Features

Jones Co. Tourism seeks interest in tour guides

Published by admin on Wed, 01/18/2023 - 2:37pm

     For the past 14 years, since Bob Hatcher has worked as the Jones County Tourism Association (JCTA) director, he’s offered his expertise and history of Jones County to out-of-town tours.

   Tour buses (coach buses) bring visitors to Jones County on an annual basis. Prior to the pandemic, Hatcher said there used to be 25 to 35 tours a year. In 2021, there were nine.

JCPH seeks donations for Points Store

Published by admin on Wed, 01/18/2023 - 2:27pm

     Jones County Public Health is holding a Winter Wish List Drive for the Jones County Points Store. Anyone is welcome to donate an item form the list below. You can also find a wish list from Amazon and Target for the Points Store at www.jonescountyiowa.gov/public_health/points_program/.

   Please drop off any items or have them shipped to 105 Broadway Place, Suite 11, Anamosa, IA 52205. Items will be collected until Jan. 31.

   The wish list includes:

Monticello family wins Camp Courageous VW Bus

Published by admin on Fri, 01/13/2023 - 3:20pm

     A total of 1,735 raffle tickets were sold for a chance to win a 1971 Volkswagen Bus in honor of Camp Courageous’ 50th anniversary in 2022. The chances of someone from Monticello, Iowa, having the winning ticket were .02 percent. It just so happens, someone from Monticello won…

   At noon on Dec. 31, Amy Wright’s name was drawn as the winner of the VW Bus.

   Tickets sold for $100 each from Jan. 1, 2022, until noon on Friday, Dec. 30. Tickets were sold to someone in almost all 50 states and Canada.

Monticello Chamber invites public to annual banquet celebration

Published by admin on Fri, 01/13/2023 - 3:18pm

     The Monticello Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC) Member Celebration and Annual Banquet is returning after a two-year hiatus.

   The event, which is open to the public, will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Monticello Eagles Club. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:15, and the keynote speaker and program at 7 p.m.

   The speaker will be Lora Friest, tourism liaison with Travel Iowa.

Women in ag invited to attend kickoff to local WLL group

Published by admin on Fri, 01/13/2023 - 3:16pm

     A new group has formed, bringing Jones and Delaware counties together to provide learning opportunities and events for local women in agriculture.

   A joint Jones and Delaware County chapter of WLL (Woman, Land & Legacy) has been formed, with a kick-off event planned for Monday, Jan. 30, in Monticello.

   WLL is a USDA education and outreach program. According to their website, “WLL empowers women landowners and farmers to be agents of positive change in their communities through active participation, educational sessions, and networking opportunities.”

Parks and Rec works to bring back winter pastime

Published by admin on Fri, 01/13/2023 - 3:07pm

     Since late December, the Monticello Parks and Recreation Department has been working on a new location for an ice-skating rink in town, a spot that holds some local history…

   The site north of the football field on the ball diamond, behind the Monticello School District bus barn, has been prepped and tested for an ice rink. (Now if the weather and Mother Nature would just cooperate!)

Pine Street holiday display donates to Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Published by admin on Fri, 01/13/2023 - 2:46pm

     This past Christmas holiday season, the residents of Pine Street once again went out of their way lighting up their neighborhood. For the fourth season in a row, they raised money for a good cause as part of their holiday displays. This year, Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) – Jones County was the recipient of the $740 from the many people who visited Pine Street and donated toward their cause.

Rotary blood drive partners with C.O.P.S.

Published by admin on Fri, 01/13/2023 - 2:45pm

   This January, the American Red Cross, Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), and the Iowa chapter of C.O.P.S are joining forces to boost the blood supply and help save lives through a series of Blue Blood Drives.  

   C.O.P.S. provides resources to help families and co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty cope with the sacrifices of their loved ones. This partnership provides members a meaningful way to support the community by hosting blood drives across the nation and raising awareness about the constant need for blood.

Sacred Heart School awarded food grant

Published by admin on Fri, 01/13/2023 - 2:44pm

     Sacred Heart School was awarded a $4,000 grant in an effort to provide "access to local food in K-12 schools and improve supply chain resiliency through partnerships with local (food) producers…"

   The Iowa Department of Agriculture dispersed the grant funding through the Iowa Local Food for Schools Program (LFS). Schools that participate in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program were eligible to apply for the $4,000. The grant is broken down into $2,000 for produce and $2,000 for protein.

Miller works with the late Mike Meshak on Eagle Scout project

Published by admin on Wed, 01/04/2023 - 10:05am

     Following in his father and uncle’s footsteps, Monticello High School senior Jacob Miller can now call himself an Eagle Scout.

   “I wanted to keep the chain going,” he said of the family’s achievement.

   In early December, Miller, 18, earned his Eagle Scout Award following his Board of Review in Cedar Rapids.

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