Times-Republican

08/07/2024

TRAER — The North Tama baseball team broke open a close game with an eight-run eruption to eliminate Springville, 10-2, in Saturday’s Class 1A District 9 opener at Jerry Lister Field.

The Redhawks (15-11) led 2-1 through four innings before busting loose in the fifth, tallying eight runs to take command for good. Springville (3-19) added a run in the seventh to shrink the final deficit.

TRAER — The North Tama baseball team broke open a close game with an eight-run eruption to eliminate Springville, 10-2, in Saturday’s Class 1A District 9 opener at Jerry Lister Field. The Redhawks (15-11) led 2-1 through four innings before busting loose in the fifth, tallying eight runs to take...

08/07/2024

An upcoming special election on July 16 will determine who will fill the 4th Ward vacancy on the Marshalltown city council left by the passing of Al Hoop in March. Two candidates are seeking the seat: Mark Eaton, a local businessman and Marshalltown native who returned to the community about a decade ago and previously ran for council in 2017 and 2021; and Melisa Fonseca, a REALTOR ® who graduated from Marshalltown High School in 2014.

The first half of their responses to the Times-Republican’s candidate questionnaire are printed below, and the remainder will be included in tomorrow’s paper. A candidate forum will be held tomorrow night, Tuesday, July 9, at 5:30 p.m. inside Dejardin Hall on the Marshalltown Community College campus.

An upcoming special election on July 16 will determine who will fill the 4th Ward vacancy on the Marshalltown city council left by the passing of Al Hoop in March. Two candidates are seeking the seat: Mark Eaton, a local businessman and Marshalltown native who returned to the community about a decad...

08/07/2024

The Binford House marked its 150th anniversary during a celebration Sunday at and around the historical site located at 110 N. 2nd Avenue in Marshalltown. Tours were offered at the Binford House, Glick-Sower House and Taylor No. 4 Schoolhouse led by tour guides in era-appropriate attire. At the nearby pavilion in the shadow of the Binford House, the Marshall County Cattlemen served hamburgers for visitors to enjoy while hourly musical guests provided entertainment.

The Binford House marked its 150th anniversary during a celebration Sunday at and around the historical site located at 110 N. 2nd Avenue in Marshalltown. Tours were offered at the Binford House, Glick-Sower House and Taylor No. 4 Schoolhouse led by tour guides in era-appropriate attire. At the near...

08/07/2024

GRUNDY CENTER — East Marshall baseball couldn’t get out of its own way in Saturday’s postseason opener with Hudson.

The Mustangs committed seven errors as Hudson rallied for a 7-6 walk-off victory in a Class 2A District 3 opening-round game at the George Wilhelm Sports Complex in Grundy Center.

GRUNDY CENTER — East Marshall baseball couldn’t get out of its own way in Saturday’s postseason opener with Hudson. The Mustangs committed seven errors as Hudson rallied for a 7-6 walk-off victory in a Class 2A District 3 opening-round game at the George Wilhelm Sports Complex in Grundy Center...

08/07/2024

With the theme of “It’s the Sweet Life,” this year’s Central Iowa Fair is sure to offer something for everyone.

Free parking and free admission are available, so there will only be a handful of activities requiring fees.

“We are so excited and pleased that we’ve got so many area businesses here in Marshalltown that have stepped up and sent us sponsorship money so that we can make our fair a lot bigger and better,” Board President Jodi Breniman said. “Without their support, we couldn’t do it. We’re a nonprofit organization, so if we don’t have these area businesses stepping up, we can’t have anything out here.”

With the theme of “It’s the Sweet Life,” this year’s Central Iowa Fair is sure to offer something for everyone. Free parking and free admission are available, so there will only be a handful of activities requiring fees. “We are so excited and pleased that we’ve got so many area business...

08/07/2024

In only his second at-bat of the season, Gordon crushed a solo home run that provided a boost for the Spartan baseball team to power past Union, 7-1, in a Class 2A District 3 opening-round game at the George Wilhelm Sports Complex.

Grundy Center (15-6) will take on another NICL foe in Aplington-Parkersburg in the district semifinals at Schilling Field in State Center at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9.

GRUNDY CENTER — Colin Gordon can’t run full speed around the bases this summer. But the Grundy Center senior will happily do a light jog to touch them all. In only his second at-bat of the season, Gordon crushed a solo home run that provided a boost for the Spartan baseball team to power past [....

08/07/2024

The Garwin Freedom Days Festival was held over the weekend with most of the events taking place Saturday, including the lawnmower races, live music, a basketball tournament, antique power show and much more, capped off by a community church service on Sunday morning.

