Author: Chris Baldus

Newspaperman, professionally, since 1991 Husband since 1992 Father since 2001, triplets plus two States I've lived in: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Idaho and Iowa Graduate of Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minn. An offensive lineman who dreamed big
Outdoors

FISHING REPORT: Walleye biting on jigs in Cedar

Chris Baldus

IOWA DNR This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. For current information, contact the district fisheries office at the phone number listed at the end of each district report. Clear Lake Surface water temperature is 67 degrees. Black Crappie – Good: Crappies are biting. Use a small jig or a minnow in the rush beds and areas with vegetation. Walleye – Good: Try a slip bobber and leeches fished in the rocky reefs. Yellow Bass – Fair: Yellows bass are on the rocky areas to spawn. Use a small jig in the early morning. Channel … Continue reading FISHING REPORT: Walleye biting on jigs in Cedar

Arts, Calendar, Charles City

Bill Riley Talent Show returns to Charles City July 1

Chris Baldus

News Release CHARLES CITY – Who will be Iowa’s next Maddie Poppe? Young talent from around the region will be showcased in Charles City on Sunday, July 1, with cash prizes and a chance to qualify for the state fair on the line. The annual Bill Riley Talent Show has become a part of the Fourth of July holiday tradition in Charles City and is open to ages 2 to 21 to perform and display their talents in the areas of vocal music, instrumental music or dance. There are two age categories, the Sprout Division (ages 2-12) and the Senior … Continue reading Bill Riley Talent Show returns to Charles City July 1

Calendar, Charles City, Community

Registration open for Firecracker 5 races on July 4

Chris Baldus

News Release CHARLES CITY – Registration is now open for runners to sign up for the Charley Western Firecracker 5 and take part in either the 5K or 5-mile races, both of which will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4, near the Charles City High School parking lot. Brochures with registration forms are available at the Charles City Community Development Office at 401 North Main St. Online registration is also available at http://www.GetMeRegistered.com/CharleyWestern5. Register on or before June 18th for $25 per person and to be guaranteed a race shirt. Registrations will be accepted after June 18th for … Continue reading Registration open for Firecracker 5 races on July 4

Calendar, Charles City Schools

COUNTDOWN TO GRADUATION: CC commencement this weekend

Chris Baldus

News Release Carrie Lane Program Graduation, Saturday, May 26, 2018 – 1 p.m. First Congregational Church CCHS Graduation, Sunday, May 27, – 1:30 p.m., Comet Gym, (1200 1st Avenue, Charles City) Doors open 12:30 p.m. Graduates meet in assigned classrooms by 12:45 p.m. Commencement begins at 1:30 p.m. Continue reading COUNTDOWN TO GRADUATION: CC commencement this weekend

Charles City Schools

CC School Board chooses new superintendent

Chris Baldus

News Release The Charles City Community School District Board of Education announces today that Mike Fisher has been appointed Superintendent of Schools for the District. The board will take official action, pending a background check, approving Fisher’s contract at the Tuesday, May 29 regular Board of Education meeting. Fisher will officially begin on July 1, 2018. Fisher is currently the Principal of Hoover Middle School. He and his wife have 1 child. “We are excited to welcome Mr. Fisher to the District”, says Jason Walker Charles City Board of Education president. “He stood out among the field of candidates as … Continue reading CC School Board chooses new superintendent

Bearcats, Huskies, Warriors

Rockford places 3rd, N-P boys 4th at District meet

Chris Baldus

NASHUA — Rockford’s Kaden Lyman qualified for State Friday as he led the Warriors to a third-place finish at the boys golf District meet held Friday at the Nashua Town and Country Club. Nashua-Plainfield was fourth. North Butler was eighth. Lyman shot a 79 and tied for fourth individually at the meet. N-P defied expectations going into the meet. “Slated to finish 8th or 9th, they fought their way to a tie-4th finish, said N-P head coach Jeff Trost. N-P seniors Jayden Jost, Dillon Auchstetter and Calem Liddle led the way in their last golf meet with an 86, 88 … Continue reading Rockford places 3rd, N-P boys 4th at District meet

