Kalani Steinmetz | Staff Writer There is a stigma that once a person reaches old age, life begins to lose purpose. National Assisted Living Week, created and established by the National Center for Assisted Living in 1995, is a time to work to destroy that stigma. It’s also a time to recognize the importance of […]
Jessica Jensen | Managing Editor Six hundred hours. Ninety-nine patches. Two sewing machines. One special piece to pay tribute to a profession and special people. For two years, Stephanie Oostra had a vision in her head of a state of Iowa map with special details filling the space representing each county. That vision gave her […]
Jason Hommes | Staff Writer Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids will be celebrating an important milestone in September — the church’s 125th anniversary. The beginning of the church actually dates back to 1887 when a Lutheran pastor came from Hull to serve Lutherans who were living in Rock Rapids. It wasn’t until 1893, however, […]
Jessica Jensen | Managing Editor To go from working in two of the larger school districts in Iowa to a role as principal at George-Little Rock is out of Steven Green’s comfort zone. “I’ve always worked in big districts and I learned a lot. But I was looking for a different challenge and I wanted […]
Jessica Jensen | Managing Editor Kalani Steinmetz | Staff Writer Shari’s Kitchen and Catering has catering down to a “T”. “It’s her life. The restaurant is her life. Cinnamon rolls and baked goods are her life,” explained Katie Kirkland, daughter of Shari Knobloch, owner of Shari’s Kitchen and Catering in Rock Rapids. These days, a […]
The board of trustees for Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital recently announced that Craig Hohn has accepted the position as the facility’s administrator. Hohn will begin the full-time position Sept. 1, and he will help the board and the Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital Association as the construction of a state-of-the-art replacement hospital and clinic in Rock […]
Jason Hommes | Staff Writer Brothers Alan and Norwin Koel of Rock Rapids have owned and operated their carpet cleaning business for nearly 40 years. The business started even before that, when their father began installing carpet in 1968. The Koel brothers worked with their father for a number of years before eventually taking over […]
Jason Hommes | Staff Writer Doctor John Vander Zee opened his dentist office in Rock Rapids in 1978. For 40 years he’s worked to improve people’s teeth and their smiles. But now he’s closing the door; his last day of work will be Thursday, July 19, after which he’ll officially retire. Vander Zee has really […]
Kalani Steinmetz | Staff Writer Tasha and Kyler Spykerboer are going to be hosting a fundraiser to recognize their son, Breilee, during his fight with his cystic fibrosis diagnosis Saturday, July 14 during the family’s first annual Just BREathe event. All donations will be given directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to aid the search […]