Did you know that there are new owners for The Buck Snort in Oakland?  That’s right!  Amy Brownlee and Jason Haines (both of Oakland) took the reins last week and look forward to serving the community.

Amy, who has worked at Buck Snort in her spare time outside of work at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse, just happened to have a conversation with Bud (the original Buck Snort owner) and realized the perfect situation for both parties was for Jason and her to buy it!  They will run it as a Buck Snort franchise so all your Buck Snort favorites like the Swamp Donkey will still be loud and proud on the menu!  However, Amy and Jason have a few new ideas for their patrons, too!  In fact, they’ve already initiated their new weekly specials.  With so many regular customers, the duo thought it would be a good idea to have some weekly comfort-food specials to provide a little variety.  They are even willing to take requests!

Last weekend, they served up Hungarian Goulash per request and were sold out in a flash!  They look forward to providing some Thanksgiving fixins’ here in the next couple of weeks and offering some old-school, home-cookin’!  Rumor has it, that they will be introducing a new veggie burger, too, to keep up with the new trends.  So whether there’s a Swamp Donkey or a plate of hot turkey and gravy in your future, you’ll definitely find plenty to eat at Buck Snort in Oakland!

Congrats, Amy and Jason!  Thanks for supporting local!




Blog sponsored by the Oakland Industrial Foundation

​There’s Turkey Bingo and more in Pott. Co. this weekend!  Yes, you heard me right, we have multiple turkey bingos.  We have a Grist Mill production.  We have 3 open houses – one with wine and two with art. We have a craft fair, and we have a church dinner with yummy food!  That’s a packed weekend, people!

It all kicks off Thursday, or Friday Eve as some people like to call it.  Russ and Penny Christensen will be hosting their annual open house at their art gallery in Neola:  Penny’s Visions Art Gallery.  You may know their work from the bronze eagle sculptures found throughout Pottawattamie County!  That’s just the start though.  They have paintings, monuments, notecards, you name it!  You can check out all their work on Thursday from 5 to 9pm, Friday from 10am to 6pm, Saturday from 10am to 8pm, and Sunday from 11am to 6pm. 

Blossom’s in Oakland will also be having their open house Friday and Saturday.  You may know that Blossom’s started out as a floral shop but has turned into so much more!  They carry women’s clothing, jewelry, wine, flowers, figurines, and this weekend, a new Christmas room will be introduced to the public!  Debbie is offering a 10% discount and a 15% one if you donate certain things to be given to the veterans at Victory Apartments in Omaha.  Plus, she will have wine to taste!  You can see what she has to offer for the holidays 9am to 6pm on Friday and 9am to 3pm on Saturday.

Last, but definitely not least, The Painted Camel in Macedonia will also be hosting an open house featuring over 30 different artists!  Open Friday noon to 7 pm, Saturday 10 am to 7 pm, and Sunday noon to 2:30 pm to coincide with the Grist Mill plays, they look forward to showing off all the new pieces of pottery Paul has made and the artists’ works for the holidays.  (In full disclosure, I happen to be one of those new artists, but no, they are not paying me to talk about it!)  As I always say, it is a shop right out of the Old Market!

Friday is, therefore, also the first night of performances at the Grist Mill Theater in Macedonia.  You can catch “You Can’t Beat the House” a comedy I wrote about in my giveaway last week (read more about it here) on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Sunday afternoon.  Plus, ½ price appetizers after the shows at The Back 40! 

Rocks to be you!

Saturday brings the Viking Vendor and Craft Fair at AHSTW.  From 9am to 3pm, you can get those extra special Christmas gifts or do a little personal shopping if you’d rather!  Proceeds support the Viking Booster Club!  It’s always good to shop local for a good cause!

Saturday evening brings you two options for turkey bingo.  Yes, you heard me!  Do you know what turkey bingo is?  Well, let me tell you!  Turkey Bingo is playing bingo to win turkeys to use for that mouthwatering Thanksgiving meal!  Your first option is to make your way to the Shelby Community Building where it’s 3 games for $1.  All proceeds go to the Shelby Community Club Scholarship Fund.  Food and drinks will be available throughout the evening and doors open at 5:30pm. Your other option is a little different.  You can head to the Soup Supper at the Hancock Fire Hall from 5 to 7pm and play bingo for turkeys and hams starting at 6:30pm.  Proceeds go to the Hancock Fire Department. 
​
Let’s just say you can’t go wrong with either place!

