Carroll Broadcasting Company
The Manning Chamber of Commerce wants to thank everyone who did their part to make their 2018 holiday promotion a resounding success. They report that 555 rewards cards were returned, representing $83,250 that was spent and tracked in participating Manning businesses between Nov. 23 and Dec. 22. They also say that Chamber Bucks sales were brisk, totaling over $40,000 for the year.

Carroll Broadcasting Company
The Refresh Manning Trust was able to increase their 2018 grant awards, thanks in large part to a very generous $10,000 donation of stock. This allowed Refresh Manning to use the $5,350 to fully support four grant requests and partially fund another. The Manning Public Library received $215 for the purchase of four new headsets for use with their public computers. The Manning Child Care Center is working to fund the replacement of pea gravel on their playground with safe surface, rubberized tiles. The trust has awarded $300 to help with those fundraising efforts. The Manning Rec Center has seen extensive use of their volleyball equipment, and much of it is in need of replacement. They have received $1,000 to go toward the purchase of new nets and poles. The ice machine at the Hausbarn Konferenz Centre is now around 20 years old and failing, but will be replaced with a generous $1,837 grant. And the newly built Trestle Park shelter house is scheduled to open in spring of 2019, and will be able to house around 160 people. The large kitchen will be equipped with a variety of appliances, and a $2,000 award will help them with the purchases of a refrigerator/freezer and microwave. Previous grant recipients include the Historic Preservation Commission, the IKM-Manning Community School District and the Manning youth wrestling team. All donations to the Refresh Manning Trust are eligible for up to a 25 percent credit on state taxes. For more information, contact the Main Street Manning Office at 712-655-6246.

Carroll Broadcasting
The location of Manning’s newest recreational area includes the view of a sprawling, concrete and steel train trestle bridge that has been removed from use for years. The structure could soon be added to the National Register of Historic Places, thanks in large part to a grant announced Tuesday by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. The Manning Historic Preservation Commission has been awarded $5,750 for the nomination, which could establish the trestle for its historic role in the county’s railroad system. The award was one of nine projects from eight counties totaling more than $96,000 through the Certified Local Government program for historic preservation.

Carroll Broadcasting
It is budget time for county and city government and many of those who receive funds from Carroll County to support their non-profit efforts are coming before the board of supervisors to discuss needs for Fiscal Year 2020. Michelle Starman, director of the Manning Child Care Center, says they continue to operate at capacity and have identified a major goal for the next year that will reap benefits for many more years to come.
The child care center has now been in operation for 16 years, and Starman says they are seeing some of the original equipment in need of attention or replacement. They have been working hard to keep up with the costs associated with those issues. Another goal is to convert the current pea-gravel playground surface to a rubberized one. Starman says they are also brainstorming ideas for opportunities to provide different types of child care for the growing community.
Over the past year, they were able to pay off a loan to the city of Manning, making the last payment of $50,000 and having an additional $25,000 forgiven. Starman reports with the birth of about 15 new babies from just one large local employer, they have hired three new full-time staff members to cover the need. They are also looking forward to being able to continue to offer their services to Carroll, Audubon, Crawford and Shelby County residents. About 80 percent of the families are from Carroll County with the next largest segment from Crawford. Audubon and Shelby represent a small percentage. Starman says they are requesting the same amount as last year, $15,000. Typically, they receive around $8,500 from Carroll County. The money is generally set aside for equipment repairs or replacement. This year, some could also be used for playground updates and employee retention. No decision was made and the final amount will be decided as the budgeting process continues.
Link to story and audio

Carroll Broadcasting
You can “reap the rewards” of hometown holiday shopping with their holiday reward card promotion. Through Dec. 21, shoppers will have their cards stamped at local retailers. The more purchases you make, the more rewards that are available. When the card is full, you simply sign it and drop it in the box at The Market Place. Winners of 12 $100 Chamber Bucks’ prizes are drawn on each Saturday in December at 10 a.m. Drawing locations will change each week. To keep track, simply follow the Manning Chamber of Commerce on Facebook or log on to www.manningia.com

Carroll Broadcasting
Cozy up for a good movie, some great snacks and a visit from Santa Claus next Saturday in Manning. The CYO invites everyone to put on their pajamas and join them at the Manning Rec Center at 6:30 p.m. for a viewing of “The Polar Express.” Santa will join the crowd after the movie. Cost to participate is $5 per person, and includes the movie, popcorn, hot chocolate and complimentary face painting.

