(Audubon, Iowa) – Officials with the 2022 Audubon County Fair have announced that due to the heat and lack of livestock, the Audubon County Fair’s livestock judging contest scheduled for 3:00 p.m. today is canceled. There are still other things to see and due at the Fair this afternoon:

The Audubon County Fair runs through Sunday, July 17.

DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines woman who initially pleaded “not guilty” in connection with a hit-and-run accident last April, that resulted in the death of a teenager, has changed her plea. On Wednesday, 38-year-old Terra Flipping entered into court a written plea of “Guilty” to “Knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death” – a Class C Felony.

Police said Flipping was driving an SUV in the 1600 block of East University Avenue when she hit 14-year-old Ema Cardenas. Authorities initially said another vehicle made it unavoidable for Flipping to see the teenager crossing the street in time.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Democrats are hosting a potluck/fundraiser this evening (Friday 15th), at the home of Jim and Vicki Nordskog. The event begins at 6-p.m. Invited candidates include Tripp Narup, who is running for the State Senate seat held by Tom Shipley, and John Norwood, Democrat candidate for Secretary of Agriculture in Iowa. Persons interested in attending may contact Denise O’Brien as casscountyiadems@gmail.com.

Audubon County Democrats will hold a meet-and-greet with US Senate candidate, Admiral Michael Franken, on Saturday. The event takes place late Saturday afternoon at the Audubon County Fair. At 6-p.m. Saturday, Franken will meet with Audubon County residents at the El Adobe Restaurant, on Main Street in Audubon. The event is a part of the Franken campaign’s 99 County Tour, and will offer local residents an opportunity to hear directly from Franken about why he is running to represent Iowans. This will also be an opportunity for Franken to hear directly from you about the issues and policies that matter most in rural Iowa.

And, on Wednesday, July 20th, Deidre DeJear and John Norwood will be in Atlantic, for DeJear’s Workday Wednesday series. Organizers say the series is focused on DeJear visiting local non-profits, small businesses, and farms, to hear directly from everyday Iowans about their challenges and opportunities. There will also be  round table discussion at the Atlantic High School (1201 E. 14th St.), on Feeding Local Communities. DeJear will be joined on the panel by Sec. of Ag. candidate John Norwood, local farmer Emily Paulsen, and community advocate Vicki Nordskog. The event will be moderated by Kimberlee Spillers. The round table takes place from 12:30-until 2-p.m., Wednesday.

(Atlantic & Audubon, Iowa) – Officials with the Cass and Audubon County Community Foundations have announced organizations providing charitable services within both counties may begin to apply for the fall grant cycle. Each County has $36,000 available in this grant cycle. In each county, only organizations providing services. They must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and be an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) public charity, a local municipality, or a fiscally sponsored project.

The deadline to apply for funds through the online application process is September 1st. Of the total allocated funds in CASS COUNTY, $4,000 is restricted to the community of Griswold, and $32,600 is available to support projects throughout the county. Of the total allocated funds in AUDUBON COUNTY, $2,950 is restricted to the Exira area, $2,500 is designated for the community of Audubon, and $47,700 is available to support projects throughout the county. Organizations must be in their respective counties, and cannot cross-over to apply for funds in another county. 

Beginning July 15, application details, a fact sheet, and a link to the application form is online by selecting either Cass or Audubon County under County Listing at www.swiowafoundations.org. Applications will only be accepted through the online system.

The two Community Foundations aim to improve the quality of life in Cass and Audubon County, by supporting community needs in civic engagement, culture, health, education, and social services. The objective of the grant program is to fund projects that will have a permanent impact on and in, Cass County. For Fall 2022, the Cass and Audubon County Community Foundations will entertain requests for capital and program support. Requests for general operating support will not be considered.

These grant funds are made possible by the generosity of Cass and Audubon County Community Foundation donors, respectively, for each county. To inquire about donating to either Foundation, please contact the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa staff or any board member (listed below). Gifts to permanently endowed funds through the Cass/Audubon County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

Please contact Stacey Goodman (stacey@omahafoundation.org) or Sydney Calcagno (sydney@omahafoundation.org) at 800-794-3458 with application-related questions. All completed grant applications will be considered at the October Board meeting, with applicants notified of funding decisions by the end of October.

Board members of the Cass County Community Foundation are Chair Kristi Burg of Massena; Vice Chair Gaylord Schelling of Atlantic; Secretary/Treasurer Sue Hunt of Atlantic; Sandy Bierbaum of Griswold; Justin D. Hockenberry of Anita; and Mike Tibken of Anita.
Audubon County Community Foundation are Chair, Steven B. Hansen of Audubon; Vice Chair, Pat Kaiser of Audubon; Secretary/Treasurer, Megan Wagner of Audubon; Gina Benton of Exira; Bob Blomme of Audubon; Travis Nelson of Exira; and Donna Olson of Kimballton.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – A Vietnam-era helicopter, YL-37, will be landing at the Iowa Aviation Museum/Greenfield Municipal Airport on July 30th, at approximately 1 pm. The public is invited to see this historical aircraft and meet the aircrew and special guests. Officials with the Museum say the YL-37, a Sikorsky UH-34D helicopter, was flown in the Republic of Vietnam from 1965-1968 by Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron Three Six Two (HMM-362) known as the “Ugly Angels.” With fifty-four patches over bullet holes and shrapnel damage from a rocket attack, YL-37 is the only Marine UH-34D Sikorsky with documented combat history that survived the battle to return home. On many missions, YL-37 was fired on and was once disabled and carried from the crash zone by another helicopter. On her side is a bronze plaque with the names of thirty-three members of the Ugly Angels who gave their lives in Vietnam.

