NEW PASTOR AT FIRST REFORMEDPastor Steve Van Wyhe is the new senior pastor at First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids. He was installed on Aug. 21. Van Wyhe grew up in Rock Rapids and is excited to continue his ministry in his hometown. (Photo/Dominique Kooiker)Pastor Steve Van Wyhe installed at First Reformed ChurchDominique Kooiker | […]
NOT-SO-HIDDEN BRIDGEUnlike Hidden Bridge Wildlife Area, Klondike Area offers access to a bridge. This bridge offers an excellent place to fish or to take a walk through nature. Klondike Area is one of several areas owned or managed by Lyon County Conservation for public use and enjoyment of nature. (Photo/Dominique Kooiker)Variety of Conservation areas dot […]
THOSE WHO SERVEDBen Jans, left, a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, greets other Vietnam veterans after his talk at the Rock Rapids Kiwanis meeting on Sept. 8. Jans shared several stories from his time serving in Vietnam. (Photo/Dominique Kooiker)Vietnam veteran speaks at Kiwanis meetingDominique Kooiker | Staff WriterAs the September program chairperson for the Kiwanis […]
UP CLOSE WITH A MONARCHKendrik Fluit studies the two monarch butterflies she caught in her net during the monarch tagging program at Lake Pahoja on Sept. 7. Emily Ostrander, Lyon County Naturalist, led this program to assist in the study of the butterflies’ annual migration. (Photo/Dominique Kooiker)Lyon County Conservation program studies, tags monarchsDominique Kooiker | Staff […]
WILDFLOWERS GALOREThe path down to the river at Hidden Bridge Wildlife area in western Lyon County is dotted with wildflowers throughout the summer. Lyon County Conservation owns and manages several areas throughout the county where the public can get outdoors and enjoy nature. (Photo/Dominique Kooiker)Dominique Kooiker | Staff WriterThis is the first of a multi-part […]
TEAM EFFORT Shannon Van Maanen, left, is a new therapist at Creative Living Center and is serving students on-site in the Little Rock Elementary School as a licensed mental health counselor. Dr. Shawn Scholten, right, is co-director and therapist with Creative Living Center and is in her third year of providing services at the school. (Photo/Submitted) Creative […]
SENATOR SEES SIMPLY SAIDBrad and Michelle Leuthold give Senator Joni Ernst a tour of their business, Simply Said, in Rock Rapids. Ernst visited Simply Said as part of her 99-county tour through Iowa on Monday, August 29. (Photo/Dominique Kooiker)Dominique Kooiker | Staff WriterSenator Joni Ernst visited Simply Said Inc. in Rock Rapids Aug. 29 as […]
Sponsorship drive ongoing; annual meeting, auditions announcedDominique Kooiker | Staff WriterThe board of directors for the River Valley Players, the local community theater organization, have started its sponsorship drive for the 2022-23 season. Brandon Lenderink will be stepping up as the River Valley Players board president this year. He explained how important the effort is […]
Local farmer, ACE Hardware manager inducted into Iowa 4-H Hall of FameDominique Kooiker | Staff WriterAlvin Smidstra is a familiar face to many in Rock Rapids as he manages ACE Hardware, farms in the area and can always be found at the dairy show during the Lyon County Fair. He has impacted the community with […]
READY TO ROLLTucker Eben situates his bike in the bike rack outside of the Central Lyon elementary school on the first day of school on Tuesday, August 23. (Photo/Jessica Jensen) Jessica Jensen | Managing EditorWith equal amounts of excitement and hesitation, students were welcomed back to Central Lyon Tuesday, August 23 for the start of the […]
