By Mari Radtke
Stephanie Henrich, Executive Director of Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault (CAASA) with the O’Brien County advocate, Shawna, gave an overview of the organization’s activities over the past year. They reported the past year saw CAASA assist 25 O’Brien County survivors of abuse or sexual assault, including rent for 1 client. Some received financial assistance with groceries and much was spent on outreach.
CAASA officials are currently working with O’Brien County hospitals and nurses in particular, to secure a qualified person to do the forensic exams and collect evidence. Henrich targeted two circumstances causing this very necessary service to be very difficult to get in O’Brien County; a shortage of nurses and the demands of the duty. Forensic exams are not available in O’Brien County. Female nurses are preferred. Not having a qualified person is forcing clients and victims outside the county.
Primary funding for CAASA comes from the Crime Victim Assistance fund reaching $595,000. Henrich explained the organization’s salary commitments is $478,000. Outreach includes grade appropriate outreach to schools and meets all state requirements. Henrich emphasized many perpetrators are not strangers but rather in the home.
CAASA received a sizable grant for a new building in Cherokee. The building houses a larger and more visible “New Leaf” household goods thrift store. This store has operated for nearly a dozen years deep in a neighborhood of Cherokee. It helps fund some support activities of CAASA. CAASA serves 19 counties in northwest Iowa.
She went on to explain that CAASA is looking at budget cuts from other sources as much as 37%. She said she is hoping Brenna Bird, Iowa Attorney General will come through with some relief of those cuts. United Way of Spencer has a house and a food bank CAASA uses. They only serve victims of sexual assault.
Henrich requested $5,000 from O’Brien County.
Information in O’Brien Count can be obtained by calling 712-363-5700 during regular business hours, 8:30 – 4:30 M – F. After hours and holidays the number is 1-877-362-4612.
O’Brien County Fair to Celebrate 100 Years in 2024!
Darwin Gaudian and Kevin Mars attended on behalf of the O’Brien County Fair. They did not make a specifi budget request but updated the board on their projects and plans. The show ring improvements are done. They added to that the cost of utilities is new to the fair and a quite sizable sum. They also reported that all of the buildings have been winterized.
Kids entries to the fair have been steady and are rising. The cattle weigh-ins were up this year over last year. Clover Kids are up a bit, too. They noted that entries to the non-traditional animals are growing, chickens and rabbits were specifically named.
Because of the centennial, entertainment spending is higher than in a typical year. Fireworks are part of the planned celebration.
Currently the fair has 12 camping pads and they share 8 pads with the City of Primghar. Their waiting list has reached 8 causing the fair board to consider up to 8 more camping pads. The biggest concern is if there is sufficient electric power in the area to supply that many more campers.