Officials with the Museum of Danish America, in Elk Horn, report the Museum recently received two unexpected bequests within days of each other. Nicky Christensen, Museum Development and Social Media Associate says on Friday, Nov. 14th, word was received from the Charles and Norma Wilson Charitable Remainder Trust that the museum will be the recipient of over $550,000, which the Wilsons designated for investment in the Danish Immigrant Museum Endowment Fund.

The couple, who ran a very successful concrete/redi-mix business, were also major benefactors in the Red Oak, where they lived. The museum had a long relationship with the couple, as well as Norma’s sister and brother-in-law, who were also long-time museum members.

The following Monday, Nov. 17th, the Museum received a second distribution from the Marianne Festersen Trust. The bequest is a major gift in excess of $400,000. Marianne Festersen of Omaha, Nebraska was not a museum member, but her husband, Hans, was placed on the museum’s Danish Immigrant Wall of Honor in 1998 by her grandchildren.

Hans immigrated to the U-S in 1927, at the age of 21.  He became a very successful independent CPA with Coca-Cola as one of his leading accounts. Before his death in 1997 he visited the museum and was impressed with it.

Museum of Danish America Executive Director John Mark Nielsen, said “These wonderful gifts affirm that our museum is making progress and is held in esteem by very generous members and donors. All of us are very grateful for these extraordinary gifts!.”

In other news, the museum has begun the process of renovating its mezzanine-level exhibit and office spaces after a generous end-of-year gift by Omaha area donors. The work will nearly double the size of the Kramme Gallery. Completion of the gallery expansion is hoped to be completed before the opening of a primary exhibit on display from April 24th – October 25th.

For more information, surf to: danishmuseum.org.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Glenwood man was arrested on an assault charge Friday night. 20-year old Joshua Udo Laubert was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault. He was taken into custody at a location on Highway 275 at around 9:25-p.m. and held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

As we reported late last month on KJAN, two small weekly newspapers in southwest Iowa have ceased publication, citing factors like declining advertising and subscriptions. Both The Walnut Bureau in Walnut and the Danish Villages Voice in Elk Horn released final editions on Christmas Eve. Owners say the ending of the longtime papers was sad but unavoidable.

Marye Bierbaum, editor of both newspapers, wrote in The Walnut Bureau that the decision to close that paper was not made lightly. The Walnut Bureau had been in business for more than 130 years. Chris Mudge, executive director of the Iowa Newspaper Association, says small Iowa newspapers tend to consolidate instead of close. Both papers were managed by Cornflower LLC. The Daily Nonpareil reports  the publishing company plans to refund customers for undelivered issues.

The City of Atlantic’s Personnel and Finance Committee will meet this evening at City Hall, beginning at 5:30. During their session, the Committee will receive an Airport Grant Proposal pertaining to a Corporate Hangar Project. If approved, an Iowa DOT General Aviation grant of $150,000 would be combined with Airport Commission funds of $32,700, the tenant’s cash down payment of $50,000 and a City of Atlantic Internal Loan amounting to $190,000, for a total of $422, 700. The funds would be used for the demolition of the existing block hangar, asbestos mitigation, completion of a 75-by-85 foot hangar and Engineering Services.

The Airport Commission would repay the City for it’s loan over the course of eight-years, with the proceeds coming from lease fees for the hangar. The Committee will also consider a TIF application for the Southern View Condominiums. Developer Don Sonntag has made the request from the City to support the project. The Committee will review the request and make its recommendation to the full City Council during their meeting scheduled to take place Wednesday evening. If the Council supports the request, Interim City Administrator John Lund will begin the process of preparing a resolution and take care of related matters. Bond Counsel Chip Schultz has indicated the City can save money by issuing TIF bonds combined with a public works bond, to support the project.

The P&F Committee was also discuss options for 19th Street with regard to the City’s Improvement Plan and 2015 Bond, and an amendment to the Urban Revitalization Plan with regard to Tax Abatement applicability. The meeting takes place in the Council’s Chambers, at City Hall.

Authorities in Union County are investigating the theft of a vehicle from Afton. The Sheriff’s Dept. says Rosalie Davidson, of 811 E. Scott St in Afton, reported Sunday night that sometime between 6-and 11-PM, someone took her red 1998 Chevrolet Blazer (IA license plate CGN701) from her residence. The loss was estimated at $3,000.

Officials with the Cass County Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign report the unit received $7,767 from donations in late 2014. Red Kettles were set up at Fareway, Hy-Vee and Wal-Mart, in Atlantic, with volunteers ringing bells in the spirit of the season to help encourage donations.

The campaign was headed-up this past year by Bell Ringing Campaign Chairman Steve Livengood and his assistant Dave Hancock, who made the contacts, set up the equipment and gave a great deal of their time to make the campaign a success.

Funds raised during the campaign are used in Cass County for school programs, and to assist those with emergency needs such as food and clothing. Persons with emergency needs can contact the Atlantic Police Department for Red Cross assistance.