Riverside With the election coming up soon, many voters will head to the polls on Nov. 3. Two seats on the Washington County Board of Supervisors are up for election: District 3 and District 5. District 3 covers Riverside, Ainsworth, Brighton, Crawfordsville and part of Coppock. The race includes incumbent Republican Marcus Fedler and Democratic challenger JoAnn Whitmore... more

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... more

Wellman Highway 22 will remain open during roadwork in Wellman, although drivers should expect intermittent lane closures and flaggers directing traffic. According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, work will begin on Monday, Oct. 19, and is expected to finish on Thursday, Nov. 19. .. more

Wellman In just a few weeks, voters will flock to the polls. Those who live within the Mid-Prairie Community School District, including Kalona, Wellman, West Chester and portions of Washington, Iowa and Johnson counties, will have a chance to vote on the district’s proposed $19 million bond. The district has been preparing for the bond for quite some time, beginning the planning process in 2023. The proposed project includes a new events entrance, additional classrooms for fine arts and special education, a 500-seat auditorium and more. more

Washington During the Washington County Board of Supervisors session on Tuesday, October 13, the board accepted a bid for $273,872.45 for the culvert replacement on Kiwi Avenue, below the estimated cost of $330,000. The board also approved a public highway easement for Kiwi Avenue in Cedar Township and tabled action on the second easement for Kiwi Avenue at the county engineer`s request... more

Wellman In September, the National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic took place at the Kalona Golf Course, Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside, Pleasant Valley Golf Course and Elks Ridge Golf Course in Iowa City. During Hawk Highlights, the Mid-Prairie school board heard from head girls golf coach Tracy McArtor, who helped with the clinic and shared stories about his experience... more

A fire can happen when you are not expecting one, which is why Wellman fire chief Jeremy Peck urges families to make a plan before they need it. Peck has been with the department for 28 years and has served as fire chief for almost 20 years. Peck said preparation includes talking about what causes fires, how to prevent them and what to do if one starts. “Just the lack of preparation is the major issue. Not discussing what causes fires, the wind involved with fires, how to handle a grease fire. It’s just a lack of preparation, not being ready for it.”.. more

A landlord in Wellman, Spencer Miller, who owns 313½ on 9th Ave., was proposing to split his properties. Miller owns three rental homes on one parcel and wants to sell them individually. However, city administrator Kelly Litwiller said the property does not meet subdivision requirements because it is accessed from an alley rather than having frontage on a public street... more

Heavy rains last week caused flooding throughout the area, impacting communities including Kalona, Riverside, Wellman, Lone Tree, Washington and surrounding areas. Kalona and many of its residents experienced flooding, with most of it caused by rainwater. According to Kalona City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh, about 26 residents reported flooding in their homes. Although most Kalona residents who experienced flooding dealt with rainwater, some reported sewage issues. One resident reported having about 18 inches of water in their basement... more

Chances are you have listened to a podcast a time or two. There are podcasts on all kinds of topics, each with its own focus and audience. Soon, there will be one centered on Wellman. Wellman council member Nathan Klostermann is preparing to launch a podcast, which he mentioned at a recent city council meeting. He also announced it on social media and shared the logo... more

Road construction has closed a stretch of Kiwi Avenue near Kalona until further notice. Kiwi Avenue southwest of Kalona, just west of Highway 1, closed on Wednesday, Sept. 23, for repairs to a culvert in the road... more

During a brief council meeting, council member Nathan Klostermann told the group that he is starting a podcast about Wellman. The Advancing Wellman Podcast will feature conversations with local business owners, community leaders and other council members. Klostermann said he wants to talk with guests about their life stories, what led them to where they are today and their work in the community. He hopes the podcast will help residents get to know the people and businesses shaping Wellman, share information about what is happening in town and perhaps generate new ideas... more

Over the weekend, heavy rain caused flooding in many areas, including Kalona, Wellman, Washington and Lone Tree. According to reports, Kalona and surrounding communities such as Wellman, Riverside and Washington received about 2 to 5 inches of rain. Other parts of the county were affected as well. The National Weather Service reported approximately 4.91 inches of rain in Ainsworth... more

You have probably heard of trapshooting, a sport offered in many communities across Iowa. One of the area teams is the Golden Hawks Shooting Club. The club began in 2021 and has competed for about five years. Coach Clint Whetstine recently explained more about the team and how the sport works. Although the participants attend Mid-Prairie and compete under the Golden Hawks name, the club is not officially associated with or sponsored by the school district. Instead, it operates as an independent team... more

Washington   With the Nov. 3 general election approaching, voters will soon have the option to cast their ballots early. In-person absentee voting begins Oct. 14. County auditors began … more

Cleanliness is next to godliness, they say, and you’re all about clean. Your home is neat and tidy, and so are the garbage bags you bring out to the street at the appointed time. You’ve sorted … more

If you have a passion for Wellman, are willing to lend a helping hand and would like to organize annual events such as the July 4 celebration, Trunk or Treat and Light the Night, the Wellman Community Club may be for you... more

Wellman man Larry Smith has pleaded guilty to multiple charges and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Smith, 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of a controlled substance violation, both Class C felonies; one count of dominion or control of a firearm by a felon, a Class D felony; and three counts of possession of a controlled substance, all aggravated misdemeanors. The remaining charges were dismissed... more

If you own a house or mobile home, you may have already paid the first installment of your real estate or mobile home taxes. The taxes became due Tuesday, September 1, and must be paid by Wednesday, September 30, to avoid a penalty... more

Labor Day pushed the Wellman City Council’s regular Monday meeting to Tuesday, September 8. The council approved an application for a Washington County Riverboat Foundation grant to renovate the city’s tennis courts and add two pickleball courts. City Administrator Kelly Litwiller said the city selected the first proposed option, which would retain the existing tennis court lines while adding striping for pickleball. “The first option would be to leave the lines in place and add striping, which is what I included in the grant application,” Litwiller said... more