Coming Events

Light your fuse

Blackwall Fitness, Realtor Rachel Koth and UFG Insurance will present a nightclub setlist and full body workout at Marengo City Park from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31. The event is free to attend.

Round Up

Marengo Ministerial Alliance will be beneficiaries of the Big G Round-Up from through Sept. 10. Customers may round up their bills to the next dollar amount. The extra money will be used for the Ministerial Alliance Operation BackPack and Summer Lunch programs.

The programs provided 452 lunches during June and July 2023. During the school year, non-perishable food is sent home on Fridays to provide meals during the weekend for elementary age children.

Friday Fun

Belle Plaine Community Library begins its Friday Fun programs in September. Travels with Paula will present “Water Falls and Fall Leaves” Sept. 1 as the first program on the schedule.

Programs start at 1 p.m. at the Belle Plaine library, 904 Main St. in Belle Plaine.

Tomato tasting

The Williamsburg Public Library invites residents to taste tomatoes during its annual Tomato Tasting with Iowa County Master Gardeners.

Master Gardeners will have many varieties of tomatoes ready for visitors beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept.7, in the library at 300 W. State St. Tasters will vote for their favorites and join a round-table discussion about the produce.

Questions may be directed to Sandy Jones, Adult Services Librarian, 319-668-1195.

Story Time

Story Time begins again in September at Belle Plaine Community Library. The library, located at 904 Main St., provides Story Time to children the second and fourth Fridays of each month at 9:30 a.m. In September, those dates are Sept. 8 and Sept. 22.

Farmers markets

Marengo: second and fourth Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., north park pavilion. Last market of the season is Oct. 14.

North English: every Saturday, 8 to 11 a.m., south side of Freeman Foods.

Williamsburg: every Friday, 4 to 6 p.m. on the town square; every third Friday is a special event pop up, 4 to 7 p.m. The market runs through September.

Van Horne: at the Marketplace from 8:30-11:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 9.

Sauerkraut Days

Blairstown hosts its annual Sauerkraut Days during Labor Day weekend. At 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, the Kenneth Long Memorial Garden Tractor Pull begins.

Saturday, Sept. 2, the car show begins at 9 a.m. and the parade at 10 a.m. Children can enjoy inflatables in the city park from 10:30 a.m., and a tractor and shine show begins at 11 a.m.

Lunch consists of free sauerkraut and wieners.

A co-ed softball tournament begins at 11:30 a.m., and the state show begins at 12:30 p.m. with the crowing of the queen and princess.

Trike and bike races are set for 1 p.m. at the fires station. At 2:30 p.m., Power Wheels will battle in a Demo Derby in the city park.

Afternoon activities include a dummy board tournament in the beer tent at 3 p.m., cow chip bingo at 4 p.m., a raffle prize drawing, and a steak supper at 5 p.m. at the community center.

A kid’s dance is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the city park. The demolition derby begins at 6 p.m. a half mile north of Blairstown.

A street dance with Lonesome Road at 9 p.m. concludes Saturday.

The Sauerkraut Days softball tournament continues Sunday, and a water ball tournament begins at 11 a.m. at the fire station.

Welcome to Medicare seminar

Compass Memorial Healthcare Senior Health Insurance Information Program counselors in Marengo will offer a Welcome to Medicare seminar Saturday, Sept. 9 from 9-11:30 a.m. The seminar will be held in Marengo at Compass Memorial Healthcare in Conference Room 1 (located in a separate building to the East of the main hospital). Register by September 3 by calling 319-642-8046.

The seminar will cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, the prescription drug benefit (Part D), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance. For more information or questions call 319-642-8046.

The Senior Health Insurance Information Program is a service of the State of Iowa. SHIIP services are free and confidential.

Tootsie Roll drive

The Belle Plaine Knights of Columbus will conduct their annual Tootsie Roll fund drive from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 at the corner of Highway 21 and Seventh Avenue in Belle Plaine.

Pancake breakfast

Norway Fire and Rescue will host a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 10 at the Norway Fire Station. The menu includes pancakes, eggs, hash browns, sausage, coffee, juice and milk. A raffle drawing will take place at 9 a.m. AirCare helicopter will make an appearance at 9 a.m., weather permitting.

Hats and More

Hats and More meet Tuesday Sept. 12 at 11:15 a.m. at Bryant's Chill & Grill in the Williamsburg Outlet Mall. Hostesses will be Joan Long and Helen Bucher.

Blood drive

Williamsburg Kiwanis will host a blood drive for the American Red Cross Tuesday, Sept. 12 at St. Mary’s Community Center Hall.

Gateway Challenge Trialthlon

The Gateway Challenge Triathlon will be held Saturday, Sept. 16, from 8 to 11 a.m. Register at runsignup.com/Gatewaychallenge. Sign-up price increases after Aug. 21. A two- or three-person team option is available.

Soil Conservation

The Iowa County Soil and Water Conservation District will meet Sept. 19 at the USDA building, 435 N. Highland St., in Williamsburg, at 8 a.m. Call 319-668-2359 ext. 300 if special accommodations are needed.

The meeting is also being conducted by conference call. Email debra.conrad@ia.nacdnet.net for conference call information.

A Place for Escape

The Belle Plaine Community Library will host a fall tea Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. with Kathy Wilson. Wilson will present A Place for Escape, a program that traces the transformation of English herb gardens to cottage gardens.

The cost is $10 per person or $15 for two. The Belle Plaine library is located at 904 Main St.