Do you help take care of an older family member or friend? If so, you are not alone. Over 65 million family caregivers in America provide a vast array of emotional, financial, nursing, social, homemaking and other services on a daily or intermittent basis.  Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational series designed to provide tools you need to take care of yourself.

ISU Extension officials say if you take good care of yourself, you will be better prepared to take good care of your loved one. As a participant you will learn how to: reduce stress, improve self-confidence, better communicate your feelings, balance your life, increase ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.

Iowa State University Extension is sponsoring Powerful Tools for Caregivers in cooperation with Good Samaritan Society in Red Oak in March and April. This program has been tested and evaluated through a grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging. Classes consist of six, 2 ½ hour sessions held once a week. Two experienced leaders conduct each class. Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming help you take the “tools” you choose and put them into action for your life.

Sessions are scheduled every Wednesday for six weeks and begins on March 18th. Classes will be held at Good Samaritan, 201 Alix Ave., Red Oak from 2:00 – 4:30 pm. A grant received from Good Samaritan defrays the participant costs. Participant books are available for use or purchase ($35). For more information or to register, contact Montgomery County Extension at 712-623-2592 before March 13th.

ISU Extension and Outreach wants to encourage young children to find opportunities in nature, and to that end, they’re offering an online class for child care providers called Early Connections to Nature & Science. The 90-minute class will emphasize children’s need for physical activity, explore nature’s benefits, and highlight free resources as well as additional learning opportunities for providers.

The class will be held on Wednesday, March 18th, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Providers may register at the Iowa Child Care Provider Training Registry, https://ccmis.dhs.state.ia.us/TrainingRegistry/. Registration and payment is required by March 11th. Registrants only need an internet connection and speakers. The online class counts as face-to-face and is highly interactive.

Sandra McKinnon, human sciences specialist with Iowa State University Extension & Outreach, says “Research tells us that spending time in nature has many positive benefits. Children who have opportunities to play and learn in nature are more likely to handle challenges and problems more capably and act responsibly toward the earth and each other. They are more physically active and less likely to be obese.”

McKinnon says “Children can play anywhere and with anything, but the natural world is an especially inviting place for play. Children play to invent, explore and try different things. Open-ended play in natural settings or with natural objects enhances curiosity and triggers the imagination.”

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, City of Atlantic, Cass Atlantic Development Corporation (CADCO) and Cass County are collaborating to create a new website to serve the entire community. The site will serve existing and potential new residents and businesses. Quida Wymer, Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, said “We are excited to be a part of this professionally designed website incorporating all four major entities in Atlantic. Uniting together will create a more effective and successful website to attract people to Cass County. The project will also encourage and build stronger relationships between the Chamber, City, CADCO and County.”

Wymer says bringing all four organizations together will achieve a number of benefits for the entire Cass Community: increased search engine ranking for all four entities, information for the community on one user friendly site, strategic design will attract new entrepreneurs and young business leaders, as well as, become more efficient by eliminating duplicate information.

Five Q Communications a Cass County based digital marketing firm will be leading the website project. The initial stage of discovery will provide the organizations with an understanding of the end users, solid graphic design brief and a clear plan of execution. This discovery will provide insight into the user experience that must be created to accomplish the goals of each organization.

Wymer says the new skillfully designed website will be the first impression to our community. It will represent who we are: established yet progressive, offering endless opportunities. The website will communicate and promote all Cass County and the Atlantic Area has to offer to both its current residents and new visitors.

(Press Release)

Two people were arrested on separate charges Wednesday, here in Atlantic. The A-PD reports 34-year old Christopher Anstey, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication, and, 23-year old Jacob Osbon, of Neola, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Theft in the 4th Degree (Shoplifting).

Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.