CRHC awarded SAMHSA grant, to impact SWI
Clarinda Regional Health Center (CRHC) is proud to share it has been awarded a prestigious federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support Emergency Medical Services (EMS) training, recruitment, and lifesaving preparedness efforts across Page, Taylor and Montgomery Counties. This competitive grant has been the topic of much planning over the last 12 months, so that it could be implemented over a two-year performance period. These efforts begun September 30,2024 and will conclude September 2026.
Through the awarded grant, Clarinda Regional Health Center has been working on launching a multi-faceted initiative focused on Strengthening the region’s emergency response capabilities. Funding will directly support these initiatives:
•AED education for each organization receiving an AED, ensuring proper usage and maintenance of the lifesaving devices.
•Free community education sessions across the three counties on how to use an AED and respond effectively in a cardiac emergency.
•Procurement of new
LifePak Defibrillators to upgrade lifesaving equipment for emergency teams at Clarinda Regional Health.
•Planning and hosting of a free, one-day regional EMS training event for all emergency personnel in southwest Iowa, promoting collaboration, skill development, and professional support.
•Attending job fairs to support EMS and healthcare recruitment throughout the region.
•Sending a CRHC staff member for Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training to enhance emergency readiness and safety protocols.
Two quarters in, and Page County Post continues to take shape
Tuesday, July 22 marks the second quarter mark for The Page County Post, and this publication continues to take shape in ways that surprise us and encourage us.
July is one of those months with five Tuesdays, so don't look for a paper in your mailbox on July 29th.
I don't know if that's a good
idea or not.
I understand it most likely has or will create an inconvenience for some of our advertisers at times, but we do our best to inform them ahead of time and accomodate any time-sensitive information that needs to get out to the readers.
“This grant provides critical resources to improve EMS readiness in our communities while expanding access to AEDs and lifesaving education,” said Jennifer Chambers, Director of Emergency Services, at Clarinda Regional Health Center. “We are especially proud to invest in EMT students and regional emergency responders who are essential to the health and safety of our region.”
The SAMHSA grant aligns with CRHC’s mission to provide quality, compassionate healthcare while fostering strong
community partnerships and improving rural health outcomes. More information on upcoming AED installations, community education events, and the regional EMS training day will be shared in the coming months. For questions or to learn how your organization can get involved in this effort, contact Clarinda Regional Health Center's EMS Department at 712-542-8289 or visit clarindahealth.com.
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SCIA event shows Vision for Shenandoah’s future
By LIZ SKILLERN
The Page County Post
At the Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association’s Annual Meeting and Ag Banquet on July 15, guests heard more than just a recap of past achievements — they heard a call to shape the future.
Jennifer Green, Foundation Manager for the Charles E. Lakin Foundation, delivered a passionate and personal address as she introduced the Revitalized Southwest Iowa Initiative — an unprecedented $165 million investment in 51 rural communities, including $16.35 million to Shenandoah.
“This is not just another event or another program,” Green said. “It’s a conversation about legacy, belief in our rural communities, and a chance to change the future for generations. Rural Iowa doesn’t need charity. It needs investment.”
Shenandoah has been designated an anchor community — one of a select few intended to serve as regional hubs of growth and innovation.
With that designation comes a flexible, perpetual fund designed to support transformative projects for years to come.
Managed in partnership with the Community Foundation for Western Iowa, each community fund will generate approximately 5% in annual grant distributions — forever.
Additionally, towns may borrow against their fund balances to jumpstart
priority projects such as housing developments or childcare centers.
The initiative focuses on three pillars:
•Affordable and workforce housing
•Childcare infrastructure
•Community resilience and quality of life
Green emphasized that the Lakin Foundation will not dictate how the funds are used. Instead, communities will determine their own priorities.
Local nonprofits, such as Vision Shenandoah, will help coordinate planning, decision-making, and grant processes in partnership with residents.
“This isn’t a top-down
initiative,” Green said. “The Lakin Foundation isn’t coming in with blueprints. This is your community’s plan, powered by our investment.”
“What could Shenandoah do?” she asked. “Maybe it’s a housing development to attract young families. Maybe it’s a coworking innovation hub. Maybe it’s a modern early childhood facility.
