New and startup businesses in Iowa are invited to enter a contest for the chance to win up to $25,000. This marks the 12th year for the competition sponsored by venture capitalist John Pappajohn. Randy Pilkington, director of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Northern Iowa, says judges will decide the top three submitted business ventures. “We give away $50,000; $25,000 for first, $15,000 for second, and $10,000 for third place,” Pilkington said.

The competition is designed to stimulate business development in the state and provide support for entrepreneurial ventures. “Any venture that’s been in business for four years or less, that’s located in Iowa, or newer startup businesses, we hope they’ll consider entering,” Pilkington said.

Businesses entering the contest must submit an online application by May 15.  “After May, we narrow the group down to maybe 15, 20, or 30 businesses and then we take them through another round of interviews. That usually runs through August and then we have the finals in September,” Pilkington said.

The winners will be recognized at a special awards luncheon on September 21 in Des Moines.

LINK: www.pappajohnentrepreneurialventurecompetition.com

The Cass County 4-H Endowment committee is hosting the annual 4-H Endowment Pancake Supper on Thursday, March 23 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic.  The Pancake Man will be dishing up fresh pancakes; 4-H members serve juice, coffee and more.  Supporters can enjoy all you can eat pancakes for $6.

Proceeds from the 4-H Pancake Supper directly benefit Cass County.  The money raised goes to the Cass County 4-H Endowment, a fund to defray the 4-H Program Development Fee, support scholarships, and start up dollars for youth programs including Clover Kids and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

The 4-H Program Development Fee is $30, instead of having individual 4-H’ers and families take on that expense, the Cass County Extension Council, and the 4-H Endowment Committee pick up this expense. The Cass County 4-H Endowment also offers opportunities for youth to get involved in the 4-H program by attending camps and conferences and offering scholarships to graduating seniors. “These opportunities are very important to the success of the 4-H program in Cass County,” stated Shelby Williams, Cass County Youth Coordinator. “It certainly would not be possible without a great deal of support from the community.”

There is also a silent auction during the supper. The 14 4-H clubs in Cass County, as well as additional friends of 4-H and local business supporters donate items. “This is a great part of the pancake supper,” says Williams, “it will be exciting to see what items are up for auction this year!” If a community business is interested in supporting the Pancake Supper through the Silent Auction, please contact the Extension Office.

For more information on the Pancake Supper, Endowment or 4-H contact Shelby Williams, Cass County Youth Coordinator, at 243-1132 or xcass@iastate.edu.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say an emergency alert mistakenly was sent to some wireless phones in eastern Iowa and Polk County. The message sent around 7:30 p.m. Monday read, “Civil Emergency in this area until 8:45 p.m. EDT” and “Take Shelter Now Polk-County.” But there was no emergency.

A news release from Johnson County Emergency Management says the message was supposed to be a follow-up on a missing person from Johnson County. The message system vendor is investigating how and why the erroneous message was sent and how it reached Polk County towers.

Police in Red Oak, Monday afternoon, arrested on a warrant, 25-year old Cody Keen Blystone, of Red Oak. Blystone, was wanted on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was taken into custody at around 4:50-p.m. and booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.