Cold, snow blasts county
After two winter storms hit southern Iowa back-to-back, Mount Ayr city crew members took a much needed break on Monday, observing a holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. City crew members worked until 8:30 p.m. last Thursday to clear roughly 6 inches of snow that fell the first part of the week. Then they returned…
Read MoreLOST funds spur discussion
After 20 years, the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funding that was designated to complete the jail project will sunset on June 30, 2027. County officials are beginning to look at how the budget will be impacted when the funds cease. At least half of the 1% sales tax revenues have been going to the…
Read MoreFormer mayor, business leader Don Solliday passes away
Don Solliday had a love for people that guided the way he served as a public representative, and ran his businesses during his time in Ringgold county. Don moved to Mount Ayr in 1965 from Chillicothe, MO, bringing his experience in the grocery business to southern Iowa. He owned and operated Don’s Ayrliner for over…
Read MoreThe strange case of Dr. Quigley and Mr. Pugsley
By Mike Avitt Ringgold County will be 149 years old in May and many wonderful, enlightening, and heartfelt stories have emerged from that history. Some stories, however, have been draped in darkness and morbidity. This is one of those stories. Redding, in Clinton Township, had gotten the railroad in 1880 and was a bustling commercial…
Read MoreSnapshots of History – Corinth School
By Mike Avitt While going through a very large number of Clair Heyer photos, I came across three pictures of Corinth School, Jefferson Township No. 8, dated 1966. This schoolhouse was located in section 28 of Jefferson Township on county road J-20, two miles east of the Pole Road (P-33). However, a 1904 plat map…
Read MoreLooking Back – January 11, 2024 Issue
One Hundred Years Ago (From the Mount Ayr Record-News,Thursday, January 16, 1924.) After six years as postmaster Mrs. B.F. Seaton has resigned. Mrs. H. K. Seaton is her successor beginning work January 1. The postoffice has been moved from B.F.Seaton Store to the M.H. Evans building across the street. Truman Dulany, who is associated with…
Read MoreNew council members take seats, property improvements debated
A catalyst grant application was reviewed at the Tuesday, January 2 meeting of the Mount Ayr city council. [The meeting marked the first by newly elected council members Jessica Murphy and Mike Wik.] City council members heard from Chad Hunt who submitted an application for a community catalyst building remediation grant. He is requesting $100,000…
Read MoreMount Ayr Fire Dept. responded to 84 calls in 2023
Call-out statistics from the Mount Ayr Volunteer Fire Department have been released for 2023: Structure fires 14 Vehicle fires 4 Vehicle accidents w/o extrication 10 Vehicle accidents with extrication 3 Grass/brush fires 28 False alarms 7 HazMat 2 EMS assistance/ ambulance 6 Water rescue/recovery 1 Service calls 9 TOTAL 84* *of the total, 13 calls…
Read MoreFour-day school week in Iowa?
Schools across Iowa are beginning to look at four-day school weeks to combat a shortage of teachers. According to Diagonal Community Schools superintendent, Larry McNutt, the concept of a four-day school week is picking up steam. At the December 20 school board meeting, superintendent McNutt reported that Lamoni and Central Decatur school districts are studying…
Read MoreTeacher balancing act, lockers top school board meeting
The Mount Ayr board of education held a quick meeting on Monday, January 8 as a winter storm moved into the area, canceling school on Tuesday, January 9. New lockers for sixth grade Three bids for new lockers were presented to the board in preparation of sixth graders moving to the middle school/high school building…
Read More