The Webster City Hotel/Motel Tax Grant applications mandatory training meeting is Wednesday Applications are now being accepted for Round 28 of the Hotel/Motel Tax Grant Program These grants are intended to support projects and events that promote tourism and attract visitors to Webster City A representative from each applying organization must attend this session in order for their application to be considered for funding Grant applications will be distributed at the training session and will also be available online after May 14 at the City’s website: www.webstercity.com FORT DODGE — The Stallings family of rural Webster County suffered a devastating loss on April 26 when a fire .. The Webster Community Blood drive is Thursday at the Van Diest Medical Center Clinic Board Room At the top of the City Council of Webster City meeting agenda tonight is a public hearing on a proposal to overhaul .. LLC | https://www.freemanjournal.net | P.O The Roland-Story Norsemen and Webster City Lynx girls golf team returned to action on Friday as they competed in the Kuemper Catholic Invitational at Carroll National Golf Club in Carroll The Norsemen and Lynx were joined by the host Knights Roland-Story placed 2nd in the tournament with a team score of 369 (+81) just two strokes behind tournament champions Spencer The top Norsemen scorer was junior Brinley Carlson while senior Brooke Thompson placed 4th by shooting an 87 (+15) Senior Isabel Hoskins would tie for 7th by shooting a 96 (+24) while freshman Hadley Carlson rounded out scoring by shooting a 101 (+29) Webster City would place 8th by shooting a 482 (+194) as their top scorer was junior Alleyna Dawson Junior Kenley Koop tied for 22nd and shot a 121 (+49) sophomore Mylie Keller placed 24th and shot a 123 (+51) while freshman Haydin Sealine placed 26th and shot a 126 (+54) Roland-Story girls golf returns to action on Monday when they host a quad meet at River Bend Golf Course in Story City at 4 PM Webster City girls golf returns to action on Tuesday when they travel to Meadow Hills Golf Course in Iowa Falls for an NCC tri-meet at 3:30 PM Eagle Grove boys track places 4th at South Hardin Invite The Webster City Lynx and Wright County Broncos boys soccer teams returned to action on Friday night as the two faced off with one another in North Central Conference action at Lynx Field in Webster City Webster City entered at 8-0 and ranked #7 in 2A It would be a quick-scoring first half for Webster City as sophomore Israel Torres scored not once but twice in the span of 2 minutes (15′ 16′) with assists from fellow sophomore David Villelas on both goals to put the Lynx ahead 2-0 at halftime senior Francisco Ramirez-Carmona put in a header in the 47th minute with an assist from brother Abisai Ramirez-Carmona to put Webster City up 3-0 The Lynx had more opportunities from there but were unable to convert as they settled for a 3-0 victory Webster City boys soccer returns to action on Monday when they travel to Hampton to take on Hampton-Dumont-CAL in North Central Conference action in Hampton when they host Humboldt in North Central Conference action at 7 PM Nature Photography 101 Workshop comes to Hamilton County Conservation Office this Saturday,May 10th sells the first tickets to Thursday’s opening night at the movie house in downtown Webster City to Brenda and Stephen Sinnett attended to document the reopening of the Webster Theater They are doing a follow up to the 2017 documentary “Made in Iowa.” The Webster Theater concessions staff serve up movie snacks and beverages Thursday Two accidents were investigated over the weekend in Webster City The 1100 block of Des Moines Street was the scene of a two-vehicle accident at 6:18 p.m Webster City Police reported a southbound 2021 model Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by Kory Plagge of Clear Lake when he stopped at the south bound stop sign at Des Moines and Elm Street a 2005 Acura TSX driven by Miguel Adolfo Sanchez Gallego of Webster City was speaking with a passenger in his car looked away from the street briefly and did not see the Plagge pickup truck at the intersection Plagge collided with the rear of the Sanchez Gallego car causing damage to both vehicles There were no injuries in the Sunday evening accident The damage to the pickup operated by Plagge was estimated at $700 and the damage to the Gallego car was estimated at $1,500 Investigating officer Clint Houge charged Miguel Adolfo Sanchez Gallego with No Valid Driver’s License Minor damage was done to two vehicles in an accident in the 1100 block of First Street shortly after 8 Saturday night Reportedly a 2020 model Ram 150 pickup truck driven by Leslie Ontiveros Morales of Webster City was backing out of a garage behind 1125 First when the truck struck a parked 2019 Chevrolet Colorado pickup with the owner of the truck not known No injuries were reported in the Saturday night accident Investigating officer Clint Houge reported minor damage done to both the Morales pickup and parked pickup No injuries in Sunday afternoon accident in rural Hamilton County on U.S by | May 2 The lone movie theater in Webster City reopened last night with a showing of “Thunderbolts” after being forced to close following a fire in November of 2023 of the HERO organization for the Webster Theater fundraising and effort to restore the movie house “To get rid of the smoke smell and all that tar that covered everything in the theater we basically had to gut the entire theater back down to the bones,” Abens says Jeff Pingel also helped to bring about the return of the Webster Theater a process which was complicated by there being needed repairs that weren’t covered by insurance “We had to scramble to come up with some pretty significant funds to save the marquee and all the limestone decorative on the front was in jeopardy of falling onto the sidewalk,” Pingel says and through the grace of everybody being generous we were able to raise enough money and get that taken care of.” Insurance coverage on the building alone was $1.2-million A street party for the Webster Theater is scheduled for May 23rd to celebrate the reopening RadioIowa is a division of LEARFIELD © Learfield News & Ag, LLC. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy  | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information Listen Live View Full Story Precipitation last week continued to delay planting in many parts of Iowa According to the state’s USDA Crop Progress Report One month after the Trump administration announced sweeping tariffs on imports to the U.S. the pork and soybean industries are closely The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is using a mix of conventional and modern methods as it tries to figure out Governor Kim Reynolds has signed legislation to launch a “Purple Star Initiative” in Iowa schools The 2025 Fair Meadow Drive Reconstruction Project will officially begin on Monday traffic will be impacted by significant detours in the area A map of the detours is posted on the Daily Freeman-Journal website for your reference Printed copies are also available at City Hall engineers and construction teams will coordinate public outreach efforts to keep the community informed Updates will also be shared via the City’s mass notification system A Hamilton County man has pleaded guilty to lighting the fire that burned his family’s house down in .. Legacy Learning will host a workshop on Saturday for children and dads grandparents or friends who want to make a .. Funeral services for Robert Mervin Law will be Friday at 10:30 am at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Webster City Visitation will be on Thursday May 8 from 5-8 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church in Webster City Arrangements have been entrusted to Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Fort Dodge Webster City girls