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LEA EADER
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GHV Jr. High plays page 12a
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015
WWW.THELEADERONLINE.NET
News at a glance
Sounds of the Season at GHV
Correction
The caption under the Garner Community Thanksgiving photo in the Dec. 2 Leader, misnamed the host church as Zion Evangelical Free Church. The correct name is Zion Evangelical Reformed Church. The Leader regrets the error.
Santa at Corwith
CORWITH – The Corwith Community Club will host its annual Santa/Pancake and Vendor Show on Saturday, Dec. 12. The vendor show will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Corwith Community Center. Pancakes and sausages will be served. Santa will be there to visit with kids.
Garner Asset Project
GARNER – The Garner Asset Project (GAP) will meet Thursday,, Dec. 10, 12 noon to 1 p.m. at the Garner Education Center. The Open Arms Ministry will host. The mission of GAP is to raise community awareness and understanding to reduce youth substance use. All interested persons are welcome.
Thorpe Park Closure
Veterans Christmas Party
ST. ANSGAR – The 15th annual Veterans Christmas Party at the St. Ansgar American Legion will be Saturday, Dec. 12. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. It is free. Come early for Christmas goodies and coffee. Veterans, spouses and the public are welcome to attend. Introductions and “Share a Story” begins at 10 a.m.
Hancock County Farm Bureau in Garner will host a holiday open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Jaspersen Insurance and Real Estate in Garner will be hosting a holiday open house from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, December 12 St. Joseph Wesley Catholic Daughters of America will hold a bake sale, coffee and soup luncheon at the Wesley Community Center. The bake sale and coffee/ rolls will begin at 8:30 a.m., and the soup luncheon will be from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Immanuel UCC in Klemme is hosting a cookie and candy walk from 9 to 10:30 a.m. This will be held in the youth room. Sunday, December 13 Zion E & R Church in Garner is hosting “A Noel Celebration” Christmas cantata and candle Continued on page 5. Dec. 11-17 The Hunger Games: Moking Jay Part 2 Sunday showing 4 pm only
‘Tis the season of music at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura. The public is invited to enjoy the following upcoming concerts: GHV Vocal Music Mark your calendars for the annual Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School Vocal Music Department Holiday Concert to be held on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. “This year’s concert will include Impulse, mixed choir, concert choir, as well as many featured performances showcasing our talented high school vocalists,” said Jason Heitland, vocal music director. Selections for this year’s concert include: A Christmas Garland, Troika, It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, Carol Of The Bells, Fum
Fum Fantasy, Nutcracker Jingles, and many other holiday favorites. Hope to see you on December 10! GHV Concert Band Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School Band, under the direction of Jeff Griffin, will have a concert on Monday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Seasonal music will be played by the Brass Ensemble and Concert Band. The concert band will perform a jazzy version of Jingle Bells called Jing, Jing, Jingle. Also included on the program will be Appalachian Carol, Pat-a-Pan, and Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride. In addition, the GHV High School Jazz Band will perform it’s set from the NCIBA District Jazz Contest.
West Hancock plans winter concerts Emilie Jenson
leadernews.map@gmail.com
FOREST CITY - Thorpe Park, located 5 miles west of Forest City, will be closed during Iowa’s two shotgun deer seasons: Dec. 5-9 and Dec. 12-20. There will continue to be access to the park office and the shop building throughout the period. Deer hunting is not allowed in Thorpe Park, but the Thorpe Recreation Area (to the southeast) and the Russ Wildlife Area (to the west) are open to hunting. Thorpe Park is closed each year during the shotgun deer seasons for safety purposes. The park’s gates will be closed and no foot or motorized traffic will be allowed into the park. The Lake Catherine Cabin will also be closed down during this time. To answer questions, contact WCCB Director Robert Schwartz at 641-565-3390 or at rschwartz@ winnebagoccb.com.
