What makes Mills County worth the trip and worth the stay?In this episode of Mills County Roots, Carlene Hall sits down with Lu Peverill, Chair of the Mills County Tourism Committee and owner of Hillsdale Lily Garden. Lou shares how tourism in Mills County is evolving, from murals in every community to the Tenderloin Trail, outdoor adventures, and new marketing efforts that are putting the county on the map.With deep family roots in Hillsdale dating back to the 1800s, Lu talks about legacy, leadership, and what it takes to build pride across eight communities. You’ll hear about:• The vision for a mural in every town • 31 outdoor adventure locations across the county• The Travel Iowa grant supporting new video marketing• The Lily Fest and agritourism at Hillsdale Lily Garden• How small towns can collaborate instead of competeIf you think there’s nothing to do in Mills County, this conversation may change your mind.Visit: visitmillscounty.comFollow: Visit Mills County on FacebookLearn more about Hillsdale Lily Garden and Lily Fest this JulyIf you care about small towns, local business, and the future of Southwest Iowa, this one is for you.

In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall sits down with Sandy Winton at Malvern Bank to discuss her decision to run for Mills County Supervisor.

Sandy shares her story of coming to Mills County through Offutt Air Force Base, falling in love with the community, and choosing to stay long after her family’s military assignment ended. Now deeply involved in economic development, tourism, Vision Glenwood, and community betterment efforts, she is stepping forward to serve at the county level.

This conversation covers:

• Property taxes and affordability
• Roads and infrastructure concerns
• EMS coverage in rural areas
• Transparency and communication in county government
• The Mills County landfill and environmental impact
• Tourism growth and supporting small businesses
• Veterans advocacy and Home Base Iowa efforts

Sandy also shares results from her Mills County priorities survey and discusses what residents are saying matters most.

If you care about the future of Mills County, this is an important conversation about leadership, responsibility, and community involvement.

Subscribe to Mills County Routes for more conversations with the people shaping our county.

In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall visits Good Life Eye Care in Glenwood, Iowa and sits down with Dr. Kyle Klute during a Mills County Chamber Coffee and Connections and ribbon cutting.

Dr. Klute explains why maintaining local access to eye care is vital for Mills County and how his clinic continues the legacy of vision care in this longtime medical location.

Topics discussed include:

• The importance of early and regular eye exams for children
• The connection between screen time and increasing myopia
• How undiagnosed vision problems can impact school performance
• Common causes of red eye and when to seek care
• Lifestyle habits that support long term eye health

If you are looking for an eye doctor in Glenwood or Mills County, this episode gives you a clear look at what Good Life Eye Care offers and why local healthcare matters.

In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall sits down with Gitzy of the Mills County Chamber of Commerce to talk about community, leadership, legacy, and what makes Southwest Iowa special.

Gitzy shares her journey as a first generation American born in Queens, raised in Tulsa, and shaped by living in 10 different cities before planting roots in Mills County in 2016. Raised by a single mother and now raising two children of her own, she reflects on adaptability, identity, and the strength that comes from learning how to belong in new places.

Now serving in a leadership role with the Chamber, Gitzy talks about:

• What it means to truly integrate into a small town community
• Balancing tradition with forward growth
• Supporting local entrepreneurs and shopping local
• Creating connection, collaboration and community
• Raising children in a place that offers peace of mind

This conversation explores how small towns create space for purpose, legacy and meaningful relationships. It is about honoring history while building the future.

If you care about the future of Mills County and Southwest Iowa, this is one you will want to watch.

Subscribe for more stories highlighting the people shaping Mills County.

In this special episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall shares video from the emotional homecoming of 59 Iowa National Guard soldiers returning from deployment in Syria.

Carlene Hall and Darlene McMartin traveled to Sioux City to witness the moment the plane landed and families gathered inside the hangar to welcome their loved ones home. Parents, grandparents, spouses, and children waited with signs and open arms.

Some of the soldiers met their babies for the very first time. Children ran across the hangar floor. Families embraced after months apart. It was a powerful reminder of the sacrifice made not only by our service members, but by their families.

Carlene and Darlene also host Still Serving Iowa Veterans. Darlene served 28 years as Veteran Service Director in Pottawattamie County. Carlene served five years as Veteran Service Director in Fremont County. Both continue their work supporting veterans across Iowa through the Iowa Veterans Foundation and the Iowa State Commission.

If you support our troops and their families, please watch, share, and follow Still Serving Iowa Veterans.

If you could not make the meeting, this episode is for you.In this special edition of Mills County Routes, we are sharing a full town hall conversation so you can hear directly what was discussed, what questions were asked, and how your community’s concerns were addressed.This is not commentary. This is not spin. This is the full exchange.Topics discussed include:• Mental health services for children and the shortage of inpatient beds in Iowa• Medicaid cuts and rural health care access• Women’s health care and reproductive rights• AI regulation and environmental concerns tied to data centers• Water quality and Iowa’s rising cancer rates• Immigration enforcement and constitutional rights• Funding for ICE and Homeland Security• The future of the U.S. Post Office• Public education, college affordability, and foster care support• The role of Congress and separation of powersMany people cannot attend weekday meetings because of work, family, or transportation barriers. Representation should not depend on your schedule. This recording gives you access to the same information and dialogue that those in the room received.Watch. Listen. Stay informed.Because informed citizens are represented citizens.We do not endorse any political party or candidates.

