2024 Year in Review in Hancock County – Part 2

Fairs and festivals kicked off the second half of 2024. Two Hancock County communities – Woden and Kanawha – celebrated their 125^thanniversaries in 2024. Politics was ever-present in 2024, culminating in the Nov. 5 General Election.

July

The Iowa Utilities Board approved a permit in Iowa for the controversial C02 pipeline through Iowa proposed by Summit Carbon Solutions.

John Francis of Britt was presented the 2024 Commander Award on July 3 for his 28 years of service to the American Legion.

Fireworks lit the sky during the July 4 weekend celebration at Crystal Lake. 

“Hard Work, Dedication, Forever Garner” was the theme for Duesey Days 2024, July 12-14. City Council member Don Bell served as parade grand marshal. Josie Omans and Treyson Oelke were crowned Little Miss and Mr. Duesey.

Up 4 Celebrations, the new events center at Garner, hosted an open house during Duesey Days.

Connor Bailey was named the new county conservation director.

The Garner Merchant’s Association raised $3,000 for Shriners Children’s Hospitals.

The community of Woden celebrated the 125^thanniversary of the town’s founding on July 20-21.

The GHV Cardinal baseball team advanced as far as the IHSAA Class 2A Substate Quarterfinals.

The North Iowa Rattlers, a youth baseball team with team members from Garner and Britt, won the USSSA State Championship. 

Dedication of the $2.4 million Stellar Industries Sports complex in Garner was held Friday, July 12. Mayor Tim Schmidt threw the ceremonial “first pitch.”

Iowa Secretary of Ag Mike Naig, visited Purple Ribbon Beef, rural Britt. Purple Ribbon Beef, owned and operated by the Hunter family, was a winner of a Choose Iowa Value Added Grant.

Royalty for the 2024 Hancock County Fair: Queen Madison Renner and Princess Alivia Horstman. Mike Kalkwarf was named the 2024 Volunteer of the Year by the fair board.

August

The 124^thHobo Convention at Britt was Aug. 8-11. Luther and Nurse Tuffy were crowed King and Queen of the Hobos. Bill Friedow, a long-time member of the National Hobo Museum Board, served as grand marshal of the Hobo Days Parade. Little Miss and Mr. Britt were Anya Sifert and Chris Axelsen.

The Zrostlik family was honored for their contributions to the Garner community during the 2^ndannual Francis Zrostlik Day held Aug. 14.

Pickleball anyone? Garner’s new pickleball and tennis courts were open to players in August. 

Congressman Randy Feenstra discussed healthcare, ag and education during a visit at Athletico in Garner, Aug. 22.

Hancock County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution objecting to IUB’s decision to grant Summit Carbon Solutions a permit enabling the company to enact eminent domain for the purpose of pipeline construction.

Randy and Melodie Hiscocks of Britt were inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame at the 2024 Iowa State Fair.

September

The town of Kanawha celebrated its 125^thanniversary of its founding during the city’s annual Labor Day Celebration, Aug. 29-Sept. 2. The entire members of Severson Post 77 of the American Legion were parade grand marshals.

Blue Ribbon Days Percherons won top honors at the 43^rdBritt Draft Horse Show.

Hall of Fame inductees for 2024 at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura were the late Dianne Paca, Andrea Toppin, and Tsgt Melissa Lackore. They were honored Sept. 19. 

Homecoming Royalty at GHV: Madison Renner and Zane Hawe

West Hancock Athletic Hall of Fame inductees were John Weiland, the 1961 & 1962 Britt wrestling teams, Jeff Stevenson, Mark Stevenson, the 1978 & 1979 Kanawha Boys Track & Field Teams, the 1956 Britt Wrestling Team and Linda Sanger.

Three new flagpoles and a marker honoring volunteers who served on the Garner Fire Department and Garner Volunteer Ambulance  Service were dedicated, Sunday, Sept. 15.

Pilot Knob State Park celebrated its centennial anniversary with activities and guided tours to learn about the park’s history. Friends of Pilot Knob organized the event. 

At Britt, the city clerk and assistant city clerk resigned following a tense discussion with two council members during a Sept. 17 city council meeting.

Mathieu Lemay was appointed Kanawha mayor to fill the unexpired term of office.

Alexander Padilla, Britt, was found guilty of attempted murder in Hancock County District Court. Padilla was sentence to 25 years in prison.

Klemme City Council proceeded with urban renewal plans for economic development. Earlier in 2024, the council 9 acres of property in Klemme that includes the former school building. Efforts to clean up the property were underway during the year.