Vietnam War-era Sikorsky UH-34D, YL-37

Present at the event will be Southwest Iowa resident Philip Larry Turner, member of HMM-362, who flew YL-37 on missions in Vietnam. (Larry flew 8 missions with approximately 4 hours of flight time in this helicopter.) A member of the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame, Larry continued flying until 2013 when he piloted his last flight in this helicopter. Larry Turner’s son, Nicholas Turner, a 2022 inductee into the Hall of Fame, will also be present. Like his father, Nick was a member of the Ugly Angels (2004-2009) and both men have since flown YL-37.

YL-37 is supported by the YL-37 Group Foundation of Inola, OK, and has become a flying tribute to Vietnam veterans and all of America’s Armed Forces. Plans are subject to weather conditions. If you have questions, call the Iowa Aviation Museum at 641-343-7184.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Authorities say there were no injuries reported following a collision between two SUV’s Thursday afternoon, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, the accident occurred at around 12:05-p.m. at the intersection of N. Broad and E. Coolbaugh Streets, when 25-year-old Gaven Shane McMillan, of Red Oak, failed to to obey a yield sign. The 2005 Chevy Trailblazer he was driving struck a 2009 Trailblazer, driven by 18-year-old Delaney Linne Hall, of Red Oak. Damage from the collision amounted to $9,000. Red Oak Police issued a written warning to McMillan, for Failure to Yield.

Authorities say the SUV McMillan was driving was registered to David C. Neal, of Red Oak. The SUV driven by Hall is registered to Troy R. Hall, of Red Oak.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The 2022 Shelby County Fair Queen and royalty were announced, Thursday. Taking the title of Shelby County Fair Queen, was Mallory Mulligan. The 1st runner up was Sydney O’Neil, while the second runner up was Samantha Wahling. And, Myrna Havick along with Craig Olsen were inducted into the Shelby County Fair “Hall of Fame.” 

Jaci Christensen was selected to represent Audubon County as 2022 Fair Queen Thursday night.  Christensen, the daughter of Dan and Jill Christensen, will be attending Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge this fall.  The First Runner-up is Sienna Albertsen, the daughter of Mike and Crystal Albertsen.  The Second Runner-up is Abigail Brooks, the daughter of Mike and Allie Brooks.

2022 Audubon County Fair Queen, Jaci Christensen; 1st Runner up Sienna Albertsen
2nd Runner up Abby Brooks (Photo via the Audubon County Fair FB page)

Girls were judged on community involvement, personality, poise and speaking ability during a dinner and interviews with judges Richard and Bev Goshorn of Harlan on July 6.

Christensen will represent Audubon County at the Iowa State Fair Queen competition August 10-13 in Des Moines, which will include several days of interviews, pictures, touring the fair grounds and having fun.

(Radio Iowa) – A new survey finds Iowa’s hotels lost nearly ten-thousand jobs during the pandemic and almost two-thousand of those jobs have yet to return. Jenn Clark Fugolo, spokeswoman for the American Hotel & Lodging Association, says it’s a challenge the industry is facing not just in Iowa, but nationwide. “We recently did a survey among AHLA members and 97% of hoteliers said that they’re experiencing a staffing shortage and nearly 50% say it’s severe,” Fugolo says. “Also consider at the macro level that the labor force participation rate, just in general, is not where it was pre-pandemic.”

In addition to the lost jobs, the survey says Iowa’s hotels also lost 420-million dollars in room revenue alone during the pandemic. Fugolo says hotel owners in Iowa are striving to lure new workers to the industry. “They have increased wages. Nearly 90% reported doing so,” Fugolo says. “The majority of them are also offering greater flexibility and expanded benefits, so when you look at that package holistically, the hotel industry becomes a really great place to join and to stay.” While hotel employees often get deeply discounted rooms when they vacation, she says another benefit of working in the industry is the ease of upward mobility.

“It is not uncommon to start entry-level and quickly advance because of the programs in place to learn and acquire new skills, everything from certifications and a very specific point of study to free tuition, tuition reimbursement, apprenticeship,” Fugolo says. “All of these things are in place to really support an employee in their journey to advance.” Not only are there positions open like front desk and housekeeping, but she says there are opportunities in other areas, including in maintenance, sales and event planning. The association says Iowa has more than 700 hotel properties representing more than 51-thousand rooms and employing more than 65-thousand people across the state.

(Radio Iowa) – DARE officers in Iowa gathered this week in Le Mars for their annual conference. The Le Mars Police Department and Assistant Chief Justin Daale hosted the statewide conference. He says one of the topics of discussion was the dangers of vaping among elementary students. “You know, we’re seeing a lot in middle school and high school but when you start trickling down to elementary you know what programs are going to work what can you do to talk to these kids about the dangers of vaping and smoking so we learned some new techniques new programs that dares coming out with,” he says.

Daale says kids are lied to about vaping, that it’s safer than smoking. DARE stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, and he says they try to talk to kids about making good decisions about vaping. He says that also pertains to use of social media by students. “A lot of stuff happens over social media. So we went over a few new social media lessons that DARE’s coming out with in how we can keep kids safe online,” Daale says, “not just kids, but what parents can look for, you know, on their kids, cell phones or iPads or whatever they have just to keep them safe also.”

Daale says the officers talked about the connection between social media and human trafficking.  “We’ve had a lot of questions in the community about either trafficking or sex trafficking victims on how we can alert the community and kids, you know, what to look for how to stay away or how not to get trapped into that trafficking situation” Daale says. “So, you know, it all starts with social media. It all starts with something simple, who you can and can’t trust on online.”

The school resource officers will incorporate what they learned at the conference into their contacts with students and parents in the next school year.