News

Topics of interest from the Boone County Board of Supervisors March 16

Published by editor on Wed, 03/23/2022 - 8:44am

Approved hiring of a new Park Ranger and a Naturalist for the Boone County Conservation Board, both full time positions. The Park Ranger comes from a position with Bellevue State Park and will have a dual role in law enforcement as well as maintaining the Don Williams Golf Course, bringing turf management experience to the position. The new Naturalist comes from a position with the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines.

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BCH’s Bishop honored as 2021 Brown Award Winner

Published by editor on Wed, 03/23/2022 - 8:40am

Congratulations to Cindy Bishop, Boone County Hospital (BCH) Surgery Department, who was honored as the 2021 Brown Award Winner at a ceremony in the BCH Cafeteria on March 7.

Weldon J. Brown established the Brown Award in honor of his parents, Eunice D. and Everett C. Brown, long-time residents of Boone. Each year, hospital employees nominate co-workers for the award that demonstrates outstanding service and exceptional accomplishments. The BCH Laughs and Recognition Committee then selects one employee from all of the nominations that were submitted to be recognized.

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Top 10 Announced for Iowa's Best Burger

Published by editor on Wed, 03/23/2022 - 8:30am

Iowans submitted nominations between February 14 – March 14 to kick off the quest to find the best burger in Iowa. Nominations were accepted online by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. The number of votes each restaurant received determined the 2022 Top Ten restaurants. The restaurants making the Top Ten list (in alphabetical order) include:

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Iowa Rural Development Council Announces Iowa Rural Summit

Published by editor on Wed, 03/23/2022 - 8:29am

Iowans interested in issues vital to rural communities are invited to attend the 2022 Iowa Rural Summit, organized by the Iowa Rural Development Council. The event will be held on April 12 and 13 at the Gateway Hotel and Convention Center in Ames, Iowa. Communities are encouraged to register teams of three, though individuals are also eligible to attend the event. New for the 2022 Summit, college students interested in rural issues and economic development can register at a reduced price.

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Iowa ranked 3rd best in nation for election administration

Published by editor on Wed, 03/23/2022 - 8:27am

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate announces the State of Iowa ranked third best in the nation for administration of the 2020 elections, according to new data. The Elections Performance Index, compiled by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Election Data and Science Lab, ranks states based on voter turnout, voter registration rate, and overall administration of elections.

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Des Moines Symphony’s Sound of the City campaign secures $125,000 endowment from Principal® Foundation

Published by editor on Wed, 03/23/2022 - 8:24am

The Des Moines Symphony is pleased to be the recipient of a $125,000 grant from the Principal® Foundation — a 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing philanthropic support to community programs where Principal Financial Group Inc. operates. The grant will support the Symphony’s Sound of the City campaign, which allows the Symphony and the Symphony Academy program to offer more live musical experiences and educational opportunities for central Iowa’s growing and diverse community.

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Community garden continues to grow, serve Ogden with fresh vegetables

Published by editor on Wed, 03/16/2022 - 11:12am

Since 2019 there has been a community garden in Ogden that has been growing fresh vegetables. It began when Margaret Liston retired and thought about a community garden in the city. Herself and Lori Anderson were on the city council and asked if they could go ahead and start one up.

“Denny Good’s mother offered us some land to start,” Liston said of how the garden got going. “We’re looking for a new location as the property is being sold.”

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Topics of interest from the Boone County Board of Supervisors March 9 meeting

Published by editor on Wed, 03/16/2022 - 11:09am

Approved waiving municipal solid waste tipping fees at the Boone County Landfill for the following community clean-up events:
- City of Woodward – April 19, 4 Loads
- City of Granger – May 7, 4 Loads
- City of Boone – June 13-14, up to 65 Tons

Approved signing a contract with Stratford Gravel for granular surfacing material in the amount of $271,700.

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Iowa’s high school graduation rate is 90.2 percent

Published by editor on Wed, 03/16/2022 - 11:04am

Iowa’s high school graduation rate continues to show long-term progress, although the state experienced a decrease for the graduating class of 2021, according to figures released recently by the Iowa Department of Education.

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The Wellmark Foundation provided $3.9 million to nonprofits in 2021

Published by editor on Wed, 03/16/2022 - 10:58am

Through The Wellmark Foundation’s BluesCare GivingSM program, grants and special project funding, nonprofits across Iowa and South Dakota received $3.9 million to boost community health improvement efforts and support local causes in 2021. In addition, more than 750 Wellmark employees provided nearly 28,000 volunteer hours for qualifying nonprofits.