Creativity

LeRoy, MN - For over 100 years, Boy Scouts has been a popular activity, teaching boys valuable life skills.

Today, there are millions of active Boy Scouts in the United States, but only a handful of them achieve the organization's top honor.

Each one of 17-year-old Bradley Schroeder's Boy Scout badges has a unique story behind it.

"My very first badge, aviation. I love flying, my dad owns a plane," said Schroeder.

Schroeder has been a scout for more than a decade, following the footsteps of his older brother.

"My family is kind of big in scouting, we've always pushed towards scouting. It's a good program, it offers kids a lot of opportunities to learn stuff," said Schroeder.

Schroeder stuck with the program, working his way up to the Eagle Scouts and earning every single merit badge possible, all 132 of them. It's an accomplishment that many strive for, but few achieve.

"Boys are required to earn 21 merit badges, and most of the boys, even if they go beyond that, probably earn somewhere in the 30's," said Schroeder's Scoutmaster, Mike Conlan.

Conlan said in history of the organization, less than 200 scouts have earned all 132 badges.

"We're proud of all the boys, but Bradley has done an excellent job and obviously it's a huge accomplishment," said Conlan.

It's an accomplishment Schroeder has been working on for years.

"Very amazing, very happy," said Schroeder.

He even has some words of wisdom for scouts who want to follow in his footsteps.

"It's only hard if you want it to be. Mostly just plan ahead and it's far easier than you actually think it would be," said Schroeder.

Albert Lea, MN -  The Albert Lea Salvation Army is wrapping up their annual Donut Days fundraiser.

It's similar to their holiday Red Kettle Campaign, but bell ringers hold doughnut boxes instead. Volunteers were collecting donations at six sites in Albert Lea on Saturday.

They' also got some help from a local business. Mrs.Gerry's Kitchen will match donations up to $10,000.00.

"It just continues to add to the benefit of the Salvation Army, what we do, and the belief in the bigger picture of the Salvation Army in our community," said Albert Lea Salvation Army Captain Jim Brickson.

The money raised during Donut Days stays in Freeborn County to help support local programs like summer meals and day camps.

MANLY, IA - The children's section at the Manly Public Library needs some updating and the town is stepping in to help.

The Libri Foundation will give the Manly Library a grant to pay for new fiction, science and math books. But the library needs to raise nearly $400 dollars on their own.     

So, the staff is selling baked goods and plants and asking the community to pitch in. Board of Trustees Secretary, Amanda Leake, says in a small town budgets are tight.

"The community does pitch in and we do have a lot of great support form a lot of our local people."

 For more information you can contact the library at (641) 454-2982 or (641) 454-2252.

MASON CITY, IA - Folks in Mason City Saturday are walking for a cure. More than 300 hundred people were expected at the Walk MS event out at NIACC.

Just in the United States alone, there are an estimated 400-thousand people living with Multiple Sclerosis.

The annual walk is one way those affected can raise money for a cure.

Even first-time walker Tara Murray, whose mother has MS says she's impressed at how many people are here.

"I'm just really excited that my team and I are able to walk for my mom and show others with MS there is hope and that supporting people with MS gives them hope for a brighter future."

KIMT is one of the sponsors supporting Walk MS.

 

Albert Lea, MN - In Southern Minnesota, folks are walking for a worthy cause.

The Southern Minnesota Parkinson's Support Group held their first annual event on Saturday.

Around 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease every year. It's a progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system.

Organizers of the walk hope the money raised will raise awareness about the disease.

"Education is really important and we're also, we're raising funds for more research to find a cure for Parkinson's," said Anne Troska.

The money raised at the walk will go to the American Parkinson's Disease Association and the National Parkinson's Foundation Minnesota.

MASON CITY, IA-Multiple Sclerosis impacts the central nervous system of the body.
It's a disease that doctors are still trying to figure out.
We all have nerves and a protective coating around those nerves.
M-S occurs when that coating gets damaged, causing nerve signals to slow down or stop.
It's a disease that can be different in every patient..But everyone who has it - agrees it changes your life.

