Kids across Iowa are hearing a message about the importance of reading books and switching off the television from an unlikely source — the star of a T-V show. Dan Wardell is the host of Iowa Public T-V’s Kids Clubhouse and he’s making his 10th annual trek to libraries across Iowa this summer.

“Ten years, I’ve been on the Reading Road Trip,” Wardell says. “It started with 51 libraries ten years ago and now I’m visiting 75 libraries, the biggest of the big libraries and the smallest of the small libraries all across the state. Just teaching kids to turn their TVs off, go outside and play, use their imaginations, read good books, and eat healthy food.” Wardell said he creates his own tales when he makes his stops.

“One of the cool things they’ve always let me do at IPTV is to write my own stories for these Reading Road Trip events,” he says. “I don’t actually read a book during the events but we incorporate the librarians, we incorporate the kids, we even incorporate the grownups into a super-interactive story time.”

The show will run for ten weeks. Find the full list of all of the stops at the website: http://site.iptv.org/about/iptv-news/iptv-announces-dates-tenth-annual-reading-road-trip

(Radio Iowa)

The Red Oak Police Department reports two arrests and one accident early Saturday morning.

At 1:19am Saturday officers responded to a two-vehicle accident at N 8th Street and Inman Drive in Red Oak. A 2008 Mercury Milan driven by 22-year-old Brooke Carpenter of Red Oak was struck from behind by a 2011 Chevy Cruze driven by 28-year-old Sara Orme of Omaha.  Carpenter stated she had braked for a slowing vehicle in front of her and Orme stated she attempted to brake but was unable to stop before the collision.  No injuries were reported and no citations were issued at the scene. The Mercury sustained an estimated $2,000 damage and the Chevy had an estimated $5,000 damage.

At 3:33am officers arrested 70-year-old Carroll Euguene Thurman of Red Oak and 28-year-old Branden James Buffington of Shenandoah in the 2500 block of North Broadway Street on charges of 2nd Degree Theft, a Class D Felony.  They were taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $5,000 full cash bond each.

The 18th Annual Cass County Relay for Life was a big hit on Friday night at the Atlantic High School Track.  A large crowd gathered to celebrate survivors, remember those they have lost, and fight back against cancer on what turned out to be a beautiful night in Atlantic.

Relay day was kicked off with a tractor ride that included 37 tractors that left from the Cass County Fairgrounds at 9:00am and returned in the afternoon to Sunnyside Park.  The Windbags and UCC Riders Motorcyle team had another great ride as well that started in the noon hour at the Atlantic City Park and wound down at the Survivors Dinner at the High School.

The Survivor dinner was held at 5:00pm at the Atlantic High School Commons with a meal provided by Atlantic Hy-Vee.  That meal was followed by the opening ceremonies on the track and the survivors lap honoring all those that have won or are battling their fight against cancer.

The event featured a wide variety of entertainment, food, games, and fun.  Entertainment was provided by Sheltered Reality drumline, Zumba with Allison Knox-Westmeyer, and performances by Villa Dance Students. Food was available from the Atlantic Kiwanis, Troublesome Creek BBQ, and cotton candy from the Lewis Life Preservers team.  Kids games were provided by National Honor Society students and a bounce house was available courtesy of the Nishna Valley Family YMCA.

Fundraising was a huge success with end of the night totals at $71,958.37 raised with more funds still expected to come in.  The Relay for Life Committee would like to thank everyone who helped make Relay 2016 a great success in Cass County.

The Chairpersons for the Cass and Audubon County Community Foundations, both  countywide community foundations, have announced that the fall grant program is now beginning for non-profit organizations in the separate, respective counties.  The deadline to apply for funds through the online grant application process is September 1st.  In Cass County, $27,800 was allocated for the fall grant cycle. In Audubon County, $39,000 is available.

Of the Cass County funds, $2,500 is from the Griswold Community Development Endowed Fund, and $500 is from the Triumph Endowed Fund for Cass County. Of the funds available in Audubon County, approximately $2,000 comes from the Leon and Iva Milliman Endowed Fund for the Exira area, $2,500 is from the Charles T. and Kathleen K. Manatt Endowed Fund, $650 is from the Audubon State Bank/Stephen Garst Endowed Fund, $1,000 is for the City of Audubon from the Audubon Masonic Association Endowed Fund, $450 is for the City of Audubon from the Fred and Evelyn Nissen Endowed Fund for Audubon, and $450 is for the City of Audubon from the Merle and Norma Petersen Endowed Fund.

In both counties, Foundation grant dollars will be awarded for a single year. The mission of the Community Foundation grants and programs, is to participate in funding community betterment projects and nonprofit organizations who have similar objectives.  The goals are to improve the quality of life in the county by supporting needs that are not being met in the areas of civic, cultural, health, education and social service.  The objective is to fund projects that will have a permanent impact for the counties that people can take advantage of for many years.

Only organizations providing services in Cass County or Audubon County are eligible (in their respective counties, only).  They must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and supply a copy of their 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter.  Requests for general operational funds will not be considered.  The mission is to provide funds to those nonprofit and governmental agencies that are involved in community betterment through their organizations.

After July 15^th, application procedures and grant guidelines will be available online at www.iowacommunityfoundations.org/casscef (for Cass County) or www.iowacommunityfoundations.org/auduboncef (for Audubon County).   Click on the Grant Information tab or contact any board member for additional information.  Detailed instructions are provided in a downloadable form, as well as a link to the online application.  Only online applications will be considered.

Community Foundations in Southwest Iowa are particularly attractive charities because donations to these funds may be eligible for a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit. Contact Dennis Nissen or Denise Cardos at 800-794-3458 with grant application specific questions.   All completed applications will be considered at the October board meeting with notification of results the end of October.