(Shenandoah, Iowa, October, 1, 2023) – The Best of Southwest Iowa competition begins October 1st. Spokesperson Bethann Tillman, in Shenandoah, says “The competition has been much-anticipated as a celebration of the businesses and individuals that make Southwest Iowa a vibrant, contiguous community.” The platform is exclusively online at bestofsouthwestiowa.com.

Some Key Details of the Competition:

– Nominations open October 1, 2023, and close October 15, 2023.

– Voting commences November 1, 2023, and concludes December 8, 2023.

– Winners will be notified January 8, 2024, and are asked to keep status confidential until January 15, 2024.

– The complete list of category and subcategory winners will be made public January 15, 2024.

The “Best of Southwest Iowa” competition is an independent initiative by BA Marketing & Publicity, LLC, aimed at showcasing the excellence that thrives within Southwest Iowa communities. It provides an opportunity for businesses and individuals primarily operating from Southwest Iowa to be recognized for their contributions while creating exposure to new, potential consumers. The overall goal is to enhance the Southwest Iowa retail and service environment by creating awareness of offerings.

Businesses and individuals local to Southwest Iowa are invited to participate in this exciting competition as participants, voters, and nominees. Free promotion assets are available on the website in addition to paid advertisement opportunities. Paid advertising space in no way impacts or influences the voting process or the determination of competition results. Votes are solely based on the preferences and choices of the community, ensuring a fair and impartial outcome.

For further information, suggestions or inquiries about the Best of Southwest Iowa competition, please contact: votes@bestofsouthwestiowa.com.

(Fort Dodge, Iowa) – Officials with the Fort Dodge Police Department report a man died after being shot Sunday night. Officers and emergency personnel responded to the 200 block of 3rd Avenue at around 8:42-p.m., and found an unresponsive male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers began life-saving efforts on the male, until medics with the Fort Dodge Fire Department arrived. The unidentified victims was ultimately pronounced deceased on scene. His name was being withheld pending notification of family.

Investigators are working to determine exactly what took place Sunday evening. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Fort Dodge Police. Information may also be submitted anonymously via Crime Stoppers.

The Fort Dodge Police Department was assisted by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Dodge Fire Department, and the Webster County Attorney’s Office.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Cass County (IA) will meet Tuesday at 9-a.m., at their courthouse Board Room in Atlantic. During their session, the Board is expected to act on setting the date of Oct. 24th for a Public Hearing on Budget Amendments for Fiscal Year 2023-24.

They are also expected to discuss Capital Project priorities, and establish a schedule to develop a Capital Improvement Plan.

The meeting may be viewed via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2899195216?pwd=R0hSa2FOOTh0NUdra1ZSdVhVWHpMUT09

Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
Passcode: 012064

Or, you may Call In: 312-626-6799, and press *9 to indicate you wish to speak.

(Cedar Rapids, Iowa/KCRG) – The Cedar Rapids Community School District has cancelled classes for today (Monday, October 2nd). According to KCRG-TV, the action is the result of a threat made on social media. The nature of the threat was not disclosed. The incident remains under investigation. All school sites in Cedar Rapids are affected by the closure.

In an email to families and staff the Cedar Rapids School District said “We understand that the news of school closure due to a threat made on social media by an unidentified person may concern you. We assure you that the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community is paramount to us. Our dedicated team at CRCSD and the Cedar Rapids Police Department in conjunction with state public safety agencies and the FBI, has been working over the last 24 hours to investigate this threat.”

The district will have more information later this (Monday) afternoon.

(UPDATED) (Pottawattamie County, Iowa) – Firefighters responded to a train on fire late Sunday night (Monday), in Pottawattamie County. The incident occurred a little before midnight, near Hancock. The Oakland and Avoca Fire Departments were called-in for mutual aid. Officials say the fire was contained to the exhaust compartment of the train. The flames were quickly extinguished. The cause of the fire remained under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – A Cedar Valley community college has opened a robotics and automation center geared toward developing specialized skills for manufacturing jobs. Hawkeye Community College’s Automation and Robotics Center was five years in the making. The center, located in a refurbished Waterloo John Deere factory, hopes to train high school graduates in automated manufacturing technologies. Center director Kent Wolfe says he’s seen the need for the Cedar Valley manufacturing labor force firsthand. “There’s a tremendous need for more workers to fill those jobs,” Wolfe says, “but even more importantly, workers that have these skills to work in smart manufacturing.” The center has transitioned from a high school curriculum to a fully-fledged, three-semester adult learning program in just five years.

Thirty percent of participating area high schoolers went on to continue training in the manufacturing sector during those five years. Wolfe says that engagement with high schools laid the groundwork for the center and the future of area manufacturing. “That was kind of to fill an immediate need and to get that started in the high schools,” Wolfe says, “but we’re really focused on the current workforce, and that’s going to be our longer-term focus.”

This fall marks the first for the center’s adult-oriented curriculum.