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Local
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Brokaw FFA takes part in Iowa FFA Day at the Capitol
Bryan Clark
Brokaw FFA members attending the 2026 Iowa FFA Legislative
Symposium pose for a picture Wednesday, Jan. 21, with Iowa State
Representative Devon Wood. From left: Morgan Manes, Addi Dow,
Maggie Carlson, Jillian Dammann, Representative Wood, Alayna
Shepherd, Taylor Rasmussen Brokaw Chapter Advisor Andy Johnson.
courtesy photo
Members of Clarinda High School’s Brokaw FFA chapter were part of the group that gathered Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.
The 41st annual Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium and FFA Day at the Capitol took place with more than 500 high school students representing 88 schools on campus. The students visited with legislators, exhibited skills learned in the agriculture classroom and learned the importance of citizenship.
The FFA day takes place to help members build character and promote citizenship, volunteerism and patriotism.
FFA members heard from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Brian Feldpausch and Jake Swanson of High Yield Strategies.
The Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium and FFA Day at the Capitol was made possible with support from the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation through the Iowa FFA Foundation.
Education
Iowa Western Community College excited about possibility of 4-year degrees
Hailey Peck
Council Bluffs Nonpareil
As the Iowa Legislature continues to look into the possibility of a four-year degree at community colleges across the state, Iowa Western Community College remains excited about the possibilities.
“We are in Southwest Iowa in a true desert kind of area for an individual who wants to continue on after the two-year degree to receive their bachelor's degree,” said Dan Kinney, president of Iowa Western Community College.
The closest in-state schools for students to continue on from Iowa Western are at least two hours away, private or public.
Kinney said that since the legislation was proposed, findings revealed 24 other states have already allowed community colleges to offer four-year degrees.
“It's not the gamut of all the bachelor’s degrees. It's what's needed in your area. So I kind of call them workforce bachelors,” Kinney said.
Kinney said that if the legislation were to pass, Iowa Western would look into what the community's needs are in order to decide which degrees to offer.
During Kinney’s visits to areas around Southwest Iowa to advocate for a $55 million bond for the college, he also heard a lot about the possibility of a four-year degree.
Kinney said he heard a lot of communities advocating for the need for degrees for K-12 education, health care and business.
“With this bill, if this goes through, this will allow us to really work with the communities we serve, the needs of Southwest Iowa in those baccalaureate type areas and allow us the opportunity to provide those,” Kinney said.
Kinney said the degrees would really help adult learners.
“It's really helping individuals that aren't close to a university to access that bachelor's degree to continue to move on,” Kinney said. “We probably have some great parents in our rural communities, but you know, they're time-bound, place-bound.”
Kinney said the degrees will likely not be geared toward many 18-year-olds coming out of high school, unless some want to stay in Southwest Iowa.
“I'm excited about that opportunity because in Southwest Iowa, there's not a lot of opportunities in the state of Iowa. Now, they can go across the river, down into Missouri, but this just allows us to keep them here in our rural communities in Southwest Iowa,” Kinney said.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer visited Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. During her t…
Local
Top StorySpotlight
Clarinda Foundation's 2026 scholarship applications now available
Bryan Clark
The Clarinda Foundation announced Monday, Jan. 26, that applications are available for 27 different scholarships to be awarded in May 2026.
Most of the scholarships are available for high school graduates in Clarinda and the surrounding area with select scholarships also available to students already in college.
Last year, the Clarinda Foundation presented over $130,000 in scholarships. Since the first scholarship in 1991, over $1 million in Clarinda Foundation scholarships have been awarded to area youth.
The Clarinda Foundation is presenting four new scholarships in 2026.
The Audrey Buck & Carlene Buck Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Audrey and Carlene and will be awarded to a female graduating from Clarinda, South Page, Bedford, North Nodaway or West Nodaway who plans to enroll in an accredited university, community college or trade/vocational school.
The CHS Class of 1970 Scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior who has attended Clarinda High School classes in-person and holds a cumulative GPA of a minimum of 3.0. The award gives preference to students who have been involved in extracurricular activities.
The Joel Herzberg Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Joel. It is awarded to a Southwest Valley, Stanton or Red Oak senior entering any field of agriculture. Preference is given to applicants with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
The Joe & Diane Newton Operation Blessing Scholarship was established by retired Chief of Police Joe Newton and current Chief Keith Brothers. It goes to a Clarinda High School senior or a homeschooled graduating senior living within the Clarinda district who plans to pursue any field of study.
For descriptions, applications and requirements for each scholarship, please visit the Clarinda Foundation’s website.
Applications are due to the Clarinda Foundation office or the Clarinda High School Counselor no later than March 15.
Education
Iowa Western Community College breaks ground on new building after bond passage
Hailey Peck
Council Bluffs Nonpareil
Iowa Western Community College passed a $55 million bond in the November election. The bond passed with 70.54% approval.
The bond will expand workforce programs in high-demand fields such as construction, electrical plumbing, HVAC, welding, diesel technology, automotive technology and logistics.
One feature of the bond is a new 86,000-square-foot building for transportation and logistics programs on the Council Bluffs campus. Iowa Western President Dan Kinney said the college has already broken ground on the building.
A $55 million bond issue proposed by Iowa Western Community
College will build a new 86,000-square-foot building for
transportation and logistics programs on the college's Council
Bluffs main campus.
IOWA WESTERN
“We’ve already broken ground,” Kinney said. “We’re getting the pad set so once the frost lifts here soon, we will start building it. It’s going to be an 18-month to two-year process.”
Kinney says the new building doubles to triples the space students are currently working in.
A $55 million bond issue proposed by Iowa Western Community
College will build a new 86,000-square-foot building for
transportation and logistics programs on the college’s Council
Bluffs main campus.
IOWA WESTERN photos
The building will host CDL simulation suites, classrooms and collaborative learning spaces with more than 17,000 square feet of automotive bays and 15,000 square feet of diesel labs.
Following the completion of the building, Kinney says they will begin renovating Dodge Hall.
“Right now our plan is to put construction over there, electrical plumbing, and HVAC,” Kinney said.
A $55 million bond issue proposed by Iowa Western Community
College will build a new 86,000-square-foot building for
transportation and logistics programs on the college’s Council
Bluffs main campus.
IOWA WESTERN
The bond will also cover renovations to facilities in Atlantic, Clarinda and Shenandoah.
Meanwhile, as construction continues, the college will be talking with high school partners to expand programs available to students. The goal is to grow programs that allow high school students to earn dual-credit in CTE pathways.
“Giving high school students some hands-on experience while they're in high school, in these high demand, high wage careers that we have out there, that our businesses are needing. So we'll be able to expose students more in high school and expand,” Kinney said.
A $55 million bond issue proposed by Iowa Western Community
College will build a new 86,000-square-foot building for
transportation and logistics programs on the college’s Council
Bluffs main campus.
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Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer chats with Abraham Lincoln junior Tyler Walter during Iowa Western visit Part One
Iowa Western President Dan Kinney discusses national recognition
