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
Obituaries

Shirley Chambers, 50-year member of 1st Baptist, passes at 84

Chris Baldus

Shirley Chambers, 84, of Charles City, died Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City. A funeral service for Shirley will be held 11:30 a.m. on Monday, June 12, 2017 at Hauser Funeral Home with Reverend Ruth Yeaton of First Baptist Church in Charles City officiating. A private family inurnment will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City at a later date. A gathering of family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Monday. Shirley Ann Thatcher Chambers was born June 23, 1932 to Henry and … Continue reading Shirley Chambers, 50-year member of 1st Baptist, passes at 84

Chickasaw County, Obituaries

Nilda Ver Meer, founder of CC’s Filipino American Association, passes at age 75

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY —Nilda Ver Meer, 75, of Charles City, died Sunday, June 4, 2017 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa. A funeral Mass for Nilda will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, June 8, 2017 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City with Reverend Gary Mayer celebrating the Mass. A private family inurnment at Calvary Cemetery in Charles City will take place at a later date. A visitation will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, 2017 with a Scripture Service beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation will … Continue reading Nilda Ver Meer, founder of CC’s Filipino American Association, passes at age 75

Charles City

Lindaman retrial set to begin Aug. 1

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY –-Convicted sex offender and former Floyd County magistrate Doug Lindemann, 61, is out of prison and free on bond. On the same day a Floyd County District Court judge scheduled Lindaman’s retrial on a third-degree sexual abuse charge for Aug. 1, Lindaman was returned to Floyd County where he made bond. Lindaman, who previously served prison time in the 1980s on two convictions of lascivious acts with a minor, was convicted in April 2016 by a Floyd County jury on the count of third-degree sexual abuse. That conviction was overturned in May by the Iowa Supreme Court. In an … Continue reading Lindaman retrial set to begin Aug. 1

Nashua

Peggy Beaver passes at age 87

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — Peggy Marie Beaver, 87, of Charles City, died Sunday, June 4, 2017 at the Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City. A funeral service for Peggy will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at Hauser Funeral Home with Pastor Bill Odermann from Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charles City officiating. A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at Hauser Funeral Home and continue one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Peggy Marie Roy Beaver was born on June 5, 1929 to Charles and … Continue reading Peggy Beaver passes at age 87

Charles City

City Tap asks for road closure during ‘Bike Nights’

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — A downtown tavern asks that the city let it close a side street to host Bike Nights this summer. The Charles City Council will hear City Tap owner Terry Huxsol’s request at its Monday, June 5, meeting in City Hall. It begins at 6 p.m.  Huxsol wants to close Lane Street next to his tavern for the bike celebration he hopes to host periodically from 5-9 p.m. Thursday nights in June, July and August.  “He had originally wanted to close off the section of Main Street, but we are very hesitant to do that,” City Administrator Steve … Continue reading City Tap asks for road closure during ‘Bike Nights’

Charles City Schools

Another first: In a new ceremony, Charles City 8th graders cross over to high school

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — On their final day as eighth graders, the Charles City High School Class of 2021 marched out the front door of the new middle school singing “Na na na na, na na na na, good bye!” They paraded Friday along Comet Drive — flanked by construction of the school district’s new bus barn to their left, and to their right churned dirt pushed behind the concrete curb during the drive’s construction. Like the class, the campus remains a work in progress with high expectations. The procession was led through the high school parking lot by students carrying … Continue reading Another first: In a new ceremony, Charles City 8th graders cross over to high school

Floyd County

Floyd County agrees to $112,500 settlement with former assistant county attorney

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — Floyd County supervisors approved a $112,500 settlement last week with former Assistant County Attorney Denise Patters. The county’s insurance company EMC Insurance will pay $102,500 and the balance will come from county funds. Floyd County Attorney Rachel Ginbey, first elected to the office in November 2014, hired Patters in December 2014. Patters’ employment with the county ended in December 2015. She is currently the assistant county attorney in Hardin County. Continue reading Floyd County agrees to $112,500 settlement with former assistant county attorney

Charles City Schools

Charles City School District announces Summer Food Program

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — Charles City Community Schools will once again be participating in the Summer Food Service Program, a news release from the school district announced.  “Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service,” it said. Parents are encouraged to accompany younger children. An adult meal may be purchased for $3.50.  No food is to be shared or carried out of the building. Meals will be provided, on a … Continue reading Charles City School District announces Summer Food Program

Calendar, Charles City

Annual Cedar Dog Jog is June 10

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — Run or walk June 10 to help homeless pets in the Charles City area. The annual PAWS Cedar Dog Jog returns at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, June 10.  According to the registration website, the price to run or walk the 5K route that begins in Riverside Park is $30 for an adult and $20 for children 15 years old or younger. A family rate of $45 is also available. These rates include a T-shirt.  Participants can get a discounted price of $10 per adult and $5 per child if they decide to not get a T-shirt. Click here … Continue reading Annual Cedar Dog Jog is June 10

