In this episode of Mills County Routes, we attend the first in a new monthly speaker series designed to reconnect the community through free educational events.

This month’s presentation features Eric Van Fleet, Marine Corps veteran and electrical engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, who shares the powerful history of the USS Iowa (BB-61) — known as:

• The Big Stick

• The Great Ghost

• The Battleship of Presidents

Eric walks us through:

⚓ The evolution of battleships from the Civil War’s USS Monitor
⚓ The rise of naval armor and turret warfare
⚓ The sinking of the Bismarck
⚓ Why aircraft carriers ultimately replaced battleships
⚓ The size, speed, firepower, and armor of the USS Iowa
⚓ Naval ship classifications (BB, DDG, CG, SSBN) explained

At 57,000 tons and three football fields long, the USS Iowa was one of the most powerful battleships ever built. But history shows how technology — and warfare — changed faster than anyone expected.

This speaker series takes place every second Sunday of the month, offering free educational programming and opportunities for community involvement.

If you love military history, Iowa connections, or naval engineering, this one is packed with insight.

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In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carleen Hall visits Fine Arts on 5th in Malvern, Iowa during their annual “Soup-er Bowl” community event — where guests enjoy handmade soup in handcrafted ceramic bowls by artist Danielle Wigham.

But this episode carries something deeper.

Gallery owner Emily McQueen shares the emotional news that she will be relocating this summer and passing the torch to fellow artist Susie Kutnik, who will continue the gallery’s mission of bringing creativity, education, and community connection to Mills County.

Inside this episode:

• The history and transformation of the historic brick building

• The vision behind Fine Arts on 5th as both a gallery and teaching studio

• Why community art spaces matter in rural Iowa

• The importance of creativity in a world driven by technology and AI

• Susie Kutnik’s plans to continue the gallery’s mission

• A featured look at Danielle Wigham’s handcrafted ceramic work

Fine Arts on 5th has become more than a gallery. It’s a creative hub, a gathering place, and a reminder that art connects generations.

If you value local art, small-town creativity, and community-driven spaces, this one’s for you.

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In this episode of Mills County Routes, host Carleen Hall visits Little Red Service in Malvern, Iowa to talk with owner Don “Little Red” Graalfs, a multi-generation Mills County local with more than 30 years in the automotive industry.

Don shares how he started in a Glenwood gas station, worked through multiple dealerships, learned the customer side of the business, and eventually opened Little Red Service in 2019. The conversation also captures what makes small-town service special: trust, relationships, and showing up when people need help.

This episode covers:

• Auto repair and light maintenance (oil changes, tires, basic service)

• Mobile help within a 5-mile radius (jumpstarts, flats, lockouts)

• Building a business in Malvern and staying about a week out for scheduling

• The story behind the shop’s one-of-a-kind decor

• Don’s love of fishing and hunting, including walleye trips to South Dakota and Minnesota

• Training the next generation in the shop (shoutout to Joel)

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Bad things happen. Fires, floods, sewage backups, mold, hoarding situations, bed bugs.
And when they do, people need honest, compassionate professionals they can trust.

In this episode of Mills County Routes, host Carleen Hall sits down with Cindy Schmader, owner of ServiceMaster Restoration Service by Schmader – Council Bluffs.

Cindy shares how she built a restoration business over more than 20 years, why integrity and confidentiality matter when you’re working inside people’s homes, and what it really looks like to help families recover after disaster.

This conversation covers:

• Fire, water, and mold restoration

• Sewage backup cleanup

• Hoarding and trauma-informed cleaning

• Bed bug cleaning and stigma

• Carpet, upholstery, and rug cleaning

• Why reviewing your insurance coverage yearly is critical

It’s a powerful reminder that while bad things happen, good people make the difference in how families recover.