07/07/2024

We are unable to take in cats or kittens at this time. Due to an extreme influx of stray kittens, our shelter is at capacity. We currently have OVER 50 kittens in our shelter under the age of 6 months. While many are healthy and will be ready for adoption soon, some have come in with varying degrees of health concerns.
There's no way to word this kindly, our community is struggling with the over abundance of stray and feral cats. Not only is our shelter struggling, but the small groups that are also working exceptionally hard to help the cats out in our community are feeling it as well.
If there is any ANY way you can help, please consider doing so. If you can't adopt, foster. If you can't foster, volunteer. if you can't volunteer, donate. If you can't donate, advocate. It all helps. We couldn't do this without you, our amazing supporters. 🐾🐱

07/07/2024

CHELSEA — An accomplished writer and editor who hails from Chelsea and specializes in Christian poetry has written a new book titled “Blessings of the Tanakh.”

Ken Bazyn, the longtime editorial director of the Religious Book Club, has been published in 40 periodicals and is also known for his photography, which has appeared in 45 magazines. He recently shared some details of his life and work with the newspaper along with thoughts on the new book and his plans for the future.

CHELSEA — An accomplished writer and editor who hails from Chelsea and specializes in Christian poetry has written a new book titled “Blessings of the Tanakh.” Ken Bazyn, the longtime editorial director of the Religious Book Club, has been published in 40 periodicals and is also known for his ...

07/07/2024

LE GRAND — The Class 2A No. 8 East Marshall softball team overtook Nevada for a 7-1 victory over the Cubs on Wednesday night.

Nevada (9-21) got the early advantage with a run in the top of the first inning after leadoff batter Kylie Taylor was hit by a pitch. She was sacrificed around to score on a flyout by Jorie Hillman, giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead.

LE GRAND — The Class 2A No. 8 East Marshall softball team overtook Nevada for a 7-1 victory over the Cubs on Wednesday night. Nevada (9-21) got the early advantage with a run in the top of the first inning after leadoff batter Kylie Taylor was hit by a pitch. She was sacrificed around to […]

07/07/2024

CLEMONS — Rodeo runs deep in Cooper Allen’s blood, and the soon-to-be seventh grader who lives on a cattle farm near Clemons is already making a name for himself in the sport, recently competing at the National Junior High Finals Rodeo light rifle shooting contest with hopes to be back in the future.

Allen is the son of 2004 Marshalltown High School graduate Aaron Allen and his wife Lesli, who hails from Oklahoma. Aaron grew up just outside of Marshalltown and eventually moved to the Sooner State to attend college on a rodeo scholarship and ended up living there for eight years after meeting Lesli before they eventually relocated back to Marshall County.

CLEMONS — Rodeo runs deep in Cooper Allen’s blood, and the soon-to-be seventh grader who lives on a cattle farm near Clemons is already making a name for himself in the sport, recently competing at the National Junior High Finals Rodeo light rifle shooting contest with hopes to be back in the fu...

06/07/2024

Blake Hafner, a 2016 GMG High School graduate and lifelong Marshalltonian, has a dream to make the community a statewide and regional darts hub through his supply business, Martial Darts, and the tournaments he’s been setting up at places like the 918 Bar. Hafner joked that used to skip school to play darts with a friend and got addicted to the game in the process.

“I started in these playing dart tournaments, started running dart tournaments, and some guy’s like ‘Dude, why don’t you sell dart supplies?’ OK, that’s not a bad idea,” he said.

Darts is probably best known as a game that friends enjoy over drinks at their favorite local watering hole, and while that description is certainly apt, it’s also become a big-money competition with a growing level of popularity among players young, old and in between. Blake Hafner, a 2016 GMG Hi...

06/07/2024

Appel, a 2018 Marshalltown High School graduate, recently signed to play basketball with Okapi Aalst, a professional club from Aalst, Belgium. The 6-foot-7 left-hander leaves for Belgium on July 28 to begin a journey that Appel had long been hoping he would make.

“It was always a dream of mine to play overseas,” said Appel, the fourth leading scorer all-time at Marshalltown High School. “Watching my brother Michael play when I was growing up and then him coming back to coach me my senior year as a volunteer assistant, that year was when basketball got really serious. He opened my eyes to what it actually takes.”

Luke Appel spent six years in college, earning his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in economics while devoting his life to basketball. Through all of his time spent in the classroom and on the court, Appel learned that his own successes are a byproduct of the people he’s surrounded himself wit...

06/07/2024

Seeking to fill the snow cone market in Marshalltown, Sno 2 Go Hawaiian Shaved Ice officially opened for business on Wednesday.

Owners Dylan and Kelsey Schumacher are self-professed dessert lovers.