Charles City

Charles City remembers fallen family, friends and generations 

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — This Memorial Day Ceremony at the Floyd County Courthouse was different. At the same time, it wasn’t. Veteran Art White guided it along, as he has for years, praising the high school band for coming and the FFA for posting the U.S. Flags throughout the city. Boy Scouts raised and lowered  the colors. A local minister presented prayers. The American Legion Auxiliary placed a wreath in the Floyd County Veterans Memorial. Charles City Mayor Jim Erb read a proclamation. And as taps sounded, an honor guard of local veterans fired off three sets of shots. Only this … Continue reading Charles City remembers fallen family, friends and generations 

Charles City Schools

Eighth-graders reconnect community with cemetery

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — The incoming freshman class at Charles City High school will bring with it a resume like none before. For one thing, they reconnected a community to its cemetery. Many of the eighth graders’ efforts were on display Friday at a community open house at Riverside Cemetery: A drama troupe of eighth graders performed its short play about James Cullen’s death, the last lynching in Iowa, seven times in the cemetery chapel. The students researched and authored the play. Student guides outside the chapel presented their research on and restoration plans for the chapel. Stations throughout the cemetery … Continue reading Eighth-graders reconnect community with cemetery

Charles City, Charles City Schools

‘Placemaker’ could be answer to former Charles City Middle School problem

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — The clamor of sneakers on polished terrazzo floors, lockers slapping shut, and fledgling teenagers chattering is gone. Hollow echoes mostly fill the former home of the Charles City Middle School. It’s been nearly a full school year since CCMS moved to its new campus. Despite all the meetings and professional study of community facilities, needs and wants, the future of the 1931 art deco building at 500 N. Grand Ave remains uncertain. Charles City Administrator Steve Diers suggests that a professional “placemaker” might be the missing link to getting city and school district leaders to finally back … Continue reading ‘Placemaker’ could be answer to former Charles City Middle School problem

Obituaries

CC Foster Grandparent Marlene M. (Sido) Mohring passes at 76

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — Marlene M. (Sido) Mohring, 76, of Charles City, passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at the Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City. There will be no services for Marlene per her wishes and inurnment will be at a later date at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in rural Greene, Iowa. Marlene Mabel (Sido) Mohring, the daughter of Lloyd and Mabel (Priebe) Sido, was born April 8, 1941 in Rockford, Iowa. She graduated from Rudd, Rockford, Marble Rock High School in 1959. Marlene was united in marriage to Alfred Mohring and this union was blessed with two children, Kevin … Continue reading CC Foster Grandparent Marlene M. (Sido) Mohring passes at 76

Charles City Schools

Charles City students to present Riverside Cemetery projects Friday 

Chris Baldus

Charles City eighth graders film some video of Riverside Cemetery using a drone. — Photo courtesy of Ryan Rahmiller CHARLES CITY — Riverside Cemetery will be a lively place Friday. Eighth graders are making sure of that. Since October, these Charles City Middle School students have been working on meeting many needs at the cemetery through their project dubbed “Tomb It May Concern.”  “The students have been working so hard on their chosen projects and we have had many successes and acknowledgments from the community,” says an email to parents from the eighth-grade teaching team of Ryan and Amanda Rahmiller, … Continue reading Charles City students to present Riverside Cemetery projects Friday 

Charles City

Lions Field Pool to open for Memorial Day

Chris Baldus

CHARLES CITY — The Lions Field Pool will open for the 2017 season at 1 p.m. Monday, May 29, but then it will close until school is out for the summer. Because school is still in session in Charles City, the pool will be closed Tuesday, May 30, through Friday, June 2, and will reopen Saturday, June 3, for the season.   General swim hours are 1-7 p.m. daily. The pool may close early on days of inclement weather, or when the water or air temperatures are below 72 degrees Fahrenheit.  Call the pool at 641-257-1188 with questions or for emergencies, … Continue reading Lions Field Pool to open for Memorial Day

Nashua

5 things to know today

Chris Baldus

 It will be mostly sunny today with an expected high of 71. There is a 20% chance of showers tonight. Friday’s forecast has a 30% chance of showers and expected high of 74. Friday’s Party in the Park Will have a dance floor to go along with its live music by The Chocolate Crackers from 5-7 p.m. and Coyote Wild from 8-11 p.m Admission to the event in Charles City’s Central Park is free. Iowa BIG North is putting on a glow in the dark-themed bean bag tournament at Friday’s Party in the Park. The entry fee is $5. A … Continue reading 5 things to know today

Obituaries

All-around handyman, former county trustee Hammond dies at 78

Chris Baldus

NASHUA — Dean E. Hammond, age 78, of Nashua, Iowa, died Sunday, May 21, 2017 at the Waverly Health Center. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Friday,  May 26, 2017, at Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home – Olson Chapel in Nashua with the Rev. John Tunnicliff presiding.  Inurnment will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Nashua.  Friends may greet the family 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 25, 2017, at Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home – Olson Chapel in Nashua. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Friday.  Dean Earl Hammond was born Dec. 2, 1938, … Continue reading All-around handyman, former county trustee Hammond dies at 78