Area News

Upgrades to the athletic complex were again a main item of discussion at the Monday, September 9 regular meeting of the Mount Ayr Community School board of education. Field lighting At their July meeting, the board heard a proposal from Musco Lighting of Oskaloosa to replace lighting at the football, baseball and softball fields at…

At Monday’s school board meeting, elementary principal Chris Elwood and middle/high school principal Bill Huntington shared preliminary enrollment numbers for respective buildings. Elementary PreK    48 Kindergarten    38 1st grade    31 2nd grade    37 3rd grade    31 4th grade    48 5th grade    44 6th grade    47 Total    341 Middle/high school Huntington broke his enrollment numbers down…

David and Joy McFarland of Ringgold County were inducted into the 2019 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the 4-H Exhibits Building at the Iowa State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 18. Ninety-six Iowa counties participated this year and selected 135 inductees for their outstanding service and dedication to 4-H. Inductees or their…

The deadline for candidates to file papers for seats on school boards  and city councils is Thursday, September 19. So, three incumbents – Brandi Shay, Craig Winemiller, and PJ West – have taken out nomination papers for seats on the Mount Ayr Community Schools board of education. For Mount Ayr city council, incumbents Brad Elliott…

The Mount Ayr Americal Legion Post #172 held their 100th anniversary celebration Tuesday evening at their building in Mount Ayr. The evening was a chance to honor the men and women who have made there ultimate sacrifice in serve their country. The post officially had its charter signed September 3, 1919.  John Mills was the…

At the public hearing Tuesday, September 3, the Ringgold County board of supervisors approved two motions. The first motion approved a resolution expressing intent to enter into a loan agreement and approving preliminary official statement for general obligation local option sales tax refunding bonds, series 2019A, which deals with the current bonds for the Ringgold…

Amending the city’s tree ordinance, updates to the water distribution improvement project and a change in plans for a street improvement project were main items of discussion at the Tuesday, September 3 regular meeting of the Mount Ayr city council. Tree ordinance City superintendent Brent Wise recommended the city include language from Iowa Code in…

Ayr Days 2019 is set to kickoff tomorrow (Friday, September 13) and run through Saturday. The theme of this year’s event is “Space Walking in the Ayr,” a tribute to Ringgold County native and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. Whitson will serve as parade marshal and be recognized following Saturday’s parade at a dedication ceremony of…

The Ringgold County Conservation Board is participating in the Monarch Watch tagging program and needs the community’s help capturing Monarch butterflies to tag. Join RCCB on August 31 from 10-11:30 a.m. to investigate the life cycle of a Monarch butterfly, discover how to identify male and female Monarchs, study Monarch migration and learn how to…

One Ringgold County soldier’s family is still waiting for him to return from war–the Korean War. Private First Class Jack Eugene Marshall was officially listed by the US Army as “Declared Dead While Missing” after the Battle of Chosin Reservoir on December 2, 1950. The Battle of Chosin Reservoir, also known as the Chosin Reservoir…