Small Potatoes Farm – Job Opportunity

Spring is fast approaching and Small Potatoes Farm in Minburn is ready to begin its 11th year as a certified organic vegetable operation.

Small Potatoes Farm hires a full-time seasonal employee each season.

If you are looking to work on a small direct-market vegetable farm, perhaps this would be a good opportunity for you.

Our farm is about ten acres, with three in cultivated production at any one time.

Small Potatoes main focus is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), selling fresh produce to individuals and households directly as possible.

More information about Small Potatoes can be found at http://www.smallpotatoesfarm.com. We can also be reached by telephone at 515.677.2438.

Whether you are considering starting your own farm in the future, or just desire to work within the local food system, let us know if we can be of any assistance.

Rick and Stacy Hartmann,

Small Potatoes Farm
24629 180th St.; Minburn, Iowa 50167
Phone: 515-677-2438;
Email: info@smallpotatoesfarm.com
Webmail: www.smallpotatoesfarm.com

Adel Petty Officer Brenda Peshel Spotlighted on Navy Website

Courtesy of Navy Outreach:

Adel resident and business owner, Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Brenda Peshel has been spotlighted on the Navy Outreach website by Ensign Marissa A. Cruz.

Excerpt: ” In addition to her civilian career as a business owner, Brenda Peshel is committed to serving our nation as a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve.

In addition to her civilian career as a business owner, Brenda Peshel is committed to serving our nation as a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve.

In addition to her civilian career as a business owner, Brenda Peshel is committed to serving our nation as a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Brenda Peshel is assigned to Navy Operational Support Center Des Moines. She is a 1989 graduate of Millersport High School and currently studies at Des Moines Area Community College.

When not completing Navy duties, attending classes or running her business, Peshel is active in her community as a member of the American Legion.

“I take all the experiences and training that I get in the Navy to help me run my business and volunteer in my community,” explained Peshel. 

Peshel’s civilian career has greatly benefited her service in the Navy Reserve. Peshel’s extensive auditing and bookkeeping experience in civilian life has supported her Navy responsibilities on several occasions.

Peshel’s 20 years of accounting and business experience in her civilian career adds to her ability to support her unit in tracking members’ activities. Similarly, her Navy Reserve experience and expertise in logistics have been vital assets to her career as a business owner.

Peshel’s unit is SURGEMAIN, Naval Sea Systems Command’s Reserve Component Navy shipyards workforce. In her role as a logistics specialist, she travels to Navy shipyards to work hand-in-hand with active duty Navy personnel and civilian counterparts to provide technical expertise and additional manpower in the surge of maintenance capability of the Navy Reserve.

Beyond the professional benefits of her service, there are special personal benefits she gains from her time in uniform as well.

“In the Navy Reserve, I have had the privilege and pleasure to meet and work with a lot of amazing people,” shared Peshel.

Peshel had an 18-year break in service following her active duty time. During this period, she and her husband raised a family. However, once their three sons were grown, Peshel felt a desire to serve once again.

“I felt I had more to contribute to my country, and the Navy Reserve has allowed me to fulfill my desire to make a difference and help others,” said Peshel. “The Navy Reserve has allowed me to serve our great country and still be close to my family and run my business.”

Read full article here.

Captain’s Quarters
807 Main Street
Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4417
Facebook: pages/Captains-Quarters/info

4-H’s Positive Development Featured in International Press

Courtesy of the Dallas Co Extension Office

Children and youth learn best when they learn through experience. This positive youth development is the essence of 4-H and is featured in the international research journal Reclaiming Children and Youth.

Iowa State University Vice President for Extension and Outreach Cathann Kress served as guest editor of the fall 2014 issue, which focuses on young people as resources to be developed, rather than risks that must be managed. It’s available online and in print from Reclaiming Youth International.

This issue of the journal also commemorates the 100th anniversary of the federal Smith-Lever Act, which formally established Cooperative Extension in land-grant universities in the United States. 4-H Youth Development is the part of this transformational education system that reaches the nation’s youngest citizens in their communities.

“When children and youth can learn by doing, they will lead by example. They will become the early adopters who will change their communities as a result of their access to education,” Kress said.

