Nationally recognized motivational speaker to headline banquet
The Clarinda Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual Banquet on Monday, February 2, at the Clarinda Country Club, located at 1400 North 16th Street in Clarinda. The evening will begin with social time at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m., and the program at 7:30 p.m.
This year’s banquet will feature Charles Marshall, a nationally recognized humorous motivational speaker known for his high-energy delivery, clean and smart comedy, and impactful takeaways that attendees can apply immediately. Marshall is the founder and president of M Power Resources, a company dedicated to providing growth resources for businesses and individuals. He brings a fresh perspective that resonates with professionals across all industries.
The keynote presentation is sponsored by Bank Iowa, Clarinda Regional Health Center, Cornerstone Bank, Eiler Place, EZ Way, Inc., Fareway Meat & Grocery, First Interstate Bank, FMTC, Hy-Vee Food & Drug Store, Lisle Corporation, Nordland Insurance Agency, and PCSB Bank.
Elaine Farwell, Chamber Executive Director, shared, “We are thrilled to have Charles Marshall as our keynote speaker. He is widely recognized by meeting planners as one of the best humorous speakers in the industry. The banquet provides an excellent opportunity to recognize our Chamber volunteers, announce the Spirit of Clarinda Award recipients, network with area business leaders, and enjoy an incredible speaker.”
Dinner reservations are $25.00 per person. To reserve your spot, please contact the Clarinda Chamber office at (712) 542-2166 by Friday, January 23.
Shenandoah Medical Center expanding its nephrology coverage by two days
Beginning February 2026, Shenandoah Medical Center will be expanding its nephrology coverage by an additional two days per month, complementing the current services provided by Dr. Jeremy Pepin.
SMC welcomes Olivia Martin, PA, to its staff.
Martin will be providing added coverage as part of Dr. Pepin’s nephrology team.
Martin joined the practice in 2025 after earning her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from
Mary Baldwin University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences from the College of William & Mary and brings valuable experience from both Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine. Originally from King George, Virginia, Martin is passionate about patient education and enjoys helping individuals navigate their healthcare needs. Outside of work, she loves spending time outdoors hiking and biking, and at home with her two cats.
Legislative Briefing coming to Clarinda
valuable insights into the current legislative agenda in the State House and Senate, offering an opportunity to engage directly with our elected officials.
Clarinda, IA
Sunday, Jan. 25th 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tour some apartments in this beautiful facility Refreshments
(Two bedroom available for rent)
AUTOMOBILES
2008 Ford Coachman RV, runs good, everything works, $10,000, 712-314-1609
1990 Chevy 2500 4WD, long bed, rough, but solid engine, transmission and tires, 712-246-5016
2011 RAM 1500 Hemi, SLT, with topper, 92,000 miles, 218-639-0686
2011 Nissan Juke, blue, low miles, clean car, $4,250, 712-789-2026
2014 Jeep Patriot, silver, 4x4, 150k miles, $4,300, runs great! 712-789-2026
FOR HIRE
Lady will clean, cook, house-sit, people or animal care, 402-547-3712
FOR RENT OR SALE
Crystal Glassware and dishes, rent or buy, 402-5473712.
FOR SALE
Car cover for a 2021 Toyota Avalon, half price, never used, 712-246-9999
For Sale in Shenandoah, IA: Turn-key upscale ladies consignment shop. In business nearly two years with currently 200 +/- consignees. Selling due to owner's ongoing health problems. $45,000. Contact Jackie Travis @ 712-2159027 or 712-581-9071
ProForm electric fold-up treadmill, L18, wide deck, $100, 712-246-9999.
Ping Golf Clubs: Irons, 3-9; Woods, Driver, 3, 4, 5, Call 402-981-5830
This briefing serves as a platform for open dialogue, where citizens can pose your questions and gain a deeper understanding of the issues that directly impact our community, region, and state.
The public is invited to attend this insightful and informative session.