In this episode of Mills County Roots, Carlene Hall visits Malvern, Iowa to sit down with Garrett and Lindsay Stevens, the proprietors of Teed Up Tavern.Garrett is a lifelong Malvern area local with deep Mills County roots. Lindsay moved to Malvern in 2017 and grew into the community over the past few years. Together, they took on a big project: combining two buildings and transforming them into a modern, welcoming space with golf simulators, a full bar, and rooms designed for everything from leagues to private gatherings.They share the story behind the renovation, the teamwork that made it possible, and the support they received from friends, family, local businesses, and the Malvern Bank. They also talk about working with Noah Guzman of Neo Construction and the challenge of exposing and restoring the original brick.Teed Up Tavern offers more than golf simulators. You will hear about leagues, tournaments with the Fairway golf course, pool, darts, live music, karaoke, trivia, music bingo, and the kind of community energy that is helping Malvern keep growing.If you have not been there yet, this episode will make you want to stop in.

Mills County Routes is proud to welcome a new sponsor, Travis Waldstein of Waldstein Plumbing and Air Serve Heating and Air Conditioning.

Travis is a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk and deployed during operations near Somalia and in the Persian Gulf. In this episode, he shares stories from carrier life, flight deck experiences, and what service meant to him and his family.

After the Navy, Travis built his HVAC career in Southwest Iowa and founded Air Serve in 2009. More recently, he launched Waldstein Plumbing alongside his son Hayden, a Marine Corps veteran who now runs the plumbing division.

Together, they serve customers throughout Mills County, Glenwood, Lake Ohana, Mineola, and surrounding communities.

This episode is about service, family, friendship, and building businesses that support the people of Southwest Iowa.

Thank you to Travis Waldstein for supporting Mills County Routes and for continuing to serve this community.

The Mills County Historical Museum in Glenwood, Iowa is preserving the stories, artifacts, and legacy of our community for future generations.

In this episode of Mills County Roots, Karlene Hall sits down with Lauren Culp, curator of the Mills County Historical Museum, and Georgia Jewell, Vice President of the Board. Together they share the history of the museum, its collections, and the powerful volunteer effort that keeps local history alive.

This episode highlights:

• The Tabor Northern Railroad and its impact on Mills County
• Glenwood and area high school history displays
• Antique storefront recreations including pharmacy, barber shop, and general store
• Farm equipment, horse drawn carriages, and early household appliances
• Native American artifacts including Clovis points dating back 10,000 to 12,000 years
• The museum event rental space and upcoming annual car show

The museum continues to grow through community support and volunteers. If you care about preserving local history in Mills County, this is your invitation to get involved.

The Mills County Historical Museum is located in Glenwood, Iowa and serves as a living archive of our shared story.

Subscribe for more local stories from Mills County and Southwest Iowa.

Today we’re in Henderson, Iowa, inside a building you don’t see repurposed every day: a 1906 Methodist church transformed into modern apartments now known as Henderson Suites.

Carleen Hall sits down with Audie Rainey and Kinsey Rainey of Ruby Realty to talk about:

✅ How this project began through longtime Henderson resident Betty Byers
✅ Why preserving small-town landmarks matters
✅ What it took to secure and restore the building (roof, steeple removal, repairs)
✅ How they kept the stained glass and original character
✅ The importance of compassion in housing and property management
✅ A full walkthrough tour of the apartments, decks, lofts, privacy layout, and more

This is more than a renovation. It’s a story about community, legacy, and building something that fits the town instead of bulldozing history.

If you love small town stories, renovation projects, local business, or Iowa history, you’re going to love this episode.

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Henderson Suites Tour | 1906 Church Turned Into Apartments (Ruby Realty)

Alt (community angle)
Saving a Henderson Landmark: From Methodist Church to Henderson Suites

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Audie & Kinsey Rainey Share the Story Behind Henderson Suites

We’re in Henderson, Iowa today, inside something seriously special.

This 1906 Methodist church has been transformed into modern apartments called Henderson Suites, and we sat down with Audie Rainey and Kinsey Rainey of Ruby Realty to hear how it happened and why they approached it with so much care.

This episode covers:
• The emotional importance of the church to local families
• How the project started through longtime Henderson resident Betty Byers
• Preserving stained glass and the building’s character
• The renovation process and the vision behind it
• A full walkthrough tour of the suites

It’s the kind of project that can become a real catalyst for growth in a small town, without losing what makes that town feel like home.

Watch the episode and take the tour with us.