“Early pioneers in 4-H at Iowa State University and other land-grant universities across the country created this model, and it is the reason that people all across the world are interested in 4-H programs. It’s not because of clubs in which youth come together and keep busy; rather, it’s about building for the future with a vision of access to better education, better lives and empowering youth,” Kress said.

Full article here

Dallas County ISU Extension Office
28059 Fairground Road
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4281
Fax: (515) 993-1027
Website: www.extension.iastate.edu/dallas

Author Christopher Bollyn at Library Feb. 17th

Published: February 2015

“Solving 9-11” will be presented by investigative reporter Christopher Bollyn.

The presentation will be at the Adel Public Library, February 17th, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Mr. Bollyn will speak a short time, answer questions and sign his books.

More details and future events are available at bollyn.com, where you can read, Chapters 15 and 16 online of his e-book, “SOLVING 9-11”.

Event Location:
Adel Public Library
303 S. 10th Street
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: 515-993-3512
website: www.Adel Public Library

Terry Traveller – This Day in History “Groundhog Day”

Terry is back with another interesting take on a Holiday. Now I’ve given up on verifying Terry’s “facts”, but I always enjoy the unique perspective. – Editor

Dear fellow traveler ~

February is home to my 7th favorite holiday, Groundhog’s Day, and is amongst the best of my handwritten and Xeroxed manuscript, “The Lost Tales of American Tradition”.

As many of you will find in my book, I presuppose t’was the mayor in 1887 who devised the festival as a promotional gimmick to increase tourism to make Punxsutawney, Philadelphia as popular as Aspen, Colorado and soon became the best promotional gimmick since uniform bread pans.

So the story goes, it was late one night when the mayor heard a scratching at the door. Thinking he had forgotten the pet cat on the porch, the ole mayor opened the backdoor and scooped up what he believed to be his notoriously large and significantly furry cat.

T’was not indeed.

In that instance the groundhog froze. The mayor froze. Their eyes met and both gave a frightful screech!

Dropping the groundhog to the floor, it ran out of the house leaving behind a very bewildered public official. And thus the phrase “keep the porch light on” was born.

The nature behind the reasoning of a groundhog and its shadow as a verified meteorological devise has been lost to the sands in the hourglass and the constructs of the “interweb”.

The tradition is simple- roust a Groundhog from its home and see its shadow it does, we have 6 more weeks of winter upon us.

If he doesn’t, we still have 6 weeks left of winter according to the calendar but the weather could be a balmy 48 degrees!

In Iowa, that’s cause enough for my Birkenstocks, black socks, and short shorts.

So this February 2nd, as you listen to traditional Groundhog’s Day Polka music, watch the beloved movie again and again, and sip on some mulled wine in the hot tub, remember fondly the reason for the celebration, and give your cat a hug.

Terry Traveller
Email: terry@discoveradel.com
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverAdel.TerryTraveller?fref=ts

Author Hannah Trebec at Adel Public Library Feb. 7th

Author Hannah Trebec

Courtesy of Adel Public Library:
Published: January 2015

The Adel Public Library wants to spread a very special story of hope this month as we welcome speaker and author Hannah Trebec.

Hannah will share the unbelievable story of her life, growing up on the East German side of the Berlin Wall.

After the wall was torn down in 1989, she took away a very hopeful story and a piece of the Berlin Wall with her as well. Hannah then moved to Iowa in 1995.

She will share her experiences, sign books, and discuss her book, Double Cover Up. We are honored that she is coming to share her brave story with us on Saturday, February 7th at 11:00 am.

Library hours are:
Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Adel Public Library
303 S. 10th Street
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: 515-993-3512
website: www.Adel Public Library

Waukee Resident’s Artwork Featured in National Calendar

Courtesy of Watermark Communities/VillageLegacyPointe:

Bev Hagelberg’s painting, “Ken’s Home Place” was selected among hundreds of submissions coast to coast to be part of the national Expressions Calendar.

Her artwork is featured in the month of December 2015. The painting captures the home in Iowa where her husband, Ken, was raised.

