The Leader's 2025 Year in Review - Part 2

The second half of 2025 was characterized by summer celebrations. In July, Straight line derecho winds, left a path of power outages, tree and building damage across northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. City and school board elections in November. Debate over the proposed CO2 pipeline continued in 2025.

JULY

The month of July was jam-packed with celebrations!

Bullhead Days returned to Crystal Lake for the July 4 holiday weekend. Wesley's July 4 celebration included a variety of activities, a chicken barbecue and glow run.

The ISU Northern Iowa Research Farm at Kanawha turned 95 years old in 2025. An open house of a new facility at the research farm was held in July. 

Garner's annual Duesey Days was held July 11-12. Dave Zrostlik, President of Stellar Industries, was parade grand marshal. Little Miss and Mr. Duesey were Amyah Pederson and Benny Paulsen.

GHV Cardinal baseball team won the first round of IHSAA 2A substate baseball action against Belmond-Klemme on July 5. The Cards won 13-3. The baseball team was eliminated from the playoffs against Roland-Story and ended the season with a 13-10 record.

The 8th annual Britt Car Show drew hundreds of car, truck, tractor and motorbike enthusiasts to the community. 

The Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI LII) rolled through northern Hancock County on Day 3 of the ride on July 22. Thousands of cyclists from across the U.S. and several foreign countries, rode through the communities of Woden and Crystal Lake on their way to an overnight stay at Forest City.

Brinley Hiscocks was crowned the 2025 Hancock County Fair Queen. Josie Omans was named Fair Princess.

July ended in a stormy note on July 29. Straight line derecho winds, clocked between 78 to 92 miles per hour, left a path of power outages, tree and building damage across northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. In Garner there was extensive tree damage and downed power lines throughout town. Ventura was also hard hit with tree and building damage from the storm.

Hancock and Cerro Gordo Counties were included in a disaster proclamation by Governor Kim Reynolds.

AUGUST

The 125th Annual Hobo Convention was held at Britt, Aug. 7-10. Ann Hagen was Gran Marshal for the Hobo Days Parade. Sloth and Mama T were crown Hobo King and Queen. Mayor Jim Nelson presented hobo sisters Connecticut Shorty and New York Maggie with the key to the city for their many years of support of the hobo community and their involvement with preserving hobo history and culture in Britt. The sisters are the daughters of legendary hobo Connecticut Slim.

2025 was the 10th Anniversary of 5 Loaves, 2 Fish organization. The program is staffed by volunteers and offers noon lunches to youngsters during the summer.

First Citizens State Bank announced the closing of Kanawha branch, effective Nov. 1.

West Hancock Superintendent Wayne Kronemann retired after 18 years with school district.

Jerry and Carol Tlach of Britt were inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame at the 2025 Iowa State Fair, Aug. 17.

The 44th Britt Draft Horse Show was held Aug. 29-31. Blue Ribbon Days won "Supreme Team" honors.

A former Garner Chamber of Commerce director received a suspended prison sentence and probation after pleading guilty to one count of second degree theft, a class D felony in Hancock County District Court.

SEPTEMBER

The 126th annual Labor Day celebration at Kanawha was held Aug 28-Sept. 1. Cooper Sobek was crowned Miss Kanawha; Little Miss Kanawha Presley Schreur and Little Mister Kanawha Hendrick Tulp.

State Auditor and Democratic candidate for governor, Rob Sand, made campaign stop at Garner where he spoke to about 30 people at a town hall style meeting.

Jack Trulson, a 4th grader at West Hancock, was one of 17 students from Iowa to take part in the National Math Stars program. 

Robert Butin of Garner is the author of "Tera Dawn," a science fiction novel geared for teens.

Wunderbar! The second annual Oktoberfest at Garner was held Saturday, September 27 at Central Park in Garner.

Friends and neighbors of Greg and Sandy Rayhons came together to help the couple bring in their 2025 corn and soybeans harvest.

An open house for the newly remodeled K-4 elementary wing at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura was held Sept. 22. The remodeling and improvements at the high school also got underway in 2025 and will continue in 2026.