Sunday is your chance to eat well at the Minden United Church of Christ Fall Dinner starting at 11am and they will be doing an auction following at 12:30.  Support the church and get some goodies while you’re at it! 

Well, folks, it’s another busy weekend with options you can’t find just anywhere!  So find your fave and enjoy the warm weekend ahead!  It’s going to be a good one!

#SupportLocal #PottCounty #SmallTownLifeIsTheBestLife

Win 2 free tickets to Friday night’s performance of “You Can’t Beat the House,” a fun-filled comedy put on by the Grist Mill Theater in Macedonia!  You won’t want to miss it!  The actors are a hoot so you know that means the play will be, too!

The inside scoop is that Gene Sanny and Austin Lorenz are a modern day Abbott and Costello as they master the madcap twists and turns of being burglars unable to get out of the house they’ve come to rob!  With skills only Gene has up his sleeve, Gene plays Merle who will transform from burglar to real estate agent and even have the pleasure of meeting up with the cops out to get him and a medium who obviously can see Merle and Howie’s future, which apparently isn’t looking so bright! 

The play is directed by local, Sue Duhachek, and includes a cast of Gene Sanny, Austin Lorenz, Deanna Fender, Jackie Neighbors, Dan Crouse, B.C. and Stacia Thompson, Heather Myers, Karla Keener and Eileen Adickes.  The cast list includes some long-time Grist Mill-ers and a couple of newer additions, but they always leave a crowd laughing! 

The performance is also a special one as they dedicate it to the late Mrs. Louise Merkle, an Oakland resident and retired teacher, who spent many of her days as part of the Grist Mill casts of old, and was a long-time Grist Mill member always there for opening night!  In her honor, there will be laughs, content appropriate for anyone over the age of 6, and no inappropriate innuendo.  She liked a tight ship!

The show runs Friday and Saturday night (November 15 & 16) along with a matinee performance on Sunday, November 17.  Tickets are Adults $20; Grist Mill members $15; students under 18 $5.00.  Cash or Check only.  Seating can be reserved by calling 712-486-2216 and leaving a message. You are welcome to check seating availability at www.gristmillfineearts.com.

Of course, Macedonia is all about setting you up with a fun night or afternoon out!  The Back Forty will offer half-price appetizers after all the performances when you simply show your ticket stubs!  The Painted Camel will be open for shopping, too.  Plus, if you should contribute to the Grist Mill Scholarship Fund, you will be entered in the Grist Mill’s Sunday afternoon drawing for a free stay at the Macedonia House B & B courtesy of the Clarks.

What a weekend they put together in ‘Donia!  You won’t want to miss it! 

And how can you be sure to make that happen?  Enter our giveaway for 2 free tickets to Friday night’s show!  Simply like WIDA on Facebook if you haven’t already or sign up for our WIDA county-wide newsletter if you haven’t by messaging WIDA on Facebook or emailing EricaForWIDA@gmail.com.  If you know you’ve done both of those things already, then simply share this blog with all your friends to pack the house at McCready Theater!  Deadline:  you must be entered by midnight Central time, Tuesday, November 12th. 

#SupportLocal #PottCounty

Fine print:  This giveaway is not sponsored by, run by, or associated with, Facebook.  WIDA was not compensated for this giveaway.  The tickets are nonrefundable and to be used on November 15.

Pott. Co. has another busy weekend on tap just for you!  Whether you like fried chicken, steak, live donkeys, roller skating, or musicals, we’ve got something for you!

You can start the weekend early with a little learning by going to the Food Safety for the Home Cook class at Impact Hill on Thursday night in Oakland.  They’ve got a whole list of fun classes coming up that you’ll definitely want to check out, but they are filling up!  A couple are already crossed out and full!

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are your chances to see the Riverside Musical:  The Addams Family.  It’s the perfect follow-up to the movie you might have just seen at the Dreamland Theatre.  Should be a lot of fun!

Don’t forget UMBA in Underwood has roller-skating Friday night, too!

