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

A Kalona family is working to help people affected by the recent flooding in Nepal, which began on August 26. Westside Petro owner Dawa Sherpa, who is originally from Nepal, hopes to raise awareness of the disaster and encourage community members to support the families affected by it... more

Wellman man Willie Garrett was recently sentenced to six years in prison on charges of felony domestic abuse and possession of a controlled substance. Garrett, 48, pleaded guilty on July 10 and was sentenced during an August 28 court appearance... more

The Kalona Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its annual banquet for Tuesday, October 20, at the Wellman Parkside Banquet Hall. The chamber ultimately chose the Wellman YMCA Banquet Hall because the cost falls in the middle of what it has paid for other banquet venues in the past. more

Wellman Country music star and icon Dolly Parton recently passed away. Although she was best known for her singing and songwriting, she was also known for helping young children develop a love … more

Last week, the City of Wellman dealt with two more water main hits, once again affecting Sixth and Seventh avenues. The first water main hit occurred on Sixth Avenue on Wednesday, August. 19. The city first announced the issue on its Facebook page at 5 p.m. Residents along 6th Ave were without running water for a short period of time... more

For the second straight meeting, the Wellman City Council held another brief session, this time lasting about 20 minutes compared to 15 minutes at its previous meeting... more

Last week, heavy rain moved through Washington County, bringing several inches of rainfall and flooding to parts of the area. At one point, much of the county was under a flood watch that remained in effect until Sunday morning... more

The city of Wellman recently experienced a boil order that took effect last Friday. During that time, residents in Wellman were advised to boil their water for at least one minute before using it... more