Whatever it is, it should reflect Shenandoah’s values, vision, and voice.”
As one of 51 communities selected, Shenandoah now has the rare opportunity to redefine its future — not just for today’s residents, but for generations to come.
Green closed with a heartfelt call to action:
“We believe in you. We are invested in you. And we are walking alongside you every step of the way.
Let’s build something extraordinary together.”
Sells and Vision Shenandoah chart a bold path forward
Matt Sells, CEO of Shenandoah Medical Center and president of both SCIA and Vision Shenandoah, also took the stage to share the momentum behind Shenandoah’s community revitalization efforts.
Reflecting on his 12 years in the community, Sells said, “When I arrived, it didn’t take long to realize that if Shenandoah Medical Center wanted to advance, we needed to undergo a transformation.
Our goal became to reimagine what’s possible.”
Sells emphasized that a thriving community is essential to a thriving hospital.
“Community growth is even more important to sustaining a great hospital and a great environment for our young people to grow up in,” he said.
After learning about success stories like Vision Atlantic, Sells recalled a pivotal conversation:
“I remember riding home from the meeting in Atlantic with Gregg (Connell, Executive Vice President of SCIA) and saying, ‘This can absolutely be us. How do we convince the Lakin Foundation to move us to the top of the list? How do we show them we’re ready to roll up our sleeves?’”
Jennifer Green Dr. Margaret Brady
Matt Sells
See SCIA, Page 4
tireless.”
“Our goal is to unite our community,” he continued.
options
Finlays honored with 2025 Friend of Agriculture Award
By LIZ SKILLERN
LET'S BE FRIENDS
•Expanding recreation
That vision helped launch Vision Shenandoah, a nonprofit dedicated to building a stronger, more unified future through collaboration and innovation.
The organization is now fully operational, thanks in part to early fundraising success and the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Margaret Brady.
“We’ve raised about $130,000 to fund operations for the next two years,” Sells announced.
“Our hope is to build something sustainable — a real change agent for Shenandoah.”
Sells credited the initiative’s momentum to the passionate people involved, praising Dr. Brady’s leadership.
“When I think about getting things done, I see Dr. Margaret’s face,” he said. “She was the right person to lead this organization, and she’s accepted that challenge with open arms. Her approach has been inclusive, thoughtful, and
“It’s not to divide, not to dismiss other ideas, and not to act like we have all the answers.
Margaret has rallied the troops, and we’re moving forward — together — for a better Shenandoah.”
Dr. Brady: “We’re dreaming big — then getting to work”
Brady followed with a passionate and practical update on the initiative’s early steps.
“One of the first things the Lakin team asked us to do was take the pulse of the community,” Brady explained. “So we hosted in-person discussions and launched a survey. I was hoping for maybe 200 responses — we got over 900. That told me people are ready to dream.”
From the survey, five key priorities emerged:
•Attracting more families
•Encouraging commercial growth
•Retaining young people
•Increasing housing
To tackle these goals, Vision Shenandoah has created “Dream Teams” — groups of more than 60 local residents focused on specific areas like housing, child care, tourism, downtown revitalization, and fundraising.
“These aren’t committees — they’re Dream Teams,” Brady said with a smile.
“And no one said no when I asked them to help. That tells me Shenandoah is all-in.”
Brady also shared updates on housing studies, childcare needs, and early conversations about a potential community recreation center.
“It’s ambitious, but it’s doable. And it’s going to take all of us,” she said.
“This isn’t just Vision Shenandoah — it’s vision for Shenandoah.”
Brady concluded with a message of optimism and action:
“We’re rolling up our sleeves.
We’re dreaming big — and then we’re getting to work.”
FROM PAGE 4
service to others.
“While growing up on a farm in Shenandoah,” said Harris, “Dan developed a love for farming and agriculture at an early age. Around the age of eight, he began working alongside his father, who served as his primary mentor. When his father’s farming career ended in 1973, Dan had already learned enough to take over the family’s
farming responsibilities.”
That early start launched a fivedecade career rooted in hard work and dedication to both the land and his neighbors. Dan officially retired from farming in 2024 after 51 years in the field, a decision that wasn’t easy.
“He’s tossed around the idea of retiring for a few years,” said Harris, “but he just couldn’t fathom the idea of not farming. It’s been his passion and his calling. As 2024 came to a close, he finally made the difficult decision to hang
up his hat—but he did so with pride in his legacy.”
Dan often said, “It’s satisfaction, not profit, that makes farming worth it.” That attitude was evident not only in his work ethic, but in the way he continued to help others: plowing snow for neighbors, fixing broken-down equipment, lending a hand during harvest, and sharing the produce from his garden or sweet corn patch.
“Dan has always recognized how important community support
is,” said Harris. “He truly believes in building a better future for all through farming.”
The Finlays’ community impact stretches beyond the fields. Deb, a longtime Eaton Corporation employee, is known for her generous volunteerism and commitment to the Shenandoah First United Methodist Church. Dan, too, is an active church member and often shares his time and skills with the congregation. Together, the couple raised three daughters, all of whom were
present at the banquet with their families to celebrate the award.
“The girls are grateful for Dan as a father, role model, and mentor who continues to demonstrate a strong work ethic, a passion for helping others, and a deep love for family and friends,” Harris said.
Taking the stage to accept the award, Dan was visibly moved— and genuinely surprised.
“I just want to thank God for giving me the opportunity, and the ground, and everything to do what I love to do,” he said.
It's the best thing I could come up with to allow Chaundee and me to pursue our love of travel, and frankly, catch up on our various projects around home.
Most recently, we completed a fire-pit project in our backyard that has taken us about eight months to complete.
This was not just digging a hole in the ground, putting some bricks around it, and throwing some sticks in to start on fire.
No.
When Chaundee decides to do a project, it's always all out, and we usually do it ourselves.
First, my nephew, who, by the way, begins his sophomore year at Northwest Missouri State University this fall, entering his second season as a wide receiver for the Bearcat football team, tilled about a 15-foot square about eight inches deep — just a little bit proud of that young man, as I am all of the young people in our family.
Next, I used my tractor to remove the loose dirt, which we piled up on two sides for landscaping purposes, and replaced that with about five tons of sand.
Then we placed 96 16inch pavers to create a patio, leaving out four tiles in the middle for the pit.
For a couple of amateurs, I'll say we did a dang good job of keeping everything level and square, even square to the house.
Next were the stones to surround the pit itself, and the square, metal ring around the top. That was the easy part. Now, back to the
landscaping. We brought in three more tons of dirt to complete kind of a border on two sides of the square area, mounding it up and planting shrubs and a tree, which turned out to be an opportune birthday gift to Chaundee.
We always have multiple projects going on around the house, and it's satisfying when we actually complete one from time to time.
One we hope to complete during this next week off is renewing all the mulch in our flower beds and around our trees.
It won't all be work, though.
Next weekend, we are planning to spend Friday and Saturday, maybe part of Sunday, in Indianola for the National Hot Air Baloon Classic.
We actually had thought about going up for a ride in one of the balloons, but — thank goodness — we discovered that you have to put your name in well in advance to actually secure a ride.
I think I could do it without much problem … I don't think my clostrophobia would prevent me from riding around in that little basket, and I'm not really afraid of heights — not sure about motion sickness.
I don't know what Chaundee was thinking since she can't even look over the edge of a balcony without panicking. When we took the gondola ride across the Royal Gorge in Colorado, she had to stand in the very center with people on all sides.
As luck would have it, we won't have to find out, unless we get a wild hair, and someone has an unexpected opening. If that happens, I'm sure you'll be able to read
about it in a future Page County Post. It will be nice to have a week off, but we will be eager to get back to it with our Aug. 5th issue. We continue to feel like
we have just scratched the surface of this publication's potential.
We are always thinking about ways we could expand and other better ways we can serve our advertisers and our
readers. So, we hope you'll stay tuned to see what's next. I know some of our advertisers have some big announcements on the horizon that you'll want to
Clarinda: 1200 S. 16th Street | Shenandoah: 500 S. Fremont Street | Red Oak: 1605 N. Broadway Street