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Local News

Tama house sustains ‘heavy damage’ in fire

TAMA — A house in the 1700 block of State Street in Tama sustained heavy damage, and the garage and two vehicles are considered a total loss after a fire early Tuesday morning. According to a press release from the Tama Police Department, the 911 dispatch center received a call from a ...

40 Iowa students named 2025 Game Changer Scholars

WEST DES MOINES — Abigail Herman of Elberon is one of 40 Iowa students receive college scholarships this year through Athene’s Game Changer Scholars Program. Herman is a First-year recipient of the scholars program. Funded by the Athene Charitable Foundation, the program reflects ...

‘This has been a big mess from the start’

TOLEDO – During an appeal hearing held on Tuesday, June 17, the Tama County Board of Adjustment voted 3-2 to reverse a Dec. 13, 2024 decision by then-Tama County Zoning Administrator Bob Vokoun to extend the expiration dates of Salt Creek Wind’s 61 zoning certificates – thereby setting ...

Karina Cooper murder trial set to begin next week

TOLEDO – Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Karina Sue Cooper’s first-degree murder trial will proceed as scheduled beginning July 1 in Linn County. On Friday, June 20, Karina Cooper, 47, and her attorneys Aaron Hawbaker and Nichole Watt both with the Waterloo Public Defender’s ...

Former Elberon librarian gets suspended prison sentence

TOLEDO — Judge Mark Fisher dismissed allegations of prosecutorial and juror misconduct leveled by the defense and proceeded to issue former Elberon Public Library Director Bailey Jenkins a five-year suspended prison sentence during a hearing at the Tama County Courthouse in Toledo on ...

One retreat to rule them all

CHELSEA — Walking around slick with elf sweat, the hair on your hobbit feet matted down with sultry dew, the day may have been hotter than the fires of Mount Doom, but that couldn't dampen the spirit of the third annual Hobbits and Elves Immersive Fantasy Retreat. On the outskirts of ...

IT is a resignation

The storm was in the air, the forecast was set, and rain was on the tip of everyone's tongues as they walked into this week's county Supervisors meeting. Between talks of upcoming inclement weather, the meeting began like usual with Ben Daleske, the Tama County Engineer. He reported that ...