Pride and Progress, Feb. 23

Pride &Progress

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Quality of Life

Lied Center

Improvement plans will be benefit to 3C all...

The new Clarinda Regional Health Center facility that opened in January has played a significant role in improving the quality of life in Clarinda and the surrounding area. The new facility is fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology to provide the most up-to-date care for the community.

Hospital

CRHC moves technology into 21st century... 4C

The Circle 8 Square Dance Club is one of many activities available to members of the Clarinda community.

The group meets every other Wednesday in the gymnasium of the former McKinley School building at 12th and Nodaway streets. Approximately two dozen dancers come to each gathering, with large, regional events planned throughout the year.

FOUNDATION

Donations keep projects moving forward... 5C

The bronze Glenn Miller statue at the Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum greets hundreds of visitors every year. The museum features memorabilia and artifacts from the legendary big band leader’s musical career.

Remote-controlled aircraft enthusiasts have a home in Clarinda, as well. The group meets as often as possible, weather permitting, at its miniature airstrip adjacent to the main runway at Schenck Field-Clarinda Municipal Airport. The group also participates in “fun fly” events throughout the summer and performs a demonstration show during the Glenn Miller Festival flight breakfast.

MUSEUM

Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum eyes Phase II... 6C

Clarinda has a rich tradition in the performing arts. In addition to an all-state caliber high school theatre department, the community boasts one of the top community theater groups in the state. Several churches, such as Hillside Missionary Church above, tap into that deep talent pool to put on performances throughout the year, as well.

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The annual Clarinda Lutheran School Christmas cantata is a popular event that packs the sanctuary at St. John Lutheran Church in Clarinda. Students in all grade levels at CLS participate in the show, which features choirs, hand chimes, and narration by students. A dinner follows the concert in the church’s basement fellowship hall.

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The Toronto All-Star Band was one of the many popular big band groups that performed during the 2011 Glenn Miller Festival in Clarinda. Hundreds of fans of the “big band sound” traveled to Clarinda for the four-day musical event at Clarinda High School.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Pride &Progress

2C

“As a community journalist, one of the supreme delights of my job is recording the Clarinda community spirit – its community pride – for future generations to look back upon. We do that through our news and feature photography and writing.”

Bob Eschliman Publisher

There’s a lot to be proud of in Clarinda... So, here’s a sampling

Coming from a rural community myself, I understand the importance of pride in one’s community.

That pride is on display every time you cheer for the home team on the football field, or when you attend a school play. And, it’s on display when you contribute to a class fundraiser.

It’s on display when you go to the community pancake supper, or when you set up a lawn chair to watch the summer parade. And, it’s on display when you volunteer your time for a local project.

As a community journalist, one of the supreme delights of my job is recording the Clarinda community spirit – its community pride – for future generations to look back

upon. We do that through our news and feature photography and writing.

And, let’s face it, there’s a lot to be proud of in Clarinda. That’s why we produced the series of news features titled “Pride & Progress,” the first installment of which you have in your hands now.

Each week, we will look at life in Clarinda from a new vantage point. This week, we look at the

improving quality of life in our community and the many ways life just keeps getting better here.

In subsequent weeks, we will explore our community pride with regard to business and industry, our youth, and our overall community success.

This can’t be an all-inclusive look at every reason to have pride in your community. There just isn’t enough paper to print the pages

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But, it’s my hope this can serve as a reminder of some of the many great things going on in our corner of the world. And, perhaps, it can serve as an inspiration for even greater achievements in the years to come.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for helping to make Clarinda a community we all can be proud to live, work, and play in every day.

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Pride &Progress

3C

‘Rendered Obsolete’ becoming up-to-date at Clarinda Lied Center ADA-compliant splash pool will take place of existing baby pool EMILY GOWING Staff Writer

“I think this will be a really good thing for the Lied Center.

I’ve always said that Clarinda needs something like that; I think it will be a big bonus.”

Barb Ripley Clarinda

“Rendered obsolete” is a phrase that Lied Center director Randy Pullen does not like to hear.