Dolnemcanka, a tour Czech band, performed at the Duncan Community Ballroom on Sept. 24.

The Garner Chamber of Commerce hosted the first ever “Oktoberfest” on Saturday, Sept. 28.

October

West Hancock Homecoming Royalty: Brady Bixel and Clare Johnson.

County fire chiefs declared a “burn ban” in Hancock County due to the dry conditions in September and October.

Garner Mayor Tim Schmidt was named “Mayor of the Year” for 2024 by the Iowa League of Cities.

Pritchard Companies, Stellar Industries, Caleb Renner and Cody Purvis were among the 2024 NIACC Pappajohn Center Entrepreneur Award winners.

The Red Barn Car Museum, rural Kanawha, showcases a collection of classic and vintage Ford autos owned by Rick Birkenholtz.

Two guilty verdicts for second-degree murder occurred in Hancock County District Court in October. Monte Eckels entered a guilty plea to 2023 slaying of Leallen Bergman of Ventura. Roger Crews, of Woden, was found guilty of the death of his estranged wife, Karen, in October of 2023.

The Ventura City Council and the Iowa DNR working together to stop the spread of watermilfoil, an invasive water plant species, at Clear Lake.

The Emerald Ash Borer was confirmed present in all 99 Iowa counties in 2024.

Cascade Capital Group bought ABCM Corp., of Hampton in a massive $85 million deal. ABCM was the owner of 29 care facilities in Iowa, including nursing homes at Garner and Britt.

“Radium Girls” was the fall play at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura.

Phil Garland, long-time city attorney for Garner, was honored by the city council for his 30+ years of service to the city.

November 

Hancock Country was solidly Republican, siding with Trump during the 2024 General Election on Nov. 5.

Voters in the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura School District approved a $21.4 million bond referendum for improvements to the high school and elementary/middle school buildings.

Stellar Industries announced the acquisition of Elliott Machine Works of Galion, Ohio.

Local veterans were honored at Veterans Day program in Garner, Britt and Kanawha, on Nov. 11.

The GHV Boys Cross Country Team and GHV’s Hailey Hanson qualified for the 2A Iowa High School Cross County Championships held in Fort Dodge on Nov. 2. The boy’s team came in 6^thfor Class 2A.

Two GHV alumni Paige Roberts (Class of 2018) and Jacob Burres (Class of 2021) earned the American FFA degree – the highest degree possible in the FFA organization.

Garner Community Christian Child Care Center (GC4) announced the acquisition of a location on Lyons and Division Street for construction of a new daycare facility in Garner. The Zrostlik family and Stellar Industries pledged $750K in support of the project.

A Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting for Mama Dee’s Mexican Food & More in Garner was held in November.

Fore Seasons virtual golf opened for business at Garner. 

Joe McEnulty was hired as the new city administrator for Britt.

For the fourth consecutive year, the West Hancock Eagles football team advanced to the Iowa High School State Football Championships for Class A. The team played a hard-hitting game against the Tri-Center Trojans, but lost 10-14 and brought home the runner-up trophy.

Garner officially ushered in the holiday season with a “Light up the Night” event at Central Park on November 23.

Second graders across Iowa were gifted the book “Just Like Caitlin!” on November 13.

A year-long discrimination, harassment lawsuit between the former Britt police chief and the City of Britt and former mayor of Britt was settled.

At a special meeting held Nov. 26, the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Board of Education reconsidered an earlier vote, and voted instead to leave the Top of Iowa Conference and join the North Central Conference beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.

The Garner Lions Club disbanded after 100 years of community service to the Garner community.

Community Thanksgiving meals were served at Garner and Britt.

Jim Collins, Garner City Administrator from 2022-2024, resigned to take a position with Mason City’s Public Works Department.

December

GHV Cross Country coach Ryan Hinders was named 2A Cross Country Coach of the year.

Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand wrapped up his 99 county tour in December. During a meeting at Garner, Sand presented a certificate to Supervisor Gary Rayhons, naming the Hancock County as the most tax efficient county of its size.

Kelly White was named the new city administrator or Garner. Kelly begins her new job on Jan. 2.

West Hancock Superintendent Wayne Kronemann announced plans to retire from education in 2025. Kronemann has an 18-year career at West Hancock, with 14 years as superintendent.

The Kanawha Public Library announced that two of their younger visitors, Audrey Schulz and Keegan Staudt, completed their 1,000 Books before Kindergarten challenge.