FOOD & DRINK

There are certain topics that most people can agree on, especially when it comes to food. We love the smells, tastes, and of course the presentation of meals. More importantly, we love the local chefs that create these meals. Our communities wouldn't be complete without the local talent inside restaurants...

Anyone with fishing equipment, but doesn’t have a license can test out the waters for this weekend with no penalty. Department of Natural Resource Officer for Dallas County Dusting Eighmy says that the free fishing weekend runs from Friday through Sunday. Eighmy explains that someone without an updated fishing license can legally fish, but all other regulations remain in place. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that its a perfect time to take family members fishing or introduce a friend into the sport of fishing.

The Adel Public Library will celebrate the release of the new “The Little Mermaid” movie with a party this week. Patron Services Manager Amy Puck says they are asking for princesses and princes to come to their “Little Mermaid Find Your Voice Party,” from 10 to 11:30am tomorrow. Pucks says they will have stories from under-the-sea, snacks, activities, crafts and a special guest appearance.

The Stuart Revitalization Group is getting ready for a fun event this week. The “StuART Wine, Walk and Roll” will be from 5-7pm on Friday, and is a chance for people to socialize and hang out with friends. Registration is $20, which covers a tumbler and limo ride. Those participating must be 21 or older, as wine is involved. The starting point will be The Country Niche, where wristbands, tumblers and pre-ordered t-shirts will be available.

Steven Phelps of Steven’s Fine Photography very generously shared images he shot at Sunday’s commencement exercises at Perry High School. These candid photographs show much of the excitement and enthusiasm of the annual event. ThePerryNews.com thanks Phelps for sharing his first-rate photos.

Friday a new bar opened up in the Dexter area. Owners Keith and Leslie Stork and Jason and Shelly Roberts first partnered together for a storage facility northeast of Diamondhead Lake on some farmland owned by the Roberts. Once the facility was up and running, Leslie said that many friends gathered and made the comment that “Now there just needs to be a bar close by.” Leslie thought about it for a while, and after talking with her partners, the group decided it would be a good idea, and the Shootout Saloon was born.

The Dallas County Conservation Board extends an invitation to anyone with a photography hobby to join them for an instructional session. Conservation Outreach Coordinator Sarah Gilchrist says that their “First-Time Fauna and Flora Photography,” program will be from 7 to 8:30pm on Thursday at the Kuehn Conservation Area in Earlham. She explains that they have invited nature photographer and master conservationist Tom Moss to give a presentation and discuss capturing nature.

Two businesses came together to donate a total of $2,700 to the Morman Family in Perry Thursday. Perry HyVee and Totally Rolled Ice Cream recently held a fundraiser selling food and ice cream to support the Morman Family after Chad Morman, who was an industrial technology teacher with the Perry School District lost his life in an April vehicle crash. Bailey Morman was the recipient of the check and she thanked the community of Perry.

The Guthrie County Historical Village and Museum is hosting an educational event this afternoon. The Marchant House is a late 19th century home located at the Historical Village in Panora, and has been on the city lot since it was first built before 1900. The structure is a current restoration project for the Historical Village, but a new project has popped up, and current plans are to move the Youtz Carriage House from its current location. The Carriage House will be moved from its location half a block east of the square in downtown Panora to the Marchant House lot.

The Guthrie Center Farmers Market will be starting for the 2023 season soon. The first farmers market will be June 3rd, with one other June date. The market will meet three times in July, twice in August and September, and once in October. All meetings of the farmers market will be on Saturdays from 9-11am, at North 4th Street in downtown Guthrie Center. If anyone is interested in being a vendor, they can contact Krissy Swensen at guthriefarmersmarket@gmail.com for rules and registration. Interested individuals can join the Guthrie Center Farmers Market Facebook Group at the link in this story online.

