The News

Kalona

Elaine Welch (left) and Kay Boyer (right) hold up the poster for their upcoming documentary titled “Alive and Well – Healing from Within.” From the Heart Productions awarded the documentary with the “Hot Film in the Making” award and pledged financial support in the future with their Roy W. Dean Grant.

Documenting (a healthy) reality

Kalona Most people know of and have seen a documentary at least once in their lifetime. …

The Burlington Street Bluegrass Band of Iowa City performs at the 38th Annual Kalona Bluegrass Festival at Windmill Ridge Campground on the afternoon of Saturday, July 20.

Iowa Organic Assn to hold Field Day at KHV July 25

Farmers, producers, consumers, and anyone interested in connecting with Iowa’s organic community and learning more about organic dairy production are encouraged to join the Iowa Organic …

Riverside

Potential for community center surfaces in Riverside meeting

RIVERSIDE Talk of a community center is getting serious again in Riverside. A major portion of the Riverside City Council session July 16, which was postponed a day due to severe storms …

A lightning strike may have been responsible for this downed tree on C Avenue, Kalona on Monday, July 15.

Strong storms, high winds sweep area

High winds were the primary threat Monday night as a line of strong storms swept across eastern Iowa. Locally, 55 mph winds were recorded at 6 p.m., pushing temperatures that reached 91 two hours …

Pay for Highland Schools subs going up by $5

RIVERSIDE Pay for substitute teachers in Highland Community Schools will be going up $5 a day in the 2024-25 school year. The Highland School Board approved an increase in daily rates for …

Wellman

Wellman plans to speed up utility billing process

WELLMAN Residents of Wellman will soon be notified of a change to the billing due date for city utilities. On Monday, the city council approved a motion which included changing the due date from …

Cat Café at Wellman Library is purr-fection

WELLMAN On Friday, July 12, Wellman Library’s new Riverboat Room was transformed into a Cat Café for teens, thanks to a little help from PAWS & More. Terri Wood, Development Manager at the …

Like the grand finale of a fireworks show (which was cancelled in Wellman to protect the soggy golf course where the sparklers are launched), buckets of candy flooded the downtown street at the end of the parade.

Transgender Advisory Committee brings issues to Johnson County Board

IOWA CITY A pair of meetings by Johnson County’s Transgender Advisory Committee is leading toward the development of a more permanent committee that would report to the Board of …

Fixmer-Oraiz rejects JoCo jail assessment: ‘It is people in cages’

IOWA CITY A needs assessment report from Shive-Hattery Architecture and Engineering of Iowa City calls for up to 140 beds to be a part of a new Johnson County jail. Johnson County …

A dirty water tower greeted an assessment team last week in Lone Tree, and they noticed.

Lone Tree approves park improvements, dog waste signage

LONE TREE The Lone Tree City Council met on Monday, July 1, for their regularly scheduled meeting. After going over a few necessary standard agenda items, the meeting began an in-depth discussion …

Features

All eyes on the future

KALONA Hillcrest Academy experimented with a sixth grade program last school year, introducing a class of students who will end up being great ambassadors for the program. That is because next …

‘A deep sense of belonging’

KALONA When Hillcrest Academy set a course to open sixth grade classes for the 2023-24 school year, they published a middle school purpose statement which reads as follows: “The middle …

At last! Baseball and softball return to Crawfordsville

CRAWFORDSVILLE There is a profound tie between America and baseball. Many small towns across the country feature some way for their residents to play the classic ball-and-stick game, …

Sixth grade from the ground up

KALONA The Kalona-area community has asked about and wondered if a middle school program could work at Hillcrest Academy for a very long time, dating back to when Hillcrest was named Iowa …

Property damaged, cows spared in May’s final storm

KALONA Iowa was shook early on Friday, May 24, as a massive storm system hit all reaches of the state. Later classified as a derecho, the eye of the storm entered the Kalona area around 6 a.m. …

Hills

Fate of Hills Elementary building still in question

HILLS The Hills City Council gathered for their regular meeting on Monday, July 22. The meeting was held at the Hills Fire Department, as the community center is currently being painted. The …

Stutsmans’ retail sales facility on Oakcrest Hill Rd, Hills.

Stutsmans celebrates 90 years

HILLS August 1934. Eldon Stutsman drew the back of his hand across his forehead for about the 20th time that afternoon. His wet hair dripped sweat into his eyes and his shirt stuck flat against …

Iowa City/Coralville

Administrator Stephanie Kronlage, in the atrium at Atrium Village in Hills.

Meet Atrium Village’s new administrator

“Coming here has been a breath of fresh air,” says Stephanie Kronlage, Atrium Village’s new administrator, who began working for the non-profit, Hills-based independent living and nursing care community in March.

Board defers Compensation Committee decision

WASHINGTON Washington County Supervisors Tuesday deferred a vote to next week on the future of the county Compensation Committee that consists of unpaid volunteers who recommend salary levels for …

Washington County

Board OKs railroad agreement, RAGBRAI road use, VA officer

WASHINGTON With unanimous approval of an agreement between the county and the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corporation, the supervisors formally approved the needed rail crossing on …

Washington County Health Dept. Open House held

WASHINGTON There were approximately 40 Washington County residents who attended the Open House July 11 at the department office in the former Federation Bank Building, Washington, for Jenifer …

Johnson County

Johnson County invests millions in affordable housing

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors recently purchased a 15-unit property for $1.7 million to be used for affordable housing units. Located at 1102 Hollywood Boulevard in Iowa City, these homes …

Sharon Center Independence Day Parade