Saturday brings a couple of options in addition to the musical!  You can watch some Shelby “celebs” play donkey basketball at Cardinal Lofts to raise money for their 150th Celebration that is now only months away!  My last experience seeing donkey basketball is one I won’t soon forget.  I’m sure it will be a bucket list item you can cross off your list if you attend!  Or you can head to the Minden Community Hall for a steak dinner and auction hosted by the Tri-Center FFA to raise money for their new ag building!  They are auctioning off 200 gallons of propane and a Tri-Center Athletic Pass!  That’s just a couple of the many things!  WOW!  Sounds like good food and a good cause!

Sunday will be your chance for a great lunch!  It’s the annual Veteran’s Day Chicken Dinner in Donia!  Head to the DeWitt Building for some homemade fried chicken and pie from 11am to 1pm.  Trust me – it’s worth the drive!

Monday happens to be Veteran’s Day and so some of you may luck out with a long weekend.  Either way, most of the area schools are having Veteran’s Day assemblies and you won’t believe this, but The Back Forty in Macedonia is giving free meals to all veterans on Monday from 11am to 9pm!  What a wonderful gesture!  Way to go, Brian and Amy!  And from all of us at WIDA, thank you to all the veterans who have served and are serving to make our country the best place to live!

Seriously, what a great county where your options are endless and the people are generous!  Thanks for coming to our page to hear about it!

#SupportLocal #PottCounty #SeeIowa

As Giving November kicks off, it’s important to think of our area food pantries and make sure they are well-stocked!  As the holidays approach, typically they get donations, but they also get more customers, too!  So let’s make this an easy holiday season for Pottawattamie Area Pantries!

On a serious note, we’ve all had our own financially unstable moments.  I’ve watched families that had the unexpected happen whether it was divorce with a new baby, job layoff and 4 kids, being single with a boss that didn’t pay on time, or cancer for the bread-winner, it doesn’t matter.  Whether you’ve been there, or not, we all know someone who has, and if you’re not in that boat, what better way to show your thankfulness than by donating?

So here is a comprised list of where and when you can donate and if you should, for some unfortunate reason, need help instead, the times and places are listed for when you can receive donations, as well. 

As Red Green always says, “we’re all in this together!”

*Avoca –

To Donate:  The Avoca Food Pantry is located at the United Church of Avoca, 1511 N. Willow St.  You can call 712-343-6945 with questions, just leave a message, but they take donations on Sunday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at the church.  They are in need of personal hygiene items like toothbrushes and shampoo or food items like Hamburger Helper. 

For assistance:  The pantry is open Mondays 4-6pm, just go behind the church to the basement door for privacy.

*Crescent –

To Donate:  The Crescent Food Pantry is located at 720 Old Lincoln Hwy.  It’s open Saturdays 1-3pm and Tuesday 5-7pm but you can call 712-545-9031 for other options.  The Crescent Pantry also has a Facebook page which you can message for assistance. 

For assistance:  The pantry is open Saturdays 1-3pm and Tuesdays 5-7pm or message them on Facebook for help in an emergency situation or call 712-545-9031.

*Macedonia –

To Donate:  The Macedonia Food Pantry & Clothing Closet is located in the Macedonia United Methodist Church.  Donations are welcome, and can be left, at the church Monday through Friday during day-light hours.  They are happy to take food items and clothing items that are gently used.

For assistance:  The pantry is open from 1-3pm every Saturday or 24/7 by phone.  Call minister's cell: 402-669-5646.

*Minden (Area Food Pantry – including Underwood, McClelland, Minden, and Neola, etc.)

To Donate:  The Area Food Pantry is located at the Minden United Church of Christ.  Call 712-483-2903 for more information or you can donate during church hours or at the St. Patrick’s Parish Hall in Neola.  Items most needed include soup crackers, cereal, sugar, flour, canned fruits, mac & cheese, spaghetti sauce, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, cake mixes, toilet paper, Kleenex, and paper towels.

For assistance:  The pantry is open from 10am-12pm every Saturday or you may call 712-483-2903 for help.

