GRINNELL, Iowa (AP) — A Grinnell family is spending the long weekend in Washington, D.C., at a national seminar and grief camp for those coping with the loss of a member of the armed forces. Kaanan Mackey says the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, known as TAPS, will give her five children, ages 6 to 16, a chance to meet others with similar experiences.

Mackey’s husband, Matthew, died in 2010 from injuries following an accident on his way home from a drill weekend at Camp Dodge in Johnston. He served in the Marine Corps and Iowa Army National Guard. The Des Moines Register reports the family on Memorial Day usually places flags on veterans’ graves at the Grinnell cemetery. This year they will place stones on graves at Arlington National Cemetery.

A survey finds 90-percent of managers say their company does a fantastic job with employee recognition but only 30-percent of workers agree. Mike Gremmer, spokesman for the Office Team staffing service in Omaha-Council Bluffs, says while many companies can’t afford big bonuses or raises, they can do a better job of showing appreciation.

“Simple thank you notes go a long way, public recognition in front of their peers, you can celebrate milestones like production figures and certain anniversaries, maybe take people to lunch,” Gremmer says. “You just have to get creative.” While he’s not surprised by the results of the survey, Gremmer says employers need to make it a priority to create a good work environment.

“We have a thriving economy right now, there’s a labor shortage out there,” Gremmer says. “When you think about your own company and the work environment you want to create, when people are happy, they’re going to give you more performance which positively effects the bottom line of your organization.” Nobody wants to have a miserable work environment and Gremmer says it’s okay for workers to call bosses out, if it’s done carefully.

“Workers should let it be known, in a professional way,” he says. “There’s nothing wrong to mention to your employers that you really appreciate a little positive feedback. You want to be sensitive to the business conditions and budget limitations the company may have but there’s nothing wrong with saying, ‘Thank you, that meant a lot to me.'” Gremmer says it benefits the company to have a policy in place to show recognition and to be a place where people are happy to come to work.

(Radio Iowa)

Omaha Police Officer Kerrie Orozco is being buried in Council Bluffs on Tuesday May 26th. Authorities say as a large contingent of law enforcement and family is expected to attend, the Council Bluffs Police Department with the assistance of other local law enforcement agencies will be shutting down traffic in the following areas at approximately 12:30 PM:

• All of West Broadway both directions. Traffic will be diverted north onto 16th Street.
• Eastbound traffic on Kanesville from 8th Street to North Avenue. No left turns will be allowed across Kanesville. North‐South access is available on 10th Street, 13th Street, I‐29 and 40th Street. Kanesville and Broadway will be re‐opened once the procession is complete.
• McPherson from North Avenue to Indian Hills.
• Canning Street residents may access their homes from North Avenue until
  approximately 1 PM.
• McPherson residents may access their homes from Indian Hills until approximately 3 PM or completion of the service. McPherson will remain closed until traffic has dispersed.

The next “Healthy U” lunch program at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic will take place this Thursday, May 28th. The program, entitled “10 Things We Want Parents to Know,” will be presented by Dr. Angela Weppler.  on Thursday, May 28, 2015. The program will be held at noon in Conference Room 2 at CCMH.

Dr. Angela Weppler

The presentation is geared to parents of young and adolescent children. Dr. Weppler says “It’s information that’s meant to make their life a little bit easier.”  Weppler has worked with Cass County Health System since 2002. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa Medical School, and she is board certified by the American Academy of Family Practice.

Healthy U is a free educational series that focuses on a different health topic each month. Attendees receive a healthy sack lunch in addition to an educational program presented by medical professionals. Future topics will include dementia, joint health, and diabetes. For more information, or to make a reservation for the May 28th Healthy U, call 712-243-7479.