Ella Boysen earned the State Solo Championship in Class 5 Thursday as OABCIG’s Dance Team competed at State.
The Iowa State Dance & Drill Team Association hosted competition Thursday and Friday, drawing teams from across the state.
OABCIG’s team saw strong results with all four dance entries taking home a Division 1 rating with a trophy.
The M.I.X. entry for OABCIG earned Third Place Class 2, while the team’s Jazz entry earned Fifth Place Class 3.
Ridge View saw a solid showing at the Iowa State Dance & Drill Team Association competition Thursday and Friday. Results included:
• Class II Jazz Division I
• Class II Novelty Division I & 4th place
• Class III Hip hop Division I & 4th place
• Lois Turnage Outstanding Community Service
• Academic Excellence
Coach Bri Witzke was pleased with the results.
Scott Niemeier, Public Works Director for the City of Holstein, is retiring at the end of the year after more than 34 years of dedicated service. Scott began his career with the city in 1991, and has helped keep Holstein running smoothly and safely ever since.
The City of Ida Grove is moving ahead in seeking to help development along the northern section of Industrial Drive.
During the Dec. 1 city council meeting, Travis Chizek’s purchase of undeveloped lots in the area that turns into Linden Lane was discussed.
Chizek hopes to build a single family residence over on the northwestern lots. He asked whether council has a plan to develop the road.
Holstein is now home to a new option for individuals who would like to visit town but are looking for increased space, accommodations, and amenities.
Loft 59, located at 528 South Main Street, opened last week.
“My goal was to create a place for Northwest Iowa families to come home to; an alternative to other area lodging, particularly for larger groups,” said owner Lisa Ducommun.
Holstein’s 2025 Christmas party took place on Dec. 6 in several places around town.
Stubbs Memorial library invited kids to join a holiday storytime with stories, cookies and free books.
The Lohff-Schumann “Cookies, Cocoa & Coffee for Claus” fundraiser took place at the old city hall building.
Santa flew in to greet kids at the Holstein Legion Hall, where Holstein Kiwanis served lunch.
The town of Arthur turned out on Saturday for the Arthur Christmas Party at the community building. Santa was on hand to greet children, and everyone who braved the snow got a hot meal. Snow was falling heavily outside by the mid-point of the event.
A Saturday snowstorm outside didn’t do anything to temper the warm spirits inside the Odebolt Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 6.
The Odebolt Christmas celebration drew hundreds of people.
All kinds of activities took place during the event, including a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus, lots of giveaways, a whole room of activities for kids, and a live nativity.
The Bowling Alley catered a free hot meal.
The Ida County Republicans presented a “Candidate Forum” on Monday evening, Nov. 24 at Cobblestone Inn & Suites in Holstein. The event featured four Republican candidates for Governor of Iowa, as well as five candidates for Congress in Iowa’s 4th congressional district. The current representative in District 4, Randy Feenstra, is campaigning for the Iowa governorship.
Businesses shut their doors, and travelers returning from their holiday plans were in for some adjustment as a winter storm hit.
The snow began falling Friday, and during the day Saturday, the area became engulfed.
The Iowa Department of Transportation had most regional roadways marked as completely covered.
Battle Creek logged nine inches of snow by 9:35 a.m. Sunday, according to the Weather Service, one of the region’s highest totals.
