Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach in Cass County is asking for community input as staff looks ahead to programming for the upcoming year. Kate Olson, Cass County Extension Program Coordinator says they “Really want to get some feedback from local residents on the types of things they would like to see…” offered in the future. From now through the 15th of May, the Extension office has a quick 10-question survey on their homepage (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass>) where anyone can take a few minutes to select programs they would like to see happen in Cass County. The survey is also available in paper form at the Extension Office for those who are unable to access it online.

The survey lists many topics under the areas of family life, youth development, agriculture and natural resources, business and community development. If you have questions about the survey, or would like to discuss programming opportunities, you can also contact the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132, log on to http://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass> or e-mail Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu<mailto:keolson@iastate.edu>.

A regional film historian is bringing another classic movie back to the big screen in Omaha-Council Bluffs in two weeks, along with a visit from one of the film’s original stars. Bruce Crawford is organizing a special showing of the 1959 movie, “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” and the evening will include an appearance by a long-ago Hollywood heart throb.

Crawford says, “Pat Boone will be our guest of honor to discuss the movie, how it was made, his input in it and, of course, his unbelievably long, 55-year career.” Crawford says “Journey” is a true classic film. The plot involves a professor who leads an expedition to our planet’s core via a volcano. Along the way, the group encounters a host of prehistoric monsters and life-threatening challenges.

“”The visual effects, they’re from 1959 but they’re still fun to watch,” Crawford says. “You know, the CGI stuff just exploding in your eyes every two seconds. It’s organic. You know it’s not real but it’s fun and you enjoy it because it suspends your disbelief. It’s like a classic Disney film — they hold up.” Crawford has rounded up a host of entertainment for the event, including re-inactors.

“I’m going to have a group of Omaha Pipes and Drums is going to have some kilted bagpipers because in the film, there is a contingent of bagpipers,” he says. “Pat Boone wears a kilt in part of the movie, by the way. And we’re going to have re-inactors. They call themselves the Nebraska Steampunk Society.” That group is into Victorian-style clothing and gadgetry that incorporates elements of science fiction, fantasy and alternate history. The event is planned for Saturday, May 19th, at the Joslyn (JOZ-lin) Art Museum in Omaha. Tickets are 25-dollars and benefit the Nebraska Kidney Association. This is Crawford’s 30th event. Previous movie nights have brought in stars including: Iowa native Cloris Leachman, Debbie Reynolds, Janet Leigh, and Patricia Neal.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Storms rolling across the Upper Midwest are bringing strong winds and the threat of tornadoes to northern Iowa. The National Weather Service says a funnel cloud was reported yesterday afternoon about 3 miles west of Algona. A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect until this morning for northern and central Iowa.
 
     CHICAGO (AP) – Federal authorities say the conviction of a former Iowa letter carrier for sending dud pipe bombs to investment advisers shows they can successfully track down such attackers. A Chicago official at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service says John Tomkins of Dubuque, Iowa carried out “a reign of terror.” Jurors in Chicago convicted Tomkins after just two hours of deliberations yesterday.
 
     MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – A 41-year-old Bettendorf man has been charged with stealing money from a customer. Shawn Mask faces two counts of felony theft. Prosecutors say he was working for a Muscatine insurance broker in 2010 when he misappropriated more than $88,000 from a customer by falsifying bookkeeping entries. Mask is free on $10,000 bond and didn’t return messages from the Associated Press seeking comment yesterday.
 
     KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) – A Keokuk man faces trial in July on a charge that he killed his mother in August 2011. Twenty-three-year-old Adam Pitman is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 46-year-old Rosa Pitman. He has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for July 10th.