Grinnell News

Amperage Hands Vets Commission Positive but Qualified Report By Michael McAllister Grinnell’s Veterans Memorial Commission met Friday, August 10, to receive a report from Amperage Marketing & Fundraising concerning fundraising possibilities for the Prairie Star Artist Residency program. The commission’s normally scheduled meeting date was August 13, the second Monday of the month, but that date posed conflicts with a …

Iowa Small Business Makes Big Moves in Golf Car Industry Streetrod Golf Cars Expands into New Grinnell Facility  Montezuma, IA  (Aug. 9, 2018)  –  For over twenty years, Streetrod Golf Cars has been designing and building the world’s finest golf cars. Earlier this year, a revolutionary new product took the stage: The LUX. This modern golf car has earned Streetrod …

 Fly Iowa 2018 – Jewel of the Sky, the Billy Robinson Air Show Join us Saturday, August 18th for Fly Iowa 2018! Fly Iowa is a community and IAPG (Iowa Aviation and Promotion Group) sponsored event featuring the Grinnell Optimist annual fly-in breakfast along with a airshow featuring some of the best arial acrobats in the area! Schedule of Events: …

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation Appoints Lt. Col (Ret.) Michael Olson to its Board of Directors Kennedy Space Center, Florida -The Astronauts Memorial Foundation has appointed Lt. Col (Ret.) Michael Olson as a member of the board of directors. Olson is a career banker, currently serving as a vice president at Lincoln Savings Bank in Grinnell, Iowa. He is a Congressional …

The Culmination Of A Dream – Will Freeman Completes His 48 State, 16,423 Mile Morgan 3 Wheeler Trip in 79 Days. Full of excitement to be home after setting a world record in Morgan 3 Wheeler (dubbed the “Spirit of Grinnell), Grinnell College Professor and Coach Will Freeman arrived back in Grinnell with a wind burned and tan face to …

Grinnell honored by Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Grinnell Education Partnership recognized for supporting students’ success in school GRINNELL, Iowa — The national Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (GLR) recognized the Grinnell Education Partnership with several honors at the GLR Week national conference in Philadelphia July 23–27. The program received a Pacesetter designation, Grinnell was recognized as a GLR Bright Spot and …

Freeman to Complete 48 States, 78 Days, 18,000 Mile Trip August 8 – With Central Park Rally Join in the WELCOME HOME GALA – Central Park – Wednesday August 8 at 1:00p. Will Freeman and Morgan 3 Wheeler, dubbed the “Spirit of Grinnell”, will have completed his 48 state, 78 day journey on two lane roads, eating at ma and …

Family Memorializes Infant Daughter By Supporting and Promoting the Tiger Packs Program July 23, 2018: The Tiger Packs program, established to combat hunger in the Grinnell-Newburg School District, recently was gifted more than $2,830 from a family mourning the loss of their infant daughter.  This collective gift will provide approximately 800 Tiger Packs packages to Grinnell-Newburg students in the 2018-19 …

St. Francis Manor Announces A Free Lunch & Learn Educational Program  (Grinnell, IA – August 3, 2018)  St. Francis Manor will offer a free educational Lunch & Learn program to the public on the important topic of Medicaid Eligibility & Spousal Impoverishment. This program will discuss: (1) Medicaid eligibility requirements for a single person running out of financial resources to pay …

Flashback 50 Years in Grinnell UnityPoint Health® – Grinnell Regional Medical Center welcomed faces from the past in July. Frank Chrisben, first hospital administrator of the 1967 merged Community Hospital and St. Francis Hospital, stopped by GRMC along with Richard Ramsey, retired businessman. Chrisben received an update about the latest merger of GRMC and UnityPoint Health – Des Moines from …

Ahrens Foundation Extending Services in CSS Program The Community Support Services (CSS) program started by the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation (CDAF) in 2006 has grown to deliver and expand its back office support services to the area’s nonprofit partner organizations. The CSS program strengthens the missions, organizational capacity and efficiencies of local nonprofits through shared staff and office …

Poweshiek County Helped Save Lives from Cancer at the Annual Relay For Life on July 6th   More than $46,600 was raised to support the American Cancer Society’s mission of saving lives from cancer. Funds raised help the American Cancer Society provide free information and support for people facing the disease today, and fund cancer research that will help protect …

Home Health Nurse Manager Presented with Honor GRINNELL, Iowa— Carla Doane, home health nurse manager at UnityPoint Health® – Grinnell Regional Home Care, Hospice & Public Health, has received an Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) Foundation scholarship for her continued dedication to providing quality long-term services and supports to the patients she serves. Doane has an Associate’s Degree in Nursing …

100 + People Who Care – Grinnell Supports PALS Renovation Projects Members of 100 + People Who Care – Grinnell voted at their July 24 meeting to support building renovation projects at the Poweshiek Animal League Shelter (PALS).  Specifically, the funds will be used to develop a greeting room for those who are considering new pet adoptions, a feline isolation …

Bailey Park Skate Park Update – Scheduled to be completed in 2018 Grinnell City Manager, Russ Behrens, and Rich Dana of Imagine Grinnell recently met with Vince Onel of Spohn Ranch to finalize the design of the new skate park for Bailey Park. The design concept will be used to prepare construction documents. This design is the result of public …

