Washington County Supervisors for 2025 are, from left, Marcus Fedler, Chairman Richard Young, Vice-chairman Bob Yoder, Stan Stoops and Jack Seward, Jr.  Young and Yoder were re-elected at the first meeting of 2025 on Jan. 2.

Supervisors declare emergency in county, OK new Goldfinch subdivision

At their meeting on Tuesday, the Washington County Board of Supervisors proclaimed the county in a State of Emergency in response to the storms on September 19 and 20. The board also approved a subdivision plat and discussed using tax increment financing, or TIF, for county projects...
MP suggests $200 incentive for bus drivers who can drive for extracurricular activities!

Mid-Prairie explores $200 incentive for bus drivers for extracurricular activities

Mid-Prairie Transportation Director Teresa Hartley gave the school board an update on the district’s need for bus drivers for extracurricular activities. Hartley told the board that she is currently the only substitute driver, although there are a few others who can occasionally help. Finding bus drivers has continued to be a challenge for the district. Superintendent Brian Stone believes the district pays competitively compared with other districts in the area...
Kalona Blacksmith & Welding owner Bob Yoder stands outside his shop. He will hold an open house for his small tools on Thursday.

After more than 40 years, Kalona Blacksmith & Welding owner Bob Yoder looks to move on

On an overcast Thursday morning, I sat down with Kalona Blacksmith & Welding owner Bob Yoder at his shop. Between answering calls about his upcoming open house, he pulled up a chair and talked about his career as a welder, why he is considering selling the shop and its tools, and his work as a Washington County supervisor. All around us were the tools he has collected over the years. If you offered the right price, Yoder might sell you one...
From left to right: Iowa state Sen. Dawn Driscoll, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Mary Kate Mardesen of Sinclair Tractor and Sinclair Tractor CEO Bob Sinclair.

Iowa Secretary of Ag Mike Naig emphasizes conservation, beef production and water quality during Kalona stop

Last Friday, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig visited Sinclair Tractor in Kalona for a campaign stop with farmers and employees. Naig discussed conservation, animal health and water quality, along with the upcoming November election. During his remarks, he said manufacturing, agriculture and financial services are three major parts of Iowa’s economy..
Washington County voters will get a chance to hear from candidates at the forum on October 22nd.

Washington County voters to hear from candidates at Oct. 22 forum

With the November election approaching, the Washington Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The forum will be held on the second floor of the Washington Library in the Nicola Stoufer Room and the Washington State Bank Room...
Sports
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Golden Hawks fall to No. 9 Wilton in volleyball showdown

WILTON The clock wound back five years Tuesday night in Wilton. Defeating Mid-Prairie for the first time since 2021, the Beavers swept the Golden Hawks in three games in a River Valley …

PHOTOS: Lone Tree swept by Louisa-Muscatine volleyball

Lone Tree was swept at home by Louisa-Muscatine after transportation issues caused the match to be delayed by over an hour. The Lions went on to push Cardinal to the brink in Eldon on Saturday, …

Three Ravens take top five finishes at Central Lee

Hillcrest Academy had three runners finish in the top five at the Central Lee cross country meet last Tuesday. Marie Yoder finished third in the girls’ race with a time of 22:42, while …

Hillcrest volleyball readies for conference tournament

The Hillcrest Volleyball team is preparing for Thursday’s conference tournament, when the Ravens will travel to Winfield-Mt. Union to take on Burlington Notre Dame, Danville and the hosting Wolves. …

Missed opportunities cost HLT

The Highland-Lone Tree football team struck first Friday night, marching down the field on its opening drive to take a 6-0 lead on district foe Pekin, but HLT struggled with red zone execution on …

Huskies hit back in 3-1 weekend at Cardinal

After losing to Louisa-Muscatine on Tuesday, the Highland volleyball team entered Saturday’s Cardinal tournament hungry for revenge. They found it in form of a pair of victories over Pekin and a …

Pay attention, class; it’s volleyball time in Lone Tree

LONE TREE The moment was infectious. Really. A Lone Tree Lion knocked the ball over the net for a point last Thursday night in a volleyball match against Columbus. And they celebrated. …

Mid-Prairie's Brooks Weber passes for nearly 400 yards in win at Sigourney Keota

SIGOURNEY A school record night began early for Mid-Prairie and senior quarterback Brooks Weber in a Sept. 11 game at Sigourney Keota. Weber, who was already the school’s record holder in …
Community News
Kalona
Kiwi Ave is now closed until further notice for culvert repair.