golf compete in Kuemper Catholic Invite on Friday Eagle Grove girls golf compete in CGD 18-Hole Tournament on Saturday Two public hearings will be on this Monday evening’s agenda of the Webster City City Council Meeting time is set 6:00 in the city council chambers The first hearing is to amend the Code of Ordinances for Vacant and Abandoned Property in Webster City The second hearing of the evening will be for the proposed plans form of contract and estimated cost for the construction of the Fiscal Year 2026 HMA (Hot Mix Asphalt) Improvement Project Webster City city council member Logan Welch will have an update for the Riverview Day Care project A budget amendment hearing for the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for May 19th at 6:05 p.m A resolution to transfer cash from various funds to other various funds will be reviewed There will be a discussion on the proposed purchase of a Street Department Dump and Plow Truck A resolution approving the preliminary plat for the Lynx Development Number 2 located in Webster City will be discussed plus other matters Monday’s meeting of the Webster City City Council will be video streamed live on the Webster City Facebook page This Tuesday morning KQWC FM 05.7 and kqradio.com will interview Webster City city manager John Harrenstein about the council session and other news in the Webster City area Webster City girls soccer shuts out Garner-Hayfield-Ventura The Webster City girls golf team returned to action on Thursday Edmond in North Central Conference action at Links Public Golf Course in Webster City Webster City would come away with the meet with a team score of 221 (+77) as the top scorers for the Lynx were junior Alleyna Dawson and sophomore Mylie Keller while freshman Haydin Sealine rounded out scoring with a 60 (+24) Webster City girls golf returns to action on Friday for the Kuemper Catholic Invite at Carroll National Golf Club in Carroll South Hamilton and Roland-Story boys golf compete in HOIAC quad meet at Saydel The Webster City Lynx boys golf team returned to action on Thursday as they made the short trip west to Fort Dodge to take on the St Edmond Gaels in North Central Conference action at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course Webster City would win the meet with a team score of 157 (+13) as Dawson Bertran was the individual medalist with a low score of 37 (+1) Senior Cole Miller would be 2nd with a 39 (+3) fellow senior Luke Firsching would tie for 3rd with a 40 (+4) as sophomore Coyce Bertran rounded out scoring in 5th with a 41 (+5) Webster City boys golf returns to action on Tuesday as they host an NCC tri meet with Iowa Falls-Alden and Algona at Links Public Golf Course in Webster City at 4:30 PM Webster City City Council to meet Monday evening,May5th at City Hall The Webster City Lynx girls soccer team returned to action on Thursday night as they made the drive north to take on the Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Cardinals in North Central Conference action at GHV High School in Garner but a handball call on the Cardinals past the midway point of the half allowed junior Jayme Perez to convert on a penalty kick in the 23rd minute to put Webster City ahead 1-0 at halftime Webster City continued to suffocate the Cardinals throughout the 2nd half and would deliver the decisive blow with a Sandra Fuentes-Cruz goal in the 76th minute to give the Lynx a 2-0 win Webster City girls soccer returns to action on Monday when they host Hampton-Dumont-CAL in North Central Conference action at Lynx Field at 5:30 PM (2A) #7 Webster City boys soccer routs Garner-Hayfield-Ventura The Webster City Lynx track teams returned to action on Thursday night as they made the trip to Boone to compete in the annual Don Howard Invitational at Goeppinger Field The Lynx were joined by the host Toreadors Webster City’s boys would place 2nd with 109 points on Thursday capturing a handful of first place finishes Jack Barner would win the 3200m run in a time of 11:31.98 as Jayden Weinzetl followed by winning the 100m dash in a time of 11.12 Weinzetl would then win the 200m dash in a time of 22.59 as Justin Callahan won the 400m hurdles in a season-best time of 56.35 The Lynx distance medley placed 2nd in a time of 3:46.21 with the team of Weinzetl-Hansen-Murillo-Callahan as Carter Mickelson placed 2nd in the 1600m run in a time of 4:57.88 The Lynx girls would place 5th in their meet finishing with 70 points and finishing with a pair of event wins Adysen Poppen won the shot put with a throw of 35′ 6.5″ as the Lynx won the sprint medley in a time of 1:55.73 with the team of Hartnett-Weinschenk-Savitski-Grossoehme Cloe Savitski would place 2nd in the 100m dash in a personal-best time of 12.76 while placing 3rd in the 200m dash in a time of 27.21 Avery Poppen placed 3rd in the discus with a throw of 105′ 11″ while the 4×800 placed 3rd in 12:05.89 with the team of Reed-Soesbe-L Th3 4×100 would also place 3rd in a season-best time of 52.50 with the team of Weinschenk-Grossoehme-Wright-Savitski Webster City girls track returns to action on Monday when they compete at the Cadet Relays at Iowa Falls-Alden Webster City boys track returns to action on Thursday when they compete at the North Central Conference Meet at Lions Field in Clear Lake at 4:30 PM South Hamilton and Clarion-Goldfield-Dows boys track compete in Norsemen Relays South Hamilton girls track competes in West Marshall Co-Ed The Webster City Lynx boys soccer team returned to action on Thursday as they hosted the Cardinals of Garner-Hayfield-Ventura in North Central Conference action at Lynx Field in Webster City The Lynx entered at 7-0 and ranked #7 in 2A Webster City’s offense would be the story on Thursday in an 8-2 victory as senior Eddy Fuentes tallied 4 goals and 2 assists on the day Sophomore Israel Torres added 2 goals and an assist while senior Fernando Rubi Antunez and freshman Jamie Martinez Andrial each scored goals of their own Sophomore AJ Fuentes and senior John Fuentes scored goals for GHV Webster City boys soccer returns to action on Friday when they host Wright County in North Central Conference action at 5:30 PM Former Webster City Hall of Fame football coach and Iowa’s former all-time wins leader Dick Tighe passed away on Tuesday at the age of 94 Tighe was the head coach of Webster City from 1966 to 1997 and held a record of 220-72-1 as the head of the Lynx program was the state’s all-time wins leader with 432 career victories until surpassed by Ankeny Centennial co-head coach Jerry Pezzetti at the beginning of the 2022 football season Tighe began his coaching career at Hamilton Catholic High School in Ontario before returning to Iowa with a one-year stop at St followed by a multi-year stint at Kuemper Catholic in Carroll Arriving in the fall of 1966 and replacing Hall-of-Fame coach Harley Rollinger Tighe maintained the Lynx as the perennial powerhouse of the North Central Conference in the 1970’s and 1980’s winning 13 conference titles from 1967 to 1991 before the state implemented districts in 1992 Tighe was released from his position at Webster City in 1997 and would become co-head coach at Iowa Falls-Alden from 1998 to 2002 Edmond and began to rebuild a dormant-Gaels program highlighted by back-to-back UNI Dome appearances in 2013 and 2014 Edmond following the 2016 season with a career-record of 432-167-8 Iowa State Patrol investigate one car accident Monday morning in Webster County Quinn’s Qorner: Dick Tighe’s Life’s Work Showed Everyone How to Work Hard in Life Webster City weather records for the month of April showed above normal rainfall but near normal temperatures Statistics from the Radio Hill weather reporting station for the past month showed the average high was at 60 degrees and the average low was 34 degrees Webster City’s warmest day was this past Monday on April 28th with a high of 79 degrees The