Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Molalla Pioneer / Herald Pioneer · Mason City, IA
Nearby: Mason City, IA(WOODBURN) — It’s hard to believe that just passing time on the second floor of a Mason City, Iowa, building could end up sending a teenager to sea. But that’s what happened to Jared Jenkins in January of 1949. He was minding his own business, just waiting for his mother to finish something up, when a U.S. Navy recruiter sauntered up, started talking, and eventually sent the 94-year-old Woodburn resident around the world. Jenkins was a 16-year-old high school dropout then. He would turn 17 a few months later, and within three days of his birthday, he was a U.S. Navy recruit. “He gave me a little test, said I did good on it, and I ended up signing up,” said Jenkins. ‘I turned 17 on a Friday, had a physical on Saturday, and by Monday I was in.” That Navy duty would span 21 years, from 1949 to the end of July 1970. And within that time frame, Jenkins watched his country get involved in two wars on the ground, and a “cold war” that permeated everything.
The Pocahontas Times · Parkersburg, IA
Nearby: Parkersburg, IALois Renee Good, 74, of Durbin, peacefully passed away Sunday, November 8, 2026, at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. Born August 28, 1952, in Parkersburg, she was a daughter of the late Carl “Bill” and Riella “Kate” Johnson Maston. In addition to her parents, she was preceded preceded in death by her sister, Kelly… Read the full story
Iowa Capital Dispatch · Cedar Falls, IA
Nearby: Cedar Falls, IACEDAR FALLS — Kelly Sullivan is a ‘gold star” teacher in many ways, but she and other families who lost loved ones in war received a ‘‘gold star” tribute from one of her star pupils this week ahead of Veterans Day. Disabled veteran Taylor Morris, who lost parts of all four limbs in a May 2012 bomb blast in Afghanistan, and a cadre of volunteers dedicated a Gold Star Families Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park in Cedar Falls. Kelly Sullivan was Taylor Morris’s third grade teacher. She is the granddaughter and grandniece of Waterloo’s five Sullivan brothers, who were killed in World War II. Sullivan not only attended Monday’s dedication, she and staff brought third graders from Lincoln Elementary School in Cedar Falls to the ceremony. “I am so proud of my former third grader Taylor,” she said. Not only is Sullivan a member of a Gold Star family which lost loved ones in combat, in 2022 she was among a group of local educators nominated for a Gold Star Teachers award by the R.J.
The Sidney Herald · Waterloo, IA
Nearby: Waterloo, IABERTHA, Minn. — His arrest shocked a rural central Minnesota community. Known throughout Bertha, Minnesota, as a regular guy, Kelly Joseph Grant is a father of two. The 59-year-old military veteran was a construction worker who, at one point, managed his own company. That all changed this fall in Bertha. Authorities arrested Grant on Oct. 16 for the 1995 murder of Angela Renee Buck, whose body was found near Waterloo, Iowa, with a gunshot wound to the chest. The murder case against him came shocked many of the community’s 600 residents. He hadn’t been in trouble with the law since 2006, when he was pulled over in Wadena, Minnesota, for failing to wear a seatbelt. But Grant’s life wasn’t always so peaceable. Just two years before being stopped for a seatbelt violation, Grant was convicted for fourth-degree sexual assault and domestic assault. Both convictions stemmed from incidents in Bertha.
Post-Bulletin · Grand Meadow, MN
Nearby: Grand Meadow, MNGRAND MEADOW, Minn. — The Mower County Sheriff's Office confirmed Wednesday that the four Grand Meadow family members found dead in a house fire Nov. 8 died by gunshot wounds. Seven-year-old Calvin and 14-year-olds Oliver and Felix Christenson were killed — the manner of death is homicide, the sheriff's office said in a news release Wednesday, Nov. 11. Their father, Levi Christenson, died by suicide, according to the sheriff's office. The family of the deceased said they will not provide any public comment or statement regarding the incident. "The nature of this tragic and inconceivable tragedy occurring in the close-knit small community has touched all parts of the community," Sheriff Steve Sandvik wrote.
Post-Bulletin · Grand Meadow, MN
Nearby: Grand Meadow, MNGRAND MEADOW, Minn. — After confirming Monday that three juveniles and one man were found dead following a weekend house fire in Grand Meadow, the Mower County Sheriff's Office did not release any new information Tuesday. Sheriff Steve Sandvik said more information is expected to be released on Wednesday about the incident. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Grand Meadow and Spring Valley communities have planned several forms of community outreach. The city of Grand Meadow shared plans for a prayer vigil at St. Finbarr Catholic Church (504 1st Street SW) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. Valley Transportation Service announced that its business will accept "donations, care packages, letters of encouragement, and the cards to show our support for the first responders and family" beginning Tuesday, Nov. 10. Items can be dropped off at Valley Transportation Services in Grand Meadow or Midwest Liquidation Sales in Spring Valley.
