It’s time once again to determine which restaurant makes the best burger in Iowa. The 5th Annual “Iowa’s Best Burger” contest is looking for nominations. The event is sponsored by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. In this year’s quest, the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattlemen’s Association are encouraging you to nominate your favorite burger, whether it is gourmet or down-home style.

All nominations must be in the IBIC office by 5-pm on March 17th and nominations begin today (Thursday). The entries need to be 100 percent all beef burgers. The contest rules and nomination forms can be found online at www.iabeef.org. Burger lovers can also find a link to the nomination form at the Iowa Beef Council Foundation Facebook page or text Beef to 313131 and receive information on your cell phone.

The more nominations a burger receives, the better the chances it will make the top ten list announced in late March. Finalists will receive a certificate and be eligible for the secret taste-test of contest judges. The winner will be announced the first week of May to kickoff Beef Month. Last year, the Iowa Beef Industry Council received 6,320 nominations for 349 restaurants. The winner was the 61 Chop House, in Mediapolis. Among the top 10 finishers was Sam’s Sodas and Sandwhiches in Carroll, and the Elm’s Club, in Creston.

Iowa State University Extension in Cass County is partnering with the Anita Health and Wellness Center and CAM High School students to bring LIFE to Cass County! The Living (well through) Intergenerational Fitness and Exercise (LIFE) Program introduces older adults to “exergaming”, video games that integrate game play with physical activity. Younger adults (age 16-25) serve as LIFE trainers for the older adult participants. The program is part of a project developed by Iowa State University researchers, and funded by the Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Program of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.  

The LIFE program will be coming to the Anita Health and Wellness Center, beginning on Wednesday, February 19^th. Cass County Extension Staff are also looking for local volunteers aged 16-25 to start the program at a site in Atlantic. Any interested local adults aged 60+ are encouraged to participate in this 8 week program, which already has proven beneficial to previous participants. 

Participants in the LIFE program will meet twice a week, from 8:45 to 9:45 AM on Mondays and Wednesdays, for 8 weeks- working with CAM High School students to get active through “exergaming” and other group activities. Interested participants will also be asked to fill out a survey before the first class, and after the last class, to meet the research requirements of the project. All participant data will remain completely confidential and anonymous to research conductors.  

The local students serving as volunteer trainers for the LIFE program have completed training on using the Kinect^® gaming system, leading interactive games, and offering assistance and applying safety precautions when working with older adults as they engage in physical activity. 

After the eight week program, participants are encouraged to continue the program on their own if they are interested in doing so. For 16 weeks they also will receive eight bi-weekly newsletters targeting physical activity, nutrition and wellness. 

Cass County Extension is looking for local volunteers, from 16-to 25-years of age, who are interested in leading the program at a site in Atlantic. If this may be you, or you know of someone who would be a good fit for the program, please call Kate Olson at the Cass County Extension Office (243-1132) or email keolson@iastate.edu. More information on the LIFE program can be found online at www.extension.iastate.edu/life.  

Iowa Democrat Representative Bruce Braley, candidate for the US Senate seat currently held by Tom Harkin, will be in Atlantic next week. The Waterloo man will visit the Family Table restaurant next Wednesday, February 19th, from 9:30 to 10:15 AM. Braley, a Congressman from Iowa’s First District, announced his candidacy for the Senate seat soon after Harkin made public his retirement plans.

Cass County Democratic party Chair  Sherry Toelle says everyone is invited to attend the event and learn more about the candidate so they can make a more educated choice when the head to the polls in November.

The statewide telephone service 2-1-1 is being swamped with calls from people who are looking for help paying their utility bills. Shawna Forsberg is spokeswoman for the United Way of the Midlands and says the brutal winter is taking a significant toll on many Iowans’ finances. “A lot of calls are coming in around folks needing help covering their heat bills,” Forsberg says. “Maybe they’ve run into health issues in their family or loss of a job and are looking for some help in that.”

She says they’re seeing a 43-percent increase from last year in calls from people needing assistance with utility bills. Of those who called during January, 81-percent either had received a utility shutoff notice or had already been shut off. Forsberg says dialing 2-1-1 is a free, confidential call that provides information and referrals to a variety of public and non-profit programs.  “It could range from anyone that needs heat assistance or needs help in finding services for health care,” Forsberg says. “Right now, a really popular call is helping with taxes. There are free tax services available to people.”

As further evidence of the tough times, she says there’s also been a boost in people calling 2-1-1 looking for a hot meal.  She says, “Food and meals for example or finding out where pantries are at or congregate meal centers.” You can also reach the 2-1-1 information line online at the website: 211iowa.org.

(Radio Iowa)