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Local News

Stars, Stripes, and Small Town Pride

REINBECK AND GARWIN - As Americans across the country celebrated Independence Day on Friday, July 4, Reinbeck hosted its annual 4th of July celebration while nearby Garwin hosted its own Freedom Days festival. The bulk of the activities in both communities were held in the towns’ ...

Spotlight on Shane

REINBECK – As operations manager for the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District, Shane Hawkins spends a good portion of his days ensuring the district’s facilities are maintained to the best of his ability – an increasingly tall task in light of the ever-deteriorating conditions ...

Full (wind) speed ahead

TOLEDO – The possibility of Tama County heading to trial over the Board of Supervisors’ Jan. 6, 2025 wind moratorium became more likely when the judge in the Feb. 5, 2025 case Salt Creek Wind, LLC v. Tama County Board of Supervisors/Tama County denied the County’s motion to dismiss ...

Testimony begins in Karina Cooper first degree murder trial

CEDAR RAPIDS — Emotions ran high inside the Linn County Courthouse on Wednesday, July 2, as the first degree murder trial of Karina Cooper, a rural Traer resident accused of killing her husband Ryan on June 18, 2021, began with opening arguments from the prosecution and defense. Aaron ...

Four vie for 2025 Tama County Fair Queen

GLADBROOK – The 2025 Tama County Fair Queen candidates were recently announced and this year include four outstanding candidates: Benton Community rising senior Belle Werner of Toledo; Class of 2025 homeschool graduate Lauren Keller of Gladbrook; South Tama rising senior Rylee Ridout of ...

Garwin veterans presented Quilts of Valor

GARWIN - From left to right, Harvin Langenbau (Coast Guard), Clayton Ratliff (Army), Tyler Woehlk (National Guard), Robert Pailthorpe (Navy), Kaden (Marines), Lowell A. LeMaster (Army), Jay Jackson (Navy) and Justin Graves (Army) all received Quilts of Valor from the Central Iowa Quilt ...

The Sash Clash

TOLEDO – Last week's Tama County Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday, June 30, was like a new jar of pickles, filled to the brim, as every seat in the house was taken by eager citizens. The main reason for everyone's attendance was the scheduled public hearing of Craig Sash, who the ...

Gladbrook Women’s Club News

GLADBROOK – On April 10, members of the Gladbrook Women’s Club served the Senior Citizens luncheon with a program presented by Melinda Ruopp and her K-9 Lizzy. Following the program Co-President Rhonda opened the meeting with 15 members answering roll call with their pets’ ...

Iowa DNR to host open house at Union Grove

GARWIN – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is holding an open house on Monday, July 28 from 5-7 p.m. at the Union Grove State Park Youth Shelter located at 215th St. near Garwin to discuss the habitat management, recreation use, wildlife populations and other topics of interest ...

Fermentation workshop coming to Toledo Aug. 5

TOLEDO – Build your confidence in small-batch fermentation with safe, simple methods that support product consistency, food safety, and future business growth during a hands-on workshop on Aug. 5 from 1-3 p.m. The workshop will be offered at ISU Extension and Outreach Tama County in Toledo. ...