(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) – Officials in Pottawattamie County said Tuesday, that after serving in various roles for Pottawattamie County for over four decades, Lynn Grobe will retire from the Board of Supervisors on January 3, 2023. On Tuesday, January 3, 2023, Pottawattamie County will swear in new County Supervisors Jeff Jorgensen and Susan Miller, along with reelect Scott Belt. They’ll join Brian Shea, and Tim Wichman on the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors.

A Hancock native, Grobe graduated from Oakland High School in 1961, then earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Nebraska Omaha. He served three years in the United States Army, before returning home to assist his dad on the family farm. He and his wife, Carolyn, still reside on the farm south of Hancock. With help from his son, Preston, farming continues to be a family passion.

Grobe has truly lived a life of service. He is one of the founding members of Iowa West, serving in varying capacities since 1984. He has served and still serves today on several other boards throughout the area, including Hancock United Methodist Church, Hancock American Legion, Western Iowa Development Association, Golden Hills, Southwest Iowa Planning Council among others.

Lynn Grobe

“Public service has always been an important part of my life,” said Grobe. “I like helping people, and although I’m retiring from Pottawattamie County, I’ll continue to help our area any way I can.”

Grobe’s contributions to Pottawattamie County are vast and include his time as County Supervisor from 2009 until his retirement. That timeline includes serving alongside County Auditor Melvyn Houser, who was a County Supervisor for seventeen years before becoming Auditor in 2017.

“It’s been a real pleasure working with him for several years,” said Houser. “He’s always had a keen interest in taking care of county roads and doing what’s best for our rural communities and small towns. He’s been a great asset for us.”

When asked about his time with Pottawattamie County, Grobe sees considerable potential for the area to continue building momentum. “Our leaders do a great job, even with a lot on their plates,” said Grobe. “We’re currently seeing an expansion of the courthouse, which will help us better-serve residents. A new Public Health building hopefully comes soon. There are a lot of things to look forward to in Pottawattamie County.”

For Board of Supervisors Chairman Tim Wichman, Grobe’s approach to life is one he hopes inspires others. “It’s easy to see what’s important to Lynn Grobe,” said Wichman. “Family, home, and community are areas he’s prioritized and served. I think that’s something we can all admire, and Pottawattamie County is better for having him. We wish him the best.”

(Treynor, Iowa) – Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday evening, said a serious injury accident occurred at around 7-a.m. today (Tuesday), near Treynor. According to the report, at around 7:02-a.m., Deputies and Treynor Fire and Rescue personnel were dispatched to the intersection of State Highway 92 and 290th Street, for a vehicle versus semi collision, with injuries.

Upon arrival, first responders found a 2006 Saturn Ion, driven by 24-year-old Zachary Dickerson, of Treynor, had struck a 2004 Wilson Cattle Trailer, operated by 68-year-old Dannie Schnepel, also of Treynor, that had become disabled in the roadway. Dickerson was extricated from his car by Treynor Fire, and transported to Nebraska Medicine Trauma Center, with life threatening injuries.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol, and the Iowa Department of Motor Vehicle Enforcement. The collision remains under investigation by the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office Technical Collision Investigation Unit.

(Radio Iowa) – Healthcare facilities and pharmacies are continuing to see shortages of antibiotic medications as hospitals are reporting high levels of kids getting sick with viral infections like the flu and R-S-V. The executive director of pharmacy for UnityPoint Des Moines, Brian Benson, says they’re being careful to make sure they’re saving medications like amoxicillin for bacterial infections — because it doesn’t work on viruses.

“We’re not trying to not get drugs or not treat patients. It’s really, we’re making the best decisions we can based on you know, the, the bug, if you will, that’s causing the infection and we’re really trying to make sure that we, we have things on hand for patients that really need it,” he says. He says they’re able to get by on the supply they have, and patients can help by understanding how things are treated.

“If it’s, you know, suspected to be viral, you’re not going to get an amoxicillin to treat the viral infection. So maybe, you know, maybe not demanding an antibiotic,” Benson says. Benson says parents can prevent the spread of all infections by keeping their kids home when sick.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Ames, Iowa) – The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) annually honors an individual who has contributed a great deal of time and effort in promoting the beef industry in Iowa. The 2022 recipient of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association Hall of Fame award is Dr. John Lawrence, of Ames. Lawrence was nominated for this prestigious honor by a group of producer and allied leaders for his service and engagement through many Iowa beef industry evolutions throughout his career.

