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Young re-elected chairman of Hamilton County Supervisors

Rick Young was elected chairman of the Hamilton County Supervisors Friday at the special organizational meeting for the county on Friday morning. April Ely was elected chairman pro-tem. Throughout the meeting, resolutions were approved to set standard operating procedures for handling the business of the county. Seven resolutions were approved, including several concerning the county's finances. Among those items were ensuring payments were made on a timely basis for basic budgeted items, making financial transfers when needed, the investment of funds and which financial institutions ...

City Council of Webster City holds first meeting of 2026 tonight

The City Council of Webster City holds its first regularly-scheduled meeting of 2026 tonight. Heading the short agenda are the election of a mayor and mayor pro tem, and appointment of officers and representatives to various commissions. Under Webster City’s council-manager form of government, city council members elect a mayor from among themselves, who then serves a two-year term. Since 2016, John Hawkins has served as mayor of Webster City. Zachary Chizek, a principal of the local law firm Groves & Chizek, has served as city attorney since 2015. In Webster City, the city ...

County Supervisors accept bid for bridge replacement

During the Friday re-organizational meeting, the Hamilton County Supervisors approved the recommendation from County Engineer Ryan Weidemann to accept a bid for the two bridges slated for replacement in 2026. The quotes were to replace the bridges in southern Hamilton County. The first bridge is on Tollman Avenue, south of Randall. The other bridge is on R61, south of Ellsworth. These two bridges are being replaced with precast concrete box culverts. Weidemann presented the six bids. Bids were received from Jenco Construction, Inc., Midwest Contracting, LLC, Reilly Construction ...

Happy New Year! 2026 is here

On one of the last days before the Christmas break, the Webster City High School music students were entertained by the jazz quintet, "Day Okay," seen above. The afternoon performance, organized by Dave Parrott and Eric Hanson, was a thank you for the students' hard work during the first ...

Hands-free fines begin: tickets being issued for using phone while behind the wheel

As 2026 begins, drivers in Iowa have even more reason to put down their phones while behind the wheel. That’s because a law authored by state Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge, is now in full effect and law enforcement officers will be issuing tickets to anyone caught with a phone or other electronic device in their hand while driving. The law, which Meyer had pushed for almost since taking office in 2019, actually went on the books on July 1, 2025. But it included a six-month grace period in which only warnings would be issued. That grace period is now over. According to Meyer, about ...

Hamilton County Supervisors to set organizational structure for 2026

The Hamilton County Supervisors will be meeting today at 9 a.m. at the Hamilton County Courthouse, located at 2300 Superior St. The meeting, which begins at 9 a.m., will be held in the basement level of the courthouse. This is the organizational meeting for 2026. During this meeting, the supervisors will establish the basic operational criteria for the year of 2026. Early on the agenda will be the election of the 2026 chairman and the chairman pro-tem in addition to a number of financial resolutions. David Young served as chairman of the supervisors during 2025. Young ...