School board address storm damage
By Olivia West MOUNT AYR, Iowa — Water damage to school property and facility upgrades were main topics of discussion among the Mount Ayr Community School District Board of Education met for its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Monday evening. The board was informed that recent heavy rains flooded a 30 foot × 30 foot…
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Council discusses nuisance properties, storm water issues
By Jeff Snyder MOUNT AYR, Iowa — The Mount Ayr City Council discussed nuisance properties and had a member of the community speak on storm water damage during its regular meeting on Monday at City Hall. After a slight delay to the meeting’s start as it was waiting an appropriate number of council members to…
Read MoreTragedy strikes at quiet lake community
By Jeff Snyder ELLSTON, Iowa — In what is normally a quiet and private corner in the northeast part of Ringgold County, became a spot that was hit with tragedy last Saturday. According to a press release from the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office, personnel were dispatched to Sun Valley Lake, near Ellston on Saturday morning…
Read MoreRaiders on top of POI after week 1
By RYAN STONEBRAKER MOUNT AYR, Iowa — The Raider baseball team sits atop the Pride of Iowa Conference standings through the first week of games. Mount Ayr won all three of their POI games and also a non-conference game to remain unbeaten at 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the POI going into this week. Last week…
Read MoreTwice as Nice Shaffer repeats as State Champion
By RYAN STONEBRAKER BOONE, Iowa — The champ is back. Literally. Mount Ayr’s Jaylee Shaffer, the defending Class 1A girls individual champion from last year, won the state Class 1A individual title this season at last week’s state meet in Boone. Shaffer won the title by shooting a two over-par for the two-day meet. The junior…
Read MoreMixed Week For Raiderettes In Softball
By RYAN STONEBRAKER MOUNT AYR, Iowa — The Mount Ayr softball team split four games last week to begin games for the summer of 2026. The Raiderettes won every other game they played winning POI games against East Union and Nodaway Valley and falling in games with Clarinda and SE Warren. The Raiderettes record is 2-2…
Read MoreObituary – Joseph John Hertl, Jr.
Joseph John Hertl, Jr. was born on May 12, 1937, in Glasgow, Montana, the son of Joseph John, Sr. and Eva (Rittal) Hertl. He passed away May 23, 2026, in Allendale, Missouri at the age of 89. During eighth grade his family moved to California. He graduated from San Lorenzo High School. He went to…
Read MoreLOOKING BACK in the Early Files by Lora Stull
One Hundred Years Ago (From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, May 26, 1926.) The jury which heard the evidence in the trial of “Big George” Gibson at Creston returned a verdict of “guilty” this morning at 8:30 o’clock and recommended life imprisonment. Fredrick Newton Olliver, highly respected resident of Redding vicinity, dies suddenly. Redding Herald: “The…
Read MoreSnapshots of History by Mike Avitt
I’ve written about this building and business multiple times, but I have a major correction to make. This building was built in 1895 for the Laughlin & Hass Real Estate and Abstract office. In the past, I identified the Hass as George Hass and that is incorrect. The correct answer is George’s son Albert Hass…
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