Therefore, upon hearing that the Lied Center’s baby pool would become obsolete in March this year because of new ADA federal regulations, he decided to do something about it.

He approached the city council with two alternatives; either close the baby pool, the least favored of the two options because of the risk of losing patrons each summer, or design something new.

With a unanimous vote “yes” in favor of a new splash pool, Pullen proceeded with plans to turn obsolete into up-to-date.

The splash pool will take the place of the outdoor baby pool, extending slightly farther to the east to compensate for the ADArequired zero-depth entry.

For the toddlers and young children who can’t yet reach the floor of the indoor pool, the splash pool will offer a fun alternative of water guns and water blasters, dumping buckets, a rain bar and a tube slide.

There will be a height restriction, Pullen said, but he’s sure there will be older children, even ten- to twelve-year-olds, wanting to cool down from the summer heat and play outside in the water, too.

Pullen has also drawn out plans with the architect to expand the patio area and provide umbrellas, tables

and chairs for parents and babysitters who would rather sit out of the water and watch their kids play.

Plans for the splash pool have been in the works since late fall of 2011 and, after meeting with contractors in February, Pullen hopes the splash area will be ready for the summer crowd by June 1.

Because the proposed project is a splash pool and not an actual swimming pool, it will only reach a maximum depth of twelve inches. State regulation codes say no lifeguard is necessary, Pullen said, but the Lied Center will continue to post one guard on duty outside whenever a patron is outside in the water.

Clarinda resident and inhome babysitter Barb Ripley is excited about the idea of a splash pool at the Lied Center. “I know a lot of mothers with young children who take their kids to Shenandoah because of the zero-depth entry,” she said.

“I think this will be a really good thing for the Lied Center. I’ve always said that Clarinda needs something like that; I think it will be a big bonus.”

Aside from the plans for the new splash pool and patio area, the staff at the Lied Center has worked continuously on upkeep and improvements of the city parks, baseball fields and tennis courts.

A new scoreboard for the municipal baseball stadium was purchased and installed with funds provided by the Clarinda School District, the City of Clarinda and several donors.

The baseball and softball Students participate in Allie Wellhausen’s Clarinda Pump class at the Lied Center, one of nearly a fields also had tile laid to dozen new classes fitness director Sara Bridie has implemented in recent months, which have brought LIED see page 6C

in many new faces over the past year. Lied Center memberships increased in 2011 from 678 to 703, with patrons traveling from 23 different communities to use the facilities in Clarinda.

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Pride &Progress

4C

The radiology department at Clarinda Regional Health Center received a significant step up in terms of technology when the hospital moved into its new facility in January. Plans are in place to put nuclear medicine and MRI imaging facilities in-house in the 71,000-square-foot facility. Many of the upgrades were intended to improve patient comfort, as well as better and more efficient medical care.

Hospital moves into 21st Century state-of-the-art facility

The role of a hospital is to make its patients stronger and healthier, but a state of the art facility like the new Clarinda Regional Health Center can also have the same impact on the community it serves.

The new 71,071 square foot hospital in Clarinda officially opened its doors Monday, Jan. 16, and the $28.5 million construction project has already proven to be an overwhelming success for the city and region.

“Healthcare is one piece of a puzzle in a strong community,” CRHC Chief Executive Officer Chris Stipe said. “Having access to a state of the art facility,

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hospital eventually reached a point where it no longer supported the delivery of healthcare in the modern age.

“Healthcare has changed so much from an in-patient focus to an out-patient focus. So, when we designed the (new) building, obviously it’s designed with more of an out-patient focus,” Stipe said. “The flow of the building really lends itself to the outpatient arena as opposed to in-patient.”

While the new hospital does have a 25-bed inpatient floor to care for patients that are required to stay in the hospital, the look and feel of those rooms are dramatically different than at the previous facility.

Rather than having the semi-private rooms that were offered at the original hospital, the new hospital features 21 private rooms that are approximately 60 percent larger than they

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“People are focused on privacy and comfort. There is space and comfort items in those rooms like couches, furniture and flat screen TVs in each room,” Stipe said. “The bathrooms are also friendlier to patients.

