The Iowa State Patrol says a Schleswig teen was transported to the Crawford County Hospital following a single-vehicle rollover accident this (Wednesday) morning. Denison-Schleswig Fire and Rescue personnel used the “Jaws of Life” to pry 16-year old McKenzie Weiss from the SUV she was driving, after it went into a ditch and fence line before rolling onto its right side. The accident took place at around 7:15-a.m., as Weiss was traveling south on Highway 59, at the intersection with I Avenue. Officials say the teen lost control of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, after she over corrected when the SUV drifted onto right shoulder of the road. The teen was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. The combined damage to the Jeep and the fence, amounted to $8,500.

The Vision Iowa Board, Wednesday, awarded $134,642 in grants to the restoration of the Johnny Carson Birthplace home and a trail project in Des Moines. The grants were approved by the Vision Iowa Board at their meeting in Des Moines. In Corning, a $21,100 Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant fund was awarded to the Johnny Carson Birthplace Society Home Restoration Project, which is expected to cost $139,100. The grant award, which is the exact amount requested by the restoration group, is contingent upon completion of fundraising within 30 days. The project includes the full restoration of Johnny Carson’s birthplace home. When completed, the home will be permanently maintained as a 1925 period home with memorabilia of Carson’s life and career.

Work is set to begin this summer on restoring the home where the late night television icon was born. Johnny Carson was born in Corning, on October 23, 1925 and lived in a small home there for three years before his family settled in Norfolk, Nebraska. The makeover will make the home appear as it did in 1925. Beth Waddle is with the Johnny Carson Birthplace Society in Corning.  She told Radio Iowa’s Pat Curtis  “When we received the home, many alterations had been made on the property from its original style and setting back in 1925 when (Carson) was born there, so, we worked with a historical architect who has developed a plan for restoring it back to that 1925 appearance.”

The home will also include memorabilia from Carson’s life and career. Waddle believes it can become a much bigger tourist attraction. She says “TV Land and Entertainment Weekly did a poll several years ago and Johnny Carson was named the number one TV icon.”  Waddle said she’d like to partner with other nearby attractions to bring more visitors to Corning. She mentioned the John Wayne birthplace home in Winterset and Glen Miller’s birthplace in Clarinda as examples. A Johnny Carson Gallery is located in a museum in Norfolk, Nebraska – where Carson grew up and graduated from high school. Johnny Carson, who hosted the Tonight Show for 30 years, died in January 2005 at the age of 79.

On the web: www.johnnycarsonbirthplace.org 

(Ric Hanson – KJAN/Pat Curtis – Radio Iowa)

A recent fundraiser held at the Atlantic Eagles Lodge has resulted in a donation of slightly more than $1,700 to the Cass County Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Shown making the donation are (front row, left to right): Dawn Marnin, CCMH Foundation Director, Summer Petty, Gracie Olsen, Amanda Christensen, Cherie Petty, Donna Snyder (back row, left to right): Jo Worth, Southwest Iowa Surgery; Lesley Ferguson, CCMH; Cody Christensen, Tabitha Olsen, Brad Herring, Harley Moodie, Sid Petty, Dr. Chad McCance, Southwest Iowa Surgery; Ralph Tilton.

Sid Petty, along with family and friends, presented Dawn Marnin, CCMH Foundation Director, with the monies, which were raised at the “Kick It Cancer Fundraiser” held in Petty’s honor.

Sid Petty is a two-time colon cancer survivor, who wanted to give back to Cass County Health System for the excellent care he has received throughout his treatments. The gift will be divided between patient assistance needs and the CCMH Healing Garden. Kent Gade, President of the CCMH Foundation, said they are currently working to solicit $250,000 in donations, to create the Healing Garden, the concept of which originated from Al and Chris Wernimont and their family, following his medical journey.

The Healing Garden is being designed to serve as a “Peaceful haven for patients, their family members and the hospital staff.” It will feature a fountain, quiet places, benches and a healing Garden of Hope. For more information on how you can make a donation to the CCMH Foundation, call 712-243-7409.