News

Iowa Central alumni return for a day in the clay studio

Iowa News September 21, 2026

Two accomplished ceramic artists whose creative journeys began at Iowa Central Community College will return to Fort Dodge on Thursday, September 24, for a special day of ceramics workshops at the Iowa Central Art & Technology Building. Kwok -Pong “Bobby” Tso and Man Ho “Billy” Cho both worked with Maureen Seamonds at her studio in Webster City, “The Produce Station Pottery. She was also their instructor at ICCC. A Day in the Clay Studio: Moldmaking for Ceramics & Wheel Throwing will feature Kwok-Pong “Bobby” Tso and Man Ho “Billy” Cho from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ...

G'day

Local News September 21, 2026

Trustees for Van Diest Medical Center meet Tuesday. The Van Diest Medical Center board of trustees will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. This will be held in the Clinic board room at the hospital located at 2350 Hospital Drive. On the agenda is the approval of the FY 26 financial audit, pillar reports on the hospital management, growth and community, service excellence, quality and continuous improvement and financial performance. In addition there will be the Medical staff update and Mercy One update. Airport Commission to meet Tuesday The Webster City airport Commission will meet ...

2026 fishing season winding down

Iowa News September 21, 2026

For this fisherman, the open water 2026 fishing season is winding down. This past season was a good one. Fishing in many places is still very good. And, like most things, fishing continues to change. Many of the changes are for the better, and, like almost anything, some are questionable. Due to aggressive fisheries management, in many bodies of water there are more and bigger fish. And conversations continue among anglers and authorities about fine-tuning the rules of fishing. Seasons and catch limits are a couple topics receiving much attention. Access to fishing information, ...

Turning Back the Pages of Time

Local News September 21, 2026

1951 Condemn Jewell phone service Resolutions condemning equipment used and service given by the Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., in Jewell were passed by the Jewell Commercial club at a recent meeting of the organization. The resolutions, presented by Mayor G.O. Blake, stated that while the Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., is contemplating raising the telephone rates, the service in Jewell is extremely poor due to the obsolete and broken down equipment. The Commercial club also condemned the raise as being “unnecessary and inequitable” in relation to the service received. ...

Jewell swimming pool project receives $675,000 CAT grant

Local News September 21, 2026

After nearly 4 years of fundraising by the people of Jewell and surrounding communities, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) notified the city of Jewell Friday that they were approved for a $675,000 Community Attraction & Tourism (CAT) grant. “It started with a group of 4 or 5 people,” said Rick Young, “I was a naysayer in the beginning, wondering ‘how are we going to raise 2.6 million dollars for this.’” But because of a strong core of people who persisted, including his wife, he changed his mind. “It’s like the story of Stone Soup, it started with ...

Outsider farm owners are an issue in the governor’s race. Here’s what experts say

Iowa News September 21, 2026

As agricultural land prices have increased drastically over the past two decades and young, want-to-be farmers have an increasingly difficult time starting their operations, politicians nationally, and here in Iowa, have questioned if corporate or foreign interests are to blame. Iowa gubernatorial candidates Zach Lahn and Rob Sand both have said corporate or out-of-state ownership of Iowa farmland is a problem and have suggested policies that would tax Iowans at lower rates than out-of-state or investor landowners. But ag land researchers say that much of the rise in formalized farm ...