Area News

An exclusive camp devoted to preparing young people with hearing impairments for leadership roles in the deaf community has extended an invitation to a former student in the Mount Ayr schools. Kaitlyn Johns, a junior at the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs, is one of only 64 applicants who have been accepted…

As published on page 8 of today’s Record-News, the property tax hearing for Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026) is set for March 24 at 10 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors office in the Ringgold County courthouse. Understanding the numbers included on the proposed tax levy notice can be confusing,…

The public hearing for the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 property tax levy for the Mount Ayr Community School district is scheduled Monday, March 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the board room. As published on page 8 in today’s Record-News, the legal notice for the proposed levy is broken down into six separate line items. Below…

While most museums connect people with the past, the Benton Museum not only showcases the history of the town, it is where present day residents continue to connect and discuss the town news. Each morning, a jovial group starts their day drinking coffee at the community center, conversing and reminiscing about members who once gathered…

Six Mount Ayr High School students will be competing at the Iowa High School Speech Association (IHSSA) state individual speech contest Saturday, March 15 in Ames. Mount Ayr had 13 entries in the district contest held last Saturday, and eight of them qualified for the state speech contest in a couple weeks. Senior Brittney Gilliland…

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, Ringgold County Attorney Mike Wells, and County Sheriff Rob Haley spoke to Diagonal middle and high school students on Friday, February 21 on a variety of topics related to the dangers of drugs, vaping, texting while driving, and social media. Bird opened the presentation by encouraging students to consider in…

The Mount Ayr city council appointed Cassie Noble as Deputy City Clerk and two people to share the summer recreation director role at their regular meeting Wednesday, February 19. Deputy Clerk/Utility Clerk At a special meeting held on Tuesday, January 28 at 5:15 p.m., the city council approved Resolution 2025-874, hiring Cassie Noble as a…

Bullying has become a matter of life and death for many kids, and while most people are familiar with bullying, it is quietly transforming into an epidemic. Millions of youth are experiencing cyberbullying online, through social media, and other “silent” messaging avenues every day, and parents are often unaware. This type of bullying includes mean…

By Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch The Iowa Board of Nursing has issued an emergency order suspending the license of a nurse who allegedly tested positive for drugs while working at an Iowa hospital in 2023. The board has charged Audrie Hubbard of Ringgold County, a registered nurse, with practicing nursing while under the influence…

At the February 19 meeting of the Diagonal Community School board of directors, district superintendent Larry McNutt presented his recommendation to hire Roger Johnson as the new K-12 principal the 2025-26 school year. Johnson replaces former principal Gary Clark who resigned mid-year. Johnson currently serves as K-12 principal at North Nodaway Middle/High School in Hopkins,…