Brandenburg to retire from Air Force

ALBION — Chief Master Sgt. Craig L. Brandenburg, a native of Albion, will retire this August following a 30-year career in the U.S. Air Force.

CMSgt. Brandenburg is currently the Wing Weapons Manager for the 52nd Fighter Wing out of Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany. He is the primary advisor to the maintenance group commander on matters directly concerning health, welfare, readiness, morale and proper utilization and progress of nearly 120 armament systems personnel assigned to Spangdahlem.

Over the course of his career, he has been assigned to numerous military bases including Texas, Colorado, North Dakota, Arizona, Florida, Korea and Germany.

He has received a number of major awards and decorations in this three decades with the military including a Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Korean Defense Service Medal and a NATO Medal.

A retirement ceremony for Brandenburg was recently held at Spangdahlem Air Base. His official last duty day will be Aug. 1. He and his family will return stateside in early June and reside in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

He is the son of Garry and Bobbi Brandenburg, of Albion.

Lowe’s Flowers honored with top florist award

Lowe’s Flowers, LLC of Marshalltown was recently recognized by Teleflora, the world’s leading flower wire service offering only hand-arranged and hand-delivered floral arrangements, as a TOP 1000 florist for the year 2017. Teleflora has thousands of member florists throughout the U.S. and Canada and this prominent award recognizes Lowe’s Flowers as being in the top one percent of all U.S. florist shops in the extensive Teleflora network. This prestigious award stands as a testament to Lowe’s quality, style and customer service and recognizes their contribution to the floral industry.

Lowe’s has a staff of nine full and part-time employees and specializes in both traditional and contemporary designs, green and blooming plants, silk arrangements, weddings, sympathy tributes and home decor. Customers can place all their flower orders to anyone worldwide by contacting Lowe’s Flowers directly at 641-752-4601, by stopping in the shop or by visiting their website at lowesflowers.com.

The shop, located at 212 S. Third St., has been an integral member of the Central Iowa business community since 1960.

Hinmon recognized by local Izaak Walton League

OTTUMWA — The Ottumwa Community School District’s elementary FIRST LEGO League robotics team, The Water Warriors: Team #363, was invited to present at the State Izaak Walton League Conference on April 27 at the Ottumwa Izaak Walton League. The state conference was open to board members from across the state of Iowa.

The team presented their five-minute skit, their Hydrodynamics problem/solution, what FLL is all about and what they learned this robotics season. The Izaak Walton League, Ottumwa Chapter, was the sponsor for “The Water Warriors” team this season. Mentors for the team were Josie Young and Tyler Brown, OHS students.

In addition, the team’s coach/teacher, Breanna Hinmon, a 2005 Marshalltown High School graduate, was nominated by a community member and selected by the Award Committee of the Iowa Division of the Izaak Walton League of America to receive the “2018 Iowa Teacher of the Year Award” for her outstanding devotion and conservation education to the youth. Hinmon, an elementary talented and gifted teacher, was presented with a plaque, flowers and a framed photo of the Ottumwa division league’s lake.

Larmore receives ACHCA’s Eli Pick Facility Leadership Award

WASHINGTON, DC — The American College of Health Care Administrators honored Daniel M. Larmore, administrator of Grandview Heights, Inc. in Marshalltown with the 2018 Eli Pick Facility Leadership Award.

The leadership award was celebrated during the awards luncheon at ACHCA’s 52nd Annual Convocation and Exposition in Orlando, Fla., on April 24. Fewer than 11 percent of facilities nationwide qualify. This year, 1,717 facilities met the selection criteria. Three hundred and fifty-one administrators in 45 states were awarded the facility leadership award nationally.

Based on the premise that facility excellence reflects leadership excellence, this award recognizes the Administrator of record who provided such leadership for the full 2017 calendar year. Eligibility for this award is based on three years of skilled nursing facility survey data, including the Health, Fire Safety, and Complaint Surveys, as well as top quartile performance on designated Quality Measures. The criteria also include an 85 percent or greater facility occupancy and a three-year avoidance of a Special Focus Facility status.

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