(Villisca, Iowa) Two people suffered from smoke inhalation and minor injuries during a fire Wednesday morning, in Villisca. According to a press release, the incident occurred at around 9:07-a.m., when Villisca Fire/Rescue personnel were dispatched to 129 W. 4th Street. The firs arriving emergency responders reported heavy smoke and fire coming from the structure, with the flames impinging on a neighbor’s house as well.

Firefighters were able to quickly determine the occupants of the home had escaped. Mutual aid was called for from Red Oak Fire/Rescue, the Stanton and Grant Fire Departments. The flames extended from the first floor to the second, and eventually the attic space. The blaze was extinguished and ground operations at the scene were terminated at 12-p.m., Wednesday.

Villisca House Fire, 5/4/22; Villisca FD photo

The occupants – Patricia Graham and Wayne Shook – were transported by Villisca Ambulance to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for treatment. Graham is the owner of the home, which was valued at $27,000, and was deemed a total loss. The Red Cross was contacted to assist the residents as needed. Firefighters were able to save some family valuables and turn them over to family members.

Authorities say the Iowa State Fire Marshal was contacted due to there being injuries associated with the incident. The blaze remains under investigation.  In addition to the aforementioned fire and rescue departments, Villisca Fire was assisted at the scene by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Communications Center, Villisca Ambulance, Montgomery County EMA, Villisca Public Works, and the Villisca Electric Company.

Officials also extended their gratitude to the family members who were able to provide information concerning items within the residence, as well as the layout of the home.

(Radio Iowa) – N-B-C Universal is going to create a prequel series to the “Field of Dreams” movie that will stream on the Peacock network and is looking for production people in Iowa to help. The leader of the Iowa Office of Media Production, Liz Gilman, says they won’t be filming at the original movie site in Dyersville.

“It’s a little too built up for what they need for the storyline, because they’re really diving into more of like I said, more of a prequel, and more of the backstory of what happened before Ray Kinsella, you know, plowed up his cornfield and put a baseball field there,” Gilman says.

The movie site is also hosting major and minor league games at the same time the filming for the streaming series will be going on. So the producers will build a set for the series in central Iowa. “They will be kind of constructing their own field of dreams and a new farmhouse here in the greater Des Moines area,” Gilman explains. Gilman says all types of people are needed here in Iowa to get the production going.

“There’ll be construction, there’ll be catering, transportation, there’ll be needing to prop things. So set decoration, really all kinds of different jobs that are available, besides the usual that you’d think of with like, you know, makeup artists, and camera people and sound and such like that,” according to Gilman. She encourages anyone interested in working on the project to go to produce iowa.com and register on their free media production directory.

“You just go on there and create your own listing, and then you can upload your resume, or if you have an IMDB site or a website, and really kind of sell yourself on this listing,” Gilman says. “So when people come to town, even other, you know, producers that work on commercials or T-V shows and things — they check out our media production directory, and that’s how Iowans are hired.” Gilman says the production and building of the site is the first step in the process. They will also be looking for people to appear in the show.

“We are going to be looking for extras. They’re working with casting people, and they will be setting up some of their needs with casting in the next few weeks. So that’s why we would encourage people to sign up on Facebook with our Produce Iowa,” she says. Gilman says the producers need some dry weather for another key part of the series site.

“They have a site determined and soon, as soon as it warms up enough they can start planting their corn ,” she says, “that’s been the big thing. It’s just watching and waiting for Iowa to warm up so they can plant the corn and then they’ll be clearing the land and creating the new field.” Gilman says the site is in Polk County, but they are not giving out the exact location yet. Other filming will take place in Mahaska, Clinton and Boone counties.

DES MOINES – The Iowa Arts Council has awarded its highly coveted Iowa Scholarship for the Arts to four of the state’s most talented high school seniors. They include: Harbour Buchanan of Glenwood, Ella De Haan of Ankeny, Ella Hayden of Blairstown and Aidan Krell of West Burlington are the recipients of the prestigious award, which will help pay for part of their college education this fall.

The Iowa Scholarship for the Arts program supports Iowa high school students with proven artistic ability in dance, creative writing, music, theater, traditional arts or visual arts who plan to pursue a major in the arts at an accredited Iowa college or university. Each scholarship winner will receive $2,500 for his or her college tuition and related expenses as a full-time undergraduate student in 2022-2023.

“Each of this year’s scholarship recipients has demonstrated exceptional artistic promise and dedication to continuing to develop their skills and knowledge,” Iowa Arts Council Administrator David Schmitz said. “We are pleased they will continue their studies here in Iowa and pursue an education that will last them a lifetime and open up many career pathways, in the arts and other creative fields. ”

Harbour Buchanan of Glenwood has been playing the oboe since sixth grade, when her school started offering band classes. She will pursue a degree in music education at Iowa State University and hopes to teach high school band and give private lessons. She said performing music has helped her develop leadership and communication skills, as well as the compassion, trust and dedication needed to be successful in teaching.

