Does your child enjoy doing hands on activities, building things and discovering the how & why in an activity? STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) activities are just what you are looking for! Cass County Extension is partnering with the Nishna Valley YMCA to offer new STEM activities and programs for Cass County youth in the upcoming months.

Join Extension and YMCA officials on January 3rd from 9AM-3PM at the Nishna Valley YMCA for a day full of Hands on STEM. This STEM event is free for 3rd-8th graders, with lunch provided. Deadline for registration is to be turned into the Extension Office or the Y by December 30th. Registration forms are available at the Y, Extension Office or online at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. There is a maximum of 50 participants.

The STEM activities do not end there; from January 14th through May 20th youth in grades 4-6 have the opportunity to participate in more STEM hands on activities through the whY Science afterschool program in the middle school science lab. Beth Irlbeck, Cass County Youth Coordinator, says “This year, we are very excited to offer “A World In Motion” STEM activities related to movement, gravity, and friction exploration from January 14th through March 11th. Following spring break, we will change topics and do activities related to ecosystems & the environment. Participants will design and build a live terrarium & ecosystem, then observe the environmental effects.”

Irlbeck says “We are continually increasing our STEM efforts because there is increased evidence of need and support for STEM. 4-H has done science and positive youth development programming for years and now we’ve teamed up with the Y who has also made its history supporting youth development.” These STEM activities promise lots of fun, hands-on science, opportunities to experiment and meet new friends.

Registration instructions are now available at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. Pre-register by January 8th to attend the A World In Motion sessions.

(Press Release)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey of bankers suggests that the economy will grow at a healthy pace in rural parts of 10 Midwest and Western states in the months ahead. The monthly survey’s overall index rose to 56.1 in December from November’s more moderate 54.3. But any score above 50 suggests growth. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the region continues to benefit from the strength of agriculture and energy businesses. But declining crop prices and the lack of a farm bill are concerning.

The index is based on surveys of rural bankers in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. It ranges from 0 to 100, with 50 representing growth neutral. A score above 50 suggests growth in that factor in the months ahead.

The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest on Wednesday, of 18-year old Kody Hansen, of Atlantic. Hansen was brought to the Cass County Jail and charged with Public Intoxication.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested Wednesday. 27-year old Chastity Rae Anway, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear on Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of a Prescription drug, charges. She was being held in the Mills County Jail on $5,000 bond. And, 25-year old Aaron Wade Opdyke, of Malvern, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance along with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Updyke was also wanted on a warrant out of Dickinson County, for Possession of a Controlled Substance. His bond on the combined offenses amounts to $2,800.

A freezing rain advisory is posted for a wide section of southern, central and eastern Iowa from 6 o’clock tonight (Thursday) through 6 o’clock tomorrow (Friday) morning. Forecasters say a coating of ice this evening will make roads very slick and travel treacherous in Adair, Adams, Guthrie, Dallas, Madison, Ringgold, Taylor & Union Counties in the KJAN listening area. Meteorologist Jim Lee, at the National Weather Service, says the approaching storm front will dump precipitation.

“In the areas where it forms as drizzle or light rain, it probably will freeze to the surface,” Lee says, “so we’ve issued a freezing weather advisory for about the southeastern half of the state.” While that storm should move out of the region tomorrow (Friday), Lee says another storm front is coming up behind it. “It looks like it’ll spread a pretty decent swath of snow somewhere across the Midwest and into the Ohio River valley,” Lee says. “Right now, the track of the storm isn’t very certain but it does look like parts of Iowa should see some snowfall out of that.”

In the more longer-range forecast, Lee says there are no indications there will be any foul weather early-to-mid-next week for the Christmas holiday.

(Radio Iowa)