Coming Events

Butler’s Bunch

Butler’s Bunch Sharing for Hope support group will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 in the Compass Memorial Healthcare executive boardroom in Marengo. The group welcomes anyone being treated for cancer, anyone who has had cancer, has been or are caregivers, anyone who has survived cancer or been touched by it in any way.

Meetings are informal. Those who wish may share experiences as a patient, caregiver or may simply listen.

For information about how to join the group virtually, call Mary Warwick at 319-642-8054.

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.

Gateway Challenge Triathlon

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

True Crime

Cedar Rapids investigator Matt Denlinger will talk about the murder of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko during a free program Sunday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Marengo Public Library.

On Dec. 19, 1979, Martinko’s body was found in her parent’s car at Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids. Thirty-nine years later, a suspect was identified in this cold case using DNA.

The program is presented by Friends of Marengo Public Library.

Conway Twitty

Bobby Simkins will present his Conway Twitty dinner show at Price Creek Event Center, 4709 200th Trail in Amana Saturday, Sept. 16. Doors open at 5 p.m. A meal will be served at 5:30 p.m. The show begins at 7 p.m. General admission is $42; VI P tickets cost $52. Call 319-361-6786 for tickets.

Corvettes

The Cedar Rapids Corvette Club will display a variety of vintage Corvettes at Pioneer Heritage Museum Saturday, Sept. 16. The Corvettes will be at the museum, 675 E. South St. in Marengo, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The Cedar Rapids Corvette Club is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

Writers conference

The All-Iowa Writers’ Conference, which had been held for 10 consecutive years prior to COVID, is returning for an eleventh year.

The conference is set for Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Community Hope Church in Montezuma.

David LaBelle, Adrianne Finlay, Joe LeValley and Laura Snider are a few of the authors who will speak.

The conference runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Cost for the all-day conference is $40 for preregistration or $50 at the door. Lunch from Dayton’s Meat Products in Malcom will be provided.

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.

Specialty Care

The Food Council at Belle Plaine Specialty Care, 1505 Sunset Dr., will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19. The Resident Council will meet at 2 p.m. that day.

The monthly birthday party will celebrate Terrence Macek and Ruth Squiers at 5:30 p.m.

Bingo with Care Initiatives Hospice begins at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28.

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.

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. The next story time is Sept. 22.

Last dance

The last dance of the old Legion will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at 1240 Lafayette Ave. in Marengo. A meal will be served from 5-7 p.m. for a freewill donation. Live music is scheduled for 7-10 p.m. A cash bar will be available. The event is subject to a cover charge.

Proceeds will pay for new kitchen equipment.

Victor park

The Waterworks Park Renovation Committee in Victor invites the public to celebrate renovation of the play area in Waterworks Park.

A ribbon-cutting is set for Saturday, Sept. 23, from 4-6 p.m. A temporary tattoo artist and a balloon twister from Zoops Fun Zone will be present from 4-5 p.m., and the Grinnell Hy-Vee will serve a picnic meal from 5-6 p.m.

‘The United States of Oil’

Tyler Priest associate professor of history at the University of Iowa, will present "The United States of Oil at the English Valleys History Center Sunday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. The program will explain how Americans have produced and consumed more oil in the past 100 years than any other people on earth.

The English Valleys History Center is located at 108 N. Main St. in North English. The event is free, but donations will be accepted.

Chili supper

Marengo Community Center, 1083 Court Ave., will host a chili supper Sunday, Sept. 24 from 4-6:30 p.m. Chili, relishes, pie and a drink will be available for a donation.