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New year marks citable driving offense

By Kim Fickett

Jan. 1, 2026, not only marked the start of the New Year, but also the moment Iowa’s hands-free driving law became a citable driving offense.

HRH announces affiliation with Avera

HAWARDEN — Hawarden Regional Healthcare (HRH) has announced it will enter into a Partner in Health agreement with Avera effective Jan. 1, 2026.

Chamber announces annual banquet

By Kim Fickett

The Akron Area Chamber of Commerce has announced it will hold its annual banquet on Saturday, Jan. 17.

Hinton business serves up health and positivity

By Kim Fickett

Those traveling through Hinton now have a new place to stop and grab a delicious, energizing, and nutritious drink.

Business owner, mother, wife, nonprofit founder, and mayor

The Akron Hometowner 

By Sabrina Escalante 

Lisa Hodgson (Welch), a 1999 Akron-Westfield graduate, was elected and sworn in as the mayor of Alcester on Dec. 4, 2024. 

Firefighters save dog in house fire

The Akron Hometowner 

By Sabrina Escalante 

 

Le Mars Fire-Rescue crew extinguish house fire on Christmas Day

The Akron Hometowner 

By Sabrina Escalante 

 

A house fire broke out on the evening of Christmas in Le Mars. The house fire was reported via phone call at 8:47 p.m. at 412 5th Ave. S.E. 

Start of ‘25 brings fires, accolades, and growth

Editor’s Note:

Over the course of our next three issues, we will be recapping some of the top news stories from 2025. In this week’s edition, we will look at stories from January to April.

By Kim Fickett

January

Museum kicks off capital campaign with NYE Gala

By Kim Fickett

The Plymouth County Historical Museum is gearing up for its New Year’s Eve Gala from 7-11 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 31, at “Old Central” Gym.

The gala, which will officially launch the museum’s 2026 capital campaign, will be the first time the museum has held an event such as this since 2009. 

Call volume, operating expense increases influence request by EMS Association

By Kim Fickett

As call volumes increase and major operating expenses continue to rise, the Plymouth County EMS Association is making its annual appeal to the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors to help curb some of those rising costs.

Browns open new theater in Le Mars

By Kim Fickett

A new theater space is welcoming guests from near and far who visit Le Mars to attend a Browns musical performance.

Speed reduction made to US 75

By Kim Fickett

After being on the Iowa DOT’s monitoring list for some time, the stretch of Highway 75 that encompasses the intersections of County Roads C-70 and C-80, has seen a reduction to its speed limit.

Netley named ACC administrator

A new administrator has been named at the Akron Care Center.

Tara Netley, accepted the position during the ACC Board meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 17. Netley was serving as the provisional administrator until that point.

A-W connects classic Christmas story to community service

The Akron Hometowner 

By Sabrina Escalante 

The Akron-Westfield 9th grade English class traveled to The Gospel Mission in Sioux City on Dec. 2 and 3 to take part in a service day in connection to reading Charles Dickens’s Christmas Carol.

The magic behind Christmas: Santa is coming!

The Akron Hometowner 

By Sabrina Escalante

Everyone knows you cannot go wrong with baking cookies for Santa, but what cookies does he prefer? Not to worry, our writers were sure to ask along with other questions in their exclusive interview with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. 

The truth is that Santa enjoys all cookies. 

Akron Community Foundation accepting grant, scholarship applications

The Akron Community Foundation (ACF), an affiliate of the Siouxland Community Foundation, is accepting grant applications. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, or a unit of local government and the grant request must have charitable intent and serve the Akron community. 

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