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May 6 through May 12 is National Nurses Week, and one area healthcare center is celebrating their entire staff, including one member who has dedicated more than 30 years to patient care. Manning Regional Healthcare Center’s Education, Quality Improvement and DCP Coordinator, Julie Hodne, RN, has been selected as one of the 100 Great Iowa Nurses for 2019, and was recognized in a special ceremony on Sunday, May 5 in Des Moines. Local residents will get the opportunity to congratulate Hodne and share in her excitement for receiving this honor at a special reception on Thursday, May 9 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the MRHC conference room. Chief Nursing Officer, Linn Block, says that when you think of a nurse in Manning, you think of Hodne. “She truly fits the criteria of this award in that she has made a meaningful and lasting contribution to the nursing profession and is viewed as a mentor to others,” Block adds. Hodne not only works at the healthcare center, she is also instrumental in the organization of local blood drives, she travels to the Manning Senior Center to do blood pressure checks, she teaches high school seniors CPR, sits on many health-related committees throughout the county, provides education on prevention strategies and even started a “Yak track” program to allow patients and staff to take Yak tracks if conditions in the parking lot are slick. “I was tickled pink when they told me I had been nominated,” Hodne says. “So to make it to the next stage and learn I’d been selected among all of the nominations is such an honor. I am humbled and so proud that I have touched so many lives.”

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A 53-year-old Manning Main Street business remains open, taking on a new name and new ownership at the beginning of this month. The 46-bed long-term Manning Plaza has been purchased and renamed Accura Healthcare of Manning. In January of this year, leadership of the former Plaza parent company, Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC) and members of the Manning Betterment Foundation held a public meeting, explaining the need and desire to find new ownership for the facility. Shortly after, members of the Accura Healthcare team set the wheels in motion. Owner and CEO, Ted LeNeave, says they are grateful to MRHC CEO, John O’Brien, and his leadership team for their assistance with the transition. “We are excited to be ‘partners in care, and family for life’ with the hospital and the great city of Manning,” he said. O’Brien pointed out this was truly a community effort. “When we started this process our end goal was to keep the Manning Plaza open, and with Accura, we have been able to reach that goal,” said O’Brien. Iowa-based Accura Healthcare operates 19 nursing and rehabilitation centers, one independent living and four assisted living communities and Circle of Life Hospice. The Main Street building and grounds around will be changing ownership, but the Plaza greenspace and the former hospital parking lot to the south will remain the property of MRHC. The hospital auxiliary will still run the snack bar at the Plaza and the Manning Rotary will also continue to hold their weekly meetings there. MRHC and Accura will both offer skilled care to the Manning area. More details will be released at a future date as Accura is planning a free community picnic this summer in the greenspace to meet the people of the area.

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A Manning native, and long-time area resident, Janet Schroeder-Brus, RN, has accepted the position of Program Director for Senior Life Solutions at Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC). This is an intensive outpatient group counseling program for those over the age of 65 who struggle with depression and anxiety, frequently related to aging. Participants meet three times a week in a supportive, encouraging group setting. Schroeder-Brus brings more than 30 years of nursing experience to MRHC, with an extensive background in home health and hospice. She says she was drawn to this position because of her passion for working with seniors. “They have so much to say and such an incredible history,” Schroeder-Brus says. “It’s nice to just sit back, talk to them and really listen.” Chief Nursing Officer, Linn Block, says they are thrilled to welcome Schroeder-Brus to the team. “Janet’s substantial experience and compassion when working with seniors makes her an excellent choice to guide this exceptional and much-needed program locally.” Schroeder-Brus and her husband, Kevin, have two grown children, Colin and Emily, who graduated from the IKM-Manning Community School District in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

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The IKM-Manning Community School District Board of Education recently received a report from Estes Corporation, who completed a facility assessment in March. Following that presentation, the board made the decision to create a Facility Planning Committee to aid in the process of prioritizing district needs. Superintendent, Trevor Miller, says the buildings are showing their age and numerous items are in need of attention. “I am reaching out to you as parents and community members to volunteer to be on the committee and help lead our district long-term planning,” he says. The administration is seeking representation from each community and from staff members as well. The first meeting will be held on Thursday, May 2 in the IKM-Manning high school library, at which time the Estes Corporation presentation will take place. Anyone interested in participating is asked to email or call the district by using the contact points included here.To participate in facility planning:
          Email: tmiller@ikm-manning.k12.ia.us
          Phone: 712-655-3781

