Press Releases/News
Video Contest Seeks Western Iowa Highlights - May 15, 2008
This video contest is challenging people to produce short videos showcasing any of the outstanding qualities of western Iowa.

Get to Know Teresa Harper - May 8, 2008
Get to know Teresa Harper, owner of AhoyToys.

Iowa Central Community College Breaks Ground on Bio-Science Building - May 7, 2008
Iowa Central Community College officials and other dignitaries were on hand last Friday, April 25, for the official groundbreaking for the new Bio-Science Health Science Center on the Fort Dodge campus.

Power Lift Forms Distribution Deal - May 7, 2008
Cybex International has formed a distribution arrangement with free-weight supplier Power Lift that allows each company to sell the other's products.

Jefferson Reveals RAGBRAI Logo - May 6, 2008
The theme and logo selected for the Jefferson RAGBRAI overnight represents that goal along with the desire to show riders that Jefferson is a town to enjoy and to which they can return, and perhaps even relocate.

Greenfield Wins Main Street Iowa Awards - May 6, 2008
Greenfield received three awards at Main Street Iowa's annual celebration honoring excellence in downtown revitalization.

Greenfield Movie is Casting Extras - May 6, 2008
The Peacock open casting-call in Greenfield attracted 176 hopefuls.

Area Hospitals Have Economic Effect on Counties - May 5, 2008
Medical services in our communitites have a tremendous effect on our local economy.

Home State Donates $4,000 to Habitat - May 5, 2008
Home State Bank in Jefferson presented a $4,000 donation to the Habitat for Humanity board.

Volunteerism Blooms in Jefferson - May 5, 2008
More than 120 buckets of colorful petunias were planted last week by a dozen-plus members of the Greene County Master Gardeners.

Farmers State Bank Donates to Yale Community Building - May 5, 2008
Farmers State Bank gave a $10,000 donation to the Yale Community Club to be used for construction of a new community building.

Guthrie Historical Village Observes 40 Years - May 5, 2008
The Guthrie County Historical Village in Panora opens May 1 for its 40th year.

White Pole Road Group Plans Yard, Garden Tour - May 5, 2008
The White Pole Road Development Corporation announced a new event, the White Pole Road Yard and Garden Tour.

Greene County Historic Barns to be Included on Spring Tour - May 5, 2008
Historic barns in Greene county will be included in the Iowa Barn Foundation's spring tour June 7-8.

Grand Junction Visioning Group Assesses Resources - May 5, 2008
Representatives from the Grand Junction Community Visioning program will host a survey workshop Wednesday, May 7, from 1-3 p.m. at the livrary of the East Greene school.

Postcards Available to Lure Past Residents to Adair County - April 30, 2008
There is a postcard available for residents of the county to use to lure past residents back to Adair County to live and work.

Greene County Foundation Awards $56,000 - April 30, 2008
The Greene County Community Foundation (GCCF) awarded $56,399 in 26 grants to communities and projects to improve the quality of life in the county

Greene County Supervisors OK Comprehensive Plan - April 30, 2008
The Greene County Board of Supervisors at its April 21 meeting approved the final draft of a comprehensive plan for the county.

Western Iowa YouTube Contest Now Underway - April 30, 2008
Western Iowa Advantage is sponsoring a video contest on YouTube™ for three categories of entrants: high school students, college students, and adults.

Tom Neel Elected VP of Iowa Lumber Group - April 28, 2008
Tom Neel, President of Lake Lumber Company in Panora, was recently elected the first vice chairman of the Iowa Lumber Association.

USDA Approves KidZone Grant - April 27, 2008
A $50,000 grant was awarded to KidZone Daycare, Inc. in Guthrie Center.

Guthrie County Airport Receives Grant - April 27, 2008
Guthrie County Regional Airport was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration.

Western Iowa Advantage Video Contest - April 24, 2008
Western Iowa Advantage (WIAD) is excited to announce an innovative new way to promote the region where we know business, careers, family, and fun all flourish.

Movie Stars Coming to Greenfield - April 24, 2008
The stars will be twinkling in Greenfield and surrounding area come early May when filming begins for the new movie, Peacock.

Adair County Students Discover Math and Science, A Must - April 24, 2008
If you want a career in animal science, engineering or forensics, the middle school students attending a day-long career adventure trip to Iowa State University are prepared to offer some sound advice.

Jefferson Airport Awarded Funds - April 24, 2008
The U.S. Department of Transporation has awarded grants to 31 Iowa airports, including Jefferson.

Adair, the Greenest County in the State - April 24, 2008
With the Ethanol Plant of Menlo and the wind turbines coming, Adair County could be called the greenest county in the State.

Lakeside Village Grand Opening - April 24, 2008
The Lakeside Village on Hwy 4 north of Panora hosted a grand opening on March 20.

Grant Funds Awarded for Jamaica Fire Department - April 24, 2008
The Jamaica Fire Department recently received a fill tank system which will allow the men to refill the self contained breathing tanks used when entering a building.

Adair County Medical Clinic Ribbon Cutting - April 24, 2008
The Greenfield Chamber sponsored a ribbon cutting for the Adair County Medical Clinic in Greenfield on April 14, 2008.

Seminar to Assist Businesses - April 22, 2008
A business development program, Renew Rural Iowa, will be presented April 29 in Panora.

Guthrie County Retail Sales Jump - April 22, 2008
Panora registered an impressive gain in the scramble for retail sales dollars during the third quarter of 2007.

Movie to be Made in Greenfield - April 17, 2008
Robert Foulkes, location manager for a movie production company, has selected Greenfield as one of the location sites for the shooting of scenes for the upcoming movie "Peacock."

Wind Power Projects Still A Go In Adair County - April 17, 2008
Iowa is number one in the nation in producing its power from wind energy.

RAGBRAI Housing Signup Begins - April 17, 2008
Housing arrangements are being made for RAGBRAI riders in Jefferson for the overnight visit on July 21.

Churdan Welcomes Author - April 17, 2008
The Churdan library welcomes Greene county native Joe Millard as he discusses his book, "The Quiet Journey," which includes stories about growing up in Greene county.

Greene County Community Foundation on TV - April 17, 2008
An Iowa Public Television program this week will feature the Greene County Community Foundation as an example of how Iowa rural communities are using state gaming reveneus to enhance their regions.

Stuart Lions Club Charter Night - April 17, 2008
The newly-formed Stuart Lions Club was presented with their club charter Saturday, April 5.

Timber Creek Receives $7,500 Grant - April 17, 2008
Timber Creek Charities of Guthrie Center has received a $7,500 Quality of Life grant from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundtaion to purchase a piece of equipment that will assist paralyzed patients.

White Graduates from Economic Development Institute - April 17, 2008
Jason White, Executive Director of the Midwest Partnership Corporation, became a graduate of the University of Oklahoma's Economic Development Institute.

Rolling Hills Bank & Trust Opens in Stuart, Menlo, Casey - April 16, 2008
Rolling Hills Bank & Trust has purchased offices in Stuart, Menlo and Casey, previously MetaBank West Central, and opened for business on Saturday, March 29.

White Pole Road: A One-Tank Trip - April 14, 2008
These are the times for one-tank trips. With gas prices shattering records, the great American road trip is reinventing itself, travel industry experts say.

Greenfield, A Main Street Town Since 1996, Receives Accreditation - April 9, 2008
Greenfield Chamber/Main Street has been accredited as a 2008 national Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center.

Greenfield Business Transitions Ownership Successfully - April 9, 2008
Yount/Glade Decorating Center has sold to Gina Wallace of Greenfield.

Paton-Churdan Coach Inducted into Hall of Fame - April 9, 2008
Jefferson-Scranton-Paton-Churdan Head Football Coach and former Activities Director Bill Kibby was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame on March 29.

Greene County Building Habitat for Humanity Home - April 9, 2008
Greene County has a Habitat for Humanity Chapter which is planning on building its first new home in Greene County this summer.

Mid-American Wind Turbines Expansion is a Go - April 8, 2008
About 78 wind turbines are planned for Cass and Adair Counties.

Jefferson Offers RAGBRAI Sponsorships - April 8, 2008
Area businesses and organizations are invited to join in the fun of Jefferson's overnight RAGBRAI event by participating in a unique opportunity.

Adair County Hospital Announces Two New Surgeons - April 8, 2008
Adair County Health System will welcome two new general suregeons soon.

Guthrie Center Audit Shows City Receipts Were Up, Expenses Down - April 8, 2008
An audit of the City of Guthrie Center showed receipts outpaced expenditures during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007.

Greenfield Awarded $900 For Keep Iowa Beautiful - March 28, 2008
Nine Iowa communities have been awarded funds from the Keep Iowa Beautiful (KIB) Program.

Get to Know Gladys Willey of Panora State Bank - March 28, 2008
Get to Know Gladys Willey, Assistant Vice-President of Panora State Bank.

Hawkeye Growth Receives 400 Job Applications - March 27, 2008
Approximately 400 employment applications were received by Hawkeye Renewables/Hawkeye Growth at its job fair in Menlo.

West Central Valley Schools to Get New High School - March 26, 2008
Voters approved a $16.95 million bond issue for a new high school in Stuart and to renovate the existing high school into an elementary school.