Oak coffee end table with one drawer and glass top, asking $40, 712-215-5206
Ceramic lamp with floral design, shade included, $25, 712-215-5206
2 8x10 tarps, brand new in package, 712-246-5440
4 Brand New Trash Barrels with wheels, Rubber Neck, 32-gallon, never been used712-246-5440
Vintage Huffy Dr. Pepper Bike, boys 26-inch, 712246-5440
4 metal lawn chairs, 712246-5440
Professional decorative silver wooden frame, 6 inches wide. For 12X16 picture. Hangs horizontally or vertically. 712-202-6333
Restored antique furniture and weather vanes, Clarinda, 712-438-1940
Disassembled complete set of numbered piano keys. 712-202-6333
PETS
Purebred Great Dane puppies born Dec. 1. Still have 4 available. Both mom and dad are in the home. Have had genetic testing and 100% healthy. Puppies will have age appropriate vaccinations and dew claws removed. Taking deposits for special requests – 531999-0539 ask for Tiphany
Deadline for classifieds is Thursday at Noon for the following
Olivia Martin, PA
GREAT MINDS DINK ALIKE
Players from Clarinda, Maryville, Shenandoah, and Bedford filled the courts at the Clarinda Lied Center over the holidays for the “Dink the Hall” pickleball tournament, a festive event held in support of Clarinda’s new outdoor pickleball court project. The tournament drew 10 teams and enthusiastic local support, highlighting the growing popularity of the sport in the area. Miranda and Peyton Mizera claimed first-place honors, with Lucas and Jennah Hughes finishing second and Andrew Hoppmann and Nathan Brown rounding out the top three in third place. Organizers say the strong turnout and community excitement have already sparked plans for another tournament, with a Valentine’s Day event in the works.
Searchers Club helps expand Free Little Library network
BY LIZ SKILLERN
lizskillern2@gmail.com
A new Free Little Library has been installed in downtown Clarinda thanks to the generosity of the Searchers Club, adding another welcoming space for readers to share books and build community.
Community Pathways to Access Literacy (CPALS) and the Clarinda Lied Library Foundation recently thanked the Searchers Club for purchasing the Free Little Library, which is located at the northwest corner of the Clarinda square. Community members are encouraged to stop by, take a book, leave a book, and enjoy the spirit
of sharing the small library represents.
In addition to funding the library, members of the Searchers Club have committed to serving as stewards of the structure, ensuring it remains well stocked with a variety of reading materials for all ages.
The Searchers Club meets monthly on the second Thursday at 11:30 a.m. and is open to anyone interested in joining. Each meeting is hosted by a different member, who selects both the location and the program for the month. True to the group’s mission of “searching for knowledge,” programs have included presentations
from a local beekeeper, visits to Clarinda’s first Airbnb-approved home, and tours of the Southwest Iowa Family location at the Lakin Foundation Child and Family Center.
The new downtown library is part of a growing network of Free Little Libraries throughout Clarinda. Currently, five are available to the public: near the library pavilion, at a residence on West Garfield Street, along the walking trail at the Lied Center, inside Clarinda Regional Health Center, and now on the square.
Additional libraries are planned for the coming year. The Kiwanis Club is preparing to install a
dinosaur-themed Free Little Library at Kiwanis Park, while the Amity 4-H Club
plans to build and place one at Landers Park, both expected to be completed in the spring.
Clarinda’s Little Libraries
have become more than just places to exchange books. The community also supports a Free Little Puzzle Library and a Free Little Art Library, and residents have found creative ways to use the spaces to help one another. During a recent delay in SNAP benefits, non-perishable food items were left in book libraries
as a gesture of support, and during the holidays, small ornaments appeared in one of the boxes, spreading seasonal cheer.
“These little libraries allow people to anonymously share joy, creativity, and help when it’s needed most,” said Tammy Schaapherder, Clarinda Community Literacy Coordinator. “They are a simple but powerful way to strengthen connections within our community.”