*Riverside Area (including Carson, Macedonia, Oakland, Hancock, etc.)-

To Donate:  The Riverside Area Food Pantry is located in the Oakland Christian Church.  Call (712) 482-6240 and leave a message or you may donate Sunday mornings at the church or Monday-Friday during office hours at the Oakland United Methodist Church in the narthex.  The Riverside School District is also taking donations after Thanksgiving for their food drive.  Paper products, cereal, pasta and sauce are all needed regularly.

For assistance:  The pantry is open Saturdays from 10:00 till 11:00am and is sponsored by the Riverside Church Association. For immediate help, contact an area pastor.

*Treynor –

To Donate:  The pantry is located at the Zion Congregational Church in Treynor.  Donations are welcomed from 6:30am to 6pm Monday-Friday at the church.

For assistance:  The pantry is open on the 4th Thursday of the month from 4pm to 7pm.  If needed otherwise, call the church at (712) 487-3289.

*Walnut –

To Donate:  The TLC Community Food & Clothing Pantry is located at the Walnut Community Center (the old school).  Call 712-249-2592 to arrange donations or M-F 8 to 5pm at the south door or drop off at Trinity Lutheran in Avoca.  Items needed:  personal hygiene items, spaghetti sauce and pasta, soups, pancake mixes, syrup, cereal, winter clothing. 

For assistance:  The pantry is open every Thursday from 4 to 6pm or call 712-249-2592 or they have a Facebook page to message them.
 
It goes without saying that if it’s easier for you to write a check or hand over some cash, all of the pantries will gladly take that, too! 

I simply hope that by making it easier for you to find these places, you take a minute to mail a check, hit your local grocery store and church, or drop by with a load of paper products.  I truly believe there is no greater joy than in giving. 

Give yourself the gift of giving today.,,

#SupportLocal #PottawattamieLoyal

An authentic Italian meal for free?  It can happen for you!  This weekend the Riverside PEO Chapter is hosting an Italian Pasta Dinner on Sunday (November 3) at the Oakland Community Center and we have 2 free tickets to give away! They could be yours!

Whether you win free tickets, or not, you don’t want to miss this meal!  The ladies will be serving from 11am to 1pm.  Tickets are $10 for an adult, 12 and under are $5, and under 4 is free.  But I promise you the food will be worth the cost!  They will be using Grandma D'Angelo's original spaghetti sauce recipe straight outta Italy!  As someone who used to eat at the D’Angelo house growing up, I am pretty confident when I tell you that you won’t walk away unsatisfied!

For those that may be unfamiliar with the Riverside PEO, it is the Philanthropic Educational Organization and I can speak with complete sincerity when I tell you they are a fantastic group of women!  Each year they organize their annual Italian Pasta Dinner to raise funds to give local scholarships, fund educational projects, and do community outreach.  They get together and use the old-school recipe to whip up a whole lot of batches of fresh, yummy pasta! 

The line will be out the door just like those fish fries during Lent!  So avoid the dishes and eat like you’re in Italy on Sunday all while supporting a great cause! 

But if you want to win 2 free tickets, just like WIDA on Facebook or sign up for our new county-wide newsletter by messaging us on Facebook with your email or emailing us at EricaForWIDA@gmail.com.  If you’ve already done both, simply share this blog for a chance to win!  Deadline to enter is Friday (Nov. 1) at noon Central time.
 
Fine print:  This giveaway is not sponsored by, run by or associated with, Facebook.  WIDA was not compensated for this giveaway.  The tickets are nonrefundable and to be used on Nov. 3.

The good news in Oakland is that Ours to Yours, a new pre-loved kids clothing and toys store is opening November 1st on Main Street!  The Oakland Main Street is starting to see a resurgence as multiple businesses have opened in 2019.  The women owners hope they can continue being part of the catalyst effect in Oakland and encourage others to give it a shot!

New entrepreneurs, Nikki Danielsen and Sabrina Singleton, are setting up shop starting Friday with their grand opening from 10am to 7pm.  With 10 kids between the two ladies, they know a little, or maybe A WHOLE LOT, about kids clothing and toys!  They will be carrying boys and girls clothing from newborn to size 16/18 along with shoes and a healthy helping of toys. 

The girls have kept all of their kids’ clothing and toys and now will put them up for sale along with a collection of things they got from family and friends as second-hand.  The store will have a buy-back policy for cash or store credit, but if you want to see them succeed, I’m sure they’d happily take your donations, as well!