“When Tropical Sno was around, that was one of our big things — we really liked Tropical Sno,” Dylan said. “Not having one around anymore really inspired us to open our own. We figured since they are not around anymore, and we have the means to do so, we jumped on the mission.”

Seeking to fill the snow cone market in Marshalltown, Sno 2 Go Hawaiian Shaved Ice officially opened for business on Wednesday. Owners Dylan and Kelsey Schumacher are self-professed dessert lovers. “When Tropical Sno was around, that was one of our big things — we really liked Tropical Sno,” D...

05/07/2024

GRUNDY CENTER – The Grundy Center Police Department will remain on the local beat – for now.

During the city council meeting held Monday, the council took action on a resolution that – had it passed – would have authorized a dissolution of the department ordinance to pursue a 28E agreement with the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services.

GRUNDY CENTER – The Grundy Center Police Department will remain on the local beat – for now. During the city council meeting held Monday, the council took action on a resolution that – had it passed – would have authorized a dissolution of the department ordinance to pursue a 28E agreement w...

05/07/2024

Center Associates Clinical Director and Mental Health Therapist Nick Calzada said while he has not seen a lot of clients specifically for workaholism, that does not mean it does not exist in the area.

“It is definitely in Marshalltown. It is everywhere,” he said. “I can’t give a specific number, but I guarantee it’s here.”

Light is being shone on workaholism today, National Workaholics Day. Even though workaholism is not an official diagnosable condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it is still very real for many people. Center Associates Clinical Director and Mental Health Therapist N...

05/07/2024

DES MOINES — The Marshalltown baseball team was one pitch away from a doubleheader sweep of Des Moines North/Hoover, but the Polar Bears had different ideas.

North’s Riley Rahbusch turned around an 0-2 fastball with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and drove in two runs to lift the Polar Bears to a 2-1 victory in the second game of Wednesday’s Iowa Alliance Conference doubleheader at Des Moines North High School.

The Polar Bears (3-26) snapped a 59-game losing skid on their home field dating back to a 5-4 triumph over Des Moines Lincoln on June 24, 2020.

DES MOINES — The Marshalltown baseball team was one pitch away from a doubleheader sweep of Des Moines North/Hoover, but the Polar Bears had different ideas. North’s Riley Rahbusch turned around an 0-2 fastball with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and drove in two runs to lift the P...

05/07/2024

During a brief meeting that lasted all of eight minutes Wednesday morning, the Marshall County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved veterans relocation assistance incentives for fiscal year 2025 and heard an update from County VA Director Kevin Huseboe on a monthly meeting he plans to launch in August.

As he stepped forward to the speaking podium, Huseboe noted that one veteran who applied for the program, which provides up to $2,000 per eligible veteran, has already found employment with Lennox, and another is coming from South Dakota while working to establish his housing situation in Marshall County.

During a brief meeting that lasted all of eight minutes Wednesday morning, the Marshall County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved veterans relocation assistance incentives for fiscal year 2025 and heard an update from County VA Director Kevin Huseboe on a monthly meeting he plans to launch in...

05/07/2024

Marshalltown softball consistently came up with hits on Wednesday night.

However, Des Moines Hoover/North had the hits at the right time to muster a split with the Bobcats at Marshalltown High School.

The Bobcats (13-23) bashed the Huskies in a five-inning Game 1, 11-1; the visitors answered with a 16-14 slugfest in the nightcap.

Marshalltown softball consistently came up with hits on Wednesday night. However, Des Moines Hoover/North had the hits at the right time to muster a split with the Bobcats at Marshalltown High School. The Bobcats (13-23) bashed the Huskies in a five-inning Game 1, 11-1; the visitors answered with a....

05/07/2024

In 1874, Angelica and Thaddeus Binford moved into their nearly completed Italianate-style home at 110 N. 2nd Ave., likely not knowing that 150 years later, it would be a hub of local history and event meeting space. To honor this anniversary, Celebrate the Binford House will take place from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday with food, entertainment, games and tours.

In 1874, Angelica and Thaddeus Binford moved into their nearly completed Italianate-style home at 110 N. 2nd Ave., likely not knowing that 150 years later, it would be a hub of local history and event meeting space. To honor this anniversary, Celebrate the Binford House will take place from noon to....

05/07/2024

The new and improved, two-day Red, White and Blue celebration was a hit in Marshalltown as it started in the 13th Street District Wednesday night with a car show and concert by Damon Dotson. On Thursday morning, the first ever Fourth of July parade through 13th Street and the Iowa Veterans Home campus went off without a hitch before the picnic with 100 blankets given away by Zamora Fresh Market along with inflatables, food trucks and baseball and softball games at the IVH field in the afternoon.

