Sigourney News-Review
Leader
THE
The Leader
Village Vine
Hancock What Cheer Co. FairPaper
Former kid
Area sports
page 3A
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Wednesday, JULy 30, 2014
www.theleaderonline.net
RAGBRAI XLII: bicycles, hospitality, and pie
News at a Glance
Rebecca Peter
Wellness Coalition
gleadernews@qwestoffice.net
Blood Drive
BRITT - Britt Community blood drive will be held Wednesday, Aug. 13, from 1:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Britt Municipal Building, 170 Main Avenue South. Schedule a blood donation appointment online at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call 800.287.4903.
Absentee ballots for special school election
Michelle K. Eisenman, Hancock County Auditor & Commissioner of Elections, announces that absentee ballots for the Special School Election for the reorganization of Garner-Hayfield and Ventura Community School districts to be held September 9th will be available in the Hancock County Auditor’s Office beginning July 31st. Any eligible voter may cast an absentee ballot at the Auditor’s office or may submit a written request for an absentee ballot. Requests should be sent to the Hancock County Auditor’s office, 855 State Street, P.O. Box 70, Garner, Iowa 50438. A request form is also available at the Hancock County Auditor’s office or on Hancock County’s website www.hancockcountyia.org; click on Auditor’s department; then click on Official Absentee Ballot Request link. A request must be signed by the person requesting a ballot. The signed, completed request form can be mailed or brought to the Auditor’s office, 855 State Street, Garner, IA 50438. Requests should be mailed soon enough to allow the ballot to be received back to the Auditor’s office by the date of the election. Absentee ballots may also be voted in the Auditor’s office, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone having questions regarding absentee voting may contact the Auditor’s Office, 641-9233163.
Community Calendar Mark your Calendar!
Garner’s Fall Garage Sales will be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 12 & 13. Start planning now! Wednesday, July 30 ISU’s Insect Zoo will be at the Ventura Public Library from 1-3 p.m. Thursday, July 31 Fun & Krazy Days downtown Garner from 5-10 p.m. Semi show, free entertainment and bounce houses. Retirement open house at NIPCO for Bob Sniezek from 2-5 p.m. Friday, August 1 Garner Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing at the Garner Country and Golf Club. Sunday, August 3 Zion E&R Church in Garner celebrates its 125th Anniversary with a catered meal and activities. Monday, August 4 Britt Council meets at 7 p.m., City Hall. Klemme Council meeting. LuVerne Council meeting. Wesley Council meeting.
Jersey Boys
CRYSTAL LAKE – Thousands of bicyclists received a warm welcome from North Iowa during the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI XLII), last week. Crystal Lake served as a “pass through” community on Tuesday, July 22, as bicyclists peddled their way to Forest City for an overnight stay. “There’s been a lot of preparation to get to where we’re at,” said Crystal Lake Mayor Sherri Hagen said as riders streamed into town Tuesday afternoon. Hagen said community pulled together to get ready for flood of bicyclists in the days leading up to RAGBRAI®. The mellow tones of a tuba played by “The Tubador” (a.k.a. Gary McCurdy of Washington, Iowa) welcomed the bikers as they glided into Crystal Lake. McCurdy has been entertaining at RAGBRAI for 20 years. “I was in Emmetsburg last night,” he said. “I saw a lot of old friends and made some new friends. I look forward to it every year. It’s always a lot of fun. “We are Kentuckians 51 weeks of the year. One week of the year we’re proud Iowans,” Dave Spitler of LaGrange, Ky., declared. Spitler was on his seventh RAGRBAI. “We love this state. We love the people. We love the ride.” RAGBRAI XLII was the third one
Rebecca Peter / The Leader
Thousands of bicyclists streamed into Crystal Lake on their way to Forest City on Day 3 of RAGBRAI XLII, Tuesday, July 22. “The World’s Largest Bullhead” was a popular photo op for many visitors. More on page 8a and on the Leader’s Facebook page. for Jana Hackler of Kingsport, Tenn. “You wake up with a group of people you enjoy spending time with,” Hackler said. “Every town we go to is
friendly.” “This is my seventh RAGBRAI,” said Jeff Martin of Shelbyville Ky. “We do it not because of the heat, the
Rachel Francis crowned 2014 Fair Queen
humidity, the wind or the rain. We do it because of the people, mostly. The pie is a close second - and all the food that is under smoke.”
