developmental disabilities, past criminal convictions, and histories of addictions.

Lead sponsor of the Iowa Job Honor Awards, is the ManPower Group. Central Iowa Works Co-sponsored the celebration, along with Iowa ABI. Launched in 2014, the awards are expanding nationally, under the banner of America’s Job Honor Awards.

Honoree videos can be viewed at www.jobhonor.org.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says a Glenwood woman was arrested on Burglary charges, Sunday. 24-year old Sheryl Castillo faces burglary and attempted burglary, charges. Her bond was set at $3,000.

The Iowa West Foundation Board of Directors recently approved more than $5 million in grants and initiatives funding to 19 nonprofit organizations and government entities in southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska.

Locally:

• The Audubon Community Cinema received $6,000 for The Rose Movie Theater Renovation
• The Pottawattamie County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Network received General Operating Support in the amount of $15,000.

Among the recipients was the City of Council Bluffs, which received a $100,000 grant for the city’s newly unveiled “UN” image campaign, with a tagline of “Unlike anywhere else. On purpose.” The city also received $85,000 toward the Council Bluffs Fire Department Bell Tower project, which will place one of the city’s oldest artifacts, a centennial fire bell from 1876, on prominent display for the public to enjoy.

The City, in partnerships with the Council Bluffs Community School District ALSO received $150,000 for phase three of the BLink Wi-Fi initiative, which will expand the city’s free Wi-Fi footprint in Council Bluffs further east of N. 16^th Street to the existing downtown Wi-Fi zone along 100 Block of West Broadway.

Per its focus on healthy families, the Foundation awarded a $70,000 grant to Connections Area Agency on Aging to ensure homebound senior citizens in Pottawattamie County could continue or begin to receive “Meals on Wheels.” The program had been experiencing a funding shortfall causing food-insecure individuals to be placed on a waiting list. The Iowa West Foundation grant will ensure a total of 36,348 hot and frozen, nutritionally-balanced meals are delivered to 228 individuals, leaving no one on a waiting list.

The Iowa West Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the Midwest. It has distributed more than $300 million to nonprofits and governmental agencies through southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska since the inception of its grant program. Funding for the grants comes from investment earnings and the Iowa West Racing Association, which receives contractual fees from casino operators, Ameristar and Harrah’s.

The Harlan Police Department today (Tuesday) issued its weekly arrest and incident report. Officials said on June 9th, 32-year old Rodney Koehrsen, of Harlan, was arrested after officers were called to investigate a burglary in the 900 block of Baldwin Street.  As a result of a traffic stop, Koehrsen was arrested and charged with burglary in the 1st degree, felon in possession of a firearm, and driving while suspended.

As a result of the ensuing investigation Koehrsen was also charged with delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of prescription drugs, and prohibited acts penalties.

On June 12th, Harlan Police arrested 19-year old Justin Dickinson, of Harlan, after officers observed him riding a motorized scooter.  Dickinson was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while revoked.

On Monday, 51-year old Randall Hess, of Harlan, was taken into custody when officers were called to the 2100 block of Lincoln Avenue for an altercation.  As a result of the investigation Hess was arrested and taken to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with assault for allegedly threatening a woman from Harlan.

And, on June 9th, 30-year old Missy Jo Rothman, of Harlan, was arrested for Public Intoxication.

In an update to our earlier report, Sheriff’s officials in Union County say a pickup truck reported stolen Monday from outside a residence in Creston, was found damaged following an accident that took place a few hours after the truck was discovered missing. An investigation determined the 2000 Ford F-150 driven by an unknown person, was northbound on Umbrella Avenue when it went out of control prior to entering a curve. The vehicle entered the west ditch and rolled onto its side, sustaining $3,000 damage. The incident remains under investigation.

Area residents interested in food preservation are invited to Food Preservation 101, a two-hour overview of general food preservation principles. The class includes current recommendations for canning, freezing and drying, display of equipment and utensils and sources for safe and tested food preservation information.  The course will be held Tuesday, June 28th, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Cass County Extension office in Atlantic. Fee for the course is $5 per person, and includes all materials, recipes, etc. Pre-registration is requested by Monday, June 27 by calling 712-243-1132 or emailing xcass@iastate.edu.

Preserve the Taste of Summer is a longer, more in-depth course that combines educational classes and hands-on food preservation workshops, and is a great opportunity for those who want to go beyond the basics. The educational classes can be done online anytime by registering at www.extension.iastate.edu/registration/events/conferences/preservation/ or they can be viewed in a group setting by making arrangements in advance (call 712-243-1132). The classes are required to be completed before participating in the hands-on workshops. Two workshops will be hosted later this summer, at the Cass County Fair Food Stand. A workshop on salsa making (hot-water bath canning) and freezing food will be held on Saturday, July 30 from 9 am to 1 pm, and a workshop on pressure canning will be held on Saturday, August 1, from 9 am to 1 pm. Fees for this program start at $25, depending on the number of courses and workshops you plan to attend. All participants in hands-on workshops will leave with several jars of freshly canned goods to take home and enjoy!

