Area high school students cast their ballots during Tama County Government Day activities on Wednesday, April 9, while Legionnaire Norbert Caloud, Clutier, watches over the process. Caloud has been a Legion representative at 59 of the past 60 Government Days, missing only once since 1954 due to illness. News-Herald photos/John Speer

“You might have had brothers and sisters who attended Government Day,” said Jolene Denbow in welcoming high school students to Tama County American Legion and Auxiliary Government Day in Toledo on Wednesday, April 9. What, Denbow could have added was “Your parents or even your grandparents could have taken part in this event.”

It was the 60th annual event here which gives students a glimpse of how their government at the county level operates. County Government Day began in 1954 at a time when it was a nation-wide event.

Today, it is widely-held Tama County is the sole place where the tradition is continued.

From the booking room of the Tama County Jail to a meeting with the board of supervisors, a stop in the Magistrate’s Courtroom and a tour of the Tama County Historical Society Museum, students get a feel for the wide range of services provided at the county level.

An added highlight this year was an appearance by Iowa Supreme Court Justice Brent Appel. He was in Toledo to hear oral arguments at the Wieting Theatre in a special Supreme Court session.

Magistrate Ann Kuhter speaks from the bench about the duties of Tama County’s two part-time Magistrates. She told students Magistrate court is held 365 days a year because “someone is arrested every day in Tama County.”

Appel praised the students and the Government Day program, saying We need an educated citizenry to maintain a democracy.”

He spoke of the “extraordinary system” in the United states in which juries made up of citizens often decide the fate of cases rather than judges. He called upon students to take part and assured them they will, at some point as adults” be summoned for jury duty.”

Iowa Legion Department Commander James Demarest and Auxiliary President Ann Crawford were on hand for the activities.

Students also heard a panel presentation by county elected and appointed officials outlining the duties of their departments.

High schools represented Wednesday included South Tama, GMG, Gladbrook-Reinbeck and North Tama.

Tama County Sheriff Dennis Kucera displays a pair of pink handcuffs for students in the booking room of the county jail during Government Day activities in Toledo on Wednesday, April 9. He explained they are this color to distinguish them as jail handcuffs from those belonging to officers who bring in prisoners.

The Tama County American Legion Posts and Auxiliary Units of Chelsea, Clutier, Dysart, Elberon, Garwin, Gladbrook, Montour, Tama 73, Tama 701, Toledo and Traer jointly sponsor Government Day.

Members escort students on tours and prepare and provide the noon meal.

Tama County Supervisors Larry Vest, Dinsdale 1st District, Kendall Jordan, Toledo, 2nd District and Dan Anderson, rural Tama, 3rd District meet with students in the Board Room in the Tama County Administration Building in Toledo.

Legionaries Dick Denbow and Carroll Wegner, Gladbrook, demonstrate the proper folding of the American Flag as Iowa Legion Department Commander James Demarest recites the meaning of each fold for students attending Tama County government Day.