February 06, 2025

Adair County Health System wins top Midwest Partnership Award

Honored for economic impact amid difficult challenges

By Caleb Nelson
Adair County Health System officials receive Midwest Parntership Economic Development's Entrepreneuerial Economic Impact Award, presented by Scott Tonderum (second from left), during the organization's annual dinner Thursday, Jan. 30 at the Casey Community Center. From left are Bailey McLaughlin, ACHS Marketing Director; Tonderum; Catherine Hillestad, ACHS CEO; Jackie Morris, ACHS Executive Assistant and Foundation Director and Dr. Tim Piearson, DO, ACHS Primary Care/Occupational Medicine Provider and Medical Director.

Adair County Health System officials receive Midwest Parntership Economic Development's Entrepreneuerial Economic Impact Award, presented by Scott Tonderum (second from left), during the organization's annual dinner Thursday, Jan. 30 at the Casey Community Center. From left are Bailey McLaughlin, ACHS Marketing Director; Tonderum; Catherine Hillestad, ACHS CEO; Jackie Morris, ACHS Executive Assistant and Foundation Director and Dr. Tim Piearson, DO, ACHS Primary Care/Occupational Medicine Provider and Medical Director. (Caleb Nelson)

Adair County Health System (ACHS) received the top award given at the Midwest Partnership Economic Development 2025 Annual Dinner held Thursday, Jan. 30 at the Casey Community Center.

The Entrepreneurial Economic Impact Award recognizes those who have made a positive impact on the economic growth and prosperity, or have had passion, innovation and success in entrepreneurial development in the Midwest Partnership (MWP) two-county region.

ACHS was recognized because of its passionate contribution to economic growth and prosperity in Adair and Guthrie counties. They had outstanding achievements in 2024 that included the completion of Phase 1 of a three-phase master facilities plan focusing on critical upgrades to the hospital’s infrastructure. They also played an integral role in the community’s recovery and their own recovery following the May 21, 2024 tornado.

Adair County Health System’s CEO Catherine Hillestad made a few remarks, accepting the award with other hospital staff members.

“Thank you to all of you for your support in the last year. It has been a long year,” Hillestad said. “We did it, we got through it, we’re excited to be here and we’re back open, ready to serve our community and our patients.”

While the entire ACHS facility faced damage from the tornado, the staff went to work picking up the pieces of it while also immediately care for their community in crisis in the days and weeks that followed the tornado. While their usual facility was closed and in need of great repair, costing millions of dollars, ACHS remained open through the use of Nodaway Valley Elementary School. They were able to pay employees throughout the situation.

In early December, the hospital celebrate a full resumption of services and the reopening of their facility, which happened a short time before that.

The repair and rebuild of some aspects of the building is still ongoing, such as the ambulance garage and physical therapy unit, which is still housed at The Adair County Health and Fitness Center.

Retiring board members recognized by MWP were Julie Dent-Zajicek and Mike Underwood, both from Guthrie County.

MWP’s Adair County board members include Kaye Bax, Stacie Eshelman, Renee Jensen, Kathy Rohrig, Scott Tonderum, Matt Wedemeyer and Holi Weston. Guthrie County board members include Josh Calmer, Chris Carlson, Marty Doud, Brad Hayes, Brian Johnson, Cheryl Marks and Eric Reinhart.

Officers for 2025 are Wedemeyer as president, Hayes as vice president, Jensen as secretary, Brian Johnson as treasurer and Doud as past president.

Caleb Nelson

Caleb Nelson

Caleb Nelson has served as News Editor of the Adair County Free Press and Fontanelle Observer since Oct. 2017. He and his wife Kilee live in Greenfield. In Greenfield and the greater Adair County area, he values the opportunity to tell peoples' stories, enjoys playing guitar, following all levels of sports, and being a part of his local church.