The Farmacy Soda Fountain & Coffee House in Ida Grove hosted a soft opening July 19.
Those who attended got a sneak peek at the 50s-themed interior and a taste of their drinks and pastries. Brian Lundell, who co-owns the business with his wife Lisa, expressed enthusiasm to join the “wave of young business owners” in town.
“I have a passion for taking opportunities if I’m given the resources to accomplish a goal,” he said.
Editor’s Note: The Ida County Courier will be profiling members of our community in coming issues. Have a suggestion on someone whom we can profile? Send an email to news@idacountycourier.com
Ken Harskamp, known locally as Mr. Ken, was for a long time a fixture in the Ida Grove area.
Mid-America Publishing and the Ida County Courier sponsored a movie night at King Theatre in Ida Grove and worked to fight hunger in the community with a special promotion.
Moviegoers received free tickets to see “Jurassic World: Dominion” both Friday and Saturday evenings. Visitors were glad to beat the heat on a night out to enjoy a movie, especially with the cost already covered. The event was a big hit for young and old.
When asked what he was most excited about for “Jurassic World,” Max Hahn was eager to see more of a certain on-screen velociraptor.
Mid-America Publishing and the Ida County Courier helped fight hunger in the community while hosting a booth in the commercial building at the Ida County Fair.
The booth, open Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, held a raffle for $400 worth of chamber bucks. These can be spent at participating businesses in Ida Grove. Winners will be announced in two weeks.
The money spent to enter the raffle totaled $175, which will be donated to the Ida Grove Community Basket.
Residents of OABCIG school district will be asked to vote on a levy this September. The OABCIG board of directors met Friday to decide on ordering an election to vote on continuing the Physical Plant and Equipment (PPEL) property tax. Board president Stephanie Konradi, vice president Jeff Rasmussen, and directors Saffire Peterson and Dathan Loger were in attendance. The resolution to order the election passed 4-0.
The Ida Grove City Council met on Monday, July 18 at 6 p.m. in the temporary City Hall at the Rec Center. In attendance were Mayor Devlun Whiteing, councilmen Gregor Ernst, Jason Schable, Ange Johnson, Jeff Miesner, Jared Bogue, and attorney Peter Goldsmith. The council approved pay app #8 to Godbersen-Smith Construction for the Moorehead Avenue Bridge in the amount of $200,366.77. Danny Sturm noted this is not the final payment as there are a few items left to finish, and the City is holding approximately $30,000 in retainage.
Crowds at the King Theatre in Ida Grove have been exceptional for Top Gun: Maverick. The highly anticipated sequel about Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a fictional character. The movie’s showing at the King was generously supported by the Lundell family of Kiron and, you may have noticed via Facebook and on the marquee, sponsored in memory of real-life airman Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen.
With RAGBRAI coming in a matter of days, the Ida County Conservation Board turned its attention to plans for the arrival of the event and thousands of visitors. With Ida Grove planned as an overnight stop for RAGBRAI this year, Moorehead Park will see its north playground closed for the public over the course of the event. The park will host reserved primitive campers. Additionally, some parts of the park will be off limits to the general public. This is being done in the interests of safety and crowd management. The public will be able to visit the Conservation Center from 2 to 6 p.m.
As RAGBRAI approaches, Battle Creek is getting ready for the big day. During the regular July meeting, Battle Creek City Council turned attention to matters needed for RAGBRAI. Liquor licenses were discussed with council voting to permit alcohol consumption on Main Street in front of Fred’s Place. The permission is a special one-time approval just for the day for RAGBRAI. The event is likely to bring thousands of visitors to the community. With orange cone season underway, street work in the city is ongoing.
The University of Iowa College of Nursing brought its recently released mobile unit to Ida Grove on Wednesday to host education sessions for first responders, EMTs, Paramedics, nurses and physicians. The clinical scenarios focused on traumas and medical conditions that may occur during RAGBRAI. The simulator is able to recreate scenarios and minic various conditions, such as heart rate and pulse.
