Breda, IA (November 21, 2023) – Officials with Western Iowa Networks (WIN), Tuesday (today), announced a groundbreaking partnership with Mills County to bring state-of-the-art fiber-optic technology to the community of Glenwood.

WIN says the transformative fiber construction project aims to revolutionize connectivity in the city, providing residents and businesses with unprecedented access to high-speed internet services as well as crystal clear landline phone. In addition to fiber internet, WIN will also offer businesses Hosted Phone Systems, Managed IT and more.

Key Project Highlights:
• Fiber-Optic Network Expansion: WIN will deploy advanced fiber-optic infrastructure throughout Glenwood, enabling lightning-fast internet speeds and unmatched reliability.
• Wider Service Coverage: The Fiber Construction Project is designed to extend WIN’s network reach, ensuring that more local residents and businesses can benefit from high-quality, high-speed internet access.
• Community Empowerment: By significantly improving internet connectivity, this project will help boost economic development, facilitate remote work opportunities, enhance online learning, and enable telehealth services, ultimately improving the quality of life for Glenwood’s residents.
• Customer-Centric Approach: WIN remains dedicated to providing exceptional customer service throughout the construction process.

WIN CEO Jeff Roiland says “This latest partnership between Western Iowa Networks and Mills County underscores a shared commitment to enhancing the community’s digital infrastructure. This project will provide residents and businesses with access to essential resources, fostering economic growth and innovation. We have already seen the immense benefits that fiber optics has provided to rural Mills County and are excited to see residents in Glenwood reap these benefits as well.

Mills County Chamber Executive Director Jennie Davis commented “The Mills County Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to hear of the partnership between Western Iowa Networks and Mills County, as well as the involvement of the City of Glenwood. Fiber optic internet is especially important to our local businesses who depend on reliable, fast service to conduct business and with the introduction of fiber to our community, Mills County is poised for additional growth, possibilities, and innovation. The Chamber proudly supports this leap forward and looks forward to continuing their partnership with Western Iowa Networks.”

Glenwood City Administrator Amber Farnan commented “The City is excited to partner with Mills County to help make it possible for Western Iowa Networks to bring fiber into the Glenwood city limits, we understand our citizen’s need for this service and are happy to be a part of the solution.” Mills County Auditor Ami Petersen added “It’s a great opportunity for the City and County to work together to connect the entire community to fiber.”

The investment of $500,000 from Mills County and the City of Glenwood will help greatly with the multi-million dollar project. In the past 4 years, WIN has invested over $20 Million in fiber optic construction in Mills County and has made gigabit service available to nearly 3,500 homes and businesses.
WIN CEO Jeff Roiland added “We greatly appreciate the City of Glenwood coming to the table and assisting Mills County in investing in this project. The impact of their investment will be felt immediately with expanded opportunities for communication, education, business, entertainment…the list goes on.”

The project will see fiber optics constructed past nearly 2,500 homes and businesses and make Gigabit Internet available in Glenwood. Construction of this project is scheduled to begin in 2024. Because of the large scale of this project, as well as the many stages involved in constructing a brand new utility, it will take a significant period of time to complete. WIN appreciates the public’s patience as they work towards a future of enhanced communication and connectivity for the Glenwood community.

The process of constructing this fiber network will use a combination of areas with a high concentration of customers who have signed up for services as well as network connectivity needs. Residents in Glenwood, even if they have previously filled out the online interest form, will need to sign up for services in order to have fiber optics constructed to their home. They can do so by calling 888-508-2946 and speaking to a Customer Experience Specialist or by signing up online at www.westianet.com.
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About Western Iowa Networks: Breda Telephone Corp. ~ d.b.a. Western Iowa Networks (WIN) ~ is a leading communications company based in Breda, IA. They are one of western Iowa’s largest independent telephone companies, and one of the area’s most diverse service providers.

