(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) – Officials in Pottawattamie County said Tuesday, that after serving in various roles for Pottawattamie County for over four decades, Lynn Grobe will retire from the Board of Supervisors on January 3, 2023. On Tuesday, January 3, 2023, Pottawattamie County will swear in new County Supervisors Jeff Jorgensen and Susan Miller, along with reelect Scott Belt. They’ll join Brian Shea, and Tim Wichman on the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors.

A Hancock native, Grobe graduated from Oakland High School in 1961, then earned a bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Nebraska Omaha. He served three years in the United States Army, before returning home to assist his dad on the family farm. He and his wife, Carolyn, still reside on the farm south of Hancock. With help from his son, Preston, farming continues to be a family passion.

Grobe has truly lived a life of service. He is one of the founding members of Iowa West, serving in varying capacities since 1984. He has served and still serves today on several other boards throughout the area, including Hancock United Methodist Church, Hancock American Legion, Western Iowa Development Association, Golden Hills, Southwest Iowa Planning Council among others.

Lynn Grobe

“Public service has always been an important part of my life,” said Grobe. “I like helping people, and although I’m retiring from Pottawattamie County, I’ll continue to help our area any way I can.”

Grobe’s contributions to Pottawattamie County are vast and include his time as County Supervisor from 2009 until his retirement. That timeline includes serving alongside County Auditor Melvyn Houser, who was a County Supervisor for seventeen years before becoming Auditor in 2017.

“It’s been a real pleasure working with him for several years,” said Houser. “He’s always had a keen interest in taking care of county roads and doing what’s best for our rural communities and small towns. He’s been a great asset for us.”

When asked about his time with Pottawattamie County, Grobe sees considerable potential for the area to continue building momentum. “Our leaders do a great job, even with a lot on their plates,” said Grobe. “We’re currently seeing an expansion of the courthouse, which will help us better-serve residents. A new Public Health building hopefully comes soon. There are a lot of things to look forward to in Pottawattamie County.”

For Board of Supervisors Chairman Tim Wichman, Grobe’s approach to life is one he hopes inspires others. “It’s easy to see what’s important to Lynn Grobe,” said Wichman. “Family, home, and community are areas he’s prioritized and served. I think that’s something we can all admire, and Pottawattamie County is better for having him. We wish him the best.”

(Treynor, Iowa) – Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday evening, said a serious injury accident occurred at around 7-a.m. today (Tuesday), near Treynor. According to the report, at around 7:02-a.m., Deputies and Treynor Fire and Rescue personnel were dispatched to the intersection of State Highway 92 and 290th Street, for a vehicle versus semi collision, with injuries.

Upon arrival, first responders found a 2006 Saturn Ion, driven by 24-year-old Zachary Dickerson, of Treynor, had struck a 2004 Wilson Cattle Trailer, operated by 68-year-old Dannie Schnepel, also of Treynor, that had become disabled in the roadway. Dickerson was extricated from his car by Treynor Fire, and transported to Nebraska Medicine Trauma Center, with life threatening injuries.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol, and the Iowa Department of Motor Vehicle Enforcement. The collision remains under investigation by the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office Technical Collision Investigation Unit.

(Radio Iowa) – Healthcare facilities and pharmacies are continuing to see shortages of antibiotic medications as hospitals are reporting high levels of kids getting sick with viral infections like the flu and R-S-V. The executive director of pharmacy for UnityPoint Des Moines, Brian Benson, says they’re being careful to make sure they’re saving medications like amoxicillin for bacterial infections — because it doesn’t work on viruses.

“We’re not trying to not get drugs or not treat patients. It’s really, we’re making the best decisions we can based on you know, the, the bug, if you will, that’s causing the infection and we’re really trying to make sure that we, we have things on hand for patients that really need it,” he says. He says they’re able to get by on the supply they have, and patients can help by understanding how things are treated.

“If it’s, you know, suspected to be viral, you’re not going to get an amoxicillin to treat the viral infection. So maybe, you know, maybe not demanding an antibiotic,” Benson says. Benson says parents can prevent the spread of all infections by keeping their kids home when sick.

(reporting by Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Wellness Program Coordinator Brigham Hoege says the Atlantic Food Pantry has a message for Atlantic and Cass County Community: “2022 has been an eventful year for the Food Pantry with persistent food insecurity locally and nationally, and also a successful move to a new facility here in Atlantic.

“We want to express our sincere thanks for the extraordinarily generous donations to the Atlantic Food Pantry by the churches, community service groups, businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals throughout the county who have contributed food and funds, sponsored food drives and collection boxes, and served meals to help those in need. The community has been truly generous in its support, as always.

“With food costs higher than in past years, client attendance numbers have remained steady around 75 households per week. During 2022 there have been approximately 3600 household visits to the pantry with supplemental food distributed to the 9000 individuals in those household visits. These totals include multiple visits by some households during the year, according to their need.

“The Pantry particularly expresses our gratitude to the organizers, contestants, and contributors who participated in the Scrooge Contest which has been fundamental to the pantry’s operation for so many years. Also, we want to acknowledge the community contributions of the Cass County Local Food Policy Council which has distributed live garden food plants and helpful food information to our clients and organized Mobile Food Pantry distributions periodically throughout the year. Our Pantry has also benefited in many ways from its affiliation with Food Bank for the Heartland, the large food bank in Omaha, which provides significant amounts of donated food for distribution in Cass County by its several pantries and other groups.

Thank You!

The Volunteers, Board, and Clients of the Atlantic Food Pantry”

(Radio Iowa)  – It’s the season of giving and many Iowans are wanting to make charitable contributions before the calendar year runs out — out of generosity and for the tax benefits. As you decide who should get a check, Bao Vang at the Better Business Bureau is encouraging us to do our homework to avoid being ripped off. “Watch out for charity name confusion,” Vang says. “Scammers want to trick you into thinking they are someone else, including a reputable, credible organization that you already have a special connection with.”

If you have any doubts, Vang says to do your research to ensure a charity is on the up and up, and don’t donate right away to anyone who calls. “Resist the pressure to give immediately and on the spot,” Vang says. “Rushing you is one of the most common tactics of scammers. When you feel rushed, pause, take a breath and think about the offer.”

If you think you’ve been scammed, go to the BBB’s scam tracker and report it.

On the web at bbb.org

(Glenwood, Iowa) – A traffic stop Saturday in Glenwood resulted in the arrest of a Pottawattamie County man. Glenwood Police Department arrested 36-year-old Rikki Lillard, of Council Bluffs, for Driving under Suspension, Possession of a Controlled Substance and for having Contraband in a Correctional Facility. Lillard’s cash or surety bond was set at $5,300.