CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — A former Iowa governor and U.S. agriculture secretary has claimed a $150,000 Powerball prize. Tom Vilsack picked up winnings Monday at the Iowa Lottery’s headquarters in Clive. His ticket matched the Jan. 22nd Powerball number, and four of the remaining five numbers. He just missed out on the estimated $347 million jackpot.

He bought the ticket at a grocery store in Waukee, where he and his wife live. Vilsack is currently the president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. He told lottery officials his church and his children will share in his winnings.

A search warrant executed Sunday at a home in Shambaugh resulted in the arrest of man on a firearms-related charge. Deputies in Page County searched the home at 510 2nd Street, on a warrant allowing them to search for and seize as evidence, any firearms, firearm magazines, and ammunition. During the investigation 52-year old Gary Lynn Kent, of Clarinda, was arrested for being a Felon in control of a firearm.

Gary Lynn Kent

Kent was transported to the Page County Jail where he was being held on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. Numerous firearms, ammunition, and firearm magazines were seized during the search. More charges and arrests are pending at this time.

Nominations for the Iowa Beef Industry Council’s (IBC) and Iowa Cattlemen’s Association’s (ICA) Best Burger Contest are being taken now through 5-p.m. on March 10th. Officials say the contest is not only a great way to celebrate Iowa’s 25,000 beef farmers, it’s also a great way to increase business for participating restaurants and draw visitors to Iowa communities. The contest occurs in two phases. In the first phase, Iowans are encouraged to nominate their favorite burger, whether it’s gourmet or down-home style. Nominations will be accepted between now (February 10th) and March 10th, 2020.

This is the eleventh year for the contest, which unites beef lovers and beef farmers across the state. After the nomination period, 10 restaurants will be chosen as finalists and visited by a secret panel of judges, who will determine the ultimate winner. The 2020 Best Burger in Iowa will be announced on May 1, 2020 with the kick-off of May Beef Month in Iowa. Details about the contest, rules, and the voting form are available on the Iowa Beef Industry Council’s website, www.iabeef.org. Burger lovers can also find a link to the online nomination form at the Iowa Beef Council Facebook page; or by texting BEEF to 313131. Photos of your favorite burger can be shared socially using #IABestBurger.

To qualify to be named Iowa’s Best Burger, the burger must be a 100% real beef patty and be served on a bun or bread product. Restaurants can download a digital toolkit including promotional materials for the contest from IBIC’s website at www.iabeef.org, to promote the contest to their customers. The promotional materials can be used in restaurants, online, or on social media.

(Radio Iowa) — An Osceola native is taking over as the new Mission Support Group Commander of Sioux 185th Air National Guard Refueling Wing. Colonel Sonya Finch was sworn in Saturday to lead the largest of four groups that comprise the 185th. Colonel Finch has spent her entire military career in the Iowa National Guard since joining at age 17. She says giving back to the community was one of two reasons she joined the Iowa Guard. “I always wanted to fly, and at some point, I started to realize that, to fly I really wanted to let the military help me with that,” Finch explains.

Col. Sonya Finch, Mission Support Group Cmdr./185th ANG Refueling Wing.

The support services group she oversees does a lot of things to help 85th complete its mission of flying their refueling missions around the world. “The security forces, the contracting, it’s the engineers, the supply, the services, how we feed people, how we serve people, all the logistics of that. Paying people, personnel, and then, of course, environmental management, we’ve got firefighters on base,” Finch says, “everything that it takes for a base to support the ability to fly a tanker.”

Finch has more than two-thousand hours flying experience including more than 500 combat hours. She had her inaugural membership in the 185th as a K-C-135 pilot during the mid-2000’s and has been working in current operations at the 132nd Wing in Des Moines. “It’s been a little over six years since I’ve been here, so coming back and finding faces and finding people that I’ve know for years — it’s really nice to be able to have those contacts and to be able to come back,” Finch says.

Colonel Finch takes over for Colonel Stephany Samenus, who has been promoted to Vice Commander of the 185th.

ATLANTIC—The Cass County Health System (CCHS) Foundation is hosting their annual gala on Saturday, March 28th at the Atlantic Golf & Country Club. The gala is a fundraiser for the CCHS Foundation’s 2020 campaign to purchase a C-arm, which is used to provide real-time x-ray images.

Dave Chase, CCHS Foundation Treasurer, says “The mission of the CCHS Foundation is to support Cass County Health System. Our project this year helps get important diagnostic imaging equipment into the hands of providers who are caring for us, our family, and our neighbors.” The theme of this year’s gala is “Wild, Wild West.” Attendees are encouraged to wear western wear like boots, hats, jeans, etc. The evening includes dinner, dessert auction, and entertainment.

CCHS Foundation Director Dawn Marnin says “Our entertainment this year is ‘The Family Feud’ with four fun families, and we will have DJ services from Chaos Productions, too.” Tickets to the event are limited and available through table sponsorships. For more information, please call Dawn Marnin at 712-243-7409 or visit casshealth.org/donors/2020-gala to view the details or pay online.