T-R PHOTOS BY ROBERT MAHARRY AND LANA BRADSTREAM/AERIAL PHOTO BY JON ROTTINK The new and improved, two-day Red, White and Blue celebration was a hit in Marshalltown as it started in the 13th Street District Wednesday night with a car show and concert by Damon Dotson. On Thursday morning, the first e...

03/07/2024

On Thursday, July 4, the shuttle will start at 4 p.m. and tentatively end at 10 p.m., but it may run longer depending on demand. Buses will be at bus stops approximately every 15 minutes.

Main bus stops are as follows. • Marshalltown Mall (front entrance) • High School (Roundhouse) • Courthouse (South side) • Miller Middle School (South Side) • Softball Complex (on 6th St. by Skate Park) On Thursday, July 4, the shuttle will start at 4 p.m. and tentatively end at 10 p.m., b...

03/07/2024

As a reminder to our readers, we will not publish a newspaper tomorrow and the office will be closed due to the Fourth of July postal holiday. Enjoy the day, and we'll be back with a new T-R on July 5!

03/07/2024

Marshalltown City Councilors Mark Mitchell, Greg Nichols and Gary Thompson are teaming up on an initiative to raise money for the Marshalltown Community Band by selling ‘I’m with the Band’ shirts, complete with a retro design inspired by the famous Volkswagen vans, during the Fourth of July performance at the South 6th Street softball diamonds and next week during the band’s regular weekly concert at West End Park. The shirts are $20, and change will not be made. But donations in excess of the amount requested will also be happily accepted.

T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY Marshalltown City Councilors Mark Mitchell, Greg Nichols and Gary Thompson are teaming up on an initiative to raise money for the Marshalltown Community Band by selling ‘I’m with the Band’ shirts, complete with a retro design inspired by the famous Volkswagen vans, ...

03/07/2024

The last two outages occurred on Sunday. Melissa McCarville, senior communications partner for Alliant, said roughly 1,660 customers lost power for an hour. That incident was caused by an animal, she said.

The second Sunday outage was planned for 50 customers. McCarville said there was scheduled maintenance which took three hours and 22 minutes to complete.

Marshalltown residents might have noticed a few power outages the past couple of weeks. In total, 4,980 Alliant customers lost power at some point during that period. The last two outages occurred on Sunday. Melissa McCarville, senior communications partner for Alliant, said roughly 1,660 customers....

03/07/2024

Starting today and running through the rest of the month of July, check out the "I Believe in Marshalltown" feature in the Times-Republican, which will highlight businesses and organizations from across the community and allow them to explain in their own words why they feel so strongly about the place we call home. The Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce kicks it off!

03/07/2024

LISCOMB — As he recalls, John Vry was 24 years old when he first signed up to become a Liscomb volunteer firefighter in the late 1950s. Today, he’s just shy of 91, but he’s still proud of all of the work he put in during a tenure that lasted more than six decades before he retired at the beginning of 2024.

On Sunday evening, Vry, who grew up on a nearby farm before moving into town when he got married, received a special plaque at the tail end of the annual “Liberty in Liscomb” summer celebration. Liscomb Fire Chief Ben Olson spoke highly of Vry and everything he brought to the department.

LISCOMB — As he recalls, John Vry was 24 years old when he first signed up to become a Liscomb volunteer firefighter in the late 1950s. Today, he’s just shy of 91, but he’s still proud of all of the work he put in during a tenure that lasted more than six decades before he […]

03/07/2024

Drake University sophomore Amber Henson has been named to the Women’s Golf Coaches Association’s All-American Scholars List to punctuate her second season with the Bulldogs.

Henson, a 2022 Marshalltown High School graduate, was one of three members of the Drake women’s golf squad to earn an academic honor from the WGCA.

Drake University sophomore Amber Henson has been named to the Women’s Golf Coaches Association’s All-American Scholars List to punctuate her second season with the Bulldogs. Henson, a 2022 Marshalltown High School graduate, was one of three members of the Drake women’s golf squad to earn an ac...

03/07/2024

During the city council meeting on June 24, members of the Marshalltown Municipal Transit (MMT) team were celebrated for two major milestones: receiving an award of recognition from the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) Region 7 among small urban transit systems in Iowa after recording a 63 percent increase in ridership from fiscal year 2021 to 2022 — the highest jump in a four-state region — and being named the Iowa Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) small urban transit system of the year for FY2023.

During the city council meeting on June 24, members of the Marshalltown Municipal Transit (MMT) team were celebrated for two major milestones: receiving an award of recognition from the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) Region 7 among small urban transit systems in Iowa after recording a 63 percent in...