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Holiday events planned in area

November 29, 2023

The annual “Christmas in the Ayr” celebration sponsored by the Mount Ayr Chamber of Commerce is planned for this weekend. Join area businesses and organizations for an evening of fun on Saturday, December 2. Lighted Parade A lighted Christmas parade will start the evening festivities at 5:30 p.m. The Mount Ayr Public Library is inviting…

MACS performance ratings identify proficiency gaps

November 29, 2023

Last month the Iowa Department of Education released the results of the online school accountability reporting system called the Iowa School Performance Profiles. The website shows updated scores and ratings for all public schools based on how they performed on a set of accountability measures in the 2022-23 school year. Overall, the Mount Ayr Elementary School received…

National Honor Society welcomes ten MACHS students

November 29, 2023

The Parnassus Chapter of the National Honor Society welcomed ten new students during an induction ceremony held at Mount Ayr Community High School on November 22, 2023. New inductees included Dylan Graham, Olivia Huntington, Jaxy Knight, Louden Main, Tyler Martin, Ashlyn Murphy, Brock Shaha, Adan Trujillo, Ella Vanderflught, Kamryn Willis. In order for a student…

Pool committee seeks support

November 29, 2023

The City of Mount Ayr pool committee is seeking to close the funding gap for the new 4,000 square foot swimming pool at Judge Lewis Park. While most of the funding has been secured, the committee is looking to raise an additional $500,000 to complete the 3.1 million dollar project. Earlier this year, the Mount…

MAKING MUSIC: Gilliland selected for All-State Orchestra

November 22, 2023

Brittany Gilliland, a seventeen-year-old student at Mount Ayr High School, was one of 220 students selected to play as part of the Iowa All-State Orchestra this past week. The finest high school musicians across Iowa gathered at Iowa State University Hilton Coliseum for the All-State Music Festival on November 16-18, 2023. Musicians practiced together for…

MACS maintains ‘commendable’ rating

November 22, 2023

Last month the Iowa Department of Education released the results of the online school accountability reporting system called the Iowa School Performance Profiles. The website shows updated scores and ratings for all public schools based on how they performed on a set of accountability measures in the 2022-23 school year. For the third consecutive year,…

Mount Ayr middle schoolers get season underway

November 22, 2023

The Mount Ayr middle school girl’s basketball team has begun play this season with a couple of games under their belts. The Raiderettes traveled to Bedford last week and saw two defeats. The 8th graders fell 36-21 and the 7th graders fell 26-21. Mount Ayr played Martensdale-St. Mary’s on Monday, November 20. After playing SW…

Dozen Raiders earn District Honors

November 15, 2023

The 2023 football season is near its conclusion as the state championship games for all classes are this week. Last week, the honors list for Class A District 6 was released after the final team in the district lost. The Madrid Tigers, who won the District 6 title, advanced to the UNI-Dome and the Class…

Raiderettes place 4th at State Qualifying Meet

October 25, 2023

The Mount Ayr Raiderette cross-country team placed one spot in the final team standings from qualifying for the state meet. Mount Ayr placed fourth with 118 points with the top-3 teams advancing to this week’s state meet in Fort Dodge. Earlham won the meet with a team score of 41 followed by meet runner-up AHSTW…

BETTY LOU COLE

November 29, 2023

Betty Lou (Johnston) Cole, daughter of Darrell and Lena (Main) Johnston, was born February 4th, 1925, in Mount Ayr, Iowa. Betty graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1942. She was united in marriage to Keith Cole on November 28, 1948, in Grant City, Missouri.  They were blessed with three children, Betty Jane, Dick and…

Darren LaVern Hansen

November 22, 2023

Darren LaVern Hansen passed away on November 9, 2023 at the age of 74. Darren was born on March 5, 1949, to LaVern and Edith Hansen in Pine City, MN. He graduated from Austin High School in Austin, MN in 1967 and went on to attend Mankato State College. He married Marna (Nelson) Hansen in…

Donna Mae McDonald

November 22, 2023

DONNA MAE BATA MCDONALD Donna Mae Bata was born May 30, 1934, to Joseph Frank and Fairy Helen (Jones) Bata at home south of Diagonal in the Toman Hills. She was welcomed home by older sisters Louise and Reva. Later, her adopted brother, Joseph Albert, joined the family. The temperature on Donna’s birthday was 97…

AR-15s not needed in U.S.A.

November 1, 2023

To the editor: As if we needed any more proof of the venality of politicians working for pro-gun organizations, look to the amendment sponsored by Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana to prevent the Department of Veterans Affairs from reporting certain veterans to the National Criminal Background Check system when their finances are being managed by…

Wake up America!

September 6, 2023

To the editor: The Holy Bible states in II Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by name, shall humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land…. America, WAKE UP! Lola Link Mount Ayr

Love and help each other

August 23, 2023

To the editor: I am responding to the 8-17-23 Letter to the Editor on “Moms for Liberty is far right”. I hope to awaken many to the fact that our one and only Creator does not recognize labels such as race, political party, etc. We are living in the greatest times. Our job is to…

Braver Angels Documentary

Are you concerned about the divisiveness in families, communities and in politics? Learn how small town folks in southern Ohio discovered they could bridge the political divides and how we can too. Saturday, Oct. 21, 10:30-noon in the Clarke County Development Corp. Board Room,115 E. Washington, Osceola, see a documentary about how Braver Angels began.…

Area celebrations kick into high gear

There should be no shortage of things to do for area residents as summer winds down and area festivals heat up. Here is a rundown of area celebrations coming up through Labor Day. Grand River Rodeo The Grand River Rodeo will be holding its 41st annual event at the Grand River Rodeo Grounds on August…

Begin planning now for Ayr Days fun!

The annual Ayr Days celebration is set for Saturday, August 26. With the theme “Till the Cows Come Home” this year’s Ayr Days will feature a full day’s worth of fun and activities for all ages. The event is sponsored by the Mount Ayr Chamber of Commerce. The Mount Ayr Public Library will be open…

Looking Back – November 30

November 29, 2023

One Hundred Years Ago (From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, December 5, 1923.) A seven and half pound jack rabbit was run down by Austin Agee on primary road No. 3 west of Mount Ayr last evening. Mr. Agee endeavored to miss the rabbit, which blinded by the glare of the headlights, dashed suddenly in front…

Snapshots of History – November 30, 2023

November 29, 2023

By Mike Avitt Norman Reginald Noble came to the Delphos Baptist Church in October 1958, which contradicts the information (by one year) in Noble’s obituary. I use the Church Directory in the Mount Ayr Record-News quite often and that’s where I got my information. Noble replaced Rev. Bardsley and was ordained in 1964. He was…