(Atlantic, Iowa) -Cass County Meals on Wheels is celebrating its Golden Anniversary. On May 5, 1973, a presentation was made to The Leopards, a group interested in community betterment, regarding the possibility of establishing a Meals on Wheels organization to serve Cass County.  An organizational meeting was held at Cass County Hospital on July 19, 1973, to appoint an initial, temporary board of directors.  The first meeting of the Board of Directors occurred on August 1, 1973, with Tom Pluhacek elected as temporary Chairman and LaVon Eblen as temporary Secretary.  The temporary board quickly adopted bylaws, and was incorporated on September 24, 1973.  The corporation subsequently applied for and received tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization.

A statement of purpose was adopted:  “to provide home delivered meals to elderly and disabled residents of Cass County”.   One county board would govern the program for the entire county, but local committees might be needed.  The initial Board of Directors consisted of individuals representing various communities and community leaders in Cass County. Board meetings and other events would be held in different communities in the county, with local key people invited to attend.  Meals would be delivered to homes by volunteer drivers five days a week, excluding weekends and holidays. The first meals (21) were delivered on October 15, 1973, to individuals in Griswold, Lewis, Anita, and Atlantic.

The Board of Directors would like to invite all who have served the organization during its 50 years, as directors, board members, volunteer drivers, and other roles, to its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner in October. Please call Sue Moser, Director, at (712) 250-0036, to provide her with your current contact information.  For a presentation on Meals on Wheels to your church or other organization, please contact Deb Lamb, President, at (712) 250-4791.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Auditor’s Office reports an additional candidate has filed nomination papers to run for the Atlantic City Council. On Monday, Sept. 18, Shawn Sarsfield submitted papers to run for the City’s 4th Ward Council seat.

Previously announced candidates who have filed for offices in Cass County include:

Anita City Council (vote for 2): Cheryl Sokol; Mark Harris.

Atlantic City Council – Ward 2: Jim Behrens.

Atlantic City Council – Ward 3: Pat McCurdy.

Atlantic City Council – Ward 4: Linda Hartkopf.

Atlantic City Council – At Large: Elaine Otte.

Mayor – City of Cumberland: Nancy Virginia Coughlin.

City Council – Cumberland (Vote for 2): Sandra Eversole and Scott W. Becker

Griswold City Council (vote for 3): Brenda Tietz; Amanda Hansen.

Mayor- City of Lewis: Rick Sanny; Russell Hansen

Lewis City Council (Vote for 3): Ryan Lockwood; Leland M Baxter

Mayor – City of Marne: Randall I. Baxter

Marne City Council (Vote for 3) – Wayne Preister

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna has updated the list of candidates who have filed nomination papers for school board positions in advance of the Nov. 7, 2023 elections.

All Offices are 4-year terms Unless Stated Differently

Red Oak School Director at Large:

Director At Large —

Director At Large —

Stanton School Director at Large:

Director At Large —

Director At Large —

Villisca School Director at Large:

Director At Large —

Director At Large —

Director At Large —

SWCC Director District #2 – Montgomery, Adams, Ringgold, Union, Taylor & Page Counties:

Director At Large 4yr Term–

SWCC Director District #3 – TFV: Portion of Clarke and Mormon Trail

Director At Large 2yr Term–

SWCC Director District #4 – Portions of Decatur, Lucas & Ringgold Counties:

Director At Large 4yr Term–

SWCC Director District #7 – Portions of Decatur, Page, Taylor & Ringgold Counties:

Director At Large 4yr Term–

SWCC Director District #8 – Portions of Union County:

Director At Large 4yr Term–

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Montgomery County Auditor Jill Ozuna, today (Monday), updated the list of candidates who have filed nomination papers for city positions in advance of the Nov. 7, 2023 elections.

Red Oak City Offices- Candidates Filled

Mayor 2yr term—Shawna Silvius

Council Member Ward #1 4yr term–

Council Member Ward #3 4yr term–

Council Member At Large 4yr term—Sharon Bradley

Elliott City Offices

Mayor 2yr term –Michael Carson

Council Member At Large 4yr term—Leta Rush

Council Member At Large 4yr term—Lisa Jamison

Grant City Offices

Mayor 2yr term—John Giefing

Council Member At Large 2yr term–
Council Member At Large 2yr term–

Council Member At Large 2yr term–

Council Member At Large 2yr term-

Council Member At Large 2yr term–

Villisca City Offices

Mayor 2yr term–

Council Member At Large 4yr term– Robert Narup

Council Member At Large 4yr term–

Council Member At Large 4yr term–

Stanton City Offices

Mayor 4yr term–

Council Member At Large 4yr term- Pier Schenck-Osweiler

Council Member At Large 4yr term- Greg Hampel

Council Member At Large – TFV 2yr term—Justin Rhamy

Coburg City Offices

Council Member At Large 4yr term–

Council Member At Large 4ry term–

Council Member At Large 4yr term–

Coralville, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports 48-year-old Donald Edward Dodge, who was serving a 10-year maximum prison term for Sex Abuse in the 3rd Degree out of Pottawattamie County, died due to natural causes at around 8:44-a.m. Friday. His sentence began on June 17, 2021.

