Officials with the Iowa Restaurant Association based in West Des Moines, report that on Monday, November 16^th the Association will present its annual state hospitality awards at the Community Choice Convention Center in Des Moines.  New this year is a Rural Operator of the Year Award which was created to recognize the role and importance of restaurants and taverns in Iowa communities with fewer than 1,000 people. The inaugural recipient of this award is Mike Muller of Grace on Main in Elk Horn (population 610).

Jessica Dunker President and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association, says “This event is a much needed celebration of one of Iowa’s most resilient and important industries. After the challenges we’ve faced this year, we’re ready to honor hospitality professionals who exemplify innovation and business acumen, as well as shine a light on the significant contributions they’ve made to their communities and Iowa’s hospitality culture.”

2020 Award Winners include:

• Operator of the Year– Matt Johnson, Barley’s Bar, Council Bluffs
• Chef of the Year– Chef Jeremy Moskowitz, Duck City Bistro, Davenport
• Emerging Hospitality Leader of the Year – Katy Nelson, Scenic Route Bakery, Des Moines
• Hospitality Employee of the Year– David Basinger, Rodina, Cedar Rapids
• American Dream Award– Suman Hoque, HoQ, Des Moines
• Faces of Diversity Award– Lorena Bryan, Delicias by Lorena, Des Moines
• Purveyor Partner of the Year– Justin Woodard, Sysco Iowa, Ankeny
• Industry Champion– Ryan Achterhoff, Pizza Ranch, Orange City
• ProStart Educator of Excellence – LaRae Arment, Alburnett High School, Alburnett
• Restaurant Neighbor Philanthropy Award– Nick Kuhn, The Hall DSM, West Des Moines
• Legislator of the Year– Senator Craig Johnson, Senate District 32, Independence

In addition to the Celebrating Excellence Awards Ceremony which will feature the honorees, the Association will host its Annual Tasting Gala featuring food and beverage from its statewide Culinary and Mixology Competitions.   Attendees will be able to sample the competition dishes from Iowa chefs as well as cocktail creations from the state’s top mixologists.

Attendees will be able to cast a vote for their favorite dish and cocktail. Wine pairings and spirits will also be available to sample. The tasting event begins at 4:00 pm followed by the awards program at 5:30 pm.   The event is open to the public, Tickets are $25 and available at www.restaurantiowa.com

The Carroll County Board of Supervisors has enacted a county wide mask mandate. The mandate calls for masks or face shields need to be worn when people are in public, and cannot keep 6-feet of distance from others, or are inside a building other than their home. This includes all businesses. Officials say if you are eating or drinking while seated or are exercising, you may temporarily remove your mask. The mandate remains in effect until January 15, 2021.

The Board of Supervisors in neighboring Greene County have also unanimously approved a face covering mandate. Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf says the recent spike in cases is partly because people have become complacent. Wolf says the county had a two-week infection rate below 6% a couple weeks ago, but today it’s above 24%.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge says an Iowa man is guilty of second-degree murder for killing his former girlfriend in a Sioux City hotel room and setting it aflame. But the Sioux City Journal reports District Judge Steven Andreasen on Friday ruled Jordan Henry’s drug-addled brain and underlying psychosis prevented him from forming the specific intent to kill her.

Andreasen’s ruling spares Henry from a life in prison without parole that’s mandatory for first-degree homicide. The 30 year old from Sioux City instead faces 50 years in prison for second-degree murder and 25 years for first-degree arson. His sentencing hasn’t been scheduled yet.

(Updated) – Members of the IKM-MANNING School Board, Friday afternoon during a special electronic session via Zoom, voted to require facial coverings, as part of the District’s revised Return to Learn Plan.

Beginning Monday, November 16th, face masks or approved neck gaiters are required for all staff, students, and permitted visitors in all IKM-Manning school buildings during the school day, in school vehicles including buses, and at all activities. This is a necessary step for us to take if we want to keep students in school. We wanted to have this meeting on Friday to allow families to plan for Monday. There will be masks available for those who do not have a mask.