Community calendar Friday, December 11
| VOL. 143, NO. 49 | $1 PER COPY/86¢ DELIVERED
The West Hancock Schools music department will be presenting their winter concerts beginning this week. The first concert will kick off the season Thursday evening with the West Hancock Middle School con-
cert at 7 p.m. in the middle school gymnasium in Kanawha. The concert will feature the fifth and sixth grade choirs along with the middle school chorus of seventh and eighth graders and the middle school bands. The fifth grade band will perform in CONCERT to page 13
Christmas Wishes
Rebecca Peter | The Leader
Santa Claus paid an early visit at Garner last week. The “jolly old elf” and Mrs. Claus were at the Garner Public Library on Thursday, Dec. 3. Children could have their picture taken with the couple and tell Santa want they would like to see under the Christmas tree. Santa is pictured visiting with Hailey, Hayden and Heaton Bredlow, children of Bret and Jennifer Bredlow. More photos on page 13.
Libraries present annual funding request Rebecca Peter
gleadernews@qwestoffice.net GARNER – The annual funding request for fiscal 2016-17 for public libraries was presented to the Hancock County Board of Supervisors on Monday. The board met with representatives of the Hancock County Library Association. The Association is requesting a $250 per library increase in base funding from the current fiscal year. The Library Association also requests $2,256 in technology grants to each library. Technology grants are used to offer services in response to continued demand for digital access and content as well as to support and enhance digital literacy of Hancock County residents. The proposed funding to each public library is as follows: •Britt - $24,612.91 •Corwith - $14,085.81 •Crystal Lake - $13,033.10
•Garner - $26,718.33 •Kanawha - $16,191.23 •Klemme - $16,191.23 •Woden - $11,980.39 •Total - $122,813 Hancock County Libraries belong to the BEACON consortium. As a part of this system, Hancock County residents have 24/7 access to library on-line services. Library patrons only have to register once for a library card. The card is accepted at any of the seven public libraries in Hancock County, as well as 53 other libraries in North Iowa. Local library directors reviewed services and other developments at their respective facilities. Services at Hancock County’s public libraries include: •Free internet access on computers and patrons’ own devices. •Tech support. •Help and training with email, general internet questions and computer LIBRARIES to page 12
Rayhons requests access to emails Rebecca Peter
gleadernews@qwestoffice.net GARNER – A former state legislator has filed a petition requesting access to emails between the Department of Public Safety, the State Attorney General’s Office and the daughters of his late wife. Henry Rayhons, Garner, was acquitted in April 2015 of charges of third degree sexual abuse of his wife, Donna. The charge was in connection to an alleged incident at the nursing home on May 23, 2014. Donna (Young) Rayhons was an Alzheimer’s patient and a resident at Concord Care Center in Garner. Rayhons had been advised that his wife was no longer capable giving consent to sexual relations. Donna Rayhons died on Aug. 8, 2014. Rayhons was arrested on Aug. 15, 2014, on the sexual abuse charge. He was found not guilty on April 22, 2015 following a jury trial.
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Rayhons has filed a petition for Writ of Mandamus, to produce requested letters and emails between the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, the Iowa Department of Public Safety and his former stepdaughters, Linda Dunshee of Polk County and Suzan Bruns of Hancock County. Joel Yunek, attorney for Rayhons, filed the request under Iowa’s Open Records Act (Chapter 22 of the Code of Iowa). A record from the Iowa Department of Public Safety DCI Criminalistics Laboratory dated July 14, 2014, prior to Rayhons’ arrest, said Bruns and Dunshee “seem to be well connected in the public and are pushing the case to be worked.” An email from Susan Bruns to DCI Agent Scott Reger stated “…we are moving forward with the case.” The petition says the investigation and prosecution of Rayhons was paid for with taxpayer dollars and public interests would be served by the disclosure of the requested emails “as RAYHONS to page 12
Volume 143 Number 49
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Britt’s Frozen Frolic
Emilie Jenson | The Leader
Anna and Elsa from the popular Disney movie “Frozen” were on hand at Gifts Sew Sweet’s open house Thursday evening during the Frozen Frolic. Here they greet 4-year-old Charlotte McNeese. The Britt Chamber’s second annual Frozen Frolic was held Thursday evening, Dec. 3. Around a dozen Britt businesses offered extended evening hours, open houses and specials to encourage local shopping. More photos on page 13.
Emilie Jenson | The Leader
Deanna Black ponders for a second what she would like for Christmas, she asked Santa for a DVD player and the board game “Clue.”
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