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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
In celebration of “May Beef Month,” the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa Beef Industry Council are excited to announce the results of Iowa’s Best Burger contest. Bambino’s, in Ossian, has been awarded this year’s Iowa’s Best Burger honors. At first glance, Bambino’s appears to be a hole-in-the-wall, nestled between Decorah and West Union. Customers having visited the quaint Ossian establishment, before or after it had ranked among Iowa’s Best Burgers, would concur—there is more than meets the eye.
Ron Lienau, of Fredericksburg, IA, purchased the bar in 1982. He and his girlfriend, Sue, decided to embark on this journey together, but “for a little while; not too long.” One year later, Ron and Sue wed. Soon after, the couple started their family, having four boys in five and a half years. “We were hoping to sell when our youngest was in Kindergarten,” Sue recalls. “Thirty-nine years later, and we’re still here.” The Lienau’s raised all four boys, while managing the bar and growing their business. Sue’s bar shift offered flexible hours, allowing her to attend the boys’ sporting events. As they grew older, all four boys worked for the family-owned business. Sue is proud of her boys, as they gained both cooking and social skills from their food service experience. She is now teaching her grandsons how to wash glasses and assist customers.
Bambino’s, which mimics Ron’s college nickname, was “truly a bar,” at first. However, Sue says “food became a bigger demand over time.” When the restaurant in town closed, it left townsfolk without a place to dine. Bambino’s, which did not feature a service kitchen at the time, found a way to open early and serve breakfast. Sue cooked at home, then brought her breakfast items to the bar to serve. Eventually, a new restaurant opened and Bambino’s stopped its breakfast service, but continued with its noontime meal. “Throughout it all, we have had a good noon meal,” Sue says. “My meals are always made from scratch.”
To date, Bambino’s has continued offering noon specials, including: hamburger steak on Monday, roast beef meal on Thursday, and chef’s pick on Friday. “We do more food business than bar business,” Sue shares. “Beef, all around, is our biggest seller. It’s in our goulash, meatloaf, and soups.” Aside from the daily lunch specials, “cheeseburgers and fries have been customers’ go-to.” Bambino’s keeps busy with burgers “all day and all night,” as farmers call in for a no hassle, utensil-free lunch, bowlers seek out a quick meal on their drive back from league night, and softball players round out a long evening. Bambino’s burgers are highly sought after, and “you can get them anytime.” Bino (Ron) will serve burgers from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., attracting customers all throughout the day. Bambino’s burgers feature fresh, never frozen, 80/20 fine ground beef. Ron and Sue patty the 7-ounce burgers as orders come in. The burgers are then cooked to 160 degrees, placed on a fresh KwikStar bun, and customized.
Bambino’s most requested burger is the “veggie burger,” which features a juicy, all-beef burger patty topped with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion. Customers can customize their burgers anyway they’d like. Popular toppings include: bacon, egg, onion rings, and hash browns. Overall, Bambino’s customers “just like beef,” Sue says. “They’re beef eaters.” Sue enjoys unleashing her creative side, when building a burger. Not only does she create flavor, but fun. Regular customers and special guests may find a creative design made out of ketchup on their burgers during special occasions, such as birthdays and holidays. In her spare time, Sue continues to chip away at her children book series, which her customers helped inspire. The Lienau’s enjoy their customers, and the hospitality shown by Sue and Ron make Bambino’s a special place to dine. “Meeting new people and welcoming new visitors” has been the highlight of their Best Burger Contest experience. Unfamiliar guests become part of the Bambino’s family well before they step foot outside. The Lienau’s know no stranger.
The flavor, creativity, and hospitality, which abounds at Bambino’s, have helped this small-town establishment secure Iowa’s 2021 Best Burger award. The designation as Iowa’s Best Burger comes after a two-phase competition, sponsored by the Iowa Beef Industry Council through the Iowa State Beef Checkoff and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. The first phase is based on votes from the public. For a month, burger lovers went online and voted for their favorite Iowa burger joint. At the end of the month, the 10 restaurants with the most votes were declared the “Top 10”. From there, three anonymous judges visited each of the restaurants, scoring the burger patties based on taste, doneness, and presentation.
Bambino’s, located at 102 N Lydia Street, Ossian, IA, 52161, is open from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday. The establishment is 10 miles south of the Decorah Municipal Airport or six miles east of Calmar, right off Highway 52 on N Lydia St.
A longtime investment advisor in Treynor is accused of running a Ponzi scheme with his clients’ money. According to various reports and charging documents, Jeffrey Carley, owner of Carley Financial Group, had allegedly been advising clients since at least 2013 to move money out of their traditional individual retirement accounts, to so-called “self-directed” IRA’s, which grant the owner greater control over their investments. Carley would then direct the client toward investments he had an interest in through the other two companies, without disclosing that conflict.