It all started with some pain in her left eye...
And when Alanna Randall went to the eye doctor, she didn't realize she would get news that would change her life forever.

She said, "I thought oh no..I'm going to die..I had never heard of it before."

She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
And her life with her four children and husband has not been the same since.

Alanna said, "It takes. It takes away a lot of your independence, it's a big thing. The ability to see. I can't hardly read to my kids at night."

Alanna was living in Arizona when she got the news but has since moved back to Iowa..Where there are more doctors who know about the disease.

She said there are studies that link northern states with M-S.
She's also heard that cold weather makes the symptoms better...But that's something Alanna has a hard time believing. 

"I wasn't having problems in the heat, I was having problems when I got back to the cold, when I got back to Iowa in January, I went numb from the waste down."

Her symptoms are not permanent, but M-S patients typically get worse.

Alanna said, "I could have symptoms or problems with being able to walk, I could have more numbness, I could become wheel chair bound."

But she has not given up hope.
With the help of donations through events like the M-S Walk..she believes a cure can be found..In fact, there is already a drug being sold in other countries that may help reverse M-S symptoms

She said, "It's called Anti-lingo and I would be really, really happy if it gets passed. It's supposed to repair the myelin around the nerve, it's not a cure but it's suppose to help so you have less problems."

KIMT and the National MS society are hosting the M-S Walk in Mason City Saturday morning.

Registration begins at 9AM in the NIACC Activity Center, and the walk starts at 10.

NORTHWOOD, IA-Earlier this week, we told you that Diamond Jo Casino is being sold to a Las Vegas-based company.

Boyd Gaming Corporation said they've agreed to buy the company that owns Diamond Jo Casino and several other casinos.
A company spokesman tells us they are not planning any significant changes to local operations.
We also caught up with the president of the "Worth County Development Authority"..who partners with the casino for student scholarships and other programs.

They tell us they were surprised by the sale, but do not expect it to impact their relationship.

President of Worth County Development Authority Dan Reeder said, "I think we will probably be in a better position for future expansion and bringing in the type of entertainment we'd like to bring in. I don't look at it as a bad thing at all."

MASON CITY, IA-The state of Iowa is honoring police officers by lowering flags to half staff.

Governor Terry Branstad is declaring it "Peace Officer Memorial Day."
It's meant to be a symbol of respect for those who have died in the line of duty, but it's also to honor those who put their lives on the line each day to keep our communities safe.

City Administrator Brent Trout said, "We've been lucky our city has never lost an officer in the line of duty and so we count that blessing and we hope that it continues that way forever but we still need to recognize that there are others that have, and to make sure we give due recognition."

The Mason City Police Department and Kaplan University are teaming up next Tuesday May 22nd to host a candlelight vigil for officers who have lost their live while on duty.

That will be held at Music Man Square at 7 o'clock.

MASON CITY, IA - Think before you drink, that's the message a local group is promoting as we head into graduation season and the Memorial Day weekend.

The Youth Task Force and local law enforcement are preparing for another wave of a teen drinking crack-down.

That means more compliance checks and patrols in the area.

Task force leaders say, so far, they've had a lot of success.

Carol Brown says, “It shouldn't be a rite of passage. We want to limit the alcohol and let the public know that it's not okay.”

The final few waves of the program will happen during some local events that often involve drinking, like the upcoming North Iowa Band Festival.

They want to remind teens that even if it's a special occasion underage drinking is still illegal.

 

MASON CITY, IA - Safety is a major concern for parents, but are you prepared for an emergency?

One local group is helping you keep your family safe.

Alpha Orthodontics in Mason City is hosting an Operation Kidsafe booth. It's a company that will come to our area and help moms and dads make a safety kit.

The kit includes a sheet of paper with the child's picture and fingerprints and other physical information.

Folks can get their kit Saturday at Alpha Orthodontics in Mason City. That runs from 10 a.m. until four p.m.