lowest recorded temperature was 17 degrees on the morning of April 8th Normal rainfall for April is at 3.8 inches No severe weather was reported in Webster City in April The National Weather Service forecast for May in Iowa indicates the month will bring above normal temperatures but below normal precipitation for Webster City This is according to the monthly forecast released on Wednesday afternoon Last May in Webster City the average high was 72 degrees with an average low of 46 degrees There was 8.58 inches of rain measured in May,2024 KQWC-KZWC Radio is the official weather observer for the National Weather Service in Webster City Two vehicle accident investigated by Webster City Police Wednesday afternoon Coach Dick Tighe is pictured with some of his football memorabilia in 2017 Tighe helped maintain Webster City as a perennial contender for three decades before resurrecting the St highlighted by a run to the state championship game in 2013 Tighe sat atop the state’s career list for coaching wins with 432 He concluded a 63-year stint on the sidelines with a record of 432-167-8 including stops at Iowa Falls-Alden Carroll Kuemper and Hamilton Catholic in Canada “Very sad to hear of Coach Tighe’s passing,” David Flattery Edmond activities director and a former player for Tighe “He transformed the lives of so many young men His simplistic coaching philosophy was brilliant It was no coincidence that he found success on the field wherever he went Tighe’s first coaching opportunity came with St That run was highlighted by 25 wins between 2013-14 and a second appearance in the state semifinals after reaching the championship game reaching the state quarterfinals a year later while finishing 11-1 including a 13-1 run to the finals where they fell to powerhouse Iowa City Regina “His philosophy of keeping football simple get good at a certain few plays/formations and run them over and over again until they stop you seemed crazy in the day of more formations and trick offenses were becoming the norm,” said Mike Johnson who coached with Tighe and is a member of the St Sometimes I wonder if football would be a better game if we brought back some of his philosophy that more isn’t necessarily better.” Tighe spent 31 seasons total at Webster City The Lynx would win 13 conference titles between 1967-1991 “I am the man I am today because of Coach Tighe,” Pat Tate Lynx class of 1971 said about his old mentor “He taught me how to believe I could always be better.” He added: “I do have a story I remember about our Spencer game I got flagged two or three times for illegal procedure I was moving my right foot when we were set How he taught me not to move my right foot.” getting Coach Tighe to talk about sports,” said Jackie Caquelin and the test scheduled for that day would be postponed!” “He was my driver’s ed teacher,” Cheryl (Day) Smith said so I had to make a right on the hill to turn left towards our house He told me I would never drive because I scared him That was 52 years ago and I am still driving.” “(He) always had a hard time with getting names right in football Always easier to just refer to you by your number!” Tighe followed his years in Webster City with a five-year stint at Iowa Falls-Alden as a co-head coach before finishing his second run with the Gaels Tighe’s 63 seasons as a high school head coach tied South Carolina legend John McKissick for most in the country at the time of his retirement tied that mark last year and is set to surpass it this coming fall Tighe served in the Army for two years after graduating from Notre Dame Tighe married Margot Daly in 1953 and they had six children together chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors explained that his board had trimmed nearly .. Environmental Protection Agency granted an emergency waiver permitting the nationwide sale of a fuel blend .. Kim Reynolds and Senate Republicans said Monday they have reached a “budget compromise” on how .. as legendary head coach Dick Tighe passed away Tighe had coaching stints at St. Edmond Catholic School Tighe was first in the state in wins and ranked in the Top 10 nationally His time spent on the sidelines was tied for first with South Carolina’s John McKissick for most ever Edmond program that had lost 21 consecutive games leading them to 108 wins over the next decade-plus That included a trip to the school’s first-ever state championship game and another appearance in the state semifinals Tighe graduated from Notre Dame and had six children with his wife DANA BECKERDana Becker has been a sports writer in Iowa since 2000 Dana resides in northcentral Iowa and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in 2022 focused on the state of Iowa Along with providing coverage of football and wrestling He began writing for High School on SI in 2023 © 2025 ABG-SI LLC - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER The 1300 block of Second Street was the scene of a two-vehicle accident at 1:10 Wednesday afternoon Webster City Police reported an eastbound 2018 model Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle (SUV) driven by Amanda Pelz of Webster City and a 2015 model Chevrolet Traverse SUV driven by Jorge DePaz also of Webster City were traveling on Second when a car was attempting to slow down to make a turn into a driveway Both of the SUVs were attempting to slow down The Pelz SUV appeared to swerve to miss the collision as the damage to the Pelz vehicle is consistent with them swerving to the left to avoid a collision The Pelz SUV then collided with DePaz SUV on the driver’s side rear Both drivers escaped injury in yesterday’s accident Damage to the Pelz SUV was estimated at $5000 with the damage to the DePaz SUV estimated at $2000 Investigating officer David Turpen cited Jorge DePaz with No Valid Driver’s License and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Lability-No Insurance Near normal temperatures but above normal precipitation for Webster City in April Applications available now for Webster City Hotel Motel Tax Grants The Webster City Lynx girls golf team returned to action on Tuesday as they hosted the Greene County Rams in non-conference action at the Links Public Golf Course in Webster City Webster City would come up short against Greene County with the Lynx shooting a team score of 231 (+87) The Lynx top scorer was sophomore Mylie Keller while junior Alleyna Dawson shot a 58 (+22) Juniors Ellie Peterson and Kenley Koop rounded out scoring by also shooting 58’s (+22) Webster City girls golf returns to action on Thursday Edmond in North Central Conference action the Links Public Golf Course in Webster City at 4:30 PM (2A) #7 Webster City boys soccer shuts out Clear Lake Webster City girls tennis downs Nevada at home The Webster City Lynx boys soccer team returned to action on Tuesday night as they made the drive north to take on the Clear Lake Lions in North Central Conference action at Lions Field in Clear Lake Webster City entered at 6-0 and ranked #7 in Class 2A A majority of the first half would be quiet until Lynx senior Eddy Fuentes scored on a runout in the 23rd minute to put Webster City ahead 1-0 The Lynx would score again in the 33rd minute off another runout goal this time by sophomore Israel Torres to give the Lynx a 2-0 lead that shortly became a 3-0 lead after Eddy Fuentes’s 2nd goal in the 34th minute to give the Lynx a 3-0 halftime advantage Webster City would use their stellar back row to suffocate Clear Lake offensively in the 2nd half following a goal right at the start of the 2nd half from Israel Torres in the 41st minute as Webster City cruised to a 4-0 shutout victory Senior midfielder Conner Peck would tally 3 assists on the evening as Fernando Rubi Antunez also added an assist Sophomore Goalkeeper Edwin Ramos Nolasco tallied 6 saves on the evening as well Webster City boys returns to action on Thursday