CLARINDA, IA — Iowa Democrat 3rd District Representative Cindy Axne, today (Thursday), introduced legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office in Clarinda in honor of Jessie Field Shambaugh, the former school superintendent from Page County, and longtime Iowa educator known to many as the ‘Mother of 4-H.’ Axne said “The values of leadership, engagement, and community that I carry with me today I owe to my time as a 4-H kid growing up in Iowa, and I’m proud to have the opportunity to honor one of Iowa’s most valuable daughters for her contributions to our state and for bringing these ideals to millions of 4-H’ers since.” Axne says ‘Miss Jessie’ – as she was affectionately called by her students – was a trailblazer, educator, mother, author, and radio contributor – and I look forward to honoring her legacy in Page County by cementing her place in the heart of its community.”

Rep. Axne announced her bill to rename the Clarinda Post Office with Jessie Field Shambaugh’s grandson, Seth Watkins, at American Legion Post 98 in Clarinda

Shambaugh began teaching in Page County in 1901, and formed the Boys Corn Club and the Girls Home Club to teach students essential skills for the farm and home through extracurricular  programs. To boost participation for the Clubs, she created a clover pin – with each leaf labeled with an H. Her design became the symbol of 4-H in 1914 when the Smith-Lever Act established the Cooperative Extension program through the USDA, formalizing 4-H clubs across the country.

Today, over 6 million schoolchildren participate in 4-H activities – learning life skills, leadership, and cooperation through the same values of ‘Head, Hands, Heart, and Health’ that Shambaugh helped pioneer over a century ago. Shambaugh was also an author, a radio contributor on KFNF in Shenandoah, and the mother of two children. She was born in 1881 near Shenandoah, studied at Shenandoah’s Western Normal College, graduated Tabor College in Fremont County, and was elected superintendent of schools in Page County in 1906. She died in 1971 in Clarinda. In 1977, Shambaugh was named to the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame.

The bill introduced by Rep. Axne to rename the post office at 101 S. 16th Street is co-sponsored by the other three members of the Iowa House delegation: Reps. Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), Dave Loebsack (IA-02), and Steve King (IA-04).

(Radio Iowa) – The number of Iowans filing a first-time unemployment claim jumped 28 percent last week. At the same time, the total number of Iowans getting unemployment benefits fell by five percent. According to Iowa Workforce Development, Nearly 10-thousand-700 people who had a job in Iowa filed an initial claim for unemployment last week. Over half of those who filed for unemployment were self-employed, independent contractors or working in manufacturing. The state paid out nearly 32-million dollars in unemployment benefits to 135-thousand out-of-work Iowans last week.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 12:15 -a.m. today (Thursday), of a woman from Council Bluffs, who turned herself-in on a warrant for Harassment in the 3rd Degree – False Reports. 25-year old Joeli Marienne West was turned over to Pott. County Corrections staff. Late Wednesday night, a motorist, 26-year old Darrell Jerome Boyer, of Neola, was arrested after a Deputy stopped to assist him on Railroad Highway and Hanie Avenue. A records check determined Boyer was wanted for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender, and two counts of being a Fugitive from Justice. Boyer was being held in the Pott. County Jail on $2,000 bond.

Wednesday afternoon, 30-year old Brittany Savanna Nicole Hedges, of Council Bluffs, turned herself-in to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office. Hedges was wanted on a warrant for Child Endangerment-Abandonment. She was turned over to Pott. County Corrections. Late Tuesday morning, Pott. County Jail inmate, 30-year old Cornelius Cooper Stanley, of Council Bluffs, was presented with a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense causing injury. Stanley was then returned to his jail cell.

Monday afternoon, 43-year old Jason M. Fisher was taken into custody for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana-1st offense. He was arrested following a traffic stop for speeding near Treynor. And 40-year old Bradley Shea Eaton, of Booneville, MS., an inmate at the Pott. County Jail, was issued a warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice. He remains in jail on $5,300 bond associated with other charges.