AnnaMarie Kruse

Thanks to a surprise $10,000 grant announced Monday, Oct. 20, by the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, young wrestlers from southeast Iowa will have better opportunities to train with the Hawkeye Wrestling Academy in Iowa City.

Community members gathered this past Saturday, Oct. 18 at the gardens of PLANT Washington for the organization’s inaugural Harvest Party, celebrating the close of a successful first season and planting the roots for what organizers describe as an ongoing effort to grow food, relationships and knowledge in the city.

Fierce wind and chilly temperatures did not keep kids away when the Iowa Heartlanders rolled out nets, sticks, pucks and their antlered mascot, Dash, for some street hockey in Kalona, Tuesday, Oct. 21.

Slowing down to a snail pace to avoid being jostled too much while crossing the Old Military Road railroad crossing in Ainsworth will hopefully become a thing of the past as the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CPKC) will begin repairs on the crossing at noon, Tuesday, Oct. 21, weather permitting. The work, however, is expected to take approximately two weeks.

The Mt. Pleasant Community School District continues to repurpose buildings on the former Iowa Wesleyan University campus, reshaping how it uses space and positioning itself for greater flexibility in the years ahead.

While Henry County navigates a time without an IT and Security Director in the wake of Derek Wellington’s resignation, supervisors express gratitude for assistance and look forward to an audit to better understand the county’s needs.

Downtown Washington gained a vibrant new addition when Libations on Iowa officially opened its doors to a crowd of eager residents, local leaders, and business owners just before lunch on Wednesday, Oct. 15. The much-anticipated grand opening of the restaurant and bar at 106 South Iowa Avenue marked not only a milestone for owner Megan Libe, but also the revival of a historic space that sat empty for years.

When Henry County Sheriff Rich McNamee and his deputies presented oversize checks to every elementary school in the county this month, the moment represented more than charity; it was a show of partnership between law enforcement and education.

Check out upcoming events around Henry County

The Henry County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to award the rural sanitation contract to All American Sanitation of New London, ending WEMIGA Waste’s tenure as the county’s service provider. The decision, made during the board’s Oct. 9 meeting, hinged largely on cost savings paired with assurances about equipment reliability.

After an emotional public hearing Monday night, the Mt. Pleasant Community School District will continue exploring options for demolition of the P.E.O. Memorial Library on the former Iowa Wesleyan campus and open bids later this month.

Check out upcoming events in the Washington area

With the beginning of October, purple ribbons have appeared on squad cars and police uniforms in Washington. This is just one quiet, but unmistakable symbol of solidarity with survivors of domestic violence shown locally. The gestures mark the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time when local leaders, advocates, and law enforcement renew their commitment to ending abuse and supporting survivors.

check out events coming up around the Winfield and Wayland areas

As of July 1, Henry County and the rest of Iowa began phasing out the regional mental health structure and shifting behavioral health oversight to Iowa Primary Care Association, a transition that officials say promises more streamlined service but raises questions about continuity, funding and local voice.