(Atlantic, Iowa) – On Wednesday December 8, the Cass County Local Food Policy Council is hosting a mobile  food pantry through the Food Bank for the Heartland at the Cass County Community Center from 4:00 – 6:00 PM, or as supplies last. Anyone in need is welcome to visit the mobile pantry, and no documentation is needed.  People from surrounding towns and communities are welcome.

Details:

Food Bank for the Heartland Mobile Food Pantry

• When: Wednesday, December 8 (4:00-6:00 PM, or until supplies run out).
• Where: Cass County Community Center (805 West 10th St. Atlantic IA 50022). Traffic will be directed by volunteers.
• What: A mobile pantry is a traveling food pantry that delivers food directly to families in need for a one-day distribution. The mobile pantry is available free of charge. Visitors are
  asked stay in their vehicles with the trunk open.
• Who: Anyone in need is welcome. No documentation needed.

For more information on local food, farmers markets, and food access, follow the Cass County Local Food Policy Council’s Facebook page @CassCountyLocalFood.

(Audubon, Iowa) – At its first annual grant celebration event, the Audubon County Community Foundation honored 14 nonprofit organizations and community projects that received grants throughout the past year. The honorees included both spring and fall grant recipients, who were awarded a collective sum of over $154,000.

Throughout 2021, the Foundation received a total of 22 grant applications from community organizations, with over $400,000 requested. As a part of its two grant cycles, the Audubon County Community Foundation awarded $154,750 to 14 of these 22 applications. “In 2021, we’ve been able to fund a wide array of projects and programs,” said Board Chair Joel Hoegh. “Grants were awarded to support construction and renovation, recreational opportunities, and many more projects that will have a positive effect on our community members—both young and old. We’re proud of the impact of the Foundation, and we’re glad to have this opportunity to celebrate the important work of these organizations throughout Audubon County.”

Each year, the Audubon County Community Foundation holds two grant cycles with an objective to fund projects that will have a lasting impact in the county. “Since the Foundation was established in 1997, it has distributed over $2.5 million in grants and scholarships,” said Iowa Foundations Director Stacey Goodman. “Through the generosity of donors and charitable funds allocated through the community foundation, along with our participation in the County Endowment Fund Program, we are able to continue to invest valuable resources back into communities across Audubon County.”

The Audubon County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Omaha Community Foundation, which meets National Standards for Community Foundations, and is one of nine county
members of the Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa. It annually receives funds from the State of Iowa County Endowment Fund Program for endowment building and grantmaking throughout the county. The spring cycle of grants is made possible through the County Endowment Fund Program and is funded by a percentage of the state’s commercial gaming tax revenue, which is distributed annually to participating community foundations associated with counties without a state-issued gaming license. The Foundation’s fall grant cycle is made possible through the generosity of donors to the Audubon County Community Foundation.

The Foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and organizations to create permanent and expendable funds that address changing, vital community needs and interests. Gifts to permanently endowed funds through the Audubon County Community Foundation may be eligible to receive a 25% Endow Iowa Tax Credit.

Pictured are Foundation board members and representatives of Audubon County organizations who
received grants from the Audubon County Community Foundation. (1st Row Left to Right); Taylor
Hanson – Audubon County Fair Board; Megan Wagner – Audubon County Community Foundation
Board Member, Secretary/Treasurer; Abby Rasmussen – Exira Community Club; Jessie Wheeler –
Exira Public Library, Exira Community Club; Donna Olson – Audubon County Community Foundation Board Member; (2nd Row); Pat Kaiser – Audubon County Community Foundation Board Member; Joel Hoegh – Audubon County Community Board Member, Chair; Steven Hansen – Audubon County Community Foundation Board Member, Vice Chair; Doug Olsen – Audubon Recreation Foundation; Jason Hocker – Audubon Recreation Foundation, Gym Expansion Subcommittee; Barbara Johnson – The Children’s Nest; Katie Wheeler – Exira Public Library, Exira Community Club

The Audubon County Community Foundation Advisory Board Members are Chair, Joel Hoegh of rural Brayton; Vice Chair, Steven B. Hansen of Audubon; Secretary/Treasurer, Megan Wagner of Audubon; Gina Benton of Exira, Bob Blomme of Audubon; Pat Kaiser of Audubon; and Donna Olson of Kimballton. For information about donating or establishing an individual foundation/fund, please contact Stacey Goodman, Iowa Foundations Director, at 800-794-3458 or stacey@omahafoundation.org.

The Atlantic Police Department reports five people were arrested on separate charges from Nov. 18th through the 28th:

• On the 28th, 32-year-old Alen Sisira, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation.
• On Nov. 27th, 29-year-old Berson Fred, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense.
• 36-year-old Albert Johnson, of Harlan, was arrested in Atlantic on Nov. 20th, for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting), and for being a person ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon.

And there were two people from Atlantic arrested here, on November 18th: 26-year-old Dylan Gaines was arrested on a warrant for a Parole Violation. And, 20-year-old Noah Meinders was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree (Shoplifting).  All five subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail, but as of Friday (today), only Alen Sisira, Dylan Gaines and Berson Fred, remained held in the jail.

(Radio Iowa) – A fire in northeast Iowa has destroyed the boyhood home of the world-famous Ringling Brothers. Someone walking by the rural McGregor home discovered the fire yesterday (Thursday) morning. Officials say the structure was fully-engulfed by the time crews arrived and the consider the house a total loss. A mother and two kids who lived in the home escaped uninjured, along with their three dogs.

The Ringling Brothers and their only sister lived out part of their childhood in the home along the Mississippi River from 1860 to 1873. The family eventually moved to Wisconsin, where five of the seven brothers started a small circus in Baraboo. Charles and John Ringling would later purchase a competing circus founded by P.T. Barnum and James Bailey.

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus became known as “The Greatest Show on Earth” and operated for 98 years before closing in 2017.

(Villisca) Firefighters in Villisca responded at around 6:30-a.m. Thursday, to a residential fire at 102 E 1st Street. According to Villisca Fire Chief John Bruce, firefighters arrived to find heavy fire coming from the northeast room on the home’s upper level. They were able to contain the flames to the upstairs bedroom.

The bedroom sustained significant smoke and water damage. The remainder of the home also sustained considerable smoke and water damage, but was expected to be repairable. Chief Bruce said residents of the home got out safely, but Villisca Rescue treated a minor child for a burn before the child was released the child to a parent. No other injuries were reported. The Red Cross assisted the family.

The fire apparently started in the upstairs bedroom, according to the Chief, possibly from an overloaded extension cord. Crews wrapped-up their ground operations after about 2 ½ hours.

Assisting Villisca Fire at the scene, was: Villisca Ambulance, Red Oak Rescue, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Villisca Power Company, Villisca Public Works, and the Montgomery County EMA.