They are easier to get around in and safer.”

Meanwhile, every inpatient and out-patient room in the hospital has a computer and there are 30 miles of computer networking cable strung throughout the hospital. This was done as part of the hospital’s effort to move to electronic medical records that will engage the patients in their healthcare decisions while at the same time increasing the speed of care.

Stipe said electronic medical records also increases the privacy of the patient and the safety of

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their identity because paper records containing personal information about the patients are no longer stored on the in-patient side of the hospital. The clinics at the hospital are also moving toward the use of this paperless system.

Patient privacy, along with the safety of patients and staff members, was also important concern in the design of the emergency room at the new hospital. In the former building, Stipe said the emergency rooms faced a public hallway and created significant privacy issues for the patients.

“Now, the patient care area is separate from the ER lobby area. When people come in they are greeted by staff and they go into a triage room. Then we move them back into the patient care area if we need to,” Stipe said.

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KENT DINNEBIER Editor

as well as (staff members) that are first-rate … is something we think every community, but this community in particular, expects and deserves as a part of their community.”

To meet those lofty expectations, special care was included in the design of the hospital to ensure patient privacy and the availability of the latest advances in technology both in terms of the equipment used to provide patient care and the method in which that care is provided.

Clarinda Municipal Hospital, as it was initially known, was constructed in 1939 and various additions and improvements were made to the facility over the years. “The community deserves credit for taking good care of that building and nurturing it along the way to get as much as we could out of it,” Stipe said.

However, Stipe said the

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Pride &Progress

“I think it was a good process to go through to come up with a list [of potential projects] so if we do have people who are wanting to give back to Clarinda we have specific ideas to which they can donate.”

Jon Baier Clarinda Foundation

5C

These chemotherapy infusion chairs are some of the many amenities purchased at the new Clarinda Regional Health Center facility with funds provided through the Clarinda Foundation. The non-profit organization donated $100,000 – its largest donation to-date – toward the Clarinda Medical Foundation’s efforts to provide state-of-theart equipment and furnishings in the new facility.

Much of what Clarinda Foundation does isn’t seen on the surface In 2011, non-profit gave $21,500 to 19 local organizations EMILY GOWING Staff Writer The Clarinda Foundation functions like an iceberg.

The small fraction of what we see – the fundraisers and scholarships – are awe-inspiring and leave a lasting impact on the lives of the community members. However, a large percentage of what the Foundation does is under the surface, taking place behind the scenes.

In the past 25 years, the Clarinda Foundation has funded nearly $350,000 worth of community-based projects in Clarinda and the surrounding areas.

From the installation of new playground equipment at Garfield Elementary School in 2005 to purchasing audio books for the Lied Public Library in 2007 to providing the College Springs Fire Department with building improvements in 2010, the Foundation uses undesignated donations to fully fund hundreds of smallscale needs in public schools, public libraries,

and other public services venues.

Over the years, the Foundation has had a handful of opportunities to serve as a conduit for funds that are donated toward a largescale community project.

The first project of this sort began in 1991 as the Clarinda Foundation coordinated a fundraiser to meet at $750,000 challenge grant offered by Clarinda native Christina Hixson who is the sole trustee of the Lied Foundation.

With the help and organization of the Clarinda Foundation, as well as a $150,000 donation from

Johnny Carson who briefly resided in Clarinda during his early life, the proposed community center became a reality as the Clarinda Lied Center opened its doors.

Other such large-scale projects have been moving the Brokaw FFA Chapter House, reconstructing the Page County Courthouse tower, and building the Lied Public Library.

Since its first performance in 1997, Clarinda Sings, originally planned as a fundraiser for the Clarinda Foundation, has annually brought in money that has aided small-scale projects like resurfacing the

high school track and replacing the seats in the high school auditorium.

The Foundation is not allowed to spearhead such projects, said executive director John Woolson, without a fiscal sponsor being willing to build the building or lead the project.

In this way, the Clarinda Foundation has worked closely with the city of Clarinda to make improvements and accomplish the things community members want.