Dr. John Lawrence, Vice President of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will retire in March 2023. He’s been a livestock economist at heart even when his title changed. Always a cattleman, John was raised on a southwest Iowa crop and livestock farm. And always an Iowan at heart, it’s been his home except while he earned his Ph.D. in agricultural economics at the University of Missouri in Columbia, and served as extension livestock economist in marketing and assistant professor at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul. In 1991 he returned to Iowa as the ISU extension livestock economist and assistant professor.

Dr. John Lawrence (ISU photo)

John continued as extension livestock economist as he advanced in his faculty position, and began adding administrative responsibilities which often overlapped. In 1998 he was named Iowa Beef Center director, a position he held until 2010. From 2004-2010, he was assistant director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. In 2010 he became associate dean of extension and outreach for the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and director of agriculture and natural resources extension. Seven years later he was named acting, then interim ISU Vice President for Extension and Outreach, and the following year was appointed to his current VP position.

Along the way he held several interim positions in addition to his full time role, including interim director for the ISU Beginning Farmer Center and Iowa Nutrient Research Center, and interim chair for the ISU animal science department. The constant through the decades has been his dedication to working with people. From early days on Iowa farms and at producer meetings, to advocating for livestock industry members at the state, national and international levels, John has been a strong supporter of Iowa agriculture and its people.

“John is a true believer in engaging Iowans. Without question, his commitment to building strong, sustained partnerships like the one we enjoy with the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association make him worthy of hall of fame status,” said Wendy Wintersteen, president of Iowa State University. “For more than 30 years, John’s devotion to the power of ISU Extension and Outreach to change Iowans’ lives for the better has been unwavering.”

John and his contributions have made him an important piece of the beef industry past, present and future, and thanks to John, that future is bright. The ICA would like to thank Dr. Lawrence for his commitment and sacrifice to Iowa’s cattle industry by inducting him into the ICA Hall of Fame.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Wellness Program Coordinator Brigham Hoege says the Atlantic Food Pantry has a message for Atlantic and Cass County Community: “2022 has been an eventful year for the Food Pantry with persistent food insecurity locally and nationally, and also a successful move to a new facility here in Atlantic.

“We want to express our sincere thanks for the extraordinarily generous donations to the Atlantic Food Pantry by the churches, community service groups, businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals throughout the county who have contributed food and funds, sponsored food drives and collection boxes, and served meals to help those in need. The community has been truly generous in its support, as always.

“With food costs higher than in past years, client attendance numbers have remained steady around 75 households per week. During 2022 there have been approximately 3600 household visits to the pantry with supplemental food distributed to the 9000 individuals in those household visits. These totals include multiple visits by some households during the year, according to their need.

“The Pantry particularly expresses our gratitude to the organizers, contestants, and contributors who participated in the Scrooge Contest which has been fundamental to the pantry’s operation for so many years. Also, we want to acknowledge the community contributions of the Cass County Local Food Policy Council which has distributed live garden food plants and helpful food information to our clients and organized Mobile Food Pantry distributions periodically throughout the year. Our Pantry has also benefited in many ways from its affiliation with Food Bank for the Heartland, the large food bank in Omaha, which provides significant amounts of donated food for distribution in Cass County by its several pantries and other groups.

Thank You!

The Volunteers, Board, and Clients of the Atlantic Food Pantry”

(Radio Iowa)  – It’s the season of giving and many Iowans are wanting to make charitable contributions before the calendar year runs out — out of generosity and for the tax benefits. As you decide who should get a check, Bao Vang at the Better Business Bureau is encouraging us to do our homework to avoid being ripped off. “Watch out for charity name confusion,” Vang says. “Scammers want to trick you into thinking they are someone else, including a reputable, credible organization that you already have a special connection with.”

If you have any doubts, Vang says to do your research to ensure a charity is on the up and up, and don’t donate right away to anyone who calls. “Resist the pressure to give immediately and on the spot,” Vang says. “Rushing you is one of the most common tactics of scammers. When you feel rushed, pause, take a breath and think about the offer.”

If you think you’ve been scammed, go to the BBB’s scam tracker and report it.

On the web at bbb.org

(Glenwood, Iowa) – A traffic stop Saturday in Glenwood resulted in the arrest of a Pottawattamie County man. Glenwood Police Department arrested 36-year-old Rikki Lillard, of Council Bluffs, for Driving under Suspension, Possession of a Controlled Substance and for having Contraband in a Correctional Facility. Lillard’s cash or surety bond was set at $5,300.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The man who has delighted travelers from near and far with his Christmas lights display for more than 50 years, died Sunday, Christmas Day, on his family’s farm. Jack Baird, of rural Red Oak, was 91. His obituary says “Jack loved everything about the joy and message of hope at Christmas time. When he started hanging lights on the farm to brighten the season for his own children, he had no idea of the joy he would bring to thousands of people as he grew the tradition to what it is today. For over five decades, he was always planning the next additions to enhance the display. His happiest moments each year were hearing from others that the lights made their Christmas more special.”