when they host Garner-Hayfield-Ventura at Lynx Field Webster City and Roland-Story boys track teams compete at North Polk Webster City girls golf comes up short against Greene County The Webster City Lynx girls tennis team returned to action on Tuesday as they hosted the Nevada Cubs in North Central Conference action at Webster City High School Allie Severe started the meet off on a positive note for the Lynx before Olivia Gallentine dropped a 2-1 match The Lynx bounced back with 3 straight 2-0 wins from Morgan Hackbarth (6-1 Gabbie Sebert would drop a 2-0 match to send the meet to doubles the team of Alivia Burns and Allie Severe would win a 2-1 (6-1 before Olivia Gallentine and Morgan Hackbarth would seal the meet with a 2-0 (6-1 Webster City girls tennis returns to action on Wednesday when they travel to Des Moines to take on Saydel in non-conference action at 1:30 PM The Webster City Lynx and Roland-Story Norsemen boys track teams returned to action on Tuesday night as they made the drive into Polk County to compete in the annual Comet Relays at North Polk High School in Alleman The Lynx and Norsemen were joined by the host Comets Webster City would place 4th with 88 points on the evening winning in a new-school record time of 1:36.96 with the team of Hansen-Hrnicek-Weinzetl-Callahan before Jayden Weinzetl won the 100m dash in a time of 10.83 seconds tying the school record set by Keagan Parks back in 2012 Justin Callahan would win the 400m dash in a time of 51.69 seconds before winning the 400m hurdles in a time of 57.04 seconds Jayden Weinzetl would place 2nd in the 200m dash in a time of 22.52 while Cole Nohrenberg placed 3rd in the discus with a throw of 126′ 9″ coming away with one event winner in senior Evan Voga who won the 1600m run in a time of 4:45.96 Cody Long placed 2nd in the long jump with a mark of 20′ 5.25″ as the Norsemen placed 2nd in the 4×800 in a time of 8:44.10 with the team of Voga-Lucchesi-Willis-Dahlsten The Norsemen also placed 2nd in the 4×200 in a time of 1:33.35 with the team of Mazyck-Fosse-Thoreson-Strum while Corbin Lucchessi placed 3rd in the 800m run in a time of 2:07.48 Brady Long placed 3rd in the 400m hurdles in a time of 1:02.40 while the shuttle hurdle team placed 3rd in a time of 1:02.44 with the team of Long-Brabrer-Crank-Strum Webster City boys track returns to action on Thursday when they compete in the Don Howard Invitational at Goeppinger Field in Boone at 4:30 PM Roland-Story boys track returns to action on Thursday when they host the Norsemen Relays at Dallas Kray Track beginning at 4:30 PM 4 Area Schools compete in George Abell Hawkette Relays in Jewell Iowa - Following a joint investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Webster City Police Department has been charged with first degree murder in connection with the April 16 Webster City officers and emergency personnel responded to a 911 call reporting an unresponsive infant at a residence in Webster City The infant was transported to Van Diest Medical Center and later transferred to Blank Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced deceased later that morning The investigation and medical examinations revealed injuries consistent with child abuse leading authorities to rule the death a homicide Evidence gathered during the investigation led authorities to believe that Gunner Jones had access to the infant and caused the fatal injuries No additional information will be released at this time Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.  Complaint & Affidavit ABOUT THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the largest law enforcement agency in the state It includes seven divisions and several bureaus and federal government agencies and the private sector to keep Iowa a safe place by following our core values: leadership Divisions within the Iowa DPS: Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center Professional Development and Support Services Division The Department of Public Safety is led by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Governor https://dps.iowa.gov  © 2024 State of Iowa - Read our accessibility, data, and privacy policies Friends and family are rallying for Bryan Dayton a City of Webster City lineman who was seriously injured when he came in contact with a live wire during the March 19 snowstorm Dayton reportedly lost both of his hands as a result of the accident and is recovering at the University of Iowa Hospital Webster City and other communities across the state experienced a significant weather event causing electrical power outages During operations undertaken to restore power to residents an employee from the Webster City Electric Department was injured These injuries required medical response and transport to healthcare facilities as well as subsequent treatment which is ongoing “The Electric Department performed amazing work to restore power to thousands of customers Our thoughts and prayers are with our lineman and his family The department has our highest respect in their quick reaction to the storm event and their dedication to serving residents.” An account — “Dayton Strong” — has been created at WCF Financial Bank You will find the QR code for that fundraising effort with this story A Bryan Dayton Fun Run & Benefit will take place in July donations and items to be auctioned off are being accepted They can be dropped off at Salty Suz to Chad or Jamie Christian or in Woolstock to Kevin or Erica Schmauss You can also contact Chad Christian at 515-269-1718; Jamie Christian at 515-269-1280; or Kevin Schmauss According to a flyer announcing a fundraising effort to help Dayton and his family Bryan Dayton was called to help restore power during the spring blizzard “That night he was hit with a live wire and suffered severe burns Bryan was taken to the University of Iowa Hospital where he underwent multiple surgeries resulting in the loss of both his hands and part of his arms “This is a huge life change not just for Bryan but for Shannon and the boys as well “This event (at Salty Suz) is not just about raising funds — it’s about coming together to show love Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer the Iowa Master Conservationist Program starting May 6 former co-owner of an Iowa newspaper that was nearly bankrupted by such a lawsuit celebrated the .. Sip N Shop in Webster City is Saturday — a full day of spring fashion Air Force veteran Gary Ryker had a long flying career in which the number of takeoffs exceeded .. Shannon Latham will be back in Webster City Saturday for the final in a .. There will be a special meeting of the Webster City Community School Board set for this Wednesday morning at 7:30 in the school board room at 820 Des Moines Street Contractual matters will be reviewed at Wednesday’s meeting The board will consider the following resignations WEBSTER CITY — The City Council of Webster City voted unanimously to both greatly expand and certify the city’s Southeast Industrial Park on Monday the city will move quickly to certify the new larger industrial park to improve its marketing appeal Certification is a key initiative in the State of Iowa’s arsenal to spur economic development from the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s website leaves no doubt as to its importance: “IEDA’s Certified Site program launched in 2012 and continues to be one of the most robust and effective certification programs in the nation It is responsible for Iowa’s recognition as a top 10 state for site readiness A quick check of the IEDA website listed 22 “credentialed Iowa certified sites.” The largest by far is the Mills Crossing Mega Site in Glenwood very large sites include the Cedar Rapids Land & Air Super Park with 582 acres; and Innovation Park in Oskaloosa Webster City’s certified industrial park would rank among the state’s largest an attribute that