West Bend News

Strong storms moved through parts of central Iowa Saturday night, causing flash flooding and scattered damage but no injuries.

West Bend-Mallard schools got a hefty shot in the arm recently when the two communities raised more than $850,000 to get the school out of budget trouble.

As the nation celebrated its independence, the city of Gowrie made it a day to remember, giving residents and visitors alike a taste of hometown hospitality with a dash of patriotism.

Editor's Note: The following article is courtesy of Karen Schwartzkopf, the West Bend Journal and Whittemore Independent.

EDITORS NOTE: The following article was submitted by Karen Schwartzkopf of the West Bend Journal and Whittemore Independent.

OAKVILLE, Iowa - By the time a friend sped up the lane to Ron Lanz's farm Saturday evening - shouting that the Iowa River levee had blown - Lanz knew he faced a fateful decision: To save his own life, more than 800 of his hogs would have to die.

By instinct, Lanz shut the door on the semitrailer that was half-filled with hogs. He feared a wall of water might rush across his 450-acre farm any minute. Then Lanz jumped into the bed of his friend's pickup truck and rode for his life. It's a decision Lanz is having a hard time living with.

Nobody said farming would be easy. That was the message Aaron Putze conveyed to a group of some 70 Jackson County Farm Bureau members at their annual meeting and picnic Tuesday night.

Through a grant from the Palo Alto County Gaming Development Corporation and Iowa Lakes Resourced Conservation and Development, the West Bend Historical Society will be taking on a project of completing a ...

We arrived at the Grotto of the Redemption on the world's worst day to tour a monument.

In 1998, Rabe retired from teaching in the Burlington School District. His 29 years in the district included tenures at Horace Mann Middle School, James Madison Middle School and Burlington High School.

“We had a glimmer of hope, so we went for it. Not every battle is won in the game of life. The WB-M Board will step back, regroup their thoughts and come up with other plans. We are not going to give up, and we will persevere.”

Editor's Note: The following story was provided to The Democrat courtesy of Karen Schwartzkopf of the West Bend Journal. via The Democrat

“The very first nest was in 1998, so 30 pairs, after 10 years of restoration is actually pretty good”

A young female trumpeter swan, called a pen, receives plenty of attention from area youth who attended the annual Wings and Wetlands events Saturday near Lost Island Lake in Palo Alto County. via Spencer Daily Reporter

“Just the fact that a hotel does something like this means they understand our needs”

Best Western International hotels hope to earn a reputation as hog heaven with a partnership with Harley-Davidson Inc. via Dubuque Telegraph Herald

“If we could reach out and talk one-on-one to every student, and really make sure they're borrowing money they absolutely need, that would be my preference”

The average student loan debt University of Iowa graduates owe increased by about $2,000 last year, but UI alums still finish school owing less money than their peers at Iowa State University and the University ... via The Gazette

A restaurant cook is out of a job and facing a felony charge after being accused of hiding hairs in a ribeye because a customer complained the first steak served to him was overcooked. via Dubuque Telegraph Herald

“We try to make it a win-win situation. We try to get a crowd for them.”

Patrons dine Thursday at the Hamburg Inn No. 2 in Iowa City. Press-Citizen / Matthew Holst * What: Hamburg Inn No. via Press-Citizen

“It spread by word of mouth, and we had more people volunteering and more projects”

Committee plans to make this fair one to remember ALGONA - With 2008 just around the corner, a lot of people are hard at work to make the year great - for the Kossuth County Fair. via Algona Upper Des Moines Newspaper

Today is Pearl Harbor Day, the anniversary of the day Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Dec. via The Messenger

“This is a big deal for Des Moines. It's really important for retaining jobs and for employment downtown”

Iowa taxpayers will help finance the reconstruction of High Street in downtown Des Moines for Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield's new headquarters and to develop land for 6,000 additional jobs. via Http

DesMoinesRegister.com/Urbandale trip visits humboldt historical sites October 5, 2007 The Urbandale Historical Society will take its fall bus trip to the Humboldt County Historical Museum complex Tuesday. via Indianola Record-Herald