(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who want to pack some holiday joy in a shoebox for kids around the world can drop them off this week at dozens of locations across the state. Denise Moore of Ankeny, the area coordinator of Operation Christmas Child in east-central Iowa, says this annual effort brings in many thousands of gift boxes from Iowans, and millions of boxes nationwide.

“It’s a project through Samaritan’s Purse and it collects shoeboxes that are filled with fun toys, school supplies and personal care items and delivered to children in need around the world,” Moore says, “and it’s a way to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way.” The shoebox gifts go to children in 170 nations in all parts of the globe, she says, including some of the hardest-to-reach places, from deep jungles to remote villages on mountainsides. During last year’s campaign, Moore was able to hand-deliver boxes to children in Romania.

Photo by Samaritan’s Purse

“The first stop that we made was with children that had never received a gift, probably in their life,” Moore says, “and to receive items like toothbrushes and hygiene items, along with fun items that we call ‘wow items,’ which might be a doll for a girl or a soccer ball for a boy, and the joy in that room was amazing and it was priceless.” The boxes are being collected this week as they have to go through a processing center before they’re carried by ship or plane to their final destinations. Moore has a tip for Iowans who’d like to create their own Operation Christmas Child box.

“There’s a lot of great information on the website that can be found at samaritanspurse.org/OCC that’ll give you a lot of suggestions of what to pack, add to the box,” Moore says, “and also give you the drop-off locations that you can get by just putting in your ZIP code and finding the local drop-off center near you.” There’s also an option to shop online at samaritanspurse.org/buildonline where you can select gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender, then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement.

Now in its third decade, the operation hopes to collect shoeboxes throughout Iowa to help with the global goal to reach 12 million children.

(Radio Iowa) – The last day of this month is the final call for the “Hello Operator” exhibit at the Sioux City Public Museum. It features iconic telephones, historic photographs and switchboards.

Museum curator Matt Anderson says Sioux City was among the first cities in Iowa to have a telephone switchboard that provided commercial service. “The very first telephone exchange was in 1879 in Dubuque,” Anderson says. “Sioux City followed a year later and it was definitely among the first cities to have telephone service and so it was a real leader that way and from really that point on Sioux City was kind of our regional hub for telephone service.”

That exchange was a local franchise of the American Bell Company, owned by Alexander Graham Bell — who invented the telephone. The early patents for telephones began to expire in the 1890s, though, and that let independent companies compete for business. The Sioux City museum’s exhibit shows local telephone service was offered by the Sioux City Telephone Company and New State Telephone offered regional long distance service. “Sioux City Telephone and New State kind of worked hand-in-hand and were a significant competitor for Bell Telephone in Sioux City for about 20 years,” Anderson says.

“Hello Operator” exhibit at Sioux City Public Museum runs through Nov. 30, 2025. (KSCJ photo)

New State — the Sioux City-based long distance phone company — was established by Cloid Smith and he sold it to Bell in 1912. Two years later, Smith founded the American Pop Corn Company that produces the Jolly Time brand. Like the rest of the country, Sioux City’s telephone market ultimately came under the full control of Northwestern Bell and Sioux City had a regional office for Northwestern Bell from 1921 until the nationwide Bell System monopoly ended in 1984.

(Atlantic, IA)  – Officials with Vision Atlantic said today (Monday), Cass County Animal Clinic, led by Dr. Erin Conrad-Schwarte, has made a generous donation in support of Vision Atlantic’s transformative community development project, which includes a new housing development, child development center, and YMCA expansion. As a trusted local business dedicated to the well-being of both animals and families, the clinic is proud to invest in the future of the community it serves. in the news release, Dr. Conrad-Schwarte said “Small town. Big vision. Proud to support Vision Atlantic.”

Vision Atlantic, through extensive research and surveying of the community and surrounding region, identified three areas that will help increase Atlantic’s population: expanded childcare, quality housing and quality of life amenities. Infrastructure for the 142 mixed unit Camblin Hills housing development and 300 capacity child development center is almost complete, with construction of 48 homes currently underway. Construction of the child development center and YMCA expansion is slated to begin early 2026.

