Ringgold County Year In Review: July – December
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As the end of another year approaches, we look back on the people, places, and things that graced the pages of the Record-News in 2024. This week focuses on the months July through December.
July
Matt Henle joins the Mount Ayr city council.
Senator Charles Grassley holds a town hall meeting in the Ringgold County courthhouse.
Dale and Marla Bickel are honored as parade marshals at the 2024 Clearfield Lions Club 4th of July celebration.
“All American Flair at the Ringgold County Fair” is the theme of this year’s fair.
Ambraya Bjustrom was crowned Ringgold Country Fair Princess and Kamryn Willis was Ringgold County Fair Queen.
The Iowa Association of Agricultural Educator’s 2024 Outstanding Early Career Teacher award goes to Morgan Quick, the agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor at Mount Ayr Community High School.
Ryce Reynolds of Mount Ayr High School is the 2023-24 Gatorade Iowa Boys Track and Field Player of the Year.
37-year-old Alan Schultz of Bedford is charged with Murder in the First Degree in the shooting death of Colby Nelson of Lenox.
Community service hours are now expected of all students, and will be tracked as part of new graduation requirements beginning with the 2024-2025 year.
The Raiderette softball team and Raider baseball team both lose in the first round of post-season competition.
Re-designing the space previously occupied by the Foxy Bobcat, new owners Scott Dean and Mark Matteo, and general manager Brooke Gepner, are infusing The Fox Market in Ellston with an artisan experience.
The Mount Ayr Public Library is offering two free art classes as part of their summer programming.
For the first time, Mount Ayr sixth-graders will attend classes at the middle/high school building.
After two years of planning, the finishing touches are placed on the entrances to the Mount Ayr High School athletic fields.
August
A front page article traces the recovery of Abigail Barnes following a tragic traffic accident last year.
The history behind and current administration of three county lakes is the focus of a front page article.
The Ringgold County Ministerial Association holds it annual free school supply giveaway.
Three Raider baseball players are named to the Pride of Iowa all-conference teams: Preston Fleharty on the first team at catcher, freshman Adler Reed on the first team at infield and freshman Hayes Stogdill at honorable mention.
Three Raiderette softball players are named to the Pride of Iowa all-conference teams. Earning second-team honors were junior catcher Breya Nickle and sophomore Kensie Barnes. Earning honorable mention honors was freshman Keely Wasteney.
The Diagonal Printing Museum hosts a demonstration of its antique Mergenthaler linotype machine.
A front page article features the Brent and Karie Wasteney family’s long ties to 4-H.
The annual Ayr Days Celebration in Mount Ayr and the 5th Annual Ice Cream Social at Tingley Memorial Park are held over one weekend.
A front page article highlights Billy Bentley’s new “Goshen Lake and RV Park” located west of Diagonal.
Mount Ayr Community Schools are awarded a $2,000 grant to purchase meat, eggs, produce, dairy and other local foods from area farmers.
The East Madison Street sidewalk replacement project contractor is selected to tear out and replace uneven sidewalks just east of the square.
Pastor Scott and Debbie Marcum leave Blockton church after 37 years.
Middle school/high school band teacher Julie Capps, elementary preschool teacher Emily Schnoor, and Kate Holmes, the middle school science/computer science teacher begin their first year as part of the Mount Ayr Community School District.
Holdfast Farmstore, a small-scale market, offers local gardeners a place to sell excess produce, in a convenient self-serve, self-pay setup for community members.
Several musicians and performers come together to pack the Princess Theater for a live event to celebrate a new marquee sign (coming soon) and show appreciation for the Princess Theater.
September
The Diagonal Lions Club hosts its annual Labor Day celebration under ideal weather conditions.
As part of the Labor Day festivities, kids compete in the first Clint Kniep Memorial Bike Race.
The American Pickers plan to film episodes of The History Channel hit television series throughout our area.
