Local News
Kalona

Sewer, stop signs, snow plan find favor with Kalona council

KALONA Having heard no comments on the city’s plan to borrow money to upgrade sewer services, the Kalona City Council moved forward Monday night, approving a $400,000 sewer revenue loan and …

The phone-free school: a mid-year report

KALONA In August, at the start of the 2024-2025 school year, Hillcrest Academy announced it would go phone-free, all day every day, as part of a new mental health initiative. “The goal of …

Head-on collision kills three, injures one on Hwy 1 south of Kalona

Three people died Monday morning in an accident occurring in the 1700 block of Hwy 1, roughly midway between Washington and Kalona, according to the Iowa State Patrol. The accident occurred just …
Riverside

Hurricane relief doesn’t take a holiday – let’s Fill the Truck again this weekend

RIVERSIDE Champion Metal Supply and KDM Trucking are once again packing the semis with supplies to truck down to North Carolina to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene. Bring your donations to …

Riverside’s creek of no name to become Lincoln Gate Creek

RIVERSIDE Just east of downtown Riverside, there is a creek that starts out of the English River and heads north. It has no name. Until now. A well-researched project by the 4-H …

Behind the scenes with the EagleBots

IOWA CITY For six hours a week, often more, you’ll find 15 high school students working nights and weekends in the basement of a building at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. They aren’t …
Wellman

Wellman’s Light the Night

The City of Wellman and Wellman Community Club hosted a fun and festive Light the Night downtown on Saturday, Nov. 30.

Wellman keeps ball rolling on water, bridge projects

WELLMAN Water system upgrades topped the agenda again Monday night for the Wellman City Council. Several water mains will be replaced in areas of the city, and to help fund the project, the City …

Received a letter about your drinking water? Here’s why

KALONA Cities are sending letters to residents and businesses regarding their water service lines and drinking water thanks to an EPA initiative that aims to protect all Americans from lead …
Lone Tree

Lone Tree’s Winter Fest

The Lone Tree Chamber of Commerce hosted a full afternoon of vendors, treats, and activities along Devoe Street on Saturday, Nov. 30.

Lone Tree chooses decreased police coverage after JoCo Sheriff raises rates

IOWA CITY The number of hours of police protection for Lone Tree will go down next July, when the next fiscal year begins. A Fiscal Year 2026 28E contract with the Johnson County …

Tasty food, smiling people fill Lone Ox Smokehouse

LONE TREE Folks were nearly shoulder-to-shoulder at Lone Ox Smokehouse & Company on Thursday night as the Brown family served beautiful cocktails at the bar and offered platters full of delicious …
Features
Band Night
The Mid-Prairie band took the field for a terrific halftime performance on Senior Night, October 11.
All eyes on the future
KALONA Hillcrest Academy experimented with a sixth grade program last school year, introducing a class of students who will end up being great ambassadors for the program. That is because next …
‘A deep sense of belonging’
KALONA When Hillcrest Academy set a course to open sixth grade classes for the 2023-24 school year, they published a middle school purpose statement which reads as follows: “The middle …
At last! Baseball and softball return to Crawfordsville
CRAWFORDSVILLE There is a profound tie between America and baseball. Many small towns across the country feature some way for their residents to play the classic ball-and-stick game, …
Hills

Johnson County finalizes plans for spending $29.3 million in ARPA funds

IOWA CITY While millions of dollars have yet to be actually spent, Johnson County has appropriated, or directed, $27.8 million of the $29.3 million it was allocated in American Rescue Plan Act …

Johnson County voters approve $30 million bond for conservation

IOWA CITY Johnson County voters overwhelmingly approved a $30 million bond referendum for conservation projects in last week’s election. In an election that produced a record number …
Iowa City/Coralville

Meet Atrium Village’s new administrator

“Coming here has been a breath of fresh air,” says Stephanie Kronlage, Atrium Village’s new administrator, who began working for the non-profit, Hills-based independent living and nursing care community in March.

Winter Sports Preview

Washington County

Board OKs FY25 pay for ambulance personnel; acknowledges challenge to Highland bond vote

WASHINGTON In a 17-minute meeting Tuesday, Washington County Supervisors approved two personnel matters, agreed to naming a Riverside creek and deducted $3,763 from the Orchard Hill remodeling …

Board revises, then sets 2nd hearing for wind ordinance

WASHINGTON Responding to public comments and criticism in last week’s public hearing about the proposed wind energy conversion ordinance, the Washington County Board of Supervisors Tuesday …
Johnson County

Shane named Executive Director for JoCo Board of Supervisors

IOWA CITY Erin Shane, who had been the interim auditor in Johnson County, was appointed as the new Board of Supervisors Executive Director during the board’s November 26 formal session. …

State education report cards in for area schools

KALONA On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Iowa Department of Education released new state school performance ratings and federal designations, determined for the first time using the state’s new …