Irelynne McNamara is not a stranger to Drake University's track and field venue. Between state track and field and the Drake Relays, the MVAOCOU senior has become a regular on the track and at the long jump pit at Drake. Between the two venues, this past state competition marked the fifth time she competed at the university. It appears she gets a little bit better with each meeting. Last year she took 8th place in the long jump at State. This spring she improved to gather the 4th place finish at the Drake Relays, a competition which pits athletes from all school classes into one group. McNamara continued her improvement at State on May 21st, garnering the bronze medal for her efforts.
    "After Drake, I was pretty confident I would make the podium," stated Irelynne, the daughter of Heather McNamara and Cory Johnshoy both of Mapleton.
    Irelynne's confidence definitely helped her keep her cool during her 6 jumps. The first jump landed her at 16' 11." Her second jump didn't do well, measuring 16' 3 3/4." She didn't let the reduced distance sway her confidence as she nailed 17' 6" in her third jump. This proved to be her best jump and the one that tied her and Ella Hein from Tipton in third place. Irelynne said that she was awarded the bronze medal over Hein because she outjumped Ella on the final jump. The top jumper, Jeorgia Evans from Mid-Prairie topped the crowd with an 18' 1" jump. Anabel Sinz from Spirit Lake easily had second place with her 17' 11 1/4" jump.
    How does Irelynne keep her cool and keep jumping at longer gains?
    "Just trying to get my approach right and get comfortable," she said.
    As Irelynne approaches her final year of high school, she has some lofty goals which she could definitely achieve. Being athletically multi-talented, she doesn't restrict her goal to excel to just the long jump.
    "I want to win a state championship my senior year," she said. "I want to PR (get a new personal record) again in everything I do and be the best track runner I can be."
    Congratulations on the accolades you have received thus far and good performance in your final year at MVAOCOU.

    Oto Days kicked off on Friday with an ice cream social from 5:00 until 7:00. The Anthon City Band will fill the air with music until 6:00. Sounds of kids on McDermott Shows rides will also fill the air. A foam party will cool down partiers from 7:00 until 9:00. Away from the foam, a baked and canned homemade goods auction will be held.
    Saturday begins bright and early with a free-will donation breakfast from 8:00 until 10:00 a.m. The breakfast will clear out and be replaced with Bingo from 10:00 until noon. Also beginning at 10:00 is card reading and vendors, both lasting until 3:00. At noon the carnival rides will begin for the day. At 1:00 a kids craft will be made. From 3:00 until 4:00 free carnival games will be offered for kids aged 12 and under. From 5:00 until 8:00 a mechanical bull will have people of all ages hanging on and flying in the air - just a little bit. The Bumbling Tumbleweeds will finish the weekend of activity.
    Please join the citizens of Oto at Oto Days.

    Join Siouxland Ag in the Classroom as they dig deep into the soil to learn about the impact that agriculture has on daily lives.
    Siouxland Ag in the Classroom will be at Cord Memorial Library in Danbury on Tuesday, June 16th at 2:00 p.m. Please join them and play in the dirt!

    DES MOINES -The Iowa Department of Education announced more than 530 sites across Iowa are serving free, nutritious meals and snacks to children through the Seamless Summer Option and Summer Food Service Program, known together as SUN Meals.
    These federally funded programs, which first began as a pilot program in 1968, are open to all children ages 18 and under in a variety of convenient locations across the state, including schools, churches, community centers, parks, libraries and camps. Meal sites offer either on-site dining or to-go meals and snacks. To-go meals are limited to rural locations only.
    The MVAO School district is participating in this program. In Danbury, meal pick up is at the park from 10:00 until 11:00 Monday through Friday.
    The Department administers the summer nutrition programs to maintain children's access to healthy meals during out-of-school months. The programs work as companion services to the SUN Bucks program, managed by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. The SUN Bucks program, also referred to as Summer EBT, provides $120 in grocery benefits per eligible child over the summer months. Eligible children can receive both SUN Bucks and SUN Meals or SUN Meals To-Go.
    "For nearly 60 years, Iowa has provided access to nutritious meals and snacks during the summer months for kids in need," said Kala Shipley, chief of the Department's Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services. "Children and teens who rely on school meals during the school year will continue to have access to meals, snacks and other partner resources this summer, ensuring they are nourished, supported and poised for success."
    Additional information for the Summer Food Service Program and Summer Seamless Option are found on the Department's website. More information on the SUN Bucks program can be found on the Iowa Health and Human Services website.

    JOHNSTON, IOWA (June 4, 2026) – LifeServe Blood Center is urging all eligible blood donors to schedule a donation as soon as possible to ensure patients and hospitals have access to the blood products they need to save lives. Throughout spring, LifeServe saw an alarming drop in blood donations, which has led to concerns about the blood supply at local hospitals as we enter the summer and "trauma season." LifeServe supplies blood to more than 170 hospitals, so donating blood with LifeServe is how to ensure your blood stays in your community to treat local patients.
    "The need for blood donations does not go away during the summer months, and hospital patients don't get a summer break or vacation," said Tim Paluch, LifeServe Director of PR & Marketing. "And right now, the blood supply is already being impacted by a drop in donations in recent weeks and months."
    Every two seconds, someone's life relies on a blood transfusion. Just one donation can save or impact up to three local lives.
    "A few minutes in a chair with a needle in your arm has the potential to save a life, to keep a family together, to keep a child healthy enough to receive cancer treatment," Paluch said. "That's a powerful act that you can take right now in your community."
    Increasing donations in the next few weeks will be critical to ensuring the local blood supply remains strong this summer.
    To help with this, LifeServe Blood Center is hosting Blood Donor Days throughout the month of June. Throughout the month of June, LifeServe blood donors at any mobile drive or donor center will not only walk away from donating knowing they saved or impacted up to three lives, but they'll also get an exclusive Blood Donor Days summer t-shirt and be automatically entered to win a weekly summer-themed prize package. Those donors can also enter to win our grand prize: two lucky donors will each win a pair of 4-day passes to Hinterland Music Festival, happening July 30-August 2 in St. Charles, Iowa, and featuring music acts like Katseye, Lorde, Mumford & Sons, and more.
    In addition, anyone who gives blood at a LifeServe donor center in June will get a special custom-made scratch-off ticket with a chance to score gift cards and more from local businesses who donated prizes to LifeServe to help refresh the community blood supply.
    The blood drive in Danbury will be held on June 24th 2:00 to 6:30pm at the fire station.
    LifeServe Blood Center is a non-profit, community-based blood center that has served the needs of local hospitals and patients in our regions since 1947. As one of the 15 largest blood centers in the country, LifeServe provides blood products to more than 175 hospitals primarily in Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska and Illinois. LifeServe is committed to saving lives by providing premier service to volunteer blood donors and access to a safe, quality blood supply for hospitals and patients. Your donation with LifeServe will help save your neighbor, a friend or family member, or a stranger on the street. YOU make a difference in YOUR community. For more information about blood donation or to schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 800.287.4903 or visit lifeservebloodcenter.org.