(Radio Iowa)  – A new museum will open on the Osceola County Fairgrounds next year. Beth Thole, who’s been working on the project, says the McCallum Museum in Sibley, which holds artifacts from the pioneer and Civil War era, was built in 1957 and has run out of space. “We’ve been fundraising for about four-and-a-half or five years,” Thole says, “and with the costs of everything — materials and labor — escalating, we came up with an idea that we proposed to the fair board members of using a historic building on the fairgrounds as a museum for agriculture.”

Thole, who is a member of the McCallum Museum Board, says some changes have already been made to the 99 year old Commercial Building on the fairgrounds. “We have done some structural work on making things handicapped accessible, creating a balcony for displays, put eight new fans in, Thole says. “We’re well on our way.”

The Osceola County Fair wrapped up this weekend and Thole says they’ll start moving artifacts into the building soon. The goal is to have a grand opening of the museum during the 2024 Osceola County Fair.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Kelly Butts-Elston, CEO of Connections Area Agency on Aging, has been elected as a USAging Board alternate. Butts-Elston will serve a three-year term in this role, partnering with Mike Donohue from Northeast Iowa Agency on Aging to represent Region VII which encompasses Iowa and Nebraska.

Butts-Elston will have the responsibility of ensuring that USAging fulfills its mission to help older adults and people with disabilities live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities effectively.  As an alternate, Butts-Elston will actively engage in USAging’s standing committees such as conference, corporate, relations, membership and public policy and grassroots. By participating in these committees, she will provide input and contribute to shaping the association.

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Connections Area Agency is one of six Area Agencies on Aging in Iowa, and part of a nationwide network. With a mission of enhancing the quality of life for elders in 20 counties through education, planning and coordination of services, Connections Area Agency on Aging is the premier agency for assisting elders, caregivers, and their families to access the information and services needed for independence and life transitions. Offices are located in Council Bluffs, Creston and Sioux City. For more information, contact Connections AAA at 800-432-9209 or at www.connectionsaaa.org

(Council Bluffs/KETV, Omaha) — Officials with the Midlands Humane Society took in dozens of dogs from two separate confiscations in Council Bluffs, late last week. KETV reports the 73 dogs were given food, water, and shelter. They will be groomed, neutered, and have needed procedures done over the next several days.

Council Bluffs Animal Control took 14 dogs from one residence on Thursday afternoon. Later Thursday, 59 dogs and one cat were surrendered after living in “unfavorable conditions.” Most of the dogs are Shih-Tzu or Shih-Tzu mixes ranging in age puppies to mature adults. The cat was also a full adult.

Midlands Humane Society was already at capacity, so the added 73 dogs are putting their resources to the test. They expect some of the dogs will go to other humane societies, and they are not up for adoption at this time.

AMES, Iowa – July 24, 2023 – The 2023-2024 Iowa Bicycle Map is now available in both paper and digital formats.

You can get your free paper version of the map at all Iowa Department of Transportation rest areas and Iowa welcome centers. You can order a paper copy online.  The digital versions of the map are available at Iowa Bikes (Bike Map) – Iowa DOT.

This popular publication highlights bike-friendly routes when traveling on two wheels through Iowa by identifying bike trails and traffic levels on all paved roads. The map also includes insets of Iowa’s 16 largest cities.

If you are riding your bicycle on a public road, you have all the same rights as motor vehicle drivers. You are also required to know and obey all the same traffic laws and rules of the road. A section of the map is dedicated to highlighting some of the rules of the road to help you understand your rights and responsibilities. Safety is always the first priority, so if you are riding, please always wear a helmet, use lights at night, and watch out for road hazards like parallel-slat stormwater grates, gravel, sand, and debris.

(Creston, Iowa) – Two men were arrested on separate moving violations over the past few days, in Creston. According to the Creston Police Department, a little after 2-p.m., Friday, 45-year-old Corey Matthew Brown, of Creston, was arrested for Driving while Barred. He was later released on bond from the Union County Jail. And, at around 4-p.m. Saturday, Police in Creston arrested 32-year-old Matthew Edwin Thomas, of Creston. Thomas was charged with OWI/1st Offense. He was later released on bond.

