News from The Chronicle

Courtesy of the  December 24, 2015 and December 31, 2015 editions of THE CHRONICLE.

"Coffee for All" on Wednesday Mornings 
Morning Coffee at First Presbyterian Church in Odebolt is returning.  Starting on Wednesday, January 6, the coffee pot will be on at 10:00 A.M., and every Wednesday thereafter (weather cooperating), in the Fellowship Hall.

"Coffee for All" is what the name says.  Everyone in the community is welcome to join the conversation and fellowship.  Cookies and/or other treats will be provided.  Bring a friend along.


Iowa School Report Card
The Iowa Department of Education released the Iowa School Report Card on December 16.  Click on the following links to learn more.
The Iowa School Report Card

Report Card for OABCIG Middle School

Report Card for Odebolt-Arthur Elementary School

Report Card for OABCIG High School


Master Gardener Winter Webinar Series

Three part series shows how Master Gardeners support food security

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program will host a winter webinar series in 2016. Master Gardeners will gain educational hours while learning the realities of hunger in Iowa, the best way to work with food banks, food safety and more. Two-hour webinars are scheduled at the ISU Extension and Outreach - Sac County office for January 6, 13 and 20.

Winter webinar topics include:

January 6, 6-8 p.m. - Hunger in Iowa: Learn the realities of hunger and teaching methods to use when working with food-insecure adults. Presented by Christine Hradek, food and nutrition educator for ISU Extension and Outreach as well as Susan DeBlieck, Master Gardener program assistant for ISU Extension and Outreach.

January 13, 6-8 p.m. - Working with Food Banks: Find out how Master Gardeners can work with food banks to donate garden produce. Presented by Sara Bonefas, interim director of the Food Bank of Iowa as well as Susan DeBlieck, Master Gardener program assistant for ISU Extension and Outreach.

January 20, 6-8 p.m. - Best Practices for Food Safety: Get information on the best practices for handling garden produce going to food banks and the importance of food safety procedures. Presented by Shannon Coleman, assistant professor in food science and human nutrition and ISU Extension and Outreach specialist as well as Susan DeBlieck, Master Gardener program assistant for ISU Extension and Outreach.

This webinar series is part of collaborative project between the Master Gardener program in Iowa and the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education. This collaboration aims to improve the food environment for Iowans with low income, develop a strategic plan for planting food bank donations in gardens across Iowa, and increase the amount of food donated to food banks by Iowa Master Gardeners. Any Master Gardener wishing to apply for a mini grant to support a food security project is required to register and take part in the webinar series. Mini grant applications for up to $500 are due on March 1, 2016.

To register, contact Kelsey Lohff, at kalohff@iastate.edu or by calling (712) 662-7131. The webinars are free of charge and open to anyone who may be interested.


FC, West Central Approve Merger
The members of Farmers Cooperative Company (FC), Ames, Iowa, and West Central® Cooperative, Ralston, Iowa, have both approved the merger of their cooperatives effective April 1, 2016.

“On behalf of our boards, management and nearly 700 employees, we appreciate each and every member who cast a ballot in this historic cooperative merger,” said FC Board President and Odebolt, Iowa-area farmer John Scott.

Each membership met Iowa’s state voting requirement for a successful cooperative merger as certified by independent auditing firm of Gardiner Thomsen. To approve a merger, Iowa law requires at least 50 percent of each membership (plus one) to vote, with two-thirds of those casting ballots voting in favor of the merger.

The unified cooperative, to be known as Landus Cooperative, will be led by current West Central President and CEO Milan Kucerak and be headquartered in Ames, Iowa. The board of directors will be made up of nine directors from each cooperative for equal representation. More information on any changes will be provided in coming months as integration plans are finalized.

Together, West Central and FC have more than 70 grain, agronomy and feed locations in 26 Iowa and three Minnesota counties. According to World Grain magazine’s Grain and Milling Annual, Landus Cooperative will become the seventh largest grain company in North America based on storage capacity and have shuttle-loading access on all seven major Iowa rail lines.