Small school districts are great economic development engines in rural communities, and offer great opportunities for students. For example, a laptop for every high school student at Orient-Macksburg might be soon be on the horizon. Superintendent Doug Latham says the school board and staff have been working with Apple on what's called a one-to-one initiative. (more)

The locals in Audubon are divided over who has the better tenderloin in town, the Chatterbox Cafe or the Uptown Cafe. The author of this blog was lucky enough to try both in his travels through Western Iowa. (more)

The Jefferson Area Chamber of Commerce and Greene County Development Corporation (GCDC) this week announced the hiring of Ken Paxton as their new joint executive director. (more)