might attract the attention of companies planning very large development projects and the investment in certifying it as “shovel-ready,” the local community wouldn’t even be in the race quoting from IEDA’s website: “… communities within the state have now seen more than $2.2 billion in capital investment on certified sites.” City Manager John Harrenstein wrote to the Council: “Should the Council determine to move forward with site certification it is estimated the site will be certified within 12 months.” senior vice president of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance which both the City of Webster City and Hamilton County joined last year urged the Council to support both the enlargement and certification of the industrial park saying: “This larger industrial park sets up a recipe for success in Webster City Certification of the site will really put us on the map.” Harrenstein put the total cost of certification to be $220,000 but added: “The city has received a $50,000 grant from the IEDA for the project.” He further confirmed the city has been authorized to use $45,000 toward certification by Corn Belt Power Co-Op Harrenstein expects an unnamed telecommunications company will contribute $20,000 This leaves the city to find $105,000 to fully fund the certification effort The Council’s approval of amendment No 35 to an agreement for professional services provided by engineering firm Snyder & Associates of Ankeny will allow certification work to begin quickly first enacted by the Council in February 2017 to ensure it can quickly call in a “paving specialist” from Snyder to make necessary reviews and inspections avoiding delays while the pavers are onsite and working on street repairs The same kind of arrangement would allow the city to bring in other Snyder specialists to do the certification work The answer can be found in Snyder & Associates detailed for the kind of certification required by IEDA to market the industrial park as truly “shovel-ready.” These range from contacting owners of the land earmarked to expansion of the industrial park to ensure their property will be available for development — and at what cost — for a minimum 48 months boundary survey and a host of federal and state environmental Detailed transportation and utilities plans will assure the site is fully able to meet the needs of any likely development project Snyder will prepare a “master development plan” summarizing all the foregoing work Harrenstein acknowledged certification wasn’t cheap but added: “We got three quotes for this work and Snyder’s is competitive.” Dryer the official from the Ames Regional Economic Alliance “Your costs for certification are going to be higher due to the size of the site but it will be a solid investment for the future.” the Council passed a second reading on approval of a development agreement with Wilson Estates LLC The Council waived the third reading of the ordinance as Harrenstein explained “The developer is hoping to close on the real estate for their development in March.” The Stallings family of rural Webster County suffered a devastating loss on April 26 when a fire ignited in their .. LLC | https://www.messengernews.net | 713 Central Ave. A fire on the second floor of 608 Second Street was discovered just after 1 p.m the worst was confirmed: though multiple fire departments had stopped the flames from spreading to the Webster Theater next door With timely and capable help from fire departments in three counties the fire was declared controlled at 4.10 pm state-of-the-art theater opening tonight is a far cry from the one that closed that fateful November day which wasn’t remodeled in the 2013-14 renovations now offers a movie-going experience that will compare with the state’s finest with winter on the way and the condition of the theater’s roof unknown repairing the roof was obviously the first order of business the theater’s insurance company ordered an engineering review to determine the soundness of the more-than-100-year-old building But when three months after the blaze there was no sign of progress rumors began circulating: the theater was beyond repair; restoration would cost too much; and The engineer’s report conveyed terrible news and wasn’t covered bv insurance,” Jeff Pingel said He’s a member of the Help Restore and Entertain Organization — HERO — the group of stalwart volunteers who run the theater “We knew we had to have a serious fundraiser We went to the Hotel/Motel tax board and they gave us money Enhance Hamilton County also gave a donation anonymous donors really came through for us Webster City raised $200,000 to save this theater — again The theater’s admirers aren’t all in Webster City Square also paid for “Made in Iowa,” the film about the spirit of Webster City contrasting the closure of the Electrolux factory and re-opening of the Webster Theater the first time the film earned attention across the country “We paid $1,200 for each bulb for our last projector The “silver screen” has become a moniker for the entire motion picture industry but the Webster’s new screen is literally silver the screen cost $15,000 and is thought to be the second-largest single projection screen in Iowa Speakers hang on the auditorium’s three walls to provide more realistic three huge speakers are located directly behind the screen gray leather-like reclining seats provide an elevated standard of comfort for theater patrons “One hundred seats is OK for most showings but we’ll set up folding chairs to accommodate school groups something I consider important to our mission and tradition here.” the firm that “invented popcorn machines” in 1885 still makes them in its Chicago factory and just shipped a shiny new popper to the Webster There’ll be Pepsi Products soft drinks and the old-standby boxed and bagged theater candy that is an essential part of seeing a movie in a theater there will still be free popcorn night at the Webster It will be Wednesday nights thanks to its sponsor Given all the improvements to the beloved movie theater Ticket prices will now be $5 for adults and $4 for children for 2-D shows; and $7 and $6 The restoration project was managed by Peterson Construction Co. Tracy Wehran served as construction manager and Heather Howard as interior design manager The materials and colors Howard selected for the theater interior give it a sleek contemporary look that would be at home in New York It’s difficult to believe it’s the same auditorium that was loved so well for so many years recalls when his company remodeled the front of the Webster Theater in 1970 and bronze-colored frames were the latest look back then,” he said As the Webster prepares to screen Marvel’s “Thunderbolts” tonight it’s worth remembering an interesting fact: The latest remodeling which brings to the Webster the most dramatic change in technology comfort and appearance since it opened in 1906 Under the category of history repeating itself it’s interesting to note that Big Time Cinema the last commercial operator of the Webster HERO re-opened the place in September 2014 Jeff Pingel stretches out in one of the Webster’s plush new a new projector and screen and Dolby surround sound mean that few will fall asleep in their cushy confines If you’ve never seen a $50,000 movie projector Jeff Pingel and Kay Ross pose with the Belgian-made BARCO projector that was shoe-horned into the cramped projection room on the Webster’s mezzanine level last week WEBSTER CITY — The City Council of Webster City gave the green light to the preliminary plat and site plan for Wilson Estates at its meeting Monday evening The planned residential development will be located on Wall Street in southwest Webster City the Council approved the PRD request from Kading Development for the development on Wall Street,” Ariel Bertran the city’s Community Development director “That was following