The News

Kalona

Southtown water plant passes inspection ‘with flying colors’

KALONA If Southtown residents have been eyeing their drinking water with skepticism since receiving a letter from the City of Kalona in late April, they can rest easy. The issues that led to …

Three local racers in SBB kit pedal down Red Oak Avenue, just northwest of Riverside, on their way to victory at the Kalona Horseshoe 100 km gravel race on Saturday, May 10. Mason Wilson, left, a Hillcrest Academy junior, finished second overall and won his division; Nate Kullbom, right, finished third overall. Conrad Shannon rides between them; this is the race’s second year.

Going for Seconds

First place essay contest winner Adrian Sanchez Reyes with his family.

Kalona Optimist Essay Contest Winners

The Optimists of Kalona announced the winners of the Optimist International Club 2024-2025 Essay Contest on May 1. First place winner Adrian Sanchez Reyes received a $500 scholarship; second place …

Riverside

City Council approves site plan for RV campground in Riverside

RIVERSIDE A campground for recreational vehicles is likely coming soon to Commercial Drive in Riverside. The Riverside City Council, during its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, approved …

Riverside City Council approves FY26 budget of $5.1M

RIVERSIDE The Riverside City Council approved its Fiscal Year 2026 budget Monday night which calls for $3.6 million in expenditures in the year beginning July 1, and $5.1 million all …

Highland Schools approve 2025-26 calendar, and 4-day school week

RIVERSIDE A second year of four-day school weeks was approved by the Highland School Board at its regularly scheduled meeting April 14. The 2025-26 Highland Community Schools calendar …

Wellman

Fences make good neighbors? Wellman council considers

WELLMAN There’s a lot of good things happening in Wellman. Replacement of the 9th Avenue bridge is on schedule and the City is optimistic it may be completed by the end of June. Rural water will …

More tables, benches to flank splash pad in Wellman

WELLMAN Wellman’s new splash pad was a hit with the community when it was turned on at the end of last summer, and the city is eager to enhance the experience of that asset. At the city …

Wellman approves concept for vets memorial, honors public safety telecommunicators

WELLMAN The Wellman City Council held a public hearing Monday night for the FY26 proposed property tax levy, which no members of the public attended. The regular business meeting followed, at …

Lone Tree

Dvorsky, Mueller, McInerney named to JoCo redistricting commission

IOWA CITY Sue Dvorsky of Coralville, a former chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, and Nathan Mueller, a Solon resident who is Assistant Director of the Johnson County Department of Planning, …

Johnson County Jail moving toward increase of detention officers

IOWA CITY The Johnson County Jail is beginning a transition that will turn control center operators into detention officers. “We’re kind of a dinosaur,” Sheriff Brad …

Lone Tree Community Foundation awarded Paint Iowa Beautiful grant

Diamond Vogel and Keep Iowa Beautiful are proud to announce the Lone Tree Community Foundation is among the recipients of the 2025 Paint Iowa Beautiful grants. This long-standing partnership supports …

Features

Progress 2025: Wellman

It might not be flashy, but sometimes progress means replacing 100-year-old infrastructure and reversing course on decades of apathy. City administrator Kelly Litwiller and mayor Ryan Miller talked …

Progress 2025: Riverside

The Star Trek city is ready for warp speed with community center, pickleball and downtown projects. Paul D. Bowker gets the lowdown from mayor Allen Schneider and city administrator Cole …

Progress 2025: Kalona

At the end of 2024, Cheryl Allen sat down with city administrator Ryan Schlabaugh and asked him about progress in Kalona. They discussed new housing, commercial development and the new Comprehensive …

Progress 2025: Lone Tree

Gradual growth, pleasant parks, and family festivals are what make Lone Tree an attractive community, mayor Josh Spilman tells Emily Marner. As he enters his final year in office, he takes time to …

Band Night

The Mid-Prairie band took the field for a terrific halftime performance on Senior Night, October 11.

Hills

Hills Fire serves up brilliant brekkie

Ask anyone about the pancake breakfast served the Hills Fire Department each spring, and they’ll gush over the sides of sausage, biscuits and gravy, and potatoes, never mind the generously frosted …

MidAmerican Energy pipeline segment to begin near Hills

IOWA CITY Snyder & Associates, a civil engineering firm with an office in Cedar Rapids, was selected to conduct inspection services of a natural gas pipeline extension near Hills that is in …

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.

Evans sisters, Hostetler help send Golden Hawks to league championship

TIPTON Jeorgia Evans was just a little bit too quick in last week’s River Valley Conference track championships. The Mid-Prairie freshman jumped the gun in the 100-meter race and was …

Washington County

WaCo board ups general assistance aid; OKs building contracts

WASHINGTON Following an April 29 meeting where they approved an increase in aid to veterans that raised the threshold from 125 percent of the federal poverty level to 200 percent, Washington …

Community Foundation of Washington County distributes funds to nonprofits

On Monday, April 28th, the Community Foundation of Washington County (CFWC) distributed over $46,145 in funds to 23 Washington County non-profits at a reception held at the Washington Country Club. …

Johnson County

JoCo Supervisors to vote on $166.4M budget in Thursday session

IOWA CITY The Johnson County Board of Supervisors will vote Thursday on adopting its Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which includes $166.45 million in expenditures. A public hearing was held April …

JoCo Public Health Director: health job losses will be ‘catastrophic’

IOWA CITY Danielle Pettit-Majewski was in tears. She attended the Johnson County Board of Supervisors’ formal session April 3 because the Board was celebrating Public Health Week with …