Funeral services for Jack Baird are set for 10:30-a.m. Saturday (Dec. 31st),  at the Center Ridge Presbyterian Church northwest, of Red Oak.  The Baird family said on their social media post today (Tuesday) that “The Christmas lights will be shining 5-10 pm nightly through this Sunday, New Year’s Night, as a loving tribute to the man who always held the spirit of Christmas in his heart.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (December 27, 2022) — The Wellmark Foundation has notified seven organizations in Iowa and South Dakota that they will receive a Matching Assets to Community Health (MATCH) grant funds. These projects, each playing a role in ending food insecurity, will help enhance local food production and build capacity for healthy food consumption. Among the organizations and projects selected to receive a 2022 MATCH Grant from the more than $310,000 in funding, is the City of Atlantic Mollett Park Community Garden Expansion (Atlantic, Iowa). The Mollette Park Community Garden Expansion will increase access to healthy foods by expanding available edible landscaping and community gardens, and building new raised garden beds. In addition, educational signage will be installed regarding the benefits of growing, harvesting and consuming fresh produce. A shared produce stand will be installed for all community members to use.

Elsewhere in the area, a grant was awarded to the Dalla Terra Ranch Foundation, for Improving Farm Efficiency to Expand Impact (Earlham, Iowa).  Supporting the needs of refugee and immigrant farmers, the Dalla Terra Ranch Foundation provides individuals with 3-5 acres of land for up to 5 years, along with business development support. Dalla Terra Ranch Foundation will improve roads, pathways and transportation options to improve efficiency for farmers. New water access and creation of additional fields will allow more farmers to participate, expanding access to local sources of fresh produce.

Laura Jackson, executive vice president, Health Equity, Access and Improvement for Wellmark and Wellmark Foundation board chair, said “Each project included here has the potential to make a positive, long-term impact on the overall health and well-being of their community which will enhance the quality of life for generations to come. We’re excited to see the planning, focus and community engagement within each of the selected applications.”

The grant funds are contingent upon the organizations securing the required dollar-for-dollar match. To ensure community support for these projects, organizations have until March 1 to secure their matching funds. Jackson said “The Wellmark Foundation recognizes sustainable changes take time and we are pleased to continue to offer these grant opportunities to support the overall health and well-being of local communities.”

Since its inception in 1991, The Wellmark Foundation has awarded more than $63 million in grant and special project funding to initiatives that positively impact the well-being of Iowans and South Dakotans.

Here are the other grant recipients and their projects:

• CommUnity Crisis Services Improving Food Security: CommUnity Mobile Pantry Vehicle (Iowa City, Iowa). CommUnity Crisis Services distributes healthy foods to more than 45,000 Johnson County residents. The purchase of “The Farmers’ Truck” will create a mobile pantry aiding in distribution of food, and provide refrigeration services for additional foods such as diary and meat. In addition, a mobile pantry will ease the physical requirements of volunteers.
• Des Moines Area Religious Council DMARC-ket Southside Food Pantry & Healthier New Year Project (Des Moines, Iowa). The Des Moines Area Religious Council will purchase two freezers to support the Southside Food Pantry allowing for additional produce and meat storage and increased shelf life of healthy foods. The Healthier New Year Project will provide food boxes containing fresh produce during the off-season when produce is more expensivve. The boxes, which will support five partner pantries and two mobile units, will also contain a healthy recipe card.
• Eat Greater Des Moines Healthy Food Access for Healthier Habits (Des Moines, Iowa). This healthy food project will allow for the purchase of a refrigerated cargo van that will double the number of deliveries made each day and increase the capacity to partners and organizations with limited staff or resources for transportation. In addition, this project will increase cold food storage capacity and the opportunities to work with local farmers and growers to safely collect, store and deliver fresh, healthy foods.
• Makoce Agriculture Development Regenerative Poultry Production on the Pine Ridge Reservation (Porcupine, South Dakota). Makoce Agriculture Development will provide education, materials and hands-on training to aspiring farm families and producers of all ages. This project also aims to increase community involvement through education on the local food system, poultry production and business opportunities to create a larger food system.
• Youth & Family Services, Inc. Fullerton Farm Production Project (Rapid City, South Dakota). This project will allow for planning and procurement of safe, fresh produce from Fullerton Farm and other local producers by Youth & Family Services (YFS) kitchens that provide meals for YFS participants. New farm infrastructure and personnel will be put in place. In addition, hands-on gardening education programming will be created for children and families.