(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber’s Annual Scrooge Contest is officially underway for the month of November! Established in 2002 by Eleanor Hoover, the friendly competition has become a beloved community tradition that turns holiday spirit into real support for local families. Following Hoover’s passing, Jackie Sampson and Karen Miller proudly took over coordinating duties in 2019, and more than two decades later, the contest continues to make a major impact.

Over the past 23 years, the Scrooge Contest has generated substantial monetary and canned good donations for the Atlantic Food Pantry. Kelsey Beschorner, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, says “Each year, this contest reminds us just how strong the spirit of giving is in Atlantic. Our contestants and donors continue to inspire me. Raising nearly $27,000 and over 1,600 food items just last year to help meet the growing needs of our neighbors.”

This year’s 2025 Scrooge candidates are: Kristy & Dave York, Tanner Cisar, Hy-Vee, Derrick & Ruth Sears, and Krysta & BJ Hart.

This year’s 2025 Scrooge candidates are: Kristy & Dave York, Tanner Cisar, Hy-Vee, Derrick & Ruth Sears, and Krysta & BJ Hart. From November 1st through November 26th at noon, contestants will raise money and collect non-perishable food items to support the Atlantic Food Pantry. The contestant with the most points will earn the title of “Scrooge” and serve as Grand Marshal of the Lighted Parade on SATURDAY, December 6th at 6 PM in Downtown Atlantic.

Cash donations are worth five points per dollar, and each non-perishable food item counts as one point. The Atlantic Food Pantry is requesting a specific list of non-perishable items and is emphasizing monetary donations to help purchase perishable and high-demand goods like meat, dairy, and produce.

Most needed items include:

Canned soup (chicken noodle, tomato, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, vegetable beef)
Tuna or chicken (canned)
Peanut butter
Canned fruit (peaches, pears, applesauce, cocktail)
Canned vegetables (beans, corn, peas)
Beef ravioli or SpaghettiOs
Crackers (saltine)
Macaroni and cheese
“Complete” pancake & waffle mix (no milk required)
Pancake or waffle syrup
Spaghetti and pasta sauce
Manwich or Sloppy Joe cans

“The need right now,” Beschorner said “is greater than we’ve seen in years. More families are turning to the Food Pantry for help, and every dollar or can truly makes a difference. We’re so grateful to our contestants, volunteers, and everyone who contributes. This contest is proof of how Atlantic comes together when it matters most.”

Past Scrooge titles have been awarded to: Mary Ann Moorman (2007), Dana Halder (2008), Tammy Wise & Janet Huey (2009), Ritchie Anderson (2010), Janet Cappel (2011), Melanie Petty (2012), David Miller (2013), Mark McNees (2014), Ted Robinson (2015), Jon Johnson (2016), Rob Stamp (2017), Rob & Sonya Clausen (2018), Billie Hoover, Jackie Sampson & Lori Christianson (2019), Brian Ruge (2020), Ray Paulin (2021), Dr. Matt Weresh (2022), Sheryl Dusenberry (2023), and Graydon Schmidt (2024).

Community members can support the contest by donating food or funds to any contestant’s drop-off location, or by contributing through the Atlantic Food Pantry’s Venmo account and noting their selected Scrooge Team in the transaction line. For more information, contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or chamber@atlanticiowa.com. Christmas in Atlantic is presented by Gregg Young of Atlantic.

(West Des Moines, Iowa) –  Officials with Hy-Vee announced today (Friday), that “With food banks preparing to see a record number of families over the coming weeks, Hy-Vee will be providing multiple community support options at all Hy-Vee store locations.”

In a press release, officials said from Nov. 3-7, every Hy-Vee store with hot food service will provide a free kids meal to those ages 12 and under from 4-7 p.m. The same meal will be available to everyone else for $3 and will be offered for dine in or to go. To follow is the menu that will be offered at each participating location:

Monday, Nov. 3: Baked Potato with Pulled Pork
Tuesday, Nov. 4: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Salad and Garlic Bread
Wednesday, Nov. 5: Chicken and Noodles with Mashed Potatoes
Thursday, Nov. 6: Chili and a Cinnamon Roll
Friday, Nov. 7: Sesame or Orange Chicken Rice Bowl. (In locations without HyChi, the meal will be Two Chicken Tenders, Mashed Potatoes and Corn)

Starting Friday, November 7th, stores will have food bank donation bundles that customers can purchase for $5 or $10. The bags will include items such as canned meats and vegetables, pasta sauce and cereal. Store will deliver the bags to their local food pantry. The efforts are in addition to a recent $100,000 donation to its partner Feeding America food banks throughout the Midwest, including the Food Bank of Iowa.