Iowa Farm Bureau Awards Grant to ACH - March 25, 2008
Iowa Farm Bureau recently presented a $10,000 check to the Adair County Health Foundation.

Iowa Central Community College Spikes in Enrollment - March 24, 2008
Enrollment at Iowa Central Community College has increased every semester for 13 consecutive years, and the trend continued with the release of the spring enrollment numbers this week.

RRVT Trail Featured in Internet Video - March 24, 2008
The Raccoon River Valley Trail is featured in a new video that can now be seen free on the Internet.

Heartland Postforming Begins Production - March 21, 2008
Heartland Postforming, a manufacturer of laminate countertops held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, March 14.

Guthrie Center Horses Help Kids Cope with Grief - March 21, 2008
The April 26 Hearts 'N Hooves camp will be held at Timber Creek Therapies near Guthrie Center, in partnership with Iowa Hospice.

Stuart Medical Clinic Awarded Funds from Statewide Network - March 21, 2008
The Stuart Medical Clinic recently received funding through the Iowa Collaborative Safety Net Provider Network to support their efforts to provide healthcare to the uninsured and underserved.

Greenfield to be Considered as a Movie Location - March 21, 2008
An out-of-town visitor stopped by the Free Press while in town on Thursday, March 13..

Power Lift Forms Alliance with Cybex International - March 21, 2008
Cybex International Inc., a manufacturer of exercise equipment, announced yesterday that it has entered into an alliance with Power Lift.

American Athletic Inc. to Supply Alberta Gymnastics - March 19, 2008
American Athletic Inc. of Jefferson announced that it will become the official artistic gymnastics supplier to the Alberta Gymnastics Federation.

Big-Time College Football Coaches Speak in Jefferson - March 19, 2008
The annual Jefferson-Scranton football clinic was attended by some 800 coaches from Iowa and nearby states.

Jefferson Receives $350,000 Housing Grant - March 19, 2008
The city of Jefferson recently received word of the success of its application for additional housing funds from the Iowa Department of Economic Development.

Hospice Suite Dedicated at Community Care Center - March 17, 2008
Community Care Center Foundation in Stuart had a thought about one-and-one half years ago to create a Hospice room.

Stuart Receives $500,000 Block Grant - March 17, 2008
The City of Stuart has been awarded a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $500,000 for waste-water treatment plant improvements.

Nodaway Valley Market Hits Two-Year Anniversary - March 17, 2008
"We can always use more investors," Summerset Enterprises, Inc. President Larry Raper says of the Nodaway Valley Market in Fontanelle.

First National Bank Donates to Greenfield Sports Complex - March 17, 2008
First National Bank recently donated $25,000 for the Greenfield Sports Complex.

Scranton Approves RAGBRAI Pass Through Agreement - March 17, 2008
The Scranton City Council approved a pass-through agreement with RAGBRAI at the meeting held on February 26.

Yale Community Club Solicits for New Building - March 10, 2008
The Yale Community Club has kicked off its donation program to raise funds needed to build a new community building.

Jefferson Telephone Co. Charitable Trust Gives $10,000 to Habitat for Humanity - March 10, 2008
The Greene County Habitat for Humanity board has received a substantial donation in the amount of $10,000 from the Jefferson Telephone Co. Charitable Trust.

Hawkeye Renewables to Hold Job Fair - March 7, 2008
Hawkeye Energy, a leading ethanol producer, is excited to be opening a new ethanol plant in Menlo.

Guthrie County GIS Partially Up and Running - March 4, 2008
Guthrie County's venture into a Geographical Informational System (GIS) is on-line for residents to view via the Internet.

RRVT Has Capacity Crowd for Event - March 4, 2008
The Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) Association held its first membership banquet Saturday, Feb. 23.

PRIDE's Revolving Loan Fund - March 4, 2008
PRIDE has established a Revolving Loan Fund.

Get to Know Nancy Smith of Lake Panorama Realty - March 4, 2008
Get to know Nancy Smith, Office Manager for Lake Panorama Realty.

Empowering Adair County Foundation Award Grants - March 4, 2008
The Empowering Adair County Foundation awarded $7,762.29 to six different groups.

Adair County Students Explore Manufacturing Careers - March 3, 2008
Agri Drain was one of the stops on a manufacturing Career Adventure Trip organized through the Nodaway Valley AmeriCorp porgram and Adair County Extension.

Agri Drain Corp. Partners to Install Bioreactors - March 3, 2008
Agriculture's Clean Water Alliance (ACWA) is supporting a tile line bioreactor pilot project in the Raccoon River watershed in 2008.

OPERA Iowa Comes to Jefferson - February 28, 2008
First and second graders at Jefferson elementary experienced the music and drama of opera when OPERA Iowa visited the school Feb. 15.

West Central, REG Inc. Partners in Military Biodiesel Waste Project - February 28, 2008
Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REG) of Ames and its parent company, West Central Cooperative of Ralston, are two of the partners in a biodiesel industry collaboration that has received additional military funding for power-generation research.

Nichols Farms Recognized Nationally - February 28, 2008
Nichols Farms, Bridgewater, has been recognized nationally by the American Angus Association for having 25 registered Angus cows included in the Associations 2008 Pathfinder Report.

Guthrie County Conservation, Engineer Offices Honored - February 28, 2008
Two Guthrie County entities were recognized recently by the Iowa Concrete Paving Association.

MidAmerican Energy Prepares Adair County Wind Project - February 19, 2008
During the Jan. 16 meeting of the Adair County Board of Supervisors, county engineer Charles Marker reported meeting with a representative of MidAmerican Energy about their wind project in Adair County.

Rippey Halfway to Bike Trail Goal - February 19, 2008
Peoples Trust and Savings Bank in Rippey has jumpstarted Friends of Rippey's Galloping Goose Bike Trail fundraiser with a generous $1,250 donation.

RAGBRAI Headed Through Guthrie County - February 19, 2008
Although it's not official, logic indicates RAGBRAI, the week long bike trek across Iowa, will slice through Guthrie County as riders peddle their way from Harlan to Jefferson which are overnight destinations.

Panora Offers Financial Incentives for Downtown - February 18, 2008
The Panora city council Monday evening approved offering a financial incentive to downtown business owners who improve the facade of their building.

GCDC Sponsoring Entrepreneurial Workshops - February 18, 2008
Sid Jones and Rick Bonander, co-chairs of the Entrepreneur Task Force of Greene County Development COrporation (GCDC), announced today that their group is sponsoring a series of workshops for small business owners and individuals who want to start their own business.

Jefferson native Deal named a 'Collegiate All-Star' by USA Today - February 14, 2008
Christopher Deal named to the second team in USA TODAY's 19th annual All-USA College Academic Team program.

West Central Iowa Invites Young, Former Residents to "Come Home" - February 12, 2008
Western Iowa Advantage (WIAD), an eight county collaborative effort of economic development organizations, is reaching out to young professionals and former residents asking them to return to Western Iowa.

Nodaway Valley Students Excel in Academics, Physics - February 12, 2008
Rural communities face common issues. We must work together for the mutual benefit of our communities.

SBDC Director in Greenfield on 1st Mondays - February 12, 2008
Dave McLaren, Director of the South Central Iowa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Creston, was in Greenfield Monday, Feb. 4.

Greene County Foundation Earns Award - February 12, 2008
At the Iowa Community Vitality Center's (CVC) fifth annual Community Philanthroupy Academy held in Des Moines this week, The Greene County Community Foundation (GCCF) was honored with one of four state awards given by CVC.

RRVT Association Plans Banquet February 23 - February 12, 2008
The Raccoon River Valley Trail Association invites all trail enthusiasts to its first membership banquet on Saturday, February 23, in the banquet room of The Port Restaurant just north of Panora on Highway 4.

Jay Goughnour Purchases Raccoon Bend Golf Club - February 12, 2008
Raccoon Bend Golf Club on the south edge of Jefferson has been purchased by Jay Goughnour.

BRR Ride Was Held Feb. 2nd - February 12, 2008
Hundreds of bike riders braved the winter weather to take part in the 24 mile round trip BRR (Bike Ride to Rippey) from Perry Feb. 2nd.

Yale Raising Funds For New Community Center - February 12, 2008
The Yale Community Group has kicked off their donation program to raise funds needed to build a new community building.

IDED Director Says State Well Positioned - February 8, 2008
Mike Tramontina, Director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development said even with the economy slowing somewhat, Iowa has more jobs than workers.

Philanthropy Alive in Guthrie Center - February 8, 2008
Area residents and other parties interested in the future of rural America, Guthrie County and Guthrie Center, please stand up and take a bow. Your contributions have helped spur approximately $17 million in construction and facilities improvements in the county seat in the last three years.

Guthrie Center's Building Permit Total Soars with NH Construction - February 6, 2008
Only 12 building permits were issued by the City of Guthrie Center during 2007, but the total was the highest ever, $7,053,000.

Get to Know Julie Zajicek - February 6, 2008
Get to know Julie Zajicek, Vice President of Panora State Bank.

Panora Home to New Computer Store - February 6, 2008
In the two months that the 'new Dell computer store' in Panora has been open, visitors have found out that Advanced Computer & Graphic Solutions (ACGS) is a whole lot more than just a computer store.