Updates for Home Food Preservers

Look to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for up-to-date, accurate and safe information on home food preservation.  Publications and programs are under regular review and revision and some important changes have been made for this year’s gardening and preserving season, according to Barb Fuller, local human sciences specialist in nutrition and wellness.

“If you have older versions of these publications, throw them away and replace them with the revised versions to be sure you are using current recommendations,” says Fuller. “Home canned food is a great way to have fresh summer produce available all year, but safety is key to enjoying that food year round.”

Cass County Extension also offers pressure canner dial gauge testing by appointment.  Dial gauge pressure canners should be tested annually for accuracy. Dial gauges will also be tested at the end of the Food Preservation 101 program on June 28 for any participants interested.

If you get stuck or have a question about a recipe, you can get answers to food preservation questions by calling ISU Extension and Outreach’s toll-free AnswerLine. Experts answer questions Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and from 1– 4 p.m. In Iowa, call 1-800-262-3804; Relay Iowa phone linkage for deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals, 1-800-735-2942. Questions can also be emailed to answer@iastate.edu.  Frequently asked questions and other resources are available at the AnswerLine website, www.extension.iastate.edu/humansciences/answerline.

Nine & Wine, a fundraiser for the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce that is open to the entire community, will be held this Friday, June 17th, 2016 at the Atlantic Golf & Country Club. The tournament includes nine holes of golf, appetizers, provided by Downtowner Café, wine samples at every hole sponsored by Hy-Vee and beer samples provided by Southwest Iowa Distributing and Doll Distributing.

New this year, the Chamber will be hosting a Patio Party beginning at 6:30 PM. For $30 you can enjoy wine tasting, appetizers and dinner on the Atlantic Golf and Country Club patio. Also new this year as an additional fundraiser, the Chamber will be hosting a Wine Pull. Attendees will be able to purchase wine pull tickets for $20 each or three for $50. Each ticket is a winner with one grand prize winner taking home a YETI Cooler, donated by Connect-A- Dock.

An unlimited amount of Mulligans are available for $10, for teams and two betting holes. After the tournament, golfers and guests will enjoy dinner provided by the Atlantic Golf & Country Club and sponsored by Cornerstone Landscaping. There will be a men and women’s door prize given out to golfers and guests of the patio party.
To check on the availability of reservations for the Patio Party and teams available,  sign up, or to learn more, please visit www.atlanticiowa.com.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has announced that Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons are now available for eligible WIC recipients and low-income older Iowans. The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs provide eligible Iowans with checks that can be redeemed for fresh, locally grown produce at authorized farmers markets and farm stands from June 1 through October 31, 2016.

Northey said “Iowa-grown fresh fruits and vegetables can be found at farmers markets throughout the state.  The Famers Market Nutrition Programs are designed to give WIC participants and low-income seniors better access to these fresh and nutritious foods.”

The Farmers Market Nutrition Programs are administered through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Department on Aging.  For more information contact Stephanie Groom, Program Administrator, at 515-725-1179 or at Stephanie.Groom@iowaagriculture.gov.

WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program

The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides eligible WIC recipients with nine checks valued at $3 each. WIC FMNP checks will be distributed statewide on a first-come, first-served basis.  Eligible individuals may pick up checks at arranged appointments or at regularly scheduled clinic appointments.

A combination of state and federal funds will be used to make benefits available to more than 24,000 eligible WIC recipients this year.  Eligible individuals include children ages 1 through 4, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women that participate in Iowa’s WIC Program.

The state’s twenty local WIC agencies have begun to distribute checks and nutritional education information.  WIC recipients interested in obtaining the benefits are encouraged to contact their local WIC clinic or visit https://idph.iowa.gov/wic/families  for more information.

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides eligible seniors with ten checks for $3 each.  In addition to produce, locally produced honey can also be purchased with Senior FMNP checks.  Applicants throughout the state are offered the checks on a first-come first-served basis and the checks are available through Area Agency on Aging offices. A combination of state and federal funds will be used to make benefits available to more than 19,000 eligible seniors this year.

Eligible seniors must be sixty years of age or older with a household income less than $21,978 if single or $29,637 for a married couple.  Iowa seniors will be asked to complete a one page application verifying their eligibility, by providing their birth dates and the last four digits of their social security numbers.

The Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) have begun to distribute checks and nutritional education information.   To find an Area Agency on Aging near you, contact the Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging (i4a) toll free at 866-468-7887 or at www.i4a.org.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The Creston Police Department reports the arrest Monday afternoon, of 22-year old Patrick Liams, of Creston. Liams was taken into custody on two Union County warrants for Assault on a Peace Officer, and Disorderly Conduct. He was later released from custody on $2,300 bond.

Also arrested Monday afternoon, was 55-year old Robert Fleharty, of Creston. He was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a warrant for Failure to Serve a sentence on an original charge of OWI/1st offense. Fleharty was being held in the Union County Jail while serving the balance of his sentence.

And, late Monday morning, 50-year old Melissa Rodden, of Murray, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center for Simple Assault. Rodden was subsequently released on a Promise to Appear later, in court.