Mount Ayr back to work after first loss: District opener Friday night
By RYAN STONEBRAKER SHENANDOAH, Iowa — The chances of any Iowa high school football team going through the season unbeaten is small. Some may lose a game or two each year, early or late in the season, but most, if not 99.9-percent, of the schools in the state will suffer at least one loss. Last…
Read MoreObituary – Rose Marie (Johnston) James
Rose Marie (Johnston) James was born December 7, 1936, in Kansas City, KS and passed away at Mt. Ayr, IA on August 20, 2026, at the age of 89. She was the third child, and only daughter, born to George Wesley and Marjory Guthrie Johnston. Rose grew up on the farm south of Mt. Ayr,…
Read MoreObituary – Marylin Louise Weeda
Marylin Louise Weeda was born October 7, 1941, to Loyd and Leona Minnick on the family farm south of Tingley, Iowa. Marylin passed away on August 20, 2026, at the age of 84. Marylin attended Mount Ayr School for 1 year and the rest at Tingley. Marylin married Kenneth Weeda on August 10, 1958, and…
Read MoreObituary – Ronald Eugene Cross
Ronald Eugene Cross was born in Mount Ayr, IA to Ames R. and Elberta R. (McKinstry) Cross on November 24, 1939, and passed away at age 86 on August 15, 2026. Ron graduated from Mount Ayr Public High School and attended Northwest Missouri State where he received a Bachelor of Science in Education. Following graduation in 1962, he…
Read MoreObituary – Jeffery Wayne Mercer
Jeffery Wayne Mercer was born in Mount Ayr, Iowa on July 15, 1975, to Gary and Kathy Mercer. Growing up he spent much of his time on his grandfather’s farm as his right-hand man. He graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1994. Jeff was in the National Guard. He was a lifelong trucker and…
Read MoreBig second quarter sends Raiders to opening night win
By RYAN STONEBRAKER STUART, Iowa — The Raider football team opened the 2026 season with a big road win with a 48-6 victory at West Central Valley last Friday in Stuart. Mount Ayr led only 14-6 after the first quarter, but used a 26-point second quarter to take control of the football game known as…
Read MoreLOOKING BACK in the Early Files By Lora Stull
One Hundred Years Ago (From the Mount Ayr Record-News, Thursday, August 27, 1926.) (The following marriages, birth and obituary were from the August 18 edition: Marriage, August 13, Edith Sawyer and Victor Thompson..August 12, Lena Armstrong and Kyle Miller..Saturday morning Margaret Bevins and Grant Freihage. Birth: August 3, a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Charles…
Read MoreSnapshots of History by Mike Avitt
This week’s picture is a photo taken of a “linen postcard.” These types of postcards had a cloth-like finish and were most popular from the 1930s to the 1950s. “Linens” were colored with dyes and inks. Color photography existed, but was too costly for small-town postcards. The back of the postcard tells us the Clinton…
Read MoreAirport hangar needs generate generous donations
By Jeff Snyder MOUNT AYR, Iowa — Much needed financial support has begun to arrive just in time for the Mount Ayr, Judge Lewis Field Airport, FAA designation, 1Y3. Friends of the airport have made significant contributions in the last week following a recent Record News article on Aug. 13 outlining the needs for hanger…
Read MoreCity Council agrees to purchase properties
By Jeff Snyder MOUNT AYR, Iowa — The Mount Ayr City Council agreed to purchase a pair of properties during its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday at City Hall. The properties are located at 207 S. Harrison St. and 202 W. Jefferson St inside the city limits. The Harrison Street address is an empty building…
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