Genesis Development Earns Three-Year Reaccreditation - February 5, 2008
CARF, the international Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, has announced that Genesis Development has received a three-year accreditation award for its work services, employment services, group living, supported community living, and adult day activity programs.

Rippey Group to Raise Funds for 'the Goose' - February 5, 2008
Friends of Rippey (FOR) kicks off its 2008 fund drive campaign, Support the Goose-Pave the Way, this Saturday, Feb. 2, during the annual Bike Ride to Rippey.

PRIDE Meetings are "Win-Win" Events - February 5, 2008
PRIDE group meetings are held twice a month and there are a number of things about them that make them "Win-Win events.

Guthrie Center Area Development Corporation Annual Meeting - February 4, 2008
The annual meeting of the Guthrie Center Area Development Corporation was Monday, February 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the Guthrie Center High School Library.

IDED Director to Keynote Jan. 31 Dinner - January 28, 2008
Midwest Partnership Corporation (MWP) will hold its annual dinner meeting Thursday, Jan. 31, at Lake Panorama National Conference Center.

Guthrie Entrepreneurs Developing Value-Added Soy Straw - January 28, 2008
A value-added ag innovation by four Guthrie County men has been recognized by the Iowa Department of Economic Development which will award the project $125,000 to further its research and development efforts.

Jefferson Selected by RABRAI - January 28, 2008
RAGBRAI XXXVI will roll into Jefferson with its crowd of 10,000 cyclists on Monday, July 21, and stay overnight here.

Casey Mutual Telephone Donates to Local Organizations - January 28, 2008
Casey Mutual Telephone Co. handed out donations last week to Casey Library and Casey Historical Society.

"Grin & BRR It" Theme for Perry-Rippey Bike Ride - January 28, 2008
The theme of this year's 31st annual BRR (Bike Ride to Rippey), sponsored by the Perry Chamber of Commerce, is "Grin & BRR It!"

West Central Will Celebrate 75 Years at June Meeting - January 28, 2008
West Central is gearing up to celebrate 75 years of serving area farmers. The cooperative will mark the milestone year with a key celebration at its annual membership meeting in June.

New Bayard Water Plant On Line! - January 28, 2008
The new Bayard well and water plant are on line at last. The project, which began several years ago when the State Department of Natural Resources issued a radium warning, is nearly completed.

Grand Junction Selected by DOT's Living Roadways - January 22, 2008
The Iowa Department of Transportation, Trees Forever, and Iwoa State University Landscape Architecture Extension hav selected the city of Grand Junction to participate in the 2008 Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning Program.

Empowering Adair County Foundation Awards Grants - January 22, 2008
Grants were awarded by Empowering Adair County Foundation to several groups that had applied to the foundation for funding assistance with special projects.

Power Lift Equipment Donation to Rec Center is Worth $30,000 - January 17, 2008
Power Lift recently donated 10 pieces of weight training equipment to the Greene County Community Center.

ISU Extension Examines Bioeconomy Future of Greene County - January 17, 2008
Biorenewable energy is a topic of great debate throughout the country and, because of its connection to the biofuels industry, in Iowa in particular.

John Fisher is Re-Elected President of RIADA, Inc. - January 11, 2008
The annual meeting of RIADA, Inc. was held Monday noon in the meeting room of the Adair Public Library.

Grand Junction Volunteers Make Plans to Enhance and Improve Community - January 11, 2008
The Iowa Department of Transportation, Trees Forever, and Iowa State University Landscape Architecture Extension have selected the city of Grand Junction to participate in the 2008 Iowa's Living Roadways Community Visioning Program.

Greene County Community Foundation Applications Available - January 10, 2008
Does your local non-profit organization or government entity need a jump start financially for a new project it's considering?

Meet Bill McKim, Midland Power's New GM - January 9, 2008
Bill McKim has long considered Midland Power Cooperative one of the best electric cooperatives in Iowa. Now he is working to keep it that way.

Raccoon River Valley Trail Awarded Funds for Extension - January 9, 2008
The Raccoon River Valley Trail, one of central Iowa's most popular recreational attractions, received a $750,000 federal grant Tuesday to help develop a 72-mile loop trail that should become a big tourist draw, officials said.

Midwest Partnership Update - January 8, 2008
Jason White, Executive Director of Midwest Partnership Corporation, gave his quarterly report to the Adair County Board of Supervisors during their regular meeting on Dec. 12.

Cargill/Kitchen Solutions Donates $20,000 - January 8, 2008
Cargill, which has a plant in Panora, is donating $10,000 each to two area foundations, the Prairie Woodland Conservation Foundtaion (PWCF) and the Guthrie County Hospital Foundation (GCHF).

More People Working in Region Than 2006 - January 8, 2008
The Western Iowa Advantage Region's monthly unemployment rate increased to 3.1 percent in November from 2.8 percent in November 2006.

Habitat for Humanity to Build a House in Greene County - January 8, 2008
Greene County Habitat for Humanity recently announced plans to build a house in Greene county in 2008.

Greene County Community Foundation Offers Grants - January 8, 2008
Does your local non-profit organization or government entity need a jump start financially for a new project it's considering?

PRIDE On Board With CAT Grant - January 8, 2008
The Panora development group, PRIDE, approved sending a letter of commitment to the Guthrie County Supervisors pledging a $5,000 financial contribution as part of the potential CAT grant for the Raccoon River Valley Trail.

Greene County Community Foundation's Campaign is Successful - January 8, 2008
The Greene County Community Foundation (GCCF) wrapped up its third year of operation with a very successful direct mail campaign.

Roy Bardole Named to Board of Soy Transportation Coalition - January 8, 2008
Roy Bardole of rural Rippey has been named an ex officio member of the Soy Transportation Coalition (STC) board of directors.

Jefferson Downtown Project Pursues CAT Grant - January 8, 2008
Jefferson Downtown Streescape committee members, and representatives from the Jefferson city council and county supervisors, met with the Vision Iowa board and its Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) committee via a teleconference call Wednesday, Dec. 12.

PRIDE - What You May Not Know - January 8, 2008
Read about some Panora Development group facts that you may not know about.

Halterman Opens Massage, Reflexology Office - January 8, 2008
Gerry Halterman, licensed massage therapist and reflexologist, has opened Your Time Bodywork & Reflexology at his home at 621 S. Vine in Jefferson.

New Ownership for Union State Bank - January 8, 2008
Union State Bank in Greenfield has new owners.

Guthrie County Conservation Board Preparing CAT Grant Application - December 21, 2007
Joe Hanner, executive director of the Guthrie County Conservation Board, said commitments and paper work are being finalized for a joint application by GCCB and the Dallas County Conservation Board for a state Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant.

Guthrie Center Completing Child Care Grant - December 18, 2007
Following a public hearing Monday, information was forwarded to Region XII Council of Governments, Carroll, which this week will complete the City of Guthrie Center's application for a $71,500 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

Guthrie County Hospital Contributes to Area Growth - December 18, 2007
Physical expansion at Guthrie County Hospital also has equated to economic growth in the region.

New Village Near Bridgewater - December 18, 2007
On the way into Bridgewater from Highway 92 is where one man is building a small village.

Rippey Trail Progress - December 10, 2007
Rippey residents are celebrating the new bike trail.

LPN's Dinnebier is IGA's Top Club Manager - December 7, 2007
John Dinnebier, Lake Panorama National Golf Resort and Conference Center general manager and director of golf, was named 2007 Club Manager of the Year by the Iowa Golf Association (IGA).

Menlo's Tallest Man Will Stand Tall Again - December 7, 2007
The mechanical gas station attendant, an area landmark at Kalbach Oil Company in Menlo will be refurbished.

New Homestead Starts $6.4 Million Building Project - December 5, 2007
The New Homestead/Homestead Acres has designed a skilled nursing home and assisted living facility to provide the resident centered care environment of the future.

Jefferson artist illuminates holidays, plans open house - December 4, 2007
With a palette of 50,000 dazzling lights, painter Joe Murray transforms winter’s darkest days into a sparkling holiday spectacular at his acreage in Greene County’s rolling, heavily timbered Raccoon River Valley.

E-85 Now Available at R & D Service - December 3, 2007
E-85 is a new product now available at R & D Service Unlimited, L.L.C. in Stuart.

Adair County Hospital Receives 2,824 Bushels of Corn - December 3, 2007
Adair County Health Foundation has received nine loads of corn for the Ag Phase of the Capital Campaign two-million dollar drive for the Adair County Memorial Hospital's building addition and renovation.

Golf Makes Big Impact on Local, Iowa Economy - December 3, 2007
New research shows Iowa's golf industry packs a big punch when it comes to economic impact on the state's economy.

Get to Know Ryan Ketelsen - December 3, 2007
Get to know Ryan Ketelsen, General Manager of the Lakeside Inn and The Port Restaurant in Panora, Iowa.

5 X 80 Realty Moves to New Home in Stuart - November 27, 2007
5 X 80 Realty moved Saturday, Nov. 17 from their downtown location to 123 SE Seventh Street in Stuart.

