Blood Drive in Russell

Attention:  For all those interested in donating blood, the Russell Blood Drive will take place at the Russell Community Center on October 13 between 3-7pm.  If you have any questions you may contact Deb Mason at 641-203-0681.

Meg Prange, Work Selected for Trade Mission

Local Artist Selected for Governor Branstad's Trade Mission to Korea, China and Japan

Perhaps you have seen hand-appliqued fabric pictures done by Russell artist, meg Prange, in the lab waiting room at the Lucas County Hospital, Meyer Law Office, Piper's (and on card racks) and Dr. Rips Dental Office.  Meg who had images of her fabric pictures reproduced on 4-inch square ceramic tiles, received the following message from the Iowa Economic Development for Governor Brandstad's office:

"When we walked into the 'From Our Hands' gallery in the East Village in Des Moines, our attention was immediately drawn to your beautiful tiles.  As you may know, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad is currently on a trade mission to Korea, China and Japan in an effort to encourage trade and investment in Iowa.  The trade mission is from September 18-28.   Your tiles are being presented as official Iowa gifts from Governor Branstad to business and government leaders in both Korea and China as a symbol of our wish and commitment for a fruitful and successful business relationship.  Thank you for providing us with such vivid and beautiful art pieces.  We are sure that the recipients of these gifts will truly enjoy them."

Six framed barn tiles, reproductions of her original hand-appliqued fabric pictures were selected.  They expect to work with Meg in the future.

Meg is delighted and feels honored to have her barn designs representing our wonderful state.

Russell Fall Festival Highlights

Thank you to the following businesses, contractors and service people who donated to the cash drawing at the Russell Fall Festival: Alpha Omicron Master Sorority; Beaty Insurance; Bingham Signs; Davison Cycle; Great Western Bank; Harry Reed Construction; Hundley Tire and Auto Service; Kevin McCullough Construction; Last Chance Convenience Store; Lowell Sims; Mark's Pop A Lock & Lawn and Gardening; Narber Construction; Pollard Salvage; Russell Livestock Market; Southern Iowa Oil; Southside Restaurant and Pub; Tanner Racing and Auto Repair and Whiskey Dick's Roadhouse.

The parade participant winners were:  Alpha Omicron Sorority float - 1st place; Faith United Methodist Church float - 2nd place; and Beaty Insurance float - 3rd place.

Betty Cross won 1st place in the pie contest with her raisin pie; Loudene Penney won 2nd place with her apple pie.

The Bar and Cookie judging at the fire station produced 3 winners: 1st place to Connie McKinley; 2nd place to Deb Mason and 3rd place to Ashley Bedford.

The quilt show winner (chosen by the vote of the people) was awarded to Jean Mathias for her Civil War Quilt.

Pedal Tractor Pull winners:  1st place winners were - Cayden Schlutz, Paige Hundley, Baylee Pollard, Ryder McGee.

Russell Fire Department Best in Smoke BBQ competition 1st place winner:  Kenny Gwinn and Todd Atwell and Cory Swigart and Tim Carruthers.

A big thank you goes to the Russell Firemen for their contest; to the Last Chance for the good meal they served at noon and to the Ladies who worked with the quilt show.  Thanks to the entertainment in the afternoon:  Albert Butler; Jessie Clark; Mr. & Mrs. Joe Allwood; and The Lineville Teen Band.  A special thank you to Kevin and Michelle Langlinais for setting up the speaker system and working with it all day; to Marie Hensley, for singing the National Anthem and to Mike McCurdy for announcing the parade; to the judges of the parade,pie and bar and cookie contest.  Also a thank you to parade participants and the Chariton Middle School Band.  Thanks to everyone who presented music and fire works in the evening and to the Community Club for making this years Festival happen.  It was very cold and wet, but all in all a very good day.

Prize winners will be in next week's paper.

June and Buddy Davis
Annie Kint and CJ

This is the correct third place Fall Festival Winner.  Sorry for the error.

Great Western Bank
Mike Mason Driving,
Debbie and Ken in the back

American Legion
Joe Gookin Driving

Russell's Wayside Garden Club

Russell's Wayside Garden Club meets eight times a year, April through July, September through December.  No meetings are held January through March due to weather conditions and no meeting is held in August due to the State Fair.  This organization has been meeting since the mid-1930's.  Our membership is not large, and we would like to invite anyone who is interested in gardening and flowers to join us, even if you don't live in Russell.  Meetings are held in different members homes and a couple of times a year we have an outing and have lunch at nearby restaurants.  In July we have a picnic in one of the parks in Russell.  Everyone has a great time at the meetings, catching up on lives and different interests with our yards and gardens.  We have one "Master Gardener" in our group and she keeps us updated on any new happenings with plants and flowers.

The sign and pretty flowers at the entrance to town were placed there by this organization, but this area is now maintained by the sorority girls in town and the city does the mowing. 

The Yard of the Month award is done June through September to someone who has taken special interest in showing off their expertise in gardening and lawn care.  A sign is posted in the winner's yard to show their yard is special and it remains in their yard for one month.  The award might be for the prettiest flowers, the neatest lawn, the most unique yard or the most improved yard.  At Christmas time a monetary award is given to the best outside Christmas display.  For a small town there are lots of beautifully decorated houses and lawn displays.  

If you are interested in joining us, you may call 1-641-203-6139 for more information.   Our next meeting, October 4th, will be held at Martha Allen's home on Transformer Road.  Her fall Chrysanthemums are beautiful.  We would love to have you come to one of our meetings to check us out.  