the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation we’re requesting that you adopt a resolution to approve the preliminary plat and site plan that was presented to Planning and Zoning Commission last Monday and their recommendation is to approve that preliminary plat and site plan with the notations that were on the checklist making sure those are (done) prior to the building plan submittal “So both Snyder and Associates and the relevant city departments reviewed this,” she said “The notations have either been addressed or will be addressed by the time that the building plans are submitted.” If you want to go through the details of the plan.” The preliminary plat shows a 216-unit development the Council authorized Street Department Supervisor Brandon Bahrenfuss to seek bids for on-call sanitary and storm sewer cleaning and televising services “This won’t go in effect till after July,” Bahrenfuss told the Council “but I like to kind of get the bids out and get stuff lined up once bids come back.” “Last time we signed a three-year contract with Hydro Clean And then the last couple times we’ve done this So every year we do a segment of town as we go through the storm and sanitary sewer.” It’s televised “to see if there’s anything going on in there and that’s where we kind of come up with our projects If something needs to be addressed.” The Council also voted to give permission to seek bids and schedule a public hearing for construction of the Electric Distribution Improvements – Phase 1 These would be for the Reisner Substation underground feeder egresses and the Sweazey Substation feeder No 2 egress overhead to underground conversion That public hearing will be on April 21 at 6:05 p.m The Webster County Board of Supervisors is expected to discuss two detour agreements with the Iowa Department of .. ELLIE PETERSON hits a tee shot for the Webster City girls golf squad The Webster City girls golf team finally returned to action here Tuesday with a North Central Conference triangular vs Ebeling shot a 44 and Clear Lake finished with a 192 Alleyna Dawson had the low round for Webster City with a 54 as Ellie Peterson was right behind with a 56 Haydin Sealine finished with a 65 and Abby Heckert a 74 “We’ve had two weeks since we last played,” WCHS head coach Jeff Lyons said we get into the swing of it with a couple of meets each week.” The Lynx are at Hampton-Dumont/CAL on Friday GARNER — The Webster City girls soccer team made it two in a row here last Thursday CLEAR LAKE — The seventh-ranked Webster City boys soccer team blanked Clear Lake Tuesday night in North Central .. has joined the staff of the Webster City Clinic of Iowa Specialty Hospitals & Clinics She received her degree from Saint Louis University in St and she completed her pediatrics residency at the University of Louisville in Louisville she is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a member of the AAP Section on Development and Behavioral Pediatrics an Edward Jones financial advisor in Fort Dodge has been named among the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth .. Ann Vogelbacher facilitates the Webster City Area Chamber's First Impressions program onboarding meeting recently in the Sampson Room of Fuller Hall who has worked as director of the Central Iowa Tourism Region for many years Whether you’re meeting someone for the first time Can you remember your first impression of Webster City The Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce invited anyone with an interest in expanding tourism in Webster City to attend what it termed “an onboarding” for the city’s new First Impressions program About a dozen people attended in person or online developed First Impressions as a way of assessing a town’s strengths weaknesses and opportunities through the eyes of a first-time visitor four people will travel here to relate their first impressions of Webster City they’ll research Webster City online they’ll do what many of us do when traveling to a destination for the first time: consult social media or refer to popularly-used tourism resources such as Trip Advisor and visit local attractions or enjoy recreation here It is hoped the visits will provide a first-hand fresh perspective on what real visitors to Webster City see each of the visitors will compile a detailed report of their experiences taking into consideration up to 80 different aspects of the city in the process This data will be analyzed at ISU and put into a final report two Iowa cities — Maquoqueta and Corning — were selected to pilot the First Impressions program to test its effectiveness and refine it for further use The Daily Freeman Journal reviewed the 46-page community report completed for Corning a city of about 1,500 in rural southwestern Iowa with very specific suggestions for improving its first impressions among visitors Here are a few comments from the report’s “lasting impressions” section: What could Corning do differently to market themselves and/or assets better to attract visitors — “I’m impressed with their commitment to historical preservation and an attractive Main Street It obviously is working to bring in businesses like Primrose (an upscale restaurant) and Fire and Salt (a gourmet food shop with an afternoon cocktail hour) which are the elevated kinds of experiences that people will travel to enjoy.” — “Be pet-friendly … a large percentage of travelers want to take their pets with them.” Other suggestions included making Corning more “birding friendly.” Bird watching or “birding,” is one of the fastest-growing hobbies in America Another suggestion: Improve the city’s presence on several websites and create one local website as an information clearing house for visitors One traveler wanted more healthy options on the breakfast menu at the hotel where they stayed which they compared to Webster City’s Boone River Trail Webster City is one of five Iowa cities selected to participate in First Impressions 2025 Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce Director Anna Woodward said this about First Impressions: “We’re pleased our application for this innovative new program was accepted The program isn’t free; the city will spend $2,000 to bring First Impressions to Webster City affordable market research — is expected to be well worth it IOWA FALLS — The Webster City boys soccer team remained unbeaten with a convincing 6-1 victory over Iowa Falls-Alden here last Thursday night Eddy Fuentes-Cruz recorded a hat trick with three goals adding an assist to his total for the Lynx (4-0 overall Conner Peck had two goals and an assist while Israel Torres added a goal and an assist Abasai Ramirez-Carmona had an assist on the first goal by Torres just seven minutes into the match Peck’s first goal came two minutes later while Fuentes-Cruz tallied two before the end of the first half Aaron Mendoza also had an assist on the day “I thought we played decent in the first half going into a strong wind,” WCHS head coach Craig Signorin said holding them to only two shots and creating a lot of opportunities on our end was good to see “It was disappointing to see the lack of communication giving up the late goal but we’re going to have that from time to time with the inexperience we have Webster City tallied 27 goals with 16 coming on goal and 13 corners to just three shots on goal for the Cadets The Lynx take on NCC rival Humboldt on Monday Visitation will be at Trinity Lutheran Church in Webster City from 9:15 – 10:15 AM followed by the funeral service at 10:30 AM The family has chosen Boman Funeral Home (www.bomanfh.com) to care for their needs Marlene was united in marriage to Roger Anderson in Webster City they farmed in the Kamrar and Blairsburg areas A lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church She was known for her incredible baking skills making hundreds of pies for the men’s