MicroSoy Announces First Soyflake Shipment to India - November 27, 2007
MicroSoy Corporation of Jefferson this week announced the shipment of its first container of MicroSoy Flakes to India.

WIAD Awarded $50,000 for Virtual Spec Building - November 27, 2007
The state this week announced Regional Marketing Awards totaling $460,000 for 10 organizations across Iowa to promote collaborative community marketing efforts.

Thank a Farmer - November 27, 2007
We farmers work in one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S.

Owner Revolution Donates to Adair County Health Foundation - November 27, 2007
Owner Revolution recently made a $1,000 donation to the Adair County Health Foundation.

Mayor Outlines Adair's Priorities - November 27, 2007
Part II of an article written by Mayor Kelby Harris.

Bayard Betterment Foundation Completes Sign - November 27, 2007
The Bayard Betterment Foundation assisted with the new sign on the west side of Bayard which is now complete.

Western Iowa Advantage Holds Second Annual Economic Development Forum - November 19, 2007
Western Iowa Advantage updated local stakeholders and legislators on regional progress on October 30.

Genesis Development Awarded USDA Funds - November 19, 2007
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide Jefferson-based Genesis Development a loan for $250,000 as part of its Community Facility Direct Loan Program.

Stuart's Project Restore Moves Forward - November 16, 2007
"This is a monumental day for the City of Stuart and we're excited to keep the restoration process of this important building forward-moving."

Greenfield Raises Funds for Sports Complex - November 16, 2007
One hundred fifty supporters of the Greenfield Sports Complex fundraiser attended a sit-down dinner and silent auction on Saturday, Nov. 10 in Greenfield.

Mayor Highlights Adair's Successes - November 16, 2007
Have you heard anyone suggest that our town is dying? A friend of mine overheard someone say that recently and told me about it.

Jefferson seeks grant for downtown rejuvenation - November 15, 2007
A town in west central Iowa, possibly best known for it's annual Bell Tower Festival, is asking for a $660,000 grant from the Vision Iowa Program.

GCDC Boosts Entrepreneurism - November 15, 2007
Lisa Shimkat, director of the Fort Dodge Small Business Development Center (SBDC), attended the October meeting of Greene County Development Corporation's Entrepreneur Task Force.

Jefferson Chamber, GCDC to Sponsor Human Resources Seminar - November 12, 2007
Greene County Development Corporation and the Jefferson Area Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a three-hour human resources seminar on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Milwaukee Depot in Jefferson.

Genesis Will Hold Its Open House - November 12, 2007
Genesis Development has moved and will host an open house at its new facilities at 401 W. McKinley in Jefferson on Friday, Nov. 16, from 1:30 to 6 p.m.

Mayor Credits Fontanelle Community - November 12, 2007
The Fontanelle Community once again showed what a great place it is to live.

Rep. Tjepkes Promotes Intern Program - November 12, 2007
Monday Rep. David Tjepkes (R-Gowrie) announced information regarding the Innovation and Commercialization Internship Program.

Stuart Native Purchases Ruppert Funeral Home - November 9, 2007
Ruppert Funeral Home of Stuart is being sold to a Paola, Kansas couple intent on continuing the business as a family operation.

Panora Given RISE Funding for Business Park - November 9, 2007
The Iowa Transportation Commission Tuesday approved a Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy (RISE) Local Development grant application submitted by the city of Panora.

IA Workforce Development, WIAD Begin Job Vacancy Review - November 9, 2007
Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) has begun the process of collecting information from employers on their workforce challenges, hard-to-fill posistions, and issues surrounding workfoce shortages due to attrition and retirement.

Unwrap the Magic in Greenfield - November 9, 2007
Shoppers will "Unwrap the Magic" in Greenfield this holiday season.

Agriculture Outlook Meeting To Be Held in Greenfield - November 9, 2007
Iowa State University (ISU) Extension will be hosting an Agriculture Outlook meeting at the Adair County Fairgrounds 4-H and FFA Center on Thursday, Nov. 29, from 9 to 11:45 a.m.

Jefferson-Scranton School Enrollment Increases - November 5, 2007
For the first time in several years, the Jefferson-Scranton School District showed an increase in enrollment.

Guthrie County Hospital to celebrate expansion projects - November 5, 2007
Guthrie County Hospital, Guthrie Center, is holding an open house Saturday, November 3 to celebrate its latest expansion project which includes a radiology suite, a pharmacy, ambulance garage and emergency department.

Groundbreaking for Keller Industries Started - November 5, 2007
Evidence of the most recent business venture in Greenfield was a Wednesday groundbreaking for construction of an 8,000 square-foot building two miles south of Greenfield.

Guthrie Hospital Celebrates Completion of Expansion Project Saturday - November 5, 2007
The Guthrie County Hospital is celebrating the completion of a major expansion project with an open house on Saturday, November 3.

Farmers give corn to help Greenfield hospital grow - October 31, 2007
The plan is to spend nearly $10 million expanding and renovating the Adair County Memorial Hospital in Greenfield.

Adair County Wind Power - October 31, 2007
The new Clipper ship Morning Light of Boston is one of the best-built vessels of her size ever constructed at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Greenfield Sports Complex in Planning Stage - October 31, 2007
Volunteer parents from Bridgewater, Fontanelle and Greenfield are planning a kick-off fundraiser for a new Sports Complex that will facilitate youth and adult baseball, softball, soccer and walking trail.

Jefferson-Scranton School Breaks Ground - October 31, 2007
The Jefferson-Scranton Community School District held a ground-breaking ceremony for the new additions to Jefferson Elementary School on East Russell Street Wednesday afternoon.

What's Neat About Greene County? Youngsters give their answers - October 31, 2007
The Jefferson Area Chamber of Commerce, Greene County Development Corporation, and the city of Jefferson are collaborating to establish a Positive Greene County Campaign.

Panorama District Increases 30 Kids - October 31, 2007
The Panorama School District showed a dramatic increase over last year in the number of students attending classes there.

Greenfield resident in Special Olympics World Games - October 29, 2007
The sport of bowling has opened up a whole new world to Jody Sheriff.

GCCF, Extension Host Meeting on Philanthropy October 30 - October 19, 2007
For the benefit of professional financial advisors, area charitable foundations, non-profit organizations and churches, a "State of Philanthropy in Greene County" meeting will be held Tuesday, Oct. 30 at noon at the ISU Extension office in Jefferson.

Greene County Community Foundation Deadline Near - October 19, 2007
The Greene County Community Foundation (GCCF) reminds all residents to mail their donations to the foundation by Oct. 31 in order to take advantage of the state tax credit available from the Endow Iowa Tax Credit program.

SBDC Offers Support to Adair County - October 19, 2007
Members of Greenfield Chamber/Main Street met Tuesday noon, Oct. 16, at the Chamber/Main Street Building.

ATV Repair and Recycling Center Open in Jefferson - October 19, 2007
A pair of new businesses are open at 600 E. Lincolnway, across from the Milwaukee Depot in Jefferson.

Guthrie Center School Enrollment Up - October 19, 2007
Enrollment figures for the 2007-08 school year have been finalized and Guthrie Center gained 7.5 students, superintendent Steve Smith told the school board Monday evening.

Nichols Farms Ranked First in Angus Registrations - October 19, 2007
Nichols Farms of Bridgewater ranked as largest in registering the most Angus beef cattle in Iowa, having recorded 380 head of Angus with the American Angus Association during fiscal year 2007.

Accomplishments Reviewed by MWP - October 15, 2007
The board of directors of Midwest Partnership recently updated its business plan and reviewed accomplishments during the past year.

Jefferson Telephone/Cablevision Plans Museum Open House - October 15, 2007
Jefferson Telephone & Cablevision will host a customer appreciation meal to celebrate its 50th anniversary of the telephone museum on Thursday, Oct. 18.

New LPA General Manager Brings Varied Experience - October 15, 2007
John Rutledge grew up in Guthrie Center, graduating from high school there in 1992.

Panorama School Enrollment Grows by 3.5 Percent - October 15, 2007
Superintendent John Millhollin reported to the Panorama school board Monday evening that preliminary enrollment figures for budge purposed shows an increase of 27.6 students to 803 total.

Peoples Trust Breaks Ground in Rippey - October 15, 2007
Peoples Trust and Savings Bank broke ground Oct. 2 on a new branch office in Rippey.

Guthrie County Bridge Safety Concerns Met - October 15, 2007
In the wake of the I-35W bridge collapse into the Mississippi River at Minneapolis, the safety of all bridges and aging infrastructure is being scruitinized.

Deals Chosen as ISU Family of the Year - October 15, 2007
Jerald and Cindy Deal and their three sons will be honored as one of two 2007 Families of the Year at Cyclone Family Weekend Oct. 12-14 on the Iowa State University campus in Ames.

Stuart Receives Grant to Rebuild Destroyed Catholic Church - October 12, 2007
The state has awarded $545,000 to a church in Stuart that was destroyed by fire 12 years ago, giving a boost to residents who want to restore the rare Byzantine-style building.

Region XII Receives Housing Rehab Grant - October 11, 2007
Region XII Council of Governments, Carroll, is receiving $57,078 in Housing Preservation Grant funds through USDA Rural Development.