It has also donated $25,000 to DoorDash’s initiative to waive delivery fees for SNAP recipients.

(Ames, Iowa) – One of the three candidates set to visit Iowa State University next week in a bid for the presidential seat has dropped from the running, the Iowa Board of Regents announced Friday. The Iowa Capital Dispatch says according to a news release from the Regents, one finalist to succeed Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen “elected to withdraw from the process,” leaving two candidates.

Four finalists were initially selected by the ISU Presidential Search Committee for further consideration, three of whom accepted invitations to come to Ames for meetings with stakeholders and public forums. The committee started with a nearly 80-person candidate pool before narrowing the field to eight semifinalists, who the group interviewed virtually before making their decision on finalists.

(Photo by Perry Beeman/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The remaining finalists will hold open forums from 4-5 p.m. Nov. 5 and 6 in the Memorial Union’s Durham Great Hall, with livestreaming available online for those who cannot attend in person. Finalists’ names and curriculum vitae will be released online 24 hours before their campus visit, the release stated.

The board of regents will hear from committee co-chairs Regent JC Risewick and ISU Faculty Senate President Meghan Gillette and interview finalists in closed session during the board’s Nov. 11 meeting. ISU’s new president is set to be announced that evening.

ISU President Wendy Wintersteen announced earlier this year she will retire from the university in January.

Officials with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation have announced they have reached the Foundation’s $1.9 million fundraising goal for the Arnolds Park Nature Area and will purchase the property to ensure it is protected and open to the public.

In a press release, the INHF said a flurry of donations over the final weeks of the campaign made it possible for INHF to exercise an option to purchase the 73-acre property before an Oct. 31 deadline. More than 300 individuals and families donated to support the vision for a city-owned park in the heart of the Iowa Great Lakes, managed with water quality, flood reduction, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation in mind.

INHF partnered with the city of Arnolds Park, Ducks Unlimited and Dickinson County Conservation to raise the necessary funding. Dozens of community partners — including East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation, the Okoboji Protective Association and Iowa Great Lakes Pheasants Forever — championed the project and made meaningful contributions.

After closing on the sale, INHF will place a conservation easement on the property, ensuring its permanent protection. INHF will then transfer ownership to the city of Arnolds Park, and work with partners to plan for wetland and prairie restoration work on the site.   The city plans to install a small parking area, a picnic shelter, and soft surface trails through the park. Eventually, an off-road bike trail along the east side of the property will connect the Great Lakes Spine Trail north toward Bridges Bay.  Any funds raised in excess of the purchase price will go directly toward the native habitat restoration happening on site.

INHF is grateful to all the partners and supporters that made this project possible. Your efforts are improving the quality of life for Great Lakes-area residents and visitors and supporting INHF’s mission to protect and restore Iowa’s land, water and wildlife.

Supporters that made a pledge to the project can make a pledge payment online or send a check in the mail to:
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
505th Ave, Ste 444
Des Moines, IA 50309

Des Moines, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) is launching a new funding opportunity to help communities across the state respond to the opioid crisis. The funding comes from House File 1038 passed earlier this year, which directs 75% of Iowa’s opioid settlement money toward efforts to reduce opioid misuse and its impacts.

Governor Kim Reynolds said in a news release, “As governor, I’m proud of the work we’re doing to strengthen our behavioral health and recovery networks to expand access to treatment, improve coordination, and remove barriers that keep people from getting the help they need. By using Iowa’s opioid settlement funds to expand access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services we’re building a stronger Iowa — one that invests in people, believes in second chances, and never gives up on anyone.” Iowa HHS Director Larry Johnson said “These funds are a vital step in helping individuals and families recover from the devastating effects of opioid addiction. Our goal is to bring healing and hope to every corner of the state.”

Iowa HHS will allocate the funding through a competitive application process. There will be two rounds of funding: one starting now and another in the spring. Each project can receive up to $1 million, with $7 million available in each round.