Pictured: Christina Bateman, Melissa Ihnen, Dr. Erin Conrad-Schwarte and Staff

Vision Atlantic has a fundraising goal of $39 million, which will be used to construct the YMCA expansion and child development center. To date, they have raised $30.6 million of that goal, thanks to an $8.6 million lead grant from the Charles E. Lakin Foundation and significant support from local donors. In addition to their grant support, the Lakin Foundation has created a separate investment fund of $23 million that will be used to construct homes in the Camblin Hills housing development. The capital will be used as a line of credit, and as the dollars are paid back, the Foundation will donate up to 5% of the interest paid back to Vision Atlantic, who will use those dollars to operate the child development center.

Vision Atlantic’s Project Committee is actively working to secure the remaining $12 million needed to meet their fundraising goal. If you are interested in helping transform Atlantic, whether it’s through monetary donations or acts of volunteerism, please contact Vision Atlantic at visionatlanticiowa@gmail.com. Visit www.visionatlantic.org and follow on Facebook for behind-the-scenes access to project updates and in-depth information of the project scope.

Vision Atlantic is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to empower growth, enhance lives, and build a thriving community together through the economic development of Atlantic, Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – A non-profit that rates the safety of hospitals nationwide places Iowa’s hospitals near the bottom — at number 48. LeapFrog ranked 30 Iowa hospitals on a wide range of safety measures, based on publicly-available data. Most hospitals in Iowa earned Cs and Ds, while one hospital earned a B grade, and three got Fs. LeapFrog’s Katie Stewart encourages Iowans to ask their hospitals about their rankings.  “Really ask your providers, what are they doing to improve?” Stewart says. “They have this safety grade. Maybe they aren’t doing well on the infections. What are they doing to address that?” Stewart says it often doesn’t take a lot of resources for hospitals to improve, and change starts with top leadership.

“What we know is that it starts with really that commitment to patient safety,” she says, “that has to start at that at that C suite level.” Iowa is one of just four states where no hospitals received an A grade.

More info.:

https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org/media/file/State-Rankings-Leapfrog-Hospital-Safety-Grades-Fall2025-1.pdf
https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org/search?findBy=state&zip_code=&city=&state_prov=IA&hospital=

GRUNDY COUNTY, Iowa – The Iowa DCI reports an officer-involved shooting took place Sunday, in Grundy County. Authorities say on November 16th, 2025, the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) requested assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) with an officer-involved shooting that occurred along Highway 20 in Grundy County.

At approximately 9:30 p.m., members of the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol and several other area law enforcement agencies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by a wanted male subject out of Waterloo.  The driver refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued.  During the pursuit, the subject’s vehicle was disabled and came to a stop on the side of the road.  The subject exited his vehicle, produced a firearm, and fired at officers.  Deputies with the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office and a Trooper with the Iowa State Patrol returned fire, striking the subject.

Officers performed lifesaving measures on the subject at the scene.  The subject was subsequently transported to Mercy One in Waterloo for treatment but later was pronounced deceased.

The involved officers were uninjured. They have been placed on critical incident leave in accordance with their department policy. This is an ongoing investigation.  Authorities say no further details will be released at this time.

(Corning, IA) – Officials with Akin Building Center have announced a significant shift in ownership along with a fresh, community-focused direction. In their news released, officials said “With the exit of Alan Fishbein from the ownership group, longtime Akin leader Adam Bock—who has served as Executive Vice President and has been an integral part of the company for almost a decade—will assume the Chief Executive Officer role.”

Bock is a CPA with a strong background in asset management, particularly private equity, and is a seasoned professional with extensive commercial real estate experience in New York. He is also a dedicated family man and father of two grown children. While he previously worked primarily behind the scenes, Adam is now stepping forward to ensure Akin embraces a new and positive culture focusing on the communities within the four-store footprint of Atlantic, Creston, Corning and Clarinda. Officials say Bock understands the importance of earning the trust of our customers and local communities while also fostering a more vibrant workplace culture. “We’re introducing new opportunities for staff to volunteer and are focused on making Akin a place where our team feels valued and excited to come to work.”