OCTOBER

Homecoming 2025 at GHV: The brother and sister duo of Myra Rauk and Reed Rauk were crowned Homecoming Queen and King on Oct. 2. Homecoming Week also included GHV Hall of Fame inductees for 2025: Paul Nelson (former teacher and coach), Sara Linneman (outstanding golfer, Class of 1993, and the 2001 Garner-Hayfield boys basketball team. The team was the 2A State Runner-up and had a 26-1 season.

Homecoming royalty at West Hancock: Gustavo Gomez and Aubrey Madson.

Elementary youngsters at West Hancock and GHV learned about fire safety during Fire Prevention Week., Oct. 5-1

Representatives from Summit Carbon Solutions met Hancock County supervisors on Oct. 13 provide updates to the company's controversial C02 pipeline project an changes to Summit's management and policies.

The GHV Cardinal Pride Marching Band earned Division I rating at State Marching Band Contest, Oct. 11 at Fort Dodge.

Little "trick or treaters" participated in Halloween Treats on the Street at Garner and Britt. A Truck or Treat event was held at Corwith.

The Britt City Council discontinued a search for a new city administrator to focus on hiring a city clerk.

The West Hancock Eagles football team ended their season with a 8-1 record after a stunning loss to Gehlen Catholic during the first round of Class A playoffs on Oct. 24.

A Garner attorney entered a guilty plea in federal court on Oct. 30 to making a false statement to Iowa Medicaid.

NOVEMBER

State qualifiers for Cross Country were Isaiah Collins, Riley Gauden and Keagan Albertson from West Hancock. From GHV: Jonah Pringnitz, Jonathan Schunkecht and Nichole Larson. The State Cross Country meet was held Nov. 1 at Fort Dodge.

City and School elections across Iowa were held on November 4. At Klemme and Kanawha several council seats were filled by write-in votes. At Britt, a seats on the city council remains open.

"Seussical the Musical" was staged by Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Vocal Music and Drama departments. "Booby Trap!" was the fall play at West Hancock High School.

Veterans were honored on November 11 at Veterans Day Programs at Garner, Britt and Kanawha.

A Garner resident died of a gunshot wound in an apparent domestic situation that occurred Nov. 9 at Iowa Falls. 

The Hancock County Board of Supervisors voted to join other counties in an amicus brief in the Iowa Supreme Court case over Summit Carbon Solution's proposed CO2 pipeline.

Amelia Ytzen, a senior at GHV, was selected for the 79th Iowa High School All-State Music Festival, November 22. Amelia sang in the 601-member All-State Chorus.

Garner kicked off the holiday season early 2025! The annual "Light Up The Night" event at Central Park was held Saturday, Nov. 22. The event included a soup supper, cookie walk, parade and an appearance by Santa.

St. Paul Lutheran Church hosted the annual Garner Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 27.

Girls wrestling debuted at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura.

DECEMBER

Santa made numerous appearances in Hancock County communities in December. Britt Chamber of Commerce "Small Town Christmas" included bargains by local merchants, activities for the kids.

The Garner City Council learned the dangers of on-line predators and ease with which they can connect with teens via social media.

Stellar Industries announced the acquisition of Elliot Equipment Company of Omaha, Neb. Iowa Farmland went up slightly in value in 2025, according to the annual survey by Iowa State University.

A Garner man entered a guilty plea to Third Degree kidnapping in connection to an April 30 incident in a grocery store parking lot in Mason City. Sentencing will be Feb. 3.

A Ventura fireman sustained injuries after being struck by a vehicle while managing the scene of a previous accident on Hwy.18.

2025 ended with an icy, snowy blast! On Sunday, Dec. 28, a blizzard swept across North Iowa and most of Iowa, making traveling a nightmare. Approximately 2 dozen stranded travelers took shelter over night at the Veterans Memorial Recreation Center. Elsewhere, stranded motorists had to be rescued and vehicles temporarily abandoned along roads and highways. Interstate 35 was closed from Ames to Clear Lake into Monday.