birthday club in Webster City and generous spirit touched countless lives Marlene’s family includes her children: Janet (Larry) Holtkamp Of Webster City Utah; and Brad (Shelly) Anderson of Blairsburg Iowa; great-grandchildren: Leigha Walterman and Joetta Schnell; sister Joyce Hill; and brother Terry Jensen She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers: Duane WEBSTER CITY — Urbandale-based developer Kading Properties received approval from the City Council of Webster City Monday to build a 218-unit apartment community north of Wall Street on the city’s far southwest side The majority of the apartments will be built in single-story four-plex and six-plex buildings; there will be a few two-story six-plexes Kading would invest $28 million in the project told the City Council “we have the land under contract now.” The apartment complex isn’t a new idea Kading first approached the city council with a proposal to develop apartments on the same land on October 19 The council referred the plans to the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission with the understanding Kading would alter its plans to meet the following four conditions: This map shows where the parcel is located in Webster City storm sewers serving the new development should discharge separately to the south rather than through two small ponds owned by residents of 1300 Wall Street and 2109 Beach Street Kading must deed the half of Wall Street it owns to the City of Webster City on a fee simple basis Fee simple ownership means the street would be owned outright by the city Planning & Zoning recommended the city extend Lynx Avenue to provide a north-south connection between Wall and Locust streets it suggested land be reserved to extend Locust Street to serve the new complex thereby providing more access and taking some of the expected traffic off Wall Street Planning & Zoning held a public hearing on the project December 18 As there were no objections to the project from the public it recommended the City Council approve the project This map shows the boundaries of the land where the new apartments are planned Although not spelled out in detail in the council memorandum the city would have to extend both Lynx Avenue and Wall Street and related utilities to support the development pay the city back with higher utility and sales tax revenues A housing study completed by the city in 2021 projected a need for 235 rental and owner-owned units through 2030 If all 218 units of the Kading complex are built it would represent a large increase in the number of rentals in Webster City In her resolution memorandum to the City Council concerning the project Development Director Ariel Bertran said: “This development addresses a significant portion of the city’s housing needs as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan and Housing Study.” Developers often use the term “workforce housing” in place of “middle-income” or “market rate.” No mention is made as to affordability of the new apartments but a quick check of its website at press time shows Kading’s 1,008-square-foot one-car attached garage units renting for $920 in Perry; $995 in Storm Lake; $1,045 in Boone; and $1,150 on Des Moines’ east side The Webster City development will include similar units Full lease terms aren’t shown on the website but one month’s rent security deposit is required at time of signing Kading calls its units townhomes rather than apartments Seeking to give renters the feel of a traditional Kading’s designs in other Iowa cities include private entrances and a door leading from an attached garage directly into the unit Most also include hookups for a washer and dryer in a small Kading owns 26 developments in cities and towns across central Iowa it has new housing complexes under construction in Boone Kading plans to build out its Webster City development over three years beginning in fall 2025 with completion of the entire project by fall 2028 questioned the project during Monday’s council meeting “I’d like to know a little more about this project before we get going,” he said He suggested a performance bond might be in order to ensure the developers complete the project as planned He also referenced the failure of developers to complete projects on the city’s southeast side that would have seen Fair Meadow Drive completed as a through street a few years ago if Edgewood Drive were closed for any reason many residents would have no alternative way to get in or out of their neighborhoods,” Chambers said These and other questions about the development can be answered after two required public hearings; the first at 6:05 p.m on January 20 will outline details of a development agreement between the city and Kading Properties; the second on February 3 will update Webster City’s Urban Renewal Plan and open the way for the use of TIF (Tax Increment Financing) financing for the project talked about the prospect of new housing in Webster City “It’s no surprise to residents or employers in Webster City there’s a shortage of available housing for existing and new residents “There is no standing still for cities Webster City experienced population loss in the last 10 years and must reverse that trajectory to ensure the community remains vibrant The Kading development will positively affect this and hopefully stabilize the population forecast for the next census.” Here’s more detail about the proposed new housing development for Webster City To learn more about Kading Properties’ proposed 218-unit apartment/townhome development which was recently approved by the City Council of Webster City the Daily Freeman-Journal examined the Request for Business Incentive form Kading submitted to the city to qualify for tax increment financing (TIF) Who owns the site where the complex would be built Kading has an option to buy the entire 26.71-acre site if it and the City of Webster City can agree on terms of a development agreement The site is on the north side of Wall Street west of Windsor Manor Assisted Living Center projected a need for 235 new housing units through 2030 This total includes both owned and rental units Kading’s new development would provide 218 units which city Development Director Ariel Bertran noted in her Council Memorandum “addresses a significant portion of the city’s housing needs as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan and 2021 Housing Plan At the January 6 City Council of Webster City meeting City Manager John Harrenstein told the council that only four new homes were built in the city in 2024 “does not begin to address our needs.” It is known that city staff are investigating up to 30 residential units in Webster City which may be unoccupied Utilities are not currently being used in these homes What are the terms of the development agreement The city and Kading are working now to finalize the agreement The agreement will be the subject of a public hearing Citizens may see the details of the agreement in advance of the meeting by looking on the city’s website It will be posted under the “government” tab Search for “city council agendas” and find the agenda for the January 20 meeting These are posted the Friday before Monday meetings What will Kading spend on developing the new housing units Figures from the company’s project application Site development (public improvements)* — $4,451,303 *This refers to extensions to Wall Street and Lynx Avenue and water utility improvements to support the 218-unit development #This refers to costs associated with building 218 housing units Kading estimates the complex will have a market value of $32.395 million Is Kading seeking Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for the development the company will not pay property taxes on the development for 15 years two categories of TIF financing: an up-front payment of the entire amount Kading is