Hagelberg began painting in 1990 and enjoys using water color and acrylics in her artwork. Hagelberg is a resident at The Village at Legacy Pointe in Waukee, a retirement community managed by Watermark Retirement Communities, the company that produces the annual Expressions calendar.

“We’re ecstatic about the recognition of Mrs. Hagelberg’s extraordinary work in the 2015 Expressions Calendar,” said Tammy Olson, Executive Director at The Village at Legacy Pointe. “It’s a well-deserved honor for this truly gifted individual.”

For more information or to pick up one of the free calendars while supplies last, contact The Village at Legacy Pointe at 515-987-4100. 

Media Contacts:
Amy Barth, Executive Director
The Village at Legacy Pointe
515-987-4100

Katelin Schwarck
Hanser & Associates (for Watermark Retirement Communities)
Office 515-224-1086 / Direct 515-421-4136

About The Village at Legacy Pointe Retirement Community of Waukee
Located at 1650 SE Holiday Crest Circle, The Village at Legacy Pointe retirement community of Waukee serves up to 186 residents, with levels of care including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and Rehabilitation/Skilled Nursing. Watermark Retirement Communities Inc., one of America’s leading operators of senior living communities, owns and manages The Village at Legacy Pointe. Amy Barth is the Executive Director of the community. For more information, visit www.watermarkcommunities.com/VillageLegacyPointe or call 515-987-4100.

About Watermark Retirement Communities Inc. 
Watermark Retirement Communities Inc. is the nation’s 16th largest senior housing operator. Watermark’s commitment to creating extraordinary communities where people thrive dates back 30 years to when it opened its first retirement community in 1987. Watermark manages

Are You on the “Worst Passwords” List of 2014?

Courtesy of PRWeb:

SplashData has announced its annual list of the 25 most common passwords found on the Internet – thus making them the “Worst Passwords” that will expose anybody to being hacked or having their identities stolen.

The list is compiled from more than 3.3 million leaked passwords during the year. (List below)

Presenting SplashData’s “Worst Passwords of 2014”:

01 123456 (Unchanged from 2013)
02 password (Unchanged)
03 12345 (Up 17)
04 12345678 (Down 1)
05 qwerty (Down 1)
06 1234567890 (Unchanged)
07 1234 (Up 9)
08 baseball (New)
09 dragon (New)
10 football (New)
11 1234567 (Down 4)
12 monkey (Up 5)
13 letmein (Up 1)
14 abc123 (Down 9)
15 111111 (Down 8)
16 mustang (New)
17 access (New)
18 shadow (Unchanged)
19 master (New)
20 michael (New)
21 superman (New)
22 696969 (New)
23 123123 (Down 12)
24 batman (New)
25 trustno1 (Down 1)

SplashData offers three simple tips to be safer from hackers online:

1.  Use passwords of eight characters or more with mixed types of characters.

2. Avoid using the same username/password combination for multiple websites.

3. Use a password manager to organize and protect passwords, generate random passwords, and automatically log into websites.

Much more information in full article

City of Adel Debuts New Brand

Courtesy of City of Adel:

The City of Adel is pleased to debut its new brand, which features a new logo, tagline, and narrative.

The Branding Committee worked with Webspec Design to develop the City’s new brand.

The new Adel brand and its narrative tell the story of who we are, what we stand for as a community, and where we intend to go in the future.

For more information on the City’s new brand, please visit Adel City Hall (or the City’s website) to pick up a copy of the Adel Brand Narrative.

“Thrive With Us” is our tagline because it represents a feel-ing of inclusiveness, growth, and excitement, all of which encompass how we feel as a community about Adel.

Our new logo represents a nod to the City’s historic brick streets while pointing upward and forward, which alludes to our future goals and growth as a community.

City of Adel
301 S. 10th Street
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4525
Fax: (515) 993-4527
Website: www.adeliowa.org
Facebook: facebook.com/CityofAdelIowa

Larry O. Lane Obituary – Service Jan. 2nd (Updated)

Courtesy of McCalley Funeral Homes:

Retired Army Sergeant Major Larry O’Dell Lane went to be with our Lord on December 23, 2014.

His death was natural but unexpected and he will be missed by all who knew him. He was born on November 2, 1948 to Clinton O’Dell Lane and Margaret Marie Myler-Lane (both deceased).

