(West Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Restaurant Association, have announced, their 2024 Restaurant Neighbor Philanthropist Award Winner is Katie Huff, owner of the Tiger Drive-In, in Greenfield.

The award was presented to her for “Her steadfast dedication to Greenfield, both in crisis and in daily life,” in response to the devastating, May 2024 tornado that hit Greenfield, and claimed four lives. More than 150 homes and businesses were either heavily damaged or destroyed by the twister.

Restaurant Neighbor Philanthropist Award Winner: Katie Huff
Tiger Drive-In, Greenfield, Iowa

The Restaurant Association says while hundreds of volunteers eventually came to help, locals like Katie Huff, owner of the Tiger Drive-In, stepped up immediately to support the community. The 60-year-old Tiger Drive-In, a classic walk-up spot, survived with minimal damage despite an employee’s car being tossed against it. Recognizing the urgent need, Katie rallied her team to help. Without power, friends brought in generators, enabling her to serve hot and cold food.

Huff said “There were a lot of things I couldn’t do, but I could feed people.” She and her team handed out free ice cream, chili dogs, and sandwiches to volunteers, first responders, and residents. After news coverage, support poured in from across the country, enabling weeks of free meals.

“The angels appeared,” says Katie, “sending money from as far as Florida and Colorado to keep us going.”

Society Insurance sponsored the Iowa Restaurant Association’s 2024 Community Impact Awards.

(North Liberty, Iowa) – A single-vehicle accident early Saturday morning in Johnson County claimed the life of a teen from Swisher. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2013 Hyundai Azera driven by 17-year-old Kaden A. Blair, was traveling on I-380 southbound near mile-marker 5 at around 12:35-a.m., when the vehicle drove off the roadway and collided with a concrete barrier. Blair was ejected during the crash and died at the University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center. The car burst into flames.

The Cedar Rapids Prairie High School wrestling program posted on Facebook saying Blair was a former wrestler at the school. The wrestling program shared a GoFundMe fundraiser that was created to help cover the cost of services.

And, the Patrols say a 21-year-old man from Urbandale suffered life-threatening injuries, when he was struck by an SUV Friday night, in North Liberty.  Carson C. Boyle was crossing W. Penn Street in front of the Tin Roost at around 9:40-p.m., when he was struck.

The SUV fled the  scene but was later located. Charges against the driver, 25-year-old Tagian D. Hughes, of North Liberty, are currently pending.

Both accidents remain under investigation.

Meeting Agenda – Guthrie Center School Board

The Board will meet at the AC/GC High School Media Center | 906 State Street | Guthrie Center, beginning at 7-p.m.

(Audubon, Iowa) –  The Audubon School Board is set to hold their Annual and Organizational Board meetings Monday, beginning at 7-p.m. Both sessions take place in the Audubon High School Board Room. During the Annual Meeting, the Board will act on approving the FY23 Audit Report and FY 24 Engagement Letter, authorizing Nolte-Cornman to begin the FY24 Audit.

During the Organizational part of the meeting, the Audubon School Board will elect Officers, including Board President and Vice President. They will also act to approve several administrative matters, including: the paying of monthly bills through Direct Deposit (just as with the payroll); ACH/Direct Deposits for Warrants; the Audubon County Advocate as the official newspaper for general circulation of District information; Ahlers-Cooney as District Legal Counsel; a Snow Removal Contract; and Early Graduation Requests.

Personnel matters include approving the hiring of Brandi Mulford – Associate, and the resignation of Rachel Gunderson (effective at the end of the current school year).

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM and Nodaway Valley Community School District Boards of Education will hold a joint meeting in the CAM Elementary School Media Center, beginning at 5-p.m., on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. The Boards will discuss the future of their shared district staff and superintendent.

The discussion follows a 3-to-2 vote last Wednesday (Nov. 13th) by the Nodaway Valley School Board, to consider the termination of Superintendent Paul Croghan’s contract when it expires June 30, 2025.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Rotary Club will host their 41st annual auction on November 23rd, 2024, at the Cass County Community Center. The event begins at 5:30-p.m. with a social hour, followed by dinner at 6:15-p.m. and the Auction getting underway at 7:15-p.m. Dinner Tickets are available for $40 each.

Crowd in attendance at a recent, previous Rotary Auction

Rotarian Dolly Bergmann says “We want to remind people the dinner and auction is open to the public, everyone is welcome to attend. We would like tickets purchased in advance to insure seating and food is available. To purchase dinner tickets or a table, contact Ted Robinson at ted@firstwhitneybank.com, or stop in at First Whitney Bank. You can also purchase tickets online. Go to Facebook at Atlantic Rotary Club and follow the link there.”

(Photo’s shown are examples of past items for sale. Please check out the 32auction site to see what is available this year; Courtesy Dolly Bergmann)

A new addition to the Auction this year, will be background music and periods of fun trivia during the evening. Another change is the opportunity to purchase items online before the auction, for that person that just can’t get to the auction or just likes to be the first one to purchase something. (See below for your instructions for online bidding)

The Atlantic Rotary Club will hold a raffle along with the auction. This year’s raffle proceeds will be directed to the Atlantic Police Department as they raise funds for adding a School Resource Officer (SRO) to the Atlantic Community School system. The funds will be used to help buy the officer a vehicle, radios, uniforms and protective equipment. The drawing will be at the conclusion of the auction on November 23rd. You do not need to be present to win.

