After five years of service and leadership at UnityPoint Health® – Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC), Jennifer Havens, RN, MHA, FACHE, will be transitioning out of her role as GRMC chief executive officer to fill the position of Market President for UnityPoint Health – Dubuque and the Dubuque Visiting Nurses Association. Havens’ last day at GRMC will be Oct. 6. 
       Havens started her career as a bedside nurse in an academic medical center caring for children with cancer. For the last 15 years, she has been part of UnityPoint Health, with leadership roles in Grundy Center, Marshalltown and Grinnell. During her tenure at GRMC, Havens was instrumental in leading the organization through the transition into the UnityPoint Health system. 
       “Jennifer is one of the most compassionate leaders I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” noted David Stark, Interim Market President of UnityPoint Health – Des Moines. “She has grown GRMC and led with humility and a can-do attitude through the pandemic and multiple natural disasters. I am thrilled she is staying in the system but will miss her within our region and Grinnell.”
       Under her leadership, the GRMC team welcomed colleagues and patients from Montezuma Medical Clinic and Surgical Associates of Grinnell into the UnityPoint Health – Grinnell family. Women’s care expanded with creation of the Grinnell Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic and the medical center’s main registration area was renovated to provide a higher degree of comfort, accessibility and privacy for patients and their support persons during check-in.
     GRMC was thrice named a recipient of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Center of Excellence grant for establishing Iowa’s framework to sustain access to high-quality obstetric service for rural populations. Havens is a board member with the Iowa Hospital Association and Iowa Healthcare Collaborative and has brought national recognition to GRMC from the American Hospital Association, focused on the vital role rural health care plays across our nation.
      “Jennifer’s passion and aptitude for health care leadership is evident,” said Darwin Copeman, Chair, GRMC Board of Directors. “We are grateful for the leadership she brought to GRMC and our service region, understanding and advocating for rural health care. We will miss her but feel confident knowing she has helped grow and develop many GRMC leaders who will continue the tradition of care excellence at GRMC.”
      During this leadership transition, Kyle Wilcox, FACHE, FHFMA, vice president of finance and operations at GRMC, will take on interim leadership responsibilities for GRMC. A search process to fill Havens’ leadership role at UnityPoint Health – Grinnell will begin in the near future.
     “I feel incredibly blessed to have been part of the amazing things happening across UnityPoint Health – Grinnell,” said Havens. “I have worked alongside truly gifted and passionate leaders, healthcare providers, team members and community members in Grinnell and our surrounding communities. While I am excited to take on the role of Market President for UnityPoint Health – Dubuque, it will be a hard goodbye to leave Grinnell. It has been my honor to be the leader of this remarkable organization and part of this community for the past five years. I have nothing but confidence in the team members and providers who will continue to keep exceptional patient care the focus of their work at UnityPoint Health – Grinnell."

​     The UnityPoint Public Health will be hosting community flu vaccine clinics on the following dates, times and locations:
      Monday, Oct. 9 – Montezuma School Auditorium, 3:30 – 6 p.m.
      Monday, Oct. 16 – BGM School Cafeteria, 3:30 – 6 p.m.
      Monday, Oct. 23 – Grinnell-Newburg High School Gym, 3:30 – 6 p.m.
      If you are unable to attend one of the three community clinics, give the Poweshiek County Public Health a call at 641-236-2385 to schedule an appointment after Oct. 1.

      The Poweshiek County Historical and Genealogical Society meeting and program is slated for Thursday, Oct. 5 at 1:30 p.m.
       The Poweshiek County Historical and Genealogical Society is located at 200 South Third St., Montezuma. The lower level is handicapped accessible on the south side.
      If you have questions, call 641-623-3322. Please leave a message because the office is only staffed on Monday and Thursday.

​      The Grinnell Fire Department is hosting its annual pancake breakfast on Sunday, Oct. 8. Serving time is 6 a.m. – 12 p.m.  Come enjoy a fresh breakfast prepared by your local firefighters. The menu includes pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage, all for a freewill donation. All proceed go toward equipment to refurbish the rescue truck. Don’t forget to buy a baked treat from the Grinnell Fire Auxiliary as well.

​      Mason Sieck is all smiles as he wears his turnout gear and fire helmet while sitting in a fire truck after being named an honorary member of the Grinnell Fire Department in 2021. His dad, Curtis, holds a sign noting the honor. Mason passed away on March 22, 2021 from complications of Gardner Syndrome. A fundraiser gala to purchase land in Iowa City is being held on Nov. 18. Plans are to build a pediatric respite care and hospice house for children, the first of its kind in the State of Iowa.  

