Features

Camp Courageous delights with trip to Paris

Published by admin on Wed, 04/30/2025 - 9:30am

     Every year, Camp Courageous plans an international trip, taking campers of all ages around the world to explore sights many of their campers might not otherwise get the opportunity to see.

   Earlier this month, Camp took 13 campers and five staff members to Paris, France! Among the many must-sees were the Eiffel Tower and Disneyland Paris.

   “We plan these trips a year in advance,” said Rogelio “Ro” Hernandez, assistant travel director.

Three Camp Fire girls to receive WoHeLo Award

Published by admin on Wed, 04/30/2025 - 9:20am

     The Camp Fire USA Monticello Council will hold its annual Camp Fire Ceremonial and WoHeLo Award recognition on Sunday, May 4. The ceremony will be held in the Monticello High School auditorium beginning at 6:30 p.m.

   The WoHeLo Award recipients will have their reception following the ceremony at First Presbyterian Church in Monticello.

   This year, there are three young ladies receiving their WoHeLo Medallion: Brynn Schmit, Skylar Christensen, and Emee Himes-Leunsman.

MinnTex Citrus marks 40 years of service and business

Published by admin on Thu, 04/24/2025 - 8:32am

     “I came from a small town, smaller than Monticello. I believe in small towns.”

   MinnTex Citrus celebrated 40 years in business last fall.

   The business, co-owned by husband-and-wife team Bud and Georgia Johnson, has three full-time employees and 60 to 70 seasonal employees.

   When asked if he thought MinnTex would still be going strong 40 years later, Johnson laughs.

   “It’s such a unique business. It wasn’t a business to get into. We were just trying to survive at the time.

Candidates sought for ‘25 GJCF Queen

Published by admin on Thu, 04/24/2025 - 8:30am

     With less than 100 days until the 2025 Great Jones County Fair (GJCF), candidates are being sought for the 2025 GJCF Queen Contest.

   This experience provides numerous opportunities for personal growth – developing communication skills, public speaking skills, interview skills, and professionalism, as well as the opportunity to build friendships and create memories with women from across Jones County.

Coalition seeks donated items for annual fundraiser

Published by admin on Thu, 04/24/2025 - 8:29am

     The Jones County Safe and Healthy Youth Coalition is again collecting clean, gently-used, fashionable purses and accessories this year until June 13, the day before the sale.

Wyoming receives Paint Iowa Beautiful grant

Published by admin on Thu, 04/24/2025 - 8:16am

     Diamond Vogel and Keep Iowa Beautiful are proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Pain Iowa Beautiful grants. This long-standing partnership supports community betterment projects across the state by providing free paint for initiatives that improve public spaces such as historic buildings, libraries, schools, parks, and community facilities.

   The Wyoming Development Committee was one of the many recipients of this grant.

Heritage Center seeks fun, historical displays

Published by admin on Wed, 04/16/2025 - 9:28am

     The Monticello Heritage and Cultural Center is seeking community involvement.

   They have multiple display cases that are sitting empty and ready to be put to use by families, individuals, groups, and organizations wanting to show off a collection of some kind or to tell a story related to Monticello.

   Following some renovations, the Heritage Center is hoping to reopen with a new look and many new Monticello stories to tell and share with their visitors.

Cast announced for ‘A Gentleman’s Guide’ at Starlighters

Published by admin on Wed, 04/16/2025 - 9:20am

     The cast for Starlighters II Theatre’s next production has been announced.

   “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” will take to the stage June 20-22 and 27-29. The box office opens for tickets on June 9.

Starlighters dedicates ‘Furino Tech Booth’ in memory of founding family

Published by admin on Wed, 04/16/2025 - 9:19am

     On Saturday evening, March 28, Starlighters II Theatre here in Jones County formally dedicated their lighting, sound, and tech booth as the “Furino Tech Booth.”

   Long-time Starlighters volunteers and supporters Mary Sue Vernon, Board of Directors, and Charlotte Scheckel, head of the Tech Department and Artistic Committee, honored the Furino family just before the start of “August: Osage County” took to the stage.

Olin’s Little Lion Learning Center celebrates 25 years of quality childcare

Published by admin on Wed, 04/16/2025 - 7:50am

     “Little Lion Learning Center is the only independent childcare center with an IQ4K (Iowa Quality for Kids) rating in Jones County,” noted the center. “A program that participates in IQ4K uses enhanced best practices in health, safety and nutrition, implements individualized development screening, lesson planning and the Iowa Early Learning Standards, including higher standards for program administrators and all teaching staff to support and increase quality programming.”

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