Video>>> The third annual St. Mary’s Community Hospital Foundation dodgeball tournament ended Saturday in an upset championship by the finals’ youngest team.

A team of high school freshman and sophomores were placed as the fourth seed in a six-team tournament following preliminary rounds.

    Michael T. Klimesh, current Spillville resident and Mayor, is announcing his candidacy for the Iowa State House of Representatives District 15.  Michael is running on the Republican ticket for the house seat based on the premise that government should work to serve the people, not the other way around. While he states he’s “not a politician, just a hard-working guy who wants to make a difference,” Michael is well aware of the realities that face many Iowans in these tough economic times.

    Winning 13 awards overall, the Lime Springs, Riceville and Cresco newspapers had a solid showing at the 2010 Iowa Newspaper Foundation Better Newspaper Contest this past Friday night.
    There was a huge crowd at the INA event, held at the Marriot Hotel in downtown, Des Moines, Feb. 5, with many government leaders attending along with the many winners.

    Regional Health Services of Howard County is moving forward with one of the first steps towards implementation of an electronic health record and paperless registration process. Now when patients arrive at the Hospital or Cresco Medical Clinic for a test, procedure or ER visit, the receptionist will give them an identification wristband to wear. This new process is one more way to help reduce chances for error and improve patient safety.

    Last year, 90-degree temperatures and heavy humidity didn’t keep people from visiting the Mighty Howard County Fair, and while there will likely be frigid temperatures and snow on the ground for a while yet this winter season, this year’s fair—set for Wednesday, June 23 through Sunday, June 27—is already looking to live up to its big name.

    Holiday feasting on rich mashed potatoes and gravies, dips and succulent desserts are indulgences that bring instant satisfaction. The pants get a little tighter, the belt needs to go out a notch and pretty soon you can barely fit in the jeans that were loose in those warm summer months. The result: weight gain. Not surprising that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions.

    A group of concerned citizens braved snowy weather for a regular School Board meeting in the Crestwood K-8 cafeteria on Monday, Feb. 1 to hear ways the Howard-Winneshiek Community School District is considering reducing expenses to the General Fund for the 2010-2011 school year.

    With the 2010 legislative session in Des Moines well underway, State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm and State Representative Brian Quirk held an open legislative forum on Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Cresco Public Library. During the forum, community members were invited to initiate discussion about the many dilemmas that are currently affecting Iowans. “We are always very pleased to hear your questions and concerns that we can take back to Des Moines with us,” said Senator Wilhelm at the start of the meeting.

    It was hard watching the Green Bay Packers take their playoff loss to Arizona, but I believe it was almost 10 times harder for a Viking fan to watch Minnesota fall to the Saints in their NFC playoff final.

    Was the hotel electrical outage at the Iowa League of Cities Legislative Day a symbol of the bleak fiscal situation the state finds itself in? Or was the quick, cheerful response by the hotel staff a sign that, if we pull together, we’ll get through it? Probably a bit of both.

    There is always a lot of fuss about the groundhog this time of year. Did he see his shadow? How much more winter will there be? Some even worry about how the poor animal is treated, wondering if he is an unhappy media captive, harassed by paparazzi that invade the creature's privacy by watching him and closely monitoring his every move.

    The Endow Iowa Tax Credit Program is expanding the impact people can have in improving their local communities through charitable giving. Under modifications to the program, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2010, those who give to a qualified Iowa community foundation, including Howard County Community Foundation as an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, will be eligible to receive 25 percent tax credits for their gifts, up from the 20 percent credits previously offered. Approximately $4 million in tax credits, an increase from the previous $3 million, will be available annually. With the increased tax credits, Iowa community foundations will have the potential to generate about $16 million annually in endowed gifts through Endow Iowa alone. The community foundations and their donors will be better able to support efforts in the arts, education, environment, health, human services and community development in communities across the state.

    The grant application deadline for the Howard County Community Foundation’s granting cycle is March 1st, 2010. Grants may be awarded in the following areas: Arts & Culture, Community Affairs & Development, Education, Environmental Education & Protection, Health, Historical Preservation, Human Services and Youth Programs.

    Thursday, Jan. 28 was celebrated as Mentoring Day on the Hill in Des Moines, Iowa. Three Helping Services Mentoring Coordinators, Kathy Schwartzhoff, Rosa Grant and Jill Hollowell met with State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm (top photo) and State Representative John Beard (bottom photo) to discuss the importance of mentoring. To become a mentor, contact Schwartzhoff at Helping Services for Northeast Iowa, Inc. at 563-382-1720 ext. 108 or visit www.helpingservices.org.

    On Thursday, Jan. 28, the Howard County Economic Development Board accepted the verbal resignation of HCED Executive Director Ken Paxton.  Paxton did not provide reasons for his resignation.