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A Carroll business has made a donation to a local non-profit historic attraction, the Trinity Church at Hausbarn-Heritage Park. Earlier this week, General Manager of the Motor Inn, Tony Franklin, and sales associate, Lynn Stein of Manning, presented $750 to help with the upkeep of the iconic skyline feature in Manning. Built in October of 1913, the church was a regional haven for the Trinity Lutheran congregation, until its closure following the 125th anniversary in 2006. The Manning Community Foundation made arrangements to move the church to its current location at the park, and $100,000 was raised to complete that project in June of that same year. It is now used not only as a tourist attraction, but is available for ceremonies and other special gatherings.

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The IKM-Manning Fine Arts Booster Club will be bringing a world-class theatrical production to town next week with a one-night only performance by the Des Moines Metro Opera. “The Magic Flute” is a two-act opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and tells the story of a man on a mission to rescue a princess. Instead he tries to join the community of the leader responsible for her capture. This pits the princess and her hero against her mother, the Queen, and her minions. The Tuesday, April 23 performance at the IKM-Manning High School Auditorium will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students and will be available at the door. Since being founded in 1973, the Des Moines Metro Opera has produced more than 140 productions of 80 different operas throughout the region, boasting over 100 performances each year.

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An April 28th benefit is being planned for a Manning man who is battling Multiple Myeloma cancer. Travis Meier was diagnosed on Nov. 19 of last year and has since undergone six rounds of chemotherapy. Earlier this month, he received a stem cell transplant at the Buffet Cancer Center in Omaha, Neb. Until recently, Meier has been relatively tight-lipped about his health problems, but through the urging of a friend and physician, he has agreed to allow the community to show their support through a special fundraiser. The Sunday event will feature a brat and burger meal from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the IKM-Manning school cafeteria that will also include live and silent auctions. The live auction will start at 12:30 p.m. Special accounts have been established at both Templeton Savings Bank locations in Manning and Templeton and at First National Bank in Manning for monetary and auction item donations. Meier is a husband, a father and a friend to many. But taking part in this fundraiser is just one way that others can give back to a man who has given so much to others, including through his service with the Army National Guard.

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The IKM-Manning preschool through eighth-grade classes is inviting area residents to join them to learn more about their 21st-century makerspace, dubbed Wonder Park. This new area gives the students a chance to do some hands-on exploration within the STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, curriculum and will showcase some of their finished works. Attendees can expect to see creative adaptations of roller coasters, catapults, Ferris wheels and carousels from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 11 in the IKM-Manning Middle School gymnasium in Manning. There will be free hot dogs served while they last.

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Following the annual membership meeting this Thursday, April 11 at the Manning Hausbarn Konfrenz Centre, long-time dedicated employees, Freda and LeRoy Dammann, will be honored for their years of service. The entire community is invited to celebrate all the Dammanns have given to Hausbarn Heritage Park and the region while wishing them well in their recent retirement. Freda served as director for the Manning-Hausbarn Heritage Park organization since 2008 and was instrumental in renewing tourism and celebratory events at the iconic German Hausbarn. A light meal and dessert will be served and a cash bar available following the 6 p.m. membership meeting. Any questions can be directed to Elizabeth Leo through the contact points included here.

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A series of pictures depicting the history of Manning were supplied by the Manning Public Library and can be found online at Our Community of Manning, Iowa. But the one thing those pictures don’t show, is the historic opening of that library in 1929. This month, they will be celebrating the 90th anniversary of their founding by the American Legion Auxiliary. They have scheduled an open house at the library at 310 Main Street and invite all area residents to join them for coffee and rolls, to view some memorabilia and test themselves on trivia on Friday, April 12 from 3 to 5 p.m.