A Shelby County business was the winner of the Southwest Iowa Regional Dream Big Grow Here Contest. The 2nd annual pitch off was held this past Monday at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. Shane and Maritza McCool with Willow Creek Glass Chapel and Banquet Hall in Shelby won the grand prize of $5,000 and will advance to the state level to compete for a chance to win $10,000.

Dream Big, Grow Here winners.

The runner-up and receiving $1,000 was Katrina Riggs, with Egg Krate Antiques LLC of Elk Horn.

Honorable mentions included: Elaine Hollen, with Pudgy Pumpkin Patch Gift Shop of Red Oak; Andre and Eva Franco, with Innovative Strength and Conditioning in Neola; Sheila Roane, with Kitchen Sisters LLC of Persia, and Linda Grimm, with Valley Drug Store in Missouri Valley.

All honorable mentions received $250. Willow Creek Glass Chapel and Banquet Hall will compete in the state competition at the EntreFest Conference in 2014.

Police in Clarinda are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man whose body was discovered at around 9:30-a.m., Wednesday. Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers says officers responded to 702 West Tarkio St. to investigate the death of 41-year old Charles O. Grubb, who resided at that location.

The manner and cause of the man’s death will be determined through an autopsy conducted by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny. The Page County Medical Examiner’s Office, Clarinda Regional Health Center Emergency Medical Services and the Clarinda Fire Department assisted in the investigation.

Officials with the Shelby County Extension Council have announced the addition of Mary Taggs as County Extension Educator at the Shelby County ISU Extension and Outreach office in Harlan. Taggs, an Elk Horn native, began her duties as the Shelby County Extension Educator on October 7th. She replaces former Shelby County Extension Educator Angela Ahrenholtz.

Mary Taggs

Taggs will be responsible for county coordination and facilitation of ISU Extension programs in communities, families, business and industry, agriculture and natural resources, and 4-H youth development. Taggs has a strong background in both youth and adult education,  is a 1991 graduate of Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in Family Services, and she is a former Shelby County 4-Her with related experience in community leadership, youth education and 4-H.

Mary and her husband John reside in Harlan. They have three children, April, 20, a student at Luther College, Jacob, 16, a junior at HCHS and Emily, 12, is a student at HCMS.