GRMC Golf Outing Lands Big Funds for Equipment A little rain didn’t hinder the success of UnityPoint Health® – Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s (GRMC) 29thannual golf outing. With support of sponsors, volunteers and golfers, this fundraiser and “friend” raiser generated more than $26,000 for medical and wellness equipment. GRMC welcomed 116 golfers and 29 teams to the GRMC Golf Outing …

and find out how you can enjoy an safe and yet independent life at the new Hammond Center for Assisted Living opening soon in Grinnell. Only 8 apartments remain available so it is time seize the moment and join us at one of the upcoming informational event: MONTEZUMA – August 1 at 1:30 pm – Daily Grind BROOKLYN – August …

ARTS COUNCIL TO EXPAND CERAMICS PROGRAM WITH MOVE TO THE STEW The Grinnell Area Arts Council is pleased to announce that its ceramics program will move to a larger space in the garage of the Stew Art Studios this summer. After experiencing dramatic growth in its ceramics community, which is currently housed in a room on the lower level of …

New Nurse Anesthetist Welcomed to GRMC UnityPoint Health®– Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC) is pleased to announce the arrival of LenaMarie Johnson, as a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) to the Warren H. Bower surgical center at the hospital. Johnson started on July 16 and joins current anesthesia providers Kevin R. Emge, DO and Lacey A. Nicol, CRNA. Johnson earned …

Monica, who holds a BA in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, danced professionally before attending college, has worked in a variety of positions with Grinnell College, and is also well-known in the community for her work as a yoga instructor, business operator, choreographer and volunteer. “I’m delighted to return to my arts roots and join the Grinnell Area Arts …

Veterans Commission Awaits Amperage, RDG Proposals By Michael McAllister On July 4, Grinnell veterans raised a flag over the Veterans Memorial Building.  Five days later, the Veterans Memorial Commission, at its regular July meeting, raised expectations that two upcoming reports will move Grinnell closer to establishing the Prairie Star Artist Residency in the Veterans Memorial Building. Commission Chair Leo Lease …

Ryan’s Been Busy! Public art pops up in Grinnell   By Michael McAllister While dinosaurs terrorize humans in Jurassic World at the Strand, a much more congenial and hygienically conscious member of the species has taken up residence in Grinnell in a surprising location—the alley that runs parallel to Grinnell State Bank, on the east, between Third and Fourth Avenue. Mapped …

Broad Stripes and Bright Stars Wave Again over Veterans Memorial Building   By Michael McAllister In a short but dignified service at 1:00 p.m. on Independence Day 2018, Grinnell veterans brought the Stars and Stripes back to the Veterans Memorial Building in the northwest corner of Central Park. Between 60 and 70 people attended as Randy Hotchkin (below), a member …

100 + People Who Care to Meet July 24 People Who Care – Grinnell + People Who Care – Grinnell will be Tuesday, July 24.  The hour-long meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m., and will be held in the Caulkins Community Room at the Drake Library.  This will be a voting meeting for the organization, where a decision is made …

Grinnell Historical Museum Looks to Yesterday and Tomorrow By Michael McAllister In keeping with its Victorian beginnings, the Grinnell Historical Museum at 1125 Broad Street is dignified, restrained, and confident but polite.  However, plans call for broadening the museum’s scope to capture more of Grinnell’s past and, if possible, expansion to a second location to house large items such as …

Mayflower Community Announces Leadership Transitions Mayflower Community announced today new leadership in the roles of executive director and associate director/healthcare administrator for the 55-plus life plan community in Grinnell. Steve Langerud, a professional consultant and facilitator and member of the Mayflower board since 2008, will succeed Bob Mann as executive director, effective Aug. 1.  Mann, who has led Mayflower through …

Hotel Grinnell:  From Classrooms to Class By Michael McAllister Because Hotel Grinnell occupies a former middle school building, pictured above in a photo from Digital Grinnell, and because the school theme is creatively carried out within the boutique establishment, it is appropriate to say the that the hotel, which opened in September of 2017, has successfully completed two semesters and …

“LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT” Nominations Open Nominations are open for the 2018 “Leave It Better Than You Found It” awards from the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation.  All Grinnell area nonprofit, social, civic, fraternal, and community groups making a difference in the local community are eligible to be nominated by the Aug. 1 deadline. The 2018 …

Developers update City Council on plans for Grinnell Promenade project Updates include pedestrian-friendly features such as sidewalk patios GRINNELL, Iowa — Principals of Grinnell Promenade LLC gave an updated presentation about the corporation’s proposed mixed-use development for the old McNally’s site during the Grinnell City Council meeting Monday night. Grinnell Promenade is Grinnell College’s selected development partner for the former …

Imagine Grinnell’s Gravel Tour and Annual Giving Gardens Family Ride July 7 On Saturday, July 7, Imagine Grinnell (IG) will combine its third annual Giving Gardens bike tour with a new offering—the first annual Grinnell Gravel Tour, a cycling option that is growing in popularity nationwide and within the community. The bike tour is being coordinated this year by IG …