News

Chili was on the menu at the 26th-annual Chili Cook-Off, part of the 18th-annual Fall Fest, where Darla Beatty (at left) cooked up chili for Tarwater Farm and Home and got help from store manager Matt Sullivan (at right) in serving it; the chili won the top “People’s Choice” award. (Photo by Brian Sanders)

Good chili choices reported at Fall Fest

Good crowds were noted for the 18th-annual Holton/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Fall Fest and the 26th-annual Chili Cook-Off, Chamber executive director Ashlee York said. “I was really encouraged by the positive feedback we received from this year’s Fall Fest,” York said. “It was wonderful to...

Good response noted at Jackson Heights bond issue meetings

As the Nov. 4 general election approaches and Jackson Heights district patrons decide on whether to approve a $5 million bond issue for the construction of building additions at the district’s two school buildings, the district has been hosting public meetings on the bond issue and getting some...

Schlaegel’s Homegrown Popcorn and NEK Tax Services have moved from rural Whiting to 705 Arizona Ave. in Holton. Shown are co-owner Jacob Yingst (left) and his wife, Molly, who will be helping with both the popcorn and tax preparation sides of the business that was started more than 50 years ago by Yingst’s grandparents, Gary and Marian Schlaegel. (Photo by Brian Sanders)

Schlaegel's popcorn, tax businesses move to Holton

After more than 50 years in the Whiting area, the tax preparation service and popcorn business started by Gary and Marian Schlaegel and their family has moved to Holton. Schlaegel’s Homegrown Popcorn and NEK Tax Services — formerly Schlaegel Tax Preparation — can now be found at 705 Arizona Ave. in...

FOOTBALL PICK'EM CONTEST: WEEK #8

WEEK 8 FOOTBALL PICKEM 2025 Oct. 24-26 1. Aeschlimlan Construction: Holton at Leavenworth 2. Denison State Bank: JCN at Jackson Heights 3. Beverley Brown & Co.: Royal Valley at Oskaloosa 4. Bergsten Insurance: ACCHS at Nemaha Central 5. Bumper To Bumper:...

HCH officials seek support for tax

Members of the Holton City Commission expressed agreement with Holton Community Hospital chief executive officer Carrie Lutz that a proposed quarter-percent sales tax at the county level would be a boon for the hospital in light of a reduction in revenues and reimbursements at the federal level....

The Harding family of rural Mayetta — shown above from left to right, Scott, Cyrus, Xander and Tara — is active with the Mayetta Mustangs 4-H club.

Harding family reflects on 4-H’s role in building skills, values

A young person is a seed… 4-H is the fertilizer. A young person is a gemstone… 4-H is the polisher. An opportunity is a door… 4-H is the key to unlock and open it. Give Royal Valley High School senior Cyrus Harding a few minutes, and he’ll come up with a few more metaphors for how 4-H can take a...

Advance voting coming soon

Tuesday, Oct. 14, is the deadline to register to vote or update your voter registration information in order to participate in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4, it has been reported. This election will determine positions on local school boards, the Holton City Commission and local city...

FOOTBALL PICK'EM CONTEST: WEEK #7

WEEK 7 FOOTBALL PICKEM 2025 Oct. 17-19 1. Aeschliman Construction: Hiawatha at Holton 2. Denison State Bank: Jackson Heights at Valley Falls 3. Beverley Brown & Co.: Nemaha Central at Royal Valley 4. Bergsten Insurance: ACCHS at Jeff West 5. Bumper To Bumper:...

Approving commercial solar power regulations just the first step in process

So what’s your opinion of a commercial solar power energy operation in Jackson County? It’s a major topic of discussion these days as public hearings are being held in the county to discuss proposed regulations for such an enterprise. There are reportedly 7,722 utility-scale commercial solar...

More than 200 people attended the first of two public meetings of the county planning commission on Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Jackson County Courthouse to comment on a draft of commercial solar regulations. Attendees filled the doorways and hallways outside the meeting room. Here, Kevin Halbleib of rural Holton is shown at the podium. Those who signed up to speak were given three minutes to share comments. A second meeting was held Thursday, Oct. 2 at the Courthouse. (Photo by Ali Holcomb)

Tensions high at first solar regulations meeting

Tensions were high at the Jackson County Courthouse last Thursday evening as more than 200 residents packed a public meeting to weigh in on proposed zoning regulations that could determine the future of a commercial solar project near Delia. The meeting, which was the first of two scheduled, drew a...