requesting pay-as-you-go financing the city and Kading essentially agree to share tax revenues that the new development will generate This kind of financing is common in developments of this nature how much can the city expect to collect in new real estate taxes What other companies will be involved in designing and building the development the complex is being designed by Plum Building Systems The partners have worked together on other developments in Iowa The project will be completed over three years with a third completed each year through fall 2028 Did the City of Webster City seek an outside evaluation of the project prior to approving it at Monday night’s City Council meeting Kading first proposed building the complex in fall 2020 These reasons included Covid pandemic-related supply chain interruptions and materials cost increases The city’s Planning & Zoning Commission was asked to review the project in 2020 making four specific recommendations for change to Kading’s plans All four are included in Kading’s present design for the project the city sought the opinions of consultant RDG Planning & Design which submitted its assessment in early December 2024 Some of its findings include: the new development would have “no adverse effects on adjacent property;” and the planned development is “generally consistent with the zoning ordinance (R-3) and Comprehensive Plan for future land uses.” RDG found Kading’s present plans are “inconsistent with mobility recommendations in the Comprehensive Plan.” it found a need for a connecting street north from Wall Street it recommended the privately-built streets in the development should be designated “open for public use in perpetuity” and that Kading’s planned 24-foot width for streets inside the development are “below public street standards.” It specifically cited the movement of fire department apparatus (ie RDG also found the sidewalks planned for the new development inadequate and recommended sidewalks be built on at least one side of all streets inside the development as well as a sidewalk connection to Lynx Avenue The report found parking in the development adequate but suggested 12 planned parking spaces along Wall Street “could cause intersection conflicts and could create unnecessary conflict points.” Long-time city engineering consultant Snyder & Associates of Ankeny completed a preliminary plat review in November 2020 which contains a few specific design details relating to cluster mailboxes suggested routing of storm and sanitary sewers Snyder reserved final opinion of the project until City Council approved more detailed plans for the development What economic benefits to the City of Webster City does Kading expect the new development will bring Kading claims a number of expected benefits would arise from the new development on its project application form additional support for existing local businesses City Manager Harrenstein added that if the development brings new residents to Webster City as is expected there will be two additional benefits: increased sale of utilities (electricity wastewater and sewer services) and increased sales tax collections on purchases the new residents would make in Webster City Will the development contain provisions for low-income housing Iowa law requires that 36% of TIF financing must be used to support low and medium income housing in the new development this presently equates to an annual income between $43,500 and $69,350 per year Rental rates for units reserved for low and medium income tenants would be lower than market rates charged for other units The City Council hopes to discuss aspects of the development agreement with Kading at its next regularly-scheduled meeting It will also hold a public hearing on the new TIF ordinance on the same date the council will adopt an update of the city’s Urban Renewal Plan at its regularly-scheduled meeting on Monday The updated plan will include the new development in a designated urban renewal plan a requirement before TIF financing can proceed Kading’s 2020 plans referred to the development as “Wilson Estates.” It is not clear if Kading will continue using this name for the development it is now planning for the site Funeral services for a Webster City student who died on his way to school last week will take place Friday morning was driving a farm tractor to school early in the morning on February 28 when he was rear-ended by another vehicle Baldwin was driving an older model 4020 John Deere that did not have a cab He was southbound on White Fox Road north of Webster City when the tractor was hit from behind sending it into a ditch where it overturned Baldwin was thrown from the tractor and died at the scene was taken to Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City for injuries sustained in the accident The accident happened about 6:30 in the morning near the intersection of White Fox and 203rd Street in Hamilton County Funeral services for Baldwin will be held at 10 a.m Burial will follow at the Saratoga Cemetery when news of the accident spread through the Webster City Community School District Superintendent Matt Berninghaus issued a statement stating: “I ask that we all support one another as we grieve together as a school community Please join me in keeping the student’s family and friends in our thoughts.” Berninghaus said that counselors are available for students at each of the district’s schools Assisting at the scene of the crash were the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and Van Diest Medical Center Emergency Medical Service The Webster City Community School District has selected a Perry School District administrator to become the next high school principal here Chris Aggen has served as Perry School District’s associate principal/director of Learning If the WCCSD Board of Directors approves his hire Aggen will begin working in his new position on July 1 “I am incredibly honored to have the opportunity to be the next principal of Webster City High School,” Aggen said in a media release “I look forward to being part of the team at the high school while hitting the ground running building relationships with students Aggen served the Baltic South Dakota School District as a middle/high school principal He completed his principal licensure program at the University of Sioux Falls in 2014 he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in K-12 Physical Education and 5-12 Health Education from Southwest Minnesota State University in 2011 The process of finding a new principal began in early November Phone screenings narrowed a field of applicants to three finalists Those finalists met with interview teams consisting of parents and community members High school students were also involved in the process by providing building tours and offering feedback on the respective applicants “A thorough and thoughtful process was undertaken to find the right person to lead our high school,” said Superintendent Matt Berninghaus “By carefully reviewing feedback from the four interview committees along with input gathered from the stakeholder survey Aggen as the next principal of Webster City High School.” the current principal at Webster City Community High School since 2021 will retire effective with the end of this school year by | Mar 27 A utility worker in north-central was badly injured while trying to make electrical repairs during last week’s blizzard Webster City lineman Bryan Dayton came in contact with a live wire while working to restore the power Webster City city manager John Harrenstein says Dayton is still recovering at an Iowa City hospital “Our hearts and prayers are with the family of our lineman who experienced a tragic injury,” Harrenstein says “We’re just continuing to support him through that recovery.” A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay Dayton’s medical expenses