The Glenwood Police Department reports a woman from Elkhorn, NE., was arrested May 1st for OWI/1st offense, following a property damage accident. Authorities say 56-year-old Donna Wild was arrested after the 2017 Toyota Corolla she was driving struck a stop sign at 221st Street and Highway 34. Authorities had earlier received a report of an erratic driver. Wild was later released after posting a $1,000 cash or surety bond. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $100.

And, on May 3rd, 48-year-old Darrell Clevenger, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Theft in the 4th Degree. He subsequently posted a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Healthy Cass County is asking area businesses and organizations to help share important information on mental health by hosting a mental health program (or several). “For many people it may be easier to attend a lunch and learn at work, or more comfortable to listen to a presentation with their service organization or church group than it is to attend an event open to the public,” comments Anna Killpack, Executive Director of NAMI Southwest Iowa, a Healthy Cass County partner organization dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by mental illness.

“Businesses, churches, and other organizations are well-positioned to help bring mental health programs and resources to their members at times and in locations that work for them,”
says Killpack. Gina Moulas, Healthy Cass County partner and Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator in Suicide Prevention for Veterans Affairs of Nebraska and Western
Iowa Health Care System, agrees. “We want to reach folks. Let us come to you,” emphasizes Moulas. “Evening? Weekend? Early? Late? Please ask. We’ll work with you.”

These mental health programming partners demonstrate that the trainings are accessible, but are they relevant to people in Cass County? Atlantic’s Fire Chief Tom Cappel certainly thinks
so. Cappel attended a Make It OK presentation last fall and recently commented, “Mental health is a serious issue for our community and our response to those in need can have a significant
impact on the outcome of a situation. It’s important to be willing to discuss mental health, work on reducing the stigma it has, and make sure that we are prepared to assist those in crisis. I’d
like to see trainings like these continue and want people to know how beneficial they are, even if you aren’t an emergency responder.”

Below is a list of free programs and trainings that can be scheduled for a business, club, church, or other group in Cass County on request. While May is Mental Health Awareness Month,
Healthy Cass County reminds businesses and organizations that the following programs are available all year. 
Free Mental Health Programs Available on Request:

• Question. Persuade. Refer. Suicide prevention training for adults by ISU Extension. Length: 1-1.5 hrs. Contact: Cass County ISU Extension at 712-243-1132.
• Make It OK: Stigma is one of the greatest barriers to people getting mental health treatment. This is a mental health stigma reduction training. Length: 45 min – 1.5 hours. Contact: Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh bhoegh@iastate.edu or 712-249-5870 www.MakeItOK.org/Iowa
• Law Enforcement and First Responder Training for De-escalation When Interacting with Veterans in Crisis: Nationally-recognized training developed by the VA police geared towards first responders working with veterans, but provides tools for responders to use when working with anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. Length: 2 hrs (Note: this
  training can be shortened) Contact: Gina Moulas, Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator for Suicide Prevention, VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System,
  gina.moulas@va.gov, 402-810-0074.
• CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means) Is a suicide prevention training for adults related to reducing access to firearms. Length: 1 – 1.5 hrs Contact: Gina Moulas, Community
  Engagement and Partnership Coordinator for Suicide Prevention, VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, gina.moulas@va.gov, 402-810-0074
• Understanding PTSD This training is for people age 12+, and can be helpful for families of people with PTSD. Length: 1 hr Contact: Gina Moulas, Community Engagement and
  Partnership Coordinator for Suicide Prevention, VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, gina.moulas@va.gov, 402-810-0074
• Community Classroom: Depression and Anxiety Education on mental health for adults, and specifically seniors, including signs, symptoms, ways that the brain works with treatment
  options, and different types of anxiety and general information on depression in the aging population. Length: 30 min – 1 hr Contact: Jessica Duncan 712-318-3080.
• What is NAMI Southwest Iowa? An introduction to the Southwest Iowa chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, including brochures and resources about making your
  workplace stigma free. Length: 45 min. Contact: Marie at marie@namisouthwestiowa.com or 515-669-2039 https://namisouthwestiowa.com/our-programs
• Faith-based Book Kits that Address Mental Health Topics These book club kits are getting excellent reviews! Available for checkout to individuals or organizations across Cass
  County. Contact: Atlantic Public Library Director Michelle Andersen 712-243-5466 ext. 3

o Rhythms of Renewal: trading stress and anxiety for a life of peace and purpose by Rebekah Lyons (12 books, 1 5-session DVD, 6 DVD study guides)
o Holy Vulnerability: spiritual practices for the broken, ashamed, anxious, and afraid by Kellye Fabian (12 books).

Healthy Cass County is sharing a series of press releases for Mental Health Awareness Month. The previous update highlighted mental health events scheduled in Cass County in May 2022.
For that information and more mental health resources, visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/ or call the Cass County

Police in Red Oak, Wednesday morning, arrested a man wanted on a Montgomery County Felony Forgery warrant. Authorities report 44-year-old Justin James Smith, of Villisca, was taken into custody at around 10:44-a.m. at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center. Smith was taken to the jail and held on a $5,000 bond.