(Radio Iowa) – Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Benjamin Corell says it’s increasingly difficult to recruit new soldiers and airmen — and less than 30 percent of young Americans meet the physical and medical requirements for membership. “We open the door and want lots of young men and women from Iowa to join our ranks, but not everybody wants to serve,” Corell says. “There are other opportunities…There’s a lot of competition out there for young men and women of Iowa to do things that are less physically demanding and less requirements driven.” In a typical year, Corell says about 700 recruits apply for an Iowa National Guard Service Scholarship, but this past year that’s increased to 900 — and he says reducing the amount of each scholarship would hurt recruiting efforts.

“We’re able to recruit young people not only because we have recruiters, but because we have young people who joined the organization and had the opportunity to have their college education paid for,” Corell says. “If come back and say: ‘Well, we can’t fund you at 100% because we’ve expended the money that we have within budget,’ I don’t think they’re going to go tell their friends and their neighbors: ‘Hey, you should join the Iowa National Guard. They said they were going to fund me at 100% and I only got 60%.”

Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Benjamin Corell

The governor’s budget calls for a one-and-a-half million dollar increase for Iowa National Guard Service Scholarships — for a total of over six MILLION dollars in scholarship money for recruits. “It’s critical for us to keep that program going, keep it funded,” Corell says. “It’s important for Iowa, it’s important for our communities to get these people with a college education and then we’ve got to balance their requirements in the Iowa National Guard with their ability to go to school.” Corell cites recent studies indicating 2022 was the worst year for military recruiting since 1973 as the military began the transition to an all-volunteer force. Corell estimates the latest batch of new Iowa National Guard recruits is about 60 percent of his target. He has about 98 percent of the soldiers the Pentagon has authorized for the Iowa Army National Guard and 97 percent of the airmen for the Iowa Air National Guard.

“It’s not a crisis today,” Corell says. “My role is to ensure we have the people, they’re trained and their ready to respond and to do that, we’ve got to reach out. We’ve got to get more men and women from Iowa who say: ‘Tell me more about this Iowa Guard.'” Corell spoke with reporters after he delivered the annual “Condition of the Guard” address to legislators.

Atlantic, Iowa – This year, local community non-profits are more in need of support than in any other time in the recent years’ past. Now shoppers can give back to the local community and help to reduce single-use plastics by purchasing a special reusable bag at Hy-Vee. Kate Olson, Cass County Relay for Life member, reports the American Cancer Society, and the Relay For Life of Cass County has been selected by local Hy-Vee store leadership as the benefiting non-profit in the Hy-Vee Reusable Bag Program for the month of January!

The Hy-Vee Reusable Bag Program is designed to give back to the local community with every reusable bag purchased. Every $2.50 reusable Red “My Heart” Bag sold supports a non-profit local to the store in which it was purchased. This program offers a way for shoppers to give back as part of the regular weekly routine.

Every month, at every Hy-Vee location, a different local non-profit is selected to benefit from the sale of these special reusable Red “My Heart” Bags, The American Cancer Society and Relay For Life of Cass County was selected as the January beneficiary by local store leadership at the Atlantic Hy-Vee store located at 1630 East 7th St. Atlantic, IA. The American Cancer Society and the Relay For Life of Cass County will receive a $1 donation for every $2.50 reusable Red “My Heart” Bag purchased at this location in January.

“The last few years have brought so many changes and difficulties for non-profits at the local level,” said Suzie Mages, Senior Community Development Manager for the American Cancer Society. “We are thrilled to be participating in this innovative program that makes it possible for shoppers to give back to local non-profits while reducing single-use plastic in the environment. We appreciate the community support in this important initiative to make a difference.”

The American Cancer Society is a non-profit based in communities across the country. The American Cancer Society focuses on “Every Cancer. Every Life”. as the leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. We are improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through Advocacy, Research, and patient support, to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Learn more about The American Cancer Society by visiting cancer.org.

For more information about the Hy-Vee Reusable Bag Program, please visit hy-vee.bags4mycause.com.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Adair County, Friday, are expecting to receive FY 2024 Budget requests from five County Department heads:

• Sheriff Jeff Vandewater will present his request at 9-a.m., and discuss Office Cleaning.
• Adair County Attorney Melissa Larson is scheduled to present her request for funding, at 9:30-a.m.
• Conservation Director Dominic Johnson will make his FY 24 Budget request at 9:50-a.m., Friday,
• and at 10:20-a.m., the Supervisors will hear from Mindy Norwood, with the DHS, and County Auditor Mandy Berg, with regard to their respective FY 24 Budget requests.

The Board will take the requests under consideration, but no action will be taken at this time on any of the requests.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report the arrest on Wednesday, of 50-year-old Allen Emert, from Glenwood. Emert was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense and Possession of a Controlled Substance. His cash or surety bond was set at $2,000.