DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The latest U.S. Census estimates show the Des Moines metro area is growing quickly while most Iowa counties have declining populations. According to data released Thursday, the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area population reached an estimated 611,549, up 7.4 percent from the 2010 U.S. Census. The majority of Iowa counties, however, saw declines, as only 31 of 99 experienced an uptick.

The data show Dallas County had a 17 percent increase, the largest among Iowa counties. The biggest decline was in Fremont County, where population dropped 5.6 percent. All of Iowa’s nine metro areas saw growth. The Iowa City metro led the pack, up 7.7 percent since 2010. Gary Krob, coordinator of the State Data Center, says having growth across Iowa rather than concentrated in one area is promising.

Spring is the time to plan and plant your gardens. With that in mind, the Cass County Master Gardeners group reminds you that they are again offering grant money to be used in the 2015 growing season, to encourage gardening to grow food and/or beautify local communities. The deadline to apply for the funds is next Monday, March 30th.

The grant monies may be used for gardening education purposes in addition to growing food and beautification purposes. The David Williams Master Gardener Grants are offered to honor the many years of service Master Gardener David Williams provided as a long-time volunteer, with the Master Gardener program and other community organizations, including a term as Cass County Master Gardener president in 2012.

Any Cass County not-for-profit group or individual may apply. Schools, churches, libraries, 4-H clubs, Scouts, and individuals working to improving their communities can use the money to begin or improve gardens or landscaping, or to provide education for their members or the public. To ensure the money is helping a wide variety of community organizations, groups who were funded by 2014 grants will not be eligible to apply in 2015. Each grant has a maximum value of $300. The application must also include plans for teamwork and sustainability. Consideration for the environment is also an important selection factor.

Once again, applications must be received by Monday, March 30th for consideration. They may be submitted by mail or email. Grant recipients will be informed of their selection by the end of April. 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 committee members Judy Kennedy, Marla Anstey or Linda Edelman. Application forms can be picked up at the Extension Office, or printed from the Cass County Extension website www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

CLARINDA, Iowa (AP) – Officials at the Clarinda Mental Health Institute (MHI) have begun to transfer mentally ill senior citizens from the institution to private nursing homes. The Des Moines Register reports that a spokeswoman for the state facility confirmed Wednesday that only about a dozen patients, who are considered to be some of the toughest cases the institution handles, will be affected. The institute itself is scheduled to close July 1st.

The Department of Human Services says that it is looking for safe placements for the senior citizens. Patient advocates say most of the senior citizens in the program were placed in the institution because private facilities found them too difficult to handle. Department spokeswoman Amy McCoy said that some of the transfers have taken place, but declined to say how many of the residents have been moved.

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund recently donated $2500 to the Griswold Little League to assist them with expanding their concession stand/restrooms.

Shown: Jody Rossell, Nathan Brownlee and Melanie Petty (photo courtesy Melanie Petty)

The Fund was founded when the family tragically lost Trevor in an apartment fire in 2009. Since then, the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund has given out over $100,000.00 in donations back to the communities Trevor was a part of.

Officials say they are blessed with all the support they receive each year at the annual TFred Memorial Golf Tournament. This year the tournament will be held on Saturday, August 8th.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency says the Fire Danger Index will remain in the “Moderate” category, through next Monday. Officials say if you have a large burn, please notify your Fire Chief, prior to ignition. If you call the Emergency Mgmt. Agency at 712-755-2124 for assistance, if needed.

The EMA says you should “Always have a plan, Never leave a burning pile unattended , be aware of the direction and speed of the wind, and avoid smoking out neighbors or those who may have respiratory problems.”

Emergency Manager Bob Seivert says they expect the fire danger conditions to worsen next week.

The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) today (Thursday), announced that eligible first-time Iowa home buyers may purchase a home and reduce their federal income tax liability by up to $2,000 a year for the life of their mortgage. Approximately 400 Iowa home buyers are expected to benefit from the program, which is now available for new purchases through a network of Take Credit Participating Lenders throughout the state.

IFA Executive Director Dave Jamison says “The Take Credit program will provide an additional incentive to first-time Iowa home buyers as we move into the spring home buying season. Hundreds of Iowa families will be able to both realize their dream of homeownership and benefit from a significant reduction in their federal income taxes.”

The program provides eligible home buyers with a tax credit against their federal income tax liability every year for the life of their mortgage. The amount of the tax credit for the 2015 program is set at 50 percent of the mortgage interest paid, up to a maximum of $2,000 per year, for up to 30 years. The remaining mortgage interest may be taken as a deduction from taxable income if the home buyer itemizes.

Eligibility for the Take Credit Program requires home buyers to meet household income and purchase price limitations and meet the definition of a first-time home buyer. The federal income limits vary by county, the limits currently range from $65,300 to $111,300 per year. A purchase price limit of $250,000 applies statewide with the exception of federally Targeted Areas where the limit is $305,000. A first-time home buyer is defined as someone who has not owned their primary residence in the past three years but also includes home buyers purchasing in a federally Targeted Area and military veterans who have not previously financed a home using a tax exempt bond program.

Jamison said  “Interested home buyers can apply for a mortgage credit certificate through a Take Credit Participating Lender as part of their financing process. Home buyers will need to have approval of the mortgage credit certificate before they close on a home so they should ask their lender about this opportunity early in the application process.”  The certificates are available on a first-come first-serve basis and the program will be closed for further reservations once available funding has been exhausted.

More information is available at IowaFinanceAuthority.gov/TakeCredit.

One person was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, following a collision this (Thursday) morning in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 22-year old Terrence Reynolds, Sr., of South Sioux City, NE, who was not wearing a seat belt, was taken by Glenwood Rescue to the hospital, after his 1994 Chevy S-10 pickup hit a 2013 Ford Focus driven by 44-year old Jennifer Rethmeier, of Council Bluffs. Rethmeier was not hurt in the crash.

The accident happened at around 7-a.m. as Reynolds was traveling west on Highway 370 and Rethmeier left the stop sign from the southbound Interstate 29 off-ramp. The woman didn’t see Reynolds’ pickup approaching when she left the controlled intersection to turn onto Highway 370 eastbound.

Three people were arrested over the past week, in Harlan. According to the police report, 26-year old Brittney Dollen, of Harlan, was arrested Sunday, when it was discovered she allegedly altered several checks written by citizens, for the purchase of Girl Scout cookies. Dollen was taken to the Shelby County Jail and charged with six-counts of Forgery.

Last Friday (March 20th), Harlan Police arrested 34-year old Clayton Sorensen, of Harlan, on an OWI charge. Sorensen was also cited for operating a motor vehicle with improper tail lights.

And on March 17th, 30-year old Dane Stevens, of Harlan, was arrested for Public Intoxication and Trespassing. His arrest took place after police investigated a report of a go-cart being driven around the empty lots on Dye Street. Authorities say 33-year old Kylie Stahl, of Harlan, was cited for Trespassing in connection with the incident.

(9-a.m. News)

Three people were arrested Wednesday in Atlantic, two of them on drug charges. Authorities say 20-year old Aaron Cole and 24-year old Joshua Peters, both of Atlantic, face charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

And, 25-year old Marshall Fischer, of Atlantic, was arrested Wednesday on a Cass County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree, and Driving While Barred. All three men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

(9-a.m. Newscast)

The 8-a.m. Newscast w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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