When I checked out the store last week, they already had the shelves stocked and clothing tagged.  Nikki and Sabrina have livened up the old building and put in a backroom play-area for kids.  They really did think of everything!  You can shop and have coffee while the kids play! 

What a great local option to have!

Both moms mentioned they’d like to be a gift to the community as they’ve both been in the situation where they needed something last minute and there wasn’t time to drive to the metro or hit Amazon.  They want to be that resource for our area.  They want to be the first call in a clothing crisis! Lol.  It may sound funny, but if you have kids, you totally understand they do happen!

The moms are already involved in the community and even participated in the Oakland Trunk-or-Treat Sunday. Now it’s our chance to support their endeavor.  They will be open Tuesday-Saturdays with hours being Tuesdays 10-7, Wednesdays, 10-4, Thursdays 12-7, Fridays 10-5, and Saturdays 9-4, but don’t forget that this Friday they will celebrate their grand opening with special stores hours from 10am to 7pm!

Get some good deals and shop local at Ours to Yours, 109 N. Main Street in Oakland!  Best of luck, Nikki and Sabrina!  We will be cheering for you!
​
#SupportLocal #PottCounty
This blog sponsored by the Oakland Industrial Foundation
 

​Pott. Co. is packed with Halloween fun for the weekend!  The only way you won’t have fun this weekend is if you’re hibernating on your couch!  We have trunk-or-treats, a craft fair, movies, a haunted house, costume parties, and the list is endless!

The weekend can start early!  Pumpkin Hill in Neola will be open Thursday – Sunday for some family fun.  For all the info on Pumpkin Hill, check out my blog about it.

Friday brings a wealth of options!

Get some good grub at the Boy Scout BBQ being held from 5 to 7pm at St. Paul Church in Treynor and help the Boy Scouts raise money for their summer trip to Wyoming!

After you grab something to eat, you can get your candy on! Head to Carson to trick-or-treat on Broadway from 4-6pm and then head to Thrill on the Hill, a haunted house at Impact Hill in Oakland put on by the Riverside Pomp group.  It’s open 6pm to 10pm.  Actually, you can hit the thrills Friday, Saturday, and on Halloween for just $5 to support Riverside music!

If haunted houses aren’t your thing, maybe family Game Night at Assembly of God Church in Macedonia will be.  They start playing at 7.  Some good old fashioned board games for some quality family fun!

If you’re looking for a more “adult” option, get your party on at the Crescent Roadhouse Bar and Grill with their Costume Party being held from 7pm – 11pm or catch Tailgators for their Boo Pong Tournament starting at 8pm in Oakland.

Saturday is your chance to get some new fall décor or work on that Christmas shopping list at the Underwood Craft Fair from 9am to 3pm and don’t miss their cookie walk, too!  I had some cookies this summer at their Monday Markets.  All I can say is WOW!

You can end your day in the Halloween spirit by catching the "Addams Family" being shown at the Dreamland Theatre in Carson (And just a little tip – the Riverside Musical being held the weekend of November 9 & 10, just happens to be the "Addams Family!"  So the kids can see both the cinematic and the live versions!) or you can catch "Overcomer" at the Phoenix in Neola and you can do it for free!  Thanks to the Faith Community Bible Church, all admissions this weekend are paid!

If you’re more of the party crowd, you’ve got two great options:  The Station in Hancock will start the Let’s Get Smashed Halloween Party starting at 5pm and running till 2am or start there and move onto The Bar ‘N and Grill in Carson at 7 for their 3rd Annual Halloween Bash which also runs till 2 and involves a hayrack ride to Tailgators in Oakland at some point!  Sounds like the drink specials will be flowing at all 3 places! 

Sunday is your chance to get in on some more Halloween-themed activities!  The Treynor Fire Department will be hosting their trunk-or-treat from 1:30 to 3:30 Sunday afternoon.  The trick-or-treating is free, but for $5, kids 4 and up can also get into a carnival, get a pumpkin from the Haunted Patch, play on a bounce house, eat snow cones, check out a petting zoo, and do some Halloween bingo.

From 2 to 5, Walnut will be celebrating their Fall Family Fun Day at the Walnut Community Center with their new tenants, Family Inc.  They will have games, face painting, and pumpkin decorating!

