
First Big Bash of the Summer
Preview of this year’s Alvord Days Tristan Taylor | Editor chools are out for the summer and the weather is much warmer, that means it’s time to celebrate! And the first big celebration of the season in West Lyon is almost here with Alvord Days 2025. The City of Alvord will be hosting its annual celebration Saturday, June 7, with a variety of activities...

Meet your future Miss Inwood
Erica Meendering Chloe Van Essen Bria Berentschot Brooke Dieters Cora Van Beek Daenerys Snyders Elsie Van Beek Jazlynn Rozeboom Rylee Halma Tennyson Reinke Violet Bixler Zaylie...

And the work goes on
Construction Tour On April 21, 2025, staff at West Lyon Community School took a tour through the construction areas on the north wing of school, led by Hausmann Construction....
Current News
Current News
Taking the oath
The Newest Members AT LEFT: On Wednesday, May 28, Tristan Taylor (left) and Natalie Bohlke (right)...
Summer fun
Local water parks opening for the season Tristan Taylor | Editor It’s time for some summer fun in...
‘Well, we all are going to die’
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst defends Medicaid cuts at heated town hall Robin Opsahl | Iowa Capital...
Pizza From Start to Finish
From left to right: Caroline Huyser, Cindy Van Voorst, Paul Kippley and Randy Gacke make pizzas...
Opening-day victory
Sophomore Easton DeJong whips the ball to senior Gage Blauwet and around the horn following a...
Softball ’Cats mercy-rule ’Hawks
West Lyon senior Jersey Hawf prepares to release a pitch against Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley during...
WL T&F caps year at Drake
Savannah Smith runs a leg of the 800-meter sprint medley relay during the final day of the Iowa...
Preparing for the international stage
Top-10 in the World Aria Murray (middle) stands with her parents, Weston and Alex. They all wear...
Cleaning up the county
PREPARING TO PAINT Harper Bergestadt, left, and Aubrey Ahrenholtz scrape off old paint in...
Honoring a fallen deputy during National Police Week
HONORING A FALLEN DEPUTY On Wednesday, May 10, Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputies Alex Waagmeester...
The closing chapter
Passion for Reading Nancy Kerkvliet has been a library aide at West Lyon the past 28 years, and...
For the love of teaching
Second-grade teacher Jill Meyer is celebrating her retirement from West Lyon this school year...
Obituaries
Ardis Ellis
59 Canton, South Dakota May 21, 2025 Ardis (Moulton) Ellis, 59, of Canton, South Dakota, passed away Wednesday, May 21, 2025. There will be no funeral service. Survivors include two children, four grandchildren, four siblings including Susy (Alan) Teach of Inwood,...
Shelly Smit
61 Rock Valley, Iowa May 19, 2025 Shelly Smit, 61, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Monday, May 19, 2025, as a result of injuries sustained in a house fire near Rock Valley. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 21, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Rock Valley....
Delores Jean Hassebroek
79 Sioux Falls, South Dakota May 26, 2025 Delores Jean Hassebroek, age 79, passed away on May 26, 2025, at Good Samaritan Luther Manor in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Private family services will be held at a later date. Born June 23, 1945, in Sibley, Iowa, Delores was...
Donna Dieren
73Sioux Falls, South DakotaMay 10, 2025Donna Dieren, 73, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Ava’s House, Sioux Falls.Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Michael’s Catholic Church at a later date. Donna Marie Krejci was born March...
Thelma De Smit
77 Rock Valley, Iowa May 10, 2025 Thelma De Smit, 77, of Rock Valley, Iowa, passed away Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull, Iowa.Funeral service was Friday, May 16, at Porter Funeral Home, Rock Valley, with interment in Valley View Cemetery,...
Vivien Norris
70 Larchwood, Iowa May 12, 2025 Vivien Norris, 70, Larchwood, Iowa, passed away in her home Monday May 12, 2025. Memorial service was Monday, May 19, at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, South DakotaVivien Ann Claussen was born May 30, 1954, in Canton, South...
Vernon Knutson
84 Inwood, Iowa May 13, 2025 Vernon Knutson, 84, of Inwood, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Good Samaritan Society in Canton, South Dakota. Funeral service was Saturday, May 17, at Inwood Porter Funeral Home with interment in Richland Cemetery, Inwood....
Viola McKenney
83 Brandon, South Dakota May 16, 2025 Viola McKenney, 83, of Brandon, South Dakota, died Friday, May 16, 2025, at her home. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, with family present at Peace Lutheran Church, Rock Rapids, Iowa. Funeral service will be at...
Sports
Opening-day victory
Sophomore Easton DeJong whips the ball to senior Gage Blauwet and around the horn following a Ridge Kramer strikeout. The senior starting pitcher threw five innings of work and racked up nine Ks. (Photo/Andrew Buckman) Senior Tate Hawf leads off the season for West...
Softball ’Cats mercy-rule ’Hawks
West Lyon senior Jersey Hawf prepares to release a pitch against Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley during the season-opener in Lester. Hawf gave up three earned runs in a 13-3 for the Wildcats. (Photo/Lisa Miller) West Lyon Softball Class 3A No. 12 team earns opening-day win in...
WL T&F caps year at Drake
Savannah Smith runs a leg of the 800-meter sprint medley relay during the final day of the Iowa High School Track and Field Championships. West Lyon finished 11th in the event with a season-best time. (Photo/Dan Wolfswinkel) Jaxton DeJong begins to clear a hurdle...
No ’Cats head to state
Elliot Snyders pulls his bag during the Class 2A Lake Mills District meet Monday, May 19. Snyders closed the meet with a 95 at Rice Lake Golf Course and Country Club. (Photo/Andrew Buckman) West Lyon Boys’ Golf Campaign closes for group at Rice Lake district...
Folkens ends year in Lake Mills
Haley Folkens tees off at a hole during the Class 2A Region 2 final. Folkens finished the final meet of her junior year with a 98 in Lake Mills. (Photo/Andrew Buckman) West Lyon Girls’ Golf WL junior finishes Rice Lake 2A regional final in 19th place Andrew Buckman |...
State Track Preview
West Lyon senior Tate Hawf runs in the 100-meter dash during the prelims of the Iowa High School Track and Field Championships. Hawf finished in 16th place, clocking a 11.30 in the event. Full state track coverage will be published in our next edition due to Memorial...
West Lyon Baseball
Back row (LtoR): Jacob Schemmel, Jaxan Huyser, Ridge Kramer, Sam Underberg, Patrick Halma, Gage Blauwet, Bryson Childress, Tate Hawf, Carson Meyer, Jerrence Knobloch; Front row: River Kramer, Mason McCarty, Easton De Jong, Jacob Snyders, Cooper Schoening, Tristan...
West Lyon Softball
Back row (LtoR): Belah Kramer, Lucy Doorneweerd, Mallorie Koch, Mara Beehler, Taya Christie, Jessa Ciesielski, Avery Schoening, Brooke Poppens, Hadlee Vander Sanden; Front row: Katelyn Berentschot, Leah Blauwet, Jersey Hawf, Ella Langenhorst, Braylyn Childress, Reese...