SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Organizers of a planned Christian-themed park in Sioux City have declined a $140,000 public grant to avoid a controversy that arose after the grant was announced last month. Garry Smith, a member of The Shepherd’s Garden board, tells the Sioux City Journal that the group didn’t want to be in the middle of a lawsuit over the grant.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, of Madison, Wisconsin, complained last month about funding the Christian-themed park with public money from Vision Iowa. The group said the grant violated the U.S. and Iowa constitutions. Smith says the group’s objection prompted private donors to come forward, and now the project doesn’t need state money.

Smith says the $810,000 park is still on track for completion in the fall.

With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds will be in Council Bluffs and Harlan this week. The Governor and Lt. Governor will hold the 31st Annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards recognition ceremony 9-a.m. Wednesday, June 11th, at Iowa Western Community College, in Council Bluffs.

And, at 11-a.m., Wednesday, the pair are scheduled to be in Harlan for an “Iowa is working” Shelby County Town Hall meeting. The event takes place at the Therkildsen Activity Center,

A woman talking on her cell phone received a warning for unsafe backing, following a fender-bender accident Friday afternoon, in Red Oak. Authorities say a 2004 Buick Rendezvous driven by 29-year old Kimberly Dentlinger, of Elliott, was backing out of a parking stall in the 300 block of east Reed Street at around 12:42-p.m., Friday. Moments later, a 2009 Chevy Impala driven by 49-year old Karen Stanbrough, of Shenandoah also began to pull out of a parking stall.

Stanbrough’s car hit the right rear wheel well of Dentlinger’s vehicle, causing a total of $3,700 damage. Dentlinger claimed Stanbrough was on her cell phone at the time of the accident. No injuries were reported.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says a couple from Pottawattamie County were arrested early this (Saturday) morning, for felony neglect/abandonment of a dependent person. 30-year old Gordon Leroy Currin III and 38-year old Misty Schalome Currin, both of Council Bluffs, were taken into custody at around 1:50-a.m. following an incident near High Street and U Avenue, in Villisca.

The pair were brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $10,000 bond, each. If convicted on the Class C Felony charge, the couple each face 10 years imprisonment and a potential fine of $1,000 to $10,000.

Authorities in Montgomery County report the arrest Friday morning of a man on a trespass charge. 29-year old Kyle WIlliam Chase, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10:15-a.m. in the 100 block of w. Maple Street. Chase was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.

DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Kevin Costner, Dwier Brown and other stars of the baseball blockbuster “Field of Dreams” will be in Iowa this coming Father’s Day weekend to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the movie. The celebration is being held outside Dyersville on the northeastern Iowa farm where the movie was filmed.

Activities will be held on Friday, Saturday and Father’s Day, including ballgames and a screening of the movie. Details about activities can be found at the movie site’s website at http://www.fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com/25thanniversary .

A southwest Iowa man was arrested Friday for his role in a failed, apparent suicide pact. According to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, 58-year old James Allen Zing, of Thurman, for allegedly assisting or participating in a suicide attempt on Jan. 19th with his girlfriend, 47-year old Gwendolyn Nelson Melloway. The incident allegedly occurred in the 1500 block of Western Avenue in Thurman. Melloway died Jan. 21st from acute mixed drug overdose, which the State Medical Examiner ruled a suicide.

Zing’s toxicology report from Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs revealed he had “relatively low levels” of drugs in his system. His arrest followed an investigation that lasted several months.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad has issued a proclamation of disaster emergency and activated an assistance program for four Iowa counties affected by recent severe weather. Branstad said in a news release Friday that the Iowa Individual Assistance Program has been activated for Cass, Harrison, Montgomery, and Ringgold counties. Pottawattamie County was declared under a disaster emergency on Tuesday and is open to the assistance program.

ATLANTIC, Iowa (AP) — A western Iowa man who served in Afghanistan appears in a new documentary featuring his unit. Nathan Allen, of Atlantic, appears in the film, “The Hornet’s Nest.” The movie features Allen’s unit, the 101st Airborne Division. reports the movie shows the unit as it experiences hostile fire in Afghanistan in 2011. Allen is wounded trying to help another soldier in his platoon reach safety. Allen received a Purple Heart for his service, and retired as a sergeant last year. He says the movie helps him remember the incident, and helps others understand what the soldiers experienced. The movie is playing in Atlantic from June 12th through 19th.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Bridge engineers in Nebraska and Iowa says the safety problems seen in Delaware with an interstate bridge are not likely to happen here. Scott Neubauer, Iowa’s bridge maintenance and inspection engineer, says Iowa doesn’t plan inspections like Delaware is requiring.

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — A 30-year-old Clinton man has been accused of setting a fire that his mother put out in their apartment. The Clinton Herald says Rex Brandt is charged with felony arson. Clinton County Jail records said Brandt remained in custody on Friday. His attorney declined to comment.