Grinnell News

New Helping “Hands” in an Emergency Montezuma and East Poweshiek Ambulance Services each obtained two new LUCAS®3 systems through the Poweshiek County Board of Health’s Public Health Grant. The Physio-Control LUCAS®3 Chest Compression System is a mechanical chest compression system that provides compressions at a rate and depth consistent with current American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). …

Sig Barber, emeritus professor of German at Grinnell College, will present the final lecture in the 2017-18 Bucket Course series The class will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 9, at the Drake Community Library. Admission is free and advance registration is not necessary. Barber’s subject will be photographer Ansel Adams and his use of black-and-white …

Most of us assume that when we get in an airplane we will be safe and will get to our destination efficiently.  Much of that safety and efficiency results from using wind tunnels, in which air blown at a known velocity is used to test different designs and parts of aircraft.  An upcoming two-session Bucket Class offered by Ben Guenther …

GRMC Administrator Retires Long-time vice-president of operations at UnityPoint Health – Grinnell Regional Medical Center, David L. Ness, decided to retire from his duties at the end of March. Ness joined then-named Grinnell General Hospital in 1986. He has served as a vice-president, interim CFO and interim CEO over the course of his 31 years with GRMC. “We wish Dave …

Despite Unfair Weather, Food Fair Fares Well By Michael McAllister When Grinnellians awoke on Saturday morning, April 14, little evidence existed to support the fact that the day was the twenty-sixth day of spring. But, before the day ended, an oasis of spring had sprouted, courtesy of McNally’s Foods and representatives of the local foods community. The occasion was the …

Iowa’s 80s Football Revival Owes Much to a Slab of Prime Rib By Michael McAllister The most accurate passer in Big Ten history made a pass through Grinnell on Tuesday, April 10, to talk to fans, to sign books, to answer questions, and to tell the story of his journey from Wheaton, Illinois, the land of Billy Graham and the …

Final ’18 Legislative Coffee Dominated by DHS Report By Michael McAlister On Saturday, April 7, approximately 60 Grinnellians gathered at the Presbyterian Church for the final in a series of three legislative coffees sponsored by the local chapter of the League of Women Voters. Becca Davis called the event to order by reminding those in attendance of the importance of …

Mary Kathryn Nagle will present ‘Sovereignty in the Law, Sovereignty of our Stories’   GRINNELL, Iowa —  Mary Kathryn Nagle, an attorney, nationally acclaimed playwright and executive director of the Yale Indigenous Performing Arts Program, will give the Scholars’ Convocation Lecture at Grinnell College on Thursday, April 19. Her lecture, “Sovereignty in the Law, Sovereignty of our Stories,” is free …

Grinnell College Zone of Confluence Strategic Initiative Advances City Council approves a resolution supporting Main Street development proposal  GRINNELL, Iowa — The Grinnell College initiative to improve the social, cultural and economic vitality of the area between the downtown business district and the college campus continues to advance. Last October, the college issued a request for proposals from potential development …

Vets Commission Elects Officers, Welcomes New Member By Michael McAllister In its regular monthly meeting at the Drake Community Library on April 9, 2018, Grinnell’s Veterans Memorial Commission maintained its chairperson and its five-member strength. The commission elected Leo Lease (second from right above) to continue as its chair, Randy Hotchkin (far right) as its vice-chair, and Marie Andrews (far …

Hotel Grinnell, City of Grinnell Win Awards at Rural Iowa Summit By Michael McAllister There is a piece of advice that goes something like this:  Be like a duck.  Stay calm and serene on top, but paddle like hell underneath. The Iowa Rural Development Council’s Rural Iowa Summit proved that Iowa’s rural communities and towns fit that maxim:  they appear …

UnityPoint Health®–Grinnell Regional Hospice will host an end-of-life and hospice volunteer training for residents in the GRMC service area. This class is intended for people who are interested in learning more about end of life issues and care. This year, the training will be held on five Wednesday mornings, from 8 a.m. to noon. Hospice volunteer and end-of-life training will …

St. Francis Manor Announces A Free Lunch & Learn Educational Program    (Grinnell, IA – April 5, 2018)  St. Francis Manor will offer a free educational Lunch & Learn program to the public on the important topic of Health Insurance for Seniors – Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplements and Drug Cards.  This program will discuss the differences between these coverages …

  Dr. Janet Stutz, Superintendent of Grinnell-Newburg Community Schools, has been named a Friend of the AEA by Iowa’s Area Education Agencies. Stutz received the award during a presentation at the AEA Boards of Directors’ Conference on April 5. This is the second year for the awards and it is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate outstanding candidates for their …

Neleman Named a 100 Great Iowa Nurse UnityPoint Health®– Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC) nurse Katie Neleman, RN, surgical coordinator, received the 100 Great Iowa Nurses award. This program, supported by the Iowa Nurses Foundation, recognizes 100 outstanding nurses every year in Iowa for their courage, competence, and commitment to patients and the nursing profession. The 100 nurses earn the …

