A 92-year-old southwest Iowa woman has been featured on the Cooking Channel. Guelda Barker of Mount Ayr appeared on an episode of “My Grandmother’s Ravioli” that aired last Wednesday and again on Sunday. During the episode, Mo Rocca, the show’s host, answered Barker’s phone as Barker bustled about the kitchen.

Barker is a retired lunch lady and well-known in Mount Ayr for her cinnamon rolls. Her recipe for cinnamon rolls was featured on the show, but Barker also showed Rocca some of the greeting cards she paints. Barker told Rocca she took a correspondence course after her first husband died and learned to paint with watercolors.

“How come you didn’t pursue it as a career?” Rocca asked. Barker answered: “Well, I just felt like I couldn’t handle it and do chores and take care of children and can and all that.” Rocca followed up: “Do you regret not pursuing it as a career?” Barker said: Yes, I do, because I think I could have made a little money. I loved it.” She shared her recipe for canned meat, plus recipes for cinnamon rolls, “Addictive Cookies”, “7-Up Salad” and “Blue Ribbon Chocolate Cake”. (A link to the recipe can be found here: http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/cinnamon-rolls.html )

The episode is titled “Walking on Ayr” — a play on Barker’s hometown of Mount Ayr and it was filmed in mid-July during this year’s “Ayr Days” celebration in Mount Ayr.

(Radio Iowa)

An arrest was made Monday (Today) in connection with a fire at the Economy Inn motel, in Stuart. According to Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater. 31-year old Jason McGowan, of Stuart, was living in the room he allegedly set on fire at around 8:30-a.m., Monday. McGowen faces a charge of 1st Degree arson and was being held at the Adair County Jail in Greenfield.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests. Sunday night, 21-year old Martin Eduardo Vidales, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a felony Possession with Intent to Deliver, charge, and for Driving While Revoked. Vidales was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

And on Friday, deputies in Cass County arrested 38-year old Richard Dwaine Smith, of Atlantic, on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for OWI 2nd Offense. Smith was also cited for Driving Under Suspension. He was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on $2000 bond.

A single-vehicle accident Saturday afternoon south of Atlantic caused about $2,500 damage, but no one was hurt. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded at around 1:20 p.m. to the scene of the crash on Jackson Road, one-half mile east of 630th Street (Hwy 71).

Officials say a 2001 Chevy Monte Carlo owned and driven by 31-year old Amy Jo Cameron, of Atlantic, was eastbound on Jackson Road when the car went out of control and entered the north ditch. Cameron was subsequently arrested for felony OWI 3rd Offense. She was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $5000 bond.