PS Manufacturing Brings Environmentally Friendly Product, Savings to Forefront - October 11, 2007
When it comes to Iowa and conserving energy and saving money most people look at the most popular green, ethanol-based fuel.

200+ Attend Open House at St. Jude's in Bayard - October 11, 2007
An onslaught of more than 200 persons attended the open house Thursday, Sept. 27, of St. Jude's Thaddeus Retreat House in Bayard.

Grand Junction Lions Mark Club's 75th Birthday - October 11, 2007
The Grand Junction Lions Club celebrated the 75th anniversary of its charter with a dinner and program Oct. 1 in the East Greene Gymnasium in Grand Junction.

$114,000 Government Grant to Bagley Community Ambulance - October 11, 2007
There is good news from the Bagley Community Ambulance. Word was received last week from U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin that the volunteer-based organization was selected as a grant recipient through the federal government.

A Decade of Bike Trail Memories - October 11, 2007
The annual fall festival on the Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) is being held Saturday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with activities all along its 56 miles through three counties.

Greenfield Horizons Moves to Action Phase - October 11, 2007
Jobs, food, child care, education, and financial management are all part of Horizons participants' plan to help reduce poverty and move towards a more thriving community.

Adair County Hospital Finds New Ways to Raise Funds - October 11, 2007
On December 6, 1946 the first hospital Board Members signed oaths. This board included L.E. Sinner, Mrs. Esther Herrick, Mrs. Stacie Hoffman, J.E. Howe, Paul Johnson, K.H. Sidey, and Herman Zietlow.

Ag Drainage Task Force Tours Agri Drain - October 10, 2007
On Thursday, Sept. 27, Agri Drain Corporation was visited by nearly 40 members of the Ag Drainage Management Systems Task Force and the Ag Drainage Management Coalition.

Get to Know Tom & Sharon Neel Owners of Lake Lumber - October 10, 2007
Find out Tom & Sharon's background, why they chose this business, and what brought them to Panora.

Grant Sought for Guthrie Center Day Care - October 10, 2007
Some 300 randomly selected households in Guthrie Center received a daycare survey the past week and are encouraged to complete and return the form.

Midwest Partnership Launches West Central Iowa Job Bank - October 3, 2007
Midwest Partnership Corporation (MWP), a collaborative, non-profit, economic development organization for Green, Adair, and Guthrie counties, has launched the West Central Iowa Job Bank, a special link to Iowa Workforce Development's jobs site on the web.

Region XII COG Gets Performance Award - October 3, 2007
The Economic Development Administration (EDA), an agency within the United States Department of Commerce, has announced that Region XII Council of Governments, based in Carroll, has received a planning performance award for the year ending June 30,2007.

Fundraising Campaign Scheduled by GCCF - October 3, 2007
The Greene County Community Foundation (GCCF) is preparing for their annual autumn fundraising campaign.

Scranton Mfg. Takes Recent Initiatives - October 3, 2007
Scranton Manufacturing Co. Inc., producer of New Way refuse bodies, recently summarized a series of company initiatives taken in recent months.

Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame Inducts Two - October 1, 2007
The Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame will honor two early aviation pioneers at its annual banquet Saturday, Oct. 6., in Greenfield.

RRVT Fall Festival is 56 Miles of Fun - October 1, 2007
The Raccoon River Valley Trail will feature outdoor activities for nearly everyone during its second annual Fall Festival Saturday, October 6, on the 56-mile-long hard-surfaced recreational trail.

Panora Council: Downtown Open Oct. 5 - October 1, 2007
Wearied by delay, the Panora City council Monday evening voted to notify Concrete Technologies (CT) it has until October 5 to finish downtown sidewalk work.

MWP Update-Merlynn Brown, Bridgewater, Newly Appointed Board Member - October 1, 2007
Jason White, Executive Director of Midwest Partnership Corporation, gave a presentation about economic development in Adair County.

Greenfield Horizons Action Planning Session Set - September 26, 2007
Community members with a desire to help reduce poverty and make the community a more thriving place to live are encouraged to participate in a special Action Planning session on Thursday, September 27th.

St. Jude House Sets Opening Thursday - September 26, 2007
The community is invited to join the staff of St. Jude's Retreat House in Bayard for an open house to preview the newly remodeled facility on Thursday, September 27.

Orient Wind Farm Group Gives Support to Invenergy - September 26, 2007
The Orient Wind Farm Group announced Monday, Sept. 17, they will be supporting Invenergy Wind North America LLC for a wind farm in southern Adair and northern Union counties.

Whiterock Receives $1.7 million CAT Grant - September 26, 2007
Vision Iowa recently awarded a $1.7 million Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant to the City of Coon Rapids for "Opening Whiterock: A Public Private Partnership for Rural Tourism."

Lake Panorama's Influence on County Grows - September 26, 2007
Revaluation of lake properties in 2006 by the Guthrie County assessor vaulted Lake Panorama to a record concentration of wealth.

Central Iowa Soy Receives USDA Grant - September 26, 2007
Sen. Chuck Grassley announced recently that a program he created will provide grants totaling $1,198,858 to 13 Iowa projects through the Value-Added Agricultural Product Market Development Grant program.

Panora Seeks Proposals to Develop Former City Hall - September 26, 2007
The Panora city council is seeking proposals for developing the fire hall-old city hall-former library complex.

Grand Junction Residents to Help Develop Action Plan - September 26, 2007
Grand Junction resdients are invited to help create an action plan for a thriving community on Thursday, Sept. 27.

GCMC to Celebrate 70 Years Sunday with Lunch and Tours - September 26, 2007
Greene County Medical Center (GCMC) will celebrate 70 years of caring for the health care needs of area residents on Sunday, Sept. 23.

Home State Donates to Youth Football - September 26, 2007
Home State Bank of Jefferson last week donated $500 to the Greene County Youth Athletic Association to help support the youth tackle football program.

GCMC Board Mulls Doctor Recruitment - September 26, 2007
Physician recruitment was among the topics at the Greene County Medical Center (GCMC) board of trustees meeting Aug. 16.

"Giant bean" at West Central - September 26, 2007
Two "giant beans" from the Iowa Soybean Association have made their way to two of West Central's offices.

MWP Links to IWD Website to Offer Job Listings - September 20, 2007
The Midwest Partnership Corporation (MWP) has launched the West Central Iowa Job Bank, a special link to Iowa Workforce Development's jobs site on the web.

Schildberg Construction Company Inc.-70 Years in Adair County - September 20, 2007
At the end of the Great Depression, E.F. and Sylvia Schildberg started a construction company in Greenfield with one rock quarry, six employees and a small amount of equipment.

Greenfield Municipal Utilities Pledges $10,000 to Hospital - September 20, 2007
Greenfield Municipal Utilities Board met Sept. 10, when members recognized the importance of a hospital in the community and gave their support of the economic development by pledging to contribute $10,000 per year for the next five years.

Taste Delight Comes to Jefferson Sept. 22 - September 20, 2007
The Greene County Arts Council will host A Palette of Taste and Vision on Saturday, September 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Old Milwaukee Depot on East Lincolnway in Jefferson.

Panora Seeks Developer for City Complex - September 20, 2007
A plan was approved by the Panora city council Monday evening to seek proposals for developing the fire hall-old city hall-former library complex, setting out terms and offering possible financial incentives.

Harding Honored as Jefferson Rotary Professional of the Year - September 20, 2007
At its annual celebration dinner, the Rotary Club of Jefferson honored Sam Harding as its professional of the year.

Bayard Golf Day 2007 Recap - September 20, 2007
Sixty-nine golfers enjoyed a beautiful day of golfing and socializing at the Coon Rapids Golf Course for Bayard Golf Day 2007.

Stuart City Council Advances Community Projects - September 20, 2007
The Stuart City Council passed several resolutions for a number of city projects at their regular council meeting held Monday, Sept. 10.

Greenfield Horizons Project Seeks Input - September 20, 2007
Greenfield residents and workers, along with residents of nearby communities, are encouraged to complete a short survey to provide the Horizons project organizers with their input.

Greenfield's Early Wheels Swap Meet Successful - September 20, 2007
"Our parking lots are full. When the parking lots are full you know you have a lot of buyers. When the lots are full, you've got lots of vendors. So, that's about as successful as you can get," stated Harry "Skip" Spence of Ackworth.

Dave Nichols, Bridgewater, Elected Angus Delegate - September 20, 2007
David Nichols of Bridgewater has been elected as a delegate, and Evan Rayl, also of Bridgewater, has been elected as an alternate delegate to the 124th Annual American Angus Association Convention of Delegates, Nov. 12, in Louisville, Ky., reports John Crouch, executive vice president of the American Angus Association SM.

Lincoln Highway Interpretive Site Underway Near Grand Junction - September 12, 2007
An interpretive site along the route of the old Lincoln Highway on the east edge of Grand Junction is slated for completion yet this fall.

Local Representatives Take Community Class - September 12, 2007
This week local leaders from Coon Rapids, Bayard, Guthrie Center, and Panora were trained in how to help combat rural poverty.

Greenfield Community Provides Input - September 12, 2007
The Andrew's Center was close to capacity on Monday night as 136 Greenfield area residents turned out to provide input into a community vision.