WIN was founded in 1905 as Breda Telephone Company and today provides telephone, Internet, cellular, cable, and many complementary services to customers across Western and Southwestern Iowa including Arcadia, Auburn, Breda, Carroll, Council Bluffs, Dedham, Denison, Farragut, Glenwood, Glidden, Halbur, Hastings, Lidderdale, Macedonia, Malvern, Maple River, Mineola, Mount Carmel, Nemaha, Pacific Junction, Silver City, Treynor, Vail, Westside and Willey.

(Granger, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol today (Tuesday) released information about a fatal crash that occurred Saturday evening, in Dallas County. According to the report, a2005 Toyota Camry driven by 62-year-old Kevin Daryl Brown, of Grimes, was traveling west in the eastbound lanes of Highway 141 near 190th Street.

A 2023 Chrysler 300 S and a 2013 KIA Sportage were traveling eastbound, when the Chrysler was struck by the Camry as it passed. Following the collision, the Toyota spun around and was struck by the KIA. The Camry then reportedly caught fire. The crash happened at around 6:04-p.m.

Kevin Brown died at the scene. He was wearing a seat belt. The driver of the KIA, 29-year-old Veya Makuta, of Des Moines, who was also wearing a seat belt, was injured in the crash and transported to Mercy Hospital by Dallas County EMS.  The driver of the Chrysler – Daniel Alfred Gonzalez, Jr., of Ankeny – was not injured.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by Granger Police, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and Dallas County EMS.

(Griswold, Iowa) – The Griswold School Board met Monday evening, and acted on a handful of resignations and a full-time contract. Superintendent Dave Henrichs….

The Board chose to activate the district’s retirement policy for both certified and classified staff members.

Henrichs said Early Retirement applications will go to the board for action during their meeting on January 15.

In other business, the Griswold School Board established their 2023-2034 Board Goals. The goals are the same as last year. They include establishing strategies for attracting, hiring and retaining quality staff. Their other goal was developing a strategy to reducing net open enrollement-out.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday (Today), received an annual report and funding request from West Central Community Action (WCCA) Executive Director Wendy Mueller, and a weekly report from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken. They also voted to deny a probationary period performance-based pay raise for an employee of the Cass County Treasurer’s Office. In her report to the Board, Wendy Mueller said WCCA is asking for the same amount of funding the County provided for their services, last year.

The Board took the request under consideration.

Wendy Mueller

Mueller said for Fiscal Year 2023 West Central served 582 households in Cass County, consisting of over 1,200 individiuals, which was a small increase (32) over last year.

She said 53-percent of the households they serve in Cass County, rent their home. West Central, she said, provides many services in the County, including Head Start, which promotes school readiness for children ages 3-to 5 for low income families, by offering a variety of services.

They also have Early Headstart, which provides support to low income infants, toddlers and pregnant women and their families. They also offer a home-based option in Cass County. Over the past year, WCCA served a total of seven children in Early Headstart. The organization also offers Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R),

She acknowledged there has been a continued loss of child care programs in the area. Nine-percent, she said, have been lost over the past 5-years in Cass County alone. That trend is nationwide, as well. Other programs WCCA handles include the Child and Adult Care Food Program (197 children were enrolled in the program over the past year in the County), and Weatherization for low income households to help increase energy efficiency and reduce fuel costs. Eight homes were weatherized, which was double the number from last year, at a cost of $272,000 worth of services. For more information on West Central Community Action, see this LINK.

The Board discussed at length, approving a wage change for Cass County Auditor’s Clerk Hannah Richter. The proposed increase, which Auditor Kathy Somers and the Board agreed in a prior meeting, would be $1.00, from $19-to $20, following a probationary period and positive performance evaluation. The Board, Tuesday (Today), made several motions, including one to give her a 3% raise now, and a 3% raise on July 1, 2024, and, a proposed One-dollar increase on that date, instead of now.

Supervisor Mark O’Brien said he was opposed to the “Tiered probationary period…needs to go away.”

Kathy Somers said…

The Board voted 3-to-2 to delay the raise until the start of the new Fiscal Year on July 1^st. Supervisors Wendy Richter and Steve Green were opposed to that action.