For Marcia Peterson of Britt, RAGBRAI was a chance to connect with family members. Peterson picked a RAGBRAI to page 8a
Emma Goll named Fair Princess Rebecca Peter
gleadernews@qwestoffice.net A young lady from Britt will represent Hancock County at the upcoming Iowa State Fair. Rachel Francis, 19, the daughter of Paul and Gina Francis, was crowned the 2014 Hancock County Fair Queen on Wednesday, July 24. “I love the fair, so getting to represent it and be at everything is really exciting,” she said. A graduate of West Hancock High School, Rachel will attend Iowa State University and major in Communications Studies. “As I continue my education at Iowa State, I hope to carry on my work ethic and community involvement,” she said. Francis hopes to join a sorority, take advantage the study abroad program at ISU, and become involved in the theater department. She is a member of the Orthel Jolly Workers 4-H Club and of the West Hancock FFA. She participated in the 4-H Swine Show at the fair and exhibited photography, banana bars and an art project. During her high school career, Rachel was a member of the student council, National Honor Society and FCCLA at West Hancock. She was active in cheerleading, drama, speech, and volleyball.
Hancock County Fair Queen Rachel Francis and Princess Emma Goll received tips from Marilyn Leerar on measuring fabric to make quilt blocks.
A stitch in time at the fair Rebecca Peter
gleadernews@qwestoffice.net 2014 Hancock County Fair royalty are Queen Rachel Francis of Britt and Princess Emma Goll of Garner. They were crowned July 23 at the Hancock County District Fair. She is a member of the youth group at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and participated in the National March for Life in Washington D.C.
Fair queen contestants were asked to give a short speech on the topic: “If there’s one thing you want to be reFAIR QUEEN to page 10a
Emilie Jenson / The Leader
Deb Clites and Todd Weaver chose a “Clue” theme for their cook station. Story and more photos on page 10a.
Coming Aug. 8
SHOW TIMES Mon.-Sat 7 pm Sundays 4 pm & 7 pm Dawn of the Adults $4 Planet of the Apes 3D Children $3 (under 12) PG-13 3D + $2
Visa, Mastercard & Discover accpted
Avery Theatre 495 State Street, GARNER, Iowa www.averytheater.org 641-925-AVRY (2879)
Volume 142 Number 31
In this issue:
GARNER – The Hancock County Wellness Coalition will meet, Wednesday, Aug 14 7:30 a.m. at the ISU Extension Service Office at Garner. The meeting will include reports on local food banks, community garden update, updates on the Community Transformation Grant and mentoring grant, Prairie Ridge report and other items for discussion.
Aug. 1-7
| Vol. 142, no. 31 | $1 per copy/86¢ deliVered
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BRITT - Visitors strolling through the open class exhibits building at the Hancock County District Fair might just see a dozen or so ladies intently cutting, sewing or ironing pieces of fabric to make a quilt. Kay Kopacek and Marilyn Leerar of Britt, coordinators for the open class textile exhibits, have organized the sew-a-thon at the county fair for several years. However this was the first year to have a quilt raffled as a fund-raiser. Participants purchased a packet of fabric with instructions. “Out of that packet they could make three stars [quilt blocks],” Kopacek explained. Participants brought along portable sewing machines and got down to the business of cutting, sewing and pressing quit pieces. Up to 15 participants were working on quilt squares at one time, Kopacek noted. Mary Etherington of Country Threads quilt shop, rural Garner, was there to provide assistance and answer questions. “Some of the gals actually finished their squares and gave them back to us. The ones who did not, took them home and will bring them to us by the first of the year,” Kopacek stated. Kopacek and Leerar hope to get another group of volunteers together to finish the quilt to be raffled at 2015 county fair. Proceeds will go toward
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improvements for the open class building. “We’re excited,” Kopacek said. “I think everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.” Quilters ranged from experienced to novice. Fair Queen Rachel Francis and Princess Emma Goll were first-timers at quilting. “I sewed a little in one of my high school classes,” said Queen Rachel, as Princess Emma ironed some fabric. The two completed one block. Doris Lewerke of Britt was among the veteran quilters. She started quilting in 1982. “It’s just relaxing,” she said. Her daughter, Ardella, who now lives at Waterloo, was also at the fair for the sew-a-thon. Adella began quilting in 2000. What does she like best about the craft? Ardella pointed toward her mother. “Doing it with her,” she said. Nothing like quilting for a little mother-daughter bonding. Quilt Raffle Winners A drawing for the 2013 quilt was held Sunday afternoon prior to the bucket-of-junk and fair pallet auction. Phyllis Jordanger of Kanawha was the winner of the queen-sized quilt. Dennis Schaefer of Garner, May Johnson of Hebron, Ind., and Lois Kraft of Corwith, won bags of quilt squares. Winners of table runners were Judy Fox, Britt, and Jacque Trca of Garner. “It was a very successful and enjoyable event,” Kopacek said. “We’re looking forward to 2015.”
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