Syngenta Project Doubles Plant Size - September 11, 2007
The $7.5 million expansion of Syngenta's soybean seed conditioning plant at the north edge of Jefferson is on schedule, with a target date for completion at the end of September, in time to handle the fall seed bean crop.

Adair County Free Press: Wind Power Facts & Myths - September 11, 2007
While Adair County landowners struggle with the onslaught of the wind companies looking to build projects in various parts of the county, the rest of the public probably has questions of their own.

Panora Applies for Grant to Pave Business Park Street - September 11, 2007
The Panora city council held a special meeting late Wednesday afternoon to approve making application to the Iowa Department of Transportation for a R.I.S.E. grant for Panora Telco to construct a street at Rosehill Business Park.

Coon Rapids Showcases Ethanol Boom - September 10, 2007
The 6-foot-tall wooden ear of corn carved from a tree trunk near the center of town leaves no doubt what engine powers this town of 1,300.

Star Party Planned for Whiterock - September 7, 2007
Amateur astronomers from across the Midwest will gather Sept. 6-10 for the fifth annual Iowa "Star Party" at Whiterock Conservancy near Coon Rapids.

Genesis Development Goes Global - September 7, 2007
CustomBoxesOnLine, the corrugated box manufacturing division of Genesis Development, has become an international distributor.

Final Summer on Square Honors Industries in Jefferson - September 4, 2007
Summer on the Square in Jefferson this week will be a "great Finale", said a Jefferson Area Chamber of Commerce spokesman.

Genesis Funds Now More than $900,000 - September 4, 2007
The Genesis Development capital campaign to raise funds for its new facilities on West McKinley Street now totals over $900,000, according to Genesis development director Alana Curnyn.

Cargill to Change Sunny Fresh Foods Name to Kitchen Solutions - August 31, 2007
While the business name will be changed, the Sunny Fresh brand will be retained. The Sunny Fresh logo has been updated, carrying its positive heritage forward in a manner more relevant to customers and the marketplace overall.

Guthrie County Fair Cranks Up 149th Time - August 30, 2007
It's county fair time. The 149th edition of the Guthrie County Fair opens today (Thursday) at the fairgrounds in Guthrie Center and runs through Monday.

Rose Acres Donates Check to Stuart Aquatic Center - August 30, 2007
On Monday, Aug. 27, Andy Kaldenberg of Rose Acres Farms, presented a check in the amount of $5,000 to the Stuart Aquatic Center Committee for Phase 2 of the aquatic center project.

Sharon & Orville Terry, Owners of Sew Inspirational - August 30, 2007
Get to know Sharon & Orville Terry, Owners of Sew Inspirational.

Great Flying Day Draws 47 Planes at Iowa Aviation Museum - August 30, 2007
Brenda Morris of New Virginia sent the letter nominating her husband, Dennis Eugene Morris, for the 2007 Adair County Pilot of the Year.

School Enrollment Gain for Guthrie Center - August 30, 2007
With only a quorum present, the August meeting of the Guthrie Center school board was relatively short, just one hour 20 minutes.

Group Urges Positive Notes About Greene County - August 28, 2007
Greene County Development Corporation (GCDC) this week announced the formation of a task force dedicated to supporting retail promotion, attraction and retention as well as encouraging tourism development.

Adair County Hospital Building Project Goes Vertical - August 27, 2007
The Adair County Memorial Hospital building project has had good progress over the past month.

Scranton Mfg. Buys Bowie Firm - August 27, 2007
Scranton Manufacturing Co., Inc. of Scranton has purchased Bowie Manufacturing of Lake City, three months after Bowie announced it would be closing.

Grand Junction Moves To Horizons Visioning - August 27, 2007
Help create a vision and action plan for a thriving Grand Junction on Thursday, August 30.

15th Annual Wings Fly-In - August 24, 2007
Sunday, August 26, is the day the Iowa Aviation Museum's 15th Annual Wings Fly-In will be held at the Greenfield Municipal Airport just north of Greenfield.

Adair Firm Makes Second Gift to Timber Creek - August 24, 2007
It's said that lightening doesn't strike twice. But that's not true in the case of Timber Creek Charities of Guthrie Center and Owner Revolution Foundation of Adair.

Guthrie Center Athletic Field Renovations Going Well - August 24, 2007
The 2007 football season opens Friday with Guthrie Center hosting I-35 (Truro) at the yet unfinished, but nonetheless impressive GCHS sports complex.

RRVT Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - August 24, 2007
Partnership was the word of the day when the Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) was officially reopened with a ribbon-butting ceremony Saturday morning.

Lake Lumber - 80 Years - August 24, 2007
The Neel family celebrated 80 years in business by the Neel Lumber Company in west central Iowa.

Adair County Hospital Building Project Advances - August 24, 2007
The Adair County Memorial Hospital building is progressing with masonry walls constructed to the second floor level.

New Ownership For Union State Bank - August 24, 2007
The Kniep family and minority stockholders of the Union State Bank of Greenfield wish to announce that all ownership of the bank has been sold to the Greenfield Bancorp, a local group of investors organized by Peg Scott, a current vice president.

Greenfield Seeks Community Input - August 24, 2007
The Greenfield area has been engaged in the Horizons program for nearly a year. Community members participated in a showcase where the program was unveiled to all eligible Iowa community members, study circles in which they examined the issues of poverty and leadership training.

Phil Allen Joins Scranton Mfg. Leadership - August 22, 2007
Scranton Manufacturing Co. Inc. of Scranton has announced that Phil Allen, president of Elliott Equipment Co., has been named executive vice president of sales and marketing in Scranton Manufacturing's New Way trucks division.

American Athletic Outfits Gymnastics World - August 22, 2007
Shawn Johnson's story of going from a West Des Moines gym to the top of the national gymnastics world is a familiar one by now, but what you might not know is how an Iowa company has helped her along the way.

Iowa has second-lowest cost of doing business - August 20, 2007
Iowa's cost of doing business is 79.7 percent of the national average, according to the 2007 Milken Institute Cost-of-Doing Business Index.

Senator Harkin Visits Wind Turbines - August 20, 2007
U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) last Friday morning met with a dozen Greene county community leaders and then toured the Hardin Hilltop Wind Farm north of Jefferson.

MicroSoy Hosts India Delegation - August 20, 2007
A delegation of 10 representatives of large India food manufacturing companies visited MicroSoy Corporation in Jefferson on Aug. 3.

Visioning is Next Step for Greenfield Horizons Program - August 20, 2007
The Horizons Program continues in the Greenfield Area Community with the next step being Community Visioning.

Lake Lumber Celebrates 80th Anniversary - August 17, 2007
Not many businesses can claim 50 years in business, let alone 80.

RRVT Renovation Complete - August 17, 2007
The "Trail Closed" signs on the Raccoon River Valley Trail were removed Monday, signifying resurfacing of some five miles of the trail from near Linden to Clay Street in Panora is complete.

Wheels turn for "new" New Homestead in Guthrie Center - August 17, 2007
Earth moving began last week for The New Homestead's new 64 resident care facility and 14 more assisted living units.

Louis Dreyfus Ethanol Project Work Underway - August 13, 2007
Earth-moving equipment is rolling at the site of the ethanol plant project 1 1/2 miles north of Grand Junction.

Panorama Days 2007 Receives Good Reviews - August 13, 2007
Despite some of the obstacles this year, the co-chair of Panorama Days thought the event went very well.

Stuart Alzheimer Unit Construction Begins - August 10, 2007
Construction of the Community Care Center Alzheimer Unit in Stuart got underway on Wednesday, Aug. 1 with the pouring of the foundation.

An Exciting Time in Adair County - August 10, 2007
This wind power era is exciting for Iowa and Adair County.

Mike Carey Elected to Iowa Independent Bankers Association Board - August 10, 2007
Mike Carey of Farmers State Bank was elected to the board of directors of the Iowa Independent Bankers Association at the group's annual convention at Okoboji.

Another large Wind Farm proposed for Adair area - August 9, 2007
Three competing developers have proposed large wind farms in the area of NW Adair County and NE Cass County. Invenergy joins a list of developers that also includes MidAmerican Energy and Clipper Windpower. Each project could potentially result in one of the largest wind generation farms in Iowa history.

Residents Highly Satisfied with Greene County Rec Center - August 6, 2007
The Jefferson park and recreation department has released the results of a customer satisfaction survey of the Greene County Community Center.

Cooper Completes Summer Parade Route with Big Bang-Literally! - August 6, 2007
It's been a busy summer for everyone including the Committee for a Super Cooper.

Nichols Farms of Bridgewater is Recognized - August 3, 2007
Nichols Farms, Bridgewater, owns 17 bulls listed in the 2007 Fall Sire Evaluation Report published by the American Angus AssociationSM in Saint Joseph, MO.

Whiterock Taking Shape - August 3, 2007
As 2006 ended, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) conveyed 1,886 conservation acres and $1.7 million to Whiterock Conservancy, after holding the assets as a bridging mechanism while this nonprofit land trust completed its start-up phase.

Renewable Fuels Testing Lab Is One Step Closer to Reality - August 3, 2007
Leaders of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) are pleased that the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has earmarked $1 million for the Renewable Fuels Testing Laboratory at Iowa Central Community College (ICCC).