The Des Moines Metro Opera has announced an economic impact report of $12 million for Warren, Polk, and Dallas counties. The announcement follows a study by Mark Imerman of Regional Strategic Ltd., and is based on data from the company’s 2022 season, an overall increase of $8.6 million from a similar study completed in 2023.

A fun annual event will be taking place this weekend in Panora. The Guthrie County Arts Council will be hosting the 12th annual Art in the Village Square on Saturday from 10am to 2pm. Live bands will be playing, and various local vendors will be available to sell their products. Deardorff Highland Cattle will have a food truck on site as well. Art in the Village Square will take place on the city square in Panora, and Vets Auditorium.

GREENFIELD, Iowa — Freedom Rock artistRay "Bubba" Sorensen has been painting a new mural on the boulder in Adair County each year for 25 years. This year's design on the 60-ton rock that draws thousands of visitors each year to its location between Menlo and Greenfield celebrates Medal of Honor recipients who died during service.

The Perry Chamber of Commerce is excited to get their weekly farmers market going. Chamber Executive Director Lynsi Pasutti says that their summer farmers market will start this week and run until late September from 4 to 7pm every Thursday in downtown Perry. The market will sell anything that involves locally grown produce, baked goods and hand crafted items. Chamber Executive Director Lynsi Pasutti says this market will go on for 18 weeks and it not only gives vendors a chance to sell their products, but community members to get out and about.

Several new projects are planned in Waukee. They include:. • A McDonald’s fast-food restaurant that is planned at 2820 Grand Prairie Parkway near where a Live Nation entertainment venue is under construction. The Waukee City Council this month approved a site plan for proposed project, which includes a 4,455-square-foot building. Fifty parking spaces are also planned. The 1.5-acre site is owned by the Quarter at Waukee LLC.

With the recent good weather, many people may want to spend their time outside. One popular way to do that is to go fishing. Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer for Guthrie County Jeremy King says that fishing is a fun pastime that many people enjoy, but that there are a few things individuals need to do before casting their lines. He explains that having a valid fishing license is the first step after having the necessary gear, and that the DNR has made it extremely easy to get your license, so there’s no excuse for not having it.

The Perry Volunteer Fire Department wants to make sure everyone is using their best practices when grilling this holiday weekend. Fire Chief Grason Hill reminds everyone that gas and charcoal grills are only to be operated outside and never used under any certain types of cover or placed close to a home. Hill says that a grill should be placed on a level surface and a gas grill should be checked for any leaks. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that when a person starts a grill they should never leave it unattended.

As the weather continues to improve, people and animals will begin to cross paths more often, especially for those that camp or hike trails. Guthrie County Conservation Director Brad Halterman says that there are many different species of wildlife that campers and hikers can come across in Guthrie County. He mentions that at Nations Bridge Park, visitors might be able to see some nesting geese, deer, turkeys and many different songbirds. Halterman tells Raccoon Valley Radio that for those hiking the Raccoon River Valley Trail system, there are some other animals that can be found as well.

The Perry Public Library Adult Summer Reading Program will get started next month, but registration is underway. Adult Services Librarian Mindy Farmer says their Adult Summer Reading Program with the theme “Books and Brews,” begins on June 1st for those patrons who are 18 years or older. Farmer says when adult patrons join they will receive a passport and collect stamps for completing activities like reading, volunteering, attending events and learning a new language. Farmer says they are partnering with businesses like Casa De Oro, the Perry Perk, the Proletariat, and the Tin Pig to put on events for people to enjoy a brew and discuss books.

The Bagley Public Library is holding a tea luncheon later this week. On Wednesday, Tamara Deal will have a presentation on her recent trip to Japan that she will present to those interested in attending. The library will provide different finger foods and treats for the event. They ask the interested parties to contact them to reserve a spot, and give them an estimate on how many people to prepare snacks for. The event is free and open to the public, and will take place from 11:30am to 1pm. To contact the Bagley Public Library, call 641-427-5214 or message them on Facebook, which is linked here.