Woolson acknowledged that, while fundraisers are FOUNDATION see page 8C

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Pride &Progress

Clarinda Middle School music students look at Glenn Miller’s trombone, on display at the Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum in Clarinda, during a field trip to the museum earlier this school year. Providing music educational opportunities to area school districts is one area museum and Glenn Miller Birthplace Society officials are hoping to expand their offerings in the coming years.

Museum provides tourism, economic boost to community

Plans to begin raising funds for Phase II of museum development to be launched soon BOB ESCHLIMAN Publisher

What would it be like in Clarinda if Glenn Miller hadn’t been born here?

It’s a question Glenn Miller Birthplace Society president Marvin Negley often asks himself. The answer usually leaves him feeling blessed that the community can lay claim to a small piece of the American legend’s story.

“If he hadn’t been born here, there would be no reason for the Glenn Miller festival,” he said. “And, there have been a lot of wonderful things that have happened in Clarinda as a result.”

Like the thousands of visitors from around the world who have come to Clarinda to celebrate the life and music of Glenn Miller. And from those many visits came relationships with friends from all across the world, including “Bill Baker” from the Netherlands.

Like the piqued interest of one Japanese business man, Hideomi Aoki, who so fell in love with Clarinda and the Glenn Miller Festival after one visit that he decided to call the community his second home.

And from that relationship launched other relationships with our friends in Japan: the Sister City relationship with Tamana City, the biennial visits from the Tamana Girls High School Band, and the student exchange program between Tamana Girls High School and Clarinda High School.

And, without a Alton “Glenn” Miller to celebrate, there certainly would be no

reason to build a Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum, which brings hundreds of visitors to Clarinda each year.

“We’re truly blessed to have this opportunity, as a community,” Negley said.

Ground was broken on that museum at the opening of the 2009 Glenn Miller Festival. And, the finished facility was opened to the public one year later at the 2010 festival.

With a number of static displays, including photos, vinyl records and sheet music, and memorabilia from Glenn Miller’s musical career, Phase I of the museum project was quickly completed. But, Negley and museum director Dwight Sump believe the time is quickly approaching to launch the second phase of the museum’s development.

“We don’t have an active fund drive at this point, but it’s something we will be launching down the road,” Negley said. “We will probably start writing grants at the first of next year.”

He said when writing grant applications, it’s helpful to show the museum is providing some of the funding on its own. He put an estimated price tag for Phase II at roughly $250,000, of which about 90 percent could come from grants.

“But if someone would like to donate the whole amount right now, I don’t think we would turn it away,” Sump joked.

Negley said a batch of grant applications were written a little more than a year ago, which were highly competitive and provided plenty of useful feedback

for future grant-writing opportunities. But Sump pointed out the museum is always accepting donations.

“A lot of what we’re looking at were things we didn’t do when we initially opened the museum because they were too expensive,” Negley said.

“We’ve been working with the Robert Bodnar Company in Omaha, and they have already done some preliminary work on Phase II. So, we already have some ideas in mind for what we would like to do.”

Phase II of the museum project will entail a number

of new static displays, as well as some new, high-end additions. Negley said the museum would like to be able to include some “white statue” displays, as well as some computerized interactive displays.

Ultimately, the goal is to attract a younger generation of music fans to come and learn about the roots of today’s popular music sound. The challenge is that many of the younger generation may have heard Glenn Miller or “big band” music, but haven’t connected the name with the music.

That’s where Negley thinks interactive displays will be most useful.

“They could play a song and then guess its name,” he said. “Or, they could pick a song title and simply listen to the song to help them make the connection.”

Some areas of intended expansion include delving deeper into Miller’s early band days, before he became a national sensation. And, the museum is looking for an opportunity to display some of its memorabilia from his final days in the military.

“We have an Air Force uniform that has been donated to us by a military group out of Omaha,” Negley said. “It includes all of the medals and ribbons he had earned through his military service.”

“We need to be able to attract visitors from a long ways off,” Negley said. “ W e have to have a museu m people a r e talking about – w e have to be that good.”

