A Belmond restaurant that’s been under current ownership for less than a year is the 2015 winner of the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin contest. Joe and Jewel McFarland opened the Belmond Drive-in on Oct. 22, 2014, after both worked as cooks in various establishments for more than 20 years.

Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin in IA 2015 winner: Belmond Drive In.

The winning tenderloin is a center cut pork loin that Joe sources from a local meat locker. He hand trims and cuts the loins fresh daily. The tenderloin is dipped in an egg wash and then hand breaded with a medium size breadcrumb. The McFarlands currently sell 20 to 30 breaded pork tenderloins a day. The drive-in is open each day, except Tuesday.

The IPPA Restaurant and Foodservice Committee is presenting the McFarlands with a check for $500, a plaque and a large banner in ceremonies at the restaurant today. The Belmond Drive-in also will receive statewide publicity for winning IPPA’s 13th annual contest.

Three C’s Diner in Corning placed second in this year’s contest and will receive $250 and a plaque. Rounding out the top five finalists was the Recovery Room in Ottumwa, the Peru Bar & Grill in Peru and The Office in Lenox. Those restaurants will receive a plaque to display in their restaurant.

Tenderloin lovers submitted 1,161 nominations and nearly 40 tenderloin sandwiches were judged this summer on the quality of the pork, taste, physical characteristics and eating experience. The contest recognizes Iowa dining establishments that support the swine industry by putting pork on their menu. All restaurants, cafes and taverns that serve breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches year round and list them on their daily menu can be nominated for the award.

(IPPA Press Release)

Police in Glenwood report the arrest on Thursday of 55-year old Michael Harrod, of Glenwood. Harrod was taken into custody for Possession of a controlled substance and possession of Drug paraphernalia. He was being held in the Mills County Jail on a $1,300 cash bond.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Council Bluffs educator and cheerleader coach has been ordered to stand trial in the September traffic death of a bicyclist. The Daily Nonpareil reports that an attorney for 28-year-old Stephanie Kenealy said Thursday she will plead not guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of a fatal crash. The attorney, Thomas Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska, says he’ll enter her written plea around Kenealy’s Nov. 2 arraignment date. Trial has been set for Dec. 15.

Authorities say 54-year-old David Ryder was riding his bike in the same direction as Kenealy’s SUV when she hit the bicyclist during a heavy downpour. Ryder, who was not wearing a helmet, was declared dead at the scene. Authorities say Kenealy left the scene and returned nearly an hour later.

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – A judge says he’ll rule soon on whether a lawsuit filed by three landowners in the path of a proposed oil pipeline can proceed against the Iowa Utilities Board. The Sioux City Journal reports the judge heard arguments from both sides Thursday in Cherokee, and will make a ruling within two weeks.

The landowners are challenging the board’s authority to give the power of eminent domain to an out-of-state developer. The pipeline would carry crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois, and would cut diagonally through Iowa from the northwest to the southeast corner.

Motions to dismiss the lawsuit have been filed by the developer and Iowa Utilities Board. The developer has said it would only resort to going through eminent domain when agreements can’t be reached with landowners.