The Buffalo Center Volunteer Fire Department lit up the sky on the Fourth of July with a fireworks display to celebrate America’s 250th birthday last Saturday evening. The weather held off for the show, but then Mother Nature put on another light show shortly afterward, as a thunderstorm rolled down from Minnesota. (Photos by Andrew Shaw)

After finishing her first year teaching in Harlan, 2019 Lake Mills graduate Lydia Jae Saxon has moved back to north Iowa – just for the summer – with one main goal in mind: she’s taking on the role of Gertie Cummings in BrickStreet Theatre’s production of “Oklahoma!”

As we turn the calendar from June to July, we acknowledge that not only is summer half over, but so also is our Summer Reading Program! This first month of the SRP has been such fun!

The administration and faculty of Allen College are pleased to congratulate students named to the Allen College Dean’s List at the completion of the spring semester of the 2025 - 2026 academic year.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announces the launch of the Greater Des Moines Watershed Program, a targeted initiative to accelerate and scale up the use of conservation practices across 22 counties upstream from the Des Moines metro. The program was created as part of the Farm to Faucet water quality package signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds on June 1.

The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) Foundation celebrated the graduation of 40 leaders from the Leadership Iowa Class of 2025-26 during a ceremony held June 2 as part of ABI's Taking Care of Business Conference. Kelli Harms of Winnebago Industries in Forest City is among this year’s graduates.

Lake Mills will offer three days of fun for people of all ages this weekend, July 10-12, during the annual July Jubilee celebration.

All girls and boys ages 5-8 are invited to participate in the Little Miss and Mr. contest at the 2026 Winnebago County Fair. Applications are due Friday, July 10 and can be found under the Fair Royalty tab at www.winnebagocoiowafair.com.

Hello from Timely Mission! Despite a week of rainy weather, the Activities Department kept residents busy with plenty of fun and engaging events indoors.

The Winnebago County Conservation Board and NIACC are teaming up to offer a fun opportunity for kids who will be third, fourth, or fifth-graders this fall. An overnight camp-in will be held at the Hanson Nature Center, beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14 and ending at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15.

The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, June 30 approved a resolution for a request for county participation with the Friends of Bear Creek fundraising project.

LifeServe Blood Center will conduct three blood drives throughout Winnebago County during the month of July. Make an appointment now to give blood in Buffalo Center, Lake Mills, or Forest City.

The community of Scarville will celebrate America’s big 250th birthday this Saturday, July 4, with a day full of activities.

The morning begins with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m. at Scarville Lutheran School, located at 411 Logan Street. The meal runs from 7-10 a.m. and features pancakes, sausage patties, scrambled eggs, orange juice, and coffee for a freewill donation.

An exciting weekend is in store July 10-12 in Lake Mills, during the annual July Jubilee celebration.

A new monthly feature is providing a boost to the Buffalo Center Farmers Market. Visitors to the market enjoyed the first of three free monthly meals last Tuesday, June 23, and many vendors came out to take advantage of all the foot traffic.

Amy Walk helped to get the meal started, along with the help of fellow volunteers.