(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Heritage House on Thursday, September 9th to celebrate new staff. Executive Director, Peter Gray, introduced the Ambassadors to Julian Bedolla who came on board in May as the Executive Chef/Food & Beverage Director. Julian is originally from California and has an extensive background in country club dining across the US and is experienced in a large variety of cuisines. Julian enjoys creating experience through food and encouraging those around him to try new combinations of flavors.

Diane Funk has been with Heritage House for many years and has recently taken on the role of Director of Nursing in the Health Center. Diane has rich knowledge and experience in long-term care and infectious disease control. The Ambassadors were also introduced to Sarah Lindeman as the new business office manager.

Pictured Left to Right, Standing: Peter Gray, Kelsey Beschorner, Jim Kickland, Heidi Hinman, Dr. Keith Leonard, Bill Saluk, Dawn Marnin, Dolly Bergmann, Donnie Drennan, Kathie Hockenberry, Rich Perry, Krysta Hanson, Lana Westphalen, Haley Kickland.
Pictured Left to Right, Seated: Julian Bedolla, Diane Funk, Sarah Lindeman and Kennedy Freund. (Photo submitted)

Heritage House’s mission is to support the independence, health, and well-being of older adults wherever they call home. Heritage House provides multiple lifestyle options including independent living, assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, memory support, and long-term care.

For more information on Heritage House visit https://www.wesleylife.org/heritage-house or at 1200 Brookridge Circle in Atlantic.

(Radio Iowa) – YouTube and Facebook users have started seeing a new ad touting Iowa as a destination for tourists and for workers. The “This Is Iowa” ad that debuted this week on social media platforms will soon be running on Midwest television stations and five national cable networks. A spokeswoman for the Iowa Economic Development Authority said $3.7 million in federal pandemic recovery funds are being used for the multi-media campaign. “This is part of our ‘This Is Iowa’ initiative,” said the IEDA’s Staci Hupp-Ballard, “which is really about encouraging people to visit, live, work and do business in Iowa.”

The project was started in 2019. “It was built on research around the perceptions of Iowa which showed that most people simply don’t know enough about the state to form an accurate opinion,” Hupp-Ballard said. “That’s a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity for us.” The latest survey from a national market research firm called Destination Analysts shows about half of Americans are planning an overnight trip somewhere this fall. Hupp-Ballard said this regional campaign is meant to build on that, to attract more visitors from surrounding states.

“Most people need to explore a place before they’ll seriously consider moving there,” Hupp-Ballard said, “and so what’s great about ‘This Is Iowa’ is it brings…our tourism and our workforce and business marketing together.” At the start of the 30 second ad the words “adventure, unexpected, vibrant and a secret worth sharing” flash on the screen. Some of the images that flash on the screen are of a hiking trail, a sailboat on a lake, and the Des Moines skyline at night.

“This is Iowa, we just haven’t been properly introduced,” the narrator says at the six-second mark of the ad. The advertisement ends with an aerial view of the High Trestle Bridge near Madrid lit in blue lights at night.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Wednesday, Sept. 8th, Deputies arrested 64-year-old Terry Dean Calhoun, of Anita, for possession of controlled substance 3rd or subsequent offense, possession of drug paraphernalia and felon in control of a firearm.  Calhoun was transported to Cass County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.

On September 4th, Cass County Deputies responded to an accident at the 400 block of Maple St. in Anita.  Marianne Martha Fann, of Atlantic, was driving at 2018 Chrysler Pacifica traveling east bound on Maple St., when her vehicle sideswiped a parked 2011 Chevy HHR owned by 3 Bee Farms of Griswold.  No one was injured in the accident.

On August 27th, Cass County Deputies responded to an accident on Hwy 92 west of Massena.  Clifford Dean Schaffer, of Corning, was traveling westbound driving at 2014 Chevy Silverado pick-up.  Schaffer’s rear wheel and tire came loose striking a 2018 Cora Predator Semi driven by Bradley Allen Ruth, of Orient, who was traveling in the eastbound lane.  The tire then came off of the semi and struck a 2018 Nissan Rogue driven by Joshua Vaden Hall, of Waukee, who was traveling westbound.  No injuries were reported.

And, on August 26th, Cass County Deputies responded to an accident at 10th and Plum Streets in Atlantic.  John Francis Dvorak, of Atlantic, driving a 1997 GMC Jimmy was northbound stopped at the intersection at 10th and Plum Streets.  Thomas Jordan Frederickson, of Atlantic, was driving a 2005 Chevy pickup traveling northbound when he failed to stop, striking the rear of Dvorak’s vehicle.  Dvorak was taken by private vehicle to Cass County Memorial  Hospital for treatment of unknown/possible injuries.

(Radio Iowa) – A professor of interior design at Iowa State University is doing research on designing spaces for people with disabilities, especially for those with autism. As an interior designer in her native England, Julie Irish worked on a range of projects for educational buildings, libraries, airports, chapels and historical landmarks, but one assignment gave her pause. “I was asked to design a school in Cardiff for children with severe disabilities and autism,” Irish says, “but there was still at the back of my mind that there’s not really research to help me design for people with autism.” That realization inspired Irish to devote her time toward interior designs that were both elegant and ergonomic, and importantly, accessible to all.  “It’s kind of like the perspective that people aren’t disabled, they’re disabled by the environment,” Irish says, “and that’s where my interior design focused then.”

Early on, Irish wanted to be a veterinarian, but struggled in science. She loved drawing and crafting, though, which led her to the design field. She earned a degree in interior design, followed by a master’s degree in inclusive design. Irish says that degree helped her to understand how the environment affects people, and how she as a designer could improve. “The number of people with disabilities is growing and I think perhaps we haven’t quite caught up,” Irish says, “just the idea of making what we design better for people.”

Irish is in her third year of teaching at I-S-U. She leads a faculty learning community called Autism Links, which gathers faculty from various departments to share research surrounding autism. While her focus now is on people with disabilities, she’s also had clients who are royalty. “My claim to fame is that I designed a restroom in Cardiff Castle for Her Majesty the Queen,” Irish says, laughing. “I don’t know if she ever used it but I like to think she did.”

In the spring of 2022, Irish and her I-S-U colleagues will lead a design studio to look at the former Veterans Affairs Hospital site in Waterloo to see how it could be redesigned.

The Creston Police Department reports two arrests. At around 2:22-a.m. today (Friday), 23-year-old Skyler Rose Suzanne Wambold, of Ames, was arrested at Maple and Mills in Creston, and an Adams County Warrant for Failure to Appear. Wambold was taken to Adams Co. Jail, where her cash-only bond was set at $200. And, at around 11:05-p.m. Thursday, 35-year-old Dustin Kolby Outlaw, of Denham Springs, LA., was arrested at a bar on W. Adams Street, in Creston. He was charged with Public Intoxication – 1st Offense, and transported to the Union County Jail. Outlaw later posted a $300 bond, and was released.