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.

The Cass County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary has announced two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students entering into or continuing education in the healthcare field. Application forms have been sent to area high schools and can be picked up from the guidance counselor’s office. Forms are also available from the Human Resources office at Cass County Memorial Hospital. The application must be returned to Cass County Memorial Hospital by March 31st. Applications can be dropped off or mailed to: Cass County Memorial Hospital, Attn: Human Resources, 1501 East 10th Street, Atlantic, Iowa 50022.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman reports the last member of the Cass County Board of Supervisors who is eligible to file for re-election prior to the June 5th Primary, has done so. District 4 Supervisor Chuck Rieken, a Republican from Griswold, filed his re-election papers today (Wednesday). Other Republican County officers who have filed for re-election include: Dale Sunderman, of Atlantic; District 1 Supervisor Duane McFadeen, of Atlantic, as well as District 5 Supervisor Frank Waters, of Cumberland; and, Sheriff Darby McLaren. To date, no one has filed to run against those incumbents. The last day to file papers for the Primary, is March 28th.

(AP) – Top small-business men and women from Nebraska, Iowa and every other state will get a chance to visit Washington, D.C., in May when one of them is named national small-business person of the year.  The U.S. Small Business Administration will recognize the winner of the national award during its conference, May 20-22. Timothy Greene, of Audubon, owns Quality Machine of Iowa. He won the Iowa Small-Business person of the Year award, and a chance at the national title.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa House has passed an education reform plan would give the state more control over how student progress is measured and how teachers and administrators are evaluated. Those are among just a few aspects of education traditionally handled by local districts but passed on to state officials in the Republican-backed bill.
 
Under the measure, the Iowa Department of Education would establish new procedures for evaluating teachers and administrators annually. High school students would have to take new tests to determine if they’re prepared for college or a career and third graders not reading at grade level would be held back from fourth grade.
 
The bill passed 53-46 after lawmakers debated most of Tuesday, ending just before midnight when a drafting error was discovered in the bill.