News briefs

Pickleball Iowa County plans tournament

MARENGO — Pickleball Iowa County will host a tournament as part of Marengo Fall Fest Saturday, Oct. 18.

The tournament begins at 10 a.m. The cost is $30 per team with a $5 discount if both team members are members of Pickleball Iowa County.

Games will be played at the outdoor courts in Marengo and in the Iowa Valley Elementary School gymnasium. The tournament is limited to 16 teams and is a recreational level tournament.

Register at pickleballiowacounty.org.

Ashley Tompkins graduates from Buena Vista

STORM LAKE — Ashley Tompkins, from Brooklyn, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business (sport business track) from Buena Vista University this summer.

Tompkins was among more than 130 students who received degrees.

Nursing students recognized during ceremony

CEDAR RAPIDS — Mount Mercy University nursing students received their white coats in a ceremony Sept. 5, marking their acceptance into the nursing program and approval to move on to clinical study.

Among the students receiving their coats were Mariah Van Ersvelde, of Grinnell, and Maryam Gangol, of Williamsburg.

Kirkwood’s Iowa County Leadership Council set for Oct. 1

WILLIAMSBURG — Kirkwood Community College will host the next meeting of its Iowa County Leadership Council Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 1:30—3 p.m. at Kirkwood’s Iowa County Center, 200 West St. in Williamsburg.

College representatives, local leaders and community members are expected to attend.

The Leadership Council was created to connect Kirkwood with the communities it serves. The meetings focus on how the college’s resources benefit the region and how new opportunities can be developed to meet local needs.

The meeting will spotlight Kirkwood’s Agricultural Sciences department — recognized widely as one of the leading two-year Ag programs in the country. Attendees will hear about the different programs available and will learn about recent developments within the department and how the department supports students, employers and the agricultural community.

For more information, and to RSVP, please contact Michael Jacobsen at 319-668-2461 or michael.jacobsen@kirkwood.edu.

Conservation banquet set for Oct. 11

MARENGO — Friends of Iowa County Conservation will host its annual banquet Oct. 11.

The event will begin with a social hour, wine tasting and silent auction. Auction items include gift cards donated by local businesses.

The social hour and silent auction begin at 5 p.m. A catered dinner begins at 6 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased by calling the Nature Center at 319-655-8465, emailing carmen.grimm@gmail.com or by using Venmo. To use Venmo, search Friends of Iowa County Conservation Foundation.

Proceeds from the banquet will go toward the upgrade of Gateway Park and pond in Marengo. The plans include a new boat ramp.