Bearcats, Sports

STATE TRACK: Riceville’s Marr wins Class 1A shot put title; North Butler’s Heeren 10th

Chris Baldus

DES MOINES — Junior Abby Marr, Riceville, won the Class 1A girls shot put championship with a put of 40 feet, 8.5 inches Thursday morning in Drake Stadium. She was seeded 10th in Flight 2. North Butler senior Nicole Heeren placed 10th with a put of 36 feet, 2.75 inches. Continue reading STATE TRACK: Riceville’s Marr wins Class 1A shot put title; North Butler’s Heeren 10th

Bearcats, Comets, Huskies, Warriors

STATE TRACK: Local results, schedules

Chris Baldus

DES MOINES — Charles City’s Kiki Connell finished 12th in the girls 3000-meter run Thursday afternoon at the State Track and Field Championships. Her time was 11:05.03. Her brother, senior Gavin Connell finished 24th in the boys 3,200-meter run with a time of 10:47.34 Junior Abby Marr, Riceville, won the Class 1A girls shot put championship with a put of 40 feet, 8.5 inches Thursday morning in Drake Stadium. She was seeded 10th in Flight 2. Senior Nicole Heeren, North Butler, placed 10th with a put of 36 feet, 2.75 inches. Clarksville long jumper finishes 17th — Senior Spencer Gray, … Continue reading STATE TRACK: Local results, schedules

Outdoors

Iowa residents to enjoy free fishing days June 1-3

Chris Baldus

News Release Iowa residents can try fishing without buying a license on June 1, 2 and 3 as part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) free fishing weekend. All other regulations remain in place. “This is a great time to take kids fishing or invite a neighbor or friend to come along,” said Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa DNR’s Fisheries Bureau. “You’ll have a buddy forever and someone to always back up your big fish stories.” Outdoor fun awaits at hundreds of Iowa lakes, thousands of miles of rivers or a nearby pond. “Grab your family and … Continue reading Iowa residents to enjoy free fishing days June 1-3

Charles City

Party in the Park dates, bands and themes announced

Chris Baldus

News Release CHARLES CITY — The arrival of spring is cause to celebrate, but the real party will be this summer with the return of Party in the Park in Charles City! A summertime tradition now in its 16th season, Party in the Park is a series of Friday night public gatherings in Central Park hosted by Community Revitalization. Enjoy free live music from 5-9 p.m., along with games and other activities, food vendors, a beer garden and a chance to sit back and socialize with friends, neighbors and visitors alike. The Party in the Park Committee has been busy over … Continue reading Party in the Park dates, bands and themes announced

Charles City

50 years ago, the Charles City tornado struck, changed lives

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — The day had gotten unseasonably hot, but May 15, 1968, was otherwise just another northern Iowa Wednesday. Life for the roughly 10,000 residents of Charles City bustled along. The Charles City Press was out on the news stands with page one stories about the Vietnam War, a wounded hometown Marine’s letter to his parents and the City Council working on a city “renewal” plan. The school day was done and children were at the Charles City YMCA for swimming lessons. Others were on a church group outing at Wildwood. Charles City High School Spanish teacher Al Bode … Continue reading 50 years ago, the Charles City tornado struck, changed lives

Charles City

N. Grand Avenue will be temporarily closed Wednesday-Friday

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — North Grand Avenue will be closed to traffic for utility work between North Main Street and 13th Avenue starting early Wednesday, May 16, and is expected to reopen by Friday evening, May 18. Motorists are encourage to avoid this area if possible and utilize E Street to cross the Canadian Pacific Railiroad tracks.  Questions can be directed to the city of Charles City engineering department at 641-257-6300.  Thank you. Continue reading N. Grand Avenue will be temporarily closed Wednesday-Friday

