News

Kalyn Klonglan joins Webster City Chamber team

Local News October 7, 2026

Kalyn Klonglan has joined the Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce as the new Community and Member Services Coordinator. Klonglan grew up in Roland, where she attended the Roland-Story Schools, graduating in 2019. She has a degree from the Des Moines Area Community College in Human Services, and most recently worked at the Ames Surgical Center. Her husband is D.J., a turkey farmer from the Stanhope area. They have two children; Kash, who is two years old, and Brooks, who is now 9 months old. They live on an acreage outside of Stanhope. Klonglan began her duties at the chamber last ...

Rental housing ordinance passes first reading

Local News October 7, 2026

Imagine a city where more than 70 chickens, ranging from chicks to full-grown hens, were kept in a single apartment. This, in a building where families lived in adjacent units. Or, where rental units lacked heat or running water for weeks at a time. Or, several people sleeping in cubicles, partitioned by plywood dividers, in a normal-sized apartment bedroom. We’re not talking here about apartments in New York City or Chicago; this happened in Webster City. According to Ariel Bertran, the city’s Development Director, “the concern isn’t simply that properties need routine ...

Step back in time at the Fall Fest at Wilson Brewer Park Saturday

Local News October 7, 2026

It will be a day of unique experiences for anyone who heads to the Wilson Brewer Park on Saturday as the 2026 Fall Fest kicks off at 1 p.m. Members of the Wilson Brewer Park and Foundation Board sponsor this event, which brings to the Webster City community, activities and processes that ...

G'day

Local News October 7, 2026

Homecoming Wednesday is color day! Today the middle school and high school will be wearing their class colors. All staff at both levels are to wear black on Wednesday. For the students, the colors are: 9th grade or 5th grade: red; 10th grade or 6th grade: pink; 11th grade or 7th grade and 12th Blood Drive Thursday at Van Diest Medical Center The Webster City community blood drive is scheduled for Thursday from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. This will be held in the Van Diest Medical Center Clinic board room, located at 2350 Hospital Drive. Appointments are encouraged by calling ...

USDA secretary urges states to allow on-road dyed diesel

Iowa News October 6, 2026

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said Tuesday in Iowa that she is urging state governors to follow the president’s move to suspend penalties on the unrestricted use of dyed diesel, a tax-exempt fuel typically allowed in off-road machinery only. President Donald Trump announced Monday evening at a rally in Nebraska he would authorize highway use of dyed diesel fuel and defer the federal excise tax on the fuel to provide relief from the steep diesel prices which have hit record highs of more than $6 per gallon, nationally. The move from Trump followed actions from ...

Turning back the pages of time

Local News October 6, 2026

1926 Flying circus to give a big show in city. Ray Shifflet’s Aerial Circus, with three planes and five performers, will give a big free aerial show in Webster City next Wednesday. The day, with its big program of free performances, is sponsored by the Freeman-Journal in cooperation with the merchants of the city, who will put on a Trade Extension day in connection with the circus. The three performances will be held at 10:30 a.m. and 2 and 4:30 p.m. The circus will consist of stunt flying, in which all three planes will be used. Featured on the program will be “Nervy” ...