DES MOINES, Iowa (Dec. 2, 2021) — Officials with The Wellmark Foundation say they have provided 29 Iowa organizations with their Small Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) grant awards. Those organizations were notified in August of their pending awards, and had 12 weeks to secure the required matching funds. Small MATCH grant recipients were able to use a combination of in-kind donations, services, and cash in order to receive their award from The Wellmark Foundation. All the funded projects will help individuals, families and communities achieve better health through built environment initiatives that encourage physical activity or access to and consumption of nutritious foods. Mary Lawyer, The Wellmark Foundation executive director says “The projects these organizations are implementing will enhance the quality of life and the overall well-being of citizens in their communities for several generations.”

Among the organizations receiving a Small MATCH grant award, is:

• (In Ringgold County) – Diagonal Community Development Corporation, $25,000 for the Diagonal Walkable Community Initiative.
• (In Mills County) – The Glenwood Rams Parent Teacher Association, $25,000, for the NE Elementary Inclusive Playground Project.

To learn more about these and the other projects, visit Wellmark.com/Foundation. Since its inception in 1991, The Wellmark Foundation has provided more than $39 million in grant funding to communities across Iowa and South Dakota.

Police in Red Oak say the driver of a 2016 Chevy Equinox suffered suspected minor injuries, during a collision Wednesday, with a 2017 Chevy pickup. Authorities say the accident happened at around 4-p.m. at the intersection of U-S Highway 34 and N. 8th Street. According to the report, 74-year-old Dennis Dean Hartstack, of Clarinda, failed to yield the right-of-way from the stop sign, as he was southbound on N. 8th Street, crossing Highway 34 in his Chevy Silverado pickup. The vehicle was struck broadside by the Equinox, which was driven by 66-year-old Paul Henry Dumler, of Red Oak.

Dumler was injured, but was not transported to the hospital. His vehicle sustained $25,000 damage. Damage to the pickup was estimated at $50,000. Red Oak Police cited Hartstack for Failure to Yield. Both men were wearing their seat belts. Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by Red Oak Fire & Rescue, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

(Radio Iowa) – Authorities are searching for a missing autistic teenager in northeast Iowa’s Fayette County. Sheriff’s officials are asking for the public’s help in locating 14-year-old Walker Richardson, of Arlington. They say he was last seen Wednesday around 2:30 p.m. wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans. According to authorities, Richardson is a highly-functioning autistic who they are actively trying to find. Sheriff’s officials began their search Wednesday afternoon. but suspended operations overnight over safety concerns. Authorities are organizing a search party and plan to resume search operations at 9:30 this morning.

Walker Richardson

Anyone wanting to assist in the search should report to the Arlington Fire Station.

The broadcast News at 7:07-a.m., with Ric Hanson.

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