Larry is survived by his wife of 45 years, Goldie Lane; his sons, Christopher O’Dell, Patrick Brian, Matthew Corey, Andrew Casey; his grandson Dylan O’Dell; and his sisters, Ann Smith, Sandra Lane, Diane Lane and Louise Lane-Haury.

Memorial services will be held 11:00am on Friday, January 2, 2015 at McCalley Funeral Home in Adel, Iowa. Burial with full military honors will immediately follow at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. Family will greet friends from 9:00-11:00am prior to services on Friday.

Larry joined the Army during the Vietnam conflict on April 24, 1967. After serving two tours in Vietnam, Larry volunteered for, but was declined, a third tour when he was informed by the Army that “No, you have done your duty”. Thereafter Larry returned to the States and on December 6, 1969 married his long-time sweetheart, Goldie Stafford.

Being an honorable man of intense patriotism, Larry had decided to make a life career in service to his country. He retired in 1994 after serving 27 years. His assignments took him (and his family) to several states and overseas. He accumulated numerous medals and accolades (Larry never bragged on himself, but these were found in his footlocker and it is possible we missed a few): Air Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Achievement Medal (two times), Army Commendation Medal (seven times), Army Service Ribbon, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Marksmanship Badge Rifle/M-16, Good Conduct Medal (eight times), Humanitarian Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (two times), National Defense Service Medal (two times), NCO Professional Development Ribbon (four times), Overseas Service Bar (three times), Overseas Service Ribbon (two times), Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with Palm), Service Stars (six times) and the Vietnam Service Medal.

In 1981, his military service extended to being a Military Technical Advisor and Extra on the movie, “Stripes”, with Bill Murray (a story in itself). In the screen version, he was in several scenes – a personal favorite was when he was calling cadence for the troops marching across the screen.

He received a certificate from the Army, thanking him for keeping the “true” military scenes authentic.

Larry was much loved in the community and active in local events. You would see him driving his dune buggy in the Corn Festival parade and displaying his custom VW’s at car shows. For years, he was a participant in RAGBRAI, riding across the state of Iowa for seven days on a bicycle.

He was admired and respected beyond what his family even knew and we thank his Army friends for creating the “Larry O Lane Memorial Page” on Facebook (some of the stories made us laugh as we visualized Larry saying/doing what was mentioned).

The page creator said, “His leadership and guidance inspired us all. He set the standard and was the NCO that we all strived to be. If the Army were to create a recruiting poster of a model paratrooper and leader, Larry Lane would be the natural choice. Thank you for your service to our great country and your contribution to shaping our lives. Rest in Peace.”

Condolences for the family can be left on the McCalley website.

[Updated] – 12.30.2014

There will be a Remembrance Celebration with lunch at the Raccoon Valley Community House in Adel, Iowa (11th & Main) following the ceremony at the cemetery. This info was not in the obituary at www.mccalleyfuneralhome.com.

Mc Calley Funeral Homes
735 S. 14th St,
Adel, IA. 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4240
Website: www.mccalleyfuneralhome.com

Emma Skahill Represents Dallas County 4-H in Georgia

Courtesy of the Dallas Co Extension Office

Dallas County’s Emma Skahill of Earlham, is one of 21 Iowa 4-H’ers who were selected to represent Iowa as a delegate at the 2014 National 4-H Congress on November 28- December 2 in Atlanta, Ga.

National 4-H Congress recognizes the delegates’ outstanding leadership and community work and is an opportunity for leaders in 4-H to meet and learn from each other.

The event included keynote speakers, tours of Atlanta, service work around the city, workshops and an international banquet and formal gala.

“This is one of the highest recognition opportunities for senior 4-H’ers in Iowa,” said Cayla Taylor, campus 4-H youth program coordinator with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “These youth were selected because they have demonstrated exceptional skills in leadership, citizenship and overall achievement.”

Skahill is a nine year 4-H member who has been involved in the citizenship, leadership, food and nutrition, photography and home improvement project areas. She has served on the recreation and calendar/planning committees and as secretary and president of her 4-H club and has participated in state 4-H council and Iowa 4-H Youth Conference.

