Year-end review from the pages of the Record-News
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With year 2022 drawing to a close, it’s time to look back on the stories that made the pages of the Record-News over the past 12 months.
This week we review the months July through December.
July
New Mount Ayr elementary principal Amy Bautista and new middle/high principal Josh Vanderflught begin their duties July 1.
The Mount Ayr city council receives a timeline for a new swimming pool.
Clearfield draws a large crowd to its annual Fourth of July celebration.
“Barn lights and Country Nights” is a theme of this year’s Ringgold County Fair.
Emily Newton gains valuable experience working in a summer school program in the Storm Lake Community School District.
Ringgold County settles a civil rights complaint with former employee Elizabeth Jeanes.
The Mount Ayr Raiderette softball team captures the regional championship and advances to the state tournament where they eventually place sixth.
The Raider baseball team captures the Pride of Iowa Conference championship but bow out in the second round of districts with a 13-7 loss to Lamoni.
The Mount Ayr Public Library offers story time Thursday mornings during July.
The Dolecheck Farms hosts its annual Blackmore Corner Antique Farm Show.
Boy Scout Troop 39 and the Mount Ayr American Legion conduct a flag burning ceremony.
Larry Denney is recognized for 50 years of membership and service with the American Legion.
Mallory Weehler is crowned queen of the Ringgold County Fair as Kendall Sobotka serves as princess.
Maddie Stewart reigns as Ringgold County Fair rodeo queen, and Danny Stewart is crowned rodeo princess.
Drew Graham, an eighth grader-to-be at Mount Ayr Middle School, scores a hole-in-one on hole #6 at the Mount Ayr Golf and Country Club.
Steve Trullinger is honored as Ringgold County Conservation “Volunteer of the Year.”
August
A pre-design campaign Is announced for a proposed Ringgold Center, a community educational and recreational facility.
A rollover accident near Tingley injures a minor driver and his minor passenger.
The Mount Ayr city council learns it cannot hold a bond referendum for a new swimming pool in November as originally planned.
Ringgold County remains one of the COVID hotspots in the state.
Michael Moran joins the Mount Ayr Community School’s faculty as the new dean of students.
The Mount Ayr Public Library unveils its online collection catalog.
Ayr Days and the Tingley Homemade Ice Cream Social attract large crowds.
Addy Reynolds is named to the All-Iowa Softball Team by the Des Moines Register.
Gwen Livingston, 5, of Tingley wins first place In tumbling at the Iowa State Fair.
Judy Kiburz-Harrison captures dozens of ribbons In a variety of cooking competitions at the Iowa State Fair.
U.S. senator Charles Grassley visits Ringgold County Hospital to discuss challenges facing rural Health Care.
September
A new color-coded map of Rosehill Cemetery provides locations of each gravesite.
The Raider football team recaptures “The Rock” rivalry trophy with a 54-0 victory over Nodaway Valley.
The Diagonal Lions Club hosts its annual Labor Day celebration
Ringgold County Conservation conducts its annual Monarch butterfly tagging event.
The new shower house is installed at the Liberty Lake campground.
Iowa Third District representative Cindy Axne presents a check for $725,336 to the Family Resource Center to fund the majority of its near total renovation project.
Kaylie Shields and Jaixen Frost reign as homecoming queen and king.
Ed Defenbaugh, Dan McGugin, and Brent Wilson are the newest inductees to the Mount Ayr Community Schools Hall of Fame.
The Raider Fall Festival concludes homecoming week.
A Barnstormer offers rides to county residents in his vintage 1929 biplane.
R.P. Lumber acquires Mount Ayr’s Southwest Builders Supply.
Two huge catfish weighing 80 pounds and 67 pounds are pulled out of Loch Ayr by local anglers over the summer.
A front-page article explains how funding from the American Rescue plan Act is used in Ringgold County.
Iowa state auditor Rob Sand presents his PIE Award to the town of Beaconsfield and to Ringgold County for their efforts to implement cost-cutting measures.
October
Mild weather attracts a large crowd of little ghosts and goblins to the annual Beggar’s Bash at Judge Lewis Park.
A cash donation from the Mount Ayr Raider Education Foundation and MAC Hall of Fame member Dr. Anna-Mae Kobbe helps fund a mobile work trailer and shop equipment for industrial tech students.
