WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (August 4, 2022) – The Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) Foundation has announced the winners of its 2022 health care scholarship programs. This year, the IHCA Foundation awarded 78 scholarships totaling over $105,000 to assist Iowans who want to advance their health care education and work in long-term care.  This is the highest number of scholarships awarded by the IHCA Foundation in a single year. In 2018, the IHCA Foundation offered 15 scholarships totaling $15,000. This year, the IHCA Foundation received more than 190 applications for the 78 available scholarships.

The IHCA Foundation has a long history of offering scholarships for current long-term care employees to advance their skills and for those interested in joining the profession, including high school students and veterans. This year, the IHCA Foundation added two new scholarships, with one for Iowans who live in rural communities interested in joining the health care profession and another for current long-term care employees seeking to advance their leadership skills.  Scholarship applications are evaluated by the IHCA Foundation Board of Directors based upon the applicant’s experience, recommendations and future educational and career goals in long-term care. This year’s IHCA Foundation scholarship winners include (from this area):

John W. & Kimberly D. Grubb Registered Nurse (RN) Scholarship Recipients – This $3,000 scholarship is sponsored by the John R. and Zelda Z. Grubb Charitable Foundation, and it is for employees of IHCA member organizations pursuing an RN degree. Scholarships were awarded to the following recipients:

* Eyon Steffensen, Exira Care Center, Exira
* Saraha LeClair, Maple Heights Nursing Home, Mapleton
* Tara Gaa-Bluml, Regency Park Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center of Carroll

MolinaCares High School Scholarship Recipients – This $2,000 scholarship, made possible by The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation (MolinaCares), is for Iowa high school seniors pursuing a certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), RN or bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program. A scholarships was awarded to:

* Miranda Ring, Tri-Center High School, Neola

IHCA Member Employee Scholarship Recipients – This $1,500 scholarship is for employees of IHCA member organizations who are pursuing a nursing, health care administration or physical or occupational therapy training program, and is made possible by IHCA Districts, Iowa Council of Nurse Leaders, Iowa Society of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, The Vetter Foundation, Brighton Consulting Group, HPSI Purchasing Services, Right Dose, A Guardian Pharmacy and Robert and Shirley V. Dahl Foundation. Scholarships were awarded to the following recipients:

* Marah Larsen, Accura Healthcare of Stanton
* Riley Hunter, Accura Healthcare of Shenandoah

About the Iowa Health Care Association Foundation…
Founded in 1988 by the Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA), the mission of the IHCA Foundation is to foster excellence in long-term care for Iowans by building a stronger workforce. The IHCA Foundation carries out this mission by empowering individuals to reach their career goals in the long-term care profession through scholarships, career education and career access programs. IHCA Foundation programs help support career opportunities available in the long-term care continuum, including nursing facilities, assisted living programs, residential care facilities, senior living communities and home health agencies

(Atlantic & Anita, Iowa) – Mobile pantries will be held in both Atlantic and Anita in August. A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. Mobile food pantries are available free of charge. Anyone in need is welcome, and no documentation is required. People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome. Each car can take food for up to two households. Households without transportation to the Atlantic Mobile Pantries can contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh about delivery. Delivery is offered on a limited basis.

Details:

Anita 2022 Mobile Food Pantries
Where: Anita Food Pantry (208 Chestnut Street, Anita IA 50020)
2022 Dates: August 24, October 19
Time: 4:30-6:30 PM

Atlantic 2022 Mobile Food Pantries
Where: Cass County Community Center (805 W. 10th St., Atlantic, IA 50022)
2022 Dates: August 10, September 14, October 29
Time: 4:00-6:00 PM

Mobile pantry dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For the latest information on mobile pantries, local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood or contact Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at bhoegh@iastate.edu or 712-249-5870.
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(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports a man was arrested early this (Thursday) morning. Authorities say 57-year-old Jon Eric Hightshoe, of Creston, was arrested at around 12:30-a.m. at Howard and Grand. He was charged with OWI/1st offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense. Hightshoe was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

Late Wednesday night, 36-year-old Douglas Edward Woodward III, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Barred. He has since posted a $2,000 cash or surety bond. And, Wednesday afternoon, 36-year-old Heather Layne Green, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. She was cited and released from the scene on a promise to appear in court.

(Radio Iowa) – Back-to-school shoppers will get a bit of a break when the annual tax free weekend starts tomorrow. Iowa Department of Revenue spokesman, John Fuller says “It starts Friday at 12:01 a-m and goes through Friday and Saturday.” Fuller says you can purchase clothing and shoes tax-free. “At tax.iowa.gov there’s a list of what is non taxable and what would be taxable,” Fuller says. “For instance, hiking boots, you can wear those pretty much every day. So if there are 100 dollars or less — that’s the key — these are items are 100 dollars or less — you will not have to pay state sales tax which is seven percent. But something like rollerblades you would have to pay sales tax.”

Fuller says he is often asked if the sales tax holiday includes online sales. “And the answer to that is ‘yes’, as long as you order and pay for the items during the two day period,” he says.  He expects a lot of Iowans to take advantage of the event. “So the Department estimates that the Iowans will save about five million dollars on this upcoming tax free weekend,” Fuller says.

Iowa’s tax free weekend ends at 11:59 p-m this Saturday.