Front Page News

‘Can’t imagine moving any other place’

Lester Parade Marshals 2025 Bob and Cindy Leuthold have been named the parade marshals for this year’s Lester Days celebration. From running a business to helping start the town’s rescue squad, the two have been part of Lester for years. (Photo/Tristan Taylor)...

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Weathering the Storm

Path of the Storm Pictured is the path of the tornado that touched down a mile east of Alvord Monday, July 28. Classified as an EF-1, the tornado caused damage for 1.74 miles before lifting back up. (Photo/Dominique Kooiker) Downed Powerline Several powerlines were...

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Competing with the best

The National Stage (Left to Right) Dallas Koedam, Kinser Koedam and Emma Poppens, members of Plum Creek Rodeo, competed at the National Rodeo Finals earlier this summer. Kinser competed in the junior high division in Des Moines, while Dallas and Poppens took part in...

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Celebrating 75 years of conservation

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD On Tuesday, July 29, at the Lyon County Soil and Water Conservation District awards banquet, Warren and Roxanne Newborg. Warren served on the Lyon County Soil and Water Conservation District board as a commissioner 16 years, and the couple...

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So good to be back

TWIST AND TURNSKenzie Koedam of the West Lyon FFA weaves in and out of poles with her horse Peanut during the Lyon County Fair horse show's Pole Bending Event. (Photo/Tristan Taylor) Good Times at the FairBrodix Ageson and Trinity Strassburg enjoy time together at the...

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2025 Friend of the Fair

PRESENTING THE 2025 FRIEND OF THE FAIR Lori Rens, a member of the Lyon County Fair Board, presents the 2025 Friend of the Fair July 24 at the 4-H Foundation Supper and Awards. This year not one individual was named Friend of the Fair but rather all who have taken part...

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Finale of the fair

4-H COUNTY COUNCIL A group of 4-H County Council representatives take a picture with Jill Postma, the county youth coordinator of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, at the 4-H Foundation supper and awards ceremony July 24. (Photo/Amy Lyon) 4-H COMMUNITY...

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‘Cats to compete at 2A state tourneys

Outstanding school year for athletics sees final two varsity teams head to state Following its 10-0 win over Okoboji, and the ensuing handshake line, West Lyon baseball celebrates its victory more before posing for a banner picture. Thanks to its mercy-rule defeat of...

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Larchwood Family Days 2025

Ducky DropKids and adults alike scramble to pick up rubber ducks at the Larchwood splash pad. The Wiggles and Giggles Childcare Center had its ducky drop fundraiser during this year’s Larchwood Family Days. (Photo/Tristan Taylor) Tristan Taylor | Editorhe city of...

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Recognizing hard work

Threshing Bee member named Straw Boss Granite Straw BossMarv Manifold was named the Straw Boss for this year’s Granite Threshing Bee, happening July 19-20. Manifold has been involved with many things at Granite through the years, especially the tractor pulls and...

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Step into the past

Granite Threshing Bee opening this weekend Tristan Taylor | EditorIt’s time once again for the past to meet the present in northwest Iowa with the 41st annual “Back to the Basics” Threshing Bee in Granite. This once-a-year event brings people from all across the...

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Rebuilding a summer tradition

WORKING ON THE FAIRGROUNDSOn Tuesday, July 1, fair board members and volunteers work to complete the horse arena at the Lyon County Fairgrounds in Rock Rapids. The horse arena was one of the areas damaged in the June 2024 flood. The new arena is 20 feet longer than...

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Star-Spangled Celebration

Manna Market Volunteers from Manna Market Food and More Pantry walking through the Inwood Fourth of July Parade. Their parade float collected food and toiletries to help give back to community members. (Photo/Tristan Taylor) The racers are off for the Inwood...

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‘Special to me’

Born and Raised Linda and Alan Snyders have always called Larchwood home, and this year they are being honored with the title of parade marshals for the 2025 Larchwood Family Days celebration. They will lead the parade Saturday, July 12. (Photo/Tristan Taylor) 2025...

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No place they’d rather live

Inwood’s 2025 Parade Marshals Larry and Henrietta Kruse were named this year’s parade marshals for the Inwood Fourth of July celebration. Having lived here since 1965, they both agree they wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. (Photo/Tristan Taylor) Inwood Fourth of...

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Learning in Alaska

The Wonders of Alaska Marae Gerber, Kayla Knoblock, Ellie Metzger and Kayla Knoblock pose in front of the mountains during their agri-tourism trip to Alaska. (Photo/Submitted) On the High Seas Abby Knobloch and Kayla Knoblock show off their big catch while on a...

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The Place to be: Alvord Days 2025

Sandy CompetitionThe competition was fierce and competitors even fiercer during the sand-volleyball tournaments as part of this year’s Alvord Days. (Photo/Tristan Taylor) Fun in the ParkThis young girl comes sliding out of a bouncy house in the Alvord city park. There...

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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...

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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. They toured the areas such as the new weight room and auditorium. (Photo/Tristan Taylor)...

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