Guthrie County Home Values Climb 8.7% - August 3, 2007
Largely due to the escalating cost of lakefront property at Lake Panorama, the average assessed value of residential properties in Guthrie County took a giant step forward this year.

Home State Bank receives USDA Funds - July 30, 2007
The USDA Rural Development (RD) agency recently presented a check for $750,000 to Home State Bank of Jefferson, for the use in connection with RD's guaranteed loan program.

Iowa Tent Theatre Show to Perform at Orient - July 30, 2007
On Saturday, August 4, Orient's Quasquicentennial Celebration will be the setting for a groundbreaking theatrical project with roots in our rural past when the Iowa Tent Theatre Project rolls into town with its 1930's vintage vehicles, a red and yellow "big-top" tent, which seats 300, and a company of energetic young actors.

PRIDE Reports Successful Development Forum - July 30, 2007
This year's PRIDE-Panora Development Forum, held on July 12th, was a great success.

Hawkeye Renewables sees August 2008 opening - July 27, 2007
Hawkeye Renewables Monday held a ceremonial ground breaking ceremony for its new 100 million gallon ethanol plant under construction near Menlo.

Ribbon Cutting at Dale Valley Vineyard & Winery Grand Opening - July 27, 2007
On Saturday, July 7, 2007, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to herald the grand opening of Dale Valley Vineyard & Winery.

GCDC Creates Entrepreneur Task Force - July 27, 2007
Greene County Development Corporation (GCDC) this week announced the formation of a task force dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in Greene county.

Casey Citizen of the Year - July 27, 2007
Barry Williams was named Casey's Citizen of the Year at the Fun Days celebration on Saturday.

New Recyclable Truck for Curbside Collection in Greene County - July 27, 2007
The Greene County Recycling Agency has put into use a new truck for curbside pick-up of recyclable items.

Stuart Aquatic Center Receives $1,000 Grant - July 27, 2007
The Stuart Aquatic Center has been awarded a $1,000 grant from the Empowering Adair County Foundation.

Highway 44 Paving Begins - July 27, 2007
Paving of the three downtown blocks of Highway 44 began Wednesday and is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

Central Iowa Soy sells ‘beany free’ snacks - July 26, 2007
A roasted soybean, made from a newly-available soybean variety, claims to allow snack manufacturers to develop products with less of a beany taste.

Hawkeye Renewables Ceremony - July 16, 2007
Hawkeye Renewables CEO, Bruce Rastetter, at project site near Menlo announces Hawkeye's new ethanol project. Click on story to see photo.

It's Jamaica's Turn to Celebrate Quasquicentennial This Weekend - July 13, 2007
Jamaica is rolling out the red carpet this weekend as the community celebrates 125 years. The Jamaica Quasquicentennial will blend some Iowa traditions with some Jamaica Island flavors furnished by their tourism department.

RRVT Paving is Underway - July 13, 2007
"Whitetopping" of the Raccoon River Valley Trail began this week in Panora with a three block section from Highway 44 north to Clay Street.

Orient Studies Feasibility of a New Community Center - July 12, 2007
Orient's average household income could play a role in funding its community center/city hall project.

Neighborhood Incentive grants awarded to seven projects in Jefferson - July 11, 2007
The city of Jefferson awarded Neighborhood Improvement Incentive Grants to seven projects at the June 26 city council meeting.

Renewable Energy Chopper at Greene County Motors July 11 - July 11, 2007
America's first customized renewable energy chopper running on E-85 and showcasing Iowa agriculture will be rumbling into Jefferson on Tuesday, July 11, at Greene County Motors from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Casey Antique Fun Days Are Friday and Saturday - July 10, 2007
All roads this weekend lead to Casey as the annual Casey Antique Fun Days will be held Friday and Saturday, July 13 and 14.

Jesse James Chuck Wagon Days in Adair July 20-21 - July 10, 2007
Adair's 52nd annual Jesse James Chuck Wagon Days Celebration will be Friday and Saturday, July 21 and 22, 2007.

Oil-roasted Snacks Offered by Central Iowa Soy Firm - July 10, 2007
A steadily growing number of consumers have embraced roasted soy nuggets as a healthier food choice in snacks, granolas, and baked goods.

Louis Dreyfus Commodities to build ethanol plant in Greene County - July 9, 2007
Louis Dreyfus Corporation (“LDC”) has announced that its subsidiary Louis Dreyfus Commodities Grand Junction LLC (“LD Grand Junction”) last week acquired certain assets of Further Fuels, L.L.C. in connection with LD Grand Junction’s plans to construct and operate a 110 million gallon per year ethanol plant located in Grand Junction, Greene County, IA.

Panora Development Forum July 12 - July 5, 2007
Commercial brokers, community developers and decision makers from Central Iowa will have Panora and the surrounding area showcased to them next Thursday, July 12.

Capital Campaign Helps Adair County Memorial Hospital Continue Economic Benefit - July 5, 2007
The Capital Campaign raising funds to help renovate and expand the Adair County Memorial Hospital has many benefits.

Weekend Celebration Will Mark 125th Anniversary at Churdan - July 5, 2007
Churdan's long-awaited quasquicentennial celebration will take place this weekend, June 29-July 1, with events, parades, games, plenty of food, displays, and general good times. Everyone is invited.

Guthrie County Foundation Gifts Are Celebrated - July 3, 2007
The Guthrie County Community Foundation (GCCF) hosted a June 14 celebratory meeting at the Panora Community Center with past and present grant recipients.

CR-B Board Sells Bayard Gym, Property to St. Jude Holdings - July 3, 2007
Keeping in mind what they feel is best for the Bayard and Coon Rapids communities, the CR-B Board of Education voted unanimously to accept the bid of $25,000 for the Bayard gymnasium and surrounding ground from St. Jude Holdings LLC.

MicroSoy Offers "Better Bites" Snack Food - July 3, 2007
People looking for on-the-go snacks that taste great, but are also healthy, can now add Better Bites to their snack assortment.

Country Blessings business now open east of Jefferson - July 3, 2007
Persons who are looking for antiques or unique country or primitive home decor items don't have to travel very far from Jefferson.

Guthrie County Airport planning expansion project - July 3, 2007
Increased usage has prompted a more than one-half million dollar expansion proposal for the Guthrie County Regional Airport located on Highway 44 between Guthrie Center and Panora.

Hospital Brings Economical Benefits to Adair County - July 3, 2007
The economic impact of the Adair County Memorial Hospital and related health care services is tremendous upon the Adair County economy, according to the 2007 Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) Report.

The Sleeping Giant of Guthrie County - July 2, 2007
“This place is a sleeping giant.” Joe Hanner, director of the Guthrie County Conservation Board, trundles his pick-up over an undiscovered piece of paradise less than an hour’s drive northwest of Des Moines.

Stuart's Community Care Center Breaks Ground for Alzheimer Unit - June 29, 2007
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at the site of the proposed Alzheimer unit near the Community Care Center in Stuart.

Hardin Hilltop wind farm dedicated - June 29, 2007
Hardin Hilltop Wind Farm, Iowa's first locally-owned wind farm, was dedicated Thursday, June 14, in ceremonies held at the Greene County Community Center in Jefferson.

Paton Updates Community Center - June 29, 2007
Improvements are underway to the Loren Shriver Community Center in Paton, with an anticipated completion date of mid-July.

USDA Rural Development Provides $1.7 Million for Hardin Wind Farm - June 29, 2007
Mark Reisinger, UDSA Rural Development State Director in Iowa, participated in dedication activities and spoke to attendees at the event celebrating the Hardin Hilltop Wind Farm.

Guthrie Supervisors Pledge $5,000 to CR/Whiterock Grant - June 29, 2007
The Guthrie County Board of Supervisors got on board the fast-rolling train of planners associated with the Whiterock Conservancy/Coon Rapids Great Places Initiative.

MWP Golf Event “Tees Off” on June 28th - June 28, 2007
The Midwest Partnership Corporation (MWP) will hold its Annual Golf Outing on June 28th at Lake Panorama National Golf Course.

MidAmerican Energy unveils plans for large wind farm near Orient - June 21, 2007
250 Megawats of Power to be Produced by 166 Wind Turbines

Greene County Development Corporation Housing Committee Featured on Radio - June 20, 2007
Members of the Greene County Development Corporation Housing Committee will be featured on KDLS radio during the month of June.

Prairie Blue Coffee House opens on west side of square in Jefferson - June 20, 2007
Prairie Blue Coffee House is now open on the west side of the square in Jefferson, offering a variety of coffees, teas, baked goods and lunches in a setting that begs customers to sit and visit a while.

Louis Dreyfus Biofuels Advances Greene County Ethanol Project - June 20, 2007
A change in ownership did not affect the financial incentives provided by Greene County officials in their attempt to lure the construction of a new ethanol plant to the area.

Scholarships and Grilling are Part of the Adair County Cattlemen Promotions - June 20, 2007
Adair County Cattlemen's Association is one of 97 active county organizations which are the grassroots of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association (ICA).

