SIOUX CITY — Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD) awarded $1,596,453 to 11 Siouxland organizations today during its annual Impact Match Grant Awards Ceremony at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City. The grants will support projects addressing critical community needs, including food insecurity, homelessness, rural public safety, healthcare, education, and infrastructure improvements.
    MRHD received 50 applications requesting approximately $6.2 million during this year's competitive grant cycle, significantly exceeding the $1.5 million originally budgeted. Following a comprehensive review, MRHD's Grant Review Committee recommended 11 projects totaling $1,596,453. The Board of Directors approved the recommendations, increasing the original budget to fully fund the proposed awards.
    The committee prioritized projects addressing pressing community needs, particularly food insecurity, homelessness, and rural public safety. Approximately 86% of the funding was awarded to projects in Woodbury County, with the remaining 14% supporting a project in Ida County. Rural fire and emergency services projects accounted for approximately one-third of the total funding, and all five of MRHD's grant focus categories were represented.
    "The demand for funding this year underscores both the significant needs facing our communities and the important work being done by local organizations," said David Bernstein, MRHD Board President. "Our Grant Review Committee focused on pressing issues like food insecurity, homelessness, and rural public safety. By increasing our original budget, we were able to support additional projects that will make a meaningful difference throughout Siouxland."
    MRHD's 2026 Impact Match Grant recipients and their respective projects included the Danbury Firefighters Association. The department received $150,000 to help with the replacement of their tanker truck. This truck can hold 5,000 gallons of water and is an integral part of fire fighting at locations away from fire hydrants such as rural areas. Their current truck is developing leaks in the tank.
    "The Danbury fire department is gratefully thankful for the help from the MRHD grant program to help us replace our 1980 tanker that has begun to leak" said Fire Chief Cameron Sexton. "This helps us a ton on replacing the truck and will be a great benefit to the Danbury fire department."
    Two other area fire departments benefitted during this cycle of the Impact Match grants. The Anthon Community Fire Department was awaarded $156,046 to purchase a tactical tanker, and the Battle Creek Fire Department received $225,00 to upgrade their pumper.
    MRHD's Impact Match Grant is an annual competitive funding opportunity providing awards ranging from $25,000 to $250,000 for larger-scale projects that create significant community impact. Recipients must provide a minimum 25% match, and grant funds are reimbursed upon project completion. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt organizations, local governments, and educational institutions located in Woodbury, Cherokee, Crawford, Ida, Monona, and Plymouth counties in Iowa; Union County, South Dakota; and Dakota County, Nebraska.
    MRHD is the nonprofit Qualified Sponsoring Organization (QSO) that holds the license for casino gaming in Woodbury County and receives funding through an agreement with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Sioux City. Under Iowa law, a percentage of the casino's gaming revenues is allocated to MRHD for community development.
    Since partnering with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Sioux City in 2014, MRHD has invested more than $40 million into Woodbury County and the Siouxland community and more than $60 million since its grant programs began in 1994.
    For more information about MRHD, contact Executive Director David Gleiser at (712) 899-6631 or execdir@mrhdiowa.org.
    Above, Danbury Fireman Mike Gaspers receives the department's grant from MRHD Board President David Bernstein. Photo provided by MRHD. Thank you!

    The parishioners at Battle Creek Presbyterian Church invite all to stop at the church on Saturday between 5:00 and 7:00 to pick up a turkey meal to take home and enjoy.
    Carry out meals consisting of turkey and all the fixins are available for $12 each if a ticket has been purchased from any of the Shelby County State Bank locations, United Bank of Iowa locations, or from the Presbyterian church in Battle Creek.
    Please plan to support the church.

    The 2026 Corn Days apparel store will close for good on Sunday at midnight. The clothing will be available to pick up either at Lynna dn Michael Buth's house the evening of November 25th through Black Friday morning and then at Colbert's Market starting at noon on Black Friday.
    To order, go to SimpleStore or contact Lynn at 712-840-0327.

    IDA GROVE, Iowa – Horn Memorial Hospital has earned three 2026 PRC Dimension Champion Awards, receiving national recognition for outstanding improvement in nurse communication, restfulness, and responsiveness.
        The awards were presented October 8 during the PRC Healthcare Experience Summit and recognize healthcare organizations that have demonstrated the greatest improvements in specific areas of the patient experience.
    Horn Memorial Hospital, a 20-bed Critical Access Hospital in Ida Grove, received individual awards in all three categories, achieving the greatest improvement among PRC's participating healthcare organizations in each area. These distinctions reflect the hospital's continued commitment to listening to patients and making meaningful improvements in the care it provides. From clear communication with nursing staff to creating a restful environment and responding promptly to patient needs, each area plays an important role in ensuring a positive hospital experience.
    "Horn Memorial achieved the greatest improvement in nurse communication, restfulness, and responsiveness of any PRC client this year, and we're proud to name them a 2026 Dimension Champion," said Cynde King, Ph.D., PRC's President and CEO. "Improvement on this scale reflects real commitment from their teams to the patients they serve. We're honored to support their ongoing work."
    "Our staff works hard every day to make sure patients feel heard, comfortable, and cared for," said Kysa Kock, Inpatient Director at Horn Memorial Hospital. "Receiving national recognition in three separate areas of patient care is something our entire team can be proud of. It reinforces that the efforts we make each day truly matter to our patients."
    This recognition highlights Horn Memorial Hospital's ongoing efforts to provide high-quality, patient-centered healthcare close to home.
About PRC
    PRC is a national healthcare experience improvement firm that partners with more than 2,800 hospitals and health systems nationwide. Through patient feedback, data analysis, and consulting services, PRC helps healthcare organizations identify opportunities to improve patient care and the overall healthcare experience.