(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County (IA) Community Wellness Coordinator Grace McAfee reports, that on May 9th (2024), the Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness hosted a free Mental Wellness Panel at the Griswold Community Center. The event included a mental wellness resource fair and a panel presentation of experts from our community. The free meal for the panel event was sponsored generously by the Healthy Cass County Coalition with funding from the Healthiest State Initiative Grant and Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

Resources and community groups that were present at the resource fair were NAMI, Senior Life Solutions, Catholic Charities, Veteran’s Support, Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services, Cass County Public Health, Cass County ISU Extension, Southwest Iowa Mental Health and Disabilities Services, and Thriving Families Alliance. This aspect of the event was a great way for community members to see how many mental wellness resources they have in their community.

McAfee says panelists for the event included Erika Kirchhoff from Thriving Families Alliance who spoke on resilience. She gave tips and tools on how to become mentally resilient through life’s challenges. Mary-Beth Roskens from Southwest Iowa Mental Health and Disabilities Services explained how therapy sessions work and how to find therapy services. Debrenee Grajeda a mental health therapist from Catholic Charities gave different tools to take care of your mental health daily. Melanie Fell and Carolyn Bruck explained how the Atlantic School District provided therapy services in the schools without students missing a lot of class time.

At the end of the panel presentation, the audience had the opportunity to ask questions. The panelists were able to share their expertise on dealing with mental health at the workplace, how to respond when a youth is struggling with their mental health, and how to get students involved in the therapy program at the Atlantic School District.

Grace McAfee says “This was a great event for all members of the community to gain tools to improve their mental health and to see the resources available in Cass County. The Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness is grateful to all those who helped make this event a success. We look forward to bringing more events like this to Cass County to help reduce the stigma of Mental Health”

The Cass County Coalition for Mental Wellness is a part of the Healthy Cass County Coalition. You are invited to connect with either group by contacting Grace McAfee, Cass County Community Wellness Coordinator, at 712-250-8170 or mcage@casshealth.org. You can also follow the coalition on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HealthyCassCounty/ for local wellness events and tips during Mental Health Awareness Month and all year round!

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Children’s Theatre Group, Friday, said they are happy to announce they are partnering with Footliters Traveling Playhouse and the Young Footliters Youth Theatre from Coralville, Iowa to bring a week-long theater experience to kids in Atlantic this June. This year’s production will be “The Call of the Matterhorn.” This production is a musical adventure filled with magic, mystery, and true tests of character set in the Swiss Alps. The Call of the Matterhorn is a brand new production with a script by Katie Colletta and original music by Jason Sifford.

Designed for students at all levels of theatre experience, campers will audition, rehearse, and perform a musical alongside three professional teaching artists…in one week! The traveling group also brings the set, costumes, and props. Chris Bennett, President of the Atlantic Children’s Theatre Group, says “Thanks to the generosity and support of The Atlantic Rotary Club, The Atlantic Community School Foundation, and numerous individuals in the community, we’re able to cover the $4,500 worth of expenses and offer this opportunity for free.”

Held June 24-28 at Atlantic High School, students will begin rehearsals on Monday, practice throughout the week, and put on a public performance of the hour-long show on Friday, June 28th at 7 pm. Children who have completed first grade through 8th grade are invited to participate. No experience is needed. Space is limited; registration will be limited to 60 children due to the script and costume availability.

Footliters Traveling Playhouse is committed to “engaging and empowering students through an immersive, inclusive theatre experience.” They say “We put our students first and collaborate with parents and communities to make our theatre a safe and exciting space for all.”

To register, or if you have questions, visit the Atlantic Children’s Theater Group Facebook page.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Two people were arrested on separate charges Friday afternoon, in Red Oak. According to the Red Oak Police Dept., 32-year-old Caleb Allen Arnold, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 5:30-p.m. in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street. Arnold was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault-Bodily Injury/1st Offense, and False Imprisonment. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond, pending a court appearance.

And, at around 1-p.m., Friday, Red Oak Police arrested 37-year-old Sara Sue Batten, of Red Oak, in the 1500 block of N. 8th Street, for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. Batten was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

GREENFIELD, Iowa — Since Tuesday’s tornado, both Greenfield United Methodist Church and St. John’s Catholic Church have been spots where physical donations have been dropped off or sent. While they’re grateful for physical donations, they say they don’t need them at the moment because they’re full. Instead, they and other community leaders are calling for monetary donations. Organizers at the churches say the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation will accept monetary donations for its Greenfield Tornado Relief Fund, which can be found here.

The Greater Greenfield Community Foundation is a nonprofit that’s been around for more than 40 years. Jennifer Garside, one of the board members, says the foundation normally does projects like building the fitness center so they’re used to handling large sums of money. Garside told KCCI that “In about a less than 24-hour period, we had over 900 emails to our foundation. Emails of people wanting to make donations.”

She said the funds will be used to help people and the community. Foundation members are this next week to form a plan to help people. Multiple rooms within Greenfield United Methodist Church are filled with donations, organized and ready for people to come pick up what they need.

On Friday, the church received the last physical donations they need: car seats and pack-and-plays for infants and toddlers from UnityPoint’s Blank Children’s Hospital. The team came out in several vehicles, delivering car seats and pack-and-plays that were new and still inside their packaging.

(Guernsey, Iowa) – The start of the Memorial Day weekend began with a fatal UTV accident Friday evening, in central Iowa’s Poweshiek County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2016 Polaris Ranger Crew operated by an 11-year-old, was traveling southeast on 230th Street onto 450th Avenue, southeast of Guernsey, when the vehicle went out of control as it was negotiating the curve.

The UTV rolled onto the driver’s side into the north ditch. The operator was injured and flown by helicopter to the University of Iowa. A 13-year-old passenger in the vehicle died. No names were released. The accident, which occurred at around 5:20-p.m. Friday, remains under investigation.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office.