Mid-Prairie school board discusses recent survey results.

Mid-Prairie school board hears encouraging results from employee survey

Wellman - The Mid-Prairie school board heard from Ben Curtis of Eocene Environmental Group about a recent survey of district employees. Curtis told the board the results “were very encouraging,” with 206 of about 250 employees responding, a participation rate of about 82%. The survey ran from August 23 to October 3. Employees gave an average score of 8.35 out of 10 when asked whether they would recommend the district as a place to work, with about 56% rating it a 9 or 10. Employees were also asked about their motivation and its primary source. About 88% reported being highly motivated or motivated most of the time, with meaningful work being the leading source...

Mid-Prairie School Bond Vote About More than District Improvements

WELLMAN - In addition to candidates for various local, state, and national offices, voters in the Mid-Prairie School District will see a question on their ballot next week that will allow the district to fund continued facility improvements. School facilities are integrally tied to a community’s economic vitality, say members of the district’s Facility Advisory Committee who are also district residents, parents, and business owners.
Sports
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Golden Hawks runners capture 3-peat River Valley title

IOWA CITY One after another, the girls in golden Golden Hawk jerseys blended together brilliantly in the reflection of a fall afternoon sun at the Kickers Complex. Mid-Prairie senior Kendal …

Golden Hawks strategy: take the ball

WELLMAN Mid-Prairie is blowing up a time-tested football strategy. While many teams, including just about everybody in the National Football League, defer an offensive possession to the …

Raiders clinch playoff berth with win over Knoxville

After missing the postseason a year ago, the Williamsburg football team clinched a playoff appearance with a 48-17 win over Knoxville on Friday. The Raiders, now on a 3-game win streak after …

Hillcrest surges at SEISC meet

Hosting the meet on their home course, Hillcrest Academy had a strong performance at the Southeast Iowa Superconference meet on Tuesday, as Marie Yoder finished 6th to lead all area girls while Troy …

Lions fall short in search for win in 2026

Lone Tree volleyball hosted Highland for Senior Night on Tuesday, when the Huskies closed their regular season with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-17) sweep of the Lions. Maiya Singbeil’s 7 kills led …

HLV ends Highland’s season with sweep

Highland lost to HLV-TC in a 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-12) sweep that ended the Huskies’ season on Monday night. “I appreciated how the whole team competed and worked together,” head coach …

Triple option stymies Highland-Lone Tree football in Senior Night loss

The Highland-Lone Tree football team’s season came to an end Friday night, as HLT took a 31-16 Senior Night loss to Midland. The Eagles’ triple option attack gave HLT fits throughout the …

Golden Hawks to host Fairfield in volleyball tourney opener

WELLMAN The road to a third consecutive Iowa 3A regional championship and state tournament berth begins Tuesday on Mid-Prairie’s home court. The road will get rocky after that. The …
Community News
Kalona
Mennonite Museum sponsering A Bowl of Soup and a John Deere Tractor, featuring author Larry D. Miller at Kalona Mennoite Church in Kalona.

Kalona Mennonite Church to welcome Larry D. Miller for A Bowl of Soup and a John Deere Tractor

Kalona - On November 2, Kalona Mennonite Church will host the event A Bowl of Soup and a John Deere Tractor, featuring author Larry D. Miller and his book, Larry’s Ride, From Farm to Finance: A Country Boy’s Journey. Miller’s presentation will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a book signing.

Riverside
RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCIL

Riverside finalizing plans on bond financing for wellness center

RIVERSIDE Now that construction is about to begin on a wellness recreation center in Riverside, the financial part of the project is beginning to come into focus as well. The City Council, …

Wellman
The Wellman council rejects landlord’s split proposal during their recent meeting.

Wellman council rejects landlord’s split proposal; water main project nearly complete

Wellman The Wellman city council denied Spencer Miller’s request to split his property after reviewing it for a second consecutive meeting. Miller owns three homes on 313½ Avenue and wanted to sell them individually. The council previously tabled the proposal to seek input from the Planning and Zoning Commission and city attorney...

Lone Tree
JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Early voting produces big numbers in Johnson County

IOWA CITY When early voting for this fall’s mid-term elections began Oct. 14, more than 1,600 showed up in one day to vote at Johnson County’s campus in Iowa City. “We were very …

Hills
Hills voters will decide whether to approve a $5.1 million bond for a proposed new fire station/city hall.

Hills voters to vote on $5.1 million bond for new fire station/city hall

Hills The city of Hills is looking to build a new fire station and provide more space for its city offices. The fire station is more than 50 years old, and the city offices are around the same age. During an information session Wednesday, Oct. 14, city officials pointed out that Hills has not built a public office building in more than 50 years. Officials emphasized the need for new facilities as the existing buildings age and become more expensive to repair. Discussions about addressing those needs began well before this year...

Johnson County
ELECTIONS 2026
Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel speaks during a October 6 public forum at Hy-Vee Center at Centennial Park in North Liberty. He hopes for a passage of a $94.5 million bond referendum for a new county jail and sheriff's office in the November 3 elections.

Johnson County voters to consider $94.5M bond for new jail

IOWA CITY As the November election draws closer, 10 Johnson County supervisors and another three county elected officials are stumping for votes. Sheriff Brad Kunkel is instead stumping for …

Obituaries
Marvin L Hotz
Marvin L. Hotz, 87, of Iowa City, passed away Sunday, October 18, 2026, at the Lone Tree Health Care Center. Visitation will be held Friday, October 23, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. -11:30 a.m. at the Lone …
James "Jim" Spielbauer
James “Jim” Spielbauer, 84, of Iowa City, formerly of Riverside, passed away October 13, 2026. James Leonard Spielbauer was born on July 15, 1942, in Guttenberg, Iowa, to George and Frances …
Larry Grout
Larry James Grout was born December 16, 1943, the son of Clair (Buck) and Vyrle (Moomey) Grout. He passed away October 7, 2026 at Hallmark Care Center, Mount Vernon, at the age of 82. Larry graduated …
Linda Wiles
Linda Wiles was born July 17, 1943, in Washington, Iowa, the daughter of John and Marguerite (Kron) Knotek.  She worked at Reif’s Family Center for many years. On October 28, 1967, Linda was …
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Closets by Design reports on feng shui's potential to reduce stress by organizing spaces for energy flow, aligning with research on clutter and well-being.