THE NEWSPAPER THAT SERVES ALL DECATUR COUNTY
10 PAGES
USPS 310-140
LEON, IOWA 50144, WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021
P.O. Box 580, 111 NW. 2nd, Leon, IA 50144 E-mail: JRNEWS@GRM.NET VOLUME 92 - NUMBER 23
Doctor Larry Richard Named 2020 Citizen of the Year and Parade Grand Marshal The 2020 Citizen of the Year was presented to Doctor Larry Richard, during the annual Leon 4th of July parade. Doctor Richard was also the Grand Marshal of the parade. Due to COVID restrictions earlier in the year, the Leon Chamber of Commerce was unable to hold their annual banquet, honoring their Citizen of the Year. The 2020 Rising Star Award recipient was Chris Coffelt who was recognized earlier during the Taste of the Town, Farm to School event held June 17. When the parade arrived around the Leon square, it took a slight pause and the following was read about Doctor Richard, recognizing him as the Citizen of the Year. The 2020 Leon Citizen of the Year was a farm boy from birth. Like many farm boys, he would wake up early
mornings to milk cows before school. He and his brothers would come in after a morning of chores to clear pans of his mother's delicious rolls. His upbringing showed him how to work hard as well as how to enjoy hobbies. He was high school valedictorian and first chair of the school band trombone section. He has been an avid hunter and fisherman nearly all of his life, more recently going to world destinations to hunt and fish. He even has a Decatur County emu head mounted in his trophy room. Larry's love for academics came from his "Gram." He was the first in his family to attend college, intending to be a laboratory technician. While attending Morningside College, he took the Medical College Acceptance Test because one of his fraternity brothers was taking it. He scored
Plane Crash at Lamoni Airport Claims Two Lives A plane crash occurred Thursday morning July 1 at the Lamoni Airport resulting in two people being killed. At approximately 7:55 a.m. the Lamoni Police Department, the Lamoni Fire Department, Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, and the Decatur County Ambulance were dispatched to the Lamoni Municipal Airport for
a report of an airplane crash. According to release by the Lamoni Police Department, upon arrival a small aircraft was located in a field to the west of the airstrip. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were contacted (continued on page 3)
Royalty Crowned at Leon Rodeo
high enough without studying to apply to medical school. He married Connie and then attended the University of Iowa College of Medicine. He did his residency at Broadlawns Hospital in Des Moines. Daughter Leigh was born while they were in Des Moines. Friendly citizens and the abundance of quail and pheasants served as incentives for the family to locate in Leon. One year after arriving, daughter Leslie was born. Larry and Connie have supported the community in many ways: by providing medical service to the community and county for forty three years, free physicals to school sport students, hosting and mentoring local medical students and University of Iowa medical rotation students for many years, starting a rodeo tradi-
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Leon City Council Meeting July 12
The regular monthly meeting of the Leon City Council will be held Monday, July 12 at 6:00 p.m. in the council chambers at the city hall.
The 2020 Citizen of the Year was presented to Doctor Larry Richard, during the annual Leon 4th of July parade. Doctor Richard was also the Grand Marshal of the parade. (photo by Maizee Lindsey) tion of pancakes on the square, beautifying the four welcome sign flower beds, providing free firearms safety training to county citizens and school students, actively and financially serving Little River Lake development since its
infancy, support the Savannah Hills Project, and reliably supporting the United Methodist Church and youth activities. He is also always eager to share his love of the outdoors with family and community friends.
2021 Decatur County Fair Queen Candidates This year at the Decatur County Fair four young ladies will compete to earn the title of 2021 Decatur County Fair Queen. The contestant introduction will be one of the first fair events and will take place on Wednesday, July 14 beginning at 7:00 p.m. on the Mike Hampton Memorial Stage. The coronation will follow around 7:30 p.m.. The stage is located just south of the 4-H building. The newly crowned queen will have the honor of presiding over the remainder of the fair activities and will have the opportunity to represent Decatur County at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines in August. Refer to page 10 for the princess contestants.
Morgan Nordyke - 18 Daughter of Steve and Beverly Nordyke Garden Grove, IA
Audrey Lloyd - 17 Daughter of Kevin and Elizabeth Lloyd Lamoni, IA
Chloe Hamaker - 16 Daughter of Clinton and Judi Hamaker Van Wert, IA
Issy Stone - 17 Daughter of Jake and Deanna Stone Leon, IA
County Fair Time is Near and Will be Enjoyed as Normal
The Leon Rodeo is in the history books. That means the 2021 4-H and FFA Decatur County Fair is on the horizon. This year’s fair will run from July 14-19 at the fairgrounds located at the north edge of Leon. It looks like it will be back to a normal run of activities after a shortened version last year due to the pandemic. Day one will begin with static exhibits judging at the 4-H building. At 7:00 p.m. in the evening, on the Mike Hampton Memorial Stage, will be the style and educational presentations. The day will end with the crowning of the 2021 Decatur County Fair Princess and Queen. Thursday, July 15 all market and breeding animals, horses and rabbits and poultry must be weighed and/or checked in by 9:00 a.m. Open class check in is from 8:00 a.m. to Noon. The Horse Show will be held in the rodeo arena beginning at 10:00 a.m. Open class judging will begin at 1:00 p.m. The annual Decatur County Farm Bureau Appreciation Dinner will be held at Pioneer Hall at 5:00 p.m. followed by the Bill Riley Talent Show on the Mike Hampton Stage at 6:00 p.m. On Friday morning, the Breeding and (continued on page 3)
2 Men and a Truck - End of an Era Miss River Hamaker, right, was named the Starting last 2021 Leon Rodeo Queen. She was presented her Thursday, July 1, the crown by Melissa Austin, the 2019 Leon Rodeo City of Leon is no lonQueen. (Photo by Maizee Lindsey) ger providing garbage pick up within the city limits as it has done for many years since the time when Elmer Teeter drove the streets picking up garbage in an old school bus. On December 14, 2020, during the course of the regular council meeting, the council approved to go with Jim’s Sanitation out of Creston. The vote by the council was 4-1. According to City Administrator Denise Arnold, it is estimated that the outsourcing will cost $250,000 and the city currently budgets $300,000 for the Miss Landi Leeper, left, was named the 2021 garbage department. Leon Rodeo Princess. She was presented her crown by Stevie Wood, the 2019 Leon Rodeo Princess. (Photo by Maizee Lindsey)
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John Rippey (left) and Doug Mills finished running the garbage route for the City for the last time last Wednesday, June 30.