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Rev up your tractor and get ready to cruise

By Kim Fickett

Grab your tractor or side-by-side and get ready to cruise the scenic rural Loess Hills.

That’s right, the Akron-Westfield FFA has announced its inaugural Alumni Tractor Ride and Drive on Saturday, Sept. 6.

Mountain lion sighting was ‘very possible’

By Sabrina Escalante and Kim Fickett

An Iowa DNR official has said it is “very possible” that a collared mountain lion made its way through Plymouth County in July.

Meet the royalty
Loutsch-Beitelspacher fires hole-in-one

Denise Loutsch-Beitelspacher hit a hole-in-one on Friday, Aug. 15, at the Akron Golf Course. She hit the ace hole #6, and witnessing the hole-in-one was Kelly Beitelspacher.

Frerichs awarded fall scholarship

ESTHERVILLE, Iowa - Students attending Iowa Lakes Community College this fall are getting a major financial lift, as the Iowa Lakes Community College Foundation has awarded over $1 million in scholarships for the Fall 2025 term.

A-W School Board approves last minute resignation

By Kim Fickett

The August Akron-Westfield School Board meeting was pretty run of the mill with some last minute details handled before the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

Fair boasts record livestock, exhibit numbers

By Kim Fickett

With another Plymouth County Fair in the history books, the Plymouth County Fair Board met Thursday, Aug. 14 to discuss this year’s event.

God, goals, and good vibes: Teen Bible Study meets at The Spot
Hannah and Michael Moos have been leading Akron's Teen Bible Study since 2022, and are eager to start their next session. Wednesday, Sept. 3, will be the first Teen Bible Study for the 2025-2026 school year.  The group meets every Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. at The Spot throughout the school year.
It’s all about the torque: Westfield to host annual pull
Who’s ready for a small town throwdown? That’s right, the annual Westfield Small Town Throwdown Truck and Tractor Pull is set to return at 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at the Westfield baseball fields.
Human trafficking awareness speaker to come to Akron
The public is welcome to attend "Be Aware," a presentation on human trafficking, on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, at 7 p.m., at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall, N. 3rd St. in Akron.
Trinity Lutheran holds prayer walk
“The prayer walk, first and foremost, is a fruit of our faith as Christ followers. Additionally, prayer is a major tenant of our faith. Prayer as a form of communication is essential in our seeking and knowing God, and experiencing God's presence in our lives,” explained Trinity Lutheran’s Chaplain Paula Damon.
Young Akron entrepreneur runs lemonade stand
Oliver Alm, 10, of Akron, has been selling lemonade during the past three summers, often doing so in sweltering heat. Money he earns operating his lemonade business funds his YouTube channel, which he started a little over a year ago with his parents' supervision.
A-W girls basketball has new coach
The Akron-Westfield girls basketball program has a new head coach, but he’s not new to the Westerner way. Corey DeRocher, a 2003 graduate of A-W, was named the girls basketball coach after Kent Johnson retired at the end of the school year.
Once a Panther, always a Panther: Westfield Reunion draws over 100 alumni
Westfield was booming with Panther alumni during the Reunion Luncheon on Aug. 9, 2025. The event was held at the Community Center and the Congregational United Church of Christ. 
New tenants uninjured when tree crashes into their rental home

By Sabrina Escalante 

After the Tuesday, July 29 storm, Akron residents saw fallen, split, and uprooted trees but experienced minimal damage to their homes and properties, except for the house at 520 Haskell St. 

Kelsey Saathof advances to Talent Search semi-finals
Kelsey Saathof, of Akron, is competing in the Bill Riley Talent Search at the Iowa State Fair. She has advanced on to the semi-finals, which are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.
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