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Local News

Tama County Supervisors review request to reduce board back to three members

TOLEDO – A battalion of citizens headed to the Monday, Aug. 17 Tama County Board of Supervisors meeting with confusion the predominant feeling as no one seemed to have a firm grasp on what was going on or what the proper thing to do was, especially as it pertained to the petition to return ...

Tama County’s Belle Werner crowned 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen

DES MOINES – A little more than a month after earning the crown at the Tama County Fair, Belle Werner of Toledo has added another — this time representing the entire state of Iowa. Werner was crowned the 2026 Iowa State Fair Queen last Saturday evening, Aug. 15, on the Anne and Bill ...

Alumni wind up in Traer for milestone class reunions

TRAER – Eight invited North Tama/Traer classes celebrated milestone reunions Aug. 7-8 as part of the 2026 Winding Stairs Festival, including Traer High School classes of 1956 (70 years) and 1961 (65 years), and the North Tama High School classes of 1966 (60 years), 1971 (55 years), 1976 (50 ...

Knebel named first female chair of Tama County Board of Supervisors

TOLEDO – It’s not just a simple management shift for the local board of supervisors; no, this is one of those historic moments that needs to be recorded and remembered for the posterity of Tama County. The first elected woman to the Tama County Board of Supervisors is now the first female ...

Welcoming Wrenlynne Maye Heitmann

VINTON - Aubree and Hunter Heitmann of Vinton celebrated the birth of their first child, daughter Wrenlynne Maye Heitmann, on July 11, 2026. Wrenlynne weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and measured 19 1/2 inches long. Grandparents are Amber and Jeremy Monat of Traer, and Dawn and Matt Heitmann of ...

2026 McKenna Reunion welcomes 39 family members

TRAER — The 2026 McKenna Reunion for the families of the late Charles and Clara McKenna was held Sunday, Aug. 2, at Taylor Park in Traer. Thirty-nine family members attended the potluck dinner. President Stephanie Buchanan led the business meeting following dinner. Officers elected for the ...

Traer Nostalgia: Green Chopping Alfalfa

TRAER – Fresh cut alfalfa is a favorite smell of summer on the farm. Vincent Caslavka is shown green chopping alfalfa to feed his dairy cows in 1957. He farmed in Oneida Township east of the V18 and E29 corner. In the 1950s, Tama County had hundreds of dairy farmers like Caslavka.