Blog

Despite Scarville’s size, one small-town bar continues to thrive, bringing the community together in the process. R Bar in Scarville was managed by Billie Langfald before it came into her ownership in October 2016. She always loved working as a waitress and bartender and claims her was her dream to ow...Continue Reading

Lori McNally, Kensett city clerk, is retiring after 30 years in the position on Jan. 31. McNally started her training on Oct. 24, 1991, and officially took over the position on Jan. 1 the following year. McNally loves the City of Kensett and wanted to serve the community just as her predecesso...Continue Reading

Last November, Forest City gained a new phone store when US Cellular moved into the former gas station across from NSB Bank. Overlooked by the company Appliance Plus, they believed this building was a convenient spot for locals, as well as travelers from nearby towns. The building’s conversion process from ...Continue Reading

With years of alteration experience, Northwood local Brittany Low began working independently as a seamstress in 2017. By the end of the year, she had turned her business into a formal wear shop named Fringe and Lace by Brittany. Fringe and Lace By Brittany carries four different designers and six mai...Continue Reading

In 2019, Mary Wise and her husband transformed their family auctioning business in Manly into a venue called Lanterns and Lace. Throughout their time in the auction business, people suggested that she open the building up for venue reservations. When she and her husband were ready to retire, they felt i...Continue Reading

After over 20 years working at the Lake Mills City Hall, city clerk Dorene Holstad will be retiring on Jan. 21. Upon graduation, Holstad attended Spencer School of Business to obtain a two-year degree in business administration and accounting. After this, she got a job at Forest City Regional Medical Center...Continue Reading

In 2007, Northwood locals Peter Ausenhus and his wife, Margaret Bishop, opened Worth Brewing Company, a brew pub that is open to the public and distributes hand crafted beer to various locations. Ausenhus’ passion for brewing was sparked purely by curiosity. Ausenhus would use books from the library to research an...Continue Reading

Despite the pandemic continuing in full swing, Forest City local Allyson Wilson, with the help of her husband, Brett Wilson, fought to fulfill her dream of opening up a gym. The couple opened the 24-hour gym located in Forest City in July of 2020, but the pandemic was not the onl...Continue Reading

In the early 1920s, Forest City natives banded together to memorialize a local forest area later named Pilot Knob State Park. Pilot Knob State Park has become a place for locals and travelers to enjoy a day in nature, providing opportunities for visitors to hike, camp, fish, sled, ski, skate an...Continue Reading

One business; two names. Borderline Pizza/Taco Jerry’s, run by owners Dale and Ashley White, is well-known to Winnebago County residents. Dale is proud to say their business has a 4.8 rating on Google and that it comes in the top two listings when one Googles “best pizza in Iowa.” The business cam...Continue Reading

Hello, I am Kaylee Schuermann. I have been working for Winn-Worth Betco in Lake Mills as a marketing assistant since December 2020. You may have heard me on KZOW with Mark Skaar on Fridays for morning conversation to promote events in Winnebago and Worth counties. You probably even saw me runnin...Continue Reading

Despite retiring, a Northwood local channeled her passion for flowers into a highly requested business for weddings, funerals and more. Mary Reyerson-Lou started her floral shop, Flower Forager, in her garage in 2017. She chose this name because it described her when became a florist. Reyerson-Lou’s passion for flowers sprouted at ...Continue Reading

In 2009, local Manly resident Erin Petersen started up a four-time-a-year shop in her garage, opening for three days for two consecutive weeks each season. Petersen grew up making crafts with her mother, and she found solace in this hobby while raising her newborn. Driven by this passion, she opened he...Continue Reading

On Jan. 1, 2003, Lori Marsh of Grafton opened her hair salon, providing services to the Grafton community and surrounding areas such as Northwood, Osage, and Mason City. Marsh graduated from Capri College in 1986 and has stayed in the profession ever since. It was always her dream to own he...Continue Reading

Opening in the early 80s, Strike Zone of Northwood has seen multiple owners before falling onto the lap of current owner Matt Grunzke in June of 2019. Grunzke started working at his first bowling alley at the age of 14 and has worked at several others throughout his life. After workin...Continue Reading

In February 2020, Melissa Kuhn-Schmidt opened The Fertile Market in Fertile, offering a wide variety of products to local communities. Joined with business partner Michelle Versteeg, the two run the small shop, along with the help of a few others. Kuhn-Schmidt and Versteeg believe their store is unique because of its wid...Continue Reading

In March of 2008, Jeff Mitchell became the owner of Mitchell’s Bar & Grill in Leland, and despite the town’s size, the business has persevered throughout the 13 years. The idea of owning the bar was proposed to Mitchell while getting his car repaired at Forest City Auto. The owner o...Continue Reading

On May 23, 2017, Jeff Johnson of Buffalo Center sold Johnson’s Foods to Doug and Barb Murra, who renamed the grocery store “Main Street Market.” After no one displayed an interest in buying Johnson’s store, the Murras looked into the possibility of taking ownership of another business, feeling it was crucia...Continue Reading

In 2016, local Kensett resident Linda Kauffman opened Quality Quilts & Sew to offer a new service to her community. After 20 years of working in a factory job, Kauffman decided it was time for a change. Considering opening a business, she enrolled in an entrepreneurial class, helping her figure ou...Continue Reading

In March 2011, Forest City resident Elissa Hanna decided to turn her hobby of cake pop and cupcake baking into an in-home business called Happy Sweets Cupcakes. Hanna’s passion started when she stumbled upon a cake pop book. She began making the treats as a hobby, but after some push fro...Continue Reading

After 18 years, Kelly Shryock and new co-owner Jason Briese moved their business Shryock Racing Components to Joice to continue serving dirt track racers throughout the Midwest and country. Shryock Racing Components builds dirt track race cars from scratch and offers repair services on them. The business also sells parts fo...Continue Reading

This year, Grafton celebrated their 50th Grafton Turkey Day. The town banded together to celebrate the day with various activities including a volleyball and softball tournament and parade. Children also had the opportunity to play on inflatables. The night was capped off with a four-hour street dance with live music.   Continue Reading

Despite its size, the small town of Scarville, IA tackled the Fourth of July and was attended by local residents and surrounding communities. The celebration was kicked-off with a parade featuring Lake Mills Marching Band, 16-consecutive year winners of the North Iowa Band Festival. The parade was followed by ...Continue Reading