Area organizations are among the beneficiaries as over $100,000 has been awarded by the Ida County Community Betterment Foundation.
Major recipients include the Holstein American Legion, Battle Creek Fire Department, Ida Grove Public Library, Galva Fire Department, Holstein Fire and Ambulance, Ida County Fair Board and McNamara-Moore Post 61. Each won a grant of $10,000.
The fire departments’ awards will go to equipment needs while the Holstein American Legion will see a new unit for heating and cooling.
Total assets increased by over $1 million for Horn Memorial Hospital, a healthy state of affairs amid pandemic concerns.
From 2020 to 2021, the hospital saw its assets increase form just over $35 mill to $36.2 million, according to a draft Treasurer’s Report released by the hospital.
AT the same time long-term debt decreased for the hospital, from $9.5 million to just under $9 million. Liabilities increased some from just under $2.2 million to $3.4 million for a net increase in liabilities from $11.7 million to $12.4 million.
The Ida Grove City Council met on Monday, April 18 at 6 p.m. at the temporary City Hall in the Rec Center. In attendance were Mayor Devlun Whiteing, council members Gregor Ernst, Jeff Miesner, Ange Johnson, and Assistant Attorney Justin Reininger. The council held a public hearing on submission of a CDBG application for a Facade Project. The City of Ida Grove is proposing to submit a Community Development Block Grant application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for Facade Renovation Grant Funds through CDBG-CV portion of funding.
While basic necessities such as bread, meat and gasoline skyrocket under some of the worst inflation since the 1970s, Ida County is among the top counties in Iowa for purchasing power, according to the results of a new study. Aggregator Smart Asset has Ida County sitting at eighth place for all of Iowa’s 99 counties for the highest purchasing power.
The study looked at cost of living in relation to income locally for each county.
The final details are still being worked out, but Ida Grove residents will indeed see a return of a signature part of summer fun for the city.
Ida Grove Heritage Days is back once again with dates set for Thursday, June 23 – Sunday, June 26.
Following cancelation in 2020, the festival roared back in 2021 with the theme of “Honoring Our Hometown Heroes” with a focus on first responders, police and others who show up when we need them, rain or shine. It was a theme that resonated with many.
“We did have a great event last year,” said Heather Bogue, an organizer.
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley visited Ida County Wednesday to talk to voters over the noon hour as Iowa’s senior senator meets with constituents across the state.
For this trip, Grassley, who is Iowa’s longest-serving senator and one of only two farmers in the U.S. Senate, gathered with constituents at the Midwest Deli & Grill in Holstein.
The Senator, who is a farmer from New Hartford, Iowa, said the greatest concerns he hears from folks across the state are about inflation and illegal immigration.
Rumors have been swirling, but OABCIG officials insist no plans are in place to shutter the school in Odebolt. “The district is not looking to close the Odebolt elementary,” said Superintendent Matt Alexander.
Rather, balancing declining enrollment and budget constraints is on the minds of officials.
“What we are facing is a large number of kindergarten students in our Odebolt building, 30 I believe is the number,” said Alexander.
The district does not want to have to hire an additional staff member, a burden for the district’s budget.
A touch of class is the aim with the 2022 OABCIG Prom.
This year’s theme is “Draped with Luxury.”
“Juniors host the senior class at the Skate Palace decorated to create a bit of luxury with sparkling chandeliers, glass, mirrors and rhinestones,” said Donna Rasmussen. “A white background with silver shimmering highlights, will finish the scene.”
An open house will kick off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23. The open house runs until 4 p.m.
A highlight will come with the Grand March as the couples show off their finery for parents and the cameras.
Efforts to renegotiate the details of how Galva-Holstein and Schaller-Crestland sharing is handled should not end in a break-up, board members heard from community members.
A joint meeting of the two boards in the Schaller gymnasium drew community members curious about a decision by the G-H board to give notice of intent to end the previous sharing agreement.
In a statement to the newspaper Superintendent Jon Wiebers made clear the G-H board was not calling for an end to all sharing, just a revisitation of how the arrangement is structured.