“4-H has made me into the person I am today,” said Skahill. “It has taught me skills that I use in my everyday life and will continue using in my future.”

For more information on the National 4-H Congress or how to join 4-H in Dallas County, contact County Youth Coordinator, Aleta Cochran, at (515) 993-4281 or aleta@iastate.edu.

Dallas County ISU Extension Office
28059 Fairground Road
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4281
Fax: (515) 993-1027
Website: www.extension.iastate.edu/dallas

The Adel Downtown Facade Project Has Begun!

Courtesy of City of Adel:

As you visit downtown Adel this fall, you will notice that construction has begun on the Adel downtown Facade Improvement Project.

Sixteen buildings around the Court-house Square and along Main Street are participating in the project, which will restore and rehabilitate storefronts throughout the historic downtown.

Construction has begun and will continue through the winter and next spring. All businesses will be open during construction and we encourage you to support them during the construction process.

Questions may be directed to the office of the City Administrator, City Hall, 301 South 10th Street, Adel, IA 50003 – ATTN: Anthony Brown.

City of Adel
301 S. 10th Street
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4525
Fax: (515) 993-4527
Website: www.adeliowa.org

Associates of The Village at Legacy Pointe Retirement Community Earn Recognition in Memory Care

Courtesy of Watermark  Communities/VillageLegacyPointe:

Associates of The Village at Legacy Pointe Retirement Community Earn Recognition in Memory Care.

There are more than 44 million people living with some form of memory loss or dementia across the world.

As November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, associates at The Village at Legacy Pointe retirement community are prepared to help on the local level.

Eight caregivers have recently been awarded Certified Dementia Practitioners (CDP) status by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners, an organization formed in 2001 to promote standards of excellence in dementia and Alzheimer’s education. The CDP-certified associates include:

• Lacy Christianson, Certified Nursing Assistant, resident of Waukee
• Tina Webb, Certified Nursing Assistant, resident of Des Moines
• Allie Parker, Community Life Associate, resident of Des Moines
• Gerri Fairfax, Certified Nursing Assistant, resident of Des Moines
• Tina Rundlett, Certified Nursing Assistant, resident of Des Moines
• Konnie Ellis, Universal Aide, resident of Des Moines
• Judi Detmering, Program Director, resident of Madrid, IA
• Brittany Hamilton, Universal Aide, resident of Des Moines

To achieve their certification, the practitioners attended a comprehensive educational seminar by a Certified Dementia Alzheimer’s Instructor, and also completed a rigorous application and evaluation process.

“These associates play a big role in offering skilled, sensitive care to our residents and their families,” said Tammy Olson, Executive Director of The Village at Legacy Pointe. “Our CDPs also provide support and compassion to those with memory loss, which helps make the transition into a senior living community easier for everyone.” CDP training requires ongoing renewals through health-related courses every two years.

The Village at Legacy Pointe now has a total of 19 CDP associates. For more information on The Village at Legacy Pointe, call 515-987-4100 or visit villagelegacypointe.watermarkcommunities.com.

Media Contacts:
Amy Barth, Executive Director
The Village at Legacy Pointe
515-987-4100

Katelin Schwarck
Hanser & Associates (for Watermark Retirement Communities)
Office 515-224-1086 / Direct 515-421-4136

About The Village at Legacy Pointe Retirement Community of Waukee
Located at 1650 SE Holiday Crest Circle, The Village at Legacy Pointe retirement community of Waukee serves up to 186 residents, with levels of care including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and Rehabilitation/Skilled Nursing. Watermark Retirement Communities Inc., one of America’s leading operators of senior living communities, owns and manages The Village at Legacy Pointe. Amy Barth is the Executive Director of the community. For more information, visit www.watermarkcommunities.com/VillageLegacyPointe or call 515-987-4100.

About Watermark Retirement Communities Inc. 
Watermark Retirement Communities Inc. is the nation’s 16th largest senior housing operator. Watermark’s commitment to creating extraordinary communities where people thrive dates back 30 years to when it opened its first retirement community in 1987. Watermark manages

Veteran’s Day Guest Speaker Colonel. (Ret.) Ted Severn

Courtesy of ADM Alumni Association:

On Tuesday, November 11, 2014 Colonel (Ret.) Ted Severn will be guest speaker at a Veteran’s Day event open to the public at no charge with seating limited to 120.

