Diamond Jo Worth begins to share gambling wealthBy DEB NICKLAY, Of The Globe Gazette NORTHWOOD North Iowans are beginning to get their share of Diamond Jo Worth Casino revenue.Fire departments, libraries and senior centers were just some of the organizations that received $336,719.50 in grants Tuesday from the Worth County Development Authority. It was the first round of awards based on revenues from April to June 2006. The WCDA is the charitable arm of casino operation and oversees distribution of 5.76 percent of annual casino revenues. Tuesday's grants do not include those made to schools and school scholarships or funds donated strictly for county use, said WCDA Executive Director Kim Miller. There were $1.9 million in grant requests, she said. All that were granted involved organizations in Worth County and requests were funded in full. "We are so excited to do this," Miller said of the WCDA board. "From the start, our slogan has been Growing Worth County' and this will help do that." The grants ranged from one as small as $376 to be used for a sign for the community of Bolan up to $74,000, that will be used by the Kensett Fire Department to help purchase a long-needed $160,000 pumper truck. Kensett has a population of 280 and a 16-member fire department. "It's great," said Kensett firefighter Mike Peterson. He said the department has spent years raising money for the truck. It has been a slow process, he added. "The grant finally finishes it off for us," Peterson said. The constant push to raise money "kept us from doing other improvements, so this is very cool," he added. Among those receiving larger grants were the Manly Senior Center, awarded $64,857 for center rehabilitation, and Worth County Beautification, $35,362, for work on a RV park and gazebo. Joyce Russell, mayor of Fertile, population 360, said her city's grant of $10,722.76 to be used to help pay the cost of dam repair was "so appreciated." "Small cities like ours just don't have the money to do those things," she said. "These grants let us do things we wouldn't otherwise be able to." The next round will benefit even more people. The first round, she said, only represents three months out of the year. The next will cover six months of revenue, Miller said. The next application period begins Jan. 1 and ends Feb. 15. How the money was distributed: Worth County Historical Society, scanner/printer, $711. Worth County Historical Society, floor display case, $4,598.50. Worth County Beautification, RV park and gazebo, $35,362. Total United Northwood Effort, upper level windows, $25,000. Worth County Extension, 4-H award recognition, $3,249.74 Sunset Rest Cemetery, water lines and trees, $39,211. Northwood VFW, flags, $2,362.50. Northwood Senior Center, floor replacement, $6,600. Northwood Public Library, windows/books, $9,000. Kensett Fire Department, pumper truck, $74,000. Worth County Hotshots, sports equipment, $1,512.50 Manly Public Library, computer enhancement, $3,000. Manly Senior Center, center rehabilitation, $64,857. Grafton Heritage Depot, roofing project, $20,800. Hanlontown Fire Department, equipment, $13,574.50. Worth County Conservation Board, fishing jetty at Silver Lake, $4,000. City of Fertile, dam repair, $10,722.76. Elk Grove Cemetery, storage shed, chemical toilet, $3,282. Community of Bolan, Bolan sign, $376. Bristol Trustees, Bristol Cemetery Memorial, $7,500. Joice Fire Department, Jaws of Life, $7,000. |