Three candidates seeking the Republican Party’s nomination in the June 2 Primary Election will take part in a meet and greet on Monday, May 11 in Lake Mills. US Senate candidate Jim Carlin, Iowa Governor candidate Brad Sherman, and Iowa District 5 Senate candidate Stacy Besch, will be the featured speakers at the meet and greet at the Truman Helgeson Civic Center from 4-6 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

The Forest City Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center alongside Charit-Able Donations Thrift Store will host a ribbon cutting at noon on Tuesday, May 19, to celebrate Charit-Able Donations’ move to a new location. The store is moving to the former Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 145 E. M St. in Forest City.

Hello from Timely Mission! There is still a chill in the air, so we did not get outside this week. We kept busy inside with exercise and activities!

We enjoyed playing Farkle on Monday. The residents helped Ann Larson celebrate her 100th birthday on the 28th. She celebrated again on Saturday from 2-4 with the rest of her family and friends! 

WCTA Fiber Internet will disburse nearly 7,200 dividend checks totaling more than $2 million to its members later this spring. These payments represent the remaining deferred dividends for members who received service in 2006, along with additional patronage dividends for a portion of 2002.

The Heartwarmers Quilt Guild in Buffalo Center will meet on Wednesday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Heritage Town Center in Buffalo Center. Anyone interested in quilting is invited to attend.

Several Bison FFA members took part in the annual “Drive Your Tractor to School Day” on Friday, May 1 at North Iowa High School. Getting up early to make it to school on time with their tractors were, from left: Kayla Heyer, Ethan Matson, Beckett Jensen, Kole Heyer, Landon Eichenberger, Hayden Larson, Carter Wubben, Zander Hanson, and Rowan Welhousen. (Photo by North Iowa Yearbook)

Absentee ballots for the June 2 Primary Election are now available in the Winnebago County Auditor’s Office, according to Karla Weiss, Commissioner of Elections. Voters may register and vote in the County Auditor’s office during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and on specified dates listed below. The voter pre-registration deadline is at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, May 18.

Hello from Timely Mission! We continued our daily games and exercises this week, as well as getting outside and enjoying the fresh air and amazing temperatures!

As winter ends and spring arrives, we are happy to see the snowplows replaced by tractors, seed tenders, and planters on the roads and in the fields. There’s just something promising about the change in seasons. It gives us new hope for the great things that lie ahead. We have many such great things happening at the Lake Mills Public Library.

The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 21 of Buffalo Center, Iowa met at 1:30 p.m. at the Heritage Town Center on April 20, 2026. Eleven members were present. President Illa Roth opened the meeting. All members recited the Pledge of Allegiance and the preamble. President Roth gave the standing rules, mission statement, opening prayer, and correspondence.

About 12-15 years ago, a severe thunderstorm with a tornado developed on a Saturday afternoon near Buffalo Center heading east towards Lake Mills. There was a young tree across from the Hanson Nature Center north of Leland that had it made in life, that is, until that afternoon. Standing tall and erect with its root base tapped into the stream next to it, the tree’s future looked great until the 4 p.m.

Three sixth graders from Lake Mills Middle School took part in the Central Iowa Wind Ensemble Youth Band Festival held in Ankeny on Thursday, Apr. 23. From left are Cooper Schmidt (percussion), McKenna Stellpflug (clarinet), and Anna Budach (percussion). The students performed under the direction of composer Carol Brittin Chambers. (Photo by Bethany Dieken)

The Class of 2026 prevailed in the annual Battle of the Classes held Friday, Apr. 24 at North Iowa High School. The afternoon of challenges included activities like “Don’t Ring the Bell,” “Noodle Swords,” a food eating contest, and a tug of war. Senior champions include, front from left: Neely Jensen, Tarra Viergutz, and Audryana Carillo-Cervantes.

The Lake Mills fourth graders brought the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus to life on Thursday, Apr. 23, with the show “Olympus: The Greek Rock Musical.” The musical follows a group of cousins who set off on a hike to “Olympus Overlook,” where they are tested by ancient deities in a contest to prove who is the greatest Greek god of all time.

The Forest City FFA Chapter Activity team took home the award for State Runner-Up at the 98th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference. For their activity, the team recreated their Soil Judging Practice they hosted last fall under the category of Growing Leaders. From left are: Teagan Langerud, Aubrey Olson, Max Aitchison, and Wyatt Bertram. (Submitted photo)