Grinnell Awarded Grant from Iowa Economic Development Grinnell was one of 18 Iowa communities awarded a Community Catalyst and Building Remediation Grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority. The amount of the grant will not exceed $100,000 and will be used for the Grinnell Beyer Block project in downtown Grinnell. The Beyer Block project includes the buildings on the north …

100 + People Who Care – Grinnell to Meet April 24 The quarterly meeting of 100 + People Who Care – Grinnell will be Tuesday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Caulkins Community Room at the Drake Library, and will last no more than one hour. This will be a voting meeting for the organization, …

Hawkeyes Great Chuck Long to Appear in Grinnell April 10 as Guest of Grinnell Mutual, Rotary April 3, 2018 – Hawkeyes Great Chuck Long will share stories of his football life and career and sign copies of his just-released biography Destined for Greatness during meetings with Grinnell Mutual and Grinnell Rotary Tuesday, April 10. Long, who played quarterback for the …

St. Francis Manor Announces Manager/RN for its New Hammond Center for Assisted Living   (Grinnell, IA – April 4, 2018) St. Francis Manor is pleased to announce that Sammi Bryan, RN has been named Manager/RN of the Hammond Center for Assisted Living which is currently being constructed at 907 Orchard Drive and scheduled to open in November.  The 2-story Hammond Center will …

Iowa’s Nice Guy Set to Make Nice—Maybe—at Rural Summit in Grinnell       By Michael McAllister Brace yourselves, Iowa conservatives.  Scott Siepker, the man who represents Iowa Nice—niceness being a conservative virtue—wears that title at the behest of flaming MSNBC primetime progressive Rachel Maddow. Brace yourselves also, Iowa progressives.  Iowa’s Nice Guy does not deliberate over words.  While his videos may …

Howard McDonough and the Carousel of Time By Michael McAlister Farmer, welder, builder, mechanic, cook, fundraiser, historian, entrepreneur, drag racer, Grinnellian—all these terms describe Howard McDonough. And yet the description is far from complete. An afternoon with McDonough is an education, but McDonough presents himself as more conduit than teacher because he acknowledges that what he knows and what he …

  Applications now available for Grinnell College Community Mini-Grants Grants support local projects enhancing the quality of life in Grinnell   GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College is now accepting applications for the spring cycle of community mini-grants.  Grant applications are due Friday, April 6, and awards will be announced by Friday, May 18.   The program has directed approximately $400,000 …

Second Rural Development Summit Will Peak April 5-6 in Grinnell By Michael McAllister Bill Menner stands in front of a newly painted wall in Grinnell’s oldest building as sunlight streams through the unadorned window of an office yet to be furnished—and considers possibilities. That—considering possibilities—has been his occupation since 1998. The office itself at 807 4th Avenue is a possibility …

Arts Council to Host Reggae Film & Dance Party at the Stew On Friday, April 6, the Grinnell Area Arts Council will present a reggae music-centered event at The Stew. The event will begin with a screening of the classic Jamaican film The Harder They Come, which stars reggae musician Jimmy Cliff, and features his music. Following the movie, local musician Chris …

Superintendent’s Weekly Update Dear Grinnell-Newburg Family and Friends, Happy Spring!  Spring Break is upon us!  Let’s hope the weather follows too.  Spring break is a time to rejuvenate while spending time reading a captivating book, enjoying friends and family, and finding some down time before the end of the year hustle and bustle.  We will begin our Spring Break this …

Davis Elementary Receives National Recognition for Commitment to Empowering Students Named a distinguished school for STEM and career learning program Grinnell, IA – Davis Elementary announced today that it has been recognized as a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School for providing broad access to transformative learning opportunities for students through PLTW LaunchTM. It is one of just 97 …

On March 14th, 2018, Grinnell High School seemed unusually guarded around 10:00am. Streets to the school were closed off, police cars surrounded the area, school officials stood outside, and media personnel were standing off school grounds taking pictures and observing. This was due to the nationwide school walkout that had been planned shortly after a shooting at a Stoneman Douglas …

Grinnell State Bank named Business of the Year GRINNELL, Iowa– The Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce recognized Grinnell State Bank as the 2018 Grinnell Business of the Year at its Annual Celebration, which took place March 14 at Hotel Grinnell. The Chamber recognized Grinnell State Bank for their professional and positive impact in the community. “Not only is their business …

Grinnell Tigersharks Swim Team   The Grinnell Tigersharks Swim Team qualified 46 swimmers to compete in the Greater Iowa Swim League (GISL) State Meet which was held on Saturday, March 10 at the Grinnell College Natatorium.  The GISL includes swim teams from Brooklyn, Carroll, Clarinda, Denison, Emmetsburg, Estherville, Grinnell, Harlan, Knoxville, Manning, Newton, Ottumwa, Pella, Perry and Spencer. A total …

Shults & Company, Rotary Stage Hospital Fundraiser April 12-13-14 By Michael McAllister Some people count the money they make.  Some people count the money they make for others.  Count Frank and Sherry Shults—and all the associates of Shults & Company—in the second group. And the count is impressive. Since 1995, Grinnell Rotarians and Shults & Company singers and musicians have …