THROWBACK
PANTHER PREVIEW
Ten years ago, Sharon Snodgrass was honored with the “Excellence in Education” award. Read more Throwback news on page 2A. >>
The Creston/O-M football team will gain healthy reinforcements when it travels to fifth-ranked Dallas Center-Grimes Friday. Who will they get back? Read game preview on 7A.
creston
News Advertiser
SHAW MEDIA GROUP SERVING SW IOWA SINCE 1879 BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE AT WWW.CRESTONNEWS.COM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2015
HOME REHABILITATION ■
City of Creston, SICOG looking for home rehabilitation grant pre-applicants
By IAN RICHARDSON
CNA staff reporter irichardson@crestonnews.com
The city of Creston and the Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG) in Creston are encouraging homeowners on Creston’s south side to pre-apply for a grant that could, if awarded, provide thousands of dollars for home repair projects. Creston is using this pre-application process to gauge community interest in the Community Development Block Grant, a grant administered through the state of Iowa that distributes federal funds for house rehabilitation projects. Approved homeowners can receive up to $33,000 in funding through the grant, as well as a proposed $4,000 from the City of Creston and a few thousand from the SICOG h o u s ing trust fund. Mike Taylor, C r e s t o n Taylor city administrator, said showing local interest is an important component of receiving the grant. “On our application we have to state why we want it, we have to show a need and we have to be at a certain income level,” Taylor said. “We’re just trying to get the word out as much as we can.” J e r e m y Rounds Rounds, regional planner at SICOG in Creston, said he is hoping to see 50 applications returned. “We want a good turnout,” Rounds said. “That’d give us a good evidence of
Each year, approximately 40,000 students in grades ninth through 12th participate in the VFW’s Voice of Democracy essay contest.
■
Contributed graphic
The application area for the Community Development Block Grant stretches from Highway 34 north to Union Street and from Sumner Avenue east to south Chestnut Street. The city encourages homeowners in this area who meet the requirements to pre-apply.
high interest.” The application area stretches from Highway 34 north to Union Street and from Sumner Avenue east to Chestnut Street (see diagram). Grant applicants must meet an income requirement, which is based on household size. Applicants must also be up to date on their mortgage and sign an agreement to live in the house for at least five years. If Creston receives the grant, a formal application process will then begin. Creston will select five to six homeowners to receive the project budget, with preference toward lower incomes and higher need. SICOG will then put out bids for a contractor to do the work. Work may include, but is not limited to: • roofing • siding • painting • foundation and wall repair • window and door replacement • heating and central air
upgrades • electrical and plumbing upgrades • weatherization and insulation “The houses need certain minimum rehab standards set out by the state of Iowa,” Rounds said. “Beyond that, the homeowners have some latitude on the things that are completed — colors of paint, colors of siding — within reason.” Informational letters with a complete list of pre-application requirements are posted at city hall, the mealsite and the Gibson Memorial Library, as well as on the Creston city website. Taylor said he will also mail an application to anyone interested. Applications are due by Nov. 4. To apply, download an application from the City of Creston website under the “What’s New & Quickfind” tab and mail or hand-deliver it to: City Hall
Austin Eblen received a certificate and a handshake from Iowa Rep. David Young during inductions into Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) Wednesday at the Creston High School auditorium. Eblen received the position of vice president of community service for the career readiness group, while Keith Haatz received the certificate for president of Creston High School’s iJAG. CNA photo by BAILEY POOLMAN
FRIDAY WEATHER
CONNECT WITH US
COMPLETE WEATHER 3A
crestonnews.com | online 641-782-2141 | phone 641-782-6628 | fax Follow us on Facebook
57 38
Creston News Advertiser 503 W. Adams Street | Box 126 Creston, IA 50801-0126
Copyright 2015
INCOME REQUIREMENTS Maximum income requirements for the Community Development Block Grant are based on household size: 1 person: $34,650 2 people: $39,600 3 people: $44,550 4 people: $49,450 5 people: $53,450 6 people: $57,400 7 people: $61,350 8+ people: $65,300 If your income is over the amount for your household size but within $10,000, or if you think your income may decrease in the future, the city still encourages you to apply. P.O. Box 449 116 W. Adams St. Creston, Iowa 50140 or Southern Iowa Council of Governments 101 E. Montgomery Street, P.O. Box 102 Creston, Iowa 50801 You can also fax the application to 641-782-8492 or scan and email it to rounds@sicog.com.
The Creston Veterans of Foreign War Post 1797 is once again participating in the nationally VFW-sponsored Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen essay contests. Each year, approximately 40,000 students in grades ninth through 12th participate in the VFW’s Voice of Democracy essay contest. The national first place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship that is paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational-technical school. This year’s theme for the essay contest is “My Vision for America.” Voice of Democracy entrants write an essay and make an audio recording of their essay and submit
Volume 132 No. 98
2014
If you do not receive your CNA by 5 p.m. call 641-782-2141, ext. 6450. Papers will be redelivered in Creston until 6:30 p.m. Phones will be answered until 7 p.m.
it prior to the Nov. 1 deadline. Each state winner will receive an all-expense paid trip to the District of Columbia. where they will compete for the top prize of $30,000. The Patriots Pen essay contest is available to students in grades sixth through eighth who are enrolled in public, parochial, private schools or are home-schooled. The theme for the Patriots Pen essay contest this year is “What Freedom Means to Me.” Entrants write a 300- to 400-word essay and submit their entry prior to the Nov. 1 deadline. State winners compete for national honors with the first place prize of $5,000 as well as an all-expense paid trip to the District of Columbia. Applications are available from Lesa Downing at Creston High School and counselor Chris Harbaugh at East Union High School. Applications can also be downloaded from the VFW national website at VFW.org. VFW Post 1797 commander Gary O’Daniels also may be contacted for further information.
Oscar Pistorius to be released from jail on Oct. 20 JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee Olympic runner who shot his girlfriend to death on Valentine’s Day 2013, can leave prison and move to house arrest next week, South Africa’s Department of Corrections said Thursday. A parole board at the prison where Pistorius has served nearly a year of his five-year sentence for manslaughter made the decision. It came after an initial ruling to release the athlete in August was canceled at the last minute after intervention by the justice minister.
Awarded:
PRICE 75¢
Creston VFW participates in national essay contest
This time, the board “approved the placement of offender Oscar Pistorius under correctional supervision as from 20 October 2015,” the corrections department said in a statement following the meeting of the parole board earlier Thursday. Pistorius was acquitted of murder last year for the shooting death of Reeva Steenkamp, but prosecutors have appealed that trial verdict and will seek a murder conviction again at South Africa’s Supreme Court on Nov. 3. The appeal will come just two weeks after Pistorius is freed next Tuesday.
SAVE THE DATE the 6th Annual
EXTRAVAGANZA holiday to holiday
Thanksgiving | Christmas | New Years
Monday, October 26, 2015