Adair County Hospital Announces Campaign Co-Chairs - June 20, 2007
Mike Cass, President/CEO of First National Bank, and Jim MIller, Manager/Greenfield Operations of Cardinal IG, have agreed to lead the Adair County Memorial Hospital Capital Campaign as Campaign Chairs.

Resurface RRVT Panora to Linden - June 20, 2007
About one-half of the original 10.2 miles of the 18 year old Raccoon River Valley Trail in Guthrie County will be resurfaced this summer.

Iowa Central Community College bond issue election carries - June 20, 2007
The Iowa Central Community College bond issue election on Tuesday carried, 6,969 to 3,832, a 64.5 favorable vote throughout the nine-county service area of the college.

Greene County OK's Tax Incentive Transfer to Louis Dreyfus Biofuels - June 20, 2007
The Greene county board of supervisors Wednesday morning approved the transfer of tax incentives for the ethanol plant proposed for construction north of Grand Junction from Further Fuels, the original developer, to the Louis Dreyfus firm.

Iowa Central bond election would aid biofuels classes - June 20, 2007
Voters in the nine counties that compose the Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) area, including Greene, will vote next Tuesday, June 12, in a bond issue election for the college and its programs.

Jefferson gets RR crossing feasibility study - June 20, 2007
Jefferson city officials hear a final report May 22 of a feasibility study for a grade separation (overpass or underpass) project on Highway 4 at the Union Pacific intersection in Jefferson.

Adair County Memorial Hospital takes first steps in $9.8 million building project - June 20, 2007
Upgrades and renovations are often an essential step in the life of a hospital. Adair County Memorial Hospital is experiencing this kind of change after a May 5 goundbreaking for its $9.8 million construction project.

Bagley Bash Observes 125 Years - June 20, 2007
The City of Bagley will celebrate its 125 years on Saturday, June 16 with a full day of activities planned.

St. Jude Thaddeus Retreat House Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - June 20, 2007
Ambassadors of the Adair Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony last week to honor the new business of St. Jude Thaddeus Retreat House.

Alliant Energy Partners with Hardin-Hilltop Wind Developers - June 15, 2007
Interstate Power and Light Co. (IPL), a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE: LNT) has partnered with developers of the Hardin-Hilltop Wind Project to purchase approximately 16 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy generated by the wind turbines, located northwest of Jefferson, Iowa.

Guthrie County Receives Grant for Airport Runway - May 25, 2007
Senator Chuck Grassley announced the Department of Transportation awarded grants to local airports totaling $1,533,950.

USA Today Features Adair County's Freedom Rock - May 24, 2007
"Freedom Rock" on Highway 25 in Adair County has become sacred to veterans.

Midland Power Receives IADG Award for Economic Development - May 23, 2007
Midland Power Cooperative, headquartered in Jefferson, recently received Iowa Area Development Group's (IADG) Project Development System Award for the co-op's assistance of expansion and growth for the Times Citizen Communications company in Iowa Falls.

Iowa Area Development Group Secures $1.34 million for MWP Region Projects - May 18, 2007
Iowa Area Development Group assists Adair County Memorial Hospital, Stuart Aquatic Center, and Power Lift with projects in the Midwest Partnership Corporation region. 37% of $3.6 million that was secured statewide will be used for these projects.

Four Person Best Shot Golf Tournament - May 18, 2007
Four Person Best Shot Golf Tournament with all proceeds going towards Jesse James Chuck Wagon Day activities – including fireworks.

Marketing Award to Peoples Bank - May 16, 2007
Peoples Trust and Savings Bank recently received an Iowa Bankers Association Best of Iowa bank marketing and community development/public relations award.

Guthrie Center Fundraiser for sports complex nets big money - May 16, 2007
A kickoff for fundraising for improvements at the Guthrie Center High School sports complex got off to a great start Friday evening with announced pledges and donations totaling more than $212,000.

Electrolux of Jefferson Receives Safety Award - May 15, 2007
Electrolux was awarded a safety award from the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council during the safety council's 54th annual professional development conference and expo, held in Coralville April 26-27.

St. Jude Thaddeus Retreat House to Open in Bayard Nursing Home - May 10, 2007
A new and unique business is making plans to open in Bayard in the former nursing home building.

USDA & Midland Power Help Bauer Built Expand - May 10, 2007
Paton and Coon Rapids were among seven Iowa communities approved for loans or grants for projects from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Rural Development.

Hospital in Greenfield Breaks Ground for New Addition - May 9, 2007
On Saturday, May 5, officials broke ground for the new addition to Adair County Memorial Hospital.

Kickoff Fundraiser for GCHS Sports Complex - May 9, 2007
Major renovation to the Guthrie Center High School sports complex is scheduled in the next few months and a kickoff fundraiser will be held Friday, May 11 from 5:30 to midnight at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds community building in Guthrie Center.

Scranton Telephone Expands Service with iwireless Now - May 9, 2007
The Scranton Telephone Company has embarked on a new venture. With the erection of a cell phone tower late last year, the long-time Scranton business has added cell phone service to their growing list of options.

Iowa Aviation Museum Undergoes Improvement Project, Adds Planes - May 8, 2007
Grant money is allowing Iowa Aviation Museum director Lee Ann Nelson to protect antique aircraft in the museum's hanger.

Tourism is big in Guthrie County - May 3, 2007
Karen Sievers, Panora Chamber of Commerce president and a member of the Guthrie County Tourism Committee, was among more than 200 persons who recently attended Iowa Tourism Unity Day, an annual event that celebrates the impact of travel in Iowa.

Greene County Cattlemen-Iowa Cubs Promote Beef - May 3, 2007
The Beef Checkoff, Greene County Cattlemen, and the Iowa Cubs are teaming up again for the "Beef. It's the Meat of the Order." promotion.

Adair County Cattlemen Promote Beef Month - May 3, 2007
May is Beef Month and Iowa's beef producers want consumers to know it.

Boys & Girls Club in Adair Receives Donation - May 3, 2007
Exchange State Bank Donates $2,000 to the Boys & Girls Club Building Fund.

Pamida Opens Pharmacy At Its Store in Greenfield - May 2, 2007
With the recent opening of a pharmacy, Greenfield's Pamida has added additional services.

Adair County Is Alive With Summer Activities - May 2, 2007
There will be many opportunities for everyone to become involved in activities and events in Adair County during the summer.

Quality Preschool Goal of Adair County Empowerment - May 2, 2007
The Adair County FACT Empowerment Board is working with preschools serving Adair County children to build a better future for all children.

Alliant Energy Buys Wind Farm in Guthrie County - April 30, 2007
Interstate Power and Light Co. (IPL), a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE: LNT) announced today that it has entered into negotiations with Clipper Windpower Inc. to purchase the Eclipse wind farm under development in western Iowa. IPL also plans to equip the facility with Clipper’s Liberty-series turbines.

Greene County Entrepreneur Eliminates Hog Odor - April 26, 2007
"If you get lemons, make lemonade," the saying goes. How about making high-value, odor-free, fly-free, composted fertilizer and clean air from hog waste?

$300,000 Award for Stuart Aquatic Center - April 26, 2007
The City of Stuart, and the members of the Stuart Aquatic Center Committee, were thrilled to hear on Friday, April 20, that the Stuart Aquatic Center would be the recipient of a $300,000 interest-free loan from the Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO).

Guthrie County Fair Board Secures CAT Grant - April 26, 2007
With a state grant in hand, and commitments from local government, Guthrie County fair board president C.W. Thomas of Guthrie Center said a new amphitheater for the fairgrounds will become a reality in time for the fair's sesquicentennial (150) years in 2008.

Senator Grassley at Smiley's in Adair - April 26, 2007
Dawn Vogel, the manager of Smiley's Steakhouse in Adair, spent several years at fine dining restaurants in downtown Des Moines.

Greenfield Chamber/Main Street Receives Awards - April 25, 2007
Main Street Iowa's 20th annual celebration honoring excellence in downtown revitalization was held in the Iowa Ballroom of the Des Moines Marriott Downtown Hotel on Friday, April 20.

Adair Co. Memorial Hospital Receives Funds from USDA - April 25, 2007
Senators Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin recently reported that the U.S. Department of Africulture, office of Rural Development, approved more than $1.5 million in loans and grants for two Iowa communitites, one of which was Greenfield.

Grant Awarded to Whiterock Conservancy - April 25, 2007
The Iowa West Foundation, headquartered in Council Bluffs, announced $6.4 million in grants for the first quarter of 2007 including $50,000 to Whiterock Conservancy.

Jefferson Offers Grants for Neighborhood Clean-Up - April 24, 2007
The city of Jefferson has announced its third annual Neighborhood Improvement Incentive Program.

Stuart, Greenfield Get USDA Grants - April 19, 2007
Senators Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin recently said that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development, has approved $2.3 million in loans and grants to seven Iowa Communities.

Power Lift to Appear on TV Show - April 19, 2007
The Power Lift company of Jefferson is scheduled to be featured on a morning television program Monday, April 28, the company announced this week.

Lake Panorama's Assisted Living Center Project Makes Progress - April 19, 2007
The construction of the Lakeside Village is making huge progress now as the pieces of the facility are already assembled and are being placed by two big cranes.

Grand Junction Sponsors Leadership Training - April 18, 2007
Dear Editor: Many