Local News
Kalona

Hills Bank: a true community partner

HILLS Hills Bank is one of the largest banks in Iowa, something you might never guess given it is headquartered in Hills, a small town of fewer than 800 residents. Founded in 1904 by 19 local …

Kalona Home Show prepared to dazzle March 22-23

KALONA Kalona has developed a reputation for quality home products and services, and on Friday and Saturday, March 22-23, many of them will be represented under one roof for the Kalona Home Show. …

Ramsey Creek Woodworks: quality design and craftsmanship for your next remodeling project

KALONA When folks drive by Ramsey Creek Woodworks on Hwy 1 just north of Kalona, they don’t always know what exactly the business does. Is it a furniture store or something? “We mainly do …

Pleasantview resident reflects on life as a missionary – and subject of national attention

KALONA Elizabeth “Betty” Barnett enjoys life at Pleasantview, surrounded by fellow residents who have become her friends in the last few years since moving here. Many of them are Mennonites, a …
Riverside

Community Center emerges in Riverside City Council talk

RIVERSIDE Ryan Rogerson, the newest member of the Riverside City Council, says it’s time to move with a proposed community center. “They want action,” Rogerson said of …

Riverside boat ramp project shifts into high gear

RIVERSIDE Spring has come early to Iowa this year, and one outdoor project is taking advantage of the good weather to cruise forward. The Riverside boat ramp is undergoing a major facelift and …

Highland Schools set property tax public hearing for March 25

RIVERSIDE A public hearing for the Highland Community Schools property tax levy covering Fiscal Year 2025 will be held March 25. The proposed tax rate is $13 per $1,000 of property, which …

Riverside's property tax rate to drop in FY25

RIVERSIDE The property tax rate in Riverside will drop more than 10 cents for the next fiscal year. The Riverside City Council, during its regularly scheduled session Monday, set a public …
Wellman

Wellman council ok’s property purchase

WELLMAN The City of Wellman has been contemplating the purchase of the lot located at 801 6th Street, a commercially zoned vacant lot with Highway 22 frontage that contains an LED sign. On Monday …

That Jammin’ Jeep!

WELLMAN/KALONA Odds are good that you’ve seen it around, that gorgeous magenta-pink Jeep cruising across Highway 22 or up Highway 1. You might be wondering who owns it, or perhaps where you can …

Water system continues to occupy Wellman council

WELLMAN How to best update Wellman’s aging water system continues to be a concern for the City of Wellman, and that topic consumed the majority of the city council’s time on Monday …

Ordinance changes, speed signs in Wellman’s future

WELLMAN The City of Wellman looks to update three ordinances on the books pertaining to beekeeping, utility deposits, and to comply with new Iowa laws. The city council set public hearings for all …
Lone Tree

Lone Tree poet inspired by walking, fasting

LONE TREE A crisp walk. An inward talk. File an idea. Scribble it down. Repeat. This has been Nancy Braun’s dedicated walking/writing hybrid system for over 20 …

Lone Tree approves Fun Fly camping

LONE TREE Representatives of the Lone Tree Flyers made an appearance before the Lone Tree City Council on March 4. The Flyers wanted permission for camping to take place during their event in …

Johnson County Board Exec Director: ‘We are understaffed’

IOWA CITY Among the additional requested positions for Fiscal Year 2025 rejected by the Johnson County Board of Supervisors were two in its own department. Guillermo Morales, the …

Johnson County Supervisors settle on pay raise of 3.75%

IOWA CITY Johnson County Supervisors agreed on a pay increase of 3.75% at its budget session Feb. 21. Supervisors Chair Rod Sullivan had proposed the 3.75% rate at two budget voting …
Washington County
Board approves law enforcement contracts for FY24-25
WASHINGTON Major business for the Washington County supervisors Tuesday was the individual approving of Law Enforcement services contracts between the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and …
Auto insurance: strategies for today’s market
KALONA Auto insurance should be a straightforward game: drive safely, pay low premiums. But things have gotten complicated lately. “Right now, we’re entering a hard market. Basically, what …
County, Wellman Telephone seek tower agreement
WASHINGTON An agreement between Washington County and the Wellman Cooperative Telephone Company (WCTC) could be reached this month, meaning rebuilding the tower destroyed March 31, 2023, in a …
Board OKS tower buy, a 15-year lease, up to $2.4 M in GO bonds
WASHINGTON In an “agreeable” meeting Tuesday, Washington County Supervisors approved a personal property (communications tower) agreement with the Wellman Cooperative Telephone Company (WCTC) …
Supervisors consider budget, plans for Orchard Hill offices
WASHINGTON In their March 5 meeting, the Washington County Supervisors received a prebid budget for remodeling buildups 2 and 3 at Orchard Hill for county administrative offices. According to …
Johnson County
Johnson County supervisors speak out against closing of Hills Elementary
IOWA CITY Johnson County Supervisor V Fixmer-Oraiz urged the Iowa City Community School District to delay its action this week on the fate of Hills Elementary School. “I do hope and …
JoCo Supervisors OK expansion at Farmers Hen House
IOWA CITY Farmers Hen House, which produces eggs for food stores across southeast Iowa, is planning an expansion of its operations in Frytown. The Johnson County Board of Supervisors …
Armed school staff, loss of obstetric unit top concerns at legislative briefing
WASHINGTON State Representative Heather Hora and State Senator Dawn Driscoll ended their legislative briefing with Washington County residents on Friday, March 8, by discussing what …