Local

DES MOINES – Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors approved a total of more than $7.5 million in grants to 26 local housing trust funds to support local, affordable housing initiatives, which will assist more than 2,000 Iowa families.

Kaitlyn Boyer of Clarke High School was among the top students in the country selected to attend the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute Oct. 17-19 in Des Moines during the Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium, which drew 1,500 people from more than 65 countries to discuss the world’s hunger and food security issues.

Kathy Smith’s Clarke special education class visited the fire station for a community outing at the end of November.

Clarke County Recorder Peggy Cummings was recently honored for completing a new certification program for Iowa county recorders and deputy recorders.

With the recent arrival of iPads at Clarke Community Elementary School, all students have increased opportunities to use technology as a learning tool in mastering the objectives of the curriculum.

Helpless babies floating in a river? What a disturbing thought. But, that’s exactly the idea teens were confronted with during a youth-philanthropy retreat held in Angola, Ind.

Creativity and science will come together 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, for the First® Lego® League (FLL®) regional challenge at Clarke Community High School where 18 teams of nine- to 14 year-old youths and coaches will demonstrate their problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship and sense of community.

JOPLIN, Mo. — Southern Hills Specialty Care Center's certified nursing assistants (CNA) Jessica Parmer and George Michelman have recently graduated from the National Association of Health Care Assistants’ (NAHCA) eight-module certified preceptor course.

These are the results from the first-ever chili cook-off competition during Holiday Brilliance, which was hosted by Osceola Chamber/Main Street. 

Amtrak can ticket passengers from more than 500 locations to Des Moines or Ames for the holiday season using an Amtrak Thruway Bus Connection to the trains at Osceola Dec. 18-20 and Jan. 11-13.

Congressman Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, recently announced his office is now accepting applications from Iowa college students to participate in a Congressional internship program in his Washington, D.C., office. The internship program is open to undergraduate students and recent graduates, regardless of major.

Wheeler presents draft of urban-chicken ordinance, work session scheduled

A former Clarke Community School cheerleading coach plead guilty to the charge of second-degree theft, a class D felony.

In honor of outstanding contributions in the fight against cancer, American Cancer Society (ACS) recently presented the volunteers of Relay For Life of Clarke County a Midwest Division Community of Hope Award at the 2013 Southeast Iowa Leadership Conference held in Oskaloosa.

Clarke Parent, Teacher, Community Organization’s (PTCO) Schwan’s fundraiser is now open.

On Oct. 29, Osceola Big Chief FFA chapter boarded a charter bus, along with students from five other schools.

STORY CITY — Murray FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) chapter members, along with 350 members from FCCLA chapters across the state attended Iowa FCCLA Fall Leadership Rally Oct. 21.

Iowa Department of Revenue’s Julie Roisen explains business property tax credit

Should mental-health services be provided on campus at Clarke Community School District?

Butter Cow Films debuts ‘CoPay,’ which was shot in Clarke County

As of Jan. 1, Clarke County Public Health will not provide skilled home-care services reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance.

Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa (VNS of Iowa) will be hosting an enrollment event to provide assistance to individuals enrolling in the new health insurance marketplace.