Huskies

N-P girls golf team advances to Region C finals

Chris Baldus

OSSIAN — The Nashua-Plainfield girls golf team advanced to the Class 1A regional finals after placing second as a team Monday in the first round for Region 3C at the Silver Springs Golf Course in Ossian. N-P’s Keagan Betsinger (5th place) and Miranda Crabtree (8th) qualified individually for the Region 3 finals, which will be Monday, May 21, at the Nashua Town & Country Golf Course. Here are Monday’s results courtesy of Nashua-Plainfield head coach Jeff Trost: Team Standings 1 South Winneshiek – 407 2 Nashua-Plainfield – 436 3 Saint Ansgar – 438 4 Clarksville – 455 5 North Butler … Continue reading N-P girls golf team advances to Region C finals

Charles City

Swing Into Spring on May 18th!

Chris Baldus

News ReleaseCHARLES CITY — The Design Committee of Community Revitalization invites the public to “Swing Into Spring” and help benefit community beautification in the process on Friday, May 18th. Stop by the historic Wildwood Clubhouse from 4:30-6:30 p.m. to enjoy refreshments, meet new friends or catch up with old ones, and enjoy a swing dance demonstration by Bruce and Janiece Bergland at 5:30 p.m.The Design Committee is an all-volunteer group dedicated to beautifying and improving downtown Charles City. The Committee annually helps fund the colorful flower pots on Main Street, organizes the Adopt-A-Lot cleanup and oversees the parking lot planters, … Continue reading Swing Into Spring on May 18th!

Bearcats, Huskies

N-P, North Butler boys golf teams advance to Districts

Chris Baldus

NASHUA — Nashua-Plainfield and North Butler’s boys golf teams advanced to District play by finishing second and third on Thursday at sections. The Nashua Town and Country Club hosted the meet. Due to the impending weather forecast for Friday, the section’s schools decided to move the tournament up a day. Here are the results: Team Standings 1 Don Bosco – 335 *District Qualifier 2 Nashua-Plainfield – 363 *District Qualifier 3 North Butler – 373 *District Qualifier 4 Tripoli – 375 5 Clarksville – 438 6 Dunkerton – 481 7 Riceville – 495 Medalist – Sloan Barron (Don Bosco) – 73 … Continue reading N-P, North Butler boys golf teams advance to Districts

Calendar, Charles City

Area churches begin announcing VBS dates, themes

Chris Baldus

Area churches are announcing their Vacation Bible Schools. Here are some: Trinity United Methodist Church, Charles City Theme: “Shipwrecked” Dates: June 18-22 everyday form 8:30-11:30 a.m. with the final program at 5 p.m. Friday, June 22 Contact: 641-228-5368   St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charles City Theme: “Shipwrecked” Dates: July 31-Aug. 3, 2018 from 5:30-8 p.m. VBS participants will sing during the 9:30 a.m. worship service on Aug. 5th Ages: VBS is for children in preschool through 5th grade. Cost: $5 per child with a maximum family fee of $15. Contact: 641-228-3397   To include your church on this list, … Continue reading Area churches begin announcing VBS dates, themes

Calendar, Charles City

CC’s BBQ Challenge is June 16; ticket presale begins May 16

Chris Baldus

News Release CHARLES CITY — Back in its 4th year, Charles City’s BBQ Challenge on June 16 is sure to delight attendees with various grilling and seasoning methods. Come to watch grillers work their magic on ribs before you chow down on a variety of flavors. Tickets will be available to Chamber members for $25 and non-Chamber members for $30. Chamber member exclusive presale begins on Wednesday, May 16. General public sales begin one week later, on Wednesday May 23. Tickets are extremely limited, so don’t wait to get yours! Attendees will be able to buy tickets at both Hy-Vee … Continue reading CC’s BBQ Challenge is June 16; ticket presale begins May 16