Joining Adam Bock in this new chapter of the company, are Ryan & Michele Draper from the Creston area, who have also become part-owners of the company. Ryan started with Akin in 2019 before becoming general manager in June 2023 and will now also take on the role of Executive Vice President handling the day-to-day operations across all locations. He is a Creston native and an on-the-ground presence, bringing with him 20+ years of residential construction expertise. Michele has spent the past 23 years in the insurance industry serving many area residents and farmers at the agency level. She brings her passion for relationship building to Akin as she takes on the role of Safety/Compliance and HR Specialist, ensuring a welcoming and safe environment across all store locations.

Ryan Draper says “We’re strongly committed to southwest Iowa and the communities that support us. We’re looking forward to community involvement and investment as we enter this new era of ownership. Rest assured you will still see the same committed, in-store leadership that you are used to – nothing has changed there.” Michele Draper added “Your feedback is welcomed and will be taken to heart. We are kicking off the holiday season with some new in-store promotions and giving campaigns – follow us on social media to stay updated”!

Finally, the new ownership group wants to reiterate that “As we move forward, our focus is on positivity, community engagement, and delivering a great experience for everyone. We hope to see you soon”!

For more information, please visit www.akinbuildingcenters.com, or email rdraper@akinlbr.com or abock@akinlbr.com.

(Creston, IA) – The Creston Police Department reports a man was arrested Friday evening on an outstanding warrant for Failure to Appear, on an original charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. 23-year-old Jorge Alvarez, of Creston, was arrested in the 800 block of W. Howard Street. Alvarez was transported to the Union County Jail, posted a $300 cash or surety bond, and was released.

At around 1:40-a.m. Saturday, 22-year-old Shealyn Robert Supinger, of Kellerton, was arrested in Creston following a traffic stop at the intersection of Howard and Palm Streets. Supinger was charged with OWI/(Operating While Under the Influence) 1st Offense. Supinger was transported to the Union County Jail, posted a $1,000 cash or surety bond, and was released.

Sunday night, Creston Police arrested 31-year-old Austin Allan Jones, of Creston. Jones was arrested at the intersection of Lincoln and Prairie Streets and charged with 25 counts of Violation of a No-Contact Order. He was transported to the Union County Jail and held without bond pending a court appearance.

(Radio Iowa) – A world-renown photographer and cinematographer who merges art and science through visual stories will make his first-ever stop in Iowa this week to share his out-of-this-world slide show called Earth After Dark. As part of the National Geographic Explorer Series, Babak Tafreshi says he strives to create a visual portal to the universe that can reconnecting the general public to the night sky and the natural world around us — and above us. “We are disconnected due to light pollution and a busy lifestyle today and a majority of humanity, especially in the developed world, are living under an artificial sky,” Tafreshi says. “Our Milky Way, for example, is no longer visible.”

From meteor showers to lightning bugs that emerge at dusk on neighborhood streets, he says our eyes open a little wider when we see the stunning photos and videos that display the abundant life in the darkness. “Life at Night is about nocturnal animals, their natural behavior,” the Iranian-American says, “and how light pollution is impacting and changing biodiversity, from fireflies to sea turtles to pets and migratory birds.” Tafreshi, a National Geographic contributor since 2012, created The World At Night program in 2007 with the message of “One People, One Sky” and he directing its team of photographers in some 30 countries. He’s bringing his fascinating visual program to the Des Moines Civic Center on Tuesday night.

Photo by Babak Tafreshi

“It starts with astronomy and the space wonders, zooming from the earth to the universe,” Tafreshi says. “Many of these documentary-style photographs at night are from variety of landmarks and World Heritage sites around the world. And then we merge into the impact of light pollution and the conservation story on animals at nighttime.” Tafreshi says he’s spent his career documenting wildlife, humanity, and the cosmos — from dark national parks to bright urban areas — with the belief that people everywhere can connect through the shared experience of simply looking up.

https://www.desmoinesperformingarts.org/whats-on/events/2025-26/national-geographic-live/earth-after-dark