RINGGOLD COUNTY 2023: The events that shaped our county
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Looking back on the events that shaped our county July through December.
July
Ringgold County prepares for the county fair which runs from July 11-16 this year.
The Ringgold County Supervisors voted to limit the construction of wind turbines in the county and set three public hearings on the proposed regulations.
The ordinance said that turbines had to be set back 2,640 feet (half mile) from property lines, not dwellings. There would be five or six possible areas in the county where turbines could exist based on these requirements.
U.S. Senator Charles Grassley held a town meeting here the first week of July as part of his 99-county tour.
Governor Kim Reynolds declared Ringgold County a disaster area in response to severe weather that occurred on June 29.
Mount Ayr concluded their baseball and softball seasons in July. The Raiderettes finished with 12-13 record on the season while the Raiders were 10-8.
Medicap Pharmacy announced their closure of the Mount Ayr location in the Ringgold County Hospital. Owner Alex Petti blamed the closure on the inability to find a pharmacist to work at the location.
Matthew and Cassie Hudson opened an equipment rental business in the IOOF building which he currently is remodeling.
Warren Angus and Chandra Poore announced they would run for the open city council position created with Jordan Stewart moved from the city limits. Poore would go on to win the election.
Aubrey Reed was crowned Ringgold County Fair Queen and Shelby Lesan was named Ringgold County Fair Princess. Lane Parrish showed the champion market swine, Kenleigh Fooken the champion market beef and Kade Dugan the champion market lamb.
Ringgold County was rocked upon learning that two local girls were killed and two severely injured in an automobile accident.
Deceased are Halsie Barnes and Ella Leonard. Madalynn Stewart and Abigail Barnes were critically injured. Stewart would later die of her injuries, as well.
August
Jaixen Frost was awarded the All-Star Baseball Series first place award at the IHSBCA series in Carroll.
The Senior Citizens Activity Center turned 15 years old.
The Mount Ayr City Council discussed vacant and nuisance housing at their regular meeting.
Ayr Days announced it’s schedule for the August 26 festivities. The theme of this year’s celebrations is, “Till the Cows Come Home.”
The finishing touches were made to the mural on the side of the Princess Theatre building. The project was part of Iowa State University’s “Rural Shrink Smart” program.
The Ringgold County Hospital announced they would discontinue aquatic therapy after 12 years. The hospital therapeutic pool had to be closed due to a water leak.
Planning for area celebrations is well underway with Ayr Days, the Grand River Rodeo, Tingley celebration and Diagonal Labor Day festivities on tap.
The Record News featured a story on Aidan Murphy who took part in the Aim High Flight Academy in South Dakota.
The Mount Ayr City Council was informed of damage done to the Judge Lewis softball fields due to play in wet weather.
The Mount Ayr Raiders won their season opening football game 39-12 over Nodaway Valley in the “Battle for the Rock”. The Raiderette volleyball team dropped their opener to Bedford.
A large crowd gathered in the council chambers as the council debated an indoor pool as part of the Gold Center and an outdoor pool at Judge Lewis Park. The council will gather more info on both proposals before a final decision is made.
The Record News did a feature story on Cassie Hudson and her new business, Firebird Fitness, which has opened in the IOOF building she and her husband are remodeling.
September
The Diagonal Lions Club held another successful Labor Day celebration September 2-4.
The Mount Ayr City Council gave final approval for an outdoor pool at Judge Lewis Park, replacing the pool there that has been shut down.
The vote was 3-2 in favor of the outdoor pool over an indoor pool as part of a larger facility.
Five new teachers joined the staff of the Mount Ayr Community School District. They are Sabrina Fox, Sara Dukes, Ashton Trullinger, Emily Thomas and Britney Baker.
Mount Ayr lost their first game of the season, 35-34 in overtime against Madrid on September 8.
Mount Ayr prepared for Homecoming activities. As part of the festivities, four were inducted into the MACS Hall of Fame. They were Jake Dailey, Robert Ricker, Jr., Dan Roe and Blaine Scott. Janna Iving was named Homecoming Queen and Ryce Reynolds was King.
Wishard Chapel continued work on their new building with a blessing of the building set for September 17.
Bill Menner was the speaker at the annual meeting of the Ringgold County Development Corporation September 13.
A number of competitive races have been set for county governmental bodies.
Four persons are running for three positions on the Mount Ayr City Council; Chandra Poore, Jessica Murphy, Rachel Rumple and Michael Wik. For the Mount Ayr School District six people are running for three available seats. The are P.J. West, Craig Winemiller, Brian Carroll Still, Mark Budach Samantha Jo Elliott and Jim Uhlenkamp.