“We’re off to a good start,” he added, “but we’re going to be even better if we’re able to raise the funds.”

Another challenge the museum faces is its location. Clarinda is not situated in close proximity to an Interstate highway, which is where most highly successful museums are located.

So, the museum must work doubly hard to attract visitors who are on the road. One way they hope to do that in the coming months is through the installation of highway information signs along U.S. Highway 71 and Iowa Highway 2.

“We once had a couple of women come in from North Dakota. They were just taking their time, driving across the Midwest, and

stopped uptown,” Negley said. “Now, if there were other people like them out there, who see our sign, they’re already in their car, so it’s much easier to swing in and stop by. They’re already almost here.”

To do that, the Iowa DOT requires a certain level of attendance already be achieved by the attraction.

Sump said he was already in discussions with DOT officials about getting those signs up.

Another way the museum is working to promote its offerings to tourism groups is by partnering with other community attractions to develop group travel opportunities. And, the museum continues to put out marketing materials in a wide area in an effort to draw visitors.

“Attendance will start picking up against in the spring,” Sump said. “And, we’ll have hundreds of people here just for the Glenn Miller Festival.”

While some would judge the museum’s success through its paid attendance numbers, Sump quickly pointed out the museum offers a larger service to the community, as well.

“We host a number of meetings, and family gatherings, and a host of other activities, like the regular legislative briefings,” he said. “We also have a church youth group that meets here every week, and the museum would be a wonderful option for local piano teachers to host their recitals.”

Negley said he’s most appreciative of the support the community has shown to both the museum and the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society over the years.

“We’re known all over the world now because of this,” he said. “It’s a great thing we’re developing here.”

Lied: 2011 was biggest year yet for center Continued from 3C help with rainwater drainage so summer games can be rescheduled and played on a timelier basis.

With tennis season just around the corner, athletes can practice without a partner thanks to a tennis rebounder area that was built and added to the west tennis court.

The inside of the Lied Center has seen numerous improvements as well, from a new flat roof above the lobby to a sanded and newly finished gym floor.

The gymnasium also received a new air conditioner and the locker room doors leading into the pool were replaced with new fiber glass doors to prevent rusting in the future.

With all of that accomplished, there’s still much more on Pullen’s to-do list.

He has plans to modernize the barbeque grills in the

city parks and replace the playground-area wood chips with recycled rubber chips.

He would like to lay new flooring and paint the walls and ceilings in the west locker rooms, replace the dome roof over the pool and purchase a new treadmill as well as a new recumbent bike.

The carpeted floors in the group fitness room were replaced with hardwood flooring when Group Fitness director Sara Bridie implemented the eleven weekly classes that are now bringing many new faces to the Lied Center each day.

Since their start two years ago, Group Fitness classes have continued to provide a fun and friendly environment to Lied Center patrons, members and nonmembers, who like to challenge themselves with hourlong workouts.

Having already imple-

mented organized workouts for adults, the Lied Center staff looked into starting a new program for the youth this past winter.

Clarinda high school coaches worked with Pullen to coordinate fourth through sixth grade basketball teams, bringing traveling teams from surrounding school districts to the Lied Center in late January for an all-day tournament.

“People from out of town come in [to the Lied Center] and are surprised by all that we have,” Pullen said.

The Lied Center currently holds 703 memberships, up from 678 at the end of 2011, with patrons coming from 23 different communities as far away as Farragut, Red Oak, Corning, Bedford and Burlington Junction.

The 2011 calendar year was the biggest year for revenue, Pullen said, as the Lied Center brought in nearly $324,000.

In January, the Lied Center hosted a youth basketball tournament that brought people from throughout the region to Clarinda. Based on current membership levels, the Lied Center regularly serves residents from 23 different communities in Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri.

“A lot of what we’re looking at were things we didn’t do when we initially opened the museum because they were too expensive.

We’ve been working with the Robert Bodnar Company in Omaha, and they have already done some preliminary work on Phase II. So, we already have some ideas in mind for what we would like to do.”

Marvin Negley GMBS President

Pride &Progress

“We tried to think of every situation we have ever dealt with.

