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Local News

Tama County’s Belle Werner crowned 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen

DES MOINES – A little more than a month after earning the crown at the Tama County Fair, Belle Werner of Toledo has added another — this time representing the entire state of Iowa. Werner was crowned the 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen last Saturday evening, Aug. 15, on the Anne and Bill ...

A ringer for dad

GLADBROOK – He’s a ringer for his dad. It has been more than three decades since Gladbrook native Joe Smith won the Junior Boys World Horseshoe Championship at age 14. This past July, his son, rising GMG seventh-grader Zachary Smith, 12, followed in his footsteps by winning the 2026 ...

Vietnam-era helicopter finds new home in Marshall County

STATE CENTER -- Over the last few months, festivalgoers and attendees of various patriotic events may have noticed a massive restored Vietnam-era Sikorsky UH-34D Marine Corps helicopter making conspicuous landings around central Iowa, and if Nicholas and Kimberly Turner of rural State Center ...

Murty sisters earn multiple awards at 2026 Iowa State Fair FFA shows

DES MOINES – Two GMG FFA students represented the chapter at this year’s FFA Shows at the Iowa State Fair. Rising junior Skyler Murty exhibited in the Farm Crops Division with corn plants, soybean plants, a gallon of oats, and a gallon of corn. She placed eighth overall with her corn ...

Knebel named first female chair of Tama County Board of Supervisors

TOLEDO – It’s not just a simple management shift for the local board of supervisors; no, this is one of those historic moments that needs to be recorded and remembered for the posterity of Tama County. The first elected woman to the Tama County Board of Supervisors is now the first female ...

Northeast Iowa Research Farm marks 50 Years of producer-focused ag research

AMES – The Iowa State University Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm will celebrate its 50th anniversary with an open house on Sept. 10, from 2 to 7 p.m. Area farmers, agribusiness professionals and interested community members are welcome to attend the free event. Since its ...