Members of the Searchers Club stand by the newly installed Free Little Library at the northwest corner of the Clarinda square. Pictured are Janet Olenius, Lois Jean Ellison, Michelle Walter, Marie Yoshinaga and Patty Thompson. Members not pictured are Roberta Kokenge and Teresa Minard.
Laurelgrove 4-piece sectional with Next-Gen Nuvella true performance fabric that offers high UV protection while being bleachable as well as cleanable. Loose reversible cushions, loose reversible back cushions and non-skid legs. Removable seat cushions, backs, and accent pillows with washable zippers for machine washing. Pebble color.
LA-Z-BOY Power Larson recliner, 2 colors of leather. While they last!
Contemporary 3-piece Sectional Upholstered in a stylish menswear inspired hemp colored body cloth. Accent toss pillows with a geometric motif.
LA-Z-BOY Trouper Recliner, Special Buy 3 colors, Stock #D1267, While they last!
Mid-Night Madness sofa with luxuriously soft jumbo coruroy, this sofa takes cozy and inviting to a higher level. Now all you have to do is kick back, sink in and relax.
and clean transitional styling
our Valued Clients for 64 Years!
Crisp tailoring
wrap livable comfort into sophisticated styling with a padded chaise and waterfall back.
RESULTS OF ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EFFORTS
For more than 50 years the Farragut Fire and Rescue Department has hosted its annual pancake and sausage fundraiser to help raise money for never-ending needs like equipment, training and operational expenses.
Time to pig out at annual Farragut Fire Pancake Feed
BY LIZ SKILLERN lizskillern2@gmail.com
The Farragut Fire and Rescue Department will host its annual pancake feed fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Farragut Fire Station, 503 Hartford Avenue. The meal will be served from 4:30 to 7 p.m., with a freewill donation accepted.
In addition to all-you-caneat pancakes and sausage, bulk sausage and sausage patties will also be available for purchase. Proceeds from the event help support the department’s equipment, training, and ongoing operational needs.
The pancake feed has a long history in Farragut, dating back more than five decades. According to longtime volunteer firefighter Dan Whitehill, the first pancake feed held in the current fire station took place in 1974, though similar events were held even earlier in the department’s former building.
will hold its
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at our office, 123 East Main Street
“It’s our major fundraiser for the year,” Whitehill said. “We’re always needing money, and this helps us keep going.”
The department sells sausage year-round, with proceeds benefiting fire and rescue operations. Whitehill recently donated leftover sausage last month to the Shenandoah Food Pantry, another example of the department’s commitment to serving the broader community.
Farragut Fire and Rescue is an all-volunteer department, with no members receiving pay for their service. Whitehill has volunteered for an incredible 56 years, and he credits strong community support for keeping the department going.
In recent years, the department has seen an increase in membership thanks to outreach efforts by Fire Chief Kevin Walther
Whitehill explained that the tradition began in the early 1970s when the department purchased a new fire truck that wouldn’t fit in the old station. A local farmer, Bob Vest, offered to donate a hog if the department hosted a pancake feed to help raise funds. The tradition has continued ever since.
and Assistant Chief Skyler Fuller. The roster now includes approximately 20 volunteers, a significant improvement from just a few years ago when the department was down to only three or four members.
Funds raised through the pancake feed have helped the department make critical equipment purchases, including a 2017 grass truck, which Whitehill noted was a much-needed addition, even when purchased used.
Events like the pancake feed also rely on volunteers beyond the fire department itself. Members of Hometown Pride assist during the event, helping with serving and cleanup.
Community members throughout Fremont and Page County will receive mailed invitations to the event, and Whitehill said residents from surrounding communities have historically shown strong support.
“We appreciate everybody’s support year after year,” Whitehill said. “Nobody here gets paid, and we hope people will come out and join us on the 24th. Come on over and pig out!”
In the event of severe weather, the pancake feed will be postponed one week to the following Saturday, Jan. 31.
Clarinda, Iowa
Members are invited to attend.
