Announcement from the Rock Rapids Chamber of Commerce:

Volunteers are STILL needed for Lyon Co. Career Exploration Day Friday, Jan. 28 from 8:30 am-12:30 pm.

Room guides are needed to take kids from 1 location to the next.

Please email Steve at ssimons@co.lyon.ia.us if you are able to help out.

This brings in all Lyon County freshmen and sophomores to listen to local professionals talk about their jobs in Lyon County.

Blood Shortages Continue to Impact Local Area

Larchwood, IA – Avera Medical Group Larchwood, Larchwood, IA, Grand Falls Casino, and Community Blood Bank join up boost the community’s blood supply and impact local patients’ lives by hosting a community blood drive on Monday, December 6 between 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Avera Medical Group Larchwood and Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort between 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Donors can schedule an appointment at Avera Medical Group Larchwood by calling 712-477-2185. Donors can schedule an appointment at Grand Falls Casino by logging onto www.cbblifeblood.org, select December 6 and Grand Falls Casino or 1-877-877-3070. All those donating will receive a McDonald’s gift card.

“The holiday season is upon us and we continue to see record blood usage in our area at local hospitals. The demand continues to out pass blood collections. Declaring a critical blood shortage is determined by evaluating the potential collections in the short term and the anticipated usage through the next 48 to 72 hours. Community Blood Bank has declared a critical blood shortage several times throughout 2021 with severe shortages in the area and no relief from the amount of blood that is being transfused short term,” states Ken Versteeg, Executive Director, Community Blood Bank. “It has been hard to catch-up and build a stable supply of blood for our community hospitals when we are experiencing some of the worst blood usage in the blood bank’s history. Just as we see some improvement, we have several unexpected calls for blood that places us in a critical state once again. Please donate blood when the bloodmobile is at either Avera Medical Group Larchwood or Grand Falls Casino on December 6.”

Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with a signed parent consent form), weigh 110 lbs or more and be in good general health. It is recommended that a person eat and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating blood. Please bring an ID with you at the time of donation. For more information log onto www.cbblifeblood.org.

Community Blood Bank is not affiliated with other blood bank organizations and takes pride in being a self-sufficient organization thanks to the generosity of our local blood donors.

Statewide Iowa — This weekend marks the 30th anniversary of what came to be known as the 1991 Halloween Ice Storm in Iowa.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Andrew Ansorge says the storm approached the state from the southwest and started as snow.

Very cold air poured into the state after the storm.

The storm knocked out power to about 80-thousand homes in Iowa and a state of emergency was issued for 52 of the state’s 99 counties.

On Oct 6 from 5 to 7 pm Rock Rapids Utilities will be celebrating its 125^th anniversary of their electric utility.  They will have toys for all ages with inflatables for little ones and electric cars for those a little bit older.

Anyone born after January 1, 1972 and who plans to hunt in Iowa is required to take a Hunter Education online course.  Field Day will be held August 28, 2021 at the Rock Rapids Gun Club, Rock Rapids, IA.  The field day will run from 8 A.M. until 12:00 noon.  There is a limit of 25 students for the field day.  It is necessary to register and complete the online course by August 25 , 2021 in order to participate in the field day.  A student must be 11 years of age to take this class.  In order to register and complete the online course by August 25, 2021 go to www.iowadnr.gov/huntered or visit the Iowa DNR website.  In order to participate in the field day, students must register online for the field day and also bring the online course completion certificate to the August 28, 2021 field day. If there are questions, contact Jeff Schram at 712-472-3127.