Chariton School Board Election

195 people out of 5,545 registered voters voted in the Chariton School Board election on September 13.  Russell's own Kellie Gookin ran (and won) for a position on the Board.  The polls were open in Russell from noon - 8pm at the Russell Community Center.

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Voter turnout was low as only 3.5 percent of registered or possible voters in the county voted.  Even though turnout was low, it was still a lot higher than last year with 66 more people voting.  All three candidates who ran for the School Board in Lucas County ran unopposed.  Of the three candidates, two are current board members, Dr. Craig Scott, and Brian M. Davis.  The third candidate running was Kellie Gookin of Russell, who ran (and won) for the seat held by Duane Steenhoek, who decided not to seek re-election.  Dr. Scott won the District 2 seat, Gookin won the Director District 3 seat, and Davis won the At Large District 4 seat.  Sharon Kline won the Indian Hills Community College Director District 7 seat.

State Convention for Firemen

September 7-10, the Russell Firemen competed in the Firemen's State Convention in Montecello.  If you haven't noticed, these men have been practicing almost every evening for this event.  Their hard work payed off at this competition. 

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Russell Firemen came home with third place overall from the State Convention in Monticello.  The Firemen began their training in July. 

Competition was tough but they prevailed.  Besides the third overall, they won two second place trophies and three third place ones.

Second place on the Thief Drill went to Jim Neer, Jeff Neer, Corey Paige and Brian Beaty.

Second place on Replacing Section of Hose went to Chad Phippen, Rick Krutsinger, Jeff Neer and Scott Bingham.

Third place on Replacing Section of Hose went to Jim Neer, Steve Neer, Todd Atwell and Craig Alexander.

Third place in Extending Hydrant Line went to Chad Phippen, Corey Paige and Steve Neer.

Third Place in Advanced Leader Line went to Chris Feehan, Jeff Neer and Todd Atwell.

Russell appreciates their dedication to duty and loving care they provide our community.  Thank You and Congratulations.

Russell Museum Board Meeting for September

Please make a note of the date change for the Russell Museum Board Meeting.

Monday, September 12, 5pm at the museum.

Fall Festival

The group met on August 25th and decided on a theme for this years Fall Festival.  "Hometown Iowa". The Chariton Middle School Band will be leading the parade this year along with the Legion Color Guard.  The Fall Festival this year will be held on Saturday, September 17th.

Prizes will be awarded in the different catagories including parade, pie judging contest, cookie and bar judging contest, quilt show, and a kid's tractor pull.    The quilt show will be displayed in the old Russell Mall building next to Mike Beaty's Insurance office.

Pies must be brought to Last Chance between 8:30 and 9:00 Saturday morning.  The cookies and bars will be turned it to the Fire Station at the same times.  Quilts will be brought to the Russell Mall building, (time to be announced later).

The 4-H group will be in charge of Kid's Games this year.  Bud Welch will bring the tractor and weights for the Kid's Tractor Pull.  Donnie Hundley will be the helper for this event.  Prizes will be given for the Kid's Tractor Pull.

Entertainment will be brought to you on the bandstand, between 1pm and 4pm after the parade.  Albert Butler, Jessie Clark, Joe Allwood, Kevin and Michelle Langlinais and the Lineville Teen Band will be performing.

The community club snack wagon will be open for quick snacks and drinks (with very reasonable prices) all day.

The Community Building has been reserved for all day if anyone is interested in doing their flea market in that building.  The Russell Museum will also have space for displaying and selling items.  Or if you want to do your selling outdoors, the lot next to the Russell Mall will be available.

The small garden tractor sign-in will be at 4:00pm with the pull to start at 5:00pm.  This event should be over by 8:00pm at which time a live band, Stress Opposite, will be playing outside the Last Chance building.

We have heard that Whiskey Dick's is also planning to have a DJ the evening of the Fall Festival.

There will be drawings during the live entertainment in the afternoon.  A couple of monetary prizes will be awarded, but you have to be present in order to win.  Be sure you sign up for these drawings.

This promises to be one of the best Fall Festivals Russell has ever had.  Something to do all day long.  Be sure you bring along a comfortable lawn chair.  Seating is limited.  The area around the bandstand is well shaded and there are a few picnic tables to sit at and enjoy the show while eating your snacks.
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A noon meal will be available at the Last Chance.  Ice cream cones will be offered all day at 50¢.  Ice tea and lemonade will sell for 25¢ a glass all day long.

The Russell Firemen are planning a BBQ contest in place of the water fights with the cooking going into a free-will Beef, Chicken and Ribs dinner at the fire station.

Please call Beaty Insurance at 535-2585 or Deb Mason at 203-0681 with your questions, comments or suggestions and how you can help.

Russell Sportsmen's Club Activities for September-October-November

The Russell Sportsmen's Club voted to add bi-weekly Thursday evening trap shoots to the schedule this fall beginning September 1 at 7:00pm.  The remainder of the current schedule will stay the same.  The public is invited and youth are welcome at all events.  The range is located at 41570 280th Avenue southwest of Russell.  For more information, contact Dan at 641-203-5296. 

SHARE Sign Up for September

Tuesday, September 6, from 1-4p.m. is SHARE sign-up at the Museum.  Pickup is September 24.  Save up to 50% on your groceries.  Lots of meat choices, fruits, vegetables and much more, all reasonably priced.

Horseshoe Tournament in Russell

On Saturday, September 24, at 9am, there will be a horseshoe tournament at the Russell Community Center.  Come join the fun.