Rodney Blazebrook of Osceola began his duties at the First Christian Church and United Church of Diagonal.
October
Jaylee Shaffer of Ellston was named Player of the Year of the Iowa PGA Junior Girls.
The City of Mount Ayr selected Waters Edge Aquatic Design of Kansas City as the engineer in charge of the Judge Lewis Park pool construction. The council choose Waters Edge over a bid by JEO Consulting Group out of Ankeny.
A truck drug low power lines from their poles on Taylor Street, causing a power outage by local businesses around the square.
It was determined the truck, heading for B&M Recycling, was not at fault but the lines were hanging too low.
The trial of former Conservation Director Kate Zimmerman was moved to Adair County on a change of venue.
Zimmerman was charged after she denied Ringgold County Sheriff’s deputies entry to Poe Hollow Park to detonate a homemade bomb. Zimmerman also was charged with falsely reporting County Supervisor Colby Holmes of striking her with his truck.
Zimmerman has initiated a civil rights complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission against the county and various county employees.
The Mount Ayr School Board announced plans to transition sixth grade students into the middle school space.
Cale and Lance Quall have constructed and started a rock crushing business along Hwy. 2 between Mount Ayr and Kellerton.
Mike Pence, former vice president and candidates for the Republican presidential nomination shopped in Mount Ayr. The highlight of his stop was getting a haircut from Dick Simpson at Dick’s Barber Shop.
Supporters of Students (SOS) held heir annual “Beggar’s Bash” in Judge Lewis Park.
The Raiders qualified for a state football playoffs and will face AC/GC. The Raiders would go on to lose to the ranked team.
Ron DeSantis stopped in Mount Ayr, speaking to a large crowd at The Mill.
Jenny Hoffman passed through the county on Hwy. 2 in her quest to run across the United States.
School board races were set in Mount Ayr. Running are Mark Budach, Patricia J. West, Jim Uhlenkamp, Craig Winemiller, Brian Carfroll Still and Samantha Jo Elliott.
November
The Trails End Saloon opened its doors in the building recently housing Good Vibes, The Crazy Heifer, The Early Bird or The Office.
Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson stopped in Mount Ayr in his campaign for the Republication presidential nomination.
Chris Eaton began his term on the board of the Ringgold County Hospital and will serve out the unexpired term of Eddie Daily.
Candidates for the Mount Ayr City Council are Chandra Poore, Mike Wik, Jessica Murphy and Rachael Rumple.
Four Raiderettes were named all conference in volleyball. They were Hayden Ruggles and Olivia Huntingon on the first team, Aubree Shields on the second team and Abby Eaton, honorable mention.
The Mount Ayr City council approved a preliminary concept for the new pool at Judge Lewis Park.
Chandra Poore, Jessica Murphy and Michael Wik were elected to the Mount Ayr City Council. On election night, it appeared that Rachel Rumple was elected, but a precinct was inadvertently missed and Wik overtook her after the recount.
Samantha Elliott, Craig Winemiller and Patricia West were elected to the Mount Ayr School Board.
Twelve Raiders earned all-district honors in football. They were Tyler Martin, Dalton Barnes, Tate Dugan, Jackson Ruggles and Matt Larson on the first team.
Named to the second team were Tucker Knox, Colton Dredge, Bracken Collier and Dyson Thompson. Honorable mention went to Trevin Victor, Kash Wasteney and Tucker Larson.
Mount Ayr High School students presented their fall play, “No Signs of Intelligent Life” during the second week of November.
MACS maintain their “commendable” rating from the Iowa Department of Education.
Ten MACHS students were welcomed into the National Honor Society. They were; Dylan Graham, Olivia Huntington, Jaxy Knight, Louden Main, Tyler Martin, Ashlyn Murphy, Brock Shaha, Adan Trujillo, Ella Vanderflught and Kamryn Willis.
The 10th Annual Mount Ayr Turkey Trot was held.
December
The annual Mount Ayr Lighted Christmas Parade was held. The festivities included visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, open houses and houses and musical performances.
Local insurance agents report that coverage in Iowa is getting harder to get due to high winds, tornadoes, hail, derechos and flooding during recent years.
Patricia West was elected Mount Ayr Community School Board President and Russell Schuitema was elected vice president at their December meeting.
A diverse group from Mount Ayr made a presentation to CAT Grant officials to help in funding of the Judge Lewis Park pool.
Iowa State University reports that farm ground values in Ringgold County increased by 12.9% last year.
Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy made his second trip to Mount Ayr, addressing a small crowd at the Ringgold County Courthouse.
