WASHINGTON, D.C. – Iowa Congressman David Young today (Wednesday) announced the Griswold Fire Department will receive $48,448 in grant funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program. The funding was authorized by the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, of which Congressman Young is the only member from the State of Iowa.

The AFG program awards competitive grants to fire departments and other organizations nationwide to obtain and maintain necessary equipment, facilities, training, and programs. The AFG program is part of a larger preparedness effort in support of the safety, security, and health of the public.

“This important grant funding will help ensure the Griswold Fire Department has the resources to work safely and effectively,” Congressman Young said. “I’m pleased this award will benefit our firefighters, and the safety and security of the entire Griswold community.”

Officials with the Harlan Police Department report last Saturday, 24-year old Nelson Reed Guyer, of Harlan, was cited into court for Unnecessary Noise, after officers were called to the 400 block of Durant Street, for a complaint about loud music. And, last Friday, 55-year old Curt Grant Whiteley, of Harlan, was arrested in the area of 19th and Willow Streets, on a charge of Public Intoxication.

NORDEN, Neb. (AP) – Authorities are investigating the death of an Iowa man who’d been canoeing on the Niobrara River in northern Nebraska. Keya Paha County Attorney Eric Scott said Wednesday that 68-year-old Garry Kaufman was pronounced dead on the scene Saturday after being removed from the river near Norden. Kaufman lived in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Scott says Kaufman had been canoeing with a group. The attorney also says the circumstances leading up to Kaufman’s death remain unclear, but there’s no indication that any crime was involved. No autopsy has been ordered.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State University is seeking approval to offer its first nursing degree program in order to help Des Moines area nurses obtain bachelor degrees.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports university officials are seeking approval from the Iowa Board of Regents and the Iowa Board of Nursing to create the new program through which registered nurses who already have their associate’s degree can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

The university and Des Moines Area Community College have collaborated on the proposed program. It’s expected to be running by Fall 2018, attract about 50 students for its first year and bring in about 200 students after it’s established.

The regents’ Academic and Student Affairs Committee is scheduled to discuss the proposal during a meeting June 7.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors have again tabled action on a Resolution pertaining to fireworks sales and discharge. The Board is still waiting for County Attorney Dave Wiederstein to present the final draft of the Resolution. Many counties and cities in the State are waiting until they get better guidance on how they should govern the sale and use of fireworks, a bill for which former Governor Terry Branstad signed into law May 9^th.

The bill approved the sale of fireworks from June 1^st through July 8th. And, while the law does not allow a ban on the sale of fireworks, it does allow local governments the final say on if and/or where fireworks can be used. Fireworks sales for vendors with a permanent structure begin June 1^st. Sales from temporary structures begin June 13^th. A vendor must be licensed and inspected before any sale can take place.

In other business, the Board approved the two-year appointment of Registered Nurse Michelle Woosley, of Atlantic, as an additional County Medical Examiner Investigator. She will join the other two investigators the County has in-place.

And, in his report, Cass County Engineer Charles Becthold said crews have begun to use an asphalt cold patch mix to fix cracks in about 3.4-miles worth of roads located northeast of Anita. He said the good news is that the repairs, once completed, should last about 7-to 10-years. The bad news he says, is that it will cost more than the $40,000 engineer’s estimate for the project.

The Board also heard a presentation from Laurie Cooley, Director of Zion Recovery Services, Incorporated, and Erin Juhl, Clinical Outpatient Treatment Supervisor for Zion, with regard to the State Licensed services Zion provides to counties, and how those services work to reduce the recidivism rate (Repeated arrests), for persons who have been arrested on drug and alcohol charges, and are struggling to overcome their addictions. The program provides one-on-one Recovery Coaches, outpatient care, residential services, prevention and more, all fully confidential.

Atlantic City Administrator John Lund today (Wednesday), released more information with regard to the City-wide Clean-up Days we mentioned in a previous report. The event will take place June 7th, 8th and 9th. Pickup of your items placed by the curb will begin at 7:30-a.m. each day, through Friday.

Anything not accepted will be left on the property and be the owner’s responsibility for timely removal. Persons needing assistance moving things to curb, can contact Ali at City Hall.

Lund says the City will NOT accept the following items:

· Microwaves

· Any materials from Business Addresses

· Electronics

· Household Trash

· Paint

· Chemicals

The City will accept:

· Refrigerators

· Washers/Dryers

· Stoves

· Heaters

· Furniture

· Mattresses

· Tires (Only off of the rim and a maximum of four)

The driver of a vehicle seen swerving all over the roadway in Council Bluffs this (Wednesday) morning, was arrested for OWI/1st offense and cited for Improper Use of Lanes. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office says a Deputy saw the 1999 Buick Century driven by 24-year old Johnathan Michael Sich, of La Vista, NE., traveling west on Interstate 80 at around 12:10-a.m., after dispatch had advised the car was all over the road.

As the Deputy was in the process of stopping the vehicle after seeing it drive down the middle of both lanes, the car nearly hit some concrete barricades on the shoulder. When the car finally came to a halt, it happened to be in the traveled portion of the left lane. The car then started to roll down the interstate because the driver failed to put it in park. The Deputy was able to alert Sich, who then stopped the rolling car.

Following an investigation Sich was taken into custody and brought to the Pott. County Jail without incident.