Officials with ARISE (the Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise) in Atlantic, report Ray “Bubba” Sorensen, from Greenfield, will present a program on his Freedom Rock paintings at the American Legion Memorial Building, this Sunday, November 17th, beginning at 2-p.m.

(R) Rep. Ray “Bubba” Sorensen

Sorensen, serves as Republican House Representative for District 20 in Iowa (which includes Adair, Guthrie and parts of Cass and Dallas Counties), began designing and painting a 12-foot tall boulder north of Greenfield, when he was 19 years old. He continues to repaint that rock every year since 1999 to be finished before Memorial Day. Sorensen has completed a commissioned rock in nearly every Iowa County and some in other states, since the first rock was painted.

2019 Freedom Rock (Courtesy Sorensen Studios)

Sorensen says his goal has always been to spread a message of thanks to veterans. Every county’s rock is unique representing specific stories. Each one is part of the overall story of Iowa and their veterans’ service. Recently “Bubba” has applied his artistic skills in another way, by illustrating a book of poems honoring veterans.

The Atlantic History Center, Military Museum, and Military Library will be open for viewing during the event. Books may be checked out of the Library. Refreshments will be available. The American Legion Memorial Building, AKA the Armory, is handicapped accessible. There is no fee for attending but donations are appreciated. For more information see ariseAtlantic.org website or Facebook.

(Radio Iowa) — The C-E-O of the Iowa Lottery says the amount of money that will go to the state from the sale of lottery products topped the two BILLION dollar mark in October. Matt Strawn says the proceeds sent to the state in the last 34 years have been used for a lot of things — but they are highlighting one fund in particular. “As we approach Veterans Day, we thought this provided an excellent opportunity to highlight and raise awareness for the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund (https://va.iowa.gov/iowa-veterans-trust-fund). Many Iowans may not know that Iowa has a Veterans Trust Fund,” Strawn says.

The Iowa Lottery first started sending proceeds to the Veterans Trust Fund through the proceeds of a specific scratch ticket. It now provides a set amount every year. “The first two-and-a-half million dollars every year that is raised by the Iowa Lottery is contributed to this Iowa Veterans Trust Fund,” Strawn says. “So, we wanted to take this occasion of this two BILLION-dollar milestone to kind of highlight, raise awareness and share a message with Iowans that there is and Iowa Veterans Trust Fund, and we are encouraging them to share the news.”

He encourages friends and family members of veterans to be sure they know about the fund. “The Iowa Veterans Trust Fund is administered by the Iowa Veterans Commission, which is under the Iowa Veterans Department here in the state of Iowa. And there is actually an application process. So, any Iowa veteran and their family can go on line and take a look at what that application is,” Strawn explained.

Strawn says there is help available in making the application. He says the Veterans Department recommends that after you look at the application you go to your local county Veteran Service Office. Every one of the state’s 99 counties has an office. “And they will actually walk through the application with a veteran. Often times they will identify that there is a federal program or an existing state program that they are eligible for,” Strawn says. “Because the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund was really set up as that fund of last resort.”

He says the funding is available for various needs, and encourages all veterans to see if is something they may be able to use. “Things like housings costs, or maybe it’s a car repair so they can get to work….kind of those daily life expenses that maybe slipped through the cracks and aren’t covered by other support systems,” Strawn says. The Iowa Lottery worked with the Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs to produce a video highlighting the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund and the assistance it offers to veterans and their families. You can see the video on the Iowa Lottery’s website.

(Radio Iowa) — On this Veterans Day, a new study from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, is touting the benefits of mindfulness training to lower stress for Veterans suffering from PTSD. Instructor Mariann Johnson works with Veterans in the eight week training to help them with stress, anxiety and depression by teaching how to work with challenging thoughts and emotions and those unpredictable life circumstances that we all encounter day in and day out, but to be less reactive to them by learning how to take pauses, by learning how to self-regulate.

Johnson says “Through this very methodical system over 8 weeks, we teach people through primarily body awareness, starting with breaths and something called a body scan to become of aware of their ability to be more self aware, more resilient.” The goal is to help veterans to quiet their minds and find inner peace, and eventually embrace more self-compassion and forgiveness.

(Radio Iowa) — Webster City police are investigating the deaths of two people whose bodies were found inside an apartment building on Sunday morning, according to Police Chief Shiloh Mork. “The police department received a call a little after 8 o’clock this morning of two individuals possibly deceased,” Mork says. “When officers and paramedics arrived, they did locate two deceased individuals in the apartment. We’re still conducting interviews and notifying family members.”

Chief Mork said there is no indication the public is in any danger. The names of the individuals have not been released.

Police in Red Oak arrested a 15-year old female, Sunday, for Assault with the intent to cause bodily injury (an aggravated misdemeanor), and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree (a simple misdemeanor). The unidentified teen from Red Oak was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center, in Council Bluffs.

Adams County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop at around 9:53-p.m. Sunday, and following a records check, arrested the driver, Corey Johnston, of Creston. He was taken into custody for  Driving While Revoked and transported to the Adams County Jail. He eventually posted a $1,000 bond, and was released.