Four new inductees – Tami Trullinger Fahnlander, Faye Stull, Curt Braby, and Barry Monaghan – are officially welcomed into the Mount Ayr Community Schools Hall of Fame at a ceremony during Homecoming week.
The Raider football team wins the annual “Battle for the Rock” game over Nodaway Valley.
After serving Ringgold County for 28 years, Clinton L. Spurrier announces his departure as County Attorney for both Ringgold and Taylor County.
Council members begin their meeting at Judge Lewis Park to tour the pool construction site and learn how the project is progressing.
Ringgold Outdoor Alliance (ROA) hosts their annual banquet.
Redding United Methodist Church members commemorate their 150th year of congregational worship.
Ringgold County will pay former Ringgold Country Conservation Director Kate Zimmerman $500,000 to settle a civil rights lawsuit she brought against the county in federal court.
The newly-installed Princess Theater LED marquee sign can be programmed with rotating messages, including upcoming movies.
Jake and Lynsi Akers open the doors to Ayra LLC, located within the building once occupied by Farm and Home.
More than 50 mothers and children between one month to 16 years-old hopped aboard a Homecoming parade float to honor Dr. Tami Fahnlander, the doctor who helped usher them into the world.
Alana Doolittle and Tyler Martin are crowned Homecoming queen and king.
October
A large crowd of youngsters took over the parking lot at the high school for the annual Beggar’s Bash sponsored by Supporting Our Students (S.O.S.).
Beth Elswick and Amber Golliday of Mount Ayr and Melissa Silver of Lamoni participate in the Special Olympics Equestrian State competition.
A front page article features 2014 MACHS grad Cole Wilmes, who has found professional success as a special effects and makeup artist for movies.
Josh Vanderflught, secondary principal at Mount Ayr Community School, is presented with the Iowa High School Speech Association (IHSSA) Fine Arts Administrator of the Year award.
The National Cattledog Finals are held at the Hoover Angus Sale Facility near Shannon City.
Dr. Bruce and Michell Ricker ride out Hurricane Milton with their daughter and her family in Florida.
The Ringgold County Board of Supervisors learns that Steelhead Americas, a wind turbine company, has secured 6,000 acres of leased county land.
County engineer Jared Johnson and the Ringgold County supervisors field questions related to the potential resurfacing of 220th Avenue north of Mount Ayr.
Rather than hosting Ayr Days or the Raider Festival next year, the Mount Ayr Chamber of Commerce and Ringgold Outdoor Alliance combine resources with a volunteer group of roughly 20 people to host a grand 150 year celebration.
Ringgold County Secondary Roads Department is awarded first place in a statewide Build a Better Mousetrap (BABM) competition hosted by the Iowa Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP).
Mount Ayr Community High School establishes it first E-Sports team, which eventually qualifies for state competition in its inaugural season.
Tingley hosts its annual Halloween Fun Night, which included Sue Richards’ 78th appearance in the parade.
Ringgold County Development seeks a new executive director to replace Jodie Geist, who will move to a part-time support position.
The Raiderette volleyball team ends its season with a first-round post-season loss to Lenox.
The Ringgold County board of supervisors sign a 90-day employment agreement with Dr. Mike Wells to serve as county attorney on a part-time basis.
November
County voters overwhelming choose Donald Trump and Zach Nunn in the only contested races in the general election.
Randy Smith of Mount Ayr is inducted in the Iowa Racing Hall of Fame.
A front-page feature recalls the county’s “Indian War of 1855.”
The Raider football team’s season ends with a second-round playoff defeat to ACGC.
Callie Poore, a 2004 graduate of Mount Ayr Community High School, is hired as the new elementary guidance counselor effective at the beginning of the second semester.
A front-page article features the MOVE Ministries work trip to Tijuana.
Pride of Iowa volleyball all-conference teams include sophomore Jaylee Shaffer, first-team setter; junior Aubree Shields, first-team hitter; senior Breya Nickle, second-team hitter; senior defensive specialist Jaxy Knight, second team; and senior Ashlyn Murphy, an honorable mention selection.