Carley would then create fraudulent “annual statements of earnings” to share with his clients. In fact, prosecutors say, Carley used the money invested in Prosperity Partners or Main Street Solutions for personal business, and made only minimal interest payments back into his clients’ accounts, using funds invested by new clients to pay supposed returns to prior investors. His agency has been registered since 1993.
According to charging documents made public Thursday, Carley also owned all or part of two other companies — Prosperity Partners and Main Street Solutions — all of which he operated from Treynor. Court records show he was charged in a sealed indictment, in February, and arrested Thursday after Federal authorities announced they had executed a search warrant at his residence in Treynor, as KJAN mentioned previously. Carley has been indicted on six counts of wire fraud involving at least five victims in Colorado and Nebraska and a total of at least $109,000.
He appeared in court Thursday and was granted pretrial release, with conditions including that he not engage in financial advising while the case proceeds.
Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce report a modern-day expedition into Western Iowa, the T-Bone Trail Tour, will be one of the beefiest missions of the year, and The Iowa Gallivant is ready to take it on! Some of Iowa’s greatest communities will be showcased May – August, with Cass County being the first stop this Friday. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, says “This will be JayJay Goodvin and The Iowa Gallivant’s second trip to our community and we’re excited to welcome him back and show him even more of the area. The idea of the T-Bone Trail Tour is to showcase what travelers can do outdoors and highlight restaurants serving Iowa raised beef.”
Goodvin will make stops at Schildberg Recreation Area with highlights of walking & biking trails in Atlantic, Baxter Cycle in Marne, Cold Springs Park in Lewis, The Outdoor Classroom in Massena, Lake Anita State Park and end with a steak dinner at the Wiota Steakhouse. He will post videos and blogs of his adventures to his Facebook page, The Iowa Gallivant, and encourages everyone to follow along!
JayJay Goodvin photo via The Iowa Gallivant Facebook page
JayJay Goodvin, creator of The Iowa Gallivant says “What if I told you that a juicy steak could be paired with the beautiful Loess Hills, rural roller-coaster like blacktops, vibrant Main Streets, tranquil off the beaten path wonders, historic landmarks unique to Iowa, hundreds of miles of hiking/biking trails and unbelievable lakesides you can’t believe you’ve overlooked before. People have a favorite steak night go-to in Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City, etc. It’s time to expand that sense of adventure and find another juicy, perfectly cooked beefy masterpiece in Western Iowa and experience one of the greatest areas in the world.”
The next stop on the tour will be a visit to Audubon County Saturday, May 8th. Goodvin will visit a local beef producer, Albert the Bull, T-Bone Trail, a trip to the golf course and the Nathaniel Hamlin Park. He’ll end his visit with a steak dinner at the Barn Burner in Brayton.
For more information about The Iowa Gallivant, visit their website at www.theiowagallivant.com, on Facebook at The Iowa Gallivant, or contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017. The T-Bone Trail Tour kicks off this Friday, May 7th in Cass County.
DES MOINES, Iowa – This Friday, May 7, 2021, Governor Kim Reynolds, Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, along with State of Iowa leadership, law enforcement partners and families will honor and pay tribute to fallen peace officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving. On this Peace Officer Memorial Day, we stand steadfast in remembering the brave men and women of law enforcement who died in the line of duty protecting Iowans and their communities.
This year, two officers will be honored and added to the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial. Please join us to honor these fallen peace officers, as well as the many other Iowa officers who have given their lives in the line of duty over the last 152 years.
PHOTO: 2019 Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony
EVENT: 2021 Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony
DATE: Friday, May 7, 2021
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
LOCATION: Grounds East of Oran Pape State Office Building, 215 East 7th Street, Des Moines (Rain Location: State Capitol – 1st Floor Rotunda)
FACEBOOK LIVE: @IowaDPS
HONOREES:
PRESENTERS:
The Honorable Kim Reynolds
The Honorable Adam Gregg
Stephan Bayens, Department of Public Safety Commissioner
If you are unable to attend this year’s ceremony, we remind you it can be accessed on the DPS Facebook Page. There are many ways you can observe National Police Week, May 9-15, 2021. Officials encourage you to “Please take time and thank current peace officers for protecting and serving your community and the great State of Iowa.”
Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater has a very brief report on arrests to release this week. Last Friday evening, 49-year-old Jason Edward Caldwell, of Stuart, was arrested in Stuart, after a Stuart Police Officer saw Caldwell drive by him. The officer knew the man was barred from driving. Caldwell was pulled over and taken into custody on a Driving While Barred, charge. Caldwell was released from custody about 90-minutes later, after posting a $2,000 cash or surety bond.