What happens when art, nature, and community collide?You get the work of Anna Stoysich.In this episode of Mills County Roots, we visit Anna in her Malvern home studio and at the Malvern Library to explore her pottery, public art, and the creative process behind her work. From hand-built cups made for everyday rituals to a large-scale community tile mural celebrating Iowa’s wetlands, Anna’s art invites us to slow down, notice more, and reconnect.We talk about:Growing up creative and staying connected to that giftWhy she hand-builds instead of using a pottery wheelTeaching art to kids, adults, scouts, and community groupsHer years as a naturalist at Waubonsie State ParkThe story behind The Celebration, the tile mural at the Malvern LibraryHow imagination, play, and art help us care for each other and the landThis episode is a reminder that art isn’t something reserved for galleries.It’s something we’re all wired for.📍 Filmed in Malvern, Iowa🎨 Featuring Anna Stoysich, ceramic artist and educator👉 Like, subscribe, and share if you believe creativity makes communities stronger.#MillsCountyRoots #IowaArt #Ceramics #PublicArt #CommunityMural #HandBuiltPottery #MalvernIowa #ArtAndNature

Mulholland Grocery has been part of Malvern, Iowa since 1875. That’s fires, depressions, wars, changing habits, big-box competition, and one devastating blaze that shut the doors for three long years.In this episode of Mills County Roots, host Carlene Hall sits down with Tom Mulholland, the man who brought the family name back to the store, rebuilt after the fire, and kept a small-town grocery alive when it would have been easier to walk away.You’ll hear:• How the original store burned and was rebuilt brick by brick• Stories from customers who remember Santa Claus upstairs• Why Mulholland’s meat and sausage are famous across Iowa• What it’s really like to lose everything overnight• The hard, honest reality of rebuilding when insurance isn’t enough• Why this store matters to the future of MalvernThis episode is about more than groceries.It’s about commitment, community, and choosing to stay when leaving would be easier.📍 Recorded in Malvern, Iowa🎙 Part of the Mills County Roots podcast👍 Like, subscribe, and share to support local stories that matter

Welcome to the first episode of Mills County Roots, a local podcast sharing real, uplifting stories from Mills County, Iowa. As local media coverage continues to shrink, important community stories often go untold. This show exists to spotlight the people and organizations strengthening our towns and remind us why living in Mills County matters.Host Carlene Hall, local musician and seasoned radio personality, sits down with Beverly Fletcher, District Governor for the 9 Southwest District of Lions Clubs of Iowa, to talk about service, community, and why early intervention changes lives.In this episode, you’ll hear:What the Lions Club really does and why it matters locallyAn inside look at Iowa Lions KidsSight, a free vision screening program for children ages 6 months through kindergartenHow early vision screening can prevent learning challenges later in schoolThe impact of Lions Club programs for vision, hearing, glasses, and hearing aidsReal numbers showing how thousands of children across 20 counties are being servedWhy the Lions are raising funds for new KidsSight camera technologyA powerful personal story about education, family, and long-term impact📊 By the numbers (July–December):203 screening sessions3,228 children screened411 children referred for follow-up care20 counties served across Southwest IowaThis conversation highlights the heart of Mills County and the surrounding communities. Neighbors helping neighbors. Quiet work that changes lives. The kind of service that doesn’t make headlines but absolutely should.💛 Want to support Iowa Lions KidsSight or learn more?Contact Beverly Fletcher directly:📞 712-355-3529📧 [email protected]🎧 Mills County Roots shares daily conversations with business owners, nonprofit leaders, and community builders who make this place worth calling home.👉 Subscribe for more local stories.👉 Share this episode to help spread the word.👉 Support your local Lions Club.Because this is what community looks like.

In this episode of Mills County Routes, host Carleen Hall talks with Zach, a local artist and community leader, about what’s fueling the creative and cultural growth of Malvern, Iowa.From live music and walkable events to murals, public art, and artist-led spaces like The Art Church, Malvern is offering visitors and locals something special. This conversation explores how art, music, and intentional investment are helping a small town thrive.Topics include:The Malvern Saturday Concert SeriesThe Southwest Iowa Art TourPublic murals and community storytellingSupporting local artists and creativesThe Wabash Trace Nature Trail as a cultural drawWhy people from Nebraska and beyond are stopping in MalvernThis episode is a celebration of small-town creativity, collaboration, and the idea that great things happen when people invest in place and people.Subscribe for more stories that highlight the routes, relationships, and creativity shaping Mills County and Southwest Iowa.