Mount Ayr middle/high scchool is rated a “High Performing” and Mount Ayr elementary is rated as “Commendable” in the latest School Performance Profiles released by the Iowa Department of Education (DOE).
Sarah (Geist) Stephens, 2006 graduate of Mount Ayr Community High School, is named a Regional Teacher of the Year.
The MACHS Drama Department presents Lavender and Lunatics as its fall production.
Mount Ayr had 17 combined selections on the Class A District 6 all-district lists. Named to the first team are senior Kash Wasteney at offensive line, senior Trevin Victor as utility. junior quarterback Jackson Ruggles, running backs sophomore Dyson Thompson and junior Tate Dugan, junior Bracken Collier at defensive line, senior Tyler Martin at linebacker, and Garret Walter at utility. Senior Dylan Graham got the Golden Award for the district. (The Golden Award is given to a player that would have been a first team all-district selection but an injury keeps them out of most of the season.) Second team picks for Mount Ayr were seniors Tucker Larson, Ethan Johns and Jaize Frost along with juniors Rowan Sackett and Trace Knapp. Honorable mentions go to senior Louden Main and freshmen Drayden Thompson and Isac Dugan.
Raider wrestler Brock Shaha signs a letter of intent to wrestle at Upper Iowa University in Fayette.
December
A front-page article features MACHS senior Dylan Graham’s attempts to join the ranks of professional competitive cornhole.
The Mount Ayr Sesquicentennial Committee announces three full days of entertainment and activities to celebrate the town’s 150th birthday.
Fifteen new members are inducted into the MACHS chapter of the National Honor Society: Braylon Greenwell, Mackenzie Knox, Kacie Larsen, Abby Larson, Kaley Murphy, Breya Nickle, Rowan Sackett, Aubree Shields, Ava England, Ashlyn Byer, Tate Dugan, Larissa Barton, Ella Waske, Olivia Vanderflught, and Tanner Streit.
Open Closet at New Life Family Church continues to serve area residents with clothing, bedding, dishes, housewares, and other emergency items during times of need.
Five centenarians celebrate Thanksgiving together at Clearview Home and Estates: Jake Dailey 103 years, Guelda Barker 101 years. Katherine Young 100 years, Dorothy Parrish 100 years, Doris Drake 100 years.
Three Raider football players are named to Class A All-State second team: were senior Trevin Victor and juniors Tyler Martin and Jackson Ruggles.
A lighted display at Poe Hollow Park honors the memory of Matthew Wayne Munyon.
In an ongoing series of articles leading up to the city’s sesquicentennial next year, a front page feature recalls the “The Great Mount Ayr Dog Holocaust of 1925.”
Sheriff Rob Haley and Chief Deputy Nathan Nickle are presented with the 2024 Best of the Best-small jail division award for the state of Iowa. This award is received for meeting and going beyond jail standards.
Former Mount Ayr resident Jim Mahan is honored by EveryStep Hospice for his years of service in the U.S. Navy.
A large mural depicting characters from children’s books is unveiled in the children’s section of the Mount Ayr Public Library. The impressive artwork was created by Jane Uhlenkamp.
The Mount Ayr school district announces the creation of the EVOLVE online high school.
Trinity Lutheran Church announces its final service will be held December 29.
A front-page feature tells the story of Pat Elmer’s live-saving experience with Ringgold County Hospital.
Diagonal K-12 Gary Clark principal announces his resignation effective at the end of the first semester.
Alpha Arsenal, a firearms and recreational sports store, is opened by partners Colton Weehler and Chase French.
A financial services company names Ringgold County as one of the top Iowa counties in which to raise a family.
City council mulls options for Madison Street project.
Princess Theater forced to close temporarily due to a failure of its projection system. It is hoped to have a new projector installed and the theater reopened in mid-to-late January.
