DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines intends to conduct a legal review of $844,000 in Polk County grants that aided nine area Catholic schools. On Wednesday Bishop Richard Pates told The Des Moines Register there is “a legitimate question of legality” regarding the publicly financed grants used to buy equipment for the nine Catholic schools and one Christian academy in 2012 and 2013. Iowa state officials say they won’t challenge Polk County’s decision to provide the grants.

Several Catholic school supporters formed a new Iowa corporation called Education for the 21st Century to apply for and receive the county grants. The county Board of Supervisors awarded the corporation a $400,000 grant in 2012 and a $444,000 grant in 2013. The group is now defunct.

The Creston Police Dept. reports a man from Adair County was arrested late Wednesday night on two Union County warrants for: Domestic Assault, and Violation of a Protection Order. 28-year old Spencer Leitzel, of Greenfield, was taken into custody in Creston at around 10:18-p.m. He was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, approved an order to temporarily close certain streets as necessary, for this Sunday’s “Welcome Home” event for Company K, 168^th Infantry Battalion, who left from Atlantic during World War II and whose remaining members never received a proper homecoming. The streets affected would be closed from 10-a.m. Until 3-p.m. Steve Livengood, who is heading-up American Legion Post #43’s celebration of those soldiers, in memorium, spoke during the Council meeting of the streets that needed to be closed for the event.  They include Chesnut Street from the Atlantic Depot to Poplar Street, including the intersection, for eastbound traffic at the intersection of 2^nd and Poplar Streets.

Poplar Street will remain open because it is a State Highway. The plan is for a walk featuring over 100 people, to start at the Rock Island Depot and move south to 2^nd Street. At 2^nd, the participants will turn west and move toward the intersection of 2^nd and Poplar, before moving into the Atlantic Bottling Company’s parking lot at the southeast corner of the intersection. From the parking lot, participants will individually cross Poplar Street and into the parking lot of the American Legion Memorial Building (The former Armory). Walkers will be carrying photos of those who served in Company K, 168^th Infantry Battalion.

The Council also approved an order to temporarily restrict parking on the east side of Palm Street from 7^th – to 10^th, on July 28^th. The restriction is necessary so driver of pickups and trailer coming to the Cass County Fair for the Tractor Pull event, have room to negotiate the turn onto the Fairground driveway. And, Mayor Dave Jones reminded residents the City is cracking down on fireworks usage in the City limits.  He says you cannot set-off fireworks on City Streets, alleys and other public property.

According to City Ordinance, it is not legal to set off fireworks within 300-feet of any public school buildings, assisted living facility, or hospital. Fireworks can only be shot-off on private property. Atlantic Police will crack down on issuing warnings and tickets to those who were warned last year about violating the ordinance. Violators will be subject to a $250 fine plus $85 in court costs. Anyone who was previously found guilty of violating the ordinance, may be subject to a $600 fine plus court costs if they are a repeat offender. The ordinance allows residents of Atlantic to set off fireworks from Noon until 10-p.m. July 2nd and 3rd. Displays are allowed on July 4th, from Noon until 11-p.m.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say four people suffered minor injuries in a fire at a Cedar Rapids apartment complex. Firetrucks were dispatched around 5:25 p.m. Wednesday to the 12-unit complex. The Cedar Rapids Fire Department says firefighters used a ladder to rescue one person. The fire was brought under control within 10 minutes of firefighters’ arrival. The department says two of the injured were sent to a hospital and two declined hospitalization. The fire cause is being investigated.