Of course, you can probably sneak in the trunk-or-treat in Oakland, too.  It runs from 4-5pm and kids can do the bike parade in costume at 5, and don’t forget to check out all the cool drawings on the Chalk Walk also on Main Street!

But there’s more!  You could head to Minden for their trunk-or-treat, as well!  It will run from 4 to 6pm at the Minden Community Hall.  If you’re super fast, the kids can grab candy and you can then finish your evening in Crescent for their trunk-or-treat, held at the Community of Christ Church also being held from 4 to 6.

I just have to give a shout-out to all those businesses and organizations that help make all our trunk-or-treats possible!  What a great place we live in!

The options are seriously out-of-control this weekend!  I don’t know how you’d pick!  But no matter where you end up, they’ll be glad you’re there! #SmallTownLifeIsTheBestLife!

​#SupportLocal #PottCounty #SeeIowa #PottawattamieLoyal

Pumpkin Hill Farms in Neola would love to get you in the mood for All Hallows Eve next week!  If you didn’t know, Pumpkin Hill Farms is a family-run business that just opened up for business this year.
 
They offer a mini petting zoo, a tube slide that you climb hay bales to get to, face-painting done by one of the daughters, a corn pit to play in, pumpkins to pick, a castle bouncy house, two different swing sets, a trike riding area, lots of games from video games to corn hole, selfie stations, snacks, and more! 

It is definitely a place to take the littles! 

My daughter was a big fan of the rubber ducky race that involved spraying water on the ducks to make them move and she loved the kid-friendly zip line!  I could hardly pry her off of it! Lol. I was a bigger fan of the alpacas, and we both liked the haunted area with the talking fortune teller/witch. 

Admission is $8 for adults and kids 3 to 11 are $6.  The pumpkin patch is located just outside Neola at 28835 Westgate Rd. and is open Thursday through Sundays.  Check for hours on their Facebook page or website.  Perhaps the coolest part is that you can get a season pass for $20!  Definitely a good deal if you live nearby!

So if you’ve been working more than you’ve been playing, it’s time to grab the kids before it’s too late and head to Pumpkin Hill Farms for a fun-filled time!

#SupportLocal #PottCounty #SeeIowa

Pott. Co. has pumpkins, trick-or-treating, chili, wine, shopping, golf, cornhole, and drinking for your weekend!  Gotta love that!  It’s another busy weekend of fall fun!

The weekend kicks off Friday with El Sol, the Mexican restaurant in Oakland, celebrating their 2nd Anniversary!  My guess is there might be a few margarita specials among other things! Lol.

Saturday morning at 10am at the Crescent Roadhouse Bar and Grill with a cornhole tournament and, well, drinking! And just think, you’ll be done in time to hit the Fall Festival at Hitchcock Nature Center which runs from 4-6pm in Honey Creek or do some Creepy Campground trick-or-treating in Hancock at Botna Bend during the same timeframe.  Both parks will be ready with candy!

Another option is to get those last rounds of golf in at the Oakland-Riverside Golf Course in their Team Scramble Freeze Out and Chili Cook Off event running from noon to 6pm on Saturday!  Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful fall day! 

Or check out the Twisted Sisters Boutique Grand Opening!  

Whichever way you go, you can’t go wrong!

Finish the day by grabbing the kids and heading to Shelby for their 2nd Annual Trunk-or-Treat and Hayrack Ride!  It starts at 6pm in the lot across from the Cardinal Lofts.  The kids will love it, and you just may, too!

Sunday is all about the adults though!  Head to Prairie Crossing Winery in Treynor for their Sip and Shop Craft Fair!  Browse for Christmas and keep your glass filled while you do it!  If you didn’t know, Prairie Crossing just came home with a few trophies for some of their signature wines!  You’ll be glad you made the trip, plus you can shop from noon to 4.  In fact, if you head to their website before 5 on Saturday, you can win free tickets!  Just click on the link I included!

And don’t forget that Pumpkin Hill is open all weekend for you to get that pumpkin patch and petting zoo experience or you can always catch a movie at The Phoenix in Neola or the Dreamland Theatre in Carson!

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!  It’s gonna be a good one!

#SupportLocal #PottCounty #SeeIowa