Main Streets & Backroads with Carlene Hall

In this special Memorial Day weekend episode of Still Serving Iowa Veterans, we visit The Wall That Heals at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Host Carlene Hall speaks with site manager Sandy Nugent about the powerful mission behind bringing this traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica to communities across America.

This moving experience honors the 58,281 men and women whose names are etched on the wall while also recognizing the sacrifices made by Vietnam veterans and their families. Visitors can reflect, pay tribute, create name etchings, and experience an important piece of American history right here in southwest Iowa.

If you’re looking for a meaningful way to honor veterans this Memorial Day weekend, we encourage you to come visit The Wall That Heals while it is here through the weekend.

📍 Lewis Central High School – Council Bluffs, Iowa
🇺🇸 Open to the public throughout Memorial Day weekend
🎙 Hosted by: Carlene Hall
🌾 Featured on: Mills County Routes & Still Serving Iowa Veterans

#MemorialDay #VietnamVeterans #TheWallThatHeals #StillServingIowaVeterans #MillsCountyRoutes #CouncilBluffs #Veterans #HonorOurVeterans #VietnamWar #IowaEvents

In this heartfelt episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall sits down with Malvern Mayor Donna Miller for a powerful conversation about community, hardship, faith, and helping neighbors in times of need. Donna shares personal stories about raising children during difficult financial times, the importance of local food pantries, and why nobody should feel ashamed to ask for help.

The conversation also dives into small-town leadership, supporting one another through life’s unexpected struggles, and the incredible spirit of the Malvern community. Plus, Donna shares a hilarious story from her visit to Offutt Air Force Base that perfectly captures her down-to-earth personality.

🎙 Hosted by: Carlene Hall
📍 Malvern, Iowa
🌾 Series: Mills County Routes

#MillsCountyRoutes #DonnaMiller #MalvernIowa #CommunitySupport #FoodPantry #SmallTownAmerica #FaithAndCommunity #RuralIowa #LocalLeadership #MillsCounty

In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall sits down with Mills County Supervisor candidate Sandi Winton for an in-depth conversation about leadership, budgeting, public safety, economic growth, property taxes, transparency, EMS services, and the future of Mills County.Sandi shares stories from growing up in rural Missouri, working alongside farming communities, serving in leadership roles, helping coordinate housing efforts during the 2019 flood disaster, and her experience with county boards, budgeting, marketing, emergency response training, and community development.The conversation also dives into:• Property taxes and county affordability• EMS and fire service challenges in rural communities• Economic development opportunities in Mills County• Transparency in county government• Community involvement and voter turnout• Budget planning and leadership philosophy• Rural infrastructure and growth• The importance of preserving small-town quality of lifeIf you care about the future of Mills County, local leadership, and the direction of the community, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.🎙 Hosted by: Carlene Hall📍 Mills County, Iowa🌾 Series: Mills County Routes#MillsCounty #LocalGovernment #SandiWinton #CountySupervisor #IowaPolitics #MillsCountyRoutes #CommunityLeadership #RuralAmerica #PropertyTaxes #EMS #EconomicDevelopment

In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall sits down with Jamie Brinkman of Blind Ambitions at Vine Street Café in Glenwood, Iowa. Jamie shares her journey from corporate America into entrepreneurship and explains how custom window treatments can completely transform the feel of a home without a full remodel.

From roller shades and motorized blinds to room-darkening options, energy efficiency, and modern design trends, this conversation explores how personalized window coverings improve comfort, privacy, and style.

Whether you’re building a new home, updating an Airbnb, remodeling a room, or simply wanting a fresh look, Jamie explains the process and products available through Blind Ambitions.

📍 Featured Business: Blind Ambitions
📞 515-461-7200

Watch more local stories and community features at:
🌐 www.millscountyroutes.com

#MillsCountyRoutes #BlindAmbitions #JamieBrinkman #CustomBlinds #WindowTreatments #SouthwestIowa #HomeDesign #Entrepreneurship #GlenwoodIowa

In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall sits down with cybersecurity expert Ryan Hague of Snowy Owl Security to break down one of the latest major cyberattacks and what it means for everyday people, businesses, students, and families.

From the massive Canvas data breach to identity theft risks, cloud storage vulnerabilities, home network security, and protecting personal data, Ryan explains cybersecurity in plain English and shares practical ways people can better protect themselves in today’s digital world.

The conversation also covers the closing of the Glenwood Makerspace, online safety for small businesses, backup systems, cloud storage risks, and why cybersecurity is no longer optional.

