The Mount Ayr City Council took the next step in beefing up the city’s rental housing inspection practices by approving an agreement with a property inspection consulting firm. The city agreed to a contract with Iowa Inspections, LLC out of Ackworth to assist the city in “establishing and facilitating a Rental Housing Inspection Program.” An…
By Jared Strong Iowa Capital Dispatch Warm soil temperatures and favorable weather have allowed farmers across Iowa to start planting corn and soybeans last week, according to several field agronomists. Last Wednesday was the earliest planting date for corn to be eligible for federal crop insurance replanting payments, which cover farmers if their young crops…
The Mount Ayr board of education approved increased salary schedules, and a myriad of personnel changes at their regular meeting on Monday, April 15. New Salary Schedules New 24-25 salary schedules and benefits for certified staff, non certified staff and administration were approved, reflecting new minimum teacher salaries to comply with HF 2612 being signed…
Similar to how streams feed into a larger stream or river, several major funding sources have contributed to the confluence of a new pool in Mount Ayr. Between the bond referendum providing up to $2,000,000, major grant awards, and the construction of the project coming in under budget, the plan to replace the original pool…
The Mount Ayr Jazz Band finished in fourth place at the Iowa Jazz Championships on Tuesday, April 2. Ashlyn Byer received one of four Outstanding Performer Awards for all of Class A. Brittney Gilliland, vibes; Aiden Comer, trombone; and Ashlyn Byer, flute were also named Outstanding Soloists. There will be a pep rally on Thursday,…
After considering 11 projects, the Enhance Iowa Board awarded $3,025,047 in Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grants to projects in 10 communities including the City of Mount Ayr. Mount Ayr was awarded a $340,000 CAT grant, on Thursday, April 4, filling the final gap in funds needed to replace the original pool built in 1963.…
It was quite a start to the week on Monday, April 8 for the Mount Ayr boy’s track team. The Raiders collected 17 season-best performances on their way to a third-place finish at the Creston Panthers meet. The Raiders scored 108 team points for third, behind meet champion Creston with 139 and runner-up SW Valley…
The Mount Ayr girl’s track team opened a two-meet week by placing third at the Creston Panther Track Invitational on Monday, April 8. There, the Raiderettes scored 82 points at the meet, a season-high so far. At the meet, Mount Ayr athletes had 19 season best performances among the events. Atlantic won the meet with…
The Mount Ayr Raiderettes traveled to Knoxville late last week to take part in the 8-team Panther Relays April 11. There, Mount Ayr would score 39 points and place eighth in the team race. The Raiderettes won one event at the meet. Aubree Shields won the high jump with a top jump of 5-feet, zero…
PHYLLIS CREGEEN Phyllis (Smith) Cregeen, of Rockford, Illinois, formerly of Diagonal, passed away on April 12, 2024 in Rockford. Her services will be held later this week in Diagonal. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is entrusted with her arrangement.
JACQUELINE SUE DAVIS Jacqueline (Jacque) Sue Davis, 66 of Weeping Water, Nebraska, passed away on April 14, 2024. She was born on July 16, 1957, in Lee Summit Missouri to Donald and Darlene Bear. On October 18, 1975, she married Arthur William Davis in Kellerton, Iowa. Jacque worked as a para-professional at Heartland Behavioral School…
RAYMOND WAYNE VAN LAAR Raymond Wayne Van Laar, son of Fredric John & Helen Vye (Baker) Van Laar, was born March 21, 1927, at home near Grand River, Iowa. Raymond grew up on a farm and developed a love for the outdoors, nature, and living off the land. Raymond graduated from Grand River High School…
To the editor: Lou Conter, the last survivor of the USS Arizona, died Monday of heart failure at his home in California. His death is a reminder that we are losing, on a daily basis, the Americans who lived through the depression and World War II. Newman and author Tom Brokaw called these Americans “The Greatest…
To the editor: Donald Trump recently claimed that if he is not elected President in 2024, that America will cease to exist. I hold the view that if America ceases to exist, the cause would be Donald Trump’s election as President in 2024. Leota M. Lipovac Urbandale
To the editor: On behalf of Madalynn Stewart’s family, our heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of love, prayers, and generosity of so many communities at our time of loss and grief. As Madalynn’s grandmother, our family experienced compassion, friendship, and amazing support as we gathered in Mount. Ayr to celebrate Maddie’s life. The support was…
From the Desk… On April 30th, RCDC will be hosting Stephanie Neppl, Tourism Liaison from the Iowa Tourism Office/IEDA. Karen Bender and I met with Stephanie several months ago and was amazed at all the services they offer. I asked Stephanie to summarize her presentation. “Come learn how to maximize the free marketing opportunities through the Iowa…
The terms public meeting, public forum and public hearing are often used interchangeably, however there are important differences in terms of their format, purpose, and level of formality. Public Meeting A public meeting is generally defined as a meeting in which business is conducted by a public body like local government, a school district or…
One Hundred Years Ago (From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, April 23, 1924.) A case of malicious mischief which for downright cussedness is in a class by itself caused considerable excitement in the Hatfield, MO community Sunday. When Rev. F.E. Plum, pastor of the United Brethren church at Hatfield, went to the barn Sunday morning…
By Mike Avitt Here’s what the Tingley Vindicator newspaper had to say about sports in its April 2, 1903 edition: “Basketball is becoming as much of a menace to life and limb as football.” The Vindicator was not in the minority on this issue. I have read several articles in local newspapers warning against dangerous…