(REMSEN)–Remsen rings in the holiday with the two-day Festival of Trees featuring lighted trees, entertainment and food at the Avalon Ballroom.
You may catch the Christmas spirit as area musicians sing solos, lead sing-alongs or perform instrumental holiday music.
An array of decorated trees numbers more than two dozen. Many organizations are raising funds for their cause with bake sales and food stands. After he lights the Remsen Christmas tree, Santa Claus will hear children’s wish lists at the Avalon beginning at 6:30 Monday evening.
Hours today (Sunday) are from 10 in the morning until seven at night and during Remsen’s Old Fashioned Christmas tomorrow (Monday) from 4-8 pm.
Living windows, a cookie exchange sponsored by churches at the Remsen V-F-W, horse drawn wagon rides, and marshmallow roasts are part of the Old Fashioned Christmas Monday from 5:30 to 8:30 in the evening. Businesses are offering refreshments and drawings during the Remsen Open House.
Mercy Heart cardiology recruitment brings Artang back to Sioux City
(SIOUX CITY)–A cardiologist who joins Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City is returning to an area he’s familiar with.
Dr. Ramin Artang is a cardiologist and assistant professor of Medicine and cardiac imaging specialist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Dr. Artang previously worked at Mercy Heart Center.
He says he’s thrilled to have an opportunity to return to Siouxland and join the cardiologists of Mercy Cardiology.
His return January third brings to five the number of new cardiologists who have been recruited to the Siouxland market for Mercy Cardiology.
Health system physician begins fertility care training
(ORANGE CITY)–A family practice physician with Orange City Area Health System is taking fertility care education at Creighton University.
The program is offered by the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction in affiliation with Creighton University School of Medicine.
Dr. Harrison Hanson of Orange City Area Health System has completed the first phase of the training and describes the system of fertility care as morally and ethically sound.
Aging is focus of social worker’s presentation
(SIOUX CITY)–Common issues of aging and social justice will be presented by an expert on aging who speaks in Sioux City this week.
Gary Bachman will discuss “Growing Older Today” drawing on his social work practice and training.
Bachman taught behavioral sciences for 23 years at the University of Kansas in Kansas City and also worked in the social work field.
The free public event Thursday afternoon (December 9) at 3:30 is at the Saint Francis Center at Briar Cliff University. Briar Cliff is launching an interdisciplinary gerontology minor.
Sanford funds NWC scholarships for nursing
(ORANGE CITY)–Five Northwestern College students will receive scholarships for nursing education.
Sanford Health donated five-thousand dollars for the scholarships for Bachelor of Science in Nursing students.
Sanford Health, based in Sioux Falls and Fargo, is the largest rural, not-for-profit healthcare system in the U-S. Orange City Area Health System is affiliated with Sanford Health.
Mike Daly of Sanford says the health care provider cares about its communities and is honored to give back. According to Daly, Sanford plans to make a long-term commitment to the success of the Northwestern nursing program.
Village Northwest nativity and holiday music are featured December 13th
(SHELDON)–Village Northwest Unlimited offers a Living Nativity to the Sheldon area December 13th.
The grounds of Village Northwest Unlimited will feature four outdoor scenes which include Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem and the Nativity Scene.
Christmas music with performances by the Village Singers and the Archer Reformed Church Praise Team will be available in the Village’s Wansink Center.
The Living Nativity and music are from 6:30-8:30 in the evening on December 13th.
The Village provides services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries.
DNR honors Soldier man’s volunteer efforts
(DES MOINES)–A Monona County man is being honored for his work as a volunteer at Lewis and Clark State Park.
Mike Butler of Soldier has contributed more than 10 years and five-thousand hours for the Onawa State Park. Butler received the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Outstanding Volunteer Award.
As a member of the Friends group, Butler cuts wood for the group to sell, serves as a historical interpreter and helps coordinate the Lewis and Clark Festival each spring.
Washington County crashes injure at least 8
WASHINGTON, Iowa (AP) At least eight people have been injured in separate Washington County crashes, including one that involved a school bus.
The Washington County Communications Center received reports of at least four accidents over the course of two hours Saturday morning.
At least seven people were injured in a rollover accident involving a school bus. The injured include both passengers and the school bus driver.
Authorities haven’t released any other information about those who were injured.
The communications center says all of those injured have been transported to University Hospital in Iowa City or Mercy Hospital.
Three of the four crashes happened on different stretches of Highway 218. And three were rollover crashes.
Iowa Salvation Army reports theft of red kettle
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) The Salvation Army says a Grinch in Ankeny has made off with one of the organization’s bright red donation kettles.
Arvid Huisman, spokesman for the Salvation Army in Des Moines, says the kettle was unattended Friday when someone removed it from its stand.
He says the kettle probably had less than $10 in donations inside. The plastic kettle is worth an estimated $30.
Huisman says the thief was able to remove the kettle from its handle despite a padlock.
There are about 60 kettles around the metro area.
Huisman says Ankeny police are investigating the theft.
Copper thieves target vacant homes in Waterloo
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) Thieves searching for copper to sell as scrap are now targeting vacant houses owned by the school district in Waterloo.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports police records show burglars recently broke into three nearby homes last month and swiped copper wiring and pipes. The thefts were discovered on Wednesday when school officials noticed five windows were broken out of one of the homes.
The Waterloo Community School District had obtained the houses earlier this year to make room for a new elementary school. The homes were to be moved or torn down.
The price of copper has been just under $4 a pound, and police have seen an increase in copper theft in recent months.
Iowa prison removed from lockdown after stabbings
FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) The Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison where four inmates were stabbed last week has been removed from lockdown status and is expected to return to normal operating status early this week.
The maximum security prison was placed on lockdown after the stabbings on Tuesday. Department of Corrections spokesman Fred Scaletta says only one of the inmates involved in the stabbing remains hospitalized.
He says a search of the full institution was conducted during the lockdown.
Scaletta says in a news release that no further information about the incident, motive or types of weapons that were used will be released because the investigation is continuing.
He says the prison moved from lockdown status to restricted movement on Friday with an anticipated return to normal status early next week.
Firefighters battle blaze in downtown Keota
KEOTA, Iowa (AP) Authorities say firefighters from at least five departments battled a blaze in downtown Keota.
The Gazette reports that the fire was called in at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday.
No injuries have been reported.
KCRG reports that at least six businesses have reported fire damage, including Westendorf Costume Emporium, Bermel Insurance Agency, Bermel Laundromat, All Around Fitness and an area lumberyard.
Fire crews from Keota, Washington, Wellman, North Keokuk and Sigourney responded to the blaze.
According to the Census, Keota has about 875 residents.
Iowa City bus schedules just a click away
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Riders in Iowa City will soon be able to call, text or click away on the Web to find out when the bus is coming.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen says information about bus routes, schedules and the exact location of a bus will be available through a new system called Bus on the Go, or BONGO. The goal is to help riders spend less time waiting in the cold.
University of Iowa buses and transit buses in Coralville and Iowa City will be connected to the system when it officially goes live next week.
Riders can check the information in several ways, including going online to load up the bus stop web page, texting the bus stop number or making a call, then entering the number of the bus stop.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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