📍 Featured Guest: Ryan Hague
🦉 Snowy Owl Security
🌐 www.snowyowlsecurity.com

Watch more local stories and conversations at:
🌐 www.millscountyroutes.com
#CyberSecurity #CanvasHack #IdentityTheft #SnowyOwlSecurity #MillsCountyRoutes #RyanHague #DataBreach #OnlineSafety #IowaBusiness #Technology

In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall visits Woody and Barb Jones to explore a life built on craftsmanship, creativity, and community. From custom fire pits and massive steel sculptures to handcrafted furniture and artistic home design, Woody shares how decades of welding and construction evolved into a unique form of metal artistry.You’ll also hear the story behind the iconic metal trees displayed throughout Malvern, Iowa, and see one of Woody’s latest custom fire pit creations headed to Cody, Wyoming.This episode is a powerful reminder that creativity, hard work, and legacy still matter in small-town America.🌲 Featured in this episode:• Woody Jones custom fire pits and sculptures• The famous Malvern metal trees• Handmade furniture and home craftsmanship• Life, family, and creativity in Mills CountyWatch more local stories and community features at:www.millscountyroutes.com#MillsCountyRoutes #MetalArt #CustomFirePits #IowaArtist #MalvernIowa #SmallTownAmerica #WeldingArt #SteelSculpture

What makes a community feel like home? Sometimes it’s a simple cup of coffee, a puzzle table, a game of Scrabble, or a friendly conversation.

In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall visits the Bloom Center in Glenwood, Iowa, to sit down with Bonnie Millsap and explore how this welcoming community space brings people together across generations. From yoga and card games to community events, volunteer opportunities, and rental space for celebrations, the Bloom Center continues to serve as a social hub for Mills County.

You’ll also hear the story behind the center, how meals and services have changed over the years, and why places like this matter now more than ever.

Whether you’re looking for connection, community involvement, or simply a place where the coffee is always on, this episode shines a light on one of Glenwood’s hidden gems.

Learn more about Mills County Routes:
www.millscountyroutes.com

#MillsCountyRoutes #GlenwoodIowa #BloomCenter #SmallTownIowa #CommunityConnection #SeniorCenter #IowaLife #CarleneHall

In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall visits the Mills County Storehouse and Food Pantry in Glenwood, Iowa, where volunteers are making a real difference for families across Mills County. Peggy Sarno shares how donated items help fund the food pantry, the growing need for support, and the incredible community spirit behind the mission.

From clothing and household items to fresh food and essentials, this organization continues to serve hundreds of local families through kindness, generosity, and hard work.

📍 Mills County Storehouse
405 Nuckles Street
Glenwood, Iowa

Learn more about the stories and businesses shaping southwest Iowa at:
🌐 www.millscountyroutes.com
🌐 www.localstreammedia.com

#MillsCountyRoutes #GlenwoodIowa #FoodPantry #CommunitySupport #IowaNonprofits #Volunteer #PeopleHelpingPeople #MillsCounty

What keeps a small-town grocery store alive for more than 150 years?

In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall visits Mulholland Grocery in Malvern, Iowa, to talk with longtime owner and award-winning meat cutter Tom Mulholland about fresh food, community support, and preserving small-town tradition in a changing world.

From handcrafted meats and homemade deli favorites to the rebuilding of the historic store after the 2021 fire, this episode highlights why local businesses still matter.

You’ll also get a full tour of the store, including the deli, fresh-cut meats, produce, homemade salads, and local favorites that keep customers coming back from across southwest Iowa.

Visit:⁠www.millscountyroutes.com⁠⁠www.localstreammedia.com⁠

#MillsCountyRoutes #MulhollandGrocery #SmallTownIowa #LocalBusiness #MalvernIowa #IowaFood #SmallBusiness #CommunityStrong

What keeps a small-town grocery store alive for more than 150 years?

In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall visits Mulholland Grocery in Malvern, Iowa, to talk with longtime owner and award-winning meat cutter Tom Mulholland about fresh food, community support, and preserving small-town tradition in a changing world.

From handcrafted meats and homemade deli favorites to the rebuilding of the historic store after the 2021 fire, this episode highlights why local businesses still matter.

You’ll also get a full tour of the store, including the deli, fresh-cut meats, produce, homemade salads, and local favorites that keep customers coming back from across southwest Iowa.

Visit:
www.millscountyroutes.com
www.localstreammedia.com

#MillsCountyRoutes #MulhollandGrocery #SmallTownIowa #LocalBusiness #MalvernIowa #IowaFood #SmallBusiness #CommunityStrong