Area News

The Healthiest State Initiative has announced the finalists for the 2021 Healthiest State Annual Awards. Nominated in the individual category is Kate Zimmerman, director of Ringgold County Conservation. The city of Creston is also a finalist for the Healthy Hometown community award. In her letter nominating Zimmerman for the award, Rana Scarlett of the Southern…

Ringgold County Public Health is now compiling contact information for individuals who may be interested in receiving COVID-19 vaccinations and fall within the state-mandated priority groups.  We are not yet aware when we will be receiving vaccine supply, but expect to know more in the next couple of weeks. The following populations are considered vulnerable…

The future of law enforcement and city recycling  topped a long meeting of the Mount Ayr city council Monday, January 19. Law enforcement Discussion of county-wide law enforcement involved county supervisors Ron Landphair, Colby Holmes and Steve Knapp; county auditor Amanda Waske; and county attorney Clint Spurrier, along with sheriff Rob Haley who attended the…

[Editor’s note: The following article appeared in the January edition of The Iowa Source, Iowa’s only free monthly arts and entertainment magazine. Written by Dr. Roy  R. Behrens, emeritus professor and distinguished scholar at the University of Northern Iowa, the article is reprinted with permission of the author.] by Dr. Roy Behrens American astronaut Peggy…

Any discussion surrounding the buying and selling of farm ground in Ringgold County should not overlook the number of farms that have been passed down, generation to generation, in one family for over 100 years. At last count, Ringgold County was home to 106 Century Farms, those that have remained in direct ownership by one…

The year 2020 was an active year for the buying and selling of ag land in Ringgold County. According to the most recent sales data from the Ringgold Count assessor’s office, 66 total transactions took place last year as compared to only 42 in 2019. In all, 6,989.81 acres totaling $23,637,338 changed hands last year,…

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is sharing data on statewide COVID-19 vaccine administration. These updates will be published each week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reports will initially be static visualizations, including high-level information on vaccine administration totals, as well as county-level information. The current update and future dashboard will be housed on…

Ron Landphair was appointed Chairperson of the Ringgold County supervisors at their organization meeting on January 4. Colby Holmes was appointed Vice-Chairperson. A number of organizational resolutions were approved by the board. They included: • Will meet each Monday at 9 a.m. • Assigned each supervisor with representative duties with various area governmental organizations. •…

Many may not know Ringgold County is home to six listings on the National Register of Historic Places. The first to be registered was the former county jail, which until recently was occupied by the James Pederson Law Office. It was added to the list in 1979. The most recent addition was the birthplace of…