This truck will roll out on every call and carry everything we need.”

Roger Williams Fire Chief

Thursday, February 23, 2012

7C

The Clarinda Volunteer Fire Department is expecting delivery of a new fire truck similar to the one above in October or November. The new truck will have many features that were added on in response to fire calls the department has responded to in the past. The goal was to ensure this truck had every piece of equipment local firefighters may need when on a call.

New fire truck will meet needs of community, fire district Fire Department took look at needs from recent fire calls KENT DINNEBIER Editor No matter what the emergency, the new rescue pumper for the Clarinda Volunteer Fire Department has been designed to respond.

“We tried to think of every situation we have ever dealt with,” Clarinda Fire Chief Roger Williams said. “This truck will roll out on every call and carry everything we need.”

Present the Clarinda Volunteer Fire Department, which provides fire protection for the city of Clarinda as well as the Nodaway Harlan Fire District, has a crew of 27 members and eight fire trucks to meet the needs of city and rural residents.

“We basically have two departments under one roof with separate budgets and equipment,” Williams said.

In recent years, a city pumper has fallen into disrepair and the need for a newer rural truck to battle grass fires has also emerged. In an effort to find an economical solution to those needs, Williams approached the city and the rural fire district with an innovative proposal.

Rather than spending the

money to purchase two new trucks, Williams proposed the two entities work together to purchase a new Rosenbauer rescue pumper and then refurbish the existing rescue vehicle that carries the extrication equipment for the department so it can serve as an improved grass rig.

“Our current extrication truck is overweight because it has too much equipment on it,” Williams said. “So we tried to develop the new truck around our rescue needs. All the extrication equipment will be put on the new truck, while the refurbished grass truck will provide two such rigs for the department.”

Seeing the cost savings and benefit of the enhanced fire protection the rescue pumper would provide for the city and the rural fire district, Williams said both governmental entities quickly came on board.

The city of Clarinda committed $250,000 to the purchase of the rescue pumper and the Nodaway Harlan Fire Board added $125,000 to the overall project. The new rescue pumper is scheduled to be delivered in either October or November.

“I tried to come up with a way to have the city and the rural come together,” Williams said. “This is something we have not done before, but I have had

this idea in my head for two or three years and thought we should try it. I think it has worked out for everybody.”

As a four-wheel drive rescue truck, the new vehicle will feature pullout trays to store the individual pieces of extrication equipment. The hydraulic equipment, such as the Jaws of Life, will be mounted on reels with 100 feet of hose line to reach a victim whether the individual is trapped inside a vehicle at an accident, in a grain bin or any similar emergency.

The hydraulic equipment will be powered by a builtin electrical system in the truck that will be more dependable than the gasoline powered system the department currently uses.

However, Williams said the truck will also be equipped with a portable gasoline engine that could be used to operate the extrication equipment in a remote area that the truck cannot access.

“We also plan on updating the Jaws of Life and some of the other tools with some additional fundraising efforts,” Williams said.

Meanwhile, as a pumper, the new truck will carry fire hoses, ladders and air packs for battling all types of structure fires. The truck will also have a 750 gallon onboard water tank and will have the capability to pump 1,250 gallons of water per

minute.

“The water tank for most city pumpers is only 500 gallons because you have access to fire hydrants. So, the larger tank will provide us with extra water for structure fires in the rural area,” Williams said.

Beyond the capability to fight structure fires, the truck will also be able to serve as a quick attack vehicle for vehicle fires. The front bumper of the truck has been enlarged to contain a hose line and a winch to stabilize vehicles that have gone off a bridge or into a deep ravine. The truck also has the capability of spraying foam directly from the pumper.

“This will provide us quick access to water and foam for vehicle fires involving cars, trucks, combines or other farm machinery,” Williams said. “The onboard foam capability is also helpful for structure fires involving a shed or garage that contains fuel or electrical concerns.”

The truck will also be equipped with a light tower to provide better nighttime illumination at fires or rescue calls. Those lights will also be able to be removed from the truck and plugged into a portable generator if needed.