Dodge died while in hospice at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center where he had been housed due to chronic illness.

(DES MOINES, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Iowa Department of Education have received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service to issue Summer 2023 Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) for eligible school-age Iowa children for the 2022-2023 school year.

This program provides $120 per eligible child, issued on new P-EBT cards to be received by October 4. HHS estimates approximately 240,000 Iowa children are eligible for this benefit, totaling $28 million in food assistance.

Generally, school-age children who were in grades K-12 during the 2022-2023 school year and received free and reduced-price meals at school through the National School Lunch Program as of May 31, 2023 are eligible to receive this benefit.

“Access to a consistent, nutritious diet not only ensures a child’s basic needs are being met, these benefits are an investment in their health and future success, which are key focus areas for HHS,” said HHS Director Kelly Garcia. “These additional funds will support thousands of Iowa families in putting nutritious food on their table.”

Summer 2023 P-EBT cards can be used to purchase eligible food items anywhere SNAP EBT cards are accepted. Eligible food items include dairy, eggs, meat, cereal, rice, pasta, bread, fresh, frozen, canned or dried vegetables and fruit, any ingredients you use for cooking, baby formula, diabetic foods, garden seeds, plants for growing food at home, and ice. Food that is already prepared or hot food, pet food, and non-food items are not eligible for purchase with P-EBT cards. For more information, please visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items.

Families should visit the comprehensive P-EBT FAQ at https://hhs.iowa.gov/food-assistance/related-programs/P-EBT for more information about the Summer 2023 School Age P-EBT program.

If your family struggles with food insecurity check your eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program at https://hhs.iowa.gov/how-to-apply; or call 211 or the food bank in your community.

Iowa’s P-EBT program is a shared initiative between HHS and the Iowa Department of Education.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis says Donald Trump’s recent statements on the abortion issue show the former president’s values are out of step with Iowa G-O-P voters. Trump said during an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press that the six week abortion ban DeSantis signed into law this spring was a terrible mistake.

DeSantis suggests Trump’s remarks are a window into how Trump’s 2024 campaign promises are changing when compared to his 2016 platform.

Trump also indicated during his Meet the Press interview that he’d negotiate a deal on abortion that’s acceptable to both sides. DeSantis says that’s “the danger” of returning Trump to the White House for a second term.

DeSantis says. “I think if he’s going into this saying he’s going to make the Democrats happy with respect to right to life, I think all pro-lifers should know that he’s preparing to sell you out.” DeSantis made his comments this (Monday) afternoon during an interview with Radio Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – Vandals spray-painted obscenities on a Webster City sculpture and swung on the piece, causing more damage. The abstract metal sculpture was placed in Brewer Creek Park to honor Kent Harfst, a longtime city Park and Recreation director, who died in 2019. Janet Adams, of the “Arts R Alive” group in Webster City, was saddened by the vandalism.

The sculpture was created with help from 12-thousand dollars raised by residents.

Webster City sculpture before the vandalism. (KQWC photo)

Adams says they’ll work to clean up and repair the sculpture and they’ll keep a closer eye on it going forward.

Adams says the Arts R Alive group is looking for donations to defray the costs to repair the damage.

(Press Release: 11-a.m., Sept. 18, 2023) – The following is an update from the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, with regard to our earlier posts about 73-year old Judy Krueger, from Glenwood, who was reported missing after having last been seen at around 1:30-p.m. Saturday, when she left her residence on foot. Judy Krueger is 5-feet three-inches tall, she weighs about 130-pound, has reddish gray hair, and suffers from Dementia. She was last known to be wearing jeans, and 2-to-3 layered t-shirts. She also has a bracelet with her husband’s contact information on it.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Allen Place on Thursday September 14th. The Ambassadors were on hand to welcome new staff, new management, and to celebrate National Assisted Living Week.

Sarah Brown, Vibrant Life Director, shared about the many activities that were taking place to celebrate National Assisted Living Week which included an outdoor cookout, corn-hole tournament, and Allen Place awards. Sarah is constantly thinking of ways to engage the residents with new day-to-day activities while also welcoming community members into the facility through activities that allow individuals to volunteer to help with activities of simply socializing with the residents.

The Ambassadors met the new Executive Director, Jeff Lowary, who started in May. Jeff is passionate about creating a safe, engaging, and comfortable environment for the residents and has settled in well with the Allen Place team.

The Ambassadors were also introduced to Talya Kamies in her role as Director of Sales and Marketing. Talya shared that Allen Place features 51 one bed, pet-friendly, studio apartments and the facility provide services such as housekeeping, laundry, meal service, medication management and activities in a vibrant community for residents on a short or long-term basis.

Allen Place is now managed by Integral Senior Living which is based in California. Integral Senior Living specializes in the management of senior independent living, assisted living and memory care communities, providing exceptional amenities, award-winning programs, chef-prepared meals, and expert care. The company’s top priority is to deliver a meaningful and vibrant life experience for the residents and create a fulfilling work environment for employees.

Allen Place is located at 1406 E. 19th Street in Atlantic. For more information about Allen Place call 712-264-5584