Carroll Broadcasting
Residents and leaders in the Carroll County community of Manning are always searching out ways to improve the landscape and the amenities of the town as well as their overall quality of life. Part of making all of these good things happen is getting feedback on the needs and wants of their citizenry. Each year, a survey is distributed, the outcomes of which are used to prioritize and develop strategic plans for the identified projects and initiatives. The public input survey for Fiscal Year 2020 is now available, and can be accessed and completed by following the link included below.
_________________________________

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CNNPQ9F

Carroll Broadcasting
Three-member teams are being created, comprised of local businesses and organizations interested in a fun, fast-paced competition to fill the shelves of the Manning Food Pantry. The Manning Rotary is bringing back the grocery store grab, Pack the Pantry, on Tuesday Oct. 23. Each team will be given five minutes to run the aisles at Heartland Market on West Street and get as close as they can to a $250 total at checkout without going over. The teams will then be responsible for purchasing the items in their cart for the food pantry. The winning team will be rewarded with a trophy and bragging rights for the next year. Team entry forms are due to Kara Havick or Katie Wall by Monday, Oct. 15. Contact details for registration can be found included below.
______________________________________
To register a team, contact Katie Wall or Kara Havick:
          Phone: 712-655-4076
          Email: khavick@manningins.net
                      kwall@manningins.net

Carroll Broadcasting
IKM-Manning’s new high school and middle school art teacher, Mike Roate, is bringing some fun and fresh new ideas to this weekend’s Oktoberfest celebration at the Hausbarn. Before coming to Manning, Roate taught at Clarinda for about seven years, where he began initiatives to bring the school and the community together through art projects. This weekend, he will be doing the same as he challenged each art class to create pumpkins to serve as decorations, and then to sell to attendees. Each class will be working on a unique pumpkin design, Roate says, with the Intro to Art students conveying an emotion through a cartoon face. The 3D class will be building one out of paper mache and the ceramics students will make a spooky pumpkin through a relief technique. The students aren’t the only ones providing some artistic entertainment for Oktoberfest, Roate himself will be on site beginning at 4 p.m. to sell both black and white and color caricature sketches. The accomplished art teacher has a long history of doing caricature sketches and has been the featured artist at art shows, fairs and festivals in a six-state area since 1996. He has worked at Adventureland, Arnolds Park, Oldsmobile Nationals, World of Wheels, the Illinois State Fair and the Other Art Show at the Des Moines Art Fest. Oktoberfest will also feature a keg tapping at 5 p.m., followed by a home brew contest, German music and dancing until about 10:30 p.m.

Carroll Broadcasting
Six very brave Manning area couples will be sharing some of the most intimate details of their relationship in a hilarious game-show format with the return of Main Street Manning’s “Not-So-Newlywed Game.” The Nov. 9 fundraiser will feature Lynn and Sonia Nulle, Kirk and Sherry Huehn, Chris and Megan Reischl, Mike and Judy Jacobsen, Doug and Katie Greving and Jeremy and Kristina Lupardus. The night will begin with a 5:30 p.m. social hour at the Hausbarn Konferenz Centre with a catered dinner to follow at 6:30 p.m. The entertainment begins at 7:30 p.m. and an auction will also be held over the course of the night. Investor sales of tickets and table reservations are now open for sale at the Manning Public Library. Public ticket sales will begin Monday, Oct. 15 and will be available at First National Bank, Templeton Savings Bank and the Manning Pharmacy. For more information, contact Laurie Stein at 712-830-6739.