Meanwhile, the truck will also have an onboard electrical system that can be used to power exhaust fans

or other equipment needing an electrical outlet to operate.

“Finally, there is a quadcab so the truck will roll with up to five people. That is enough to run the pumps and extrication equipment.

So rather than sending out multiple trucks, we’ll be able to save money by using less gasoline,” Williams said. “If we go somewhere, I’m confident this truck will be able to take care of the situation. So the people in the city or rural area should know their money is being well spent.”

Beyond the cost savings to Clarinda-area residents, Williams said the new rescue pumper could pay dividends in terms of insurance costs.

Williams said the new truck will benefit the city insurance rating and at the same time could allow rural residents to save money on their home insurance because they have access to better fire protection.

Finally, Williams said the purchase of the rescue pumper has invigorated the members of the department because they see the city and rural fire district are committed to properly equipping the department.

“The guys are trying to do what is best for the community and this new truck will allow them to respond faster, which could save a life,” Williams said.

Hospital: First month in new facility saw big boost in business for CRHC Continued from 4C ment features five private rooms, including two trauma rooms that are easily accessible to or from a private ambulance bay connected to the emergency room. Stipe said the ambulance bay provides an indoor area for safely loading or unloading patients.

Another key component of the emergency medical services offered at CRHC is a new helicopter pad located near the emergency room. Both the pad itself and the path leading to the landing spot are heated so ice and snow will not form on the concrete and cause dangerous situations for patients and staff.

“It’s quicker to get somebody out of here. We used to have to land at the airport and bring the staff over. We started meeting them at the airport, in fact, in the last few years because we were trying to save time,” Stipe said. “You’re going to have a lot better outcomes if you can get people on their way to the specialty care they need as fast as possible.”

Meanwhile, the surgical department was also expanded to provide the necessary space to perform a variety of procedures locally. The department features two surgical procedure rooms and three surgical recovery rooms.

The dietary department

The first month at the new Clarinda Regional Health Center facility has been quite busy for hospital staff. Planning is already under way to add more parking, while hospital officials look to continue expanding the state-of-the-art medical services provided at the Clarinda campus.

has also seen significant growth in the new hospital, both in terms of space and usage. Stipe said the size of the department is two to three times larger than it was in the former building and business in the department has doubled since moving in.

“There’s a nice dining area where folks eat. There’s a (serving area) that has lots a room for an expanded salad bar and more hot food options. Then, there’s a nice

preparation area that is state of the art for the staff to prepare the food,” Stipe said.

Other key improvements offered at the new hospital include a private wing for radiology and bringing nuclear medicine into the hospital rather than offering a mobile service as we had done before. Stipe said plans are also being made to have an MRI machine on site rather than utilizing a mobile service to perform those tests.

Since the original hospital was landlocked, parking was always an issue for patients and staff, and therefore was given considerable attention when the new hospital was designed.

The new hospital offers 92 parking spaces for patients or visitors in front of the building and 103 staff spaces located to the north and rear of the facility.

In its first month of operation, Stipe said CRHC saw a growth in business both

on the in-patient side and the clinics. This in turn has further empowered the talented and highly capable staff at the hospital to deliver the high quality of care people have come to expect in Clarinda.

“I feel the sky’s the limit now. We can grow our services and invest in areas we couldn’t before. We were really stifled by the building we were in. Now we have lots of opportunities,” Stipe said.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

8C

Pride &Progress

The Clarinda Foundation donated $100,000 to the Clarinda Medical Foundation’s “Building On Exceptional Care” capital campaign, which went toward the purchase of equipment and furnishings in the Clarinda Regional Health Center facility, such as the hospital bed above. The $100,000 donation was the Foundation’s largest as part of the community’s Vision 2020 program.

Foundation: 19 grants totaling $21,500 given to area non-profit agencies Continued from 5C the most visible and most talked-about aspect of the Clarinda Foundation, they are an aside to the many other ways in which the Foundation has enriched the quality of life and promoted a sense of community in Clarinda over the past several years.