(Cedar County, Iowa) – The driver of a semi tractor-trailer died in a crash Sunday evening, east of West Branch. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2023 Freightliner semi was traveling east on Interstate 80 at mile marker 259 at around 5:27-p.m., when for reasons unknown, the driver over-corrected, causing the semi to roll over. The unidentified driver was unrestrained, and was ejected from the cab of the truck. Their name was being withheld pending notification of family.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, West Branch Fire, and West Liberty Fire & EMS.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting, beginning at 9-a.m. Tuesday (7/26), in their Courthouse Board Room. On their agenda is the following:
1. Call to order
2. Approve Agenda
3. Approve minutes from the July 18, 2023 meeting
4. Public Comments
5. Public Hearing on Proposed Amendment to the Cass County Zoning Ordinance to change the classification from General Agricultural District to Light Industrial District under 7.11 of Cass County Zoning Ordinance for land located in Pymosa Township
6. Discuss/Approve Zoning Commission’s Recommendation to change the zoning classification from General Agricultural District to Business District under 7.11 of Cass County Zoning Ordinance for land located in Pymosa Township
7. Monthly Report by Jotham Arber, Cass/Guthrie Co. Environmental Health Executive Director
8. Discuss/Approve Resolution 2023-28, Canceling Outstanding Warrants Over One Year Old
9. Discuss/Approve Resolution 2023-29 Allocating ARPA Funds to CAM School District to Improve Election Polling Place Accessibility for an amount not to exceed $10,000
10. Quarterly Report by Mitch Holmes, Cass County Veteran Affairs Administrator
11. Weekly Report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken
12. Supervisor Committee Reports
13. Filed Reports: Treasurer’s Semi-Annual Report
14. Approve claims
15. Adjournment

To join the meeting electronically:
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(Red Oak, Iowa) – A regular weekly meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors will take place beginning at 8:30-a.m., Tuesday, July 25th, at the Courthouse, in Red Oak. On the Board’s agenda for Tuesday:

1. Call meeting to order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll call of members
4. Approval of Agenda – Order at discretion of Chairman
5. Read minutes as presented. Chairman to call for any additions/corrections to said minutes.
6. Board chairman will ask the audience for any comments, limited to two minutes per person.
7. Supervisors: Weekly committee/assignment updates
8. Secondary Roads Update
9. New Business:

a. Roster Tuckpointing for the Courthouse tuckpointing discussion with action as necessary
b. Approve Claims payable for Wednesday July 26, 2023
c. Approve authorization for name changes to Jill Ozuna and Tammy Hall for the Montgomery County safe deposit box at Houghton State Bank

10. Closed Session per Iowa Code 21.5(1)(c) to discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental body in that litigation.
11. Discussion on legal strategy 2023-01 Ordinance Amending the Zoning for Hazardous Liquid Pipelines with action as necessary
12. Approve/Disapprove Homestead & Military Credit Applications with action as necessary
13. Discuss and start agenda items for next meeting
14. Announcements – The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 01, 2023, 8:30 a.m.
15. Adjournment

*Please note, this is a public meeting; however, it may be conducted via ZOOM
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(Atlantic, Iowa) – The 2023 Cass County (Iowa) Fair begins this Thursday (July 27th), and continues through August 1st.  Thursday, evening, 14 youth are competing for a place in the royal court. Preliminary judging was held on Monday, July 17th at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic where each candidate was interviewed by two judges. Candidates vying for the title of queen: Rachel Becker, Sydney Becker, Natalie Behnken, Ryleigh Harrison, Cecilia Hensley, Rio Johnson, Claire Pellett, Natalye Scholl, Quincy Sorensen, Trista Swain. The candidate selected as queen will advance to the Iowa State Fair, where she will compete in the statewide competition for the title of the 2023 Iowa State Fair Queen.
King candidates include: Dylan Comes, Tristan Becker, Parker Brock, and Brett Dreager.

Judging criteria is based on leadership, citizenship within the community, poise, charm, appearance, personality, attitude, and the ability to communicate openly with honesty about current youth issues. Candidates competing for the Queen and King Position voted amongst themselves for a Miss Congeniality and Mr. Congeniality.

The crowning of the 2023 Cass County Fair King and Queen will take place in the north garden of the Cass County Community Center at 7:30-p.m., Thursday. The evening will kick off at 7:00 pm with the Little Miss and Mister contest. Cass County youth ages 5-8 can participate by signing up in the Extension Office by noon on Wednesday, July 26^th.  All contestants introduce themselves to the crowd before a winner is drawn out of a hat.

(Marne, Iowa) – Firefighters from Marne and Atlantic were dispatched at around 5:34-p.m. Sunday, to a report of smoke coming from a wall inside the Derailed Bar & Grill at 105 Washington Street, in Marne. Management at the establishment safely evacuated patrons when smoke began to fill the air inside the building. Fire Chief Josh Krause said an improperly discarded cigarette apparently caused an upstairs, boarded-up window to begin to get hot and start smoking.

Krause said when a vent fan in the kitchen was turned on, it filled the downstairs restaurant and bar with smoke. Some of the people inside the business used a fire extinguisher to douse the charred boards and any flames evident were put-out before firefighters arrived. Crews conducted an assessment of the building to make sure there were no other hot spots. They then ventilated the bar and grill before returning to quarters.