IKM-MANNING Superintendent Trevor Miller said “These are not easy decisions and we know that not everyone will agree with this decision. In the end, this is about putting everything we can in place to allow students and staff to safely be in school. The school board will readdress the mandate on Thursday, January 21st school board meeting.

In making the decision, the Board noted the 14-day Positivity rate has continued to climb in the counties served by the District. Carroll County’s rate as of Friday afternoon was 27.3%, Shelby County 25.3%, Crawford 22.9 and Audubon was at 14.9%.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office Friday (Nov. 13), reported the arrest on Nov. 6th of 22-year-old Trevor Hubbard, of Urbandale. Hubbard was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for Violation of Probation, on the original charge of Arson in the 2nd Degree. He appeared before the magistrate and was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $10,000 bond.

And, 45-year-old Jesse Archibald, of Exira, was arrested November 7th, Operating While Intoxicated-3rd offense. He was released on his own recognizance and will appear before the magistrate at a later date.

(Radio Iowa) – The leader of the community college based in Fort Dodge has been picked to take over at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. Dr. DANIEL Kinney is the son of long-time Iowa Western president DAN Kinney, who is retiring after leading Iowa Western Community College for the past 26 years. The younger Kinney says his dad has been a remarkable mentor.

Dr. Daniel Kinney

“Good things I’ve learned from him, but also when you have a mentor there’s things that you learn that maybe you want to do a lot different,” Daniel Kinney said. “…I think our communications styles are probably quite a bit different. I’m a big collaborator, let’s get some evidence, let’s talk — approachable — things like that.” Kinney is moving from a community college with at 53-hundred students to Iowa Western, where about 65-hundred are enrolled.

“Getting organizations, getting people on campus I think is the most important thing (with) athletics,” Kinney says. “I think you guys see a lot of what I do. You are in a lot larger metropolitan area than I am in Fort Dodge, but our music…performances bring a lot of people on campus and I think that’s important because we are the community.”

Kinney has been Iowa Central’s president since 2009 and will officially become Iowa Western’s president in early 2021. In addition to his experience in higher education, Kinney served 17 years in the Kansas National Guard. He commanded an engineering company in Iraq in 2005 and is the recipient of the Bronze Star.

(A-P) – Eight Iowa labor and civil rights groups filed a federal complaint Friday alleging the state has failed to protect workers in meatpacking, dairy, construction, transportation, health care facilities and other industries. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and others filed the complaint Friday with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration office in Kansas City.

They’re seeking a full investigation and corrective action by the federal government. The complaint cites several examples of alleged failure of Iowa OSHA to do on-site inspections or investigate unsafe conditions related to the coronavirus pandemic. But the groups also say safety issues go beyond coronavirus problems.

Did you know, there’s no need to drive to New York City to see Lady Liberty. You can simply stop by the Atlantic City Park to see our very own Lady Liberty, at the top of the monument. She has been looking down and watching over us since 1919. Officials with ARISE (The Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise), say you can learn all about Atlantic’s Lady Liberty, when Steve Livengood tells her story this Sunday, Nov. 15th, beginning at 2-p.m.  The event takes place at the American Legion Memorial Building, in Atlantic (formerly known as “The Armory”). There is no fee to attend.

Atlantic’s Lady Liberty sits on top of a monument in the downtown City Park.

Livengood will give you the scoop on how she got to Atlantic, who owns her and a connection to a train wreck. And, while lady usually isn’t asked her age or weight, we know that she is over 100 years old and weighs 460 pounds. She also had reconstructive “surgery” in 2009. She is guarding a box of information in her base.There is no fee to attend.

Please plan to help keep everyone healthy by wearing a mask which will be provided if necessary. Attendance is limited to 25 people so seating can be social distanced. No refreshments will be served. The building is handicapped accessible.