As a community foundation, the Clarinda Foundation is designed to hold endowment funds that people leave behind for the future of their community, Woolson said.

The first grant of $4,000, awarded in 1987, went to the Clarinda Municipal Hospital to purchase new waiting-room chairs.

In 2011, the Foundation awarded the Clarinda Regional Health Center $100,000 – their biggest grant to this day.

In this way, from furnishing the old hospital to equipping the new one, the Foundation saw the work done in the past quarter of a century come full-circle.

Nineteen grants were given in 2011, totaling close to $21,500. Like those given in the past, these grants were awarded to a variety of non-profit organizations that operate within a 15-mile radius of Clarinda.

Clarinda Chamber of Commerce has benefitted from the Clarinda Foundation in the past ten years by applying for and receiving more than $7000 for holiday decorations and decorative tree planters to beautify Clarinda’s downtown.

The Clarinda Lied Center is another organization that has received numerous years’ worth of funding from the Foundation. Since 2002, over $15,500 has been invested in the Lied Center for new workout and pool equipment, the automated entrance door and new flooring for the fitness class room.

“They’ve been very supportive of us on several projects,” said Lied Center

The Clarinda Foundation donated $2,000 toward the purchase of this aquatic lift chair that was installed at the pool at the Clarinda Lied Center. Since 2002, the Foundation has donated $15,500 toward projects at the fitness center. Some of the funds paid for new workout equipment, an automated entrance door and flooring for the fitness classroom.

director Randy Pullen.

“We’ve been very fortunate and received a lot of grants through the years.”

The Clarinda Foundation also works outside of Clarinda’s city limits, funding a variety of projects in Blanchard, Braddyville, Coin, College Springs, New Market and South Page totaling more than $25,000 in the past 12 years.

These projects have ranged from a handicap entrance at the Coin Public Library, to pagers and radios for the New Market fire department, to new playground equipment at the South Page School.

The funding for these projects is made possible through investment earnings generated by any of the eight undesignated endowment funds that the Foundation holds.

The named funds are in honor of Irene and Otto Krause, Floyd Whitmore, James N.

Millhone, Ellis Bradley and Mary Louise Lathrop.

While endowments are most often as a bequest of one’s will, the Foundation provides ample opportunities for community members to be involved in the future of Clarinda even now.

In 2005, the Foundation formed a committee of nine community members who began to look toward the future to determine what Clarinda should look like in 2020.

The subcommittees focused on arts, community development, recreation, seniors and wellness. With the input of more than fifty Clarinda residents, the committee constructed a list of nearly 40 projects they wanted to see completed in Clarinda over the next fifteen years.

The ideas were completed in 2007 and compiled under the name Vision

2020.

Jon Baier, a member of the Arts and Culture committee, believes the brainstorming process is not only beneficial, but at times necessary. “I think it was a good process to go through to come up with a list [of potential projects] so if we do have people who are wanting to give back to Clarinda we have specific ideas to which they can donate,” he said.

With projects ranging from an outdoor aquatic facility to paving the driveway of the fairgrounds, to continued program support for the Arts Council and Nodaway Valley Free Clinic, the ideas were broken up into three sections: capital contributions with an upward of $25,000, smaller contributions costing less than $25,000 and sustaining operational endowments to provide ongoing program support.

The Clarinda Foundation and the city of Clarinda got right to work in implementing these ideas, starting with building the new hospital.

As a community foundation, the Clarinda Foundation has between $30,000 - $45,000 available for grants each year and, over the past 25 years, has awarded a yearly average of over $10,000.

The organization’s needs are simple, Woolson said.

With most of the grant money coming through interest that the Foundation receives on the endowments they hold, the present economy has kept them from doing all that they had hoped to be doing.

As the economy turns around, Woolson believes that the Foundation will keep its eye on the people of Clarinda as the people of Clarinda keep their eyes on the future.

The Clarinda Foundation has donated more than $10,000 toward the Lied Public Library since 2002. The Clarinda Foundation has between $30,000 and $45,000 available for grants each year. Over the past 25 years, it has donated an average of $10,000 per year.