Area News

By Jennifer Kellner Four new Mount Ayr Community Schools Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized at the 2025 Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony held in conjunction with the homecoming celebration starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 4. This year’s inductees include: Fay Howie In a world that often rushes by, Fay…

[Last week the Iowa Department of Education released the latest results of its online school accountability reporting system called the Iowa School Performance Profiles. The website shows updated scores and ratings for all public schools based on how its students performed on a set of accountability measures in the 2024-25 school year. This week’s article…

By Darrell Dodge Mount Ayr, Iowa – In his report to the school board on September 8, middle/high school principal Josh Vanderflught included eight home-schooled students in his initial enrollment numbers. In his report, Vanderflught listed one student in grades 6 and 8, two students in grades 7, 10 and 11 and four students in…

By Darrell Dodge In her August 27 presentation to county residents, Dr. Mary Charlton, director of the Iowa Cancer Registry (ICR) presented data revealing that Ringgold County ranks 38th out of Iowa’s 99 counties in rates of new cancers and fourth in the number deaths attributed to cancer. In fact, cancer is the No. 2…

By Jennifer Kellner Mount Ayr, Iowa – Timby building owners Doug and Gina Still, were ready to slow down after operating Still Smoking restaurant for the last nine years, but have not completely stepped out of the business scene. Their former restaurant at 104 W Madison Street on the north side of the square now…

[This article is the second in a series examining cancer in Ringgold County. Today’s installment looks at cancer incidences specific to the county.] As introduced last week, Dr. Mary Charlton, director of the Iowa Cancer Registry, visited Mount Ayr on August 27 as part of her organization’s 99 County Project. The goal of this project…

By Darrell Dodge Enrollment numbers, adding a school resource officer, and the naming of district facilities were among topics of discussion at the Monday, September 8 meeting of the Mount Ayr Community Schools board of directors. Enrollment In their reports to the board, elementary principal Chris Elwood and secondary principal Josh Vanderflught shared early enrollment…

By Jennifer Kellner The Mount Ayr City Council approved matching funds for a tornado siren grant application, a SAM GIS mapping plan and considered tree removal options at their regular meeting Monday, September 8. Closed session The first item on the regular business agenda was a closed session “to discuss strategy with counsel in matters…

Chuck Grassley, long standing Iowa, U.S. Senator made a brief visit to Ringgold County on August 27 as part of his annual 99 county tour of the state. Grassley and his entourage stopped by Glendenning Motors as part of his outreach program. He entertained a small group of business people, mostly representing the automobile sales…

By Darrell Dodge [This article is the first in a series examining cancer in Ringgold County. Today’s installment looks at data collection and general causes of cancer.] Cancer rates in Iowa overall and rates specific to Ringgold County were the focus of an August 27 presentation in Mount Ayr as part of the 99 Counties…