The event will be held at the ADM High School, 801 Nile Kinnick Dr. S., in Adel.

It will start at 8:30 am with a flag-raising ceremony followed by Col. Severn’s presentation from 9am – 10am in the high school auditorium, and a reception will follow at 10am in the ADM school board room.

Public parking will be available in the east parking lot – follow the signs – as you enter the ADM campus from the west off of Highway 169.

In 1970 then Captain Severn was commander of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam.

He was Private John McClurg’s commanding officer. Private McClurg (Adel High School Class of ‘69) was the last ADM alumnus to be killed in action (KIA).

Captain Severn was wounded in action (WIA) in June of 1970 and Private McClurg was KIA two months later on August 17, 1970. John was 19 years, 3 months and 17 days old.

Col. Severn will discuss his military career and experiences in Vietnam and what it was like to serve with a rifle company in a combat zone. The ADM Alumni Association worked with the ADM Middle School Veteran’s Day Committee to arrange for and sponsor Col. Severn’s visit.

ADM Alumni Association
P.O. Box 122
Adel, Iowa 50003
Website: www.admalumni.com

Adel’s South Water Tower Has a New Look!

Courtesy of City of Adel:

Adel Public Meeting on County Buildings Relocation Oct. 28th

Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce:

Dallas County officials have scheduled a series of public information meetings to share information about two November 4th ballot propositions.

The final meeting will be held in Adel on Tuesday, October 28 at the ADM High School Board Room (801 Nile Kinnick Dr S) at 7:00 pm.

Proposition A asks if the County shall issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $16.3 million for a new Sheriff’s Office-Law Enforcement Center. Current plans call for a 62,000 square foot facility to include the Sherrif’s Administration Function (Civil and Patrol), Jail, Jail Support, First Hearing Room, and Emergency Management Center.

Proposition B asks if the County shall issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $11.8 million for a new County Administration Facility. The proposed building would be 51,050 square feet and would house the following offices: Treasurer, Auditor, Recorder, Assessor, Veterans Affairs, Operations, Human Services, and IT GIS.

The public information meeting will provide an opportunity to learn more about the ballot propositions and ask questions.

Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 73, 301 S.
10th Street, 2nd Floor
Adel, IA 50003
Email: chamber@AdelPartners.Org
Website: www.adelpartners.org
Facebook: AdelPartnersChamberOfCommerce

Open Letters on the November 4th Dallas County Propositions

As the November 4th Elections approach, we’ve received two letters from Adel City Council members on their positions concerning ballot Proposition A and Proposition B.

Additional information concerning the proposed Dallas County Sheriff’s Office – Law Enforcement Center and the proposed Dallas County Admin Facilities located here.

– Editor

 ———

Dear Editor,

Next Tues voters have the opportunity to support construction of a new County Administration Office Building and a new Public Safety Building / Jail. Both facilities are needed and I would urge the public to turn the ballot over and on the back VOTE YES on both measures.

The administrative offices will be located in Adel just across the river heading west on the north side of Highway 6 / Hickman Road. The facility will make it convenient for the public to conduct business with most of the elected officials under one roof; and will replace the “checkerboard” of building folks have to visit to conduct county business today. And, it will reduce the county’s rental / lease expense by approximately $200,000 annually.

As Mayor of Adel I worked with Supervisor Chapman to select the proposed administrative building site. There were four non-county owned properties that needed to be acquired. Options to purchase have been secured for three of the properties, and the final property, American Concrete, is supportive of the project and working to relocate to make room for the administrative offices.

Some might think why didn’t the Supervisors use the old Adel High School building in the middle of town? Well, the main reason is it was never available. The ADM School District will be remodeling the building and using it for administrative offices. All things considered the planned location for the county administration building is best for the citizens of Dallas County.

It has been asked of the Supervisors, “What if the bond issues do not pass?” I am not sure what action will be taken, but we can all be assured of two things: 1) the space problem will not go away, and 2) it will be more expensive to solve it than what is currently proposed.

