It's a Boy! First Baby of 2024

 CRESCO - It took only three days into the new year for the first baby of 2024 to be born in Howard County!

Callen Ray Meirick, son of Greg and Nicole Meirick of Cresco, was born at 2:24 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 3, at Regional Health Services of Howard County. Callen weighed seven pounds, 10 ounces and was 21 inches in length at the time of his birth. He joins a big brother, Coleson, 21 months old.

Grandparents include: Dennis and Paula Meirick of Protivin and Jeff and Tracy Larsen of Grinnell. Great-grandparents include: Bill and Ann Meirick of Protivin, Marlene Knoll of Grinnell and Thelma Hubbard of Winterset.

Nicole’s original due date was Jan. 8 but she was induced early. 

“We came into the hospital at 6 a.m. on Jan. 2 and had a 21 1/2 hour wait,” Greg noted. 

“It was a long wait but the delivery went great,” Nicole said. “We have no complaints. We knew before he was born that he was going to be a boy.”

Callen is grandchild number five on Greg’s side of the family and grandchild number six on Nicole’s side.

“Having grandchildren never gets old,” Grandpa Dennis Meirick said with a big smile.

“We’ve lived in Cresco for about one-and-one-half years and we’re very pleased with the staff and facilities (at Regional Health Services of Howard County),” Greg said. “We also appreciate all the gift certificates (from the business sponsors).”

Greg, who is a 2005 Turkey Valley graduate, is originally from Protivin. Nicole is a native of Grinnell.

Sponsors of the First Baby of 2024 Contest included: Regional Health Services of Howard County, Plantpeddler, CIA Insurance, O’Henry’s Stitches & Prints, Holstrom’s Gift & Jewelry, CUSB Bank, Sue-Z-Q’s, Fareway, Dollar Fresh and Times Plain Dealer.