Tickets are one for $20 or six for $100. Each ticket enters the purchaser into a drawing for three cash prizes: $1,500, $1,000 and $500. Tickets can be purchase from any Atlantic Rotarian or online at www.atlanticiowa.com. If you are unable to remember who might be a Rotarian feel free to contact Rotarian, Dolly Bergmann, 712-249-9275. She would be happy to assist you in getting raffle tickets.

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This year’s auction introduces an online bidding option for silent auction items, making participation easier than ever.  As well as the ability to bid in-person on select silent auction items.  Silent auction items will be available for online bidding at 32Auctions.com/AtlanticRotary, with bidding starting Monday, November 18, at 10 a.m. This format allows both attendees and those who cannot attend the in-person event to participate fully.

Here’s how the silent auction will work:

– Online Bidding: Bidders can place bids on silent auction items starting on November 18.

– Transition to In-Person Bidding: At 2 p.m. on Saturday, a portion of silent auction items will shift from online bidding to in-person bidding during the live event. The highest online bid will serve as the starting point for in-person bidding, giving the last online bidder a chance to hold their bid.

– “Proxy Bid” Option: For added convenience, online-only bidders can use the “Proxy Bid” feature. Enter your maximum bid amount for an item, and the system will place minimum incremental bids on your behalf up to your set maximum. If in-person bidding begins on item, your proxy bid remains valid. At the end of in-person bidding, the auction clerk will enter the highest in-person bid into the website to determine the final winner.

– “Buy Now” Option: All silent auction items will feature a “Buy Now” price. If a bidder selects this option, the item will not transition to in-person bidding, securing it for the online buyer.

Live Auction Preview

The live auction promises exclusive items, with listings available for viewing online. However, these items are only available for in-person bidding at the event.

Winning and Pick-Up Information

– In-Person Winners: Winning bidders at the event will be able to take their items home after checking out.

– Online Winners Not Attending: Those who place a winning bid online but do not attend can pick up their items the following week by scheduling a time.  Details on scheduling your pickup will be emailed to winning bidders. Payment can be made online or in person upon pick-up.

How to Register and Participate Online

Visit 32Auctions.com/AtlanticRotary today to register, receive notifications, and stay updated as new items are posted.

-Bid early and bid often every bid makes a difference! –

The Atlantic Rotary Club looks forward to their community affirming event that not only provides valuable quality time with friends but also supports important local initiatives. For questions or further details, follow them on Facebook at “Atlantic Iowa Rotary” or contact ATLRotaryClub@gmail.com.

CHEROKEE, IA – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Friday, said the DNR has approved the City of Cherokee’s request to temporarily discharge partially treated wastewater into the Little Sioux River due to safety concerns at the city’s wastewater treatment facility.

In late June 2024, the wastewater treatment plant sustained significant damage as a result of floodwaters. While efforts were made to continue treatment operations, the facility is currently unable to process wastewater due to safety and reliability concerns. The city has been storing wastewater in equalization lagoons, which are now full and at risk of overflowing, which could impact their structural integrity.

On November 15th, the City of Cherokee began to discharge up to 2 million gallons of wastewater per day for a period of 25 days or until lagoon levels are lowered to a safe level. Throughout this period, the city will monitor the discharged wastewater.

In addition to the temporary discharge plan, the City of Cherokee is actively developing short-term treatment options utilizing the equalization lagoons and is in the planning stages for a permanent wastewater treatment facility.

(Lyman, Iowa) – One person was injured during a single-vehicle accident just south of Lyman, this (Saturday) morning. A dispatch by the Cass County Communications Center at around 5:27-a.m., said the accident happened at Highway 71 (630th) and Lyman Street. A woman in the vehicle was said to have been complaining of neck and back pain. Griswold Rescue and Cass EMS were called to the scene.

Additional information is currently not available.

(Red Oak, Iowa) — Officials with the Red Oak Police Department say that at around 6:15-p.m., Friday, 60-year-old Robert Wade Abraham, of Red Oak, was arrested on serious misdemeanor charges of Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd Offense, and Obstruction of Emergency Communications.

Abraham was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

OTTUMWA, Iowa (KCRG) – John Deere says it plans to suspend production at its Ottumwa plant for a month due to reduced demand for its products. John Deere Ottumwa Works manufactures hay and forage equipment. The facility had a three-week shutdown earlier this year, with production resuming in September though November. However, Deere says the factory is planning another of what it calls a “temporary inventory adjustment shutdown” from early December through early January, due to reduced demand for AG equipment.

The shutdowns come after numerous rounds of layoffs from the company’s workforce at plants across eastern Iowa, including the Quad Cities, earlier this year. Deere has been moving parts of its manufacturing from its various facilities to Mexico. In a statement to KCRG-TV, Deere said each of its factories balances its work schedule with the projected demand for the products it builds.

The Des Moines Register reports the employees at the facility are expected to receive close to their normal pay while the plant is idled.