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. The suspected mount…
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. Loutsch-Be…
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 mil…
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. The distr…
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. According to Fair Board Presid…
God, goals, and good vibes: Teen Bible Study meets at The Spot
By Sabrina Escalante 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 Te…
It’s all about the torque: Westfield to host annual pull
By Kim Fickett 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, 202…
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. Stacey Besch …
Trinity Lutheran holds prayer walk
By Cassandra Kyser Trinity Lutheran Church in Akron held its first ever prayer walk along the Akron Trail in early July. “The prayer walk, first and foremost, is a fruit of our faith a…
Young Akron entrepreneur runs lemonade stand
Sales fund YouTube channel By Sabrina Escalante Oliver Alm, 10, of Akron, has been selling lemonade during the past three summers, often doing so in sweltering heat. He admits that at…
A-W girls basketball has new coach
A-W alum Corey DeRocher named head coach By Brett Newtson Contributing writer The Akron-Westfield (A-W) girls basketball program has a new head coach, but he’s not new to the Westerne…
Once a Panther, always a Panther: Westfield Reunion draws over 100 alumni
By Sabrina Escalante 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 Ch…
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 t…
Kelsey Saathof advances to Talent Search semi-finals
By Cassandra Kyser 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 Saturd…
A-W alum Natalie Nielsen had solid season at SMSU
Set two program records last season By Brett Newtson bnewtsonsports@gmail.com Akron-Westfield (A-W) alum Natalie Nielson was hoping to make an impact when she transferred to Southwest…