Kiwi Avenue closed for culvert repair until further notice

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...

Riverside
Poplar Blvd in Kalona was closed after floodwater covered the road.

Heavy rain leads to flooding

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...

Wellman
Council member Nathan Klostermann to start a podcast about the community

Wellman council member to start podcast

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...

Lone Tree
Lone Tree school board interviews the top two Construction Manager candidates.

The Lone Tree school board interviews the top two Construction Manager candidates for the HVAC project

The Lone Tree school board interviewed its top two Construction Manager candidates for the HVAC project that will face voters in the form of a bond referendum this November. City Construction, based out of Iowa City, and Miron Construction, based out of Wisconsin with a regional office in Cedar Rapids, each sent teams to Wednesday night’s board meeting hoping to be selected to manage the project, should voters approve it this fall...

Hills
JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

JoCo pilot program could expand housing in Lone Tree, Hills

IOWA CITY Johnson County is rolling out a pilot program that could help expand housing in Lone Tree and Hills, among four other small cities in the county. Members of Johnson County’s …

Johnson County
JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

JoCo Supervisors approve FY27 amended budget

IOWA CITY A fall budget amendment for Fiscal Year 2027 was approved by the Johnson County Board of Supervisors following a public hearing held Sept. 17. The amendment adds more than $13 …

Obituaries
Jeff Lintz
Jeff Lintz, 68, of Kalona, passed from this life Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Parkview Manor in Wellman. A funeral mass will be held Friday, September 25, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., at Holy Trinity …
Robert Dean Boshart
Robert Dean “Bob” Boshart was born November 30, 1934, in rural Wayland, Iowa, the son of Clair and Lydia (Wyse) Boshart and graduated from Wayland High School in 1953. On October 30, 1955, he was …
Marilyn T. Kleinschmidt Mills
Marilyn T. (Kleinschmidt) Mills, 83, of Lone Tree, passed from this life on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at the Birdhouse in Iowa City.  A memorial mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, …
Susan K Denton
Susan K. Denton, 77, of Des Moines, passed away peacefully Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at her home. Susan was born February 12, 1949, in Muscatine, Iowa, to Anthony and Eulalia (Duwa) Morgan. She …
Web Extras
How to stay healthier this year: Schedule your flu shot
(BPT) - It's that time of year again: Temperatures are dropping, kids are heading back to school — and cold and flu season isn't far behind. To help you and your family stay healthier this fall …
Running a small business means making sacrifices. Are they permanent?
Rocket Lawyer reports that small business owners often sacrifice time and income for flexibility and control, but these sacrifices can become permanent if not reassessed.
9 reasons your prescription may not be filled, and what to do about it
GoodRx reports nine reasons a pharmacist may not fill a prescription, including missing information, drug shortages, and insurance issues, along with solutions to prevent delays.
Sequoia Grove Winery’s playbook for elevating game day entertaining
(BPT) - For decades, hosting a football game meant the same thing: buffalo wings, a bowl of dip and a cooler of canned beer. But as the sport has evolved over the past 30 years, your Sunday spreads …
Unwrapping Holiday Shopping: What 44 Billion Emails Reveal About When Consumers Really Buy
Unwrapping Holiday Shopping: What 44 Billion Emails Reveal About When Consumers Really Buy
(NewsUSA) - Analysis of more than 44 billion emails and 83 million text messages uncovers surprising patterns in when holiday shoppers buy, and what brings them backBlack Friday and Cyber Monday …