Red Oak Police say no injuries were reported following a two-vehicle accident Friday afternoon. Authorities say a 2004 Jeep Cherokee driven by 26-year-old Cheslie Vrba, of Red Oak, was westbound on Maple Street at around 3-p.m., when she failed to yield the right-of-way to a 2011 Nissan Sentra traveling southbound on 6th Street, and driven by 30-year old Tiffany Falknor, of Red Oak. TheSUV struck the Nissan broadside, in the intersection.
Damage from the collision amounted to $10,000. Vrba was cited for Failure to yield at an intersection.
The Iowa Department of Public health on Monday, reported 160 new COVID-19 positive tests and seven additional deaths. At 10 a.m., the health department reported 395,349 total positive tests, and 5,959 total deaths since the start of the pandemic, including one new death reported in Pottawattamie County, where the total is now 166.
Iowa reports 2.38-million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered and 1.09-million total vaccine series completed. The state’s 14-day positivity rate is 4.0%. The seven-day rate is 4.2%. Both are slightly higher than in Sunday’s report.
There are now 181 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Iowa reports 45 patients in ICU, 30 people with symptoms of COVID were admitted, and 20 patients are on ventilators. In RMCC Region 4 (hospitals in western/southwest Iowa): 16 COVID patients are hospitalized; nine remain in an ICU; there weer four people admitted with symptoms of the virus, and two people remain on a ventilator.
None of Iowa’s long-term care facilities report COVID-19 outbreaks. The state reports 2,320 care facility deaths since the pandemic began.
In the KJAN listening area, here are the current number positive cases by County; The # of new cases since yesterday {+} if any; and the total number of deaths in each county to date:
Cass, 1,453 cases; {+0}; 54 deaths
Adair, 980; {+0}; 32
Adams, 349 {+0}; 4
Audubon, 516 {+0}; 9
Guthrie, 1,284 {+1}; 29
Harrison County, 1,924; {+0}; 73
Madison County, 1,726; {+1; 19
Mills County, 1,779; {+0}; 21
Montgomery, 1,100;{+0}; 37
Pottawattamie County, 12,087; {+0}; 165
Shelby County, 1,360 {+1}; 37
Union County, 1,355; {+0}; 32
(Radio Iowa) – Iowa prison inmates have donated more than 11-thousand dollars to the families of the two prison staffers who were allegedly killed by two inmates at the Anamosa prison in March. The funds represent a significant amount for inmates who make between 27 and 87 cents an hour. Sue Hutchins, spokeswoman for the advocacy group Living Beyond the Bars, says it demonstrates the compassion of inmates. “My understanding is that because the stimulus checks have recently come in for people, a good number of the inmates are donating more than they normally would be able to given their salaries,” Hutchins says, “which shows to me that they really do have compassion and they really do care.”
Nurse Lorena Schulte and corrections officer Robert McFarland were murdered during the escape attempt on March 23rd. Hutchins says many inmates knew the victims personally. “Yes, there are people who belong in prison and yes, there are also people who are good people in prison who have made mistakes and who have just as much compassion and just as much empathy as a lot of us out here,” she says.
According to the Department of Corrections, inmates at all nine state prisons have donated to memorial funds for the victims. Inmates Michael Dutcher and Thomas Woodard are scheduled to go to trial June 22nd in Jones County. They’re each charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, and one count of second-degree kidnapping.
(reporting by Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)
Atlantic, IA, 2021 – The New Life Church is conducting a shoe drive fundraiser from May 1st to July 1st, to raise funds to send kids to camp that otherwise could not afford to go. New Life Church will earn funds based on the total weight of the pairs of gently worn, used and new shoes collected, as Funds2Orgs will issue a check for the collected shoes. Those dollars will benefit paying for kids to go to camp this summer. Anyone can help by donating gently worn, used and new shoes the drop box located on front porch of 1111 Plum street..
All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise (small business) partners. Funds2Orgs works with micro-entrepreneurs in helping them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sales of the shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are used to feed, clothe and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough to send to her son to law school.
“We are excited about our shoe drive,” said Ali Pieken, NLC Outreach coordinator “We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets they would like to donate to us. By doing so, we raise money to send kids to camp and we have the chance to help families in developing nations who need economic opportunities. 100% of proceeds raised will go toward sending children to camp this summer. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
By donating gently worn, used and new shoes to the New Life Church’s shoe drive, the shoes will be given a second chance and make a difference in people’s lives around the world.
The broadcast news from 8:06-a.m., with Ric Hanson.
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