Main Streets & Backroads

In this episode of Mills County Routes , host Carlene Hall visits a working cattle farm in Randolph, Iowa to talk with Will Longinaker about life in the cattle industry and the role agriculture plays in Southwest Iowa. As part of Ag Week , this conversation gives a real look at cattle farming, from raising calves to understanding how beef is graded and brought to market. Will shares his experience...

In this episode of Mills County Routes , host Carlene Hall sits down with Julius Schaaf , a fourth generation farmer who farms along the Mills County and Fremont County line . As part of Ag Week on Mills County Routes , Julius shares insight into Iowa agriculture, the importance of corn production, and his long involvement with the Iowa Corn Promotion Board . Corn is more than just a crop in Iowa....

In this episode of Mills County Routes , host Carlene Hall visits with the Henderson family in Mills County as part of a special Ag Week series highlighting agriculture and the families who make it possible. Chad and Julie Henderson share their journey from early farm experiences to building their own farming operation from the ground up. What started with hard work, determination, and a willingne...

In this episode of Mills County Routes , host Carlene Hall tours the beautifully restored Ford Building in Malvern, Iowa with owners Nick and Laura Sorensen . Originally built in 1917 as a Ford dealership , this historic building once housed Model T and Model A vehicles and even featured an elevator large enough to lift cars to the upper floor showroom. Today, the Sorensens have transformed the sp...

In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall visits Horses Help Southwest Iowa, a unique equine-assisted services center that is helping individuals across the region through adaptive riding, equine-assisted learning, and community programming. Located on a peaceful 20 acre property, Horses Help provides programs designed for individuals with physical, cognitive, emotional, or social chall...

A rare opportunity for entrepreneurs and restaurant owners in Southwest Iowa. In this episode of Mills County Routes , host Carlene Hall visits Emerson, Iowa to tour a fully equipped, turnkey restaurant space available for lease. Carlene sits down with Audie Gitzy and Melinda Snipes of Ruby Realty to talk about property management, the importance of community focused businesses, and the exciting o...

In this episode of Mills County Routes, host Carlene Hall sits down with Jeff Veit of Iowa Workforce Development to talk about the resources available to job seekers and employers across Southwest Iowa. Jeff explains how Iowa Workforce Development serves as a connection point between businesses looking for employees and individuals searching for work or career advancement. His role as a Business E...

In this special episode of Mills County Roots , host Carlene Hall pauses to celebrate an exciting milestone as the show reaches 36 episodes in just six weeks . Carlene takes a moment to thank the businesses, families, and community members across Mills County and Southwest Iowa who have opened their homes, businesses, and hearts to share their stories. The response from viewers has been overwhelmi...

But the storytelling doesn’t stop. Instead, we’re sharing an episode of Still Serving Iowa Veterans , the show hosted by Carlene Hall and Darlene McMartin . Yes… we know it rhymes, and we’re not mad about it. Check out the newest episode! This program focuses on resources, stories, and important information for veterans across the state of Iowa. Many of the issues discussed affect veterans right h...

In this episode of Mills County Routes, we share a Mills County town hall featuring Adam Steen speaking with local residents about policy issues affecting Iowa. During this open forum, Steen discusses several topics currently being debated at the state level, including property taxes, government spending, education policy, and support for rural communities. The discussion also includes questions f...

What if the key to living longer, healthier, and more fulfilled lives is simple involvement? In this episode of Mills County Roots, Carlene Hall sits down with Sheri Bowen , Mills County native and longtime public health leader, to talk about Volunteer Iowa and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. After retiring as Administrator of Mills County Public Health, Sheri didn’t slow down. Now she c...

Prom season is more than a dress. It’s confidence. It’s identity. It’s the moment she walks in and everyone remembers. In this episode of Mills County Routes, Carlene Hall sits down with Julie Mount, owner of Enspire Couture and Enspire Boutique in Glenwood, Iowa. Julie shares her journey from high school business teacher to boutique owner, why she chose Glenwood, and how she built a formalwear ex...

What happens when the interviewer becomes the interviewee? In this special episode of Mills County Routes, Sandi Winton steps into the host chair and interviews Carlene Hall about the story behind the show and the path that led her to launching hyper local media in Mills County. Carlene shares: • Her career in radio, sales, marketing, and media • Serving as a Veteran Service Officer and EMT • Tour...

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...

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, V...

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 inc...

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 mot...

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 wit...

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 ch...

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...

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 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...

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 t...

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 Ba...

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...