Raiders dominate Timberwolves in district finale
By RYAN STONEBRAKER CORNING, Iowa — The Mount Ayr football team picked up its third win in a row last Friday in district play to earn the three-seed out of Class A District 7 when the playoffs begin this week.The Raiders smashed SW Valley Timberwolves 50-6 on the road in Corning. The 50 points by…
Read MoreLOOKING BACK in the Early Files by Lora Stull
One Hundred Years Ago (From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, October 21, 1926.) Sam Davenport, living on the county line, eight miles northwest of Diagonal, had the misfortune Tuesday afternoon to lose by fire a large barn, 30 tons of hay, two sets of harness, almost all his farm implements and many other articles. There was…
Read MoreSnapshots of History by Mike Avitt
Two weeks ago I wrote about Ringgold County rural schoolhouses and where they were as of 1997. That article was based on a three-ring binder compiled by Bob and Kay Sickels and that binder is housed in the Mount Ayr Public Library’s basement. Not many people know it is there. Another historical effort with little…
Read MoreObituary – James Nichols
James “Jim” Arthur Nichols, 85, of Westfield, Indiana, passed away on October 14, 2026. He was born on April 21, 1941, in Estherville, Iowa, to parents, the late Ralph W. and Lillian D. (Tirevold) Nichols. Jim married the love of his life, Denise (Kloster) on August 24, 1962, in Mallard, Iowa. They enjoyed a wonderful…
Read MoreWeather slows harvesting again
By JEFF SNYDER MOUNT AYR, Iowa — October more than halfway over and here in the rolling hills of Ringgold County local farmers are fighting the elements to bring in their crops. After one of the wettest Septembers on record, only about 16 percent of crops have been harvested to date. Between corn for feed…
Read MoreDiagonal volleyball coach arrested on endangerment charges
By IVY BICE DIAGONAL, Iowa – Diagonal High School head volleyball coach Jesse Cox faces seven counts of child endangerment after allegedly watching a baseball game on his personal cell phone while driving a school van transporting students to an away game. According to a press release from the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Department on Sept.…
Read MoreIsn’t that Bice
Paper welcomes new reporter home By KEN GARNER MOUNT AYR, Iowa — The Mount Ayr Record News and the Diagonal Progress welcomes one of their own back home as Ivy Bice joins the newspapers in a full-time capacity. Bice’s duties will be many from reporting and photography to designing pages and ads. But her primary…
Read MoreNational Cattle Dog Finals held in area
By JEFF SNYDER SHANNON CITY, Iowa — The United States Border Collie handlers association paid another visit to the area this past week showing off the finest cattle dogs in the country. Hoover Angus Farms played host to the most prestigious breed specific event of its kind on a frost covered field. Handlers from across…
Read MoreSocial Security recipients set to get a bump
By JEFF SNYDER MOUNT AYR, Iowa — The Social Security Administration has formally announced its annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 2027. Each year the administration examines the effects of inflation on the average social security recipient and determines the adjustment to benefit for the coming year. This coming year’s adjustment will be 3.6…
Read MoreMount Ayr runs at Chariton meet
By RYAN STONEBRAKER CHARITON, Iowa — Both Mount Ayr cross-country teams traveled to Chariton last week to run in their only meet of the week. The Mount Ayr girl’s team placed 11th at the meet with a team score of 256 points. The Raiderettes were led by a pair of top-40 finishers. Ryley Greenwell had…
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