Kelly James receives the Service Award at the annual banquet of the Ringgold Outdoor Alliance.
After several years of offering Coca-Cola related products in vending machines and in concession stands, the Mount Ayr Community school board awards the beverage contract to Pepsi.
Ringgold County Conservation works on upgrades at the Dragoon Trace Nature Center, including replacing the pea gravel on the interpretive trail with a hard surface concrete trail.
Senior Riley Jones signs a letter of intent to join the Southwestern Community College Dazzlers dance team.
Jaylee Shaffer qualifies as the Iowa PGA Junior girls 13-and-under Player of the Year.
Frank Gunsolley collects his third career hole-in-one on hole #8 at the Mount Ayr Golf and Country Club.
Proposals for a new municipal swimming pool is the subject of a special Mount Ayr city council meeting held in the Ringgold County Courthouse assembly room.
State Representative Cecil Dolecheck is recognized by the Hoover Presidential Foundation for “Uncommon Public Service.”
The Raiderette cross-country team places third at the Pride of Iowa conference meet.
Mount Ayr Community middle/high school retains its “Commendable” rating while Mount Ayr elementary slips to an “Acceptable” rating on the latest Performance Profiles from the Iowa Department of Education.
The Raiderette volleyball season comes to an end with a 3-0 loss to Southwest Valley. In postseason honors, Kaylie Shields and Linsie Barnes are named to the all-Pride of Iowa second team with Kacee Klommhaus receiving honorable mention.
The Mount Ayr Community cheerleaders take first place in the Timeout Division of the State Cheerleading Competition.
Tingley hosts its 76th annual Halloween celebration.
The Raider football season ends with a 62-33 loss to Lynnville-Sully in the second round of postseason play.
November
In results from the General Election, Republicans sweep all Ringgold County races with the exception of county recorder where Democrat Kisha Martin ran unopposed.
Bye-Bye Birdie” takes the stage as the MACHS fall musical.
The Mount Ayr city council receives artist renderings of proposals for a downtown revitalization project.
Following a successful Raider football season, Jaydon Knight is named District A-7 MVP and assistant coach Lucas Smith is named Assistant Coach of the Year.
The Ringgold County courthouse is lit up in green as part of Operation Green Light in honor of county veterans.
Mount Ayr Elementary earns a national Blue Ribbon for academic excellence.
The Ringgold County Fair board announces plans to add an event center to the Commercial Building on the fairgrounds.
A front-page article highlights the career of Bill French as a community business leader.
Senior Jaixen Frost signs a letter of intent to play baseball at the University of Iowa.
The Mount Ayr city council wrestles with what to do with a property at 204 Dunning Avenue that is out of compliance with city building codes.
Thirteen new members are inducted into the MACHS National Honor Society.
Brock Shaha returns as the only state qualifier on the Raider wrestling team.
A traffic accident on County Highway P33 claims the life of Abbi Overholser of rural Benton.
December
The lighted Christmas parade, a concert by Simply Voices, and the lighting of the community Christmas tree are highlights of the Christmas in the Ayr celebration.
A front-page article recalls the 71-year history behind Iris’ Beauty Salon.
Ringgold County Conservation again sponsors its Holiday Lights in the Park attraction.
Five Mount Ayr girls join the Southern Tier Wrestling team.
The Mount Ayr Sparks dance team secures a Division I rating at the State Dance Team competition.
A front-page article introduces readers to Jennifer Kellner, the new advertising designer for the Record-News and Diagonal Progress.
The Mount Ayr city council seeks an extension to the Local Option Sales Tax when it expires in 2027.
After 45 years in education, Karleen Stephens retires as Diagonal Community Schools superintendent.
Ringgold County Sheriff’s officers encounter a homemade bomb while doing a welfare check at the Mount Ayr residence.
Ringgold County settles a $500,000 lawsuit with former employee Brenda Adams.
Ringgold County Fair board president Dr. Keith Miller is honored with induction into the County Fairs Hall of Fame.
Ringgold County Sheriff’s officers apprehend a fugitive hiding in the First Christian Church.
Brock Shaha wins the championship at 106 pounds at the Pride of Iowa wrestling meet.
Iris’ Beauty Salon closes after 71 years in business.
Infinity Health plans to open health clinic in Mount Ayr.