I urge Dallas County residents to vote YES on November 4th.

Jim Peters, Mayor
Adel

 ———

October 14, 2014
Dear Editor:

Many of you may recall that I opposed the Dallas County bond initiative a little over a year ago.  I did so because of the proposed location, which was some 2 miles east of Adel’s traditional city limits.  Moving county operations far from our historic downtown square would have negatively impacted our local business community.  I did not question the need for more space for the County, especially since the Court system will eventually consume the entire space in our current court house.   As Iowa’s fastest growing county it is imperative that the County officials address the increased needs of our citizens both now and into the future.

The County has worked with the City to develop a new plan that addresses my earlier concerns.  This time the proposed Administration Facility would be located just west of the Raccoon River on the north side of U.S.  Highway 6.  Much of that land is already owned by the County and a new office building located in that area would certainly enhance the appearance for that entrance to our City.

The Sheriff’s Office/Law Enforcement Center would be located on County owned land east of the traditional Adel city limits in the area commonly known as “Ortonville”.   The need for a new jail is driven by explosive Dallas County growth.  The current jail can house a maximum of 48 prisoners and jail statistics indicate a need for 90.  Inmates in excess of the current capacity are sent to Polk County for confinement.  This adds to the cost of confinement as well as staff and related costs to transport the prisoners to and from that facility.

Please visit the county’s informational website and check out greater details about two bond proposals on the ballot this year.  You can find it here:  http://www.dallascountybond.com/

I support a “YES” vote on these important projects for Dallas County’s future, and hope you will too.

Jon McAvoy 
1126 Grove St.
Adel, Ia. 50003

Compass Financial Services Moves to New Location

The Compass Financial Services office has moved to the American Legion Post 464 building on North 9th St. in Adel.

Steve Conrad of Compass Financial Services will continue to meet in Adel with clients on Wednesdays.

Compass Financial Services
119 N. 9th St. Ste. B • Adel, IA 50003
Phone: (515) 993-1887
Website: www.compassiowa.com
Email: steve.conard@lpl.com

Local Book Club part of Iowa Author Success Story

The Adel-based book club, Crows Reading Prose, has been meeting nearly every month for 4 years.

Its 12 members consist of Adel ladies, past and current, who enjoy gathering in one another’s homes for food, wine, and good conversation about their latest pages.

Book club members are Becky Mantell, Carol Wells, Christee Lee, Jo Berry, Jeannie Havnen, Kathleen Green, Marie Hansen, Michelle Messer, Nancy Hogstad, Sandie Laust, Suzanne Davidson, Teresa Burke and Jean Blaser.

The book club formed organically, starting first as a women’s fellowship group at the Adel Methodist Church, then as bi-annual sleepovers at the “Methodist B&B in Muskie (Muscatine)”.

It was Jean Balser, who longed for camaraderie and serious literary discussions, who first suggested they form a book club, with a series of rules to hold each other accountable such as attendance, 12 available memberships, and a scribe to recap and share notes from each meeting. Rotating turns as moderator would allow each member to suggest a book to be read.

The group has had several guest authors at their meetings including Iowa writers Mary Gottschalk and Carol Bodensteiner. Carol’s memoir, Growing Up Country was well received by the group and prompted the author to invite the club to be “beta readers” for her first novel, Go Away Home.

Go Away Home is a coming-of-age story about Liddie Treadway, a determined and independent woman seeking her dreams. Readers join her as she faces the conflicts, choices, joys and heartaches of love and life set in Iowa, circa World War One.

Before the novel was printed, each member read an early manuscript. Carol was invited back to the book club where feedback was shared about character development, structure, and overall appeal.

Carol then went back to the draft and made many of the suggested changes.

Crows Reading Prose club members were honored that the author granted them the opportunity to be part of the editorial process.

Go Away Home is now the Silver Medal winner for Historical Fiction in the Readers Favorite International Award competition.

Adel can share in Carol’s success, knowing that the thoughtfulness of its community members helped bring an Iowa author’s work to the limelight.

Read an excerpt of Go Away Home and learn more about Carol Bodensteiner at www.carolbodensteiner.com.