Projects must focus on one or more of the following goals:

• Identifying and addressing needs in communities affected by opioids.
• Using proven or community-based methods to support people impacted by opioid use.
• Working with local service providers to improve recovery outcomes.
• Promoting the use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and distributing overdose reversal drugs (OORM).
• Respecting the privacy and dignity of people receiving services.
• Using data to show results and improve services.

To help shape this effort, Iowa HHS met with all seven of the state’s new Behavioral Health Service System District Advisory Councils to hear about local needs.

For more information or to apply, visit: https://www.iowagrants.gov/viewStorefrontOpportunity.do?OIDString=1758745329639%7COpportunity.

(Sac City, Iowa) – Sac County Attorney Ben Smith, late Thursday, issued a detailed statement explaining his decision to dismiss two felony cases against Amanda Jean Goff. The Belmond (IA) woman was originally charged with one count of Human Trafficking in the 1st Degree. Smith said the charge was dismissed was made to allow Dallas County to prosecute stronger, related charges of human trafficking that carry a mandatory life sentence.

ORIGINAL STORY….

PERRY, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Perry Police Department said Wednesday (today, Oct.  29th) a Belmond, Iowa woman – 41-year-old Amanda Jean Goff – is charged with one count of Human Trafficking in the First Degree. Goff was taken into custody without incident at the Sac County Jail where she had been held on related offenses. Human Trafficking in the First Degree is a class A felony.

As detailed in the criminal complaint, it is alleged that in January 2025, Goff took a 14-year-old female to a Perry hotel for the express purpose of having the victim engage in commercial sexual activity with another person.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between city, county, state, and federal law enforcement partners. Technical support was provided by the Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking (OTCHT). Since 2023, the OTCHT has provided training and resources to educate our communities and businesses on the signs of human trafficking and to law enforcement and prosecutors on the effective investigation and prosecution of human trafficking offenses.

This is an ongoing investigation. No additional information will be released at this time.

(Radio Iowa) – Sightings of mountain lions in the state have dropped, but Iowa D-N-R furbearer biologist Vince Evelsizer says there are still some of the animals out there.

There also continue to be sightings in the northern corner of the state.

Evelsizer says the big cats try to stay away from humans, but there is a chance you could see them during the winter.

There haven’t been many recent bear sightings, but Evelsizer says there are still some out there as well.

Evelsizer says the bears will soon head into their dens for their long winter nap.

Evelsizer says bear sightings always pick up in the spring when they come out of hibernation and are hungry and looking for food.

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds is asking for donations to food banks to help them once federal food benefits are cut off Saturday by the government shutdown. Reynolds announced Thursday that the state would match donations up to one million dollars.

The governor also clarified that the federal assistance known as SNAP that has already been paid out will not be cut off Saturday.

General Osborne and Governor Reynolds. (Radio Iowa photo)

The leader of the Iowa National Guard, Major General Stephen Osborn, joined the governor to talk about their role in helping to distribute food.

Osborn says guard members will be activated for any distribution missions, and they will ask for volunteers. Governor Reynolds says the state will pay the guard members who are activated. Some democrats in other states are filing lawsuits to try to get the federal government to use contingency funds to pay SNAP benefits.

Reynolds says you can go to her website at governor.iowa.gov for a list of Iowa food banks by location and links to their websites where you can go and donate online.

(Radio Iowa) – Des Moines Area Community College — known as DMACC — is working with Iowa’s congressional delegation to try to revive an online course that had nationwide reach. DMACC President Rob Denson says in 2011 the federal government contracted with the college to provide a “Homeland Security” certification program for the Transportation Safety Administration screeners at the Des Moines Airport. In 2014, DMACC began offering the training online.

DMACC President Rob Denson

In 2019, the federal government gave DMACC the contract for training in all 50 states. Denson says it made 44-thousand T-S-A agents at 440 U-S airports eligible for the training.

Students who voluntarily enrolled in the certification course review national security issues, safety concerns and how the T-S-A interacts with other federal agencies, like the U-S Border Patrol. Earlier this year, federal officials notified DMACC it was temporarily pausing its support of the program.

Denson made his comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program that airs tonight (Friday) on Iowa P-B-S.