12/17/20: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

Santa goes virtual

COVID Recovery Iowa has launched free Virtual Santa visits just in time for the holidays. These safe and convenient visits are an ideal alternative as Iowans find new ways to honor holiday traditions during the pandemic.

The Virtual Santa visits run through Dec. 22. People of all ages are encouraged to sign up on the COVID Recovery Iowa Facebook page and schedule a visit. Staff are able to link people with available holiday programs in their communities.

Seasons Center receives grant for 'Wellness Wagon'

Seasons Center for Behavioral Health in Spencer has received a $50,000 grant award from Telligen Community Initiative (TCI), a private Iowa-based charitable foundation. The grant will be used to fund the "Wellness Wagon" project by purchasing of a 15-passenger van to support mobile behavioral health clinics in area rural counties.

The mobile behavioral health clinics aim to reach individuals and families experiencing increased anxiety, depression, substance use/addiction and other behavioral health needs as a result of COVID-19, food insecurities, unemployment, and other life situations that otherwise impede their ability to access timely behavioral health services.

"Individuals and families are hurting from the impacts of COVID and we need to be present in their communities to address their needs," said Kim Scorza, CEO/President of Seasons Center, in a news release. "This van will allow us to serve with pop-up food pantries, as well as transportation for clients needing in-person therapy, mobile crisis response, care coordination, prevention and education activities, and more."

Seasons Center was one of only 18 grants selected out of 303 for TCI's 2020 Iowa and Illinois-based funding cycle, which awarded a total of $700,590 in grants to nonprofit organizations in those states.

TCI works to support projects in the priority funding areas of health innovation, health care workforce development and access to care for the underserved.

Area legislators appointed to leadership roles

House Speaker Pat Grassley (R-New Hartford) recently announced the appointment of two area legislators to leadership positions during the 89th Iowa General Assembly.

Rep. Megan Jones (R-Sioux Rapids) will serve as chair of the House Administrative Rules Review Committee. Jones has chaired the committee since 2019. She previously chaired the Environmental Protection Committee and served as Assistant Majority Leader.

Representative-elect Dennis Bush (R-Cleghorn) will serve as the vice chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee. Bush was elected to his first term in the Iowa House earlier this fall.

In the Iowa Senate, Sen. Zach Whiting (R-Spirit Lake) has been named chair of the Labor and Business Relations Committee. Whiting will also serve as vice chair of the Administrative Rules Committee and on the Senate leadership team as Assistant Majority Leader.

Senator-elect Jeff Taylor (R-Sioux Center), who will represent District 2, has been named vice chair of the Senate Education Committee.

The legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 11, 2021.

Stay off: Lakes freezing across NWI

Iowa Great Lake water temperatures were around 37 degrees or lower last week with many areas starting to ice over. Walking out on the ice is not recommended; ice is not thick enough in most areas to hold a person.

All area hoists and docks have been pulled from the lakes to prepare for ice-up. The area bite has been slow lately.

East Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is open. The water temperature was 37 degrees last week. All hoists and docks have been pulled out for the season. Bluegill, fair. Find schools in deeper water. Black crappie, fair. Yellow perch, fair. Yellow bass, fair.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Walleye, fair.