​By J.O. Parker
 
     “Rays of Light Gala” in honor of the late Mason Sieck, a 7-year-old Grinnell boy, who had an infectious smile, a love for God and was an honorary member of the Grinnell Fire Department, is slated for Nov. 18 at the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort.
       The casino is located at 3184 IA 22, Riverside, Iowa.
       The event is being held to raise money to purchase land in Iowa City to build a pediatric respite care and hospice home for children in Mason’s honor.
       It will be named Mason’s Light House.
      Mason’s Light House Board in connection with Mason’s parents, Curtis and Shanna Sieck, are organizing and hosting the event.
      Once constructed, Mason’s Light House will be the first of its kind pediatric respite care and hospice house for children in the State of Iowa. This will be the fourth home of its kind in the United States that is pediatric respite care and hospice centered.
    Mason, who was known as “Mighty Mason,” died on March 22, 2021 from complications of Gardner Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that caused noncancerous and cancerous growths known as desmoid tumors to develop throughout his body.
       He was a first grader at Fairview Elementary School in Grinnell at the time of his death. 
     He was known for going on fire calls with his dad, Curtis, and grandfather, Scott Sieck, and had his own turnout gear with boots and a fire helmet with his name on it and personal identification number, 500.
     “He always had a smile, no matter how much pain he was in,” said Shanna in an earlier article. “He loved music and loved his POA (Ponies of America) horse and farm playset.”
      The fundraiser event will include appetizers, a meal and dessert. Silent and live auctions are also planned for the evening.
      A cocktail hour gets underway at 6 p.m. with the program getting underway at 7 p.m.
Bill Riley Jr., son of the founder of the Bill Riley Talent Show at the Iowa State Fair, will serve as the emcee of the event.
     The guest speaker will be Katie Lindenfelser, Founder and Executive Director of Crescent Cove Respite Care and Pediatric Hospice home for children in Minneapolis, Minn.
      Mason spent six days at Crescent Cove before passing away there.
     “With your help, this home will be free of charge to the children and their families that stay here,” said Shanna.
      Single and group tickets for the event can be purchased at masonslighthouse.org. Please purchase tickets before Oct. 15.
     For more information, contact Shanna at [email protected].

      ​The 2023 Grinnell-Newburg High School Homecoming Court is, front row, from left: Carson Penyich, Wyatt Eaton, Tucker Stallman, Brody Petig, Andrew Peterson. Back row: Ella Smothers, Chloe Alger, Mary Jacobson, Olivia Renze, Olivia Olson. The crowning will take place during the parade and pep rally in Central Park on Thursday, Oct. 5.

    There's still time to sign up for this year's Homecoming Parade! Join Grinnell-Newburg Dollars for Scholars on Thursday, Oct. 5 in downtown Grinnell. Line up starts at 4:30 p.m., parade starts at 5:30 p.m.
     In an effort to limit congestion and improve the safety of the parade, this year's route will go down Main Street to Commercial Street. Following the parade, the pep rally and the Dogs for Dollars fundraiser will take place in Central Park.
Register for the parade: http://www.grinnellchamber.org/.../grinnellnewburg.../

       The Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Community Greetings - Grinnell, will host a new event to welcome new residents to the Grinnell community on Tuesday, Oct. 3 from 5 - 7 p.m. in Central Park.
       The New Resident Welcome is an opportunity for individuals and families who have relocated to Grinnell in the last 12-18 months to learn more about the community, organizations and businesses and meet other residents. This event will be hosted in Central Park under the shelter house with business and organizational booths throughout the park. A free meal for attendees will be provided by the Grinnell Hy-Vee.
        Residents interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP on the chamber’s website:
www.grinnellchamber.org/en/events/new_resident_welcome/
        “We’ve long been hearing from employers and new community members the desire for a way to learn even more about the community and the services provided. Community Greetings - Grinnell is a great first step and we really want to expand on the work they’re doing,” noted Rachael Kinnick, President/CEO of the Grinnell Chamber. “Hosting an event is the next level to bring people together and help ensure they are aware of all the great things Grinnell has to offer. Our hope is that this event will not only provide a way for newcomers to connect with one another, but become more involved and engaged in upcoming activities and organizations around the community.”
          Organizations and businesses interested in having a booth at the event are encouraged to sign up. Each booth registration includes one free meal with additional meals available for purchase. Non-profit organizations may register for $20, businesses who are a current Community Greetings - Grinnell sponsor can register for $30 and all other for-profit businesses can register for $40. A limited number of for-profit vendor spaces are available. Interested parties can register on the Chamber’s website at
https://www.grinnellchamber.org/en/events/new_resident_welcome/new_resident_welcome_vendor_registration/.
         This event is sponsored by Hy-Vee, and UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center. If your business is interested in being a sponsor, please email [email protected].
          Community Greetings - Grinnell is operated by Jennifer Stallman and focuses on “greeting people the old-fashioned way” by meeting one on one with new residents to the community to share more about Grinnell. This free service is open to any resident who has moved to Grinnell in the past 12 months. If you’re interested in scheduling a visit or if your business is interested in being a partner, email [email protected] or call 641-990-7731.
          For more information on how to join the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce or get involved, please visit grinnellchamber.org or call 641-236-6555.