The Hometowner 

By Sabrina Escalante

Akron’s Jerry Petersen added another impressive collection of honors to his longtime record at the Plymouth County Fair this year, earning blue ribbons for his roses while also taking top honors with flowers and photography.

The Hometowner

By Sabrina Escalante

For members of Akron-Westfield’s Johnson Juniors 4-H club, the Plymouth County Fair was more than a week of competition. It was the culmination of months of preparation, learning new skills, working with animals and spending time with family and friends.

The Hometowner 

By Sabrina Escalante

The Akron Area Museum welcomed a packed room Sunday, Aug. 9, as more than 50 people gathered for a presentation exploring the history of the infamous James-Younger Gang and its 1876 bank robbery in Northfield, Minnesota.

The Hometowner 

By Sabrina Escalante

The Plymouth County Fair provided plenty of opportunities for local youth to showcase the skills, projects and animals they had worked on throughout the year, with Akron-Westfield FFA members earning several top honors.

The Hometowner 

By Sabrina Escalante

Akron-Westfield wrestler Autumn Hoffman is continuing to make her mark on the wrestling mat after competing in the AAU Junior Olympic Games and earning an opportunity to join an international team headed to Brazil later this year.

The Hometowner

By Sabrina Escalante

The 2026 Plymouth County Fair proved to be one of the largest and busiest in recent years, with an estimated 139,150 people attending over the five-day event.

Akron residents will soon notice a small addition to their garbage/recycling bins aimed at solving a common problem on collection days.
City crews are scheduled to begin installing new garbage bin latches early Thursday morning. The latches, which attach to the front of the can and secure the lid, are designed to help keep lids from blowing open during windy conditions, reducing the chance of trash being scattered.

With the start of the 2026-27 school year approaching, the Akron